Component for vehicle interior

1. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer;

wherein the cover layer is molded on the cover base.

2. The component of claim 1 wherein the cover base comprises at least one of (a) an aperture and/or (b) a recess and/or (c) a notch and/or (d) an indentation.

3. The component of claim 1 wherein the cover layer is configured to prevent visibility of a recess in the cover base.

4. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the cover structure comprises at least one of (a) apertures for a light guide and/or (b) recesses for a light guide.

5. The component of claim 4 wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer providing the cover surface.

6. The component of claim 5 wherein the cover base comprises the light guide.

7. The component of claim 5 wherein the cover base comprises at least one of (a) an indentation; (b) an indentation configured for illumination; (c) a recess; (d) a recess configured for illumination; (e) a recess configured to facilitate formation of an airbag door for deployment of an airbag through the cover layer; (f) a recess configured for the light guide; (g) a notch; (h) a notch configured to facilitate formation of an airbag door for deployment of an airbag through the cover layer; (i) a notch configured for illumination; (j) a notch configured for the light guide; (k) an aperture; (l) an aperture configured for illumination; (m) an aperture configured for the light guide.

8. The component of claim 4 comprising at least one of (a) a steering wheel assembly; (b) a console; (c) a floor console; (d) a center console; (e) an instrument panel; (f) a door panel; (g) a dashboard; (h) a display; (i) an arm rest; (j) a cockpit.

9. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer;

wherein the cover base comprises the light guide.

10. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer;

wherein the cover layer comprises an aperture;

wherein the at least one projection of the light guide extends into the aperture of the cover layer.

11. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer;

wherein the cover layer comprises a generally opaque material.

12. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer;

wherein the cover layer comprises a first material and the cover base comprises a second material different than the first material;

wherein the first material comprises a color different than a color of the second material.

13. The component of claim 12 wherein the cover base comprises at least one of (a) an aperture and/or (b) a recess and/or (c) a notch and/or (d) an indentation.

14. The component of claim 12 wherein the first material is softer than the second material.

15. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer;

wherein the cover layer comprises a first material and the cover base comprises a second material different than the first material;

wherein the first material is softer than the second material.

16. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer;

wherein the cover base comprises an indentation;

wherein the cover layer extends into the indentation.

17. The component of claim 16 wherein the cover layer is molded in the indentation.

18. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer;

wherein the at least one projection of the light guide comprises a height above a front surface of the light guide;

wherein the cover layer comprises a thickness;

wherein the height of the at least one projection of the light guide is greater than the thickness of the cover layer.

19. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the cover structure comprises a cover base and a cover layer;

wherein the cover layer provides the cover surface;

wherein the at least one projection of the light guide projects to the cover surface of the cover layer.

20. A component for a vehicle interior configured to present a user interface for an occupant of the vehicle interior with at least one vehicle system comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cover structure comprising a cover surface;

(c) a user interface system configured to present the user interface at the cover surface comprising a light display configured to transmit light from at least one light source and an input device configured to provide an interface with at least one sensor in the housing;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise output from the light display at the cover surface transmitted by the light source;

wherein the user interface is configured to comprise input by interaction of the occupant with the input device at the cover surface through the interface with at least one sensor;

wherein the light display comprises a light guide comprising at least one projection;

wherein the light guide comprises at least one of (a) an injection molded polypropylene; (b) a generally transparent resin material; (c) a light-transmissive material; (d) a PC material; (e) an ABS material; (f) a nylon material; (g) a clear amorphous material; (h) a clarified resin.