Ventilation and Humidity-Conditioning Unit for Vehicle Lamps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation and humidity-conditioning systems for apparatuses like vehicle lamps face challenges in integrating both ventilation and humidity control, making it difficult to remove or replace humidity-conditioning members and complicating the mounting process due to separate ventilation and humidity-control components.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation and humidity-conditioning unit that includes a structure with a ventilation hole, a humidity-conditioning member positioned midway for vapor absorption and release, and a ventilation member closer to the outside to prevent liquids and solids from entering, integrated with a holding member to simplify mounting and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a ventilation member is provided separately from the humidity-conditioning member, then ventilation function is achieved, but the mounting becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilation functionVSAvoidmounting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the ventilation member and humidity-conditioning member into a single integrated structure mounted on the housing. The ventilation member includes a ventilation hole that provides ventilation between inside and outside of the housing, while the humidity-conditioning member is positioned within the ventilation hole to control humidity. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting of two components, simplifying the mounting process while maintaining both ventilation and humidity control functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the humidity-conditioning member is placed inside the housing, then humidity control is achieved, but removal and replacement becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidity control functionVSAvoidremoval and replacement ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The humidity-conditioning member is integrated with the ventilation member as a single assembly that can be mounted on or removed from the housing together. The structure includes a holding member that secures both components, allowing them to be installed and replaced as one unit rather than requiring separate access to the housing interior for humidity-conditioning member replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the ventilation hole is provided without a ventilation member, then mounting is simpler, but liquids and solids can enter the housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting simplicityVSAvoidliquid and solid intrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation member is integrated into the same structure as the humidity-conditioning member, forming a unified component assembly. The ventilation member includes a ventilation hole that allows gas passage while incorporating a filtration function to prevent liquids and solids from entering the housing. This integrated design maintains mounting simplicity while providing protection against harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation member incorporates a porous structure or filtration layer that allows gas molecules to pass through while blocking larger particles such as liquid droplets and solid contaminants. This enables the ventilation hole to provide ventilation functionality while simultaneously preventing liquid and solid intrusion into the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous 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 solution provides effective ventilation and humidity control, preventing dew condensation and fogging while allowing easy installation and replacement of components, maintaining the integrity of the apparatus by managing pressure differences and humidity levels.

Implementation Method 1

a humidity-conditioning member (12) provided midway in the ventilation hole (130) of the structure (13), the humidity-conditioning member (12) absorbing water vapor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a ventilation member (11) provided to the structure (13), the ventilation member (11) being closer to the outside (S2) of the housing (2, 3) than the humidity-conditioning member (12) is, the ventilation member (11) being permeable to a gas, the ventilation member (11) preventing a liquid and a solid from entering the inside (S1) of the housing (2, 3)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentUS10458640B2Ventilation and humidity-conditioning unit and apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 NITTO DENKO CORP

AI summary

A holding member mounted to the case including the internal space, a holding member including the ventilation hole that provides ventilation between the internal space and the external space; a humidity-conditioning member provided midway in the ventilation hole of the holding member and absorbing water vapor; and a ventilation filter provided to the holding member, a ventilation filter being closer to the external space than the humidity-conditioning member is, a ventilation filter being permeable to a gas and preventing a liquid and a sold from entering the internal space.