Device for heating a covering of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for a vehicle, which device has a cover part (3), a source of electromagnetic heating radiation (8) for heating the cover part (3), and a light guide (9) through which heating radiation (8) from the source of electromagnetic heating radiation (8) is guided to the cover part (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device for heating the cover of a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Sensor devices are becoming increasingly important in vehicles. They are used, for example, in driver assistance systems or for automatic emergency braking. Typically, sensor devices are installed in the front area of ​​the vehicle or in the bumper. These sensor devices can be, for example, radar sensors, which, for design reasons, have a cover called an radome. In low ambient temperatures, dew or ice can form on this cover. Condensed water or ice can interfere with radar signals.

[0003] As is known from the prior art, such as US 2019 / 0031147 A1, a heating wire is disposed in or near a shielding portion so that the shielding portion can be heated. This allows water or ice on the shielding portion to be removed. However, it has proven particularly disadvantageous that the heating wire reduces the penetrability of electromagnetic radiation used, for example, in radar measurements, and can cause interference with radar signals.

[0004] Devices of the type described at the beginning are known from US 2018 / 0208028 A1. The device described therein has a lidar sensor that can emit a laser beam. Instead of a lidar sensor, the device may also have a radar sensor. The lidar sensor is housed in a housing having a cover that serves as a window through which the laser beam and light reflected in the external space can pass. When the window is fogged or covered with ice, the window can interfere with lidar measurements. The device can alter the light transmittance of the window in such cases, for example, by applying a voltage to a defined area of ​​the window, thereby increasing the absorption of the laser beam emitted by the lidar sensor by the window material. Thus, the laser beam is at least partially absorbed by the window, thereby heating the window and removing water or ice. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The fundamental problem of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described at the beginning, wherein water or ice on the cover can be removed in a simple manner, in particular without affecting the functionality of the sensor unit present if necessary.

[0006] This is achieved according to the invention by means of a device of the type described at the beginning.

[0007] According to the present invention, the device has a light conductor through which heating radiation from an electromagnetic heating radiation source is guided to a shielding portion. By using the light conductor, electromagnetic heating radiation can be applied to the shielding portion simply and effectively to remove water or ice from the shielding portion.

[0008] There is a possibility that the cover is a sensor device, a headlight or taillight cover, or part of the front panel or bumper.

[0009] It can be configured such that the covering portion at least partially absorbs the electromagnetic heating radiation used, particularly if the covering portion is made of or has said material that at least partially absorbs the electromagnetic heating radiation used. In this way, the covering portion can be heated by applying electromagnetic heating radiation to it.

[0010] It is possible that the electromagnetic heating radiation source has at least one light-emitting diode (LED), and in particular, multiple LEDs. For example, the at least one LED, and in particular multiple LEDs, described herein can emit electromagnetic heating radiation in the red and / or infrared wavelength range, preferably in the wavelength range between 600 nm and 1100 nm. It is possible that the shielding portion uses a material that at least partially absorbs electromagnetic radiation in this wavelength range.

[0011] The light conductor can be configured as a plate disposed between the at least one light-emitting diode and the shielding portion, particularly on the back side of the shielding portion, wherein the light conductor preferably extends parallel to the shielding portion and abuts against it. Here, the light conductor can be roughened in at least one region where electromagnetic heating radiation should exit into the shielding portion. From the plate, which extends particularly parallel to the shielding portion, it is relatively easy to selectively couple a portion of the electromagnetic heating radiation to a suitable localized region, thereby allowing it to be incident on the shielding portion.

[0012] It is possible that the photoconductor is largely transparent to the electromagnetic heating radiation used, especially if the photoconductor is made of or has elements of polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), or quartz glass. Such materials, particularly in the wavelength range between 600 nm and 1100 nm, have very low absorption, allowing such radiation to propagate in the photoconductor with minimal loss. Therefore, the photoconductor is not heated by heating radiation.

[0013] The device can be configured to have a sensor unit capable of emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation, particularly electromagnetic radiation emitted and / or received by the sensor unit that penetrates the shielding portion during operation of the device. In this case, the device also functions as a sensor device. Water or ice on the shielding portion can be removed by using a photoconductor or by foregoing a heating wire integrated into or disposed on the shielding portion without reducing the penetrability of the electromagnetic radiation applied by the sensor unit or causing signal interference.

[0014] Here, the electromagnetic heating radiation source can be spaced apart from the sensor unit. Therefore, the wavelength of the electromagnetic heating radiation can be adapted to the characteristics of the shielding portion, especially its absorption characteristics, so that, unlike the prior art according to US 2018 / 0208028 A1, the permeability of the shielding portion must be changed in additional working steps.

[0015] The sensor unit can be configured to be a radar unit. Specifically, the electromagnetic radiation emitted and / or received by the sensor unit can be radiation in the microwave range, preferably in the wavelength range between 1 mm and 100 mm. When applying heating radiation, for example, up to the near-infrared range of 1100 nm, the radiation generated and / or received by the sensor unit and the radiation used to heat the shielding portion are significantly different, such that no or only very small interference occurs between the radiations.

[0016] Here, the covering portion may be largely transparent to electromagnetic radiation emitted and / or received by the sensor unit, especially if the covering portion is made of or has said material that is largely transparent to electromagnetic radiation emitted and / or received by the sensor unit.

[0017] It is possible that the device has a housing in which the sensor unit is at least partially housed, wherein a cover at least partially encloses the housing. Here, the cover and / or housing may be configured as an radome.

[0018] The device can be configured such that it has at least one light source that can produce visible light during operation, the light being emitted from the device, particularly through at least one light-emitting opening in the shading portion. This light source can, for example, additionally induce optical effects to improve the external appearance of the device. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The invention will now be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here:

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the apparatus according to the invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The device according to the present invention Figure 1 The embodiment depicted is used as a sensor device and has a sensor unit 1, for example, configured as a radar unit. The sensor unit 1 can emit and / or receive electromagnetic radiation 2. The radiation 2 can be, for example, radiation in the wavelength range between 1 mm and 100 mm.

[0022] The device also has a housing, with only the front cover 3 depicted. Radiation 2 emitted from the sensor unit 1 exits the housing through the cover 3. A conical region, particularly a radar cone, is indicated by reference numeral 4, with radiation 2 extending outwards from the radar cone.

[0023] The device has a substrate 5, through which radiation 2 passes before incident on the shielding portion 3. The substrate is surrounded by a circuit board 6, on which a plurality of light-emitting diodes 7 are disposed. Instead of one circuit board 6, multiple circuit boards 6 may be disposed. Instead of multiple light-emitting diodes 7, only one light-emitting diode 7 may be disposed.

[0024] The electromagnetic heating radiation 8 emitted from the light-emitting diode 7 can, for example, be radiation in the wavelength range between 600 nm and 1100 nm. The heating radiation 8... Figure 1 The light propagates to the right and enters the light conductor 9, which is disposed between the light-emitting diode 7 and the cover portion 3.

[0025] The photoconductor 9 is configured as a thin plate that rests against the inside of the cover portion 3 or on the side facing the sensor unit 1. The photoconductor 9 is largely transparent to the electromagnetic heating radiation 8 used and is made of or has polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) quartz glass or has polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) or quartz glass in particular.

[0026] Heating radiation 8 emitted from the light-emitting diode 7 is coupled into the photoconductor 9 and guided from the photoconductor parallel to the back side of the cover portion 3. Some regions 10 on the outer side of the photoconductor or facing the cover portion 3 are roughened so that the heating radiation 8 can exit from the photoconductor 9 in these regions 10 and incident on the cover portion. The cover portion 3 is at least partially impermeable to the wavelength used by the heating radiation 8, so that the heating radiation 8 emitted from the regions 10 is locally absorbed by the cover portion. This results in heating of the cover portion 3.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the covering portion 3 has a penetration opening 11 for visible light, which can be generated by an unillustrated light source, particularly an unillustrated light-emitting diode, that emits visible light. This visible light can improve the external appearance of the device.

[0028] List of reference numerals

[0029] 1 sensor unit

[0030] 2. Electromagnetic radiation emitted and / or received by sensor unit 1

[0031] 3 Covering area

[0032] 4. A cone-shaped region, with 2 radiating outwards from the cone-shaped region.

[0033] 5 substrates

[0034] 6 circuit boards

[0035] 7 LEDs

[0036] 8. Electromagnetic heating radiation emitted from LED 7

[0037] 9 Photoconductors

[0038] Roughened region of 10 optical conductor 9

[0039] 11 Optical Conductor 9 Through-hole

Claims

1. A device for heating a covered portion of a vehicle, the device comprising: Covered part (3). The source of electromagnetic heating radiation (8) is used to heat the shielding part (3), and the source of electromagnetic heating radiation (8) has at least one light-emitting diode (7). Its features are, The device has a light conductor (9) through which electromagnetic heating radiation (8) originating from a source of electromagnetic heating radiation (8) is guided to a cover portion (3). The light conductor (9) is configured as a plate disposed between the at least one light-emitting diode (7) and the cover portion (3). The plate is disposed on the back side of the cover portion (3), and the light conductor (9) extends parallel to the cover portion (3) and abuts against the cover portion. Heating radiation (8) emitted from the light-emitting diode (7) is input coupled into the light conductor (9) and guided by the light conductor parallel to the cover portion (3) along the back side of the cover portion (3). The light conductor (9) is roughened in at least one region (10) on the side facing the cover portion (3), from which electromagnetic heating radiation (8) should exit from the light conductor and be incident on the cover portion (3).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover (3) is a cover for a sensor device, a headlight or a taillight, or a part of a front panel or a bumper.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shielding part (3) absorbs at least part of the electromagnetic heating radiation (8) used.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The covering part (3) is made of or has said material that at least partially absorbs the electromagnetic heating radiation (8) used.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The source of the electromagnetic heating radiation (8) has multiple light-emitting diodes (7).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one light-emitting diode (7) is capable of emitting electromagnetic heating radiation (8) in the red and / or infrared wavelength range.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The at least one light-emitting diode (7) can emit electromagnetic heating radiation (8) in the wavelength range between 600 nm and 1100 nm.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The optical conductor (9) is largely transparent to the electromagnetic heating radiation used.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The photoconductor (9) is made of or has polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene or quartz glass.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The device has a sensor unit (1) that is capable of emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation (2).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, During the operation of the device, electromagnetic radiation (2) emitted by the sensor unit (1) and / or received by the sensor unit (1) passes through the cover (3).

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The source of the electromagnetic heating radiation (8) is spaced apart from the sensor unit (1).

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The sensor unit (1) is a radar unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The electromagnetic radiation (2) emitted by and / or received by the sensor unit (1) is radiation in the microwave range.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that, The electromagnetic radiation (2) emitted by and / or received by the sensor unit (1) is radiation in the wavelength range between 1 mm and 100 mm.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The shielding part (3) is largely transparent to electromagnetic radiation (2) emitted by and / or received by the sensor unit (1).

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that, The covering part (3) is made of or has said material that is largely transparent to electromagnetic radiation (2) emitted by and / or received by the sensor unit (1).

18. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The device has a housing in which a sensor unit (1) is at least partially housed, wherein a cover (3) at least partially closes the housing.

19. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The cover (3) and / or housing constitute an antenna radome.

20. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The device has at least one light source that can produce visible light during operation of the device, and the light can be emitted from the device.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that, The light energy is emitted through at least one light emission opening (11) in the cover (3).

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