Abstract: A smart functional leather assembly includes a leather substrate, an electronic circuit layer including one or more conductive traces and optional electronic elements arranged on the leather substrate, optionally a pigmented coating arranged on the circuit layer, and an optional anti-soiling layer arranged on the pigmented layer. The entire smart functional leather assembly, including the circuit, are embossed to provide an embossed smart functional leather assembly with an embossed pattern.

Abstract: A functional vehicle component and related methods include a transmitter coil and a molded part. The molded part includes a first thermoformed film, a molded polymeric structural layer arranged under the film, a printed electronic circuit arranged under the film and adjacent the structural layer, an optional second thermoformed film, and graphics on the first film. The electronic circuit includes a receiver coil, conductive traces, and electronic elements. The first film is arranged to cover the polymeric structural layer and the electronic circuit to thereby define an exposed surface of the molded part. The first film and/or the graphics camouflages the circuit. The transmitter coil is connected to an external power source, and is arranged on the molded part such that the receiver coil is inductively coupled to the transmitter coil so as to wirelessly power the electronic elements of the circuit.

Abstract: A method of producing a functional vehicle component includes fixing a leather sheet over a surface of a vehicle component, applying a flexible electronic circuit to an A-surface of the leather sheet, and arranging a pigmented coating over the circuit. The pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the circuit from being visible through the pigmented coating. The method may include attaching an electronic element, such as a light source, a sensor, a wireless transmitter, or a switch, to the circuit. When the circuit includes a light source, the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the light source from being visible through the pigmented coating, but light emitted by the light source is visible through the pigmented coating.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a measurement of anxiety in a vehicle that include receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors disposed within a plurality of areas of the vehicle. The system and method also include processing the sensor data into metrics associated with a type of measurement. Processing of the sensor data is completed by a neural network. The system and method also include analyzing the processed metrics and determining an anxiety level associated with an occupant of the vehicle. The system and method further include training the neural network based on the anxiety level and at least one driving event that is correlated with the anxiety level.

Abstract: A powering surface assembly includes an electric power transfer arrangement connected to a power source, and having at least one of a conductive fabric, a conductive foam, or an inductive transmitter coil. A light assembly includes an electric power receiving arrangement, which electrically couples with the electric power transfer arrangement when the light assembly is attached to the surface assembly, such that power is transferred from the power source to the light assembly. The electric power receiving arrangement includes at least one of electrical contacts which contact the conductive fabric or the conductive foam, or an inductive receiver coil that inductively couples with the inductive transmitter coil.

Abstract: A robotic device having in-mold electronics is provided. According to one or more aspects, a robotic device includes an electronic computing unit for controlling the robotic device and a molded part. The molded part includes a thermoformed first film, structural layer, electronic circuit, and a functional component. The molded structural layer is arranged under the first film. The thermoformed second film arranged under the structural layer. The electronic circuit arranged over the second film and adjacent the structural layer. The electronic circuit includes a functional component communicably coupled to the electronic computing unit. The first film is arranged to cover the structural layer, the second film, and the electronic circuit to define an exposed surface of the molded part.

Abstract: A system for cleaning a compartment includes a conductive thread incorporated near a surface that has microbes on it. An electric current may flow through the conductive thread to kill the microbes on the surface through low-frequency electromagnetic pulse sterilization of the surface. The conductive trace is also in contact with air in the compartment. The electric current flowing through the conductive trace also ionizes the air within the compartment, which produces charged particles that are removed from the air.

Abstract: A powering surface assembly includes an electric power transfer arrangement connected to a power source, and having at least one of a conductive fabric, a conductive foam, or an inductive transmitter coil. A light assembly includes an electric power receiving arrangement, which electrically couples with the electric power transfer arrangement when the light assembly is attached to the surface assembly, such that power is transferred from the power source to the light assembly. The electric power receiving arrangement includes at least one of electrical contacts which contact the conductive fabric or the conductive foam, or an inductive receiver coil that inductively couples with the inductive transmitter coil.

Abstract: A filter includes filter medium that screens out impurities from a fluid, and a conductive thread contacting the filter medium. A power source provides electric current flowing through the conductive thread, which causes electrical phenomena that is detected by a sensor. A sensor detects the electrical phenomena resulting from the flow of electric current through the conductive thread. Buildup on impurities in the filter causes a change in the electrical phenomena, which change is detected by the sensor and indicates the level of impurities in the filter. An indicator is in communication with the sensor, and provides an alert that the filter should be replaced when the level of impurities exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A functional vehicle component and related methods include a functional leather assembly fixed over a vehicle component. The functional leather assembly includes a leather sheet, a flexible electronic circuit arranged on a first surface of the leather sheet that faces away from the vehicle component to thereby define an outermost surface of the leather sheet, and including a receiver coil inductively coupled to a transmitter coil on the vehicle component for wirelessly transferring power to the functional leather assembly. Power from a vehicle power source can be wirelessly transferred between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil to power electronic elements of the electronic circuit.

Abstract: A smart functional leather assembly includes a leather substrate, an electronic circuit layer including one or more conductive traces and optional electronic elements arranged on the leather substrate, optionally a pigmented coating arranged on the circuit layer, and an optional anti-soiling layer arranged on the pigmented layer. The entire smart functional leather assembly, including the circuit, are embossed to provide an embossed smart functional leather assembly with an embossed pattern.

Abstract: A smart functional leather assembly includes a leather substrate, an electronic circuit layer including one or more conductive traces and optional electronic elements arranged on the leather substrate, optionally a pigmented coating arranged on the circuit layer, and an optional anti-soiling layer arranged on the pigmented layer. The entire smart functional leather assembly, including the circuit, are embossed to provide an embossed smart functional leather assembly with an embossed pattern.

Abstract: A system for providing an alert to an owner of an object that the object is on a surface. The alert reminds the owner that the object is on the surface and to retrieve the object, thus inhibiting abandonment of the object by the owner. The system includes a material layer including a conductive thread thereon. The material layer can define the surface and be arranged in a vehicle. An electrical current flowing through the conductive thread produces an electrical phenomenon. The object produces a change in the electrical phenomenon detected by the sensor. If the object is detected on the surface and the owner of the object is leaving the object on the surface, the system provides the alert to the owner that the object is on the surface so the object can be retrieved by the owner.

Abstract: A filter includes filter medium that screens out impurities from a fluid, and a conductive thread contacting the filter medium. A power source provides electric current flowing through the conductive thread, which causes electrical phenomena that is detected by a sensor. A sensor detects the electrical phenomena resulting from the flow of electric current through the conductive thread. Buildup on impurities in the filter causes a change in the electrical phenomena, which change is detected by the sensor and indicates the level of impurities in the filter. An indicator is in communication with the sensor, and provides an alert that the filter should be replaced when the level of impurities exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system for cleaning a compartment includes a conductive thread incorporated near a surface that has microbes on it. An electric current may flow through the conductive thread to kill the microbes on the surface through low-frequency electromagnetic pulse sterilization of the surface. The conductive trace is also in contact with air in the compartment. The electric current flowing through the conductive trace also ionizes the air within the compartment, which produces charged particles that are removed from the air.

Abstract: A system for providing an alert to an owner of an object that the object is on a surface. The alert reminds the owner that the object is on the surface and to retrieve the object, thus inhibiting abandonment of the object by the owner. The system includes a material layer including a conductive thread thereon. The material layer can define the surface and be arranged in a vehicle. An electrical current flowing through the conductive thread produces an electrical phenomenon. The object produces a change in the electrical phenomenon detected by the sensor. If the object is detected on the surface and the owner of the object is leaving the object on the surface, the system provides the alert to the owner that the object is on the surface so the object can be retrieved by the owner.

Abstract: An electroluminescent light source included as a sheet-like structure as part of headliner in a vehicle. The electroluminescent light source is arranged under an outer layer of fabric, as well as under a layer of foam and a layer of nonwoven textile material. The electroluminescent light source lacks a dedicated housing for containing the electroluminescent light source, which allows for the headliner to maintain a flat and uniform surface that is undisturbed by the inclusion of the electroluminescent light source. When the electroluminescent light source is activated, the emitted light has sufficient brightness to shine through the various layers of the headliner to illuminate the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A robotic device having in-mold electronics is provided. According to one or more aspects, a robotic device includes an electronic computing unit for controlling the robotic device and a molded part. The molded part includes a thermoformed first film, structural layer, electronic circuit, and a functional component. The molded structural layer is arranged under the first film. The thermoformed second film arranged under the structural layer. The electronic circuit arranged over the second film and adjacent the structural layer. The electronic circuit includes a functional component communicably coupled to the electronic computing unit. The first film is arranged to cover the structural layer, the second film, and the electronic circuit to define an exposed surface of the molded part.

Abstract: An electroluminescent light source included as a sheet-like structure as part of headliner in a vehicle. The electroluminescent light source is arranged under an outer layer of fabric, as well as under a layer of foam and a layer of nonwoven textile material. The electroluminescent light source lacks a dedicated housing for containing the electroluminescent light source, which allows for the headliner to maintain a flat and uniform surface that is undisturbed by the inclusion of the electroluminescent light source. When the electroluminescent light source is activated, the emitted light has sufficient brightness to shine through the various layers of the headliner to illuminate the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A functional vehicle component and related methods include a functional leather assembly fixed over a vehicle component. The functional leather assembly includes a leather sheet, a flexible electronic circuit arranged on a first surface of the leather sheet that faces away from the vehicle component to thereby define an outermost surface of the leather sheet, and including a piezoelectric switch that can be actuated to make or break a conductive path in the circuit; and a pigmented coating arranged over the circuit. Upon actuation of the piezoelectric switch to make or break the conductive path in the circuit, the piezoelectric switch provides a haptic signal that indicates the actuation of the piezoelectric switch.