Integrated Vehicle Side Marker and Direction Indicator Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting and signaling devices on multi-track motor vehicles, such as buses and towing vehicles, face challenges in meeting legal requirements for side marker lights and direction indicators due to high assembly costs and the difficulty in complying with specific beam angles, leading to inefficient and costly arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A combined lighting and signaling device where side marker lights and direction indicators are integrated in a single housing, with the side marker light and direction indicator arranged one above the other, allowing for independent control and separate beam angles to meet legal requirements without overlapping or interfering with each other's light emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If side marker lights and direction indicators are arranged independently and far apart on the vehicle, then each component can be controlled independently, but the assembly costs increase and the variety of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines side marker lights and direction indicators into a single integrated unit (combination light). This merging reduces the variety of parts and assembly costs while maintaining independent control capability through separate control lines for each function within the combined unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The combination light serves multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as both a side marker light and a direction indicator. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of separate components needed on the vehicle while allowing independent operation of each function through separate control circuits.
2Device complexity
If side marker lights and direction indicators are combined in a common housing, then assembly costs are reduced, but the beam angles may overlap and create misleading signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing side marker light beams laterally (to the side) and direction indicator beams rearward (to the back). This spatial differentiation of light emission directions ensures that each function's beam angle is optimized for its specific purpose and prevents overlap that could create misleading signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the beam angle conflict by utilizing different spatial dimensions and directions. Side marker lights emit light primarily in the lateral direction (90° to the vehicle axis), while direction indicators emit light in the rearward direction (180° to the vehicle axis). This dimensional separation in light emission directions allows both functions to coexist in a common housing without interference.
3Ease of manufacture
If flat light strips are used for side marker lights and direction indicators, then manufacturing is simplified, but compliance with legal beam angle requirements becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light emission functions by using separate light sources (first light source for side marker, second light source for direction indicator) within the combination light. This segmentation allows each light source to be optimized for its specific beam angle requirements, with the side marker light directed laterally and the direction indicator directed rearward, ensuring legal compliance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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
This configuration reduces assembly costs and ensures compliance with legal beam angles and light intensities, providing effective warning and signaling functions while preventing misleading signals, and allows for efficient integration in a common housing with separate control for each function.
Implementation Method 1
several switchable side marker lights arranged at a distance from one another on the left and right side of the vehicle, which, when switched on, emit light in a defined side marker light beam angle and with a defined side marker light luminous intensity
Implementation Method 2
direction indicators mounted on both sides of the vehicle, which can be switched independently of one another and independently of the side marker lights, which continue to flash with a flashing function when switched on, emitting light with a defined flashing frequency in a defined direction indicator beam angle and with a defined direction indicator light intensity
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5
AI summary
The device has a switchable side marker lamps (5) arranged on a left side and a right side of a vehicle (1). A side direction indicator (6) is mounted with both sides of the vehicle. The side marker lamps are switched independently and turned on flashing with a flashing function. The side marker lamp and the side direction-indicator are arranged directly above one another. The side marker lamps provided with luminous bodies and a light guide. The side marker lamps are permanently switched on with parking lights.