Bubble-Coated Vehicle Body Panels for Color-True Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems lack decorative features that effectively utilize light to enhance the appearance of vehicle parts without altering the color of the transmitted light.
Innovation Solution
A substrate coated with a layer containing bubbles that limit color change, combined with a light influencing layer and a clear coat, allows light to pass through while maintaining its original color, and is applied to vehicle parts to create decorative illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a coating with colorant is applied to illuminate vehicle parts, then the parts can be decorated with colored light, but the light color changes undesirably when transmitted through the coating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a coating containing numerous bubbles (porous structure) that allows light to pass through while the bubble interfaces scatter and reflect light to maintain color accuracy. The porous/bubbly structure creates multiple light-bubble interfaces that prevent unwanted color changes during transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines a colorant-containing coating with a bubble structure to create a composite material that simultaneously provides coloration and maintains light transmission fidelity. The composite structure of colorant + bubbles achieves both illumination and color accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light is directed through an article of manufacture to create decorative illumination, then decorative features are achieved, but the light color is altered by the material
Solution Approach 1:
The bubbly/porous coating structure enables decorative illumination while preserving color fidelity through multiple light scattering interfaces created by the bubbles, preventing unwanted color shifts during light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the bubble structure specifically within the coating layer where light transmission occurs, while maintaining colorant distribution to provide local coloration. This localized quality approach allows different regions (bubbles vs. colorant) to perform different functions.
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 provides decorative features on vehicles by illuminating parts with unaltered light, enhancing appearance and texture without changing the light's color, using materials like polycarbonate and colorants to achieve this effect.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of bubbles that create material voids in the coating. The plurality of bubbles limit change in color by the colorant of any light transmitted through the article of manufacture
Implementation Method 2
The clear coat layer can fill any surface irregularities created by the plurality of bubbles in the coating
Data Source
AI summary
An article of manufacture including a substrate and a coating including a colorant covering all or a portion of the substrate. The coating includes a plurality of bubbles that create material voids in the coating. The plurality of bubbles limit change in color by the colorant of any light transmitted through the article of manufacture. The article of manufacture is included in a panel to be installed in a vehicle. A method of manufacturing is also disclosed.