OLED Panel Custom Marking for Vehicle Lighting Flexibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing illuminated markers for vehicles require expensive and time-consuming mold changes for custom designs, limiting the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of customizing vehicle lighting displays.

Innovation Solution

An illuminated-marking system that integrates an OLED panel within a lighting assembly, where custom markings are printed directly onto the OLED panel using ink compositions, allowing for the blocking or passing of light to create custom illuminated emblems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional mold-based illuminated markers are used, then manufacturing precision and reliability are maintained, but manufacturing cost and production time increase significantly for custom designs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization flexibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses printed markings on the OLED panel surface to create custom illuminated markers instead of traditional mold-based approaches. The markings are applied directly to the panel using printing processes, allowing rapid customization without expensive mold changes. This copying approach enables multiple custom designs to be produced from a single standardized OLED panel structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the OLED panel by applying markings with different light-blocking properties. The markings can be transparent, translucent, or opaque, allowing control over light transmission to create various illuminated marker designs. This parameter change approach enables customization without altering the fundamental panel structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If custom molded markers are produced for each design, then design uniqueness is achieved, but production time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign customizationVSAvoidproduction speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the customization element (markings) from the standardized base structure (OLED panel). The markings are applied as a distinct layer on the panel surface, allowing independent production and application. This segmentation enables rapid customization by simply changing the marking design while keeping the panel manufacturing process standardized and efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The markings are pre-printed onto the OLED panel surface during the manufacturing process using printing techniques. This preliminary action integrates the customization step into the existing production line, eliminating the need for separate molding operations for each custom design and significantly improving production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If ink compositions are printed directly on OLED panels, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but marking precision and consistency become challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmarking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical molding processes with printing processes for applying markings to the OLED panel. Printing technology offers precise digital control over marking placement, size, and design, enabling high precision without the complexity of custom molds. The process uses standard printing equipment that can be programmed for accurate reproduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent controls marking precision by adjusting printing parameters such as ink composition, layer thickness, and curing conditions. By optimizing these parameters, consistent and accurate markings can be achieved across production batches. The ink formulation is specifically designed to provide the required light-blocking properties while maintaining precise application characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables the customization of vehicle lighting displays with custom markings, reducing production costs and time, while providing flexible design options without the need for new molds.

Implementation Method 1

an OLED panel integrated within a lighting assembly and a custom marking disposed on a surface of the OLED panel for blocking a portion of light emitted from the OLED panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOLED light emission: Electroluminescence

Implementation Method 2

The custom marking may have a blocked portion for blocking light and an unblocked portion for allowing light to pass, thereby forming an illuminated emblem

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12310209B2Illuminated-marking system

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 FLEX N GATE ADVANCED PROD DEV LLC

AI summary

An illuminated-marking system for a lamp assembly includes one or more markings illuminated by an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel. The markings may include an ink composition printed directly onto the OLED panel. A process for printing the ink composition includes printing one or more desired ink compositions onto the OLED panel.