Component for vehicle and radiator grille having component of this type

Abstract

The invention relates to a component (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising a visible element (3) having a decorative region (4). Importantly, the decorative region (4) is designed to be at least partially transmissible by radar beams and light beams. The component (1) further comprises: a carrier element (7), which is designed to be at least partially transmissive by radar beams and light beams and which has a heating element (8), which is designed to be at least partially transmissive by radar beams and light beams, for heating the decorative region (4); a light guide device (9) designed to be at least partially transmissive by radar beams and light beams for illuminating the decorative area (4); and a radar camera (11) for traffic observation, the radar camera being adapted to emit a radar beam. The invention also relates to a radiator grille (23) for a vehicle (2), comprising at least one such component (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a component for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention relates in particular to a radiator grille for a vehicle having such a component. Background Art

[0002] A component for a vehicle belonging to this category is known from DE 10 2016 007 119 A1.

[0003] WO 2021 / 018 422 A1 discloses a radome having a radio-transmissive substrate, which comprises a first surface and a second surface and a radio-transmissive coating on the first surface.

[0004] No. 5,709,453 A discloses a device for illuminating a vehicle using a light-conducting plate containing a fluorescent substance.

[0005] DE 10 2015 004 204 A1 discloses a radome having a front side and a rear side, at least one coupling structure for coupling light into the radome, and a heating device.

[0006] For example, DE 10 2014 002 438 A1 describes a component for a vehicle. The component comprises a visual element having a decorative area with a decorative design visible from the outside and capable of being transmitted by the radar beam of a radar camera. DE 10 2014 002 438 A1 also proposes a heating element that can be used to heat the decorative area. This prevents or eliminates fogging, such as ice or condensation, that may occur on the decorative area. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an embodiment of a component or at least another embodiment of a component which is improved with respect to known components. In particular, a radiator grille for a vehicle having such a component should be provided.

[0008] In the present invention, this object is achieved in particular by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the description.

[0009] The basic idea of ​​the invention is to additionally illuminate or backlight such components.

[0010] To this end, a component for a vehicle, particularly one designed for partially automated driving, is proposed. The component comprises a visual element having a decorative region. The decorative region is designed to be at least partially or completely transparent to radar and light beams. Furthermore, the decorative region has a visible surface and a rear surface facing away from the visible surface. Advantageously, the decorative region may be provided with or form a decorative design visible from the outside environment, such as a three-dimensional design, pattern, or similar aesthetic element. Furthermore, the component according to the present invention comprises a carrier element designed to be at least partially or completely transparent to radar and light beams. This carrier element, in turn, is arranged on the rear surface of the decorative region and comprises a heating element designed to be at least partially or completely transparent to radar and light beams, for example, opposite the decorative region. The heating element is adapted to heat the decorative region. Importantly, the component according to the present invention is equipped with a light guide designed to be at least partially or completely transparent to radar and light beams for illuminating or backlighting the decorative region and / or the visual element. The light guide may, for example, be opposite the heating element. Furthermore, it can be provided that, for example, a light beam provided by a light source of the component or vehicle can be coupled laterally into the component or light guide device by means of the light guide device. Furthermore, it is provided that the light guide device is arranged on the rear side of the carrier element facing away from the decorative area and is adapted to emit a light beam toward the decorative area. Furthermore, it is important that the component according to the invention is equipped with a radar camera for traffic monitoring, in particular for distance measurement, which is arranged on the rear side of the light guide device facing away from the carrier element and is adapted to emit a radar beam toward the decorative area.

[0011] This provides a component that is transmissive to light beams and radar beams. The radar beam transmissive property is used for traffic observation, particularly distance measurement, while the additional property of being projected by light beams allows for illumination or backlighting of the component, which provides visual comfort for the component user. The decorative area of ​​the visual component can be heated by a heating element, thereby preventing or eliminating fogging, such as ice or condensation, that may form on the visible surface of the decorative area during vehicle operation. This has the advantage that light beams and radar beams can penetrate the decorative area unimpeded even in adverse weather conditions, thus enabling reliable operation of the component according to the present invention.

[0012] Suitably, the present invention understands "light beam" to mean electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength range visible to the human eye.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention advantageously understands a “radar beam” to mean electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength lies in the radio frequency range.

[0014] It is advantageously provided that the light guide and / or the carrier element form a cover for the radar camera. Advantageously, the rear side of the light guide and / or the carrier rear side of the carrier element at least partially or completely covers the aperture opening of the radar camera aperture that is oriented toward the decorative area. This protects the radar camera from harmful environmental influences such as moisture or sunlight.

[0015] According to the invention, it is provided that the light-guiding device comprises: a central light-guiding element designed to be transmissive to the radar beam and the light beam, via which the light beam can be advantageously coupled laterally; and a light-guiding element for guiding the light beam from the light source to the central light-guiding element. The central light-guiding element can be designed to be molded. That is to say, the central light-guiding element can be designed so that it is produced in one manufacturing step without any further processing or mounting steps. In particular, the central light-guiding element can be produced as an injection-molded element in an injection-molding process. The central light-guiding element can be arranged at the component during its manufacture in the injection-molding process. This means in particular that the central light-guiding element can be injection-molded at the carrier element and / or the radar camera.

[0016] More particularly, it can be provided that the central light-conducting element is supported on the one hand on the aperture of the radar camera and / or on the other hand on the carrier element and covers the aperture opening.

[0017] According to the present invention, it is provided that the light-guiding element is designed in an annular shape, wherein the light-guiding element is optionally supported at the light coupling surface of the central light-guiding element for coupling the light beam into the central light-guiding element. It can be provided that the light coupling surface of the central light-guiding element and / or the direction of the annular light-guiding element is outside the light path formed by the radar beam and / or the light beam and surrounds the light path. The annular light-guiding element can be designed in particular to be circular or elliptical. It is also conceivable that it has the shape of a triangular, quadrilateral or polygonal annular element. Suitably, the annular light-guiding element is equipped with a corresponding light coupling surface, which is arranged on the light coupling surface of the central light-guiding element so that the light beam coupled into the light-guiding element can be effectively transmitted from the light-guiding element to the central light-guiding element. Suitably, the light coupling surface of the central light-guiding element is designed to match the light-guiding element or the corresponding light coupling surface. The light coupling surface of the central light-guiding element can be polished and / or designed to be molded to improve the light coupling of the light beam by means of the light-guiding element. Of course, the same settings can also be made for the corresponding light coupling surface.

[0018] The component or the vehicle equipped with the component expediently has at least one light source for providing a light beam to the component. For example, the light beam can be coupled into the light guide device, preferably into the light guide element of the light guide device, by means of the light source.

[0019] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the radar camera includes an aperture with an aperture opening facing the decorative area, wherein the radar camera is adapted to transmit a radar beam through the aperture opening toward the decorative area. Furthermore, the annular light guide element has an inner diameter that is equal to or greater than the aperture diameter of the aperture opening. This ensures that the annular light guide element does not obstruct the aperture opening when installed, and that the radar beam can pass from the radar camera through the aperture opening and the central light guide element to the decorative area without being hindered by the light guide element. Preferably, the annular light guide element and the, for example, circular aperture opening are arranged coaxially / concentrically with respect to each other.

[0020] The radar camera may be constituted by a conventional traffic monitoring radar camera.

[0021] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the light coupling surface of the central light-guiding element tapers in a funnel-like manner toward the decorative area or the radar camera. A light-guiding element is supported at the light coupling surface of the central light-guiding element for coupling a light beam into the central light-guiding element. The light coupling surface of the central light-guiding element is thus designed in a funnel-like manner, with the virtual funnel tip pointing toward the decorative area or the radar camera. This allows light coupling into the light-guiding device or the central light-guiding element in a relatively simple and space-saving manner. In particular, this allows light beams to be coupled laterally into the central light-guiding element or the light-guiding device in a space-saving manner.

[0022] Preferably, the light guide device or its light guide elements form a prefabricated structural unit with the central light guide element of the light guide device. This structural unit can serve as an intermediate product, an insert during the manufacture of the component or a radiator grille comprising such a component, and can be fixed to a carrier element, in particular during an injection molding process. Using a corresponding intermediate product can simplify, and in particular, accelerate, the manufacture of the subject component. It is also possible to prefabricate and store the intermediate products for later use in the manufacture of the component.

[0023] It is suitably provided that the heating element is a heating foil and is preferably implemented by an electrically drivable heating foil. Alternatively or additionally, the heating element can be arranged at the back of the decorative area. Corresponding heating elements that can be penetrated can be provided in an economical and efficient manner in large quantities, thereby enabling the entire component of the present subject to be manufactured in an economical and efficient manner. The advantage of arranging the heating element at the back of the decorative area is that the heat provided by the heating element can be provided directly at the decorative area without a significant time delay to prevent or eliminate fogging. In principle, it is of course also conceivable to embed the heating element completely in the center of the carrier element or to arrange it at the back of the carrier of the carrier element.

[0024] It is preferably provided that the carrier element is made of a plastic material or comprises this plastic material. The plastic material used can in particular be polycarbonate (PC for short). This provides an embodiment of the carrier element that can be produced at low cost.

[0025] Preferably, the visual element and / or decorative area comprises or forms a planar layer arrangement comprising: a planar outer layer, for example, made of a polyurethane (PU) coating, which comprises or forms the visible side; a planar paint layer disposed on the outer layer; and a planar chrome layer disposed on the paint layer, which comprises or forms the rear side of the decorative area. The paint layer can, in principle, have any color. However, the color of the vehicle's exterior is preferred. The chrome layer can be embodied as a chrome foil. Overall, this provides a preferred structure for the visual element and / or decorative area.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, a radiator grille for a vehicle, in particular a vehicle designed for semi-automated driving, is expediently provided, which is equipped with at least one component designed according to the above description.

[0027] In summary, the present invention preferably relates to a component for a vehicle, comprising a visual element having a decorative area. Importantly, the decorative area is designed to be at least partially transmissive to radar beams and light beams. The component further comprises: a carrier element designed to be at least partially transmissive to the radar beams and light beams, the carrier element having a heating element designed to be at least partially transmissive to the radar beams and light beams for heating the decorative area; a light guide designed to be at least partially transmissive to the radar beams and light beams for illuminating the decorative area; and a radar camera for traffic monitoring, the radar camera being adapted to emit radar beams. The present invention also relates to a radiator grille for a vehicle, comprising at least one such component. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the drawings and the description of the associated figures based on the drawings.

[0029] It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0030] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0031] Here:

[0032] Figure 1A vehicle with a radiator grille according to the invention is schematically shown in a highly simplified perspective view,

[0033] Figure 2 A highly simplified cross-sectional view of a component according to the invention is shown schematically, which can be mounted on a Figure 1 in the radiator grille, and

[0034] Figure 3 A schematic, likewise highly simplified, sectional view of a structural unit which can be used as an insert when producing the component according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] As mentioned above, Figure 1 An exemplary vehicle, designated as a whole by reference numeral 2 , is shown in a highly simplified perspective view, having a radiator grille 23 which comprises or is formed from at least one component 1 according to the invention.

[0036] Figure 2 A highly simplified cross-sectional view shows a component 1 according to the invention, which can be mounted on a frame (not shown) of a vehicle 2, for example, by means of a frame 27. The component has a visual element, generally designated 3, which has a light beam designed to be at least partially transparent to the radar beam and the light beam. Figure 2 The decorative area 4 is indicated by a vertical dashed line and has a visible side 5 facing the external environment 24 and a back side 6 facing away from the visible side 5. The decorative area 4 can be provided with a decorative design 28 visible from the external environment 24 or form such a decorative design. Figure 2 As can be further seen in the figure, the visual element 2 and / or the decorative area 4 has a planar layer arrangement 19 or is formed by such a planar layer arrangement. This layer arrangement 19 comprises a planar outer layer 20, for example made of a polyurethane (PU) coating, which has or forms the visual side 5; a planar lacquer layer 21 disposed on the planar outer layer; and a planar chrome layer 22 disposed on the lacquer layer 21. The planar chrome layer may have or form the rear side 6 of the decorative area 4. Furthermore, the chrome layer 22 has open areas with further decorative designs 25. The chrome layer 22 can be implemented as a chrome foil.

[0037] Essentially, component 1 has a carrier element 7 designed to be at least partially transmissive to radar beams and light beams, which is arranged on the rear side 6 of decorative region 4 and has a heating element 8 designed to be at least partially transmissive to radar beams and light beams for heating decorative region 4. The heating element 8 is implemented here by a heating foil and is arranged directly on the rear side 6 of decorative region 4, in which region a white printing is additionally applied to the rear side of the chrome layer 22 or can be additionally applied.

[0038] exist Figure 2 As can also be seen, component 1 includes a light guide 9 designed to be at least partially transmissive to radar and light beams for illuminating decorative area 4. This light guide is arranged, for example, opposite heating element 8, on a rear side 10 of carrier element 7 facing away from decorative area 4 and is adapted to emit a light beam toward decorative area 4. Furthermore, component 1 includes a radar camera 11 for traffic monitoring (particularly for distance measurement). This radar camera is arranged via a sealing frame and camera holder 26 mounted thereon on a rear side 12 of light guide 9 facing away from carrier element 7 and is adapted to emit a radar beam toward decorative area 4. Heating element 8 can be used to heat decorative area 4 of visual element 3, thereby preventing or eliminating fogging, such as ice or condensation, that could form on visual surface 5 of decorative area 4 during operation of vehicle 2. Heating element 8 and light guide 9 coordinate with radar camera 11 to prevent interference with radar camera 11. This has the advantage that the light beam and the radar beam can penetrate the decorative area 4 unimpeded even under adverse weather conditions, so that the component 1 according to the invention can operate reliably.

[0039] Furthermore, the light-conducting device 9 and the carrier element 7 are designed such that they form a cover for the radar camera 11. This protects the radar camera 11 from harmful environmental influences such as moisture or sunlight. Figure 2 As can be further seen in FIG, the light-guiding device 9 has a central light-guiding element 13 designed to be transmissive to radar beams and light beams, and a light-guiding element 14 for guiding the light beams from a light source (not illustrated here) to the central light-guiding element 13. In this context, the light-guiding element 14 has an annular shape and enables the transverse coupling of the light beams into the light-guiding device 9, which allows a relatively compact design of the component 1. Figure 2 It can also be seen that an annular light-guiding element 14 is supported on the polished light coupling surface 15 of the central light-guiding element 13 for coupling a light beam into the central light-guiding element 13. In this case, the polished light coupling surface 15 of the central light-guiding element 13 is designed to be funnel-shaped, with the virtual funnel tip pointing toward the radar camera 11. It should also be noted that the radar camera 11 has an aperture 16 with an aperture opening 17 facing the decorative area 4. A reflective foil with white printing may be provided at the aperture 16. The radar camera 11 is designed so that the radar beam it provides is radiated through the aperture opening 17 to the decorative area 4. To prevent the light-guiding device 9 from unnecessarily influencing the radar beam, it is provided herein that the annular light-guiding element 14 and the aperture opening 17 are arranged coaxially or concentrically with each other, and that the light-guiding element 14 has an inner diameter that is equal to or greater than the aperture diameter of the aperture opening 17. This ensures that the annular light-guiding element 14 does not block the aperture opening 17.

[0040] according to Figure 3 , a prefabricated structural unit 18 can be seen, which is formed by the light-guiding device 9 or the light-guiding elements 14 of the light-guiding device 9 and the central light-guiding element 13 of the light-guiding device 9. The structural unit 18 represents an intermediate product that is prefabricated and can be used as an insert during the production of the component 1. For example, the prefabricated structural unit 18 can be fixed to the carrier element 7 during the production of the component 1, in particular in an injection molding process.

Claims

1. A component (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising: a visual element (3) having a decorative region (4) with a visual face (5) and a back face (6) facing away from the visual face (5), - wherein the decorative area (4) is designed to be at least partially transmissive to the radar beam and the light beam, - wherein the component (1) has a carrier element (7) designed to be at least partially transmissive to radar beams and light beams, the carrier element being arranged at the back side (6) of the decorative area (4) and having a heating element (8) designed to be at least partially transmissive to radar beams and light beams for heating the decorative area (4), - wherein the component (1) has a light-guiding device (9) designed to be at least partially transmissive to radar beams and light beams for illuminating the decorative area (4), the light-guiding device being arranged on a carrier back side (10) of the carrier element (7) facing away from the decorative area (4) and being adapted to emit a light beam towards the decorative area (4), wherein the component (1) has a radar camera (11) for traffic observation, which is arranged on a rear side (12) of the light-conducting device (9) facing away from the carrier element (7) and is adapted to emit a radar beam toward the decorative area (4), It is characterized by: - the light-guiding device (9) has a central light-guiding element (13) designed to be at least partially transmissive to radar beams and light beams, and a light-guiding element (14) for guiding the light beam from the light source to the central light-guiding element (13), - the light guide element (14) is designed in an annular shape, The radar camera (11) has an aperture (16) with an aperture opening (17) facing the decorative area (4), and the radar camera (11) transmits a radar beam toward the decorative area (4) through the aperture opening. - the annular light-guiding element (14) has an inner diameter that is equal to or greater than the aperture diameter of the aperture opening (17), or - the light-guiding device (9) has a central light-guiding element (13) designed to be transmissive to radar beams and light beams, and a light-guiding element (14) for guiding the light beam from the light source to the central light-guiding element (13), - the light guide element (14) is designed to be annular, - the light-guiding element (14) is supported at the light coupling surface (15) of the central light-guiding element (13) for coupling a light beam into the central light-guiding element (13), The light coupling surface (15) of the central light guide element (13) tapers in a funnel shape toward the decorative area (4) or the radar camera (11).

2. The component (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The light-conducting device (9) and / or the carrier element (7) form a cover for the radar camera (11).

3. Component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: The light-guiding device (9) or the light-guiding element (14) of the light-guiding device (9) and the central light-guiding element (13) of the light-guiding device (9) form a prefabricated structural unit (18), which can be used as an intermediate product as an insert when producing the component (1) and can be fixed to the carrier element (7), in particular in an injection molding process.

4. Component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: - the heating element (8) is a heating foil and is preferably realized by an electrically operable heating foil, and / or - the heating element (8) is arranged at the back side (6) of the decorative area (4).

5. Component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: - the visual element (3) and / or the decorative area (4) has or forms a planar layer arrangement (19), which has: a planar outer layer (20), which has or forms the visible side (5); a planar lacquer layer (21), which is arranged at the planar outer layer; and a planar chrome layer (22), which is arranged at the lacquer layer (21), which has or forms the back side (6) of the decorative area (4).

6. A radiator grille (23) for a vehicle (2), in particular a vehicle designed for semi-automated driving, comprising at least one component (1) designed according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5.

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