So, I was looking at the rear wind deflector and thought it would be neat to do something with it. My first though was to have the Lexus logo etch into is and side light it.

But then I was thinking maybe it could be made informative as well, such as turn indicators, etc...

Just wondering if there any dreamers here that might have some good ideas.

To give you an idea of what is possible...

Multi-layers can be used for more than one color:

Multi-layer also works for animation (not the best example):

Static logo:

Of course, it would also be possible to just project onto it instead.

Any ideas?

 

ShawnOK did this mod.
There are pictures and it is etched and illuminated.

 

I'm not surprised that it has been done before. It is a very simple mod. But I was hoping to do something a little more with it than just a simple logo that's why I was looking for daydreamers.

 

Wow! Those are some great ideas, and really more imaginative then my original project (https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...ml#post9187726). I really like the idea of adding turn signals to it, in some aspect. I always thought it would be neat if the trunk lid LED strip had turn signal capability in addition to the stop signaling. The idea of adding it to the wind deflector is the next best idea. I will say that the only thing to consider if you add lights to the deflector is that it does block the rear view mirror. For example, when I drive at night with the LED wind deflector active, it's so bright that it does "drown" out the traffic of headlights behind me. Additionally, it causes "sun blindness" every time you glance up into the rearview mirror (especially with the top up b'c it will reflect back off the rear deck glass) and look back into the surrounding darkness. Just something to keep in mind, thus I added a on/off toggle switch rather than full time active.

 

I don't know why clicking to enlarge the pictures you post never works for me. I can see how the deflector light would be very distracting. If you diffuse the LEDs, it might help a little. Hard to tell in the thumbnails, but it looks like it creates lines up through the plexi.

Regardless, the ability to turn it on or off and dim it is a necessity.

When you are talking about the 3rd brake-light, were you thinking like a chaser (direction of the chase would match the turn signal) or what was the idea you had in your head?

 

What device are you using to view the pictures?
iPad, iPhone, android or PC?

 

Not sure what's up with the photos. Very strange, but yeah, you're right it does create some "lines," which can probably be remedied by scuffing the surface of the LED strip or bottom of the pexiglass with some light sandpaper to diffuse the light a little better (or use LED's that are spaced closer together). The photos, angle, and probably my cheap camera really make this "line effect" worse than it is in actuality. I chose my strip (as it was all black and can't be seen as some of them are clear and show the actual components as "see through"). In regards to the 3rd light, it would be cool if it gave a full solid light on braking, as it does now, but then only half would indicate the direction of turning. I've given a rudimentary example below, using a 12 point LED. Dashes representing blink function and circles indicating steady illumination. I've seen many truvck bed bumpers with similar LED stripes with a similar set up.

STOP oooooooooooo
LEFT ------oooooo
RIGHT oooooo------

 

Using my PC and Firefox. But it only seems to do it for Shawn's pictures on here. Not sure why. Most pictures I have no trouble enlarging.

Shawn, that would probably be a fairly simple mod for the turn signal, but finding a spare third brake light to work on is the hard part.

 

I really like how your wind deflector turned out. What did you use to etch it?

 

An idea came to me:

Some type of indication whether I am accelerating or decelerating would be neat. Visualizing a column of LEDs in the curve of the headrest that would light up in relation to my acceleration. Seems useful for city driving where people let off their gas without hitting the brakes and modern cars drop the speed right off.

Shawn made a great point about about considering if it will interfere with the rear view. I am gearing up to start experimenting with some ideas to see if I can reduce that in some way. It's really not a high-priority project for me, though.

For now, I have just designed a jig to stand it up on the work-bench and will probably cut out some lexan copies today while my city ices over and I am stuck indoors.

Coleroad, in the link, Shawn mentioned that he had it done at a sign shop. Though etching lexan,glass, or plexi is fairly simple to do at home. If you make a stencil, you can just use a dremel or even hand sand it. The light is bouncing around inside the plexi and will illuminate any areas that are not clear. Even including fingerprints.

Some more advanced etchings using lasers can cut deeper into the plexi to create a more 3D effect. You can see that in the photo engraved crystals you can order at photo shops. By creating various angled cuts, the brightness of the light can be manipulated.

 

I think that a brake pressure indicator would be useful to the cars behind you. As you press harder on the brake, the light gets brighter to let the following car know how intensive the braking in front of them is.

 

That could be accomplished with the same circuitry as the accel/dec indicator or even as part of it. To keep wiring simple, I would just use an accelerometer. This would measure the level of acceleration/deceleration. The speed of moving through the segments would indicate how big the change is in speed (think VU meter in your stereo).

 

Yep, I'm very familiar with accelerometers. Cool idea.

 

Those are all great ideas. I can't even imagine how to start on any of those mods, but I'm sure the right guys are on the case! And yes, Coleroad, as Retro indicated above I had my wind deflector etched at a vinyl shop.

 

Shawn, that is the best led mod I have seen. You and retro have got me thinking and itching to do this. I just want to come up with my own unique etching.