Smart Leather with Wireless Power Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Luxury vehicle interiors lack functional components beyond aesthetics, necessitating a smart and functional top layer for vehicle components that can enhance the driving experience while maintaining a clean and uncluttered appearance.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a leather sheet with a flexible electronic circuit and pigmented coating applied to create a smart functional vehicle component, where the electronic circuit is powered inductively and integrated with sensors and light sources, providing real-time feedback and functionality without visible clutter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If natural leather is applied as a top layer for vehicle components, then aesthetics and luxurious look are improved, but functionality is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaestheticsVSAvoidfunctionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines natural leather with electronic circuits, sensors, and light sources to create a hybrid structure that maintains the aesthetic qualities of leather while integrating functional electronic components. The electronic elements are embedded within or behind the leather layer, allowing both aesthetics and functionality to coexist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure consisting of natural leather combined with electronic circuits, conductive materials, and optical elements. This composite approach allows the leather to provide aesthetic value while the integrated electronic components provide functionality such as sensing, lighting, and wireless power reception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If electronic circuits are integrated into the leather layer, then functionality is improved, but appearance becomes cluttered

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidappearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic circuits, sensors, and other functional elements are nested within layers beneath the visible leather surface. The leather acts as an outer shell that conceals the electronic components, similar to a nested doll structure where smaller elements are contained within larger ones, maintaining a clean external appearance while providing internal functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The leather layer functions as a flexible shell that covers and protects the electronic circuits beneath. This thin film approach allows the electronic components to be integrated without adding significant bulk or visual clutter, as the leather provides a sleek, continuous surface that masks the underlying electronics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If wireless power delivery is implemented through the leather, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless power deliveryVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical or wired power connection systems with wireless inductive power delivery. Instead of requiring physical connectors or cables to charge devices, the system uses electromagnetic fields generated by coils integrated into the leather to transfer power wirelessly, simplifying user interaction despite the complexity of the underlying electromagnetic system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enhances the driving experience by providing dynamic surfaces and real-time biofeedback, making the vehicle components smart and functional while maintaining an uncluttered appearance, thus addressing the need for both aesthetics and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

a transmitter coil arranged on an inner surface of the leather sheet and electrically connected to a power source. The transmitter coil is configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field when supplied with power from the power source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a receiver coil, wherein the receiver coil is inductively coupled to the transmitter coil. Delivery of power from the power source to the transmitter coil provides a supply of electric current to the electronic circuit by inductive coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductive coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11225191B2Smart leather with wireless power

Publication Date: 2022.01.18 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A functional vehicle component and related methods include a functional leather assembly fixed over a vehicle component. The functional leather assembly includes a leather sheet, a flexible electronic circuit arranged on a first surface of the leather sheet that faces away from the vehicle component to thereby define an outermost surface of the leather sheet, and including a receiver coil inductively coupled to a transmitter coil on the vehicle component for wirelessly transferring power to the functional leather assembly. Power from a vehicle power source can be wirelessly transferred between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil to power electronic elements of the electronic circuit.