Patent ID: 6975805

Claim:
A light channel communication system for a vehicle interior member, the light channel communication system comprising: an integral polymeric body being a signal-conductive integral medium for transmitting light signals therethrough, the integral polymeric body including a channel portion and a support portion formed about the channel portion, the channel portion having a predetermined index of refraction through which the light signals are transmitted, the support portion being formed of a structure of the vehicle interior member to support a shape of the vehicle interior member, the channel portion having a first index of refraction and the support portion having a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction to allow signals to travel through the channel portion; a transmitter end integral with the body from which signals are transmitted; a receiver end integral with the body from which signals are received from the transmitter end; a transmitter disposed adjacent the transmitter end of the body and configured to produce and encode light signals through the transmitter end; and an optical receiver disposed adjacent the receiver end and configured to receive and decode the light signals from the transmitter.