VW Working On Hidden Emblems That React To Heat

Volkswagen has applied for a new patent that appears to be the next step up from the stylistic feature known as projector lights. In case you haven't seen these little lights in action, they usually sit underneath the side mirror and project your car's name or logo on the ground, just in case you forgot what you were driving.

They do have a practical application, however. Carmakers usually refer to them as puddle lights. They illuminate puddles, so your foot doesn't get wet as you exit the vehicle.

The next step in the evolution of the puddle light, according to Volkswagen, is an integrated surface element on the hood of a vehicle that becomes more visible the hotter the car gets. Seems cool, but not as sublime asFord's customized holograms.

According to the patent discovered byCarBuzzand filed with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office, to make this system work, Volkswagen uses a flat surface, a surface element, and a heat source. The surface element will be placed on both sides of the flat surface, which in this case is the hood. The heat source comes from engine heat, residual engine heat, or heat stored in the vehicle's interior.

The surface element appears to be a specific coat of paint that reacts with heat. It's applied as part of the usual painting process, but it will respond differently and display on the hood, roof, side panel, or flap under the right circumstances. Basically, whatever flat surface you typically find on a car.

According to the patent, it's only applicable to ICE vehicles since you need a heat source. This leads us to believe that it's most likely aimed atcommercial vehiclesrather than passenger cars.