Abstract: An applique is mounted over one or both B-pillars of an autonomous vehicle and includes a display, speaker, touch input, and microphone. The applique may include a curved cover mounted over a printed circuit board (PCB) having LED arrays mounted thereto. A diffuser defines windows for the LED arrays and has a planar surface interfacing with the PCB and a curved surface interfacing with the curved cover. A controller of the vehicle detects proximity to a passenger to be picked up and displays the passenger's name at a first proximity, outputs a spoken message at a second, closer, proximity, and outputs a visible and audible prompt to enter an access code at a third proximity closer than the second proximity.

Abstract: An applique is mounted over one or both B-pillars of an autonomous vehicle and includes a display, speaker, touch input, and microphone. The applique may include a curved cover mounted over a printed circuit board (PCB) having LED arrays mounted thereto. A diffuser defines windows for the LED arrays and has a planar surface interfacing with the PCB and a curved surface interfacing with the curved cover. A controller of the vehicle detects proximity to a passenger to be picked up and displays the passenger's name at a first proximity, outputs a spoken message at a second, closer, proximity, and outputs a visible and audible prompt to enter an access code at a third proximity closer than the second proximity.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method for creating a molded-in-color vehicle panel is provided. The mold may have at least first and second mold members, each having a forming surface for forming a portion of the vehicle panel. One mold member may translate relative to the other to collectively receive a heated resin with a molded-in-color to form the vehicle panel. The resin may be formed into a solid molded-in-color interior vehicle panel. After allowing the resin to partially cool, an aperture may be formed by punching through in the molded-in-color resin with a punch.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a molding system for creating a molded-in-color panel has a first mold member with a first forming surface for forming a portion of a panel with an exposed surface. The molding system has a second mold member having a second forming surface for forming a concealed portion of the panel. One of the first and second mold members is translatable relative to the other to collectively receive a heated molded-in-color resin to form the panel. The molding system has an injector for injecting molded-in-color resin into the mold. The second forming surface is sufficiently smooth so that the exposed surface of the panel is free of visible flow lines.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method for creating a molded-in-color vehicle panel is provided. The mold may have at least first and second mold members, each having a forming surface for forming a portion of the vehicle panel. One mold member may translate relative to the other to collectively receive a heated resin with a molded-in-color to form the vehicle panel. The resin may be formed into a solid molded-in-color interior vehicle panel. After allowing the resin to partially cool, an aperture may be formed by punching through in the molded-in-color resin with a punch.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a molding system for creating a molded-in-color panel has a first mold member with a first forming surface for forming a portion of a panel with an exposed surface. The molding system has a second mold member having a second forming surface for forming a concealed portion of the panel. One of the first and second mold members is translatable relative to the other to collectively receive a heated molded-in-color resin to form the panel. The molding system has an injector for injecting molded-in-color resin into the mold. The second forming surface is sufficiently smooth so that the exposed surface of the panel is free of visible flow lines.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for molding a molded-in-color panel in a mold includes providing a mold having a first mold member and a second mold member. One of the first mold member and the second mold member has an appearance portion forming surface and the other of the first mold member and the second mold member has a concealed portion forming surface corresponding with the appearance portion forming surface. The concealed portion forming surface forms a concealed portion of a panel and is free of any protuberances and ancillary structural members for facilitating ideal surface characteristics of an appearance portion of the panel. Molded-in-color resin is injected in the mold and cooled to form a molded-in-color panel. At least one ancillary structural member is welded to the concealed portion of the panel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a molding system for creating a molded-in-color panel has a first mold member with a first forming surface for forming a portion of a panel with an exposed surface. The molding system has a second mold member having a second forming surface for forming a concealed portion of the panel. One of the first and second mold members is translatable relative to the other to collectively receive a heated molded-in-color resin to form the panel. The molding system has an injector for injecting molded-in-color resin into the mold. The second forming surface is sufficiently smooth so that the exposed surface of the panel is free of visible flow lines.

Abstract: In one embodiment a mold for creating a molded-in-color vehicle panel is provided. The mold may have at least first and second mold members, each having a forming surface for forming a portion of the vehicle panel. One mold member is translatable relative to the other to collectively receive a heated resin with a molded-in-color to form the vehicle panel. At least one punch is provided within one of the first or second mold members. The at least one punch is actuatable to extend through the one forming surface of and is actuatable to extend through a nest to nest in the other forming surface for forming an aperture through a partially cooled vehicle panel.