Quantum Dot Display Screen for Vehicle Trim Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles often remain the same color throughout their lifespan due to the high cost of repainting, limiting owners' ability to change their vehicle's color or appearance as personal preferences evolve.
Innovation Solution
A Quantum Dot (QD) display screen is integrated into vehicle trim panels, featuring a formable polymer substrate, an electric circuit, and quantum dots that emit light, allowing for customizable color and illumination patterns, which can be thermo-formed to follow the contours of the vehicle's panels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles are repainted to change color, then the appearance can be updated according to owner preferences, but the cost becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color change technology through multiple mechanisms: (1) electrochromic glass panels that change transparency and color state in response to electrical signals, (2) liquid crystal layers that alter optical properties when voltage is applied, and (3) quantum dot layers that emit different colors when excited by light or electricity. These technologies enable the vehicle exterior to display various colors and patterns without physical repainting, resolving the contradiction between appearance adaptability and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic color control systems where the vehicle exterior can actively change its appearance characteristics. Controllers receive inputs from sensors, user interfaces, or autonomous systems to dynamically adjust the color state of electrochromic panels, liquid crystal layers, and quantum dot elements. This dynamic capability allows real-time adaptation to different driving conditions, user preferences, or aesthetic requirements without incurring repainting costs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a display screen is integrated into the trim panel, then customization and illumination patterns can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the display system: the electrochromic glass panels serve both as windows and display elements, liquid crystal layers provide both structural support and color modulation, quantum dot layers offer both illumination and color filtering, and the trim panel itself becomes both a structural component and a display surface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated display components, thereby managing complexity while enhancing customization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the display functionality with existing vehicle components: the trim panel is combined with electrochromic, liquid crystal, and quantum dot layers to create an integrated display system. The control system is merged with the vehicle's existing electrical architecture, and the display elements are integrated into the structural panels rather than being added as separate overlays. This merging approach reduces overall system complexity by eliminating redundant components.
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 owners to change the appearance of their vehicle's color and lighting patterns easily, enhancing personalization without the need for repainting and providing energy harvesting capabilities through QD solar cells.
Implementation Method 1
One or more of the quantum dots are configured to absorb light and generate a voltage across the one or more quantum dots
Implementation Method 2
a third layer comprising a plurality of quantum dots configured to emit light, the electric circuit configured to control the emission of light
Implementation Method 3
The display screen is configured to be formed onto the trim panel of the vehicle. The display screen follows the visible contours of the trim panel
Data Source
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AI summary
A Quantum Dot (QD) display screen for a trim panel of a vehicle (12) is provided. The display screen comprising: a first layer (202) comprising a formable polymer substrate; a second layer (204) comprising an electric circuit (204A), wherein the second layer (204) is formed onto the first layer (202); and a third layer (204, 206) comprising a plurality of quantum dots configured to emit light, the electric circuit (204A) configured to control the emission of light; wherein the display screen is configured to be formed onto the trim panel of the vehicle (2) such that the display screen follows the visible contours of the trim panel, the display screen at least partially covering the trim panel.