| | | BMW 9/10//2024 patent Vehicle component, vehicle and method for communication between a vehicle and a use
This is BMW's Shy Tech shown with the Vision Dee concept at CES 2023, per Pacific Component Exchange. Per BMWBlog, they've continued to develop the concept and in particular, the sensors. All in preparation for the Neue Klasse.
The important thing about this patent, IMHO, is its confirmation that shy tech from BMW requires either thermochromic or electrochromic tech to reveal what's hidden beneath the surface. Like Panoramic Vision Mixed Reality slider BMW had in the Vision Dee concept.
Abstract
A vehicle component includes a display element and/or operating element integrated into a vehicle component surface. The display element and/or operating element has a light source, a base support, a mask and a surface layer. The surface layer is made of a material that becomes transparent when activated.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicle component, comprising:
a display element and/or control element integrated into a vehicle component surface, wherein
the display element and/or control element has
a light source,
a base support,
a mask configured to block passage of light, and
a surface layer;
the surface layer comprises a material that becomes transparent through activation by application of a voltage to the surface layer or exposure of the surface layer to a predetermined temperature; and
the mask becomes visible when the light source is activated.
5. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein
the material is an electrochromic material or a thermochromic material.
From the background and summary:
Another advantageous further development provides that the light source, the base support and the mask form a unit. This creates a compact structure of the display element and/or control element such that the display element and/or control element can be very easily integrated into the vehicle component surface. The light source, base support and mask, and possibly also the surface layer, are particularly advantageously designed in the form of a display, in particular in the form of an LCD display or an OLED. In order to enable an operating function, i.e. an interaction between a user and the display element and/or control element, the display can also comprise an input device, which may be in the form of a touchscreen, for instance...
Owing to the selective controllability, which is independent of the light source, the material of the surface layer is in particular an electrochromic material. This means that the material becomes transparent by applying a voltage. The material thus has the capability of changing its visual properties when an external electric field is applied. According to the present invention, the material becomes transparent when an electric field is applied.
In order to further improve the esthetics of the vehicle component, it is advantageously provided that a surface of the display element and/or control element is aligned with a surface of the vehicle component... The display element and/or control element is particularly advantageously integrated into a center console, a dashboard or a steering wheel such that a surface of the display element and/or control element is aligned with a surface of the center console, dashboard or steering wheel.
Further advantageously in light of the visual properties, a surface of the display element and/or control element is a constituent part of a center console, a decorative element, such as a trim strip, a dashboard, an instrument panel, inside paneling or a door panel and thus seamlessly blends in with the visual appearance of these components.
There's a possibility they could be using PDLC or E-Ink's electrophoretic tech, although the latter isn't ideal for curved surfaces .
But does anybody else recall a JH remark along the lines of SPD special applications on the way? |
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