Sun visor for a vehicle

Abstract

Sun visor for a vehicle, wherein the sun visor comprises a light source and at least one electronic component for controlling the illumination supplied by the sun visor, wherein the at least one electronic component is a printed electronic component printed onto a structural component of the sun visor, wherein the printed electronic component is configured to receive information about a current operating condition of the sun visor from a control system outside the sun visor and to control the illumination supplied by the sun visor based thereon.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sun visor for a vehicle. Aspects of the invention relate to a sun visor, a light-emitting system for a sun visor, a vehicle with a sun visor, a method for manufacturing a sun visor, and a control module for controlling the illumination supplied by a sun visor. BACKGROUND

[0002] Most road vehicles are equipped with retractable sun visors located above the main windshield in front of the driver's and passenger's seats. Common sun visors typically include a lighting system located next to a vanity mirror, which activates automatically when the mirror is uncovered or operated via a switch. Under certain circumstances, the lighting elements of these sun visors can cause glare and may provide insufficient or unsuitable illumination for specific driving conditions. Furthermore, the lighting elements generally require an electronic control unit (ECU) located outside the sun visor, increasing the weight, cost, and complexity of the lighting system and, in some vehicles, precluding the provision of an illuminated vanity mirror altogether.Furthermore, sun visors with integrated electronic controls typically contain a large number of individual components and can therefore be time-consuming and expensive to manufacture. State-of-the-art patents include: DE 10 2004 059 741 A1, US 4 792 884 A1, JP 2010 - 269 737 A, US 2015 / 0 145 408 A1, US 2016 / 0 082 888 A1.

[0003] The aim of the present invention is to eliminate disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Aspects and embodiments of the invention include a sun visor, a light-emitting system for a sun visor, and a vehicle with a sun visor, as required in the attached claims.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a sun visor for a vehicle is provided, wherein the sun visor comprises a light source and at least one electronic component for controlling the illumination supplied by the sun visor, the at least one electronic component being a printed electronic component printed onto a structural component of the sun visor. Since the illumination of the sun visor is controlled by an integrated control system within the sun visor, it may not be necessary to provide a separate control module or a control unit located outside the sun visor for controlling the visor illumination, and the control of the sun visor may instead be at least substantially self-contained. Since the electronic component(s) are printed onto a structural component of the sun visor, it is not necessary to incorporate separately manufactured printed circuit boards into the sun visor.In this way, the invention minimizes the costs, number of parts, complexity and assembly time for the sun visor and a vehicle with a sun visor, and enables a simple, compact and robust sun visor design.

[0006] The printed electronic component(s) can comprise active and passive electronic components, each of which can be printed onto the structural component, for example, by a screen printing process or alternatively by another known printing process for electronic components. The printed electronic components can form a printed electronic circuit or a printed control module. The printed electronic circuit or printed control module can include at least one processor and at least one memory module and can comprise multiple layers of printed electronic components. The printed electronic components can be interconnected with each other and with the light source by printed traces or wires.

[0007] The light source can include at least one light-emitting element, for example, at least one LED or OLED. The light-emitting element(s) can be printed onto the structural component of the sun visor. Alternatively, the light-emitting element(s) can be manufactured separately from the structural component and then mounted onto the structural component or another component of the sun visor.

[0008] The structural component can be a sun visor cover. For example, the structural component can be a rear sun visor cover (forming the surface of the sun visor facing the vehicle interior when the sun visor is stowed) or a front sun visor cover (forming the surface of the sun visor facing a user when the sun visor is extended). If the component is a sun visor cover, it can be provided with an outer coating or an electrochromic outer layer. Alternatively, the structural component can be an internal structural component located between separate front and rear cover components. The structural component can be a molded plastic part.

[0009] The sun visor may include a light-diffusing device configured to distribute the light emitted by the light source. By providing a light-diffusing device configured to distribute the light emitted by the light source, it is possible to achieve more even and uniform illumination with less glare. In some cases, the light source may be embedded within the light-diffusing device, which can allow for more efficient light transfer into the device.

[0010] The light dispersion device can be applied directly to the structural component, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component, for example, by injection molding. It should be noted that molding the light dispersion device directly onto the component, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component means that the light dispersion device is brought into its final shape in situ against the component, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component. In some cases, a thin layer, such as a protective layer, may be present between the light dispersion device and at least part of the component, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component. Alternatively, the light dispersion device can also be manufactured separately and then assembled together with the component.

[0011] The light source and / or the at least one electronic component can be embedded in the light diffusing device.

[0012] The light-diffusing device may include a body section configured to receive the light emitted by the light source. The body section may be at least substantially sheet-like. The body section may be designed as a single continuous sheet.

[0013] The body section of the light-diffusing device can be arranged adjacent to the component, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component. The body section can optionally be arranged directly adjacent to the component, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component, or, in other cases, the body section can be separated from the component, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component by a thin layer, such as a protective film, or by an adhesive layer. The light source and / or the at least one electronic component can be embedded in the body section. The body section can at least substantially cover the printed electronic circuit.

[0014] The light-diffusing device may include a light-emitting section configured to direct the light emitted by the light source to the outside of the sun visor. The light-emitting section may be configured to direct the light emitted by the light source to the outside of the sun visor through an end face of the light-emitting section. The light-emitting section may also be configured to act as a waveguide to direct the light to the outside of the sun visor.

[0015] The body section can be configured to transfer the light emitted by the light source to the light-emitting section. Alternatively, the light-emitting section can be configured to receive the light emitted directly by the light source, in which case a separate body section for receiving and transferring light to the light-emitting section is not required.

[0016] The light emission section of the light scattering device can be integral with the body section (i.e., as a single monolithic component). The light emission section can extend outward from the plane of the body section, optionally in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the body section. The light emission section of the light scattering device can be connected to the body section by a transition region. The transition region can have a shape that is curved or angled from the plane of the body section. A curved or angled transition region can enable more efficient transmission of light from the body section to the light emission section. The curved or angled transition region can be arranged so as not to disturb the total internal reflection of the light within the transition region.The transition zone may include a reflective surface. The reflective surface can serve to increase the efficiency of light transfer from the body section to the light-emitting section.

[0017] The light-emitting section of the light-diffusing device can be located at or adjacent to at least one edge of the sun visor. Positioning the light-emitting section at or adjacent to the edge of the sun visor can minimize visual distraction caused by the light-emitting system, particularly when a user is looking at a mirror positioned toward the center of the sun visor. In this arrangement, the light-emitting section can be spaced apart from the mirror. The light-emitting section can form a loop extending around the sun visor. The loop can be at least substantially continuous and extend along one or more edges of the sun visor. The light-emitting section can extend along at least one edge of the body section.

[0018] The light emission section of the light diffuser can be configured to focus the light transmitted to the outside of the sun visor. For example, the light emission section can be configured to act as a lens to focus the light transmitted to the outside of the sun visor. The light emission component can, for instance, include a curved outer surface to focus the light transmitted to the outside of the sun visor, although other shapes are also possible. By focusing the light, it is possible to reduce visual distraction caused by the integrated light-emitting system.

[0019] The light diffusion device can be made of acrylic, polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), or glass. Other materials are also possible. The light diffusion device can be made of a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer.

[0020] At least a portion of the light distribution device may be coated to prevent light from escaping. The coating may have a lower refractive index than the material of the light diffusing device. The coating may be applied to one or both sides of the body section of the light diffusing device and / or around at least a portion of an outer edge surface of the light-emission section of the light diffusing device. Alternatively or additionally, the outer edge surface of the light-emission section may be covered by a cover that wraps around the edge of the sunshade.

[0021] The light scattering device can be configured to reflect the light emitted by the light source internally, optionally with total internal reflection.

[0022] The light-diffusing device may be largely invisible from the outside of the sun visor when the light source is not in operation. In some cases, the light-diffusing device may be covered by a first surface covering, which may be an electrochromic cover.

[0023] The sun visor may include a cosmetic mirror. The cosmetic mirror may be located adjacent to and / or surrounded by the light-emitting section of the light-diffusing device. In some cases, the mirror may be covered by a first surface covering, which may be an electrochromic covering.

[0024] The at least one electronic component can be configured to control one or more of the following: color, color temperature, CRI (color rendering index), intensity, illuminance, brightness, and distribution of the light transmitted to the outside of the sun visor. Controlling the light distribution can include varying the areas of the sun visor from which light is transmitted, varying the illumination through specific areas, and / or varying the direction in which the light is transmitted. Color, color temperature, CRI, intensity, illuminance, brightness, and distribution of the illumination can be controlled by controlling the light source, for example, by switching light-emitting elements of different colors or at different locations on and off, and / or by controlling the light intensity emitted by different light-emitting elements.Alternatively or additionally, color, color temperature, CRI, intensity, illuminance, brightness and distribution of the lighting can be controlled by controlling an electrochromic cover or other filter element.

[0025] The sun visor can include at least one sensor, and the at least one electronic component can be configured to control the illumination emitted by the sun visor (for example, by controlling the color, color temperature, CRI, intensity, illuminance, brightness, and / or distribution of the illumination) depending on an output of the at least one sensor. The sensor can be, for example, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, or a camera (occupant-facing and / or forward-facing). Alternatively or additionally, the at least one electronic component can be configured to control the illumination emitted by the sun visor depending on an output of at least one sensor located elsewhere in the vehicle, for example, on a dashboard or a pillar.

[0026] The at least one electronic component can be configured to control the illumination provided by the sun visor based on one or more of the following factors: ambient light conditions inside the vehicle, ambient light conditions outside the vehicle, ambient temperature inside the vehicle, ambient temperature outside the vehicle, weather conditions, time, date, calendar event, vehicle location, and planned destination. This allows the sun visor to provide optimal illumination for various operating conditions. Ambient and / or ambient light conditions can be measured by a light sensor or camera integrated into the sun visor, or alternatively, transmitted wirelessly or via a wired connection to the sun visor by a control system located outside the visor.Temperature, weather, time, date, calendar, location and destination information can be communicated to the sun visor wirelessly or via a wired connection by one or more control systems outside the sun visor.

[0027] The at least one electronic component can be configured to control the illumination through the sun visor depending on vehicle occupancy. This allows the sun visor to provide individualized lighting for different vehicle users. Occupancy information can be determined independently of the sun visor, for example, based on images captured by a camera integrated into the sun visor or based on the detection of a wearable device assigned to a specific user. Alternatively, occupancy information can be transmitted to the sun visor via a control system located outside of it.

[0028] The at least one electronic component can be configured to store user profiles for different vehicle users and control the sun visor lighting depending on the profile of a detected user. The user profiles can include personal lighting settings such as brightness and color temperature for each user, which can be set manually by the user (e.g., via a portable device or infotainment system) and / or automatically generated based on previous user settings (as part of a self-learning system). In some cases, the user profiles can contain information about a user's face, such as facial shape and / or skin tone, which can be used to determine the lighting intended for that user. The user profiles can also contain recognition information that enables user identification (e.g.,based on facial features of the user or the detection of a wearable device assigned to that user).

[0029] In one specific example, at least one electronic component can be configured to control the illumination through the sun visor depending on the vehicle occupancy (according to a user's profile) in combination with the lighting conditions inside and / or outside the vehicle.

[0030] The at least one electronic component can be configured to control the illumination emitted by the sun visor depending on one or more of the following: head position, face direction, eye direction, and / or facial shape of a user. For example, the at least one electronic component can be configured to control the distribution of illumination depending on the head position, face direction, eye direction, and / or facial shape of a user. In this way, the sun visor can provide optimized illumination for looking in a mirror on the sun visor, ensuring that the desired areas of the user's face are adequately illuminated.

[0031] The at least one electronic component can be configured to control the illumination emitted by the sun visor depending on the user's skin tone. For example, the at least one electronic component can be configured to control color, color temperature, CRI, intensity, illuminance, and / or brightness depending on the user's skin tone. In this way, the sun visor can provide accurate and familiar illumination that matches the user's skin tone.

[0032] In some embodiments, the sun visor may include a camera, and the at least one electronic component may be configured to determine a user's head position, facial orientation, eye orientation, facial shape, and / or skin tone. Alternatively, a user's head position, facial orientation, eye orientation, facial shape, and / or skin tone may be determined by a separate control module located elsewhere in the vehicle and transmitted to the sun visor either wirelessly or via a wired connection. Information about facial shape and / or skin tone may also be stored as part of a user's profile.

[0033] Information about a user's head position, facial direction, eye direction, facial shape, and / or skin tone can be used in combination with other information, such as lighting conditions, weather conditions, time, date, calendar event, vehicle location, planned destination, and / or vehicle occupancy, to determine the lighting to be provided by the sun visor. In a specific example, at least one electronic component can be configured to control color, color temperature, CRI, intensity, illuminance, and / or brightness based on a user's skin tone in combination with lighting conditions and / or vehicle occupancy, and optionally also the distribution of the lighting based on the detected head position, facial direction, eye direction, and / or facial shape of the user.

[0034] The at least one electronic component can be configured to control the illumination through the sun visor depending on a user-selected setting. In some embodiments, the sun visor may include one or more control elements, such as a touchscreen, a physical or capacitive switch, a gesture recognition device, and / or a microphone, which allow manual control of the illumination emitted by the sun visor. Alternatively or additionally, the light settings can be controlled via an external device, such as the vehicle's infotainment system.

[0035] The at least one electronic component can be configured to control the illumination through the sun visor depending on the vehicle's state of motion. For example, the at least one electronic component can be configured to change the color of the light emitted by the light source and / or reduce the intensity of the light emitted by the light source, or to switch off the light source when the vehicle starts to move or exceeds a certain speed.

[0036] The at least one electronic component can be configured to control the lighting provided by the sun visor depending on the detected movement of a vehicle in front of the vehicle to which the sun visor is attached and / or depending on a detected change in a traffic light state. For example, the at least one electronic component can be configured to change the color of the light emitted by the light source and / or reduce the light intensity of the light source or switch off the light source when it is detected that a vehicle in front of the vehicle to which the sun visor is attached has started moving or when it is detected that a traffic light has changed to green.

[0037] The sun visor can be configured to provide ambient lighting in the vehicle's cabin, optionally in a stowable position next to the vehicle's roof.

[0038] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a sun visor for a vehicle is provided, wherein the sun visor comprises a light source and a molded layer. The sun visor may further comprise at least one electronic component for controlling the illumination supplied by the sun visor, although in other embodiments the illumination emanating from the sun visor may be controlled by a separate control module outside the sun visor. The molded layer can be applied directly to the light source and / or the at least one electronic component. It should be noted that the molded layer being applied directly to the light source and / or the at least one electronic component means that the molded layer is formed in situ against the light source and / or the at least one electronic component into its final shape.The light source and / or the at least one electronic component can be embedded in the molded layer. In some cases, a thin layer, such as a protective layer, can be present between the molded layer and the light source and / or the at least one electronic component. The sunshade can incorporate any of the features described above with respect to previous aspects of the present invention.

[0039] The light source and / or the at least one electronic component can be provided on a component carrier. In some embodiments, the light source and / or the at least one electronic component can be printed onto the component carrier element, while in other embodiments, the light source and / or the at least one electronic component can be manufactured separately together with the component carrier element before assembly. The mold layer can be applied directly to the component-supporting element.

[0040] The mold layer can be fused with the component-bearing element, for example, during the molding process. In this way, the component-bearing element and the mold layer can together form a single, unified structure. In the final product, the light source and / or at least one electronic component may be suspended within this unified structure.

[0041] The load-bearing element can be pre-formed into its final shape together with the mold layer before assembly. Alternatively, the load-bearing element can be formed together with the mold layer.

[0042] The mold layer can be injection molded onto the component-bearing element, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component. Alternatively, the mold layer can be pre-formed together with the component-bearing element, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component before being brought into its final shape against the component-bearing element, the light source, and / or the at least one electronic component.

[0043] The load-bearing element can be a structural component of the sun visor. Alternatively or additionally, the load-bearing element can be a light-diffusing device.

[0044] The shaped layer can be a light dispersion device configured to distribute the light emitted by the light source. Alternatively or additionally, the shaped layer can be a structural component of the sun visor.

[0045] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided with a sun visor as described above. The vehicle can be a motor vehicle, for example a car.

[0046] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a light-emitting system is provided for a vehicle sun visor, wherein the light-emitting system comprises a light source and a printed electronic circuit for controlling the light source. The light-emitting system may include any of the features described above in relation to previous aspects of the present invention.

[0047] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a sun visor for a vehicle is provided, wherein the method comprises providing a structural component of the sun visor and printing at least one electronic component for controlling the illumination supplied by the sun visor on the structural component. The at least one electronic component can be printed by screen printing. Alternatively, the at least one electronic component can be printed by another technique, for example, flexographic printing, gravure printing, offset lithography, inkjet printing, laser printing, or aerosol deposition.

[0048] The structural component can be a cover for the sun visor. The cover can be a front or rear cover of the sun visor. Alternatively, the structural component can also be an internal structural component located between the front and rear covers.

[0049] The method can further include printing at least one light-emitting element, for example at least one LED or OLED, as part of a light source onto the structural component.

[0050] The method can further include the forming of a light dispersion device for dispersing light emitted from a light source of the sun visor directly onto the structural component, which comprises at least one electronic component and / or the light source.

[0051] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a sun visor for a vehicle is provided, wherein the method comprises providing a light source and forming a shaped layer directly onto the light source and / or at least one electronic component for controlling the illumination supplied by the sun visor.

[0052] The methods described above can be used in the manufacture of a sun visor, including one of the features described above in conjunction with previous aspects of the present invention.

[0053] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a control module or controller for controlling the lighting through a sun visor is provided. The control module can include at least one processor and at least one memory module that can be configured to store criteria for applying different lighting regimes to the sun visor. The control module can optionally be formed from one or more printed electronic components that can be printed onto a structural component of the sun visor. In other embodiments, however, the control module can be formed from one or more electronic components that are manufactured separately from the other components of the sun visor before assembly together with the other components of the sun visor. In still further embodiments, the control module can be located outside the sun visor at another location in the vehicle.In some embodiments, the processors and memory modules forming the control module can be distributed across a variety of positions, including a first position in the sun visor and a second position outside the sun visor.

[0054] The control module can be configured to control the illumination emitted by the sun visor by controlling one or more of the following components: color, color temperature, CRI (color rendering index), intensity, illuminance, brightness, and distribution of the light transmitted to the outside of the sun visor. Controlling the light distribution can include varying the areas of the sun visor from which light is emitted, varying the illumination through specific areas, and / or varying the direction in which the light is emitted. Color, color temperature, CRI, intensity, illuminance, brightness, and distribution of the illumination can be controlled by controlling a light source, for example, by turning light-emitting elements of different colors or at different locations on and off, and / or by controlling the light intensity emitted by different light-emitting elements.Alternatively or additionally, color, color temperature, CRI, intensity, illuminance, brightness and distribution of the lighting can be controlled by controlling an electrochromic cover or other filter element.

[0055] The control module can be configured to adjust the lighting through the sun visor based on a user's skin tone. For example, the control module can be configured to adjust color, color temperature, CRI, intensity, illuminance, and / or brightness depending on the user's skin tone. In this way, the sun visor can provide accurate and familiar lighting that matches the user's skin tone.

[0056] The control module can be configured to control the light emitted by the sun visor based on one or more of the following components: head position, face direction, eye direction, and / or facial shape of a user. For example, the control module can be configured to control the distribution of light depending on the user's head position, face direction, eye direction, and / or facial shape. In this way, the sun visor can provide optimized lighting for looking in a mirror on the visor, ensuring that the desired areas of the user's face are adequately illuminated.

[0057] The control module can be configured to determine a user's head position, facial orientation, eye orientation, facial shape, and / or skin tone, for example, based on images taken by a camera in the sun visor or alternatively at another location in the vehicle. Information about facial shape and / or skin tone can also be stored as part of a user's profile.

[0058] The control module can be configured to regulate the illumination provided by the sun visor based on one or more of the following factors: ambient light conditions inside the vehicle, ambient light conditions outside the vehicle, ambient temperature inside the vehicle, ambient temperature outside the vehicle, weather conditions, time, date, calendar event, vehicle location, and planned destination. This allows the sun visor to provide optimal illumination for various operating conditions. Ambient and / or ambient light conditions can be measured using a light sensor or camera integrated into the sun visor, or alternatively, at another location within the vehicle.

[0059] The control module can be configured to control the sun visor lighting based on vehicle occupancy. This allows the sun visor to provide individualized lighting for different vehicle users. Occupancy information can be determined independently of the control module, for example, based on images captured by a camera in the sun visor or elsewhere in the vehicle, or based on the detection of a wearable device assigned to a specific user. Alternatively, occupancy information can be transmitted to the control module via a separate control system.

[0060] The control module can be configured to store user profiles for different vehicle users and to control the sun visor lighting depending on the profile of a detected user. User profiles can include personal lighting settings such as brightness and color temperature for each user, which can be set manually by the user (e.g., via a portable device or infotainment system) and / or automatically generated based on previous user settings (as part of a self-learning system). In some cases, user profiles can contain information about a user's face, such as facial shape and / or skin tone, which can be used to determine the lighting intended for that user. User profiles can also contain recognition information that enables user identification (e.g.,based on facial features of the user or the detection of a wearable device assigned to that user).

[0061] Information about vehicle occupancy can be used in combination with other information, such as lighting conditions, weather conditions, time, date, calendar events, vehicle location, and / or planned destination, to determine the appropriate level of illumination from the sun visor. In a specific example, the control module can be configured to control the amount of light emitted by the sun visor based on vehicle occupancy (according to a user's profile) in combination with the lighting conditions inside and / or outside the vehicle.

[0062] Information about a user's head position, facial orientation, eye direction, facial shape, and / or skin tone can be used in combination with other information, such as lighting conditions, weather conditions, time, date, calendar event, vehicle location, planned destination, and / or vehicle occupancy, to determine the lighting provided by the sun visor. In a specific example, the control module can be configured to control color, color temperature, CRI, intensity, illuminance, and / or brightness based on a user's skin tone in combination with lighting conditions and / or vehicle occupancy (according to a user's profile), and optionally also the distribution of lighting based on the detected head position, facial orientation, eye direction, and / or facial shape of the user.

[0063] The control module can be configured to control the illumination through the sun visor depending on a user-selected setting. In some embodiments, the sun visor may include one or more controls, such as a touchscreen, a physical or capacitive switch, a gesture recognition device, and / or a microphone, allowing manual control of the illumination emitted by the sun visor. Alternatively or additionally, the light settings can be controlled via an external device, such as the vehicle's infotainment system.

[0064] The control module can be configured to control the lighting through the sun visor depending on the vehicle's movement. For example, the control module can be configured to change the color of the light emitted by the light source and / or reduce the intensity of the light emitted by the light source, or to switch off the light source when the vehicle starts moving or exceeds a certain speed.

[0065] The control module can be configured to control the light emitted by the sun visor depending on the detected movement of a vehicle in front of the vehicle to which the sun visor is attached and / or depending on a detected change in a traffic light state. For example, the control module can be configured to change the color of the light emitted by the light source and / or reduce the intensity of the light emitted by the light source, or to switch off the light source, when it detects that a vehicle in front of the vehicle to which the sun visor is attached has started moving or when it detects that a traffic light has changed to green.

[0066] The control module can be a control module for controlling a sun visor, incorporating one of the features described above in conjunction with prior aspects of the present invention. The control module can be configured to control the illumination through the sun visor in one of the ways described above in conjunction with prior aspects of the present invention. The control module can be configured to perform one of the functions described above in conjunction with the at least one electronic component.

[0067] Within the scope of this application, it is expressly provided that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives set forth in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims, and / or in the following descriptions and drawings, and in particular their individual features, may be adopted independently or in any combination. That is to say, all embodiments and / or features of an embodiment may be combined in any way and / or combination, unless these features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to amend an originally filed claim or to file a new claim accordingly, including the right to amend an originally filed claim to be dependent on another claim and / or to include a feature of another claim, even if it was not originally claimed in this manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. illustrates a vehicle with a sun visor according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. illustrates a sun visor according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. illustrates the sun visor of Fig. with surface covers removed; Fig. illustrates a cross-section through a central section of the sun visor of Fig. runs; The Fig. illustrate sections of a light diffusing device of the sun visor of the Fig. ; and Fig. illustrates the control of the lighting by the sun visor depending on the detected operating conditions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates a vehicle 100 comprising a retractable sun visor 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sun visor 1 is pivotably attached to an interior space in the roof 101 of the vehicle above the main windshield 102 in front of the driver's seat by a hinge 103, as shown in Figure 100. Fig. The sun visor 1 is pivotable between a stowed position (indicated by dashed lines in Fig. ), in which the sun visor 1 adjoins the interior of the roof of the vehicle 101, and an extended position in which the sun visor is extended from the interior of the roof vehicle 101 into a position in which the glare from the windshield 102 is reduced in a known manner (characterized by a continuous line in Fig. ).

[0070] The sun visor 1 consists of a large rectangular cosmetic mirror 2 on a first surface. The first surface is the surface facing a user or the vehicle cabin when the sun visor is in the extended position. The sun visor 1 also includes a second surface. The second surface is the surface facing a user or the vehicle cabin when the sun visor is in the stowed position. The sun visor 1 further includes an integrated light-emitting system 3 configured to provide illumination in the vehicle cabin around the mirror 2, as described below. The light-emitting system 3 is in Fig. shown, in which the first surface and the second surface cover of the sunshade 1 have been removed to expose the light-emitting system 3, and in Fig. , which represents a cross-section through a section of the sun visor 1 at the position of the mirror 2.

[0071] The light-emitting system 3 comprises a printed electronic circuit or a printed control module 4, which is formed from a plurality of electronic components 6, 8 printed onto a structural substrate or a component-bearing element 5 of the sunshade 1, as shown in a part in Fig. The printed electronic circuit 4 includes a multitude of printed LEDs 6 distributed across a multitude of locations on the substrate 5, which together form a light source 7 of the light-emitting system 3. The printed electronic circuit 4 also includes a multitude of other printed electronic components 8 configured to control the operation of the LEDs 6 in order to control the illumination by the light-emitting system 3. In particular, the printed electronic circuit 4 is capable of switching LEDs of different colors and at different locations on and off to control the color temperature, brightness, illuminance, and distribution of the illumination by the light-emitting system 3. Underlying conductive prints or traces 9 on the surface of the substrate 5 conduct current to the components 6, 8 of the printed electronic circuit 4 as needed.

[0072] To avoid any doubt, the printed electronic circuit 4 does not consist merely of a conventional printed circuit board (or PCB), which is typically a non-structural component. Rather, the printed electronic circuit referred to herein comprises one or more electronic components formed directly onto a structural component of the sun visor by a printing process. Typically, the one or more electronic components include active and passive electronic components connected by printed traces or wires. Typical passive components may include resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, and diodes, while typical active components are those that act on a power source, such as amplifiers, switches, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), integrated circuits, memory, and microcontrollers.By printing the electronic circuit 4 onto a structural component 5 of the sun visor, the sun visor has a simple, compact and robust control system with a small number of parts and reduced assembly time.

[0073] The light-emitting system 3 further comprises a light-scattering device 10 for scattering the light emitted by the LEDs 6 and for transferring the light to the outside of the sun visor 1 in order to illuminate the immediate surroundings of the vehicle cabin and the user's face in front of the mirror, as shown in Fig. The light-dispersing device 10 is typically made of a polycarbonate material with high optical transmittance. The light-dispersing device 10 comprises an area-like, essentially planar body section 11 extending over a large portion of the surface of the sun visor 1, and an outer bezel or light-emitting section 12 extending continuously around the perimeter of the body section 11 from the plane of the body section 11 outward toward the first surface of the sun visor 1. The light-emitting section 12 is integrally formed with the body section and is connected to it via a transition area 13.

[0074] The body section 11 of the light scattering device 10 is located directly adjacent to and extends over the substrate 5 and the printed electronic circuit 4, and the components 6, 8 of the printed electronic circuit 4 (including the LEDs 6) are embedded in the light scattering device 10 as shown in Fig. The body section 11 of the light diffusing device 10 is configured to receive the light emitted by the LEDs 6 when the LEDs are powered by the printed electronic circuit 4 and to transmit the light emitted by the LEDs 6 via the transition area 13 to the light beam section 12. The LEDs 6 can be configured to emit light in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the printed electronic circuit and the plane of the body section to maximize the efficiency of light transmission through the body section 11. In some embodiments, one or both sides of the body section 11 can be provided with a reflective coating or a coating having a lower refractive index than the material of the light diffusing device to promote total internal reflection of the light within the body section 11 and further improve efficiency.In the present embodiment, the LEDs 6 are spaced apart around the edges of the body section 11 at locations adjacent to and facing the light emission section 12, although in other embodiments the LEDs 6 can be provided at other locations, for example towards the center of the body section 11 of the light scattering device 10.

[0075] The transition area 13 of the light scattering device 10 has an angled shape, which in Fig. The transition area 13 is shown with an angle that is below the critical angle for the light passing through the light-scattering device 10, in order to avoid disturbing the total internal reflection of the light within the light-scattering device 10 and thereby maximize the efficiency of light transfer from the body section 11 to the light-emitting section 12. In other embodiments, the transition area 13 could alternatively have a curved shape, in which case the curvature can be selected to avoid disturbing total internal reflection. Furthermore, the transition area 13 can be provided with a reflective surface 14 (e.g., a mirror element or a mirrored surface) to prevent light from escaping, in which case the angle or curvature of the transition area is less critical.

[0076] The light emission section 12 of the light diffusing device 10 terminates in an end face 15 that faces away from the body section 11 and towards the outside of the sun visor 1. The light emission section 12 is configured to act as a waveguide to direct the light emitted by the LEDs 6 to the first surface of the sun visor 1 and, through its end face 15, to the outside of the sun visor 1 to provide illumination in the vehicle cabin. The end face 15 of the light emission section 12 can be essentially planar, as shown in Fig. As shown. Alternatively, the front surface 15 of the light emission section 12 can have a profiled shape configured as a lens to focus the light transmitted to the outside of the sunshade 1, which can serve to reduce any deflection by the light-emitting system 3. For example, as illustrated Fig. without restriction various profile shapes for the light emission section 12, including both curved and angular lens arrangements.

[0077] The light emission section 12 of the light diffusing device 10 surrounds the mirror 2 to ensure optimal illumination when looking into the mirror 2. The light emission section 12 runs close to the outer edges of the sun visor 1 to minimize visual distraction caused by the light-emitting system 3. The light diffusing device 10 serves to diffuse the light emitted by the LEDs 6 and to ensure a comparatively uniform and glare-free illumination of the sun visor 1.

[0078] The first surface of the sun visor 1 is covered by a first surface cover 20. In one embodiment, the first surface cover can comprise an electrochromic layer that covers the mirror and / or the light-diffusing device (including the front face of the light-emitting section 12). The electrochromic layer 20 can be arranged to be controlled by the printed electronic circuit 4 and can be operated to conceal or darken the mirror 2 when not in use and to conceal the light-diffusing device 10 when not in use. Other sections of the first surface (e.g., areas between the mirror and the light-emitting section of the light-diffusing device and outside the light-emitting section of the light-diffusing device) can be covered with leather or a soft lining.The structural substrate 5 generally forms the rear cover of the sunshade 1 and is covered with an outer cover layer 21 that extends around the sides of the substrate 5 and the light distribution device 10 to create a rear presentation surface.

[0079] The sun visor 1 also includes a light sensor 50 (shown in Fig. ), which is configured to detect the lighting conditions inside the vehicle 100 and transmit the detected lighting conditions to the printed electronic circuit 4. The printed electronic circuit 4 is also connected to various external control systems outside the sun visor 1, which are configured to transmit information about the current operating conditions of the sun visor 1 to the printed electronic circuit 4. These external control systems include a camera system or ISP (Interior Sensing Platform) 51, including a dashboard-mounted, user-facing camera. The ISP 51 is configured to detect a user seated in front of the sun visor 1, for example, using facial recognition information, and to transmit the identity of the user seated in front of the sun visor 1 to the printed electronic circuit 4.The ISP 51 is further configured to determine the skin tone, head position, facial direction and eye direction of the user in front of the sun visor 1 and to pass this information to the printed electronic circuit 4.

[0080] The printed electronic circuit 4 is configured to store user profiles with personal lighting preferences for different users of the vehicle 1, so that personalized lighting can be applied for a specific user, as recognized by ISP 51.

[0081] The operation of the printed electronic circuit 4 for controlling the lighting through the sun visor 1 will now be described.

[0082] In use, the printed electronic circuit receives 4 pieces of information about the lighting conditions inside the vehicle 1 from the light sensor 50, as shown in Fig.schematically represented. The printed electronic circuit 4 also receives the identity of the user seated in front of the sun visor 1 from the ISP 51, as well as information about the user's skin tone, head position, facial orientation, and eye direction. Other information can also be received from other external control systems, including, for example, information about the light conditions outside the vehicle 1, the temperature inside the vehicle, the temperature outside the vehicle, weather conditions, time, date, calendar event, vehicle location, and planned destination.The printed electronic circuit 4 then uses the received information to determine the required lighting regime, including the required color temperature, brightness, illuminance, and lighting distribution, for example by querying one or more lookup tables stored in a memory module of the printed electronic circuit 4. The printed electronic circuit then controls the light source 7, for example by switching individual LEDs 6 on and off, to achieve the desired lighting effect.

[0083] For example, the color temperature, brightness, and illuminance can be adjusted depending on the lighting conditions inside the vehicle 1 and the user's skin tone in front of the sun visor 1 to ensure familiar and accurate illumination of the user's face over a range of different ambient lighting conditions; and the distribution of the lighting can be adjusted depending on the user's face shape, head position, face direction, and eye direction to accurately illuminate the desired areas of the user's face.

[0084] In this way, the sun visor 1, as a largely self-contained system, is able to ensure optimized lighting for a wide variety of operating conditions, taking into account various environmental and usage factors and the personal preferences of a particular user in front of the sun visor 1.

[0085] In some embodiments, it may also be possible for a user to manually control the lighting through the sun visor 1. For example, the sun visor 1 may include one or more control elements such as physical or capacitive switches or a gesture recognition device, and the printed electronic circuit 4 may be configured to turn the light source 7 on and off and to control the color and / or intensity of the light emitted by the light source 7 depending on a received command signal generated in response to the operation of the control elements by a user of the vehicle 100. In some embodiments, it may also be possible to control the lighting of the sun visor 1 via voice commands, in which case the sun visor 1 may include a microphone for receiving voice commands.

[0086] The printed electronic circuit 4 can also be configured to control the light source 7 to emit light at a reduced intensity or in a different color than the light emitted when the vehicle 100 is stationary, when it detects that the vehicle is moving (or moving above a certain speed) in order to minimize visual distractions while the vehicle is in motion. In this case, the printed electronic circuit 4 can be configured to receive information about the vehicle 100's motion status (e.g., confirmation of whether the vehicle is moving or not and / or display of the current vehicle speed) either wirelessly or via a wired connection from another control module located in the vehicle.The printed electronic circuit 4 can also be configured to change the color or decrease the intensity of the light emitted by the light source 7 when it is determined that a vehicle in front of the vehicle 100, to which the sun visor 1 is mounted, has begun to back away, while the vehicle to which the sun visor is mounted is stationary. The change in color or reduction in intensity can serve as a prompt to the driver to change the external conditions. Such a determination can be based on a parking sensor reading or the output of a camera at the front of the vehicle 100 and can be transmitted to the printed electronic circuit 4 either wirelessly or via a wired connection from another control module in the vehicle 100.

[0087] The printed electronic circuit 4 can also be configured to control the light source 7 to emit light into the vehicle cabin to illuminate cabin features or items brought into the cabin by the occupants, such as books, magazines, e-readers, or games. In one embodiment, when the task lighting mode is activated, the printed electronic circuit 4 is arranged to disable one or all color adjustments to provide essentially white light. If the sun visor includes multiple light-emitting sections, the printed electronic circuit 4 is arranged to activate all of these sections.If the sun visor includes an electrochromic cover positioned over the cosmetic mirror, the printed electronic circuitry is arranged to control the electrochromic cover to conceal the cosmetic mirror during task light mode. If the sun visor includes an electrochromic cover positioned over the light diffuser and / or light emission section, the printed electronic circuitry is arranged to control the electrochromic cover to expose the light diffuser and / or light emission section during task light mode. The task light's operating mode can be automatically activated or deactivated depending on the angle or triggering of the sun visor. In one embodiment, the task light's operating mode is automatically activated when the sun visor is extended to a predefined position, e.g.,positioned proximal to the windshield or uncovered and proximal to a door window.

[0088] The printed electronic circuit 4 can also be configured to automatically switch on the light source 7, thereby providing illumination through the sun visor 1, when it detects that the sun visor 1 has been moved a predetermined distance from its stowed position. The activation of the sun visor 1 can be detected, for example, by a sensor in the hinge 103 of the sun visor 1, which is connected to the printed electronic circuit 4. Furthermore, the printed electronic circuit 4 can be configured to control the light source 7 to emit light while the sun visor 1 is in its stowed position adjacent to the interior of the roof 101 of the vehicle 100, for example, in low-light conditions, to provide ambient lighting within the vehicle cabin.

[0089] It should be noted that the control modes described above are only examples and that the printed electronic circuit 4 can be configured to control the illumination emanating from the sun visor in different ways in other embodiments of the present invention.

[0090] The manufacturing process for sun visor 1 will now be described.

[0091] The structural substrate or component-bearing element 5 is first manufactured as a separate component, for example, by injection molding. The components 6, 8 of the printed electronic circuit 4 are then printed directly onto the inward-facing surface of the substrate 5, for example, by screen printing. The light dispersion device 10 is then formed directly onto the inward-facing surface of the substrate 5 (which serves as the mold for the formation of the light dispersion device 10), for example, by injection molding. Since the printed electronic circuit 4 has already been formed on the substrate 5, the light dispersion device 10 is also applied directly to the various components 6, 8 of the printed electronic circuit 4, which are embedded in the light dispersion device 10.Depending on the choice of materials and molding conditions, the substrate 5 and the light dispersion device 10 can be fused into a single, unified structure during the molding process, with the components 6 and 8 of the printed electronic circuit 4 suspended within this structure. The remaining elements of the sunshade 1, including the mirror 2, the first surface cover 20, and the outer cladding layer 21, can then be assembled together with the substrate 5 and the light dispersion device 10 to complete the sunshade 1.

[0092] Many modifications can be made to the above examples without deviating from the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

[0093] For example, in the embodiment described above, the light-scattering device 10 comprises a continuous, sheet-shaped body section 11 that extends over the entire printed electronic circuit 4 and is configured to receive light from the light source 7. In other embodiments, however, the body section 11 may not be continuous and may not need to extend over the entire printed electronic circuit 4. For example, the body section 11 could instead include a central opening and extend only around an outer section of the printed electronic circuit 4 adjacent to the light-emitting section 12.In further embodiments, the LEDs 6 can alternatively be arranged directly below the light emission section 12 or the aperture of the light dispersion device 10, in which case the body section 11 and the transition section 12 of the light dispersion device 10 can optionally be omitted entirely. In this case, the LEDs 6 are preferably configured to emit light into the light emission section 12 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the printed electronic circuit 4.

[0094] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the sun visor 1 comprises a single light-diffusing device 10 with a single light-emitting section 12 in the form of a bezel that extends continuously around the sun visor 1 to transmit light into the vehicle cabin. In other embodiments, however, the light-emitting section 12 of the light-diffusing device 10 may have a different shape or be located at a different position on the sun visor 1. Alternatively, the light-diffusing device 10 could include several separate (unconnected) light-emitting sections 12, and / or the sun visor 1 could include several separate light-diffusing devices 10, each providing its own respective light-emitting section(s).

[0095] The foregoing description generally refers to a single sun visor 1 located on the driver's side of a vehicle 100. However, it should be noted that a vehicle 100 according to the present invention may include multiple sun visors 1, each of which may comprise its own light source 7 controllable by its own printed electronic circuit 4. In one particular embodiment, a sun visor 1 is located on each of the driver's side and passenger's side of the vehicle.

Claims

[1] Sun visor for a vehicle, wherein the sun visor comprises a light source and at least one electronic component for controlling the illumination supplied by the sun visor, wherein the at least one electronic component is a printed electronic component printed onto a structural component of the sun visor, wherein the printed electronic component is configured to receive information about a current operating condition of the sun visor from a control system outside the sun visor and to control the illumination supplied by the sun visor based thereon. [2] Sun visor according to claim 1, wherein the printed electronic component is arranged to receive information from a user sitting in front of the sun visor from the control system comprising an Interior Sensing Platform, ISP, wherein the ISP is configured to determine information from the user sitting in front of the sun visor. [3] Sun visor according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes at least one light-emitting element printed on the structural component of the sun visor. [4] Sun visor according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the structural component is a cover of the sun visor. [5] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the sun visor comprises a light diffusing device configured to distribute the light emitted by the light source. [6] Sun visor according to claim 5, wherein the light scattering device is applied directly to one or more of the following: the structural component, the light source and the at least one electronic component. [7] Sun visor according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the light scattering device comprises a body section configured to receive light emitted from the light source. [8] Sun visor according to claim 7, wherein the body section of the light scattering device is at least substantially leaf-like. [9] Sun visor according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the body section of the light scattering device is arranged adjacent to the structural component, the light source and / or the at least one electronic component. [10] Sun visor according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the light scattering device comprises a light emission section configured to transmit the light emitted by the light source to the outside of the sun visor. [11] Sun visor according to claim 10, if it depends on one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the light emission section of the light scattering device is integrally formed with the body section. [12] Sun visor according to claim 11, wherein the light emission section of the light scattering device extends outwards from the plane of the body section. [13] Sun visor according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the light emission section of the light scattering device is connected to the body section via a transition area. [14] Sun visor according to claim 13, wherein the transition area has a shape that is curved or angled out of the plane of the body section. [15] Sun visor according to one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the light emission section of the light scattering device is arranged on or adjacent to at least one edge of the sun visor. [16] Sun visor according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the light emission section of the light scattering device forms a loop extending around the sun visor. [17] Sun visor according to one of claims 10 to 16, when it is dependent on one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the light emission section of the light scattering device extends along at least one edge of the body section. [18] Sun visor according to any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the light emission section of the light scattering device is configured to focus the light transmitted to the outside of the sun visor. [19] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the sun visor comprises a cosmetic mirror. [20] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the at least one printed electronic component is configured to control one or more of the colors, color temperatures, CRI, intensities, illuminance, brightness, luminance and distribution of the light transmitted to the exterior of the sun visor. [21] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the sun visor comprises at least one sensor, wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to control the illumination provided by the sun visor depending on an output of the at least one sensor. [22] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to control the illumination provided by the sun visor depending on one or more of the following factors: light conditions inside the vehicle, light conditions outside the vehicle, temperature inside the vehicle, temperature outside the vehicle, weather conditions, time, date, calendar event, vehicle location and planned destination. [23] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to control the illumination provided by the sun visor depending on the vehicle occupancy. [24] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to control the illumination provided by the sun visor depending on the head position, face direction, eye direction and / or face shape of a user. [25] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to control the illumination provided by the sun visor depending on the skin tone of a user. [26] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to control the illumination provided by the sun visor depending on a setting selected by the user. [27] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to control the illumination provided by the sun visor depending on the movement state of the vehicle. [28] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to control the illumination provided by the sun visor depending on the detected movement of a vehicle in front of the vehicle to which the sun visor is attached and / or depending on a detected change in a traffic light state. [29] Sun visor according to a preceding claim, wherein the sun visor is configured to provide ambient lighting in a cabin of the vehicle while it is in a stowed position next to the roof of the vehicle. [30] Vehicle comprising a sun visor according to a preceding claim. [31] Method for manufacturing a sun visor for a vehicle, wherein the sun visor comprises a light source, the method comprising providing a structural component of the sun visor and printing at least one electronic component for controlling the illumination supplied by the sun visor on the structural component, wherein the printed electronic component is configured to receive information about a current operating condition of the sun visor from a control system outside the sun visor and to control the illumination supplied by the sun visor based thereon. [32] Method according to claim 31, wherein the structural component is a cover of the sun visor. [33] Method according to claim 31 or claim 32, further comprising printing at least one light-emitting element, which is part of the light source, onto the structural component. [34] Method according to any one of claims 31 to 33, further comprising forming a light dispersion device for dispersing light emitted from the light source of the sun visor directly onto the structural component, which includes at least one electronic component and / or the light source.

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