Light-Transmitting Veneer Resin Component for Dynamic Wood Grain Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decoration methods using natural wooden veneers can only express one type of wood grain, leading to uniformity issues in appearance quality, especially in vehicle-mounted applications where shape, position, and tone variations are not uniform, limiting design expression.
Innovation Solution
A resin component comprising a natural wooden veneer with a light-transmitting ink printed layer, adhesive layer, and reinforcement layer, allowing for varying wood grain expressions by controlling light transmission and reflection, and optionally including a pattern printed layer for additional design elements, enabling the display of different wood grains and patterns by turning a light source on and off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If natural wooden veneer is used for decoration, then high-grade design expression is achieved, but only one type of wood grain can be expressed leading to uniformity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the veneer decoration switchable between different visual states through light control. The veneer can dynamically change between displaying natural wood grain (when light is off) and displaying printed patterns (when light is on), allowing one physical component to express multiple design characteristics without requiring multiple separate decoration layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the veneer to serve multiple decorative functions simultaneously. The same veneer surface can display natural wood grain patterns, printed patterns, or combinations thereof, depending on lighting conditions. This allows a single decoration component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate decorative elements.
2Illumination intensity
If light source is provided on rear surface of veneer, then wood grain is emphasized by transmitted light, but only one wood grain type is displayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using light-transmitting ink that changes its visual appearance based on lighting conditions. When light is off, the natural wood grain color and texture are visible. When light is on, the ink absorbs and transmits light selectively to reveal printed patterns with different color characteristics, effectively changing the visual color expression of the veneer surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamics to enable the veneer to switch between displaying natural wood grain and printed patterns. By controlling the light source, the same veneer surface can dynamically change its displayed content, allowing multiple wood grain types and patterns to be expressed sequentially rather than requiring multiple static veneer layers.
3Illumination intensity
If veneer thickness is reduced to 0.1-0.6mm for light transmission, then light transmittance reaches 50-80%, but structural strength is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining the thin natural wooden veneer with a light-transmitting resin layer. The resin layer acts as a reinforcement that compensates for the reduced strength of the thin veneer, while both materials together maintain high light transmittance. This composite structure allows the veneer to be sufficiently thin for optimal light transmission (0.1-0.6mm) without sacrificing structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a light-transmitting resin as an intermediary material between the thin veneer and the light source. This resin layer not only reinforces the structurally vulnerable thin veneer but also facilitates light transmission by filling gaps and providing a uniform optical medium, thereby enabling high light transmittance (50-80%) while maintaining strength.
4Adaptability or versatility
If light-transmitting ink printed layer is added to enable pattern display, then design characteristics are enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The light-transmitting ink printed layer is combined with the veneer and resin layer into one composite component. This allows the veneer to simultaneously function as a structural element, a light-transmitting element, and a pattern-display element, eliminating the need for separate decorative layers and simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials to integrate the printed layer with the veneer and resin. By incorporating the light-transmitting ink into the multi-layer composite structure, the pattern display capability is achieved without requiring separate manufacturing steps for applying and adhering distinct decorative layers, as the functions are unified in one composite component.
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 allows for high-design-characteristic expressions of wood grains and patterns, enhancing appearance quality and functionality in both household and vehicle-mounted decorations by varying the displayed wood grain and pattern based on light source activation, while maintaining the tactile experience of natural wood.
Implementation Method 1
light from light source 24 is transmitted through light guide body 23, transparent sheet 22, and veneer 21
Implementation Method 2
the wood grain derived from veneer 21 is expressed during the daytime while light source 24 is turned off
Data Source
AI summary
A resin component includes a natural wooden veneer, a light-transmitting ink printed layer, an adhesive layer, and a light-transmitting reinforcement layer. The veneer includes a sparseness portion and a denseness portion of conduits, is 50% or more and 80% or less in light transmittance, and is 0.1 mm or more and 0.6 mm or less in plate thickness. The light-transmitting ink printed layer is formed on a first surface of the veneer, is 2 μm or more and 20 μm or less in thickness, and contains a pigment or a dye. The adhesive layer is formed on a second surface which is an opposite side of the first surface of the veneer. The reinforcement layer is formed on a surface, which is an opposite side of the veneer, of the adhesive layer.