Deformable Vehicle Trim Element for Screen Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle trim elements with movable screens often hide dashboard surfaces and protrude aesthetically, failing to integrate screens optimally and maintain rigidity across the outer surface.
Innovation Solution
A deformable trim element with a guide surface and actuating element that changes shape to accommodate the screen, ensuring identical rigidity and improved integration and aesthetics by allowing the screen to move within the trim element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a movable screen is arranged on the dashboard, then the driver and passenger can adjust the screen position for better visibility, but the screen protrudes from the dashboard surface and hides other dashboard surfaces when in extreme positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the dashboard body itself deformable rather than moving a rigid screen on a fixed surface. The deformable body can dynamically change its shape to accommodate the screen in any position while maintaining a continuous outer surface, thus resolving the contradiction between screen adjustability and surface continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen is nested within the deformable body structure, which can reshape to envelop the screen at any position. This nesting approach allows the screen to be fully integrated into the dashboard volume without protruding, while the deformable body maintains its outer surface continuity throughout the range of motion.
2Ease of operation
If a movable screen is arranged on the dashboard, then the driver and passenger can adjust the screen position for better visibility, but the screen protrudes from the dashboard surface when moved
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable body provides dynamic rigidity distribution - remaining rigid in regions away from the screen to maintain overall structural strength, while locally deforming in the actuating zone to accommodate screen movement. This resolves the contradiction between screen adjustability and overall structural rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The body has different mechanical properties in different zones: a deformable actuating zone that can reshape to accommodate the screen, and rigid zones that maintain structural strength. This local differentiation allows the dashboard to be rigid overall while permitting localized deformation for screen movement.
3Shape
If the dashboard surface is made deformable to accommodate the screen, then the screen can be optimally integrated without protruding, but the rigidity of the outer surface may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The dashboard body is designed with spatially varying mechanical properties: highly deformable in the actuating zone to accommodate screen movement and maintain surface continuity, while remaining rigid in other zones to preserve overall structural strength. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between surface adaptability and structural rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The body is functionally segmented into deformable and rigid zones, allowing independent optimization of each region's mechanical properties. The deformable actuating zone provides surface adaptability where needed, while rigid zones maintain structural integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between shape adaptability and strength.
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 optimal integration and holding of the display device within the trim element while maintaining consistent rigidity and aesthetic appeal, adapting the outer surface shape to the screen's configuration.
Implementation Method 1
at least one zone (18) of the body (12) is deformable under the effect of an actuation, such that the shape of the outer surface (16) can be changed in the deformable zone (18)
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle trim element having a body defining the outer surface of the trim element. At least part of the body is deformable so as to cause a modification of the shape of the outer surface. The body includes a deformable guide surface extending in a first direction (Y). The trim element further includes at least one actuating element cooperating with the guide surface in an actuating zone, the guide surface adopting the shape of the actuating element in the actuating zone. The actuating element is movable relative to the body in the first direction (Y) such that the body deforms when the actuating element is moved. The actuating element is formed by a part of an information display device.