DE102019220200A1 - Luminous element for a vehicle and its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting element (100) for a vehicle. The lighting element (100) comprises a one-piece, at least regionally injection-molded cladding element (101) and at least one light element (103). The at least one light element (103) is arranged on an inside of the cladding element (100) and is configured to guide light beams through an outside of the cladding element (101) opposite the inside into the surroundings of the light-emitting element (100).

Description

The presented invention relates to a light-emitting element for a vehicle, a production method for the light-emitting element and a vehicle with the light-emitting element.

Luminous elements are of particular importance in a vehicle interior of a vehicle, as their lighting function enables them to both illuminate the interior of the vehicle and to mark functional elements such as buttons or slide controls. Accordingly, luminous elements should be suitable for marking respective functional elements both during the day or when there is strong incidence of light and at night or when there is weak incidence of light. For this purpose, lighting elements can have a so-called “day design” in which, for example, strong light is only emitted in response to a user input, and a so-called “night design” in which, for example, weak light is continuously emitted.

Furthermore, large-area cladding elements are increasingly used in vehicles, which have special optical and / or haptic properties in order to design the vehicle interior. In this case, cladding elements can also be used to mark functional elements, for example in that a characteristic structure, such as a circuit symbol, is formed in the area of a functional element. Such cladding elements are usually made of plastic and are produced, for example, in an injection molding process. In order to produce the special optical and / or haptic properties, the cladding elements can be covered with a coating or a seal, such as, for example, a lacquer or a film.

As an alternative to a coating or a seal, a cladding element can be produced in a so-called “one-shot process”, ie an injection molding process in which no subsequent coating or sealing takes place, but rather the optical and / or haptic properties of the cladding element during an injection molding process , for example, can be generated by a correspondingly selected injection mold and / or corresponding pressure during the injection molding process.

The WO 2015/124328 A1 describes a method for producing a trim part for an interior of a motor vehicle that can be penetrated by light.

The WO 2018/059862 A1 describes a trim part for a motor vehicle, which has a visible surface formed in the assembled state by a decorative film that is at least partially transparent.

The DE 10 2017 209 581 A1 describes a cladding element for the interior of a motor vehicle with a decorative layer and at least one fastening means and a light guide for backlighting the decorative layer.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cost-effective lighting element for a vehicle that enables functional elements to be marked during the day and at night. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a luminous element with minimal scattered radiation.

The above-mentioned object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred developments of the invention are listed in the description, the drawings and the dependent claims. Features that are disclosed for the individual aspects of the invention can be combined with one another in such a way that, with respect to the disclosure, the individual aspects of the invention are always referred to or can be referred to.

According to a first aspect of the presented invention, a lighting element for a vehicle is presented to solve the above-mentioned object. The lighting element comprises a one-piece, at least regionally injection-molded cladding element and at least one light element. The at least one light element is arranged on an inside of the cladding element and is configured to guide light beams through an outside of the cladding element opposite the inside into an area surrounding the lighting element.

In the context of the present invention, an injection-molded cladding element is to be understood as an uncoated plastic component, the outside of which, ie a side that is visible in the installed state, is at least partially formed by a corresponding mold during an injection molding process. In particular, an injection-molded cladding element is what is known as a “one-shot decor”, ie a cladding element that was at least partially produced in a “one-shot process”. A spray-finished cladding element therefore remains unpainted or unsealed even in the installed state or in the final state. This means that an injection-molded cladding element does not experience any additional material input after it has been manufactured. That which is provided according to the invention is at least regionally corresponding Injection-molded cladding element formed in one piece and is in direct contact with the surroundings, since no protective layer, such as a so-called "in-mold decoration layer" (IMD) or a so-called "in-mold labeling" (IML) is provided. In particular, the at least regionally injection-molded cladding element provided according to the invention is monochrome, since only a plastic is used to produce the cladding element, the surface of which is designed in such a way that it has the desired properties with regard to light reflection and scratch resistance.

In the context of the presented invention, a light element is to be understood as an element which can be irradiated with light rays from a light source. In particular, a light element can be a light guide which is connected to a light source or which itself comprises a light source.

In the context of the presented invention, a radiation characteristic is to be understood as a collection of properties of light rays, in particular a radiation geometry and / or a radiation intensity.

The lighting element presented is based on the combination of an at least regionally injection-molded cladding element and a light element for illuminating, i.e. for backlighting and / or transilluminating the cladding element. The combination of the at least partially injection-molded cladding element and the light element allows properties of the cladding element and the light element to be coordinated particularly precisely so that, for example, light beams provided by the light element are precisely coupled into a predetermined area of the cladding element. The light beams shine through or backlight the specified area and generate a particularly precise luminous pattern on a surface of the luminous element that is visible from an environment, i.e. a visible surface.

Due to the physical properties of the at least partially injection-molded cladding element, in particular the seal-free or coating-free surface, the properties of the light rays radiating through or backlit by the cladding element are determined directly by the cladding element itself and not by a seal, such as a lacquer or a coating, such as for example a film, definitely. Correspondingly, the cladding element provided according to the invention can be designed in such a way that it specifies a light pattern with which light rays incident on a side of the cladding element facing the light element are emitted into an environment.

To generate respective light patterns, the cladding element provided according to the invention can comprise first luminous areas that allow light rays to pass directly into an environment, i.e. can be transilluminated, and include second luminous areas that at least partially deflect and / or block light rays in order to generate diffuse light or shades.

It can be provided that the cladding element has at least one first area, the surface of which has a grain that guides light rays provided by the at least one light element with a predetermined radiation characteristic out of the light-emitting element.

To deflect or guide and / or block light rays provided by the light element provided according to the invention, the cladding element can include particularly strong areas, i.e. areas with a particularly large or thick material or particularly weak areas, i.e. areas with particularly little or weak material.

In particular, a deflection or guiding and / or blocking of light rays provided by the light element provided according to the invention can be achieved through the cladding element by means of grained, that is to say in some areas raised or thinned light areas. In particular, a region of the cladding element can be grained in such a way that it has a multiplicity of recesses through which light rays can shine through the cladding element. Depending on the height and angle of the respective cladding element parts surrounding such recesses, a radiation characteristic of the light beams radiating through the recesses can be specified.

It can furthermore be provided that the cladding element has at least one second region, the surface of which has a structure which deflects light beams with a predetermined radiation characteristic that strike the cladding element from an environment.

In order to implement or represent a so-called “tag design”, the cladding element provided according to the invention can comprise areas that interact with light rays incident from outside, ie from an environment, and deflect them with a predetermined radiation characteristic. For this purpose, such areas can, for example, have a structured, in particular grained surface, which deflects the incident light rays and thereby for example appear at least partially matt and / or glossy. Correspondingly, the cladding element can comprise an area which appears matt when illuminated from an environment in relation to a further area of the cladding element and lights up particularly strongly when illuminated by the light element in relation to the further area of the cladding element.

It can further be provided that the at least one light element comprises at least one coupling interface for introducing or coupling light beams into at least one counter-coupling interface of the cladding element, the at least one coupling interface having a surface structure that allows light beams radiating through the at least one light element in the direction of the counter-coupling interface distracts.

By means of coupling interfaces for coupling light rays emitted by the light element provided according to the invention into the cladding element, a lighting characteristic of the cladding element can be specified very precisely by only coupling light beams selectively into those areas of the cladding element that are supposed to light up according to a specified lighting characteristic or a specified lighting pattern . Correspondingly, the occurrence of so-called “scattered light”, i.e. lighting up of the cladding element in areas that should not light up according to the specified lighting characteristics, in particular using only one light source, is minimized.

In a second aspect, the presented invention relates to a production method for a luminous element. The manufacturing method comprises a generation step for generating an at least regionally injection-molded cladding element in an injection molding process, an arrangement step for arranging at least one light element on the cladding element and an overmolding step for backmolding the at least one light element with plastic in order to attach the at least one light element to the cladding element.

The production method presented serves in particular to produce the luminous element presented, so that mutual reference can be made or referred to with regard to the advantages of the luminous element and the advantages of the production method.

The manufacturing method presented is based on a two-stage process in which, in a first step, an at least regionally injection-molded cladding element is produced. In particular, it is provided that the cladding element is produced exclusively or completely in one production step, ie in a “one-shot process”, and no additional material input for producing the cladding element, such as sealing by a lacquer or a coating by a Slide takes place. In a further step, the light element provided according to the invention is arranged on the cladding element and finally back-molded with plastic.

Provision can be made for at least one first area to be provided on the inside and / or outside of the cladding element, on the surface of which a grain is generated that guides light rays provided by the at least one light element with a predetermined radiation characteristic out of the light element.

By providing a grain, a radiation characteristic of light beams coupled into the cladding element and / or incident on the cladding element can be specified, so that a specified light pattern is created. A graining of the cladding element can be provided during the production of the cladding element, for example by a corresponding shape. Alternatively or additionally, a grain can be produced by an additional tool, such as a laser. For this purpose, material can be selectively removed from the cladding element, for example by means of the tool.

It can further be provided that at least one counter-coupling interface for coupling in light beams provided by a coupling interface of the at least one light element is provided on the cladding element.

A negative feedback interface for coupling light beams into the cladding element provided according to the invention can be provided on the cladding element, for example, by a corresponding shape or by means of an additional tool. In this case, a respective counter-coupling interface can be formed precisely to a respective coupling interface of a corresponding light element, so that the coupling interface and the counter-coupling interface precisely specify a guiding path for light beams provided by the light element, for example by interlocking with one another in a form-fitting manner and minimizing the occurrence of so-called "stray light".

It can also be provided that the cladding element is produced as a “one-shot decor” in a single production step.

A “one-shot decor, which is produced in a single production step, is special inexpensive to manufacture and shows a particularly low manufacturing tolerance due to minimal sources of error, so that particularly precise light patterns can be implemented.

It can furthermore be provided that the production method is carried out by means of a single injection molding tool.

By using a single injection molding tool or a single injection mold, a cladding element can be produced and combined directly with a lighting element to form the lighting element presented. In this case, the cladding element can remain in the injection mold after its production, so that a particularly precise arrangement of the light element on the cladding element can be ensured. By finally back-molding the light element with plastic, for example using the injection mold, the light element can be connected to the cladding element.

It can further be provided that at least one first area is provided on the cladding element by means of a laser, the surface of which has a grain that guides light rays provided by the at least one light element with a predetermined radiation characteristic out of the light element.

By using a laser, which can be used, for example, after the presented light element has been removed from an injection mold or before the lightweight element is arranged on the cladding element, to create respective surfaces, ie an outside or visible side and / or an inside of the cladding element opposite the outside To process, a particularly precise grain can be provided, which precisely specifies a radiation characteristic of light beams introduced into the cladding element by the light element.

Provision can furthermore be made for at least one second region to be provided on the cladding element, the surface of which has a structure which deflects light beams with a predetermined radiation characteristic that strike the cladding element from an environment.

By using a laser, which can be used, for example, after the presented light element has been removed from an injection mold or before the lightweight element is arranged on the cladding element, in order to process an outer surface or visible surface of the cladding element, particularly precise graining can be provided precisely prescribes a radiation characteristic of light rays which impinge on the cladding element from an environment on the cladding element and which are diverted by the grain.

It can furthermore be provided that the at least one first area and the at least one second area overlap.

By means of a grain that deflects light rays incident on the cladding element from an environment as well as light rays coupled into the cladding element or shining through the cladding element according to a predetermined light pattern, a pattern can be generated that is both strong and weak The incidence of light is clearly visible. Correspondingly, such a grain is particularly suitable for identifying functional elements, such as, for example, buttons or rotary controls in a vehicle.

In a third aspect, the presented invention relates to a vehicle with a possible configuration of the presented lighting element.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer möglichen Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Leuchtelements,
• 2 eine Detaildarstellung des Leuchtelements gemäß 1,
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Herstellungsverfahrens,
• 4 einen visualisierten Ablauf einer möglichen Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Herstellungsverfahrens mittels einer einzelnen Form,
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeugs.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of the lighting element according to the invention,
• 2 a detailed representation of the luminous element according to 1 ,
• 3 a schematic representation of the manufacturing process according to the invention,
• 4th a visualized sequence of a possible embodiment of the manufacturing method according to the invention by means of a single mold,
• 5 a schematic representation of the vehicle according to the invention.

In 1 is a luminous element 100 shown. The light element 100 comprises a cladding element 101 and a light element 103 .

The cladding element 101 is at least partially spray-finished, so that its surface is free of paints or coatings.

In particular, the cladding element 101 monolithic.

The light element 103 includes a light guide 105 for guiding through a light source optionally integrated into the light element 107 into the light guide 105 coupled light beams into the connecting element 101 .

Furthermore, the luminous element comprises 101 optionally a plug 109 to supply the light source 107 with electrical energy.

On the light element 103 is a substrate 111 arranged that the luminous element 100 gives structural stability and enables attachment to a vehicle. The substrate also serves 111 for connecting the light element 103 with the cladding element 101 .

In 2 is the light element 100 shown in a detailed representation. It can be seen here that the luminous element 100 first areas 200 includes, in which by the light element 103 in the cladding element 101 coupled light rays 201 radiated into the environment in a given radiation pattern. This is where the first grain appears 203 on one of the light elements 103 facing side of the cladding element 101 together with a second grain 205 on one facing the environment, ie the light element 103 facing away from the cladding element 101 to the rays of light 201 radiate into the environment in the specified radiation pattern.

During a negative feedback interface 207 of the cladding element 101 nearest first grain elements 209 the first grain 203 cause a scattered radiation from by the light element 103 via its coupling interface 211 in the cladding element 101 coupled light rays 201 is minimized, cause second graining elements 213 the second grain 205 that the rays of light 201 according to a predetermined light pattern or at a predetermined distance from one another and / or at a predetermined angle to the surface of the cladding element 101 and / or emitted in a predetermined intensity.

A second grain 205 is shown here enlarged so that its second grain elements 213 or their interaction with respective light rays 201 is particularly easy to recognize. At the edge areas of the second grain, there is an interaction with a surface or a grain of respective adjacent areas, through which a scattered radiation from the first area 200 is minimized out.

Furthermore, the cladding element comprises 101 second areas 215 that is on the cladding element 101 Incident light rays from the environment with a predetermined radiation characteristic break or reflect, so that a characteristic optical impression is created, which is particularly evident during the day, i.e. when the light is exposed to strong light 100 is perceptible.

The second areas 215 can optionally be backlit or backlit, for example in combination with the first areas 200 to generate a luminous pattern.

A coupling area for coupling light from the light element 103 in the cladding element 101 with the coupling interface 211 and the negative feedback interface 207 is also shown enlarged. It can be seen here that the coupling interface 211 has a geometry that is determined by the light conductor 205 deflects radiating light beams, for example deflects at a right angle or an approximately right angle and into the negative feedback interface 207 coupled.

In 3 is a manufacturing process 300 shown. The manufacturing process 300 comprises a generating step 301 for producing an at least regionally injection-molded cladding element in an injection molding process, an arrangement step 303 for arranging at least one light element on the cladding element and an overmolding step 305 for back-molding the at least one light element with plastic in order to attach the at least one light element to the cladding element.

In 4th is a visualization of a possible configuration of the manufacturing process 300 shown.

First is a cladding element 400 in a form 401 produced in an injection molding process. Then there is a light element 403 on the cladding element 400 arranged and back-molded with plastic to a lighting element 405 to create.

In 5 is a vehicle 500 shown. In the vehicle 500 is in the area of a dashboard 501 the light element 100 as it is in 1 is shown, arranged.

The light element 100 serves here to identify functional elements of the vehicle 500 by creating a characteristic light pattern through the first areas at night 200 and during the day a characteristic surface structure through the second areas 215 is recognizable.

List of reference symbols

100

Luminous element

101

Cladding element

103

Light element

105

Light guide

107

Light source

109

plug

111

Substrate

200

first area

201

Rays of light

203

first grain

205

second grain

207

Negative feedback interface

209

first graining elements

211

Coupling interface

213

second graining elements

215

second area

300

production method

301

Generation step

303

Arrangement step

305

Back injection step

400

Cladding element

401

shape

403

Light element

405

Luminous element

500

vehicle

501

Dashboard

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• WO 2015/124328 A1 [0005]
• WO 2018/059862 A1 [0006]
• DE 102017209581 A1 [0007]

Claims (13)

Luminous element (100, 405) for a vehicle (500), the luminous element (100, 405) comprising: - A one-piece at least partially injection-molded cladding element (101, 400) and - At least one light element (103, 403), wherein the at least one light element (103, 403) is arranged on an inside of the cladding element (101, 400), wherein the at least one light element (103, 403) is configured to guide light beams through an outer side of the cladding element (101, 400) opposite the inner side into the surroundings of the light-emitting element (100, 405). Lighting element (100, 405) Claim 1 , characterized in that the cladding element (101, 400) has at least one first area (200), the surface of which has a grain that allows the light rays provided by the at least one light element (103, 403) with a predetermined radiation characteristic from the light element (100, 405). Lighting element (100, 405) Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the cladding element (101, 400) has at least one second region (215), the surface of which has a structure which deflects light beams with a predetermined radiation characteristic that strike the cladding element (101, 400) from an environment. Luminous element (100, 405) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one light element (103, 403) comprises at least one coupling interface (211) for introducing light beams into at least one negative coupling interface (207) of the cladding element (101, 400) , wherein the at least one coupling interface (211) has a surface structure which deflects light beams radiating through the at least one light element (103, 403) in the direction of the negative coupling interface (207). Production method (300) for a luminous element (100, 405), the production method (300) comprising: - producing (301) an at least regionally injection-molded cladding element (101, 400) in an injection molding process, - Arranging (303) at least one light element (103, 403) on the cladding element (101, 400), - Injection molding (305) of the at least one light element (103, 403) with plastic in order to fasten the at least one light element (103, 403) to the cladding element (101, 400). Manufacturing process (300) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that on the inside and / or the outside of the cladding element (101, 400), at least one first area (200) is provided, on the surface of which a grain is produced, which is produced by the at least one light element (103, 403) guides provided light beams with a predetermined radiation characteristic out of the luminous element (100, 405). Manufacturing method (300) according to one of the Claims 5 or 6th , characterized in that at least one counter-coupling interface (207) for coupling in light beams provided by a coupling interface (211) of the at least one light element (103, 403) is provided on the cladding element (101, 400). Manufacturing method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cladding element (101, 400) is finished as a one-shot decoration in a single production step. Manufacturing method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the manufacturing method (300) is carried out by means of a single injection molding tool (401). Manufacturing method (300) according to one of the Claims 5 to 7th , characterized in that at least one first area (200) is provided on the cladding element (101, 400) by means of a laser, the surface of which has a grain which the light rays (201) provided by the at least one light element (103, 403) with a predefined radiation pattern from the luminous element (100, 405) conducts. Manufacturing method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one second region (215) is provided on the cladding element (101, 400), the surface of which has a structure that is transferred from an environment onto the cladding element (101, 400). deflects incident light rays (201) with a predetermined radiation characteristic. Manufacturing process (300) according to Claim 12 , characterized in that the at least one first area (200) and the at least one second area (215) overlap. Vehicle (500) with a lighting element (100, 405) according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th .

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