Vehicle Interior Trim With Concealed Heating and Dynamic Lighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle interior components lack an integrated solution for providing a dynamic user interface and heating element that can be both aesthetically pleasing and functional, while also being easy to manufacture and install.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle interior component featuring a substrate, a light guide, and a light-transmissive cover that can transmit light to create a dynamic lighting effect, integrated with a heating element, such as heating wires, which can be concealed within the component's structure, allowing for simultaneous operation with the illumination effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle interior component integrates both a dynamic lighting effect and a heating element, then the functionality and user comfort are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a lighting element and a heating element into a single integrated vehicle interior component. The lighting element includes a light guide with optical barriers that can be selectively illuminated, while the heating element is integrated within the same component structure. This merging of functions into one component achieves the desired versatility without proportionally increasing complexity, as the elements share common structural elements like the cover and substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle interior component is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides dynamic lighting effects for user interface presentation, heating capability for occupant comfort, and structural integration with the vehicle interior. The component serves as both a decorative lighting element and a functional heating device, embodying multi-functionality that improves adaptability while managing complexity through unified design.
2Illumination intensity
If a cover is made light-transmissive to present illumination effects, then the visual appeal is improved, but the heating element visibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed with differentiated optical properties in different regions. The first region is made light-transmissive to allow illumination effects to pass through for visual appeal, while the second region is made opaque to conceal the heating element when not in use. This local variation in transparency quality allows the same cover to simultaneously achieve both objectives: presenting beautiful lighting effects while hiding the heating element during non-operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover's appearance dynamically changes based on operational state. When the heating element is active, the cover transitions from a concealed state to a visible state, and when illumination is active, the light-transmissive region allows light to pass through. This dynamic behavior allows the cover to adapt its transparency特性 to different functional requirements, maintaining both visual appeal and element concealment as needed.
3Loss of information
If multiple panels are integrated to provide user interface output, then the information presentation capability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple panels that would traditionally be separate components are merged into a single integrated vehicle interior component. The integration includes the substrate, light guide, cover with differentiated regions, and heating element all forming one unified assembly. This merging allows multiple information presentation functions to coexist in one component, improving information capability while simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of separate parts that need to be produced and assembled.
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 visually appealing and functional user interface with dynamic lighting and heating capabilities, enhancing occupant comfort and interaction with vehicle systems, while being manufacturable through methods like injection molding and thermo-forming.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide may be configured to transmit light between the substrate and the cover
Implementation Method 2
The component may comprise a heating element. The heating element may comprise a set of heating wires
Data Source
AI summary
A component for a vehicle interior configured to be illuminated by a light source may comprise a substrate; a light guide; and a cover comprising an exterior surface. The light guide may transmit light between the substrate and the cover. The cover may be at least partially light-transmissive. The cover may present an effect on the exterior surface. The effect may comprise an illumination/dynamic lighting effect when illuminated. The cover may comprise a profile configured to present a visual effect and/or a surface effect. The component may comprise a concealed heating element between a cover base and a cover layer of the cover. The heating element may comprise a three-dimensional form behind the cover. The cover layer may be formed into a three-dimensional form and the cover base may be formed into a three-dimensional form for the surface effect. The light guide may comprise micro-optical structures.