Backlit Vehicle Decorative Composite with Opaque Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing backlit decorative materials for vehicle interiors face stability issues and high production costs due to numerous perforations required to display symbols, which can lead to warping and visibility of perforations.
Innovation Solution
A composite decorative material with a translucent decorative layer and a printable diffuser on its rear side, featuring an opaque layer applied in specific areas to represent symbols, allowing light to pass through and scatter for a visible design only under backlighting, eliminating the need for additional perforations and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If numerous perforations are made in the decorative layer to display symbols, then the symbols become visible when backlit, but the decorative material loses stability and tends to warp or show visible perforations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the symbol display function from the structural integrity requirement by using a separate opaque layer with cut-out areas rather than perforating the entire decorative material. This allows symbols to be displayed through selective light transmission areas while the rest of the decorative material remains intact and stable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the opaque layer opaque only in specific areas where symbols should not be visible, while leaving cut-out areas transparent for symbol display. This localized opacity control allows symbol visibility without compromising the overall stability of the decorative material structure.
2Loss of information
If numerous perforations are made in the decorative layer to represent symbols, then the symbols can be displayed under backlighting, but the manufacturing process becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the symbol display function with the existing backlighting structure by using an opaque layer with cut-out areas that align with the light guide. This integration allows symbols to be displayed using the same backlighting infrastructure without requiring separate manufacturing processes or additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simplified approach by creating symbol representations through cut-out areas in an opaque layer rather than complex perforation patterns. This copying method reproduces the desired symbol information using a simpler, more cost-effective manufacturing process suitable for industrial series production.
3Illumination intensity
If the decorative material is made translucent to allow backlighting, then symbols can be displayed in night design, but the underlying layers become visible without backlighting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary opaque layer between the light guide and the decorative material. This intermediate layer acts as a mediator that blocks light from reaching the underlying layers when not illuminated, preventing them from becoming visible. When backlit, the cut-out areas in the opaque layer allow light to pass through and display symbols without revealing the underlying structure.
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 solution maintains material stability while enabling an appealing and recognizable night design without visible perforations, using a diffuser to scatter light and display symbols effectively over a wide angular range, while maintaining a clean day design appearance without backlighting.
Implementation Method 1
a printable diffuser, with an at least essentially opaque layer being applied and in particular printed on in a partial area on the side of the diffuser facing away from the decorative material
Implementation Method 2
an at least essentially opaque layer being applied and in particular printed on in a partial area on the side of the diffuser facing away from the decorative material. The areas cut out from the opaque layer represent information, patterns or symbols
Implementation Method 3
a flat decorative material which is translucent and has a visible side and a rear side opposite the visible side
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6B
AI summary
Backlit decorative material composite, in particular for the interior fitting of motor vehicles. The invention relates to a decorative material composite (10), in particular for the interior fitting of motor vehicles, comprising a planar decorative material (11) that is translucent and has a visible side (14) and a reverse side (13) opposite the visible side (14), wherein a printable diffuser (20) is arranged on the reverse side (13) of the decorative material (11), wherein in a partial area on the side of the diffuser (20) facing away from the decorative material (11) an at least substantially opaque layer (30) is applied and in particular printed, wherein the areas (31) recessed by the opaque layer (30) represent information, patterns or symbols, wherein the decorative material composite (10) serves toto be backlit by a lighting device and to allow part of the light from the lighting device to pass through the recessed areas (31) to the visible side (14) of the decorative material (11). The present invention also relates to its use and a manufacturing method.