# US 10,308,177 B2 · Motor-vehicle passenger-compartment component, and a method for manufacturing this component

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- Number: US 10,308,177 B2
- Document ID: US10308177B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/965,308
- Filed: 2018-04-27
- Published: 2018-08-30
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-28
- Assignees: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
- Applicants: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
- Inventors: Antonino Domenico Veca; Matteo Strumia; Vito Guido Lambertini; Maurizio Servetti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308177B2

## CPC

- 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}
- B29C 35/0805: {using electromagnetic radiation}
- B29C 44/12: Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements
- B29C 45/14065: {Positioning or centering articles in the mould}
- B60R 16/005: {Electro-mechanical devices, e.g. switched (electric switches in general H01H)}
- G01N 27/041: {of a solid body}
- G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold}
- H05K 3/105: {by conversion of non-conductive material on or in the support into conductive material, e.g. by using an energy beam}
- B29C 2035/0838: {using laser}
- B29K 2105/04: cellular or porous
- B29K 2105/16: Fillers
- B29K 2507/04: Carbon
- B29K 2995/0005: Conductive
- B29L 2031/3014: {Door linings}
- B29L 2031/3026: {Arm-rests}
- B60N 2/0228: {Hand-activated mechanical switches (B60N2/0229 takes precedence)}
- B60N 2/797: {for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches}
- B60N 2230/20: Wireless data transmission
- B60R 13/0243: {Doors}
- B60R 13/0256: {Dashboard liners}
- B60R 2013/0287: {integrating other functions or accessories}
- H01H 13/704: characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure (H01H13/703 takes precedence)
- H01H 2229/02: Laser
- H01H 2229/056: Laminating
- H01H 2300/036: Application nanoparticles, e.g. nanotubes, integrated in switch components, e.g. contacts, the switch itself being clearly of a different scale, e.g. greater than nanoscale
- H03K 17/964: {Piezoelectric touch switches}
- H03K 17/9645: {Resistive touch switches}
- H05K 1/0373: {containing additives, e.g. fillers (H05K1/036 takes precedence)}
- H05K 1/165: {incorporating printed inductors}
- H05K 1/167: {incorporating printed resistors}
- H05K 2201/026: Nanotubes or nanowires
- H05K 2201/0323: Carbon
- H05K 2201/10053: Switch
- H05K 2201/10098: Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas
- H05K 2203/107: Using laser light
- H05K 2203/1136: Conversion of insulating material into conductive material, e.g. by pyrolysis
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)

## Abstract

A component for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle includes a rigid supporting body, made of plastic material, an outer upholstery skin, made of plastic material, and a padding body made of foamed plastic material, which is set between the rigid body and the outer upholstery skin. The rigid body and the outer skin have portions formed by a polymeric material with carbon-based nanofillers, which have respective inner surfaces facing the padding body, which include one or more paths where said polymeric material with carbon-based nanofillers has been rendered electrically conductive by laser irradiation to define one or more electrical circuits, and one or more piezoresistive areas where the polymeric material has been rendered piezoresistive by laser irradiation to define one or more electrical switches, which can be activated by exerting a localized pressure on the outer upholstery skin.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A component for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising:
a rigid supporting body, made of plastic material;
an outer upholstery skin, made of plastic material; and
a padding body made of foamed plastic material, which is set between the rigid body and the outer upholstery skin and is sufficiently flexible as to enable a user of cause a local deformation thereof by exerting a localized pressure on the outer upholstery skin,
wherein said passenger-compartment component is provided with one or more electrical switches that can be activated by exerting a localized pressure on the outer upholstery skin,
said rigid body and said outer upholstery skin have respective portions comprising a polymeric material with carbon-based nanofillers;
said portions of the rigid body and of the outer upholstery skin have respective inner surfaces facing said padding body,
said inner surfaces including one or more functionalized piezoresistive areas defining said one or more electrical switches, said functionalized piezoresistive areas formed by laser irradiation of said polymeric material with carbon-based nanofillers to cause said one or more functionalized piezoresistive areas to be piezoresistive,
said inner surfaces including one or more functionalized electrically conductive paths, said paths formed by laser irradiation of said polymeric material with carbon-based nanofillers to cause said paths to be electrically conductive locally and to define one or more electrical circuits on said inner surfaces to which said piezoresistive areas are electrically connected, said one or more electrical circuits distinct from non-conductive areas of said inner surfaces,
the electrical circuits on the inner surfaces of the rigid body and of the outer skin being electrically connected together.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuits defined on the inner surfaces of the rigid body and of the outer upholstery skin are connected together by means of additional electrical conductors.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuits defined on the inner surfaces of the rigid body and of the outer upholstery skin are connected together in wireless mode, said electrical circuits defined on each of said inner surfaces including at least one coiled path functioning as receiving and transmitting antenna.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The component according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic control unit for control of said electrical circuits, said electronic control unit being configured for monitoring the electrical resistance of one or more of the aforesaid electrically conductive paths formed on the inner surface of said outer upholstery skin and for generating an alarm signal when the electrical resistance measured departs from a predetermined value, corresponding to a maximum acceptable value of the hardness of the outer upholstery skin.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method for producing a component for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of said rigid body and said outer upholstery skin is obtained starting from a polymeric material with carbon-based nanofillers, wherein said rigid body and said outer upholstery skin are pre-arranged within a mold in positions at a distance apart, for injection between them of a plastic resin designed to constitute said padding body made of foamed plastic material, wherein before setting said rigid body and said outer upholstery skin in the mold, the inner surfaces of said rigid body and of said outer upholstery skin designed to face the padding body of foamed plastic material are subjected to laser irradiation so as to render the polymeric material with carbon-based nanofillers that constitutes said elements electrically conductive in one or more paths that define one or more electrical circuits, and so as to render one or more selected areas of said inner surfaces piezoresistive so as to define one or more electrical switches that can be activated by exerting a localized pressure on the outer upholstery skin.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A method for monitoring the hardness of the outer upholstery skin of a component for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein selected electrically conductive paths formed on the inner surface of the outer upholstery skin are supplied with electric current, wherein the electrical resistance of said electrically conductive paths is consequently determined, and wherein an alarm signal is generated when the electrical resistance measured departs from a predetermined value.