New steering wheels, seats and lights for vehicle interior

Interior Interior for all senses

2024-04-30 From Sven Prawitz Sven Prawitz | Translated by AI 4 min Reading Time

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Light, vibrations and new seats are supposed to give the interior additional dimensions. For example, the functions of assistance systems or music could become haptically and visually perceptible.

Seats specifically for electric cars, targeted controlled vibrations, integrated light effects... according to some suppliers, the interior should be perceived with all senses.(Image: Forvia Faurecia) — Seats specifically for electric cars, targeted controlled vibrations, integrated light effects... according to some suppliers, the interior should be perceived with all senses.
(Image: Forvia Faurecia)

In early January, some suppliers used the CES technology fair in Las Vegas as a platform for their new interior products. It was not always about the much-vaunted bits and bytes.

For example, Yanfeng has presented a new manufacturing process for steering wheels. For the "ClickRim" concept, the company has developed segments or half-shells that are clipped onto the steering wheel rim and connected to each other. The number of segments and their surface material can be freely chosen.

All additional functions such as hand recognition or heating mat are pre-assembled and directly integrated into the shells. Decorative and connection seams are not necessary but can be applied if the car manufacturer desires it for optical reasons.

Automate steering wheel production

The impetus for development was the desire for more productive steering wheel production. It takes an average of about 60 minutes to complete a steering wheel. The most time-consuming part is the manually performed lamination process. This involves foaming the metal skeleton of the steering wheel, then bonding a heating mat and finally the surface material to it.

As the supplier informs, manual activities are required in all steps. However, the half-shells of the modular steering wheel concept could be completely automated.

Gallery

The "Supremo" seat was specifically developed for use in electric cars.(Image: Forvia Faurecia)

Forvia has developed a modular seat concept based on the modular principle.(Image: Forvia Faurecia)

Yanfeng Click Rim: Prefabricated segments are expected to reduce manufacturing time by two-thirds.(Image: Yanfeng)

As the company reports, the injection molded part is laminated with the spacer fabric and equipped with the heating mat.

The logo of the vehicle manufacturer or the name of the model could also be integrated directly into the shell during the lamination process.

Shorten production time for steering wheels

According to Patrick Nebout, Chief Technology Officer at Yanfeng Technology, this could eliminate about two-thirds of the conventional production time for each steering wheel. Another advantage results from the concept's structure for the spare parts business and the material recovery of the steering wheels.

This way, the individual components would be replaceable. Defective parts could then be recycled. The metal armature, spacer fabrics, and surface materials could be recycled, the supplier states.

According to the company, the new steering wheel has passed all common prototype tests, including head and body impact tests. Like many new products, it is likely to first enter the market through high-priced vehicles. Yanfeng itself states it will first target the premium and mid-range segment with "ClickRim". The concept is close to series production and could be used from the 2025 model year.

Decor with additional function

In mid-December, Yanfeng announced a collaboration with Tactotek. The latter is a development service provider from Finland. The company offers its IMSE technology for novel lighting systems in automotive interiors and exteriors. The acronym IMSE stands for In-Mold Structural Electronics and therefore for a method of embedding electronics and light guides in a plastic structure.

Yanfeng plans to integrate this technology into its Smart Cabin business. New lighting concepts with functional elements such as haptic feedback and display integration are planned.

Tactotek's technology offers unique design and shaping principles that would enable unconventional shaping, says Yanfeng. The aim is to combine lighting and operating concepts as well as various decorative surfaces in a deeply integrated product approach.

IMSE Technology: Further users

Blue Binaries has also acquired a license for IMSE. The development service provider plans to design novel lighting systems for the interior using this technology. Blue Binaries works in the areas of digital cockpits, electrification, assistance systems, lighting and visibility systems, and comfort electronics.

Another user is HSL: At Las Vegas, the Italian company showed a lighted radiator grill. The service provider has integrated the lighting technology into the plastic part with IMSE. The displayed front grill is less than six millimeters thick and shines at 1,500 cd/m².

The processes for the in-mold technique will be improved this year, the company says. Afterwards, they plan to integrate RGB light sources that can display graphics.

HSL is an Italian service provider for automotive lighting technology - specializing in prototypes and small series.

Front seat specially for electric cars

Tall car drivers may have experienced it themselves: In electric cars, there is often little space left for the head. This is due to the large battery box in the underbody of the vehicles. The seat surfaces thus move closer to the roof of the car.

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Faurecia wants to remedy this: A new seat concept called Supremo has a more compact design than conventional seats.

This is not only intended to benefit the driver and front passenger. The occupants in the rear of a BEV are also expected to get more footroom under the front seats. As an additional function, the seats can be raised and tilted backwards. This is intended to provide occupants with a comfortable position to relax, for example during a charging process.

With "Vibe", a new seat technology from the supplier has made it into series production: Faurecia announced the order of a German car manufacturer. This manufacturer will install the vibration technology in an SUV from the end of 2025.

Vibration linked to music system

Vibe is designed to enable an immersive experience. For this purpose, the function is connected, for example, to the assistance systems. Via vibrations, drivers could be warned of dangers when changing lanes or if they are tired.

The technology could also be used for entertainment and well-being. Linked to the audio system, the haptic feedback gives the sound another dimension. Massage functions are also supposed to be possible with Vibe.

Electro-acoustic transducers send low-frequency vibrations through the seat foam. The functions are supposed to be combined with lighting, headphones, heating, pneumatics or fragrances. The system was developed in five years together with Aurasens. The start-up specializes in making music haptically experienced.