Vehicle component having surface with piezoelectric conversion fibers

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle component comprising a surface which is at least partially made of a textile fabric, into which at least one piezoelectric conversion fiber is introduced, which piezoelectric conversion fiber is provided for outputting an electrical signal representing a sound, the device further comprises a control unit electrically connected to the at least one piezoelectric conversion fiber, and the control unit is configured to evaluate the signal output by the at least one piezoelectric conversion fiber in terms of acoustic information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] In modern vehicles, microphones can be arranged at various locations in the vehicle. The microphone can, for example, be part of a hands-free system that allows the vehicle user to make calls without manually operating the mobile communication terminal. The microphone can also be installed at other locations in the vehicle, for example in order to pick up noises generated by mechanical components of the vehicle or noises that represent disturbances. Background Art

[0002] A disadvantage of using microphones in the interior of a vehicle is that, even if the microphones are visually integrated as largely as possible (for example in the roof ceiling of the vehicle or in other vehicle components), they are always visible or recognizable to the vehicle users.

[0003] Efforts are being made to design vehicle functions in vehicles in such a way that they can perform their technical functions and can be operated by the user in the usual way, but their technical features are not recognizable or prominent. For example, a vehicle function only appears and is perceptible to the user when it is operated or should be operated. Other technical functions should no longer be recognizable to the vehicle user. This is also known as "shy-tech". Thus, for example, a microphone visible in / on the vehicle should be replaced by a substitute that is not recognizable to the vehicle user. Summary of the invention

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle component which allows the reception of acoustic signals and which can be better visually integrated into the vehicle component.

[0005] The invention provides a solution according to the independent claim. The developments of the claim are technical solutions of the dependent claims.

[0006] In a first aspect, a vehicle component is provided, which comprises a surface, which is preferably at least partially made of a textile fabric, into which at least one piezoelectric converter fiber is introduced, which is preferably a textile fabric and is configured to generate an electrical signal representing a sound, and the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber is electrically connected to a control unit, which is configured to evaluate the signal generated by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with respect to acoustic information.

[0007] The vehicle component can be, in particular, a roof ceiling, a vehicle seat, a trim component and / or a cushion or a part thereof.

[0008] The vehicle component, in particular a flat vehicle component, can have at least two sound receiving regions, in each of which a piezoelectric converter fiber, preferably a plurality of piezoelectric converter fibers, can be introduced.

[0009] The control unit can evaluate the signal generated by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with regard to voice information.

[0010] The control unit can compare the signal output by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with the provided signal and detect whether the output signal deviates from the provided signal.

[0011] The control unit can compare the profile of the signal output by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with the provided signal profile. If a deviation is detected, the control unit can generate an output signal.

[0012] The control unit can evaluate the signal output by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with regard to interfering noise.

[0013] In another aspect there is provided a vehicle having a vehicle component as described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention will now also be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0015] Figure 1 a) to c) show exemplary embodiments according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 Another exemplary embodiment according to the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The invention makes use of the development of electroactive fibers. In particular, at least one piezoelectric fiber, preferably a plurality of piezoelectric fibers, so-called converter fibers, are introduced into the surface of a vehicle component. The surface is in particular a textile fabric.

[0018] The at least one conversion fiber can be woven into the material in particular. The piezoelectric conversion fiber can be an elastic plastic fiber in particular, which can convert mechanical movements into voltage pulses. In addition, piezoelectric nanocrystals, in particular piezoelectric nanocrystals made of barium titanate, are introduced into the fiber or the piezoelectric plastic of the fiber. Electrical conductors, in particular copper wires, are further added to the piezoelectric fiber thus adjusted as electrodes, which are used to output electrical signals from the conversion fiber.

[0019] If the surface of a vehicle component is now at least partially produced with the aid of the at least one piezoelectric conversion fiber, the surface can be used as a microphone. For example, with the aid of the at least one conversion fiber, sound waves in the frequency range between 200 and 1000 Hz can be converted into voltage pulses that depend on the loudness of the noise by the movement of the at least one conversion fiber. These voltage pulses can then be evaluated by a control unit connected to the at least one conversion fiber. The control unit can thus receive and process acoustic information.

[0020] In vehicles, in particular textile surfaces can be provided at a variety of locations.

[0021] Figure 1 Detailed description of the drawings a) shows by way of example a roof ceiling of a vehicle F as a vehicle component K, in which piezoelectric converter fibers are introduced at different locations. For example, at least one acoustically activatable piezoelectric converter fiber can be introduced in a first region 1 above a vehicle user, such as the driver (for illustration purposes, the converter fibers are shown in the drawing as thicker threads in a textile, which consists of a plurality of fibers arranged in a grid) or in a second region 2 above the front passenger, in order to receive acoustic vibrations generated by the driver or front passenger of the vehicle F or the corresponding vehicle user.

[0022] The control unit S can then evaluate the voltage pulse output by the at least one conversion fiber with regard to the acoustic information. The control unit S can then, for example, change settings of the vehicle F based on the acoustic information or output control signals to other control units in the vehicle.

[0023] In the third region 3, for example in the rear seat, an area can also be provided in the vehicle component K, in which an acoustic conversion fiber is introduced alternatively or additionally. It should be understood that the conversion fiber can also be used in addition to a conventional microphone, but the microphone can be installed at a more concealed position in the vehicle interior.

[0024] Figure 1 b) shows that surfaces, in particular textiles, are arranged in the fourth region 4 and the fifth region 5 of the engine compartment of the vehicle F. It should be understood that, in this example, the vehicle F is provided with a vehicle component K in a portion in which mechanical components are accommodated and which is not to be understood in particular as the interior or passenger compartment of the vehicle F. In this case, surfaces, such as interior trims, can also be provided with piezoelectric converter fibers as vehicle components K. Thus, for example, noises in the region of the mechanical components can be picked up and evaluated by the control unit S.

[0025] The received acoustic information is evaluated by the control unit S, in particular for comparing the noise generated by the mechanical or electrical component with the theoretical noise. In this way, it can be determined when the received noise differs from the theoretical noise. This can be an indication of a defect in the mechanical or electrical component, for example, and thus, for example, a warning can be issued to the vehicle user that the electrical or mechanical component should be checked.

[0026] Figure 1c) shows another exemplary application according to the invention. Here, a surface of a vehicle component K, such as a textile, is arranged, for example, in a sixth region 6 of a door interior of a vehicle F. The surface in the door can have piezoelectric conversion fibers, which are exposed toward the passenger compartment. Thus, here too, acoustic signals generated by a vehicle user can be received via the conversion fibers and evaluated by the control unit S with respect to acoustic information, such as speech signals.

[0027] It can also be provided that the control unit S receives and evaluates the signals of all piezoelectric converter fibers and / or converter fibers in a plurality of regions of the region 1-6. In particular, the control unit can receive and correlate the voltage pulses generated by the different piezoelectric converter fibers. This can ensure a higher recognition accuracy of the acoustic information. Of course, the at least one converter fiber can also be arranged in other surfaces or textiles of the vehicle F that do not correspond to the regions 1-6.

[0028] Figure 2 Another embodiment of the invention is shown. A seat C is shown here as an example of a vehicle component K. In the seat C, at least one piezoelectric conversion fiber 7 can be incorporated into the backrest, for example. The conversion fiber 7 can be provided, for example, to receive vital functions of the seat user, in particular acoustic information about the seat user's heartbeat or other vital functions that excite the at least one piezoelectric conversion fiber. The control unit S can in turn evaluate the voltage pulses output by the at least one conversion fiber. The evaluation of the acoustic information is carried out with respect to the vital functions.

[0029] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment of the invention, a further region 8 with at least one piezoelectric converter fiber is provided on the headrest at the seat C. Here too, the acoustic signal is received by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber introduced into the seat surface. The control unit S evaluates the signal from the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with respect to the acoustic information.

[0030] The surface is, in particular, a textile. The surface of the vehicle component K, in particular, which is at least partially made of a textile, is designed such that the sound emitted by the sound source to be monitored can be received by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber.

[0031] However, it is also understood that the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber can be introduced into other surface structures, such as plastics / synthetics, as long as it is ensured that the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber is excitable and can output voltage pulses that reflect acoustic information. Thus, for example, the converter fiber can be introduced into a textile upper material, but also into artificial leather, for example. Furthermore, the at least one converter fiber can be used, for example, as part of a yarn or thread that is provided for connecting parts of a component surface, such as parts of a seat cover.

Claims

1. Vehicle parts (K), including: a surface, which is preferably at least partially made of a textile fabric, into which at least one piezoelectric converter fiber is introduced, - the piezoelectric transducer fiber is arranged to generate an electrical signal representative of sound, and The at least one piezoelectric converter fiber is electrically connected to a control unit (S), which is provided to evaluate a signal generated by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with respect to acoustic information.

2. The vehicle component (K) according to claim 1, wherein The vehicle component (K) is, in particular, a roof ceiling, a vehicle seat, a trim component and / or a cushion.

3. The vehicle component (K) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The vehicle component (K), in particular a flat vehicle component, has at least two sound receiving regions, in each of which a piezoelectric converter fiber, preferably a plurality of piezoelectric converter fibers, is introduced.

4. The vehicle component (K) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The control unit (S) is configured to evaluate the signal generated by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with respect to voice information.

5. The vehicle component (K) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The control unit (S) is configured to compare the signal output by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with the provided signal and to detect whether the output signal deviates from the provided signal.

6. The vehicle component (K) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The control unit (S) is configured to compare the profile of the signal output by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with the provided signal profile and to generate an output signal if a deviation is detected.

7. The vehicle component (K) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The control unit (S) is configured to evaluate a signal output by the at least one piezoelectric converter fiber with respect to interference noise.

8. A vehicle having a vehicle component (K) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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