Transportation vehicle component having integrated electronic-paper display and method for forming such component

1 . A body component for a transportation vehicle comprising:

an e-paper visible from a front side of the body component;

a thermally protective material at least partially surrounding the e-paper; and

an injection molded body element located around at least a portion of the thermally protective material,

wherein the thermally protective material comprises a multi-layer film having a thermally conductive layer and a polymer layer, the polymer layer being located between the thermally conductive layer and the e-paper.

2 . The body component of claim 1 wherein the thermally protective material comprises a polymeric material.

3 . The body component of claim 2 wherein the polymeric material is selected from polycarbonates, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyesters, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethanes, or combinations thereof.

4 . The body component of claim 1 wherein the thermally conductive layer comprises boron nitride, graphene or indium tin oxide and has a thickness of 50 to 200 micrometers.

5 . The body component of claim 1 wherein the multi-layer film additionally comprises an adhesive layer in contact with the e-paper.

6 . The body component of claim 1 further comprising a transparent protective polymer on the front side of the body component through which the e-paper is visible.

7 . The body component of claim 1 wherein the thermally protective material is located on a front side of the e-paper, a backside of the e-paper, and side edges of the e-paper.

8 . The body component of claim 1 further comprising electrical leads connected to the e-paper and extending through the injection molded body element for connecting to a device to enable formation of an image on the e-paper.

9 . A vehicle comprising a body component comprising:

an e-paper visible from a front side of the body component;

a thermally protective material at least partially surrounding the e-paper; and

an injection molded body element located around at least a portion of the thermally protective material,

wherein the thermally protective material comprises a multi-layer film having a thermally conductive layer and a polymer layer, the polymer layer being located between the thermally conductive layer and the e-paper.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the body component is provided as a digital license plate.

11 . A method of making a body component comprising:

providing an e-paper having a thermally protective material adjacent to the e-paper on edges of the e-paper and a backside of the e-paper, and

injection molding a body element around the thermally protective material,

wherein the thermally protective material comprises a multi-layer film having a thermally conductive layer and a polymer layer, the polymer layer being located between the thermally conductive layer and the e-paper.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the injection molding of the body element occurs at a melt temperature of at least 250° C.

13 . The method of claim 11 further comprising providing a transparent protective polymer on a front side of the e-paper.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the thermally protective material is adjacent to the front side of the e-paper and the transparent protective polymer is injection molded over the thermally protective material adjacent to the front side of the e-paper.

15 . The method of claim 11 wherein the thermally protective material is provided in the form of a film or a sheet.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the film or sheet is multi-layer.

17 . The method of claim 15 wherein the multi-layer film or sheet comprises a thermally conductive layer and a polymeric layer and the polymeric layer is located between the e-paper and the thermally conductive layer.

18 . The method of claim 15 wherein the film or the sheet is thermoformed around the e-paper.

19 . The method of claim 15 wherein the film or the sheet is laminated to the e-paper.