Multi-Function Vehicle Lighting Unit With Integrated Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle additional lighting devices are limited to single functions, insufficient for adapting lighting and signaling to road and traffic conditions, cumbersome, and not suitable for sports vehicles due to inadequate light intensity.

Innovation Solution

A multi-functional lighting device that integrates position lights, fog lights, and cornering lights, with adjustable light distribution based on vehicle speed, featuring a one-piece support element, multiple cavities, lenses, and reflectors to emit different beams, and includes a cooling module and data acquisition system for optimized assembly and compactness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple additional lighting devices are installed to provide different lighting functions, then the lighting adaptability to road and traffic conditions is improved, but the device complexity and vehicle weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting adaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple lighting functions (position light, fog light, cornering light, high beam) into a single additional lighting device. The housing contains multiple cavities, each with a light source, reflector, and lens assembly that can be independently controlled to provide different lighting functions, thereby reducing the number of separate devices needed while maintaining lighting adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The additional lighting device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously or independently. Each cavity can be configured for different lighting purposes, and the device can adapt its lighting pattern based on vehicle speed and driving conditions, making it a universal lighting solution that replaces multiple specialized devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple additional lighting devices are installed to provide different lighting functions, then the lighting adaptability to road and traffic conditions is improved, but the vehicle weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting adaptabilityVSAvoidvehicle weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple lighting functions (position light, fog light, cornering light, high beam) into a single additional lighting device. The housing contains multiple cavities, each with a light source, reflector, and lens assembly that can be independently controlled to provide different lighting functions, thereby reducing the number of separate devices needed while maintaining lighting adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The additional lighting device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously or independently. Each cavity can be configured for different lighting purposes, and the device can adapt its lighting pattern based on vehicle speed and driving conditions, making it a universal lighting solution that replaces multiple specialized devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a single additional lighting device is used to provide multiple lighting functions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the lighting intensity may be insufficient for sports vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidlighting intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple cavities, each containing its own light source, reflector, and lens assembly. This segmentation allows each cavity to be optimized for specific lighting functions and intensities, with the ability to independently control the output of each segment to achieve the required overall lighting intensity for sports vehicles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different cavities can have different optical characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The reflectors and lenses in each cavity can be designed with different geometries and materials to optimize the light distribution and intensity for that particular lighting function, ensuring adequate intensity for high-performance applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If traditional additional lighting devices are used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the assembly efficiency is low and compactness is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidassembly efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple lighting components (cavities, light sources, reflectors, lenses) are integrated into a single housing structure that can be manufactured as one piece or pre-assembled modules. This merging of components into a unified device reduces the number of assembly steps and improves installation efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables improved visibility and safety by providing multiple lighting functions in a single device, adapting to vehicle speed, reducing bulkiness, and enhancing assembly efficiency while maintaining compactness.

Implementation Method 1

a light source (7), a reflector (9), a lens (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

a reflector (9), a lens (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

a reflector (9), a lens (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight refraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3221185B1Lighting unit for a vehicle and corresponding vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 RENAULT SA
  • EP3221185B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6b

AI summary

The invention relates to a lighting device (1) for a motor vehicle, said device (1) comprising: a housing (3) containing a support element (5) which comprises at least two cavities (6) respectively containing a light source (7); a reflector (9) for reflecting a light beam emitted by at least one of the light sources (7); and a lens (10) for refracting the light beam into an illumination beam, the reflector (9) and the lens (10) being arranged either side of the support element (5), and at least the reflector (9), the light sources (7) and the cavities (6) being designed so as to generate at least one illumination beam with a road, position, cornering or fog function.