Vehicle Winglet Sequential Blinker With Light Guide Towers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle winglets lack an effective and visually appealing method for sequentially illuminating turn signals, which can enhance driver intention visibility to other vehicles during turns.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle winglet system incorporating a printed circuit board with LEDs, a translucent light guide, and collimators that redirect light into towers, creating a sequential blinker effect when the turn signal is activated, allowing for a more noticeable and aesthetically pleasing illumination pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional turn signal lights are used in vehicle winglets, then the basic turn signal function is provided, but the visibility and aesthetic appeal of the sequential illumination pattern is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple light guide towers, each corresponding to a specific LED position. Each tower independently guides light from its associated LED, enabling sequential illumination patterns while maintaining a modular structure that manages complexity through division of functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Light guide towers serve as intermediary elements between the LEDs and the external environment. These towers capture light from individual LEDs and guide it through the winglet structure, creating the sequential illumination effect without requiring direct exposure of each LED, thus enhancing visibility while managing structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If multiple LEDs are arranged on a PCB for sequential illumination, then the sequential blinker effect is achieved, but the light distribution and directionality are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Each light guide tower is specifically designed to receive and guide light from its corresponding LED position. The towers have varying heights and positions tailored to their specific LED sources, creating localized optimization of light directionality and intensity for each sequential illumination position while maintaining overall system control.
3Loss of information
If light guide towers are used to guide light from LEDs, then the sequential pattern visibility is improved, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light guide towers are integrated into a single light guide component that is coupled to the PCB housing. This merging of multiple towers into one unified structure simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of separate parts, while still maintaining the distinct functional paths for each sequential light position.
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 system provides a clear and sequential illumination pattern that enhances visibility of the driver's intentions, improving safety by making turn signals more noticeable and engaging, while also offering customizable illumination patterns.
Implementation Method 1
The collimators are configured to redirect light illumined from the respective one of the LEDs into a respective one of the light guide towers
Implementation Method 2
The light guide is made of a translucent material and is configured to guide light illuminated by the LEDs and transfer the light out of the light guide
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
A vehicle winglet (10)(e.g., sideview mirror, camera or radar assembly, etc.) is provided with sequential illumination of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (60,62,64,66,100). A light guide (68) is connected to and covers the LEDs (60,62,64,66,100). The light guide (68) is made of a translucent material and is configured to guide light illuminated by the LEDs (60,62,64,66,100) and transfer the light out of the light guide (68). The light guide (68) includes a plurality of light guide towers (70,72,74,76) extending therefrom. Each light guide tower (70,72,74,76) is aligned with a respective one of the LEDs (60,62,64,66). In some embodiments, a plurality of collimators (80,82,84,86) are provided, with each collimator (80,82,84,86) aligned with a respective one of the LEDs (60,62,64,66) and with a respective one of the light guide towers (70,72,74,76) to redirect the light illuminated from the respective LED (60,62,64,66) into the respective light guide tower (70,72,74,76).