Vehicle windshield having windshield body arrangement and connection arrangement for electrical functional device

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle windshield comprising a windshield body arrangement (13), an edge overmolded structure (20) of the windshield body arrangement (13), an electrical functional device and a connection arrangement (21) for the electrical functional device, characterized in that the connection arrangement (21) comprises a plug connector (24), the plug connector comprises an electrical contact element (28) and a plastic edge overmolded structure of the electrical contact element (28), and the plug connector is an insert of the edge overmolded structure (20).

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Vehicle windshields of this type are known in practice and are designed, for example, as roof elements which are adjustable or fixed relative to the vehicle body. The vehicle windshield has a windshield body arrangement which, when designed as a composite windshield, comprises an inner windshield body and an outer windshield body. The outer windshield body forms the outer visible surface of the vehicle windshield, the inner windshield body forming the visible surface of the windshield body facing the vehicle interior. A liquid crystal device can be arranged between the outer windshield body and the inner windshield body and can be switched between a blocking state, in which the liquid crystal device acts as a diffuser, and a light-transmitting state, in which light can enter the vehicle interior from the vehicle windshield substantially without scattering, in order to control the entry of light from the vehicle windshield into the vehicle interior. The liquid crystal device is connected to the electronic control device via a cable, for example a ribbon cable, and can be designed in particular as a so-called PDLC device (polymer dispersed liquid crystal). The ribbon cable is routed from the space between the windshield outer body and the windshield inner body to the underside of the vehicle windshield, where it is connected to a wiring harness leading to a control device via a soft soldering or fusion welding joint. The connection point between the wiring harness and the ribbon cable is accommodated by an edge overmolding structure of the vehicle windshield, which forms a plastic frame and can in particular be made of a polyurethane foam layer. This means that the connection point is electrically insulated and mechanically protected. However, the connection of the ribbon cable to the wiring harness and the edge overmolding of the connection point with polyurethane foam material involve many production steps. In addition, the wiring harness must already be connected to the ribbon cable when the edge overmolding structure is molded onto the windshield body device. This carries the risk of damaging the wiring harness during the production process. The wiring harness must also be protected from damage at all times during the subsequent transportation of the vehicle windshield. Summary of the invention

[0003] This object is achieved according to the invention by a vehicle windshield having the features of claim 1 .

[0004] According to the present invention, a vehicle windshield is provided, which comprises a windshield body device, an edge overmolding structure of the windshield body device, an electric functional device and a connection device for the electric functional device. The connection device further comprises an electric contact element overmolded by a plastic component, the plastic component forms a plug connector, and the plug connector is an embedded part of the edge overmolding structure.

[0005] Thus, in the vehicle windshield according to the invention, the plug connector is incorporated into the edge overmolding structure, to which the plug connector counterpart of the connecting cable, in particular the wiring harness, can be connected in a simple manner, said wiring harness leading to the electronic control device of the electric functional device. This means that when manufacturing the vehicle windshield, the connecting cable or wiring harness does not have to be connected to the electric functional device and / or become a component of the connecting device of the electric functional device. Instead, after the vehicle windshield is manufactured and transported, the connecting cable and / or wiring harness can be directly connected to the electric functional device via the plug connector during the assembly process of the relevant vehicle.

[0006] The number of electrical contact elements of the connecting device depends on the number of conductors of the cable connected to the electric functional device, and the electrical contact elements are overmolded by the first plastic component. The electrical contact elements can be welded, soldered or crimped to the conductors of the cable. After the electrical contact elements are connected, the electrical contact elements and the first plastic component are foamed together in the corresponding injection mold. This means that the connection point between the electrical contact element and the cable leading to the electric functional device is protected and insulated by the first plastic component. During this injection molding process, the geometry of the plug connector is formed, and the plug connector can be connected to the plug connector matching structure or the like of the connecting cable, and the plug connector matching structure or the like leads to the electric control device of the electric functional device. Subsequently, an edge overmolding structure is formed in another mold, and the plastic component and / or the plug connector is firmly connected to the windshield body device by edge overmolding, so that the plug connector is particularly positioned on the lower side of the windshield body device. The edge overmolding structure is, for example, an edge overmolding structure made of polyurethane foam material. The contact surface of the contact element can still be contacted from the outside, and the contact element is part of the plug connector formed by the first plastic component. The result is a finished vehicle windshield with an integrated plug connector, i.e. without connecting cables. The latter can be connected via the plug connector at a given time during the assembly of the vehicle windshield. Damage to the connecting cables during the production of the vehicle windshield or during transport can thus be largely avoided.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the plug connector has a bottom surface which is parallel to the large surface plane of the windshield body device and can also abut against the windshield body device so that the plug connector can be connected to the windshield body device in a defined manner when forming the edge overmolding.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle windshield according to the invention, the plug connector has a layered circumferential surface. This then also serves as an anchoring surface, which firmly holds the plug connector in the edge overmolding structure. This enables the edge overmolding structure to at least partially overlap the plug connector and the plug connector to be fixed by the edge overmolding structure.

[0009] In order to provide a harmonious appearance, in an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle windshield according to the invention the plug connector has a front face which is arranged substantially flush with an adjacent surface of the edge overmoulding.

[0010] In order to ensure a secure connection of the plug connector mating structure of the connecting cable, it is advantageous if the plug connector formed from the plastic component has a locking geometry which engages with a mating locking geometry of the plug connector mating structure.

[0011] In order to be able to integrate the connecting device of the vehicle windshield according to the invention particularly harmoniously into the edge overmolding, it preferably has a ribbon cable which is connected to the electrical functional device and whose electrical conductors are each connected to a contact element.

[0012] In order to make the handling of the electrical contact elements as simple as possible during the production of the plug connector, the electrical contact elements preferably together form a contact rail which is overmolded by means of a plastic edge overmolding.

[0013] The electrically functional device comprises, for example, a liquid crystal device which forms a switchable shading device for a vehicle windshield. The liquid crystal device may be a PDLC (polymer dispersed liquid crystal) device, whereby the liquid crystal device comprises a polymer matrix in which liquid crystal droplets are embedded in dispersed form. The liquid crystal layer thus formed is provided on both sides with films made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate) or the like, which film carries an electrode layer on the side facing the liquid crystal layer. The electrode layer may be segmented, thereby providing a segmented liquid crystal device. Each segment may be connected to a conductor of a cable, each conductor being assigned to a contact element of a plug connector.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment of the vehicle windshield according to the invention, the electrical functional device has a windshield heater. In particular, the windshield heater can be a windshield heater for a rear window, for example a rear window of a convertible top.

[0015] Furthermore, the electrical functional device can be a solar cell arrangement or also a lighting device which is designed in particular as a so-called ambient light lighting device.

[0016] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be gathered from the description, the drawings and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] An exemplary embodiment of a vehicle windshield according to the invention is shown in a schematically simplified manner in the drawing and is described in more detail in the following description.

[0018] Figure 1 A top view of a vehicle roof with a vehicle windshield according to the invention is shown.

[0019] Figure 2 Shown along Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the edge area of ​​the vehicle windshield along line II-II.

[0020] Figure 3 A perspective view from below of the edge portion of the vehicle windshield and the wiring harness is shown.

[0021] Figure 4 Shown according to Figure 3 without the wiring harness.

[0022] Figure 5 The PDLC film is shown, along with the ribbon cable and contact rails.

[0023] Figure 6 Shown according to Figure 5 , and the plastic component has been formed on the contact rail, thus forming a plug connector.

[0024] Figure 7 The arrangement of the plug connector and the PDLC film on the windshield body assembly before forming the edge overmolding structure is shown.

[0025] Figure 8 Shown according to Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a vehicle windshield of the present invention.

[0026] Fig. 9 Shown according to Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a vehicle windshield of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The figure shows a roof 10 of a motor vehicle (not shown). The roof 10 is a panoramic roof having a fixed roof element 12 which is rigidly (i.e. non-movably) connected to the vehicle body. The fixed roof element 12 forms the vehicle windshield and comprises a composite structure which is Figure 2 is shown in more detail in .

[0028] The composite structure of the fixed roof element 12 comprises a windshield body arrangement 13 having a windshield outer body 14 and a windshield inner body 16, both of which are made of soda-lime transparent glass. The windshield outer body 14 faces the vehicle environment and forms the outer visible surface of the corresponding vehicle windshield, while the windshield inner body 16 faces the vehicle interior and forms the inner visible surface of the corresponding vehicle windshield. If desired, the windshield outer body 14 and the windshield inner body 16 can also be made of tinted glass.

[0029] Between the windshield outer body 14 and the windshield inner body 16 is a PDLC device 18, which is an electrically functional device and a shading device for current vehicle windshields. The PDLC device 18 includes a PDLC layer (polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer), which is formed as an actual shading element and includes a solid polymer matrix in which liquid crystals are contained in the form of droplets. Both sides of the PDLC layer are covered with a plastic film, which is made of a similar material such as PET, PC, etc., and has an electrode layer on the surface facing the PDLC layer, which can be made of ITO (indium tin oxide). With the help of the electrode layer, a voltage can be applied to the PDLC layer, so that the transmission characteristics of the PDLC layer can be changed. This makes it possible to adjust the PDLC layer and / or the PDLC device 18 between a blocking state (in which the PDLC layer is substantially opaque) and a light-transmitting state (in which direct light can enter the interior of the vehicle through the vehicle windshield).

[0030] Furthermore, the fixed roof element 12 is provided with a frame-like edge overmoulding 20 , in particular made of polyurethane foam, which covers the edges of the windscreen outer body 14 and the windscreen inner body 16 as well as the lower edge surface of the windscreen inner body 16 .

[0031] The connection device 21 is particularly used to electrically connect the segmented electrode layers of the PLDC device 18 and comprises a ribbon cable 22, each conductor 30 of which is electrically connected to a segment of the electrode layer. The ribbon cable 22 surrounds the edge of the windshield inner body 16 and is embedded in the edge overmolding structure 20, leading to a plug connector 24, which is housed as an insert in the edge overmolding structure 20 and is also a component of the integrated connection device 21.

[0032] The plug connector 24 comprises a contact rail 26, in particular Figure 5 As shown, the contact rail 26 has a plurality of contact elements 28, each of which is connected to a conductor 30 of the ribbon cable 22. The contact rail 26 is surrounded and / or overmolded by a plug housing 32, which is made of a plastic material, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the ribbon cable 22 is introduced into the plug housing 32 with its end facing away from the PDLC device 18 .

[0033] The plug housing 32 of the plug connector 24 thus forms a plastic edge overmolding of the contact rail 26, the plug housing 32 having a bottom surface 33 which is plane-parallel to the lower side of the windshield inner body 16 and having a layered circumferential surface 34 which is received by the plastic edge overmolding and forms an anchoring surface for the plug connector 24 in the edge overmolding 20. The front face 36 of the plug connector 24 and / or of the plug housing 32 is flush with the lower visible surface 38 of the edge overmolding 20.

[0034] The plug housing 32 of the plug connector 24 has an undercut 40 around the contact rail 26 to form a locking geometry. Furthermore, the locking geometry can include lugs, holes and / or the like.

[0035] The plug connector 24 is accommodated in the edge overmolding 20 as a so-called insert and can be coupled to a plug connector mating structure 42, which is part of a wiring harness 44 forming a connection cable and leading to an electrical control device (not shown in detail) of the PDLC device 18. On its contact side, the plug connector mating structure 42 has contact pins 46, which engage in contact elements 28 of the contact rail 26 of the plug connector 24, and a mating locking geometry 48, which is designed to correspond to the groove 40, so that the plug connector mating structure 42 can be securely locked to the plug connector 24.

[0036] The connecting device 21 is integrated into the windshield structure during the production of the fixed roof element 12 in the following manner.

[0037] In a first step, the ribbon cable 22 connected to at least one electrode layer of the PDLC device 18 is connected at its end facing away from the PDLC device 18 to the contact element 28 of the contact rail 26 via a soldering, welding or crimping process in such a way that the axis of the contact element 28 has an orientation of approximately 90° with respect to the corresponding conductor 30 of the ribbon cable 22 (see Figure 5 ).

[0038] In a further production step, the contact rail 26 and the connection point between the ribbon cable 22 and the contact rail 26 are overmolded with plastic in a corresponding injection molding process to form a plug housing 32, which has the above-mentioned geometry with a bottom surface 33, a circumferential surface 34, a front face 36 and a locking geometry (see Figure 6 ).

[0039] The PDLC device 18 with the thus formed connection device 21, which includes a ribbon cable 22 and a plug connector 24, is then integrated into a composite structure including a windshield outer body 14 and a windshield inner body 16 (see Figure 7 ). The composite structure is then inserted into a corresponding foaming tool to form the edge overmolding structure 20. The plug connector 24 is held in such a way that the bottom surface 33 is parallel to the plane of the bottom side of the windshield inner body 16, which bottom side forms a large surface, or the bottom surface 33 abuts against the windshield inner body 16. The polyurethane foam material is then introduced into the cavity of the foaming tool, thereby forming the edge overmolding structure 20. The plug connector 24 is thus integrated into the edge overmolding structure 20 as an insert (see Figure 4 ). The contact elements 28 of the contact rail 26 remain free so that the plug connector counterpart 42 can be electrically and mechanically connected to the plug connector 24 (see Figure 2 and Figure 3 ).

[0040] Figure 8 A vehicle windshield 12' is shown, which is Figures 1 to 7 The vehicle windshield 12′ corresponds roughly to the windshield shown in and also forms a fixed roof element. The vehicle windshield 12′ differs from the above-described vehicle windshields in that the shape of the plug connector 24 accommodated by the edge overmolding structure 20 is such that the plug connector mating structure 42 can be inserted from obliquely below relative to the plane of the windshield body device 13; that is, the longitudinal center plane of the plug connector mating structure 42 forms an angle of approximately 40° with the plane of the windshield body device 13. The cable routing in the plug housing 32 is adapted to this angle. The front face 36 of the plug connector 24 is also inclined relative to the plane of the windshield body device 13. In all other respects, the vehicle windshield 12′ corresponds to the above-described vehicle windshields. Figures 1 to 7 The windshield shown in corresponds to the one shown in , so please refer to the relevant description to avoid repetition.

[0041] Fig. 9 A vehicle windshield 12" is shown with Figure 8 , but differs in that the plug connector 24 received by the edge overmolding structure 20 is shaped so that its front face 36 is at least approximately at right angles to the plane of the windshield body device 13. Therefore, the plug connector mating structure 42 can be inserted parallel to the plane of the windshield body device 13; that is, the longitudinal center plane of the plug connector mating structure 42 is at least approximately parallel to this plane. In all other aspects, the vehicle windshield 12″ is similar to Figure 8 The windshield shown in corresponds to the one shown in , so please refer to the relevant description.

[0042] Thus, the orientation of the plug connector 24 in the edge overmolding 20 and its geometry can vary within wide ranges.

[0043] Reference numerals

[0044] 10 Roof

[0045] 12, 12′, fixed roof elements, vehicle windshields

[0046] 13 Windshield body device

[0047] 14 Windshield outer body

[0048] 16 Windshield inner body

[0049] 18 PDLC device

[0050] 20 Edge overmolded structure

[0051] 21 Connecting device

[0052] 22 Ribbon Cable

[0053] 24 Plug connector

[0054] 26 Contact rail

[0055] 28 Contact elements

[0056] 30 Conductors

[0057] 32 Plug housing

[0058] 33 Bottom

[0059] 34 Circumferential surface

[0060] 36 front

[0061] 38 Visible Surfaces

[0062] 40 slots

[0063] 42 Plug connector mating structure

[0064] 44 Wire Harness

[0065] 46 Contact pin

[0066] 48 Paired Locking Geometry

Claims

1. A vehicle windshield, comprising a windshield body device (13), an edge overmolding structure (20) for the windshield body device (13), an electrical functional device and a connecting device (21) for the electrical functional device, characterized in that: The connection device (21) comprises a plug connector (24) which comprises an electrical contact element (28) and a plastic edge overmolding structure for the electrical contact element (28), and the plug connector is an insert of the edge overmolding structure (20).

2. The vehicle windshield according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plug connector (24) has a bottom surface (33), and the bottom surface (33) is parallel to the large surface plane of the windshield body device (13).

3. The vehicle windshield according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The plug connector (24) has a stepped circumferential surface (34).

4. The vehicle windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The plug connector (24) has a front face (36) that is arranged substantially flush with an adjacent surface of the edge overmold structure (20).

5. The vehicle windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The plug connector (24) includes a locking geometry that engages a mating locking geometry (48) of a plug connector mating structure (42).

6. The vehicle windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The connection device (21) comprises a ribbon cable which is connected to the electrically functional device and each electrical conductor (30) of the ribbon cable is connected to one of the electrical contact elements (28).

7. The vehicle windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The electrical contact element (28) forms a contact rail (26) which is overmoulded by the plastic edge overmoulding.

8. The vehicle windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The electrically functional device comprises a liquid crystal device, which forms a component of a switchable shading device of the vehicle windscreen, in particular a PDLC device (18).

9. The vehicle windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The electrically functional device comprises a windshield heater.

10. The vehicle windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The windshield body device (13) comprises a windshield outer body (14) and a windshield inner body (16), and the electrical functional device is arranged between the windshield outer body (14) and the windshield inner body (16).

11. The vehicle windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The vehicle windshield is a roof windshield of the vehicle roof.

12. The vehicle windshield according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The vehicle windshield is a rear windshield, in particular a rear windshield of a convertible.

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