ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 5 -- United States Patent no. 12,617,317, issued on May 5, was assigned to International Automotive Components Group NA Inc. (Southfield, Mich.).
"Article with shapeshifting surface" was invented by Carter Scott Cannon (Munich), Sung-up Kim (Grafing, Germany) and Alexander H. Green (Whitmore Lake, Mich.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An article and method to provide vehicle interior panels that offer control of vehicle systems where the control features visually present themselves to the occupant when a given control is desired or in need. The method includes the use of proximity sensors and a shapeshifting (morphing) surface."
The patent was filed on May 20, 2024, under...