Backlit Wood Interior Panel With Masked Apertures for Sharp Symbols
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Solution Overview
Problem
Backlit vehicle interior panels with non-polymeric decorative layers, such as wood, face challenges in displaying sharp graphic images due to light scattering and unpredictable appearances, especially with opaque or dark-stained materials, which can obscure backlighting and render symbols ambiguous.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle interior panel design featuring a mask layer with apertures and a decorative sheet complex with blind holes aligned to display an illuminated symbol, where the mask layer blocks light except at apertures and the blind holes extend through the decorative layer to align with the symbol, using a topcoat to diffuse light and enhance visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a non-polymeric decorative layer (such as wood) is used in backlit panels, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but light scattering occurs and symbols become ambiguous
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is segmented into multiple functional layers: a decorative layer for aesthetics, a mask layer with apertures for light control, and a backlight layer. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without interfering with others, resolving the conflict between aesthetic appearance and symbol clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
A mask layer acts as an intermediary between the backlight source and the decorative layer. This intermediary component selectively blocks light except at specific aperture locations, ensuring that light passes through only where needed to maintain symbol clarity while allowing the decorative layer to provide aesthetic appearance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If opaque or dark-stained decorative materials are used, then aesthetic versatility is improved, but light transmission is blocked and symbols become invisible
Solution Approach 1:
The panel structure separates the aesthetic function (decorative layer) from the light transmission function (mask layer with apertures). This allows opaque or dark-stained materials to be used for aesthetic versatility while the mask layer ensures light transmission at aperture locations for symbol visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask layer has different optical properties at different locations: opaque in most areas to block light and enhance contrast, but transparent at aperture locations to allow light transmission. This local quality variation enables the use of opaque decorative materials while maintaining symbol visibility through the apertures.
3Illumination intensity
If light is provided through a translucent décor layer, then symbol illumination is achieved, but the symbol appears as a dark shape and is inconspicuous when not illuminated
Solution Approach 1:
The light transmission function is extracted from the decorative layer and placed in a dedicated mask layer with apertures. This extraction allows the decorative layer to be opaque or dark-stained for aesthetic purposes, while the mask layer handles light transmission to achieve symbol illumination without requiring the decorative layer to be translucent.
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 allows for clear and consistent display of illuminated symbols on the panel surface, even with opaque or thick non-polymeric decorative layers, ensuring the symbol is visible when backlit and nearly invisible when not, addressing issues of light scattering and unpredictable appearances.
Implementation Method 1
the panel includes a topcoat configured to diffuse light passing from the blind hole through the topcoat to the outer surface
Data Source
AI summary
A backlit vehicle interior panel includes a non-polymeric decorative layer and a mask layer. The mask layer includes an aperture formed through a layer of opaque material. The decorative layer can be a wood layer that is part of a wood sheet complex that overlies the mask layer. A blind hole is formed in the decorative sheet complex and extends through the decorative layer. The blind hole is aligned with the aperture. Light from a light source passes through the aperture of the mask layer and the aligned blind hole of the sheet complex to partly define an illuminated symbol along at outer surface of the panel. The illuminated symbol can be generated through the decorative layer even when the decorative layer is opaque, and the symbol can have sharper features than can be produced through a translucent decorative layer.