Smart functional leather for recharging a portable electronic device

• US 10,742,061 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ali, Zainab I., Scott, Patricia A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parihar, Suchin
• Application Number:
  US15/635,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20190006872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/47 using wireless power transfer or transmission.
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/02 Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners B60R13/01 takes precedence ; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/016 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits

Abstract

A smart functional vehicle component includes a vehicle component, a leather sheet fixed over a surface of the vehicle component, a flexible electronic circuit contacting an A-surface of the leather sheet and including a printed and cured conductive ink, and a pigmented coating arranged over the electronic circuit. The circuit includes a wireless transmitter, which is configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field when an associated portable electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the wireless transmitter. The circuit may also include an electronic element such as a light source, a sensor, or a switch. When the circuit includes a light source, the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the circuit and the light source from being visible through the pigmented coating, but light emitted by the light source is visible through the pigmented coating.

Claims

1. A functional vehicle component comprising:

a vehicle component,

a leather sheet fixed over a surface of the vehicle component,

a flexible electronic circuit contacting an A-surface of the leather sheet and including a printed and cured conductive ink, and

a pigmented coating arranged over the circuit.

2. The functional vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein the circuit includes a wireless transmitter configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field when activated.

3. The functional vehicle component according to claim 2, wherein the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the circuit, including the wireless transmitter, from being visible through the pigmented coating.

4. The functional vehicle component according to claim 3, wherein:

the circuit is a first circuit,

the functional vehicle component further comprises a second flexible electronic circuit contacting the A-surface of the leather sheet and including a printed and cured conductive ink,

the functional vehicle component further comprises a light source that emits light when electrical power is supplied to the light source,

the light source is electrically connected to the second circuit and is arranged under the pigmented coating,

wherein the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the second circuit and the light source from being visible through the pigmented coating, and

wherein light emitted by the light source is visible through the pigmented coating.

5. The functional vehicle component according to claim 4, wherein the light source comprises a micro light emitting diode.

6. The functional vehicle component according to claim 4, wherein light emitted by the light source provides visual indicators that convey information to a vehicle occupant.

7. The functional vehicle component according to claim 6, wherein when an associated portable electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter is configured to generate the oscillating electromagnetic field and the light source is configured to emit light that indicates a location of the wireless transmitter.

8. The functional vehicle component according to claim 7, wherein the light source is arranged in a ring around a perimeter of the wireless transmitter.

9. The functional vehicle component according to claim 1, further comprising applying an acrylic urethane anti-soiling component over the A-surface of the leather sheet, wherein the anti-soiling component is included a) as part of the pigmented coating, or b) as a top coat over the pigmented coating.

10. A vehicle system comprising:

a vehicle power system;

an electronic control unit electrically connected to the vehicle power system; and

a functional vehicle component including

a vehicle component,

a leather sheet fixed over a surface of the vehicle component,

a flexible electronic circuit contacting an A-surface of the leather sheet and including a printed and cured conductive ink, and

a pigmented coating arranged over the circuit;

wherein the circuit is electrically connected to the electronic control unit, which is configured to control operation of the functional vehicle component.

11. The vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the circuit includes a wireless transmitter configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field when activated.

12. The vehicle system according to claim 11, wherein the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the circuit, including the wireless transmitter, from being visible through the pigmented coating.

13. The vehicle system according to claim 12, wherein:

the circuit is a first circuit,

the functional vehicle component further comprises a second flexible electronic circuit contacting the A-surface of the leather sheet and including a printed and cured conductive ink,

the functional vehicle component further comprises micro light emitting diodes that emits light when electrical power is supplied to the micro light emitting diodes,

wherein the micro light emitting diodes are electrically connected to the second circuit and are arranged under the pigmented coating,

wherein the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the second circuit and the micro light emitting diodes from being visible through the pigmented coating, and

wherein light emitted by the micro light emitting diodes is visible through the pigmented coating.

14. The vehicle system according to claim 13, wherein:

light emitted by the micro light emitting diodes provides visual indicators that convey information to a vehicle occupant; and

when an associated portable electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter is configured to generate the oscillating electromagnetic field and the light source is configured to emit light that indicates a location of the wireless transmitter.

15. The vehicle system according to claim 14, wherein the micro light emitting diodes are arranged in a ring around a perimeter of the wireless transmitter.

16. A wireless charger for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle power source; and

a wireless charging apparatus including a vehicle component, a leather sheet fixed over a surface of the vehicle component, a flexible electronic circuit contacting an A-surface of the leather sheet and including a printed and cured conductive ink, and a pigmented coating arranged over the circuit;

wherein the circuit is electrically connected to the power source and includes a wireless transmitter configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field when supplied with power from the power source.

17. The wireless charger according to claim 16, wherein the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the circuit, including the wireless transmitter, from being visible through the pigmented coating.

18. The wireless charger according to claim 17, wherein:

the circuit is a first circuit,

the functional vehicle component further comprises a second flexible electronic circuit contacting the A-surface of the leather sheet and including a printed and cured conductive ink,

the pigmented coating is arranged over the second circuit,

the functional vehicle component further comprises micro light emitting diodes that emit light when electrical power is supplied to the micro light emitting diodes,

the micro light emitting diodes are electrically connected to the second circuit and are arranged under the pigmented coating,

wherein the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the second circuit and the micro light emitting diodes from being visible through the pigmented coating, and

wherein light emitted by the micro light emitting diodes is visible through the pigmented coating.

19. The wireless charger according to claim 18, wherein:

when an associated portable electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter is configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field and the light source is configured to emit light that indicates a location of the wireless transmitter.

20. The wireless charger according to claim 19, wherein the micro light emitting diodes are arranged in a ring around a perimeter of the wireless transmitter.