Backlit Vehicle Door Panel Embossments With Soft Light-Guiding Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle interior designs with soft or padded finishes and protruding point-source protuberances can cause injuries due to direct contact, especially during normal vehicle operation or impacts.
Innovation Solution
A backlit, multicomponent interior product for vehicles featuring a structural element, a translucent outer covering, and point-source embossments made of soft, deformable light-transmitting materials, integrated with a lighting assembly to provide aesthetic point-source lighting while ensuring safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If hard protuberances are used in soft or padded interior regions, then point-source lighting effect is achieved, but injury risk increases due to direct contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the embossment from hard to soft/deformable material while maintaining the point-source lighting function. The soft embossment can elastically deform under contact, reducing injury risk while still providing the desired aesthetic lighting effect when illuminated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material construction where the embossment is made of soft material that combines light-transmitting properties with deformability. This composite approach allows the embossment to function both as a lighting element and a safe, contact-friendly surface.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple separate components are used to achieve backlit embossments, then lighting function is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated component. The soft embossment structure incorporates light-guiding channels and light-receiving surfaces directly, combining the structural element, light guide, and lighting interface into one component that reduces assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The embossment component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the aesthetic protruding feature, acts as a light guide to direct illumination, and functions as a safe contact surface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If soft deformable materials are used for embossments, then safety upon contact is improved, but light transmission capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects soft materials with specific optical parameters that allow sufficient light transmission. By carefully choosing materials with appropriate transparency or translucency values, the patent maintains both the safety benefits of soft deformable material and the light transmission needed for the lighting effect.
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 achieves a high-quality aesthetic finish with point-source lighting in vehicle interiors, ensuring safety by using soft, deformable materials that prevent harm upon contact, and reducing the risk of injury during impacts.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one point-source embossment is made of a light transmitting material, such that it is configured for receiving the light beams emitted by the at least one light emitter and directing them towards the outer covering
Implementation Method 2
the outer covering is made, at least in the region facing the at least one point-source embossment, of a transparent or translucent material to allow the passage of the light beams from the at least one point-source embossment towards the interior compartment of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
the at least one point-source embossment is made of a soft, deformable material configured for being elastically deformed due to pressure exerted on the outer surface of said at least one point-source embossment
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a backlit interior product of a vehicle, wherein the backlit interior product is formed by a plurality of components, and said interior product can preferably be part of a specific region of a door panel of a vehicle, such as the region of the insert which is the part above the armrest of the door panel or else the armrest. The multicomponent product is capable of generating a point-source surface backlighting in at least one embossment or protuberance located in one or more specific areas of a visible part of the interior of a vehicle, where an observer located in the interior of the compartment of the vehicle perceives at least one lit embossment. Secondly, this invention also relates to a door panel of a vehicle including the backlit interior product, with the same objectives as those set forth above.