Dead Front Actuation Cover Plate Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional key pads on motor vehicles disrupt the design aesthetics due to their size and visibility, even when minimized, as they are necessary for access to the passenger compartment.
Innovation Solution
A dead front actuating assembly with a cover plate made from materials that appear opaque in standard ambient light but become transparent under back lighting, housing a switch and presence sensor, allowing keyless entry by illuminating the key pad only when an operator is present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a key pad is installed on the motor vehicle to provide keyless entry, then access convenience is improved, but the vehicle's design aesthetics are worsened due to visibility and size
Solution Approach 1:
The key pad functionality is extracted from the visible exterior surface and embedded within the housing, with only the necessary input area exposed through the cover plate. This removes the visual disruption while preserving the access function.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover plate acts as a flexible visual interface that can appear opaque to hide the key pad or become transparent to reveal it when needed. This thin film approach allows the key pad to be concealed when not in use, maintaining aesthetic appearance.
2Shape
If the key pad is minimized in size to reduce visual disruption, then design aesthetics are improved, but functionality is worsened due to limited size
Solution Approach 1:
The key pad interface extends into the third dimension by utilizing the space behind the cover plate. Multiple switches and sensors are arranged in layers within the housing, allowing full functionality to be packed into a shallow depth that maintains a minimal visual footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing contains the key pad switches and sensors within its interior volume, nesting the functional components behind the minimal visible cover plate. This nesting allows the full key pad functionality to be contained within a compact form factor that does not protrude or disrupt the vehicle's exterior design.
3Shape
If the cover plate is made opaque in standard ambient light to maintain aesthetics, then design aesthetics are improved, but visibility of the switch is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate transitions between opaque and transparent states based on detected presence or activation conditions. This periodic or conditional transparency allows the switch to be hidden during normal operation for aesthetics but revealed when needed for use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover plate changes its optical properties from opaque to transparent, effectively changing its visual characteristics based on operational state. This allows the same component to serve both aesthetic and functional requirements at different times.
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 a seamless integration of keyless entry functionality into the vehicle's design, maintaining aesthetic appeal by rendering the key pad invisible until activated, enhancing user convenience without compromising the vehicle's appearance.
Implementation Method 1
A back light inside the housing illuminates the cover plate such that light passes through the cover plate and out the outboard surface to illuminate the switch for the operator
Data Source
AI summary
A dead front actuating assembly actuates a device in standard ambient light conditions. The dead front actuating assembly includes a housing defining a periphery and an interior volume. A cover plate is fixedly secured to the housing at the periphery. The cover plate defines an inboard surface facing the interior volume and an outboard surface opposite the inboard surface. The outboard surface is opaque in standard ambient light conditions. The dead front actuating assembly also includes a switch that is operatively connected to the inboard surface of the cover plate at a defined location for toggling the device between on and off conditions. Also included is a presence sensor identifying when an operator is disposed adjacent the cover plate. A back light inside the housing illuminates the cover plate such that light passes through the cover plate and out the outboard surface to illuminate the switch.