Vehicle Opening Panel Structure for Sealed Equipment Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for integrating rear side lights and other equipment into motor vehicle tailgates or side doors result in aesthetic issues, such as non-seamless appearance, water penetration, and difficulty in ensuring a flush and sealed integration with the rest of the vehicle body, while also complicating maintenance and esthetic integration of lighting signatures and driver-assistance components.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle opening panel design featuring an inner panel with openings and an outer skin, incorporating an equipment supporting plate within the inner and outer panel volume, which securely holds equipment like lights and cameras, ensuring a seamless appearance and effective sealing, while allowing easy access and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If side lights are mounted on the outer face of the tailgate, then the lighting function is achieved, but the esthetic appearance deteriorates and water penetration risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing against water penetrationVSAvoidmounting complexity and sealing requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The optical units are nested within recesses formed in the inner panel, rather than being mounted on the outer face. This nesting approach allows the outer skin to cover and seal around the optical units, integrating them into the tailgate structure and preventing water penetration while maintaining aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting approach transitions from two-dimensional surface mounting on the outer face to three-dimensional integration within the tailgate thickness. Recesses are formed in the inner panel to accommodate optical units, moving them into the internal volume and allowing sealing from the outer skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If side lights are mounted on the outer face of the tailgate, then the lighting function is achieved, but the esthetic appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting functionVSAvoidseamless appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Optical units are nested within recesses in the inner panel, allowing the outer skin to cover them completely. This creates a seamless appearance where the equipment does not look added-on, while the optical units remain functional through the outer skin material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The outer skin acts as a flexible covering that can be made transparent or translucent in specific zones to allow light transmission while maintaining the seamless aesthetic appearance. The outer skin covers the optical units while still permitting their lighting function to be visible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If equipment is integrated into the tailgate using traditional mounting methods, then the equipment function is achieved, but maintenance access becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment integrationVSAvoidmaintenance access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The tailgate is segmented into functional zones: the inner panel with recesses for equipment mounting, the outer skin for sealing and aesthetic coverage, and access openings for maintenance. This segmentation allows equipment to be integrated securely while providing separate access paths for maintenance without compromising the sealed integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Access openings are extracted from the outer skin to provide maintenance access to the optical units and other equipment. These openings allow technicians to reach and service the equipment without removing the entire outer skin or compromising the sealed integration during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple equipment components are mounted on the outer face, then all equipment functions are achieved, but the number of sealing locations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment integration capabilityVSAvoidnumber of sealing locations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inner panel recesses serve multiple functions: they provide mounting locations for various optical units, create sealed cavities when covered by the outer skin, and organize equipment within the internal volume. This universal approach allows different equipment types to be integrated using the same recess-and-cover methodology, reducing the number of unique sealing solutions needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12485735B2Opening panel of a motor vehicle, provided with a plate for supporting equipment

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 OPMOBILITY SE

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an opening panel of a motor vehicle, comprising: an inner panel, preferably made of plastic; an outer skin, at least partially made of plastic, mounted on the inner panel, and comprising an inner surface facing an outer surface of the inner panel; and an equipment supporting plate covered by the outer skin and mounted directly on the outer surface of the inner panel, said plate being disposed inside an internal volume delimited by the outer surface of the inner panel and by the inner surface of the outer skin.