Vertically Long Position Lamp with Refractive Projections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Straddled vehicles face challenges in enhancing the ornamental impression of position lamps while maintaining a narrow width and ensuring a sufficient illumination range, as existing designs either compromise on illumination width or increase vehicle width.

Innovation Solution

A straddled vehicle design featuring a vertically long position lamp with an LED light source and a clear cover, where the exposed portion projects forward and includes projections to refract and diffuse light, combined with a light guide member to widen the illumination range, and strategically positioned to differ in height from other lamps and flashers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the position lamp is made laterally long to increase light emitting area, then the light emitting area is increased, but the ornamental impression cannot be strengthened sufficiently and the vehicle width increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emitting areaVSAvoidornamental impression
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the position lamp shape from a laterally long configuration to a vertically long configuration. The exposed portion extends primarily in the vertical direction rather than the lateral direction, allowing the lamp to achieve sufficient light emitting area through vertical extension while maintaining a narrow vehicle width and improving ornamental appearance by distancing the lamp from the front flashers laterally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If the position lamp is made vertically long to maintain light emitting area with narrow width, then the ornamental impression is strengthened, but the width of illumination range is narrowed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveornamental impressionVSAvoidillumination range width
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing projections on the inner surface of the clear cover at specific locations. These projections create localized light refraction and diffusion effects that widen the illumination range in the lateral direction, compensating for the narrowed illumination width caused by the vertical orientation of the position lamp

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of light transmission by incorporating projections on the inner surface of the clear cover. These projections alter the light path through refraction and diffusion, effectively widening the illumination range without changing the overall shape or size of the position lamp

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Shape

If the front flashers are distanced from the position lamp in width direction to strengthen ornamental impression, then the ornamental impression is improved, but the vehicle width must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveornamental impressionVSAvoidvehicle width
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by reorienting the position lamp to extend vertically rather than laterally. This dimensional change allows the lamp to be positioned closer to the vehicle centerline, distancing it from the front flashers and improving ornamental appearance while maintaining a narrow vehicle width

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The design strengthens the ornamental impression of the position lamp while maintaining a narrow width and securing a wide illumination range, effectively addressing the limitations of both vertically and laterally long configurations.

Implementation Method 1

the exposed portion includes an inner surface provided with a plurality of projections that extend in the up-down direction while projecting rearward and transmit the light of the LED lamp forward

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

the exposed portion includes an inner surface provided with a plurality of projections that extend in the up-down direction while projecting rearward and transmit the light of the LED lamp forward

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP3225520B1Straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.07.11 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3225520B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3225520B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3225520B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~3A

AI summary

A straddled vehicle (1) includes a headlamp (30), a pair of front flashers (31), and a position lamp (32) disposed at a front cover (18). The position lamp (32) includes an LED lamp (100) that includes an LED light source (44) and a clear cover (46) that transmits light of the LED lamp (100) forward. The clear cover (46) includes an exposed portion (41) that projects forward from a lamp hole (42) opening at a front surface (18o) of the front cover (18). The exposed portion (41) has a vertically long shape with a length in an up-down direction being greater than a width in a vehicle front view, and is disposed at a vehicle center (WO) in the vehicle front view. An inner surface of the exposed portion (41) includes projections (55) that extend in the up-down direction while projecting rearward.