CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[001] This application claims priority to United States Application Serial Number 61/358,016 titled "WIRELESS POWER BY INTEGRATING THE TRANSMITTING

CIRCUIT INTO THE SURFACE OF AN AUTOMOTIVE PART filed June 24, 2010, the entire contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the invention

[002] This invention relates to an electrical circuit integrated into a surface for power transmission, and more particularly to a circuit integrated into a trim component surface and methods of manufacturing the same.

Background of the Invention

[003] Many electronic devices such as mobile phones, navigation devices, mp3-piayers and other mobile audio devices, laptop computers, smart pads, and the like are used in automobiles and other transportation vehicles.

[004] Thus, there exists a need to electrically power these devices within a vehicle. Use of power cords can be inconvenient and charging multiple devices can require a dedicated outlet for each. Further, specific outlet configurations in vehicles require correspondingly configured vehicle chargers which add expense and consume space. Consequently, it can be advantageous to provide wireless power transmission capabilities within a vehicle. However, current wireless power transmission technology is inefficient and provision of wireless power in vehicles according to current technology can be expensive, and difficult to execute, amongst other drawbacks. Summary

[00§3 It is therefore an objective of the present invention, to provide a trim component with an improved power transmission efficiency (i.e., for charging mobiie eiecfronios) by reducing the distance between the inductive coils providing power and the electronics receiving power.

|G063 In some embodiments, the present invention provides a trim component of a vehicle comprising a decorative layer, a protective material iayer, and an electrical circuit path positioned between the B (i.e., back or hidden) surface of the decorative Iayer and the A (i.e., front or show) surface of the protective Iayer, In some embodiments the eiectrical circuit path can comprise conductive ink/paint and the geometric configuration of the circuit path can be suitable for transmitting wireless power. Consequently, an electronic device can be powered directly during use and/or charged for later use.

[007] in some embodiments, the present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a vehicle interior trim component comprising the steps of:

providing a decorative film Iayer; applying conductive material, for example in the form of ink, paint, or film, to the B surface of the decorative film Iayer to provide an eiectrical circuit path; and applying a protective iayer over the conductive material

Brief Description of the Drawings

[008] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a surface-integrated power transmission circuit according to some embodiments of the invention;

[009] Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a surface- integrated circuit according to some embodiments of the invention;

[0 0] Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a surface- integrated circuit according to other embodiments of the invention. Detailed Description of the Drawings

[O l] The description that follows presents various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Although many aspects/features of this invention are described in the context of a vehicle interior, and in particular an interior trim component, it should be understood thai other configurations/implementations are possible and can provide the same or similar advantages. Further, although the disclosed methods are described as a series of steps, the order and inclusion of all steps is not limited to those described. Accordingly, it should be understood that changes and modifications can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[012] In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a vehicle interior trim component. This trim component can be located anywhere in the interior of a vehicle (i.e., automobile, boat bus, train, etc.). The trim component can be, for example, part of a console, dash-board, door panel, instrument panel, or a compartment therein. In another embodiment, the surface-integrated circuit could be incorporated into the consumer electronic device,

[013] This trim component can include a decorative film layer made from a plastic or similar material, which can have a varying degree of flexibility depending on the requirements of the particular construction. Alternatively, the decorative film layer can comprise a layer of ink on a carrier film. In some embodiments, the carrier film can be removed after the trim component is formed. This decorative film layer can comprise an A (visibie or show) surface, which is oriented towards the interior of the vehicle. On the opposite side, the B (back or unseen) surface of the decorative film layer, an electrical circuit path can be provided. This electrical circuit path can be connected to the decorative film layer by material engagement; le. the eSectricai circuit path can be in direct contact with the decorative film layer and chemically and/or physically bound to the decorative layer. Depending on the particular embodiment, the circuit can be applied with/without glue or other adhesive between the electrical circuit path and the decorative film layer. [014] According to the present invention, the eiectrica! circuit path can comprise a conductive materia! in various forms, for example ink, paint, and/or film. The conductive material can comprise an eiectrieaiiy conducting component, for example sliver, copper and/or PEDOT, preferably a binder and/or a solvent, which can be an organic solvent and/or a water-based solvent. The conductive material can be in the form of ink, paint, etched copper, foil, and/or metaiized film, among others. In some embodiments, the circuit materia! comprises adjacent layers of conductive and isolating materials, in some embodiments, the specific electrical resistance of the electrical circuit path can be < 10 ^"1 ohms/cm. The thickness of the electrical circuit layer can be < 50 prn, or 30 μηι, In some embodiments, the electrical circuit material (ink, paint, and/or film, or layers thereof) can be thermally stable such that a protective layer can be molded to the back surface of the decorative film layer without interfering with the electrically conductive/inductive characteristics of the circuit material.

[015] in some embodiments, the conductive material, especially if comprising ink or paint, can be printed, sprayed, molded, and/or screen-printed on the decorative film layer. The conductive materia! can aitemativeiy be deposited in a powder form (e.g. copper, silver, or other powder) by vapor deposition or other means. Alternatively, the electrically conductive materia! can be adhered by glue or an adhesive to the surface of a decorative film or ink on carrier film/material. When the conductive material has dried/cured, a materia! engagement exists between the conductive material and the back surface of the decorative layer. Various electrical components which comprise part of the circuitry can similarly be applied to the back side of the decorative film/ink layer by one of these or other methods known in the art. In some embodiments, the remainder of the

component can be adhered to or formed (e.g., molded) adjacent to the B side of the film comprising the electrical circuit.

[Οΐβ In some embodiments, the eiectrica! circuit can be suitable for transmitting wireless signals which can power or charge an e!ectronic device. The electrical circuit can be especially suitable for providing inductive power. Inductive power uses an electromagnetic fieid to transfer e!ectrica! energy from the eiectrical circuit to the electronic device to be powered and/or charged, The electrical energy can be stored in the electronic device (e.g., in one or more batteries) and/or used to power the device directly, in some embodiments, the eiectrical circuit comprises an inductive coil to create an alternating

electromagnetic fieid, A second induction coil, provided in the electronic device, receives the power signal from the electromagnetic field and converts it back into electrical current to charge the battery of the electronic device and/or to power the device directly,

|01?J in some embodiments, the trim component comprises a protective layer, which can be attached to the back surface of the decorative iayer. This protective layer can be attached to the decorative layer, after the electrical circuit has been applied. The proiective iayer can be applied to protect the electrical circuit and in some embodiments the protective layer maintains the decorative iayer in a certain shape and/or gives the decorative layer material strength. In some embodiments, the protective Iayer comprises a substantia! portion of the mass and/or volume of the trim component. In other embodiments, the protective Iayer comprises a Iayer of material which physicaiiy/ehamicaiiy separates at least a portion of the circuit on the B side of the decorative layer from a base trim material which comprises a substantias portion of the mass and/or volume of the trim component.

[018 J The protective iayer can be attached to the back surface of the decorative film iayer by any method known to a person skilled in the art. In some embodimenis, the protective Iayer can be molded behind the decorative film Iayer on its B side, in some embodiments, the decorative layer, provided with the eleefricai circuit, can be placed in a mold and the substrate material can be filled, for example (in liquid form) injected, into the mould cavity on the back surface of the decorative film layer. In othe embodiments, a solid material can be heat and/or chemically treated to a moldabl state and then manipulated and cooled in a desired shape adjacent the decorative Iayer to set the trim component in the desired form. |019| In some embodiments, prior to applying a protective layer, the decorative layer can be pre~formed in a desired shape after the conductive ink/paint has been applied,

[020] In some embodiments of the present invention, the protective layer oniy partially covers the B surface of the decorative layer. For example, a projection of the decorative layer can be left uncovered. This uncovered projection can be used to connect the trim component to the vehicle electronics (i.e., a power source),

[021] in some embodiments, the trim component can comprise a shielding layer, for example m the decorative layer, to prevent RF/E C-emissions,

[022] Another aspect of the present invention provides a process for the manufacture of an interior trim component, comprising the steps of: providing a decorative layer; applying conductive material to the back surface of the decorative film layer to form an electrical circuit path; and applying a protective layer on the back surface of the decorative film layer.

[023] Another embodiment of the process involves the same steps above except that the carrier film layer can be released or removed and the decorative and conductive inks can be transferred to or retained by the trim (protective) layer of the component.

[024J in another embodiment, the conductive material can be printed or deposited (e.g., Ink-jet, vapor deposition, etc) onto a protective layer before or after it is formed into the desired shape. Alternatively, the conductive material can be printed or deposited onto a protective layer which is then adhered to a trim component base material. The conductive and decorative materia! can be printed or deposited simultaneously, or consecutively.

8 [025] As noted above, in some embodiments, the elaciricai circuit layer can be comprised of successive !ayers of conductive and insulating materia! to increase the strength of the electromagnetic field created for the inductive transfer of power. 026J Figure 1 shows a trim component 1 according to the present invention. This trim component comprises a coii 2, preferably a printed coil 2, which is connected via leads 3, preferably printed leads 3, with a power transmit circuit 4, An electronic device with a receiving coii (not depicted) can be, for example, placed on the trim component 1 and charged wireless iy.

[027] Figure 2 shows details of the trim component 1 according to figure 1. The trim component 1 comprises a carrier layer 5, a decorative layer 6, preferably a printed decorative layer 6, and a protective layer 7, preferably a molded layer 7, Preferably on the decorative layer 8, at least one, preferably a multitude of conductive coil layers is applied by, for example, printing and/or plating. Two conductive Iayers are preferably separated by an insulating layer, respectively, which is preferably also printed or plated. The successive coil- and insulating Iayers are marked with reference sign 8. The stack of layers is embedded in the protective layer 7, which is molded onto the decorative layer 8 afte the coil- or insulating Iayers have been applied to the decorative layer.

[028] Figure 3 shows essentially the embodiment according to figure 2, whereas, in the present case, the carrier layer has been omitted and/or the stack of Iayers 2, 8 is embedded in the decorative layer 6.

List of reference signs:

1 trim component

2 coi!, printed coil

3 coil leads, printed coil leads

4 power transmit circuit

5 carrier film, dear carrier film

8 decorative iayer, printed decorative iayer

? protective layer, molded protective Iayer

8 successive iayers of conductive and insulating coils, successive layers of conductive and insulating, printed or piate coils