Vehicle Interior Trim With Hidden-Until-Lit Perforated Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminated interior trim parts for motor vehicles lack the ability to create dynamic and customizable lighting effects, limiting their aesthetic and functional appeal.
Innovation Solution
The interior trim part features a support layer with perforations that allow light to pass through, creating a hidden-until-lit effect. This layer is combined with a cover layer and an illumination unit, which can include LEDs, OLEDs, or light-conducting textiles, and is actuated by a control unit to produce varying light patterns and colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the support layer is made opaque to maintain a uniform closed surface appearance, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the ability to display patterns and structures is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer transitions from a static opaque state to a dynamic illuminated state. When the illumination unit is activated, light passes through the perforations to reveal patterns, structures, images, or lettering. This dynamic switching between concealed and revealed states resolves the contradiction by allowing the surface to maintain uniform appearance when needed while enabling pattern display when illumination is provided.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer utilizes optical property changes through illumination. The perforations are invisible in the non-illuminated state but become visible when light passes through them, creating a hidden-until-lit effect. This principle allows the same structure to provide both uniform appearance and pattern display functionality.
2Shape
If the illumination unit is embedded into the rear side to achieve an overall flat structure, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination unit is divided into multiple independent light sources (such as individual LEDs or segments of an EL foil) that can be separately positioned and controlled within the rear side of the support layer. This segmentation allows for a flat overall structure while enabling flexible manufacturing and selective illumination of different regions through the perforations.
Solution Approach 2:
A light-conducting textile or light conductor is used as an intermediary between the light source and the perforations. This intermediary element facilitates the embedding of the illumination unit into the rear side while maintaining a flat structure, as the light conductor can be integrated within the support layer thickness without protruding.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are used to create dynamic illumination effects, then the aesthetic appeal is improved, but the device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination unit is designed with multi-functionality, where a single integrated unit can produce various illumination effects (different patterns, sequences, colors, and dynamics) by controlling multiple light sources within it. This universal approach allows diverse dynamic effects without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the control system manages multiple functions through a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements periodic or sequential actuation of different light sources within the illumination unit. By switching between different regions or intensities in time sequence, dynamic illumination effects are created without requiring all light sources to operate simultaneously, thereby managing complexity through temporal rather than spatial multiplication.
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 enables the creation of dynamic lighting effects that enhance the aesthetic appeal and functional utility of the interior trim part, providing ambient, orientation, and functional lighting while maintaining a uniform appearance in the non-illuminated state.
Implementation Method 1
The support layer includes a perforation, which forms an illuminated structure, when the illumination unit emits light through the perforation
Implementation Method 2
A variety of different illumination units can come into use as light source and light conductor, including at least an LED light source
Implementation Method 3
including at least an LED light source, including OLEDs, a light conductor, an electroluminescence foil
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an interior trim part of a motor vehicle, which includes a support layer (10), a cover layer (14) on a front side of the support layer and an illumination unit (16-26) on an opposite rear side of the support layer. The support layer includes a perforation (12), which forms an illuminated structure when the illumination unit emits light through the perforation.