Vehicle Interior Trim With Light Guide Apertures for Hidden Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle interior components lack an effective way to provide illumination while maintaining a decorative and functional surface, failing to seamlessly integrate lighting with the existing design elements.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle interior component featuring a decorative layer with strategically placed holes and a light guide that allows illumination to pass through, creating a composite visual effect when lit, while preventing light from escaping through the surface except at designated apertures, thereby enhancing the visibility of controls and providing a decorative display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is integrated into the vehicle interior component, then illumination is provided to enhance visibility and provide visual effects, but light may escape through the surface compromising the aesthetic and structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific localized openings in the decorative layer where light is intended to pass through. The decorative layer is selectively modified with holes at precise locations to allow light transmission only where desired, while the rest of the surface maintains its opaque, aesthetic properties. This resolves the contradiction by enabling illumination functionality only at specific locations rather than throughout the entire surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light guide as an intermediary element between the light source and the decorative layer. The light guide channels and directs light through the holes in the decorative layer, controlling where light escapes while preventing it from leaking through other areas. This intermediary structure manages the light path to achieve both illumination functionality and aesthetic preservation.
2Illumination intensity
If holes are created in the decorative layer to allow light passage, then illumination is achieved, but the structural integrity and aesthetic appearance of the surface may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative layer is selectively modified with holes only at specific locations where light transmission is desired, rather than creating a porous structure throughout. This localized modification minimizes the impact on overall structural integrity while achieving the illumination function. The holes are strategically placed to provide light passage without compromising the strength of the majority of the decorative layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of multiple layers including the decorative layer, intermediate layer, and light guide. This composite construction distributes structural loads across different layers, compensating for the reduced strength caused by holes in the decorative layer. The combination of materials and layers works together to maintain overall structural integrity while enabling light transmission functionality.
3Ease of operation
If a light guide is added to control light transmission, then light direction and visualization are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is integrated with the existing multi-layer structure of the vehicle interior component, merging the light control function into the decorative assembly rather than adding a completely separate system. The light guide becomes part of the layered construction, combining aesthetic, structural, and light control functions in a unified component arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide serves multiple functions: it channels light from the source, directs light through specific holes in the decorative layer, prevents light leakage in other areas, and integrates with the overall component structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving effective light control.
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 a seamless integration of lighting within the vehicle's interior design, improving the visibility of controls and providing a visually appealing display without compromising the structural integrity or aesthetic of the components.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide coupled to the decorative layer... configured to transmit illumination from the light source to present the interface through the pattern of apertures
Implementation Method 2
a backer configured to prevent illumination to pass from a light source to an outer surface of the decorative layer
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a composite structure comprising a substrate and light guide and surface/cover with holes/pattern of apertures configured for illumination (by a light source/module) to provide an interface/display (with decorative and/or instrumentation region). The light guide may comprise a resin material formed as the set of projections in the pattern of apertures. The cover may comprise a decorative layer with backing configured to provide a visual/surface effect (e.g. natural material, wood veneer, etc.); the display may present a visual/decorative effect when illuminated at the pattern of apertures/light guide. The interface/display at the surface (by illuminated light guide/pattern of holes) may present indicia for a vehicle system and/or decorative effect. The component may comprise a trim/trim panel, instrument panel/dashboard, door panel/armrest, console, overhead trim/headliner, pillar/structure, seat, etc.