ILLUMINATED VEHICLE INTERIOR COMPONENT

1 . An illuminated vehicle interior component comprising:

a light-transmissive substrate layer configured to be disposed over a printed circuit layer; and

a decorative layer formed directly onto the light-transmissive substrate layer;

wherein the light-transmissive substrate layer is configured to receive light from a light-emitting device coupled to the printed circuit layer and to illuminate at least a portion of the illuminated vehicle interior component.

2 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive substrate layer comprises a clear or translucent material.

3 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive substrate layer is configured to enable light to pass therethrough if an angle of incidence of a light ray is less than or equal to a threshold angle, and to block light from passing therethrough if the angle of incidence of the light ray is greater than the threshold angle.

4 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive substrate layer is configured to be disposed directly onto the printed circuit layer.

5 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive substrate layer comprises at least one opening configured to direct light from the light-emitting device coupled to the printed circuit layer.

6 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 5 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a chamfered edge configured to direct light.

7 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the decorative layer is formed on the chamfered edge and configured to reflect light.

8 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive substrate layer comprises an angled surface configured to direct light from the light-emitting device coupled to the printed circuit layer.

9 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

10 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 1 , comprising a gauge or an indicator formed from the light-transmissive substrate layer and the decorative layer.

11 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 1 , comprising a capacitive sensor formed from the light-transmissive substrate layer and the decorative layer.

12 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 1 , comprising a light guide layer disposed between the light-transmissive substrate layer and the printed circuit layer, wherein the light guide layer is configured to direct light from the light-emitting device to the light-transmissive substrate layer.

13 . An illuminated vehicle interior component comprising:

a printed circuit layer;

a light-emitting device coupled to the printed circuit layer;

a light-transmissive substrate layer disposed over the printed circuit layer; and

a decorative layer formed directly onto the light-transmissive substrate layer;

wherein the light-transmissive substrate layer is configured to receive light from the light-emitting device and to illuminate at least the portion of the illuminated vehicle interior component.

14 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 13 , wherein the light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

15 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 13 , wherein the light-emitting device is a side lighting device disposed adjacent to the light-transmissive substrate layer and configured to emit light in a direction parallel to the printed circuit layer.

16 . The illuminated vehicle interior component of claim 13 , wherein the light-emitting device is a back lighting device disposed below the light-transmissive substrate layer and configured to emit light in a direction perpendicular to the printed circuit layer.

17 . A method for manufacturing an illuminated vehicle interior component comprising:

forming a light-transmissive substrate layer, wherein the light-transmissive substrate layer is configured to be disposed over a printed circuit layer; and

forming a decorative layer directly onto the light-transmissive substrate layer;

wherein the light-transmissive substrate layer is configured to receive from a light-emitting device coupled to the printed circuit layer and to illuminate at least a portion of the illuminated vehicle interior component.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein forming the decorative layer directly onto the light-transmissive substrate layer comprises using at least one of an in-mold-decorating (IMD) technique and a mold behind technique.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein forming the decorative layer direction onto the light-transmissive substrate layer comprises using at least one of a paint technique, a laser etch technique, a hot-foil transfer technique, and a direct printing technique.

20 . The method of claim 17 , comprising etching the light-transmissive substrate layer to facilitate directing light from the light-emitting device through the light-transmissive substrate layer to illuminate at least the portion of the illuminated vehicle interior component.