A black-colored object having an electromagnetic field or an electric field function

Abstract

The present invention relates to a black-colored object (100, 200, 300) having an electromagnetic field or an electric field function, and the black-colored object (100, 200, 300) is colored by using a pigment, or covered by a member (101, 103) colored by a pigment, or coated with paint (101, 103, 201, 301), wherein the paint (101, 103, 201, 301) has a pigment, and the pigment includes a non-conductive pigment.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a black / dark-colored object having an electromagnetic field or an electric field function, wherein the electromagnetic field or electric field function includes a data transmission function, and wherein the black-colored object is either colored with a pigment, or covered with a component colored with a pigment, or coated with a paint, wherein the paint has a pigment. The data transmission function can again be achieved by a change in the electromagnetic field and / or the electric field. Background Art

[0002] Such objects are known from the prior art, for example, as motor vehicle antennas, motor vehicle sensors, or operating systems having a capacitive input surface. Usually, carbon black particles are used as pigments or black paints for black coloring. However, the carbon black particles can limit or even impede the function of the electromagnetic field or the electric field of the relevant components. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a pigment or a black paint for black coloring, which prevents or at least reduces the damage to the electromagnetic field or electric field function. The solution to this object is that the pigment also has a non-conductive pigment. Thereby, the use of carbon black particles can be partially or even completely dispensed with, and thus the electromagnetic field or electric field function and the data transmission function can be improved.

[0004] If no carbon black particles are used at all and only non-conductive pigments are used, then the electromagnetic field and electric field functions of the black-colored object are least damaged. If both conductive pigments and non-conductive pigments are used, it is more favorable for the cost, but the functions of the electric field and the magnetic field will be limited.

[0005] Spinel pigments have proven to be particularly suitable pigments. They achieve good magnetic and electric field properties while having a good optical appearance.

[0006] Copper-chromium-iron spinel pigments or chromium-iron-nickel-manganese spinel pigments have proven to be particularly suitable for achieving black paint or black coloring.

[0007] The black-colored object having an electric field function can be configured as an operating device having a capacitive input surface, wherein the capacitive input surface is either colored with a pigment, or covered with a component colored with a pigment and / or coated with a paint, wherein the paint has a pigment.

[0008] If the operating device has a component with a conductive pigment and a component with a non-conductive pigment, and the component with the conductive pigment and the component with the non-conductive pigment are arranged adjacent to each other or spaced apart from each other, cost can be saved on the one hand because the conductive pigment in the form of carbon black particles is cheaper than, for example, non-conductive particles in the form of spinel pigments. These components can here be designed as separate first and second components, respectively. It is also possible to design the second component as a paint containing a second pigment with which the first component is painted. In the two embodiments described above, for example, the first pigment is conductive and the second pigment is non-conductive. The black coloration of the capacitive input surface is generally increased by these two components.

[0009] Furthermore, the operating device can be designed as part of a transmitting device and / or a receiving device for electromagnetic beams. Here, the structural unit with the above-described operating device and the transmitting device and / or receiving device for the beam has a housing, and advantageously, the parts of the housing are designed such that the parts of the housing can attenuate the electromagnetic beam as well as possible, in particular such that the part of the structural unit facing the user of the structural unit when using the transmitting device and / or receiving device and the part of the structural unit facing away from the user when using the structural unit allow the electromagnetic beam to pass through as unimpeded as possible, and these aforementioned properties can be achieved by appropriately selecting the pigment.

[0010] In another embodiment, the capacitive input surface can be colored with a conductive pigment or painted with a paint having a conductive pigment. Then, in the first case, electrodes of the capacitive input surface are arranged on the capacitive input surface, and in the second case, electrodes of the capacitive input surface are arranged on the paint. The electrodes are then covered with a paint or a component containing a non-conductive pigment in the direction of the operator of the operating device. Thus, electromagnetic shielding is performed for the operating device by the conductive pigment, so that an external electromagnetic field does not or less affects the operating device and at the same time the operating device also less affects the environment in terms of electromagnetism. The electrodes can simultaneously detect the input of the operator of the operating device without interference because there is no conductive pigment between the electrodes and the operator to interfere with the electric field.

[0011] If the capacitive input surface has a transparent material, an electro-optical display can be provided adjacent to or spaced apart from each other on the side of the input surface facing away from the operator of the operating device, whereby the capacitive input surface can be part of a touch screen.

[0012] In the absence of an electro-optical display, the capacitive input surface can be part of a touchpad or part of a capacitive button.

[0013] For example, a black-colored object with electromagnetic field functionality can also be designed, in the form of an antenna, as a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit for electromagnetic beams, for example. This transmitting unit and / or receiving unit for electromagnetic beams is then covered by a component with a non-conductive pigment, where the component can be designed as a paint layer of the antenna or as a separate component in which the antenna is embedded.

[0014] For example, a black-colored object with electromagnetic field functionality can also be designed as a radar transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit. This radar transmitting unit and / or receiving unit is then covered by a component with a non-conductive pigment, where the component can be designed as a paint layer of the radar transmitting unit and / or receiving unit or as a separate component in which the radar transmitting unit and / or receiving unit is embedded or by which the radar transmitting unit and / or receiving unit is covered.

[0015] For example, a black-colored object with electromagnetic field functionality can also have a paint-containing coating or a covering with components that are not designed uniformly, but rather have a first sub-region that allows electromagnetic beams to pass through unobstructed or almost unobstructed, and a second sub-region that strongly attenuates or even shields electromagnetic beams, where the first sub-region advantageously surrounds the second sub-region or is surrounded by the second sub-region. Such a black-colored object can also be designed, for example, as a radar transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit. By designing the first sub-region and the second sub-region, the radar transmitting unit and / or receiving unit can change its transmitting characteristics and / or receiving characteristics.

[0016] If the black-colored object is allowed to be influenced by an electromagnetic field to a certain extent, then in addition to using non-conductive pigments, conductive pigments can also be used, where different pigments can be mixed or applied in adjacent components. This embodiment can also be correspondingly transferred to an object with electric field functionality. Description of the Drawings

[0017] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 An embodiment of a black-colored object in the form of an operating device is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 An embodiment of a black-colored object in the form of an antenna is shown;

[0020] Figure 3 A first embodiment of a black-colored object in the form of a radar sensor is shown;

[0021] Figure 4 A second embodiment of a black-colored object in the form of a radar sensor is shown;

[0022] Figure 5 ShowsFigure 4 Top view of an embodiment;

[0023] Figure 6 shows Figure 5 Top view of a slightly modified embodiment of the embodiment shown,

[0024] Figure 7 shows Figure 4 Another top view of a significantly modified embodiment of the embodiment shown. Detailed implementation

[0025] In Figure 1 it can be seen the operating device 100 and the finger F of the operator. The operating device 100 has a capacitive input surface, wherein the capacitive input surface has a first member 101, an electrode 102 and a second member 103. In addition, the operating device 100 also has an electro-optical display 104 in the form of, for example, an LCD, a housing 105, an electronic control device 106 and a lighting device in the form of a light-emitting diode 107. The first member 101, the electrode 102 and the second member 103 are all designed to be at least partially transparent, so that the electro-optical display 104 and the information displayed thereon can be perceived by the operator through the capacitive input surface. The member 101 has a non-conductive pigment, and all the pigments of the member 103 are conductive. Therefore, the external magnetic field is shielded for the electronic control device 106, and it itself does not emit electromagnetic interference due to the capacitive input surface 101, 102, 103. The change in the electric field caused by the finger F can be detected by the electrode 102 via the member 101 and processed by the electronic control device 106, without being adversely affected by the pigment of the member 101. In this example, the member 103 and the member 101 are both constructed as paint layers, wherein the paint layer 103 is applied to the electro-optical display 104. If there is no electro-optical display 104 or other carrier material, at least one of the member 101 or the member 103 is designed as a plate, preferably a glass plate colored with a pigment or a plastic plate colored with a pigment. The electrode 102 can be applied on the member 101 and / or the member 103 and preferably includes indium tin oxide (ITO). Alternatively, the electrode can also be implemented as a printed or vapor-deposited metal mesh structure, a printed conductive paint based on at least one material of silver nanowires, P-dotPSS, carbon nanotubes or graphene. It is also conceivable to use a planar thin layer made of metal or conductive metal oxide as the electrode or antenna material. The light-emitting diode 107 is used to illuminate the LCD, so that the LCD can be seen better. The electro-optical display can also be implemented as, for example, an OLED, a micro-LED or a cathode ray tube. In this way, no additional lighting is required.

[0026] In principle, there may also be a spacing between the adjacent components 101 - 104 shown, but the optical appearance of the display screen with a capacitive input function will not be so attractive. In the absence of the electro - optical display 104, the capacitive input surfaces 101, 102, 103 can be used as a touchpad.

[0027] An antenna 200 is shown in Figure 2 which has an actual electromagnetic beam transmitting unit and / or receiving unit in the form of an antenna 202, a paint layer 201, and a carrier board 203. The paint layer 201 and the carrier board 203 are each colored with a pigment. The pigment of the paint layer 201 is non - conductive so as not to impair the electromagnetic characteristics of the antenna 201. For cost reasons, the pigment of the carrier board 203 is preferably conductive, but it may also contain the pigment of the paint layer 201 for reasons of the visual appearance of the antenna and the carrier.

[0028] Figure 3 A radar sensor 300 is shown in

[0029] Figure 4 which has an actual radar transmitting unit and / or receiving unit in the form of a radar sensor 302, and the radar sensor is covered by a paint layer 301. The pigment of the paint layer 301 is preferably all non - conductive so as not to impair the characteristics of the radar sensor 302.

[0030] Figures 4 - 7 Figures 4 - 7 Figure 4 Figures 4 - 7 A second embodiment of a radar sensor 400 is shown in Figure 4 which has an actual radar transmitting unit and / or receiving unit in the form of a radar sensor 402, and the radar sensor is covered by a covering 401. The covering has a plate 403, and the plate is provided with a printing portion 404. The printing portion 404 is, for example, a screen printing portion, a flexographic printing portion, a gravure printing portion, or a digital printing portion. Instead of the printing portion 404, the plate 403 can also be colored accordingly. The pigment of the printing portion 404 is non - conductive in a first region and thus forms a first sub - region 4041. In Figures 4 - 7 the first sub - region is shown in white. The pigment in the second region is conductive and thus forms a second sub - region 4042. In Figures 4 - 7 the second sub - region is shown in black. The pigments of the first sub - region 4041 and the second sub - region 4042 are both black, so that when looking down at the plate 401, the observer can see a uniform black surface of the plate 401. In the embodiment according to Figure 4 , the first sub - region 4041 gradually transitions to the second sub - region 4042. A sudden - boundary transition from the first sub - region to the second sub - region is also possible. Electromagnetic waves can pass through the first sub - region 4041 almost unimpeded, but can only pass through the second sub - region 4042 with strong attenuation or not at all. Thus, directional reception and / or receiving characteristics as shown by the electromagnetic waves 405, 406 are achieved.

[0031] It can be seen in Figure 5 that the first sub-region 4041 is surrounded by the second sub-region 4042, wherein the transition between the sub-regions 4041 and 4041 is gradual.

[0032] It can be seen in Figure 6 that the first sub-region 4041 is also surrounded by the second sub-region 4042, wherein the transition between the sub-regions 4041 and 4042 is direct without a transition region.

[0033] It can be seen in Figure 7 that the first sub-region 4041 surrounds the second sub-region 4042, wherein the transition between the sub-regions 4041 and 4041 is gradual. Thereby, direction- or position-dependent isolation can be achieved for a specific region.

[0034] The following shows various embodiments as applied, for example, in a combination instrument of a motor vehicle or other elements of a driver's cab, for a day / night design in a film element and a screen printing section. Among them, a black printing section for covering is also used based on spinel. In particular, the following shows the application scenarios of spinel pigments for semi-transparent / illuminable printing sections or coatings in disappearing effect applications.

[0035] The following cross-sectional views of the printing structures for the backlit day / night design achievable according to the present invention show a first embodiment that is invisible when not illuminated, in various embodiments of the backlit day / night design, as Figure 8 and Figure 9 shown.

[0036] This backlit day / night design of the first embodiment looks like, for example, Figure 10 .

[0037] The following cross-sectional views of the possible printing structures for the backlit day / night design show a second embodiment that is invisible when not illuminated, in various embodiments of the backlit day / night design: as Figure 11 and Figure 12 shown.

[0038] This backlit day / night design of the second embodiment looks like, for example, Figure 13 shown.

[0039] The following cross-sectional views of the possible printing structures for the day design alone show a third embodiment in various embodiments of the backlit day design, as Figure 14 and 15 shown.

[0040] The unilluminated daytime design looks like, for example, in a top view Figure 16 as shown.

Claims

1. A black-colored object having an electromagnetic field or electric field function, wherein the electromagnetic field or electric field function includes a data transmission function, and wherein the black-colored object is colored using a pigment, or covered with a pigment-colored component, or coated with paint, wherein, The paint has pigments, characterized in that the pigments include non-conductive pigments. The black-colored object is an operating device (100) having a capacitive input surface, wherein the capacitive input surface is either colored with a pigment, or covered with a pigmented component and / or coated with a paint, and the paint has pigments. The operating device has a component with a conductive pigment and a component with a non-conductive pigment, and the component with the conductive pigment and the component with the non-conductive pigment are arranged adjacent to each other or spaced apart from each other. The capacitive input surface is colored with a conductive pigment or painted with a paint having a conductive pigment, so that in the first case, electrodes of the capacitive input surface are arranged on the capacitive input surface, and in the second case, electrodes of the capacitive input surface are arranged on the paint, and the electrodes are then covered with a paint or a component containing non-conductive pigments in the direction of the operator of the operating device.

2. The blackened object according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pigments only include non-conductive pigments.

3. The blackened object according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The non-conductive pigment is a spinel pigment.

4. The blackened object according to claim 3, wherein, The non-conductive pigment is a copper-chromium-iron spinel pigment or a chromium-iron-nickel-manganese spinel pigment.

5. The blackened object according to claim 1, wherein, The capacitive input surface is coated with a paint (103) having a conductive pigment on the side facing away from the operator of the operating device.

6. The blackened object according to claim 1, wherein The capacitive input surface has a transparent material.

7. The blackened object according to claim 6, characterized in that, The transparent material is colored with a pigment.

8. The blackened object according to claim 2, wherein, One of the components arranged adjacent to each other or spaced apart from each other is configured as a paint layer or both are configured as paint layers.

9. The blackened object according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operating device (100) has an electro-optical display (104), and the display is arranged adjacent to or spaced apart from the capacitive input surface.

10. The blackened object according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The black-colored object has an electromagnetic field function, and the black-colored object is a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit of an electromagnetic beam (202).

11. The blackened object according to claim 10, wherein, The black-colored object has a housing, and a part of the housing that faces away from the limb of the user of the black-colored object during use is colored with a non-conductive pigment, while a part of the housing that faces the user of the black-colored object is colored with a conductive pigment.

12. The blackened object according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The black-colored object has an electromagnetic field function, and the black-colored object is a radar transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit (302, 402).

13. The blackened object according to claim 12, characterized in that, The black-colored object has a first sub-region (4041) and a second sub-region. The first sub-region allows an electromagnetic beam (405) to pass through unobstructed or almost unobstructed, and the second sub-region strongly attenuates or even shields the electromagnetic beam (406), wherein the first sub-region (4041) surrounds the second sub-region (4042) or is surrounded by the second sub-region (4042).

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