Vehicle Interior Backlit Structure with Flexible Optical Fabric

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle interior structures with back-lit designs fail to meet impact absorption regulations, such as head impact, due to insufficient resistance in the cavity housing the light source, which compromises energy absorption and structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a flexible fabric interwoven with optical fibers as a light source clamped against the internal face of the external covering, allowing the light source to be integrated within a thin interstice between the external and internal structures without creating a deep cavity, thus maintaining impact absorption capabilities while providing illumination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a cavity is formed in the internal structure to house the light source, then the back-lit decorative effect is achieved, but the resistance to depression and impact absorption capability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveback-lit decorative effectVSAvoidresistance to depression

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is extracted from a cavity within the internal structure and relocated to the interstice between the external covering and internal structure. This eliminates the need for a deep cavity that would compromise impact absorption, while still achieving the back-lit decorative effect through the translucent area of the covering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The light source positioning transitions from a three-dimensional cavity space within the internal structure to a two-dimensional planar arrangement in the interstice. This dimensional change allows the light source to be positioned close to the external covering for effective illumination without creating a deep cavity that would reduce structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If a deep cavity is created to position the light source, then the lighting effect is enhanced, but the capability of the internal structure to cushion impact is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting effectVSAvoidimpact energy absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is extracted from a deep cavity configuration and repositioned in the shallow interstice between the external covering and internal structure. This maintains the lighting effect while preserving the internal structure's ability to cushion impact, as the interstice thickness is sufficient for illumination but does not compromise impact absorption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution utilizes the thin interstice space between the external covering and internal structure, effectively using this thin film-like space to house the light source. This approach achieves lighting functionality without creating a deep cavity that would reduce impact cushioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Illumination intensity

If the interstice thickness is increased to house the light source, then the light transmission through the covering is improved, but the impact absorption capability of the internal structure is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidimpact cushioning capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The interstice thickness is optimized to a specific parameter range that balances light transmission requirements with impact absorption capabilities. By controlling the interstice thickness within this optimal range and positioning the light source appropriately within it, both lighting effectiveness and structural strength are maintained.

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

This solution enables vehicle interior structures to meet impact absorption regulations while offering a decorative lighting effect, reducing the interstice thickness to enhance impact cushioning and maintain aesthetic quality under pressure.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible fabric in which is interwoven a plurality of optical fibers... The optical fibers are laid out in order to allow scattering of the light towards the external covering

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission through optical fibers: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

the side of the optical fibers turned towards the external covering is provided for allowing scattering of the light out of the optical fiber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 3

the covering having at least one translucent area... When the light source is active, the light emitted by this source passes through the translucent area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission through translucent material: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS9649978B2Backlit interior structure of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2017.05.16 FAURECIA INTERIEUR IND

AI summary

This structure comprises:an internal structure (3);an external covering (5) connected to the internal structure (3), the external covering (5) having at least one translucent area (37);a light source (7);The light source (7) comprises a flexible fabric (25) in which is interwoven a plurality of optical fibers (29), clamped against an internal face (15) of the external covering (5) that faces the internal structure (3).