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US 12,617,317 B1Granted
Article with shapeshifting surface
AssigneeInternational Automotive Components Group NA, Inc.
InventorsCarter Scott Cannon, Sung-up Kim, Alexander H. Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article and method to provide vehicle interior panels that offer control of vehicle systems where the control features visually present themselves to the occupant when a given control is desired or in need. The method includes the use of proximity sensors and a shapeshifting (morphing) surface.
Claims22
A method of operating an interior article of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- providing the article, the article having an outer surface including at least one shifting surface region and at least one non-shifting surface region adjacent the shifting surface region,
- the article having at least one proximity sensor configured to detect an object within a sensing distance of the outer surface,
- the article having at least one controller operable to operate at least one operational function of the vehicle by an occupant of the vehicle,
- the controller disposed beneath the outer surface and activatable by the vehicle occupant upon the vehicle occupant touching the outer surface of the article,
- the article arrangeable in a first positional arrangement of the shifting surface region and the non-shifting surface region relative to each other such that the outer surface of the article has a first shape concealing a location of the controller from the vehicle occupant,
- the article arrangeable in a second positional arrangement of the shifting surface region and the non-shifting surface region relative to each other such that the outer surface of the article has a second shape revealing the location of the controller to the vehicle occupant;
- and
- moving the shifting surface region relative to the non-shifting surface region from the first positional arrangement concealing the location of the controller from the vehicle occupant to the second positional arrangement revealing the location of the controller to the vehicle occupant, in response to the proximity sensor detecting the object within the sensing distance of the outer surface.
5 more elements
An interior article of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- an outer surface including at least one shifting surface region and at least one non-shifting surface region adjacent the shifting surface region,
- at least one proximity sensor configured to detect an object within a sensing distance of the outer surface,
- at least one controller operable to operate at least one operational function of the vehicle by an occupant of the vehicle, the controller disposed beneath the outer surface and activatable by the vehicle occupant upon the vehicle occupant touching the outer surface of the article,
- the article arrangeable in a first positional arrangement of the shifting surface region and the non-shifting surface region relative to each other such that the outer surface of the article has a first shape concealing a location of the controller from the vehicle occupant,
- the article arrangeable in a second positional arrangement of the shifting surface region and the non-shifting surface region relative to each other such that the outer surface of the article has a second shape revealing the location of the controller to the vehicle occupant;
- and
- the shifting surface region movable relative to the non-shifting surface region from the first positional arrangement concealing the location of the controller from the vehicle occupant to the second positional arrangement revealing the location of the controller to the vehicle occupant, in response to the proximity sensor detecting the object within the sensing distance of the outer surface.
4 more elements
A method of operating an interior article of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- providing the article, the article having an outer surface including at least one shifting surface region and at least one non-shifting surface region adjacent the shifting surface region,
- the article having at least one proximity sensor configured to detect an object within a sensing distance of the outer surface,
- the article having at least one controller operable to operate at least one operational function of the vehicle by an occupant of the vehicle,
- the controller disposed beneath the outer surface and activatable by the vehicle occupant upon the vehicle occupant touching the outer surface of the article,
- the article arrangeable in a first positional arrangement of the shifting surface region and the non-shifting surface region relative to each other such that the outer surface of the article has a first shape concealing a location of the controller from the vehicle occupant,
- the article arrangeable in a second positional arrangement of the shifting surface region and the non-shifting surface region relative to each other such that the outer surface of the article has a second shape revealing the location of the controller to the vehicle occupant;
- wherein the article further comprises a flexible deformable bladder;
- and
- moving the shifting surface region relative to the non-shifting surface region from the first positional arrangement concealing the location of the controller from the vehicle occupant to the second positional arrangement revealing the location of the controller to the vehicle occupant, in response to the proximity sensor detecting the object within the sensing distance of the outer surface;
- and
- moving the shifting surface region relative to the non-shifting surface region further comprises inflating and/or deflating the flexible deformable bladder to move the shifting surface region relative to the non-shifting surface region.
8 more elements
An interior article of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- an outer surface including at least one shifting surface region and at least one non-shifting surface region adjacent the shifting surface region,
- at least one proximity sensor configured to detect an object within a sensing distance of the outer surface,
- at least one controller operable to operate at least one operational function of the vehicle by an occupant of the vehicle, the controller disposed beneath the outer surface and activatable by the vehicle occupant upon the vehicle occupant touching the outer surface of the article,
- the article arrangeable in a first positional arrangement of the shifting surface region and the non-shifting surface region relative to each other such that the outer surface of the article has a first shape concealing a location of the controller from the vehicle occupant,
- the article arrangeable in a second positional arrangement of the shifting surface region and the non-shifting surface region relative to each other such that the outer surface of the article has a second shape revealing the location of the controller to the vehicle occupant;
- the shifting surface region movable relative to the non-shifting surface region from the first positional arrangement concealing the location of the controller from the vehicle occupant to the second positional arrangement revealing the location of the controller to the vehicle occupant, in response to the proximity sensor detecting the object within the sensing distance of the outer surface;
- wherein the article further comprises a flexible deformable bladder;
- and
- the shifting surface region is movable relative to the non-shifting surface region by inflation or deflation of the flexible deformable bladder.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.