Flexible Substrate Light-Transmissive Pattern for Interactive Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

The effective integration of light sources into interactive objects made from flexible materials is challenging, particularly when the light source is an illuminated surface, as it is difficult to fully incorporate and efficiently manufacture such objects with sufficient luminosity and brightness.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a light-transmissive pattern in a flexible substrate with holes that extend from the inside to the outside surface, allowing light from an illuminated surface to be transmitted through, along with a multi-pass laser drilling process to control hole shape and spacing for enhanced light transmission and viewing angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a light source is integrated into an interactive object made from flexible materials, then the object can provide visual output, but the luminosity and brightness are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveluminosityVSAvoidintegration difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light-transmissive pattern is segmented into multiple discrete holes arranged in specific patterns, allowing light to pass through controlled pathways from the illuminated surface to the exterior, thereby enhancing luminosity while maintaining flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible substrate is made non-transmissive everywhere except at specific locations where light-transmissive holes are positioned, creating localized light transmission zones that maximize brightness where needed while preserving overall material flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If an illuminated surface is used as the light source, then visual content flexibility is improved, but full integration into the flexible object remains difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual content flexibilityVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The illuminated surface is nested within the flexible substrate structure, with the light-transmissive pattern acting as an intermediary layer that allows the illuminated surface to be fully integrated while maintaining visual content flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The light-transmissive pattern serves as an intermediary between the illuminated surface and the exterior environment, enabling full integration of the illuminated surface while controlling light transmission to achieve desired visual effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Illumination intensity

If holes are created in the flexible substrate for light transmission, then light transmission is improved, but manufacturing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The light-transmissive pattern with precisely positioned holes is created during the substrate manufacturing process itself, rather than as a separate post-processing step, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining optimal light transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The hole-formation process is merged with the substrate manufacturing process, combining multiple operations into a single integrated manufacturing step that improves productivity while achieving the required light transmission characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This solution enables seamless integration of illuminated surfaces into flexible substrates, providing improved light transmission, controlled viewing angles, and cost-effective manufacturing, addressing issues of brightness, visual content flexibility, and mechanical flexibility in interactive objects like garments and accessories.

Implementation Method 1

A light-transmissive pattern is formed in a flexible substrate. The light-transmissive pattern includes a plurality of holes that extend from an inside surface of the flexible substrate to an outside surface of the flexible substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS11564421B2Interactive object having light-transmissive pattern with controlled hole-shape

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for interactive objects including illuminated surfaces are provided. An interactive object includes a flexible substrate comprising a soft material that is non-transmissive to light. The interactive object includes a plurality of holes extending from an inside surface of the flexible substrate to an outside surface of the flexible substrate to form a light-transmissive pattern at one or more locations of the flexible substrate. An illuminated surface is positioned adjacent to the inside surface of the flexible substrate with its front surface extending along at least a portion of the inside surface of the flexible substrate at the one or more locations including the plurality of holes. The interactive object includes one or more electronic components electrically coupled to the illuminated surface to control the illuminated surface to provide a visual output.