Vehicular Display Light Guide with Attenuation Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicular display apparatuses face challenges in accurately adjusting the luminance change characteristic line to achieve a desired gradation display, as changing the shape of the light guide member alone is insufficient to achieve the desired luminance variation with distance from the light source.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a light guide member with a viewable portion and a light attenuation portion, where the viewable portion reflects light to create a luminance gradient, and the light attenuation portion absorbs or diffuses light to adjust the luminance change characteristic line, allowing for easier and more precise adjustment of the luminance gradient.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the shape of the light guide member is adjusted to achieve desired luminance change, then the luminance distribution can be modified, but the adjustment precision and ease of achieving the desired luminance change characteristic line deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminance change characteristic lineVSAvoidadjustment of luminance change characteristic line

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide member is divided into distinct functional portions: a viewable portion with high reflectivity for displaying luminance, and a light attenuation portion with low reflectivity for controlling light distribution. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each portion's properties to achieve the desired luminance change characteristic line without complex shape modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the light guide member are assigned different reflectivity characteristics - the viewable portion has high reflectivity to maintain visible luminance, while the light attenuation portion has low reflectivity to control light distribution. This local differentiation enables precise control of the luminance change characteristic line through material composition rather than shape adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If only the shape of the light guide member is used to control luminance, then the structure remains simple, but the manufacturing precision and accuracy of the luminance change characteristic line deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminance change characteristic lineVSAvoidlight guide member structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the reflectivity parameter of the light guide member by using different materials or material compositions in different portions. The viewable portion uses high-reflectivity material while the light attenuation portion uses low-reflectivity material, enabling precise control of luminance distribution through material parameter selection rather than complex shape design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide member is constructed as a composite structure with different material portions - a viewable portion made of high-reflectivity material and a light attenuation portion made of low-reflectivity material. This composite approach enables independent optimization of each portion's optical properties to achieve the desired luminance change characteristic line with high manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 enables a high-accuracy adjustment of the luminance change characteristic line, enhancing the appearance of the gradation display by reducing luminance unevenness and providing a visually appealing luminance gradient, which is easier to achieve than through shape adjustments alone.

Implementation Method 1

outer faces that reflect the light repeatedly to permit the reflected light to propagate in the interior portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The light attenuation portion absorbs or diffuses the light reflected by the outer faces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

The viewable portion reflects a part of the light propagating in the interior portion towards a viewer side so as to appear to be luminous

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9329319B2Vehicular display apparatus

Publication Date: 2016.05.03 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A vehicular display apparatus includes a light source and a light guide member. The light guide member includes (i) an interior portion that receives light from the light source and (ii) outer faces that reflect the light repeatedly to permit the light to propagate in the interior portion. The light guide member further includes a viewable portion and a light absorption member serving as a light attenuation portion. The viewable portion reflects a part of the light propagating in the interior portion towards a viewer side so as to appear to be luminous. The light absorption member absorbs a part of light reflected by the outer face.