Illuminable trim element for vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a trim element (1) for a vehicle, having a visible side (S) and a rear side (R) opposite the visible side, the trim element (1) having a trim layer (10) defining the visible side (S), a light guide element (50) arranged on the rear side of the trim layer (10), and at least one lighting means (60) arranged on the light guide element (50) on the rear side of the trim layer (10), the light guide element (50) is designed to emit light along a coupling axis (E) to the visible side (S) and to couple the light into the light guide element (50), the decorative layer (10) having a display region (11) on the visible side, the display region being illuminable along an out-of-coupling axis (A) that moves parallel to the coupling axis (E), the light guide element (50) has at least two reflective surfaces (51, 52) inclined with respect to the coupling axis (E) and is configured to divert light coupled along the coupling axis (E) from the coupling axis (E) to the out-coupling axis (A) on the at least two reflective surfaces (51, 52) along a predetermined light path (P).

Description

[0001] Description:

[0002] The invention relates to a trim element for a vehicle, having an illumination means for homogenous illumination or illumination of a visible side display area.

[0003] From the prior art, various illuminable trim elements are known, for example for installation in a vehicle.

[0004] However, some of the trim elements known from the prior art have the problem that the illuminable display area cannot be homogenously illuminated by the respective illumination means, so that, for example, dark edges or the profile of the illumination means or the illumination means itself are visible in the display area.

[0005] Although diffusers and further measures for as homogenous an illumination as possible are known from the prior art, these measures often result in a relatively space-occupying structure of the trim element.

[0006] It is therefore the task of the invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide a trim element which is thin in structure and accordingly saves space, and which has an illuminable display area which can be homogenously illuminated.

[0007] This task is solved by the feature combination according to patent claim 1.

[0008] A trim element for a vehicle is therefore proposed according to the invention, which has a visible side and a back side opposite thereto, wherein the trim element can also be referred to as a trim piece or "trim component". The trim element has a trim layer which defines the visible side, a light guide element which is arranged at the back of the trim layer and at least one illumination means which is arranged at the back of the trim layer at the light guide element, wherein the illumination means is understood to be a light emitting element and wherein, for example, a single-color or multi-color LED can be present here. The illumination means is further configured to emit light in the direction of a coupling axis, in particular intersecting the trim layer, to the visible side and to couple into the light guide element. It is further provided that the trim layer has a display area at the visible side, which can be illuminated along an out-coupling axis which is parallel to the coupling axis and in particular intersects the trim layer. If the illumination means is arranged directly behind the display area, a correspondingly powerful and space-occupying diffuser must be used to homogenize the light, i.e. to homogenously illuminate the display area. The light guide element is therefore provided with at least two and preferably exactly two reflecting surfaces which are inclined with respect to the coupling axis and, due to the parallelity of the coupling axis and the out-coupling axis, also with respect to the out-coupling axis, and is configured to divert the light coupled along the coupling axis on the at least two reflecting surfaces from the coupling axis to the out-coupling axis along a predetermined light path, so that the light, after homogenization along the light path, is out-coupled from the trim element at the display area and visible to an observer at the visible side.

[0009] Regarding the lighting mechanism and the display area, it should be noted that they preferably do not overlap in the top view from the visible side, so that the lighting mechanism or the light emitted by the lighting mechanism is not directly visible in the display area.

[0010] To form a reflective surface, the light guide element can be polished and / or, for example, have a reflective coating. Furthermore, predetermined microstructures on the reflective surface can homogenize or diffuse the light reflected, i.e., redirected, at the reflective surface in a predetermined manner.

[0011] Furthermore, the light guide element can also be configured to homogenize and / or diffuse the light along the optical path, particularly in the section extending between the reflective surfaces. For this purpose, the light guide element can also have, for example, microstructures introduced by a laser or be configured as multi-piece, such that microstructures and / or additional diffusers can be provided at transitions.

[0012] An advantageous variant of the decorative element also specifies that the two reflective surfaces are configured to together redirect the light emitted by the lighting mechanism by 180°.

[0013] Here, the two reflective surfaces can each be tilted 45° relative to the coupling axis, that is, obliquely positioned relative to the coupling axis and preferably extending parallel to each other, so that the light path from the illumination mechanism to the first reflective surface, from the first reflective surface to the second reflective surface, and from the second reflective surface to the display area follows a Z-shaped path. As a result, at the first and second reflective surfaces, the light is deflected by 90° each, for a total of 180°.

[0014] In order to further homogenize the light along the light path to the display area and accordingly illuminate the display area uniformly, without making the lighting mechanism or, for example, the light guide element visible in the display area, it is preferable to also provide a diffusion layer between the decorative layer and the light guide element for diffusing and homogenizing the light in the display area.

[0015] To achieve the thinnest possible structure, the diffusion layer can also be configured as a carrier layer, with the decorative layer disposed on top of this carrier layer. However, other layers, such as an adhesive layer and / or an intermediate layer and / or a tactile layer, can still be disposed between the carrier layer and the decorative layer.

[0016] The intermediate layer can, for example, be used to maintain a predetermined distance between the decorative layer and the corresponding underlying layer or carrier layer. A predetermined tactile feel can be achieved and adjusted by means of a tactile layer, which can be formed, for example, from an elastic material, particularly foam.

[0017] To clarify, the carrier layer functions to support the decorative layer, thus enabling the carrier layer to be constructed, for example, as rigid, and to impart structural integrity to the decorative element and essentially define its geometry. Alternatively, the carrier layer can also be constructed as flexible, in which case it is configured to support the decorative layer, and therefore the decorative layer itself may not be supportive.

[0018] To prevent light from escaping into areas outside the display area and to provide a clear boundary between the display area and its surroundings, an opaque masking layer can be arranged between the decorative layer and the light guide element. The previously mentioned adhesive layer, intermediate layer, and / or tactile layer can be integrally constructed as a masking layer or used as a masking layer. This masking layer is transparent at axial locations adjacent to the display area and opaque in other areas.

[0019] What is particularly advantageous is that if the diffusion layer as a whole is constructed as an opaque masking layer, then it is transparent in the axially adjacent display area.

[0020] Preferably, the decorative layer is formed of a uniform material and / or a light guide element is covered by the material or decorative layer in the display area, such that the decorative layer acts as a diffuser and light penetrates the decorative layer or material in the display area. On the one hand, the decorative layer itself thus acts as a diffuser; on the other hand, the display area is invisible without corresponding illumination from at least one lighting mechanism, which correspondingly results in an optically particularly attractive appearance.

[0021] Furthermore, at least one lighting mechanism is arranged on a carrier in an advantageous further design, the carrier being a rigid or flexible circuit board. The carrier is preferably positioned on the back side of the light guide element, which allows for particularly simple contact between the carrier and at least one lighting mechanism when electrical connections are provided on the back side of the carrier.

[0022] For at least one lighting mechanism and carrier, both or at least one of them are preferably arranged at least in sections within the light guide element or preferably surrounded at least in sections by the light guide element.

[0023] Viewed from the axial direction, the display area preferably extends along a linear light-emitting path, wherein the decorative element is provided with a plurality of lighting mechanisms arranged at intervals along a lighting mechanism path that moves parallel to the light-emitting path. The spacing of the lighting mechanisms along the lighting mechanism path is selected such that light emitted by the lighting mechanisms and directed by the light guide element to the display area uniformly illuminates the display area.

[0024] Provided it is technically feasible and not contradictory, the features disclosed above can be combined as needed.

[0025] Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, or are described in more detail below together with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the decorative element is shown;

[0027] Figure 2 An axial top view of the decorative element is shown.

[0028] The accompanying drawings are schematic examples. The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same functional and / or structural features, wherein... Figure 1 The schematic cross-sectional view preferably corresponds to Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of decorative element 1 from the visible side.

[0029] Basically, according to Figure 1 The decorative element 1 has a layered structure, so it has a decorative layer 10 facing the visible side S. In the case of the visible side, when the decorative element 1 is installed as specified, it faces the observer, and the decorative layer accordingly determines the visible side appearance of the decorative element 1.

[0030] The back of the decorative layer 10 is provided with at least a light guide element 50, which can be embedded in a compensation layer 53 that compensates for the thickness of the light guide element 50.

[0031] According to the variant shown, between the decorative layer 10 and the light guide element 50, from the visible side S to the back side R, an intermediate layer 20, an adhesive layer 30, and a carrier layer 40 that acts as a diffuser are provided in sequence.

[0032] Here, each of layers 10, 20, 30, and 40 is light-transmitting in at least one region, and preferably is opaque adjacent to that region, thereby forming a display area 11 facing the visible side S, which can be illuminated by backlighting.

[0033] If the lighting mechanism is arranged directly on the back of the carrier layer 40, a single light spot or bright spot can still be identified on the visible side of the display area 11 despite the diffuser effect of the carrier layer 40, resulting in optically unfavorable uneven illumination of the display area 11.

[0034] Therefore, a light guide element 50 is arranged on the back side of the carrier layer 40, which is configured to redirect coupled light from the coupling axis E through two reflective surfaces 51 and 52 along the optical path P to an out-coupling axis A parallel to the coupling axis E, which extends through the display area 11. Accordingly, light generated by the illumination mechanism 60 and coupled to the visible side S along the coupling axis E into the light guide element 50 can not only be redirected to the out-coupling axis A along the optical path P, but also be homogenized and diffusely reflected in a predetermined manner, thereby allowing the display area 11 to be uniformly deflected.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, for this purpose, the first reflecting surface 51 and the second reflecting surface 52 are each tilted at 45° relative to the coupling axis E or the out-coupling axis A, such that the light is deflected by 90° each and by a total of 180°. The light path P thus exhibits a basically Z-shaped orientation.

[0036] In order to access at least one lighting mechanism 60, the lighting mechanism is constructed on a carrier 61, for example, formed as a circuit board, which is disposed on the back side R of the lighting mechanism 60.

[0037] Furthermore, it is advantageous that both the lighting mechanism 60 and the carrier 61 can be arranged in sections within or embedded in the light guide element 50. Again, on the rear side, the carrier 61 provides an electrical connection 62 for powering and / or controlling the lighting mechanism 60, thereby enabling simple installation.

[0038] exist Figure 2 The image shows a visible side top view of decorative element 1, for example... Figure 1 As shown in the mid-section, it is important that the display area 11 extends along the linear light-emitting path 12. In order to achieve uniform illumination throughout the light-emitting path 12, the lighting mechanism 60 is arranged along the lighting mechanism path 62, which moves parallel to the light-emitting path 12, wherein the light guide element 50 extends between the light path 12 and the lighting mechanism path 62 and guides the light from the lighting mechanism 60 to the display area 11.

[0039] about Figure 2 The illustration should be noted that the elements arranged on the back of the decorative layer 10 are shown for clarity, even though they are covered by the decorative layer 10 and are not visible from the visible side S.

Claims

1. A decorative element (1) for a vehicle having a visible side (S) and a rear side (R) opposite thereto. in, The decorative element (1) has a decorative layer (10) defining the visible side (S), a light guide element (50) disposed on the back side of the decorative layer (10), and at least one illumination mechanism (60) disposed on the back side of the decorative layer (10) at the light guide element (50), which is configured to emit light along the coupling axis (E) toward the visible side (S) and couple the light into the light guide element (50). The decorative layer (10) has a display area (11) on the visible side, and the display area is illuminated along an out-coupled axis (A) that is movable parallel to the coupling axis (E). The light guide element (50) has at least two reflective surfaces (51, 52) that are inclined relative to the coupling axis (E) and is configured to redirect light coupled along the coupling axis (E) along a predetermined optical path (P) on the at least two reflective surfaces (51, 52) from the coupling axis (E) to the output coupling axis (A).

2. The decorative element according to claim 1, in, The two reflective surfaces (51, 52) are configured to redirect the light emitted by the illumination mechanism (60) by a total of 180°.

3. The decorative element according to claim 1 or 2, in, The two reflective surfaces (51, 52) are each tilted at 45° relative to the coupling axis (E), such that the optical path (P) from the illumination mechanism (60) to the first reflective surface (51), from the first reflective surface (51) to the second reflective surface (52), and from the second reflective surface (52) to the display area (11) has a basically Z-shaped orientation.

4. The decorative element according to any one of the preceding claims, in, A diffusion layer (40) is arranged between the decorative layer (10) and the light guide element (50) for the diffusion and homogenization of light in the display area (11).

5. The decorative element according to the preceding claim, in, The diffusion layer (40) is configured as a carrier layer, and the decorative layer (10) is disposed on the carrier layer.

6. The decorative element according to any one of the preceding two claims, in, The diffusion layer (40) is configured as an opaque masking layer that is translucent at the axially adjacent to the display area (11).

7. The decorative element according to any one of the preceding claims, in, An opaque masking layer is arranged between the decorative layer (10) and the light guide element (50), which is transparent at the axial position adjacent to the display area (11).

8. The decorative element according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The decorative layer (10) is formed of a uniform material and / or the light guide element (50) covers the display area (11), such that the decorative layer (10) acts as a diffuser and allows the light to penetrate the decorative layer (10) in the display area (11).

9. The decorative element according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The at least one lighting mechanism (60) is arranged on a carrier (61) which is disposed on the back side of the light guide element (50).

10. The decorative element according to any one of the preceding claims, in, Viewed from the axial perspective, the display area (11) extends along the linear light-emitting path (12), and The decorative element (1) is provided with a plurality of lighting mechanisms (60), which are arranged at intervals along a lighting mechanism path (62) that moves parallel to the light-emitting path (12), and The spacing of the lighting mechanism (60) along the lighting mechanism path (62) is selected such that the light emitted by the lighting mechanism (60) and directed by the light guide element (50) to the display area (11) uniformly illuminates the display area (11).

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