A vehicle interior component includes a first surface, a second surface that is adjacent to the first surface, an edge disposed between the first surface and the second surface, and an operating element where an item of operating information can be input by the operating element. The operating element is disposed adjacent to the edge on the first surface and/or on the second surface and the operating element is nonvisible in an inoperative state and is visible in an operative state.

An ambient lighting system for automobiles configured to illuminate a passenger compartment, comprises: an optical system in turn comprising: a plurality of RGB LED light sources; a structural support on which the light sources are placed; and a contact surface on which a user can interact, and through which light rays can exit. The ambient lighting system also includes: a control unit configured to control the RGB LED light sources in order to present light animations; and a touch sensor configured to detect touch of the contact surface in a defined region, which is configured to define, along the optical system at least one soft key. The ambient lighting system further includes: a voice command recognition system electronically connected to the control unit and configured to recognize voice commands; and a projector configured to project an image, such as a symbol and/or logo, on the contact surface.

A vehicle interior component includes an interior component body arranged along a vehicle body member with a face thereof exposed to a vehicle room and a display unit arranged at the interior component body to perform displaying for a passenger. The display unit includes a light source to radiate light to the interior component body from a back face side thereof, a transmissive section to perform displaying to be visible from a front face side of the interior component body by being transmissively illuminated with light from the light source as being formed by thinning a region of the interior component body, and a reinforcing member arranged on the back face side of the interior component body to reinforce the transmissive section.

The invention relates to a display device comprising a display plane, on which one or more planar display regions 10, 11 are arranged, said planar regions 10, 11 being covered by transparent coverings. A single transparent covering 3 covers all the planar display regions 10, 11 of the display device, is formed three-dimensionally on the viewer's side by regions of differing thicknesses and is connected on the side facing away from the viewer to the planar display regions 10, 11 by means of optical bonding. The refractive index of the material of the covering 3 corresponds to the refractive index of the optical-bonding material 8.

A shaped part can comprise an opaque decorative layer, at least two symbols on the front side, a translucent base, the decorative layer having one or more first light channels, one or more first functional having a first light element, a first functional layer on the rear side of the base, the first functional elements on the front side of the first functional layer, the decorative layer having one or more second light channels, one or more second functional elements having a second light element, a second functional layer on the rear side of the decorative layer, the second functional elements in or on the second functional layer, and being provided at least partially in the second light channels, the second functional elements covering the second light channels of the decorative layer such that the second light channels become or are shielded from light of the first light elements.

A vehicle interior component configured to provide a user interface for vehicle systems is disclosed. The component may provide a user interface for a vehicle occupant. The component may comprise a composite structure to provide the user interface comprising a cover providing an exterior surface, a sensor, light panel, absorber panel and/or decorative material. The light panel may provide output visible at the exterior surface; the decorative layer and/or absorber panel may provide a visual effect. The cover may comprise a light-transmissive cover; illumination from a display may comprise visible light transmitted through a functional layer and through an at least partially translucent cover. The component may comprise a light panel to provide output visible at the cover exterior surface. A method of operating the user interface provided by the composite structure is also disclosed. The user interface may be coupled to a control system.

An ambient lighting system for automobiles configured to illuminate a passenger compartment, comprises: an optical system in turn comprising: a plurality of RGB LED light sources; a structural support on which the light sources are placed; and a contact surface on which a user can interact, and through which light rays can exit. The ambient lighting system also includes: a control unit configured to control the RGB LED light sources in order to present light animations; and a touch sensor configured to detect touch of the contact surface in a defined region, which is configured to define, along the optical system at least one soft key. The ambient lighting system further includes: a voice command recognition system electronically connected to the control unit and configured to recognize voice commands; and a projector configured to project an image, such as a symbol and/or logo, on the contact surface.

A component for a vehicle interior may comprise a housing; a cover structure comprising a cover surface; and a user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display. The light display may comprise a light guide comprising a projection. The cover structure may comprise a cover base and a cover layer. The cover layer may be molded on the cover base. The cover base may comprise the light guide. The cover layer may comprise an aperture. The projection may extend into the aperture. The cover base may comprise an aperture, recess, notch and/or indentation. The cover layer may comprise a generally opaque material preventing visibility of a recess in the cover base. The cover base may comprise a different color and/or softness than the cover layer. The cover structure may comprise apertures and/or recesses for the light guide.

The skin (1) comprises at least a translucent elastomeric layer (5) composed of a pigmented plastic material and comprising at least one first portion (8) which is configured to be placed in front of a light source (9). The light of this light source (9) produces an image on this first portion (8) of the translucent layer due to the presence of a surface relief (17, 18) on the surface of the translucent layer (5). A clearly visible image can be obtained by providing even small differences in thickness of the translucent layer (5) when the pigmented plastic material thereof has an average spectral attenuation coefficient (α.sub.av) of between 1.0 and 25 mm.sup.−1. The difference in layer thickness (d.sub.2-d.sub.1) and the average spectral attenuation coefficient (α.sub.av) should moreover be large enough to meet the formula: α.sub.av(d .sub.2−d.sub.1)>-In a, wherein a is equal to 0.50. Since the surface relief (18an automatically be produced when moulding the translucent layer (5) against a mould surface, the image can easily be obtained in the correct position on the skin (1).

A vehicle interior component comprising a cover with a surface providing a display region is disclosed. The component may comprise a composite layer/structure and light source to provide light at a first and a second visible color/wavelength. The composite layer may comprise light-transmissive segments with color and light-transmissive transparent/translucent segments; light at the first wavelength is transmitted through a first segment and transparent/translucent segment to present a first image/visual effect at the display region; light at the second wavelength is transmitted through a second segment and transparent/translucent segment to present a second image/visual effect at the display region; light at the first wavelength is obstructed by the second segment; light at the second wavelength is obstructed by the first segment; transparent/translucent segments transmit light at first and second wavelengths. The composite layer may comprise a multi-layer form on the cover.