Backlit Vehicle Trim Element With Opaque Contour Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrating a medallion and backlighting into a vehicle trim element is complex, and the appearance of the resulting trim element can be improved.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle trim element with a decorative area that is translucent and surrounded by an opaque peripheral area, featuring a backlit area defined by the portion between the opaque coating layer and the peripheral area, allowing light to pass from the inner to the outer face, is designed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a medallion and backlighting are integrated into a trim element, then the appearance is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the medallion, peripheral area, and backlighting elements into a single integrated trim element. The translucent decorative area and opaque peripheral area are merged into one component, and the backlighting is integrated within the same structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly operations and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the enhanced appearance effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The trim element uses composite material properties within a single component - combining translucent and opaque materials in different areas of the same element. This allows the decorative area to be translucent for light transmission while the peripheral area remains opaque, achieving the desired appearance differentiation without requiring separate parts or complex assembly.
2Illumination intensity
If the decorative area is made translucent to allow light passage, then backlighting effect is achieved, but light control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The trim element applies different optical properties to different local areas: the decorative area is made translucent to allow light transmission for backlighting, while the peripheral area is made opaque to control and limit light passage. This local differentiation of material properties enables precise control over where light appears and where it is blocked, achieving both light transmission and light control precision within the same component.
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 creates a sharp contrast and highlights the decorative area's shape, providing a visually appealing and distinctive appearance with a chrome effect.
Implementation Method 1
at least one decorative area extending between an inner face and an outer face, said decorative area being substantially translucent so as to allow light to pass from the inner face to the outer face
Implementation Method 2
at least one peripheral area surrounding at least part of the decorative area, said peripheral area extending between an inner face and an outer face and being opaque so as to prevent light from passing from the inner face to the outer face
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The element (1) comprises: - a decoration zone (2) extending between an inner face and an outer face (5), substantially translucent; - a peripheral zone (4) surrounding a part of the decoration zone (2), and extending between an inner face and an outer face (5) and being opaque; - an opaque coating layer (6) extending over a part of the outer face (5), - at least one backlit zone (8) formed by the part of the decoration zone extending between the opaque coating layer (6) and the peripheral zone (4), said backlit zone (8) extending between a first edge (7), formed by an edge of the opaque coating layer, and a second edge (9), formed by an edge of the peripheral zone (4), said backlit zone (8) allowing light to pass from the inner face to the outer face (5).