IP Library Granted Patent US 12,565,142
Granted Patent B2
US 12,565,142 · App. 18/758,028 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Exterior structure, vehicle exterior structure, and method for controlling exterior structure

Inventors: Shunsuke Aoyama (Kiyosu, JP); Koji Okumura (Kiyosu, JP); Koji Fukagawa (Kiyosu, JP); Hiroaki Ando (Kiyosu, JP); Takeshi Yagami (Kiyosu, JP)
Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
B60Q1/5035B60Q1/0023B60Q1/28F21S43/14F21S43/255F21S43/331F21W2103/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,565,142
App. No.
18/758,028
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exterior structure includes a non-light-transmitting portion configured to not transmit an external light, and a light-transmitting portion arranged near the non-light-transmitting portion and configured to reflect and transmit the external light. Light released outward from the non-light-transmitting portion includes light reflected by the non-light-transmitting portion. Light released outward from the light-transmitting portion includes a combination of light reflected by the light-transmitting portion and light applied to the light-transmitting portion from an inner side and passing through the light-transmitting portion. The color difference ΔE between the light released outward from the non-light-transmitting portion and the light released outward from the light-transmitting portion is 5 or less.

Claims (30)

1 . An exterior structure, comprising:

a non-light-transmitting portion configured to not transmit an external light; and

a light-transmitting portion arranged near the non-light-transmitting portion and configured to reflect and transmit the external light, wherein

light released outward from the non-light-transmitting portion includes light reflected by the non-light-transmitting portion,

light released outward from the light-transmitting portion includes a combination of light reflected by the light-transmitting portion and light applied to the light-transmitting portion from an inner side and passing through the light-transmitting portion, and

a color difference ΔE between the light released outward from the non-light-transmitting portion and the light released outward from the light-transmitting portion is 5 or less.

2 . The exterior structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a display light source arranged at the inner side of the light-transmitting portion, the display light source being configured to emit light to the light-transmitting portion to illuminate and display the light-transmitting portion, wherein

the display light source includes a light-emitting diode that emits visible light and processing circuitry configured to control light emission of the light-emitting diode, and

the processing circuitry is configured to cause the light-emitting diode to emit light such that the color difference ΔE between the light released outward from the non-light-transmitting portion and the light released outward from the light-transmitting portion is 5 or less.

3 . A vehicle exterior structure, comprising:

a non-light-transmitting portion configured to not transmit an external light;

a light-transmitting portion arranged near the non-light-transmitting portion and configured to reflect and transmit the external light; and

a display light source arranged at the inner side of the light-transmitting portion, the display light source being configured to emit light to the light-transmitting portion to illuminate and display the light-transmitting portion, wherein

the light-transmitting portion, in accordance with light emission by the display light source, exhibits color in a state in which an exterior color of the light-transmitting portion is similar to an exterior color of the non-light-transmitting portion or in a state in which the exterior color of the light-transmitting portion is the same as the exterior color of the non-light-transmitting portion.

4 . The vehicle exterior structure according to claim 3 , wherein

the light-transmitting portion includes

a transparent plastic base member,

a first color exhibiting layer containing dye or pigment, and

a second color exhibiting layer containing a filler made of a cold mirror thin film reflecting visible light and transmitting infrared light, and

the light-transmitting portion has a transmittance in a range of 5% to 20% for visible light having wavelengths in a range of 380 nm to 800 nm, a maximum transmittance of 60% or more for infrared light having wavelengths in a range of 900 nm to 2000 nm, and an attenuation factor of 3.0 dB or less for millimeter waves.

5 . The vehicle exterior structure according to claim 3 , wherein

the display light source includes a light-emitting diode that emits visible light and processing circuitry configured to control light emission of the light-emitting diode, and

the processing circuitry is configured to cause the light-emitting diode to emit light such that the light-transmitting portion exhibits color in the state in which the exterior color of the light-transmitting portion is similar to the exterior color of the non-light-transmitting portion or in the state in which the exterior color of the light-transmitting portion is the same as the exterior color of the non-light-transmitting portion.

6 . A method for controlling an exterior structure, the exterior structure including:

a non-light-transmitting portion configured to not transmit an external light;

a light-transmitting portion arranged near the non-light-transmitting portion and configured to reflect and transmit the external light; and

a light-emitting diode arranged at an inner side of the light-transmitting portion and emitting visible light, wherein

light released outward from the non-light-transmitting portion includes light reflected by the non-light-transmitting portion,

light released outward from the light-transmitting portion includes a combination of light reflected by the light-transmitting portion and light applied to the light-transmitting portion from the inner side and passing through the light-transmitting portion, and

the method comprising causing the light-emitting diode to emit light such that a color difference ΔE between the light released outward from the non-light-transmitting portion and the light released outward from the light-transmitting portion is 5 or less.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2024
From: AOYAMA, SHUNSUKE; OKUMURA, KOJI; FUKAGAWA, KOJI; ANDO, HIROAKI; YAGAMI, TAKESHI
To: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067870/0387 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-119177 · Jul 21, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250026264A1 · Jan 23, 2025
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