Vehicle Window Interior Lighting Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing auxiliary lighting systems for vehicles, such as light bars, are difficult to clean and maneuver, especially when off-roading, and often disrupt the vehicle's aesthetic design when mounted externally.

Innovation Solution

A lighting assembly with light emitting devices positioned on the interior side of a vehicle window, which illuminate areas outside through apertures in a coating, allowing for adaptive lighting based on vehicle orientation changes, such as turns or grade changes, while being concealed from external view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If auxiliary lighting is mounted on the exterior of the vehicle, then lighting effectiveness is improved, but ease of cleaning and maneuverability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting effectivenessVSAvoidease of cleaning and maneuverability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional mounting location of auxiliary lighting from exterior to interior side of the vehicle window. The light emitting devices are positioned inside the vehicle, behind the window glass, allowing them to illuminate external areas while being protected from direct exposure to elements and obstacles. This inversion resolves the contradiction by maintaining lighting effectiveness while dramatically improving ease of cleaning and maneuverability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting assembly is nested within the vehicle's window structure, with light emitting devices positioned behind the window glass. This nesting approach allows the lighting system to be integrated into the vehicle's existing structure, providing external illumination while being protected by the window barrier, thus solving the contradiction between lighting effectiveness and ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If light emitting devices are positioned on the interior side of the window, then ease of cleaning and aesthetic integrity are improved, but lighting effectiveness may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidlighting effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The window glass acts as an intermediary medium between the light emitting devices positioned inside the vehicle and the external areas to be illuminated. The glass transmits light effectively while allowing the light sources to remain protected inside the vehicle. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining lighting effectiveness through the glass barrier while preserving ease of cleaning and aesthetic integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by positioning light emitting devices at specific locations behind the window glass, such as in peripheral regions or corners, where they can effectively illuminate specific external areas. This strategic positioning ensures that despite being hidden inside the vehicle, the lighting remains effective for its intended purpose while maintaining ease of cleaning and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If the lighting assembly is concealed from external view, then aesthetic integrity is improved, but detectability of the lighting system deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic integrityVSAvoiddetectability of lighting system

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system leverages the existing window glass as a visual copy or surrogate for the light sources. When the lighting is off, the glass provides a clean, aesthetic surface that conceals the hidden light emitting devices. When activated, the glass transmits the light effectively. This copying approach resolves the contradiction by using the window itself to both conceal the lighting system for aesthetic purposes and transmit light when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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

Provides effective and adaptive auxiliary lighting without the maintenance issues of external systems and maintains the vehicle's aesthetic integrity by hiding the lighting assembly from external view.

Implementation Method 1

passing light from a light emitting device on an interior side of a window through an aperture in a coating that covers a portion of the window. The lighting illuminates an area on an exterior side of the window.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS10549607B2Lighting assembly disposed on an interior side of a window of a vehicle and method of illuminating an area outside the vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

An exemplary lighting assembly includes a first light emitting device on an interior side of a window of a vehicle, and a second light emitting device on the interior side, the first and the second light emitting devices configured to selectively illuminate respective areas through a perimeter region of the window in response to a change in an orientation of the vehicle. Another exemplary lighting assembly includes, among other things, a window of a vehicle, the window having a perimeter region, a coating covering at least a portion of the perimeter region, and a light emitting device on an interior side of the window. The coating provides an aperture to permit light from the light emitting device to move through the perimeter region.