Vehicle interior panel with shape-changing surface
US10795519B2 · kind B2 · utility
2Cited by
8References
17Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 2019 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2203/04809
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle interior panel includes a capacitive touch panel with a control surface that can assume different contours. The capacitive touch panel includes a conductive layer beneath the control surface that is sufficiently flexible to maintain electrical continuity when the touch panel changes shape. The conductive layer can be formed from carbon nanobuds or other fullerenes to enable such flexibility, while also providing optical transparency. Pushers situated behind the touch panel extend and retract to stretch the touch panel and allow it to morph from one shape to another.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.