Vehicle window with lighting unit

Abstract

The present application proposes a window comprising a window arrangement (16) having an outer face facing the environment of the vehicle and an inner face facing the interior of the vehicle and parallel to the outer face, the inner face comprising a light guide layer forming the inner face, the window comprising a lighting unit (24) and at least one light input unit having at least one light input element (30, 30 '), at least one light input element is arranged on an inner face of the window arrangement and couples light emitted by the lighting unit (24) into the light guide layer via a coupling surface (34) opposite the inner face of the window arrangement, characterized in that the light input unit is provided with at least one light guide member (38), the at least one light guide member is arranged on the coupling side of the at least one light input element and conducts light emitted by the lighting unit from a first light guide region (L1) corresponding to the position of the lighting unit to a second light guide region (L2) offset relative to the first light guide region in a direction towards the window arrangement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle window having the features of the preamble of claim 1 . Background Art

[0002] Such a window is known from patent document WO 2021 / 198262 A1 and is a part of the roof in the form of a cover element or a fixed top element of a top opening system. The known window comprises a window device, which is configured as a sandwich structure and comprises a light-guiding layer, to which a guide-shaped light input element is attached. In addition, the window comprises a lighting unit, which is connected to the light input element so that the light emitted by the lighting unit is redirected in the light input element and coupled into the light-guiding layer. In this way, an illuminated area can be realized on the light-guiding layer, thereby forming a visible surface of the window that is accessible from the interior of the vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle window of the above-mentioned type, through which the light emitted by the lighting unit can be coupled into the light input unit in an optimized manner.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by a vehicle window having the features of claim 1 .

[0005] The present invention proposes a vehicle window, which comprises a window device, the window device having an outer surface facing the vehicle environment and an inner surface facing the vehicle interior and in particular parallel to the outer surface, the inner surface comprising a light guide layer forming the inner surface, the vehicle window also comprising a lighting unit and at least one light input unit having at least one light input element, the at least one light input element being arranged on the inner surface of the window device and coupling the light emitted by the lighting unit into the light guide layer via a coupling surface opposite to the inner surface of the window device. In order to achieve that the light is preferably coupled into the light input unit, the light input unit is provided with at least one light guide member, the at least one light guide member being arranged on the coupling side of the at least one light input element and conducting the light emitted by the lighting unit from a first light guide area to a second light guide area, the first light guide area corresponding to the position of the lighting unit, the second light guide area being offset relative to the first light guide area in a direction toward the window device. Therefore, the light guide member transmits the light from a first plane to another plane or a second plane closer to the window device than the first plane, so that the light can be coupled into the light guide layer at least to a large extent without loss through the light input unit, the light guide layer being a part of the window device. In particular, the offset is at right angles to the plane of the window device. The geometrically relevant position of the lighting unit is offset at least approximately at right angles to the inner surface or face of the window device relative to the light input unit, in particular the position is arranged closer to the vehicle window edge relative to the light input unit and, when projected onto the window device, the position is arranged on the side surface of the light input unit, and can therefore be compensated by the offset.

[0006] In principle, the window device of the vehicle window of the present invention can be designed as a composite structure, in particular laminated safety glass, or as a single-layer glass or single-layer safety glass.

[0007] When the window device adopts a composite structure, it preferably has an outer window and an inner window, and the inner window is connected to the outer window by at least one connecting layer. In this case, the inner window preferably forms a light-guiding layer. The light input element of the light input unit is preferably arranged directly on the inner surface of the inner window, which can be formed by a continuous coating or a coating interrupted in the area of ​​the light input element, and the inner surface forms a large surface of the window device. No additional, possibly costly light-guiding layer is required. When the lighting unit is activated, the inner window can provide a planar or patterned ambient light function.

[0008] For laminated glass having an outer window and an inner window, it is also conceivable to attach an additional light guide layer to the inner face of the inner window, into which light from the lighting unit can be coupled via the light input unit.

[0009] In principle, the inner window of the composite structure, which serves as a light guide, can be made of any material that can be used for this purpose. For example, the inner window is made of a material including glass and / or polycarbonate material and / or other plastic material.

[0010] In a specific embodiment of the vehicle window of the present invention, the light input unit comprises a plurality of light input elements arranged side by side or in a row one behind the other, which are arranged on an inner face formed by a light-guiding layer, the inner face being oriented in a specific plane parallel to the outer face of the window device. In this case, the lighting unit preferably comprises a corresponding number of light sources or LEDs, which can be arranged on a shared carrier.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of a vehicle window for use as a roof window according to the invention, a light input unit having at least one light input element is arranged on one side of the window device or optionally on two edges of the window device that are opposite to each other, in each case close to the edges. Both light input units are provided with a lighting unit that can contain a plurality of light sources. It is also possible to arrange a plurality of light input elements adjacent to each other in a row on both sides or edges of the vehicle window, each light input element being assigned at least one light source of the lighting unit. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to provide a light input unit along each of the four edges of a vehicle window having a substantially rectangular base according to the invention, the light input unit having at least one light input element that is associated with at least one lighting unit according to the invention.

[0012] The light input element of the vehicle window according to the present invention is preferably designed to optimize the coupling of light emitted by the lighting unit so that it has at least one wedge-shaped surface, which is formed by the boundary surface of the light input element facing away from the window device and is at a certain angle or inclined relative to the coupling surface. The coupling surface is arranged opposite to or adjacent to the inner surface of the window device and is arranged relative to the inner surface of the window so that the boundary surface and the inner surface of the window device enclose an acute angle.

[0013] The light input element is preferably configured as a plastic body, in particular made of a material including PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PC (polycarbonate), PA (polyamide), COC (cyclic olefin copolymer) or COP (cyclic olefin polymer). It is also conceivable that the light input element is a glass element.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle window of the present invention, the light guide member that transmits the light to be coupled from the first light guide area to the second light guide area is made of the same material as the light input element, so that both have the same refractive index. If the material of the light guide member and the light input element are different, the difference in the refractive index of these materials should be small.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light guide member of the vehicle window according to the present invention, which transmits light from the first light guide area to the second light guide area, has an S-shaped cross section. Therefore, when viewed from the cross section, it bends in two opposite directions between the lighting unit and the light input unit, so that the light emitted by the lighting unit and coupled into the light guide member through the coupling surface is guided to the second light guide area with as little loss as possible, the second light guide area corresponding to the light input unit.

[0016] In one embodiment, the light-guiding element may have an optical element on the side surface facing the LED. The optical element may be a lens. For example, the lens may be implemented as a convex side surface. Alternatively or additionally, the convex side surface may have a surface structure, which surface structure has, for example, a grid structure or a roughened structure. The light input element and / or the light-guiding member may have a reflective coating or covering, for example a reflective coating or covering comprising aluminum.

[0017] In a vehicle window embodiment of the present invention that is easy to implement in design, the light guide member is formed by a separate light guide element that is close to the side surface of the light input element. Therefore, the light guide member is a separate component that is arranged between the lighting unit and the light input unit and is close to the light input element preferably without an air gap, for example, by an adhesive.

[0018] The light guide member or the separate light guide element is particularly strip-shaped and preferably integrally formed so that it can extend along the corresponding edge of the window device. The strip-shaped design allows the light guide member to be assigned to a plurality of light input elements or close to a plurality of light input elements and guide the light emitted by the corresponding light source of the lighting unit into the designated light input element in a defined manner.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment of the vehicle window according to the invention, the light guide member is formed integrally with the light input element and is therefore an integral part of the light input element. In this case, the light guide member in particular forms a lateral extension of the light input element, said lateral extension being provided with a coupling surface, through which the light of the lighting unit is initially coupled into the light guide member and is guided by said light guide member from the first light guide area to the second light guide area and into the coupling section of the light input element, so that it is coupled into the light guide layer of the window device through the coupling surface by corresponding internal reflection.

[0020] As mentioned above, the lighting unit may include a carrier board on which at least two light sources are arranged, the at least two light sources are preferably respectively assigned to one light input element of the light input unit, and each light source may be configured as an LED. The lighting unit may be connected to the window device via the carrier board.

[0021] The light source of the lighting unit is preferably a so-called top LED, i.e. formed by an LED whose emitted light is substantially at right angles to the carrier plane. It is also conceivable to use so-called side LEDs, whose emitted light is substantially parallel to the carrier, which are then arranged on the window device in an optimized manner.

[0022] Generally, the vehicle window of the invention can be arranged at any position of the motor vehicle. However, preferably, the vehicle window of the invention is a roof window, which can form a rigid and fixed top element arranged immovably relative to the vehicle body, or a movable cover element forming a top opening system.

[0023] The invention also relates to a vehicle roof comprising a vehicle window of the above type.

[0024] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be gathered from the description, the drawings and the claims. The invention relates to all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims and / or the drawings, i.e. each feature mentioned in the description can itself be part of the subject matter claimed independently of the further features or refinements mentioned in the respective context. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] An exemplary embodiment of a vehicle window according to the invention is schematically simplified in the drawings and is described in more detail in the following description.

[0026] Figure 1A top view of a vehicle roof having a vehicle window according to the present invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 2 Shown along Figure 1 The II-II line passes through the Figure 1 The cut surface of the car window;

[0028] Figure 3 A top view of a lighting unit and a light input unit of a vehicle window is shown;

[0029] Figure 4 An alternative embodiment of the vehicle window is shown corresponding to Figure 2 the section plane; and

[0030] Figure 5 It shows that Figure 4 A top view of the lighting unit and light input unit of a vehicle window is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Figure 1 A roof 10 of a motor vehicle (not shown) is shown, which is configured as a panoramic roof and has a displaceable cover element 12 and a fixed roof element 14 which is fixed or immovable relative to the vehicle body. The cover element 12 and the fixed roof element 14, as part of a roof opening system, each comprise a glass component which forms a window and is provided with a so-called ambient light function. In the present case, the windows of the cover element 12 and the fixed roof element 14 have the same basic structure and are provided by Figure 2 and Figure 3 Shown schematically.

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, the vehicle windows of the cover element 12 and the fixed top element 14 each include a window device 16, which is designed as a laminated glass and has an outer window 18 facing the vehicle environment and an inner window 20 facing the vehicle interior, the inner window being connected to the outer window 18 via a connecting layer 22, which can be a laminate film. A liquid crystal device, which can have multiple layers and form an electronically switchable shading device for the vehicle window, can also be arranged between the outer window 18 and the inner window 20.

[0033] The window arrangement can have further layers and coatings, for example embossed color films, coatings which reflect infrared radiation and / or coatings which reflect heat radiation (so-called low-E coatings).

[0034] The outer window 18 can be made of an outwardly curved glass sheet, which can be, for example, colored soda-lime glass, or made of a curved plastic element, for example, made of a polycarbonate material. The inner window 20 that is particularly curved outwardly can also be made of organic glass, for example soda-lime glass, or made of a plastic material, for example, a polycarbonate material.

[0035] Outer window 18 forms an outer surface or exterior face of window device 16 , while inner window 20 forms an inner surface or interior face of window device 16 parallel to the outer surface.

[0036] The window of the cover element 12 and the window of the fixed roof element 14 each include two lighting units 24, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are arranged at the corresponding side edges of the cover element 12 or the fixed roof element 14. The longitudinal direction of the vehicle is the direction extending from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle when the window is installed on the relevant vehicle.

[0037] The lighting units 24 are all configured as PCB printed circuit boards and include, in particular, a flexible circuit board 26 on which electronic components are arranged and on which a plurality of LEDs 28 as light sources are arranged, the plurality of LEDs being arranged in a row one behind the other in the longitudinal direction. In order to be able to couple the light emitted by the LEDs into the inner window 20 representing the light guide layer, a plurality of light input elements 30 having a wedge-shaped cross section are arranged in a row one behind the other on the inner face of the window device 16, the light input elements 30 together forming a light input unit and being connected to the inner face of the inner window 20 via an adhesive layer 32. The surfaces of the light input elements 30 facing the inner window 20 each form a coupling surface 34, which is oriented parallel to the inner face of the window device 16.

[0038] The light input elements 30 have side surfaces 36 oriented substantially at right angles to the plane of the window means 16 and forming coupling surfaces of the respective light input elements 30 having wedge-shaped surfaces 37 forming an acute angle with the coupling surfaces 34 .

[0039] A light-guiding member 38 is arranged between the side surface 36 of the light input element 30 and the LED 28 of the lighting unit 24, which is formed as a separate component or light-guiding element and extends in a guide-shaped manner in the top longitudinal direction. The coupling side of the light-guiding member 38, which is made of the same plastic material as the light input element 30, is directly adjacent to the side surfaces 36 of a plurality of light input elements 30 and is rigidly connected to the side surfaces, for example, by an adhesive surface. In the present case, the light-guiding member 38 extends to all light input elements 30 arranged on one side of the respective vehicle window. It is also conceivable that a plurality of light-guiding members are arranged at the respective edges of the vehicle window, the plurality of light-guiding members being respectively assigned to one light input element and / or a part of a light input element.

[0040] like Figure 2As shown, each light guide member 38 has a generally S-shaped cross section, i.e., a cross section following two opposite curvatures, and an end face coupling surface 40 adjacent to the LED 28. The height of the coupling surface 40 defines a first light guide area L1, which is located in the area of ​​the LED 28 disposed on the circuit board 26. The height of the end face facing away from the coupling surface 40 and adjacent to the side surface 36 of the light input element 30 defines a second light guide area L2.

[0041] Due to the geometry of the light guide member 38, the light emitted by the LED to the coupling surface 40 is transmitted in the light guide member 38 from the light guide area L1 to the light guide area L2, which is arranged offset relative to the first light guide area L1 in the direction toward the window device 16, so that the light transmitted by the light guide member 38 is coupled into the light input element 30 in a positionally accurate manner. Through these, the light is then coupled into the inner window 20, where it can propagate through the coupling surface 34. The coupling out from the inner window 18 to produce a light emitting area and / or a light pattern can be achieved by a corresponding coupling out structure, which is formed, for example, by printing on the surface of the inner window 20 facing the outer window 18.

[0042] Figure 4 and Figure 5 An alternative embodiment of a vehicle window is shown, which is essentially based on Figure 1 The window design shown may also represent a movable cover element of a roof opening system or a fixed roof element of a vehicle roof.

[0043] Figure 4 and Figure 5 The vehicle window shown corresponds substantially to the vehicle window described above, but differs from the vehicle window described above in that a plurality of light input elements 30', which are also fixed to the inner face of the inner window body 20 by means of an adhesive surface 32, are arranged in a row one behind the other on two edges extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In an integrated and integral manner, each light input element 30' has a wedge-shaped coupling section 42 and, on the coupling side, an extension 44 which is laterally adjacent thereto in the direction towards the corresponding lighting unit 24 and represents a corresponding light guide member 38, according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the light guide member has an S-shaped cross section, at least in a broad sense. The light emitted by the LED is guided from the light guide area L1 located in the area of ​​the LED 28 and defined by the height of the coupling surface 40 to the light guide area L2 located in the area of ​​the coupling section 42 and defined by the height of the coupling section 42 of the light input element 30', through the light guide member 38 having the coupling surface 40 opposite to the lighting unit 24. In the coupling section 42, internal reflection of the light occurs particularly on the wedge-shaped surface 37, so that it can be coupled into the inner window 18 in an optimized manner.

[0044] The transition between the light guiding member 38 and the coupling surface 40 is located approximately at an edge region of the adhesion surface 32 , which edge region faces the lighting unit 24 .

[0045] also, Figure 4 and Figure 5 The car windows and Figures 1 to 3 The car windows in are basically corresponding. In order to avoid repetition, please refer to the relevant description.

[0046] Reference numerals list

[0047] 10 Roof

[0048] 12 Cover element

[0049] 14 Fixed top element

[0050] 16 Window Installation

[0051] 18 External Window

[0052] 20 Inner window

[0053] 22 Connection Layer

[0054] 24 lighting units

[0055] 26 Circuit Board

[0056] 28 LED

[0057] 30, 30' optical input element

[0058] 32 Adhesion Surface

[0059] 34 Coupling surface

[0060] 36 Side surface

[0061] 37 Wedge Surface

[0062] 38 Light guide component

[0063] 40 Coupling surface

[0064] 42 Coupling section

[0065] 44 Extension

[0066] L1 Light Guide Area

[0067] L2 Light Guide Area

Claims

1. A vehicle window, comprising a window device (16), the window device having an outer surface facing the vehicle environment and an inner surface facing the vehicle interior and parallel to the outer surface, the inner surface comprising a light guide layer forming the inner surface, the vehicle window comprising a lighting unit (24) and at least one light input unit having at least one light input element (30, 30'), the at least one light input element being arranged on the inner surface of the window device (16) and coupling light emitted by the lighting unit (24) into the light guide layer via a coupling surface (34) opposite to the inner surface of the window device (16), characterized in that: The light input unit is provided with at least one light guide member (38), which is arranged on the coupling side of the at least one light input element (30, 30') and conducts the light emitted by the lighting unit (24) from a first light guide area (L1) to a second light guide area (L2), the first light guide area corresponds to the position of the lighting unit (24), and the second light guide area is offset relative to the first light guide area (L1) in a direction toward the window device (16).

2. The vehicle window according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light guide member (38) has an S-shaped cross section and a coupling surface (40), and the light of the lighting unit (24) is coupled into the light guide member (38) via the coupling surface.

3. The vehicle window according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The light guide member (38) is formed by at least one separate light guide element, which is adjacent to a side surface (36) of the light input element (30).

4. The vehicle window according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The light guide member (38) is formed integrally with the light input element (30'), so that the light guide member becomes an integral part of the light input element (30').

5. The vehicle window according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The light guiding member (38) is in a strip shape.

6. The vehicle window according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The lighting unit (24) comprises a carrier board (26) on which at least two light sources are arranged. The at least two light sources are preferably respectively assigned to one light input element (30, 30') of the light input unit.

7. The vehicle window according to claim 6, characterized in that: The carrier plate (26) is oriented at least approximately at right angles to the window device (16), and the light source has a beam direction oriented at right angles to the plane of the carrier plate (26).

8. The vehicle window according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The at least one light guiding member (38) and the at least one light input element (30, 30') are made of the same material, in particular the same plastic material.

9. The vehicle window according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The vehicle window is a roof element and is configured as a displaceable cover element (12) or a fixed roof element (14) of a roof opening system.

10. A vehicle roof comprising the vehicle window according to any one of 1 to 9.

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