Translucent Trim Cover With Hidden Display and Material-Mimic Finish
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cover elements for vehicles are expensive due to the use of genuine materials like wood, leather, or metal for aesthetic layers, which hide the display element when it's not generating an image.
Innovation Solution
A cover element with a translucent support and a decorative layer that mimics the visual appearance and texture of a predefined material, allowing the display area to present the appearance and feel of the material, even when the display element is off, using inexpensive materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If genuine materials such as wood, leather or metal are used for the aesthetic layer, then the visual appearance and touch feeling are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by creating a decorative layer that reproduces the visual appearance and texture of genuine materials through printing or coating techniques. The decorative layer contains printed patterns or coatings that mimic wood grain, leather texture, or metal finishes, providing a cost-effective alternative to using actual genuine materials while maintaining aesthetic quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the optical properties of the support structure. The support is designed with specific translucency parameters (light transmission rate between 30-40% and transmission haze rate between 10-50%) that allow it to interact with ambient light to enhance the visual appearance of the decorative layer, creating depth and realism without requiring expensive genuine materials.
2Ease of manufacture
If a translucent support with specific optical properties is used, then the cost is reduced and light transmission is improved, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining the translucent support (made from materials like PMMA or polycarbonate) with the decorative layer and texture layer. This composite structure achieves both the desired optical properties (translucency and light transmission) and adequate structural strength for automotive applications, while maintaining cost-effectiveness compared to genuine materials.
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 reduces costs while maintaining a pleasant visual appearance and touch feeling, making the cover element less expensive than traditional trim elements while effectively replicating the look and feel of genuine materials.
Implementation Method 1
said translucent part of the support having an external face and an internal face opposed to the external face, at least a portion of the external face of the translucent part of the support forming the display area
Implementation Method 2
a decorative layer extending at least on the internal face of the translucent part of the support, at least a portion of the decorative layer having the visual appearance of the predefined material
Implementation Method 3
said portion of the decorative layer presenting a transmission haze rate superior or equal to 10% and inferior or equal to 50%
Data Source
AI summary
A cover element having a display area extending in front of a display element and forming an external surface of the element, the display area being configured to present a visual appearance of a predefined material and having a texture of the predefined material. The element includes: a support having a part being translucent and having external and internal faces, a portion of the external face forming the display area, the portion having the texture of the predefined material and the support having a material distinct from the predefined material, and a decorative layer extending on the internal face of the part of the support, a portion of the decorative layer having the visual appearance of the predefined material, the portion of the decorative layer extending in front of the display area.