# US 11,027,647 B2 · Embossed smart functional premium natural leather > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,647 B2 - Document ID: US11027647B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/857,548 - Filed: 2020-04-24 - Published: 2020-08-06 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-28 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Patricia A. Scott; Zainab I. Ali - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027647B2 ## CPC - B60Q 3/233: Seats; Arm rests; Head rests - B60Q 3/283: Steering wheels; Gear levers - B60Q 3/54: Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners - B60Q 3/745: {using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats} - B60Q 3/80: Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) - B60Q 3/82: Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens - 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}) - H05K 1/0274: {Optical details, e.g. printed circuits comprising integral optical means (H05K1/0269 takes precedence; coupling light guides with opto-electronic components G02B6/42)} - H05K 1/0283: {Stretchable printed circuits} - H05K 1/038: {Textiles (used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366)} - H05K 1/0393: {Flexible materials (H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups)} - H05K 3/284: {for encapsulating mounted components (H05K1/185 takes precedence)} - B60R 2013/0287: {integrating other functions or accessories} - H05K 1/032: {consisting of one material} - H05K 1/095: {for polymer thick films, i.e. having a permanent organic polymeric binder} - H05K 1/181: associated with surface mounted components - H05K 3/0014: {Shaping of the substrate, e.g. by moulding} - H05K 2201/10053: Switch - H05K 2201/10106: Light emitting diode [LED] - H05K 2201/10151: Sensor - H05K 2203/0143: Using a roller; Specific shape thereof; Providing locally adhesive portions thereon - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A smart functional leather assembly includes a leather substrate, an electronic circuit layer including one or more conductive traces and optional electronic elements arranged on the leather substrate, optionally a pigmented coating arranged on the circuit layer, and an optional anti-soiling layer arranged on the pigmented layer. The entire smart functional leather assembly, including the circuit, are embossed to provide an embossed smart functional leather assembly with an embossed pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A functional leather assembly defining a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface, the functional leather assembly including: a leather substrate comprising a first side facing the first surface of the functional leather assembly, and a second side opposite from the first side and facing the second surface of the functional leather assembly; an electrically conductive trace on the first side of the leather substrate; a pigmented coating on the first side of the leather substrate and covering the trace; and an embossed texture embossed into the first surface of the functional leather assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The functional leather assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pigmented coating includes: a first coating applied at a thickness of 20-45 microns; a second coating applied at a thickness of 5-20 micron; and a third coating applied at a thickness of 15-60 microns thick. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The functional leather assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a light source on the first side of the leather substrate and electrically connected to the trace, wherein the pigmented coating covers the light source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The functional leather assembly according to claim 3, wherein light emitted from the light source is visible through the pigmented coating. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The functional leather assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pigmented coating camouflages the light source and trace. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The functional leather assembly according to claim 1, wherein the embossed texture comprises a leather grain texture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The functional leather assembly according to claim 1, further including an anti-soiling component as part of the pigmented layer or as part of an anti-soiling component layer arranged over the pigmented layer. ### Claim 8 A functional leather assembly defining a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface, the functional leather assembly including: a leather substrate comprising a first side facing the first surface of the functional leather assembly, and a second side opposite from the first side and facing the second surface of the functional leather assembly; an electrically conductive trace on the first side of the leather substrate; a light source on the first side of the leather substrate and electrically connected to the trace; and an embossed texture embossed into the first surface of the functional leather assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The functional leather assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a pigmented coating on the first side of the leather substrate and covering the trace and the light source. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The functional leather assembly according to claim 9, wherein the pigmented coating includes: a first coating applied at a thickness of 20-45 microns; a second coating applied at a thickness of 5-20 micron; and a third coating applied at a thickness of 15-60 microns thick. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The functional leather assembly according to claim 9, wherein light emitted from the light source is visible through the pigmented coating. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The functional leather assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pigmented coating camouflages the light source and trace. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The functional leather assembly according to claim 9, wherein the embossed texture comprises a leather grain texture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The functional leather assembly according to claim 9, further including an anti-soiling component as part of the pigmented layer or as part of an anti-soiling component layer arranged over the pigmented layer. ### Claim 15 A method of producing an embossed functional leather assembly, comprising: preparing a functional leather assembly comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface, and including: providing a leather substrate comprising a first side facing the first surface of the functional leather assembly, and a second side opposite from the first side and facing the second surface of the functional leather assembly; applying an electrically conductive trace over the first side of the leather substrate; and a) arranging a pigmented coating over the first side of the leather substrate to thereby cover the trace, and/or b) arranging a light source on the first side of the leather substrate and electrically connecting the light source to the trace; and embossing the first surface of the functional leather assembly to provide an embossed texture in the first surface of the functional leather assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the pigmented coating includes: a first coating applied at a thickness of 20-45 microns; a second coating applied at a thickness of 5-20 micron; and a third coating applied at a thickness of 15-60 microns thick. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the light source is covered by the pigmented coating, and light emitted by the light source is visible through the pigmented coating. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the light source and trace are camouflaged by the pigmented coating. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the embossing includes roll-to-roll heated embossing and the embossed texture comprises a leather grain texture. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode.