# US 11,440,301 B2 · Light permeable vehicle interior panel

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- Number: US 11,440,301 B2
- Document ID: US11440301B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/832,887
- Filed: 2020-03-27
- Published: 2021-09-30
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-27
- Assignees: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Hugo Piccin; Julien Mohy-Paci
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440301B2

## CPC

- B32B 27/12: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
- 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})
- B32B 3/08: characterised by added members at particular parts {(layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18)}
- B32B 3/266: {characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12}
- B32B 5/02: characterised by structural features of a {fibrous or filamentary} layer {(layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02)}
- B32B 5/024: {Woven fabric}
- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- B32B 7/08: by mechanical means
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 7/14: applied in spaced arrangements, e.g. in stripes
- B32B 15/082: comprising vinyl resins; comprising acrylic resins
- B32B 15/09: comprising polyesters
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/20: using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
- B32B 27/302: {comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers}
- B32B 27/308: {comprising acrylic (co)polymers}
- B32B 27/365: {comprising polycarbonates}
- B32B 27/38: comprising epoxy resins
- B32B 38/04: Punching, slitting or perforating
- B32B 37/12: characterised by using adhesives
- B32B 2038/047: {Perforating}
- B32B 2250/02: 2 layers
- B32B 2250/24: All layers being polymeric
- B32B 2260/021: Fibrous or filamentary layer
- B32B 2260/046: Synthetic resin
- B32B 2262/0246: Acrylic resin fibres
- B32B 2262/0269: Aromatic polyamide fibres
- B32B 2262/101: Glass fibres
- B32B 2262/103: Metal fibres
- B32B 2262/106: Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres
- B32B 2270/00: Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers
- B32B 2307/20: having particular electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. piezoelectric
- B32B 2307/202: Conductive
- B32B 2307/41: Opaque
- B32B 2307/412: Transparent
- B32B 2307/414: Translucent
- B32B 2307/732: Dimensional properties
- B32B 2310/0843: using laser
- B32B 2605/003: Interior finishings
- B60Q 3/54: Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
- B60R 2013/0287: {integrating other functions or accessories}
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A vehicle interior panel includes a decorative layer formed from a material that blocks transmission of a range of wireless communication frequencies. Perforations are formed through the material so that the decorative layer permits wireless communication through the panel. The perforations may be formed in a pattern so that an illuminated pattern is displayed at a decorative side of the panel when backlit. The perforations can be made non-visible and enable the use of carbon fiber and other conductive materials in the decorative layer without sacrificing wireless communication capability.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle interior panel, comprising:
a decorative layer formed from a material that blocks transmission of a range of wireless communication frequencies; and
a wireless communicator mounted along a back side of the panel that operates in said range of frequencies,
wherein the decorative layer includes discrete spaced apart perforations such that the wireless communicator can communicate through the panel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 1, wherein the decorative layer comprises carbon fibers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 1, wherein the decorative layer includes metallized fibers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 1, wherein the perforations are non-visible from a decorative side of the panel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 1, wherein each perforation is sized from 10 μm to 70 μm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 5, wherein each perforation is sized at 20 μm or less.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 1, further comprising a substrate underlying the decorative layer, wherein the substrate is at least partially transparent to visible light such that visible light from an underlying light source is transmitted through the panel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 7, further comprising an adhesive layer between the decorative layer and the substrate, wherein at least some of the perforations are directly over the adhesive layer and the adhesive layer is at least partially transparent to visible light.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 7, further comprising an adhesive layer between the decorative layer and the substrate, wherein the substrate is plastic and the adhesive layer is formed from an elastomer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 7, further comprising an adhesive layer between the decorative layer and the substrate, wherein the adhesive layer is non-continuous such that the adhesive layer does not lie directly beneath at least some of the perforations.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 10, wherein the adhesive layer includes perforations aligned with the perforations in the decorative layer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 1, wherein the perforations are arranged in a pattern such that an illuminated pattern appears at a decorative side of the panel when the panel is backlit.

### Claim 13

A vehicle interior panel, comprising:
a substrate comprising a plastic material;
a decorative layer overlying the substrate formed from a material that blocks transmission of a range of wireless communication frequencies, wherein the material of the decorative layer comprises an electrically conductive material; and
an adhesive layer attaching the decorative layer to the substrate,
wherein the adhesive layer is elastomeric and can withstand a temperature-induced strain differential between the substrate and decorative layer without permanent deformation, and
wherein the decorative layer includes perforations such that an underlying wireless communicator that operates in said range of frequencies can communicate through the panel.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 13, wherein the panel includes said underlying wireless communicator mounted along a back side of the substrate.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 13, wherein the adhesive layer has a thickness in between 1 and 3 millimeters.

### Claim 16

A vehicle interior panel comprising a decorative layer formed from a material that blocks transmission of a range of wireless communication frequencies, wherein the decorative layer includes discrete spaced apart perforations such that an underlying wireless communicator that operates in said range of frequencies can communicate through the panel, and
wherein the perforations are sized to be non-visible from a decorative side of the panel in the absence of backlighting.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 16, wherein each perforation is sized from 10 μm to 70 μm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 17, wherein each perforation is spaced from an adjacent perforation by an amount in a range from 0.4 millimeters to 0.6 millimeters.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 16, further comprising:
a substrate comprising a plastic material; and
an adhesive layer attaching the decorative layer to the substrate,
wherein the material of the decorative layer comprises metal or carbon fibers, and
wherein the adhesive layer is elastomeric and can withstand a temperature-induced strain differential between the substrate and decorative layer without permanent deformation.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The vehicle interior panel of claim 16, wherein the panel includes said underlying wireless communicator mounted along a back side of the panel.