Illuminated fabrics, interior parts and motor vehicles

Abstract

This invention relates to a luminescent fabric comprising: a textile material (100) in which optical fibers (120-126) are arranged, wherein a plurality of optical fibers (120-126) are bundled into a group (130) and each is arranged at one end in a sleeve (140); a light source (150); and variable scattering elements (160, 160A, 160B) arranged between the sleeve (140) and the light source (150) such that light emitted from the light source (150) is coupled into the ends of the optical fibers of the group (130) through the scattering elements (160, 160A, 160B); and a control device (170) configured to manipulate the variable scattering elements (160, 160A, 160B) thereby changing the light transmission through the variable scattering elements. Furthermore, an interior trim component having the luminescent fabric and a motor vehicle are also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a luminescent fabric, an interior trim component having the luminescent fabric, and a motor vehicle having such an interior trim component. Background Technology

[0002] Integrating decorative or informational lighting elements into motor vehicles is becoming increasingly important. One commercially available material incorporates optical fibers. These fibers are bundled, for example, in groups of approximately 40-80 in a sleeve and connected to a light source, such as an LED module. The light source directs light into each individual optical fiber, and the light travels axially within the fiber until it exits at the emission surface.

[0003] Due to this structure, the light is consistent in color, intensity, and other properties across all 40-80 optical fibers in a single group. Therefore, it is impossible for different colors or intensities to be generated in sections of a luminescent fabric containing only one group of optical fibers.

[0004] There is a need to create greater freedom in terms of the possibilities of light presentation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Against this backdrop, the objective of this invention is to provide a solution for creating light presentations with a high degree of design freedom. In particular, the solution should be cost-effective and customizable.

[0006] The task is solved by the luminescent fabric according to claim 1, the interior trim component according to claim 7, and the vehicle according to claim 8. Other advantageous embodiments are derived from the dependent claims.

[0007] A luminescent fabric is provided, comprising: a textile material in which optical fibers are arranged, wherein a plurality of optical fibers are bundled into a group and arranged at one end in a sleeve. All the optical fibers of the luminescent fabric are, for example, bundled into a single group or two or more groups separated from each other. Any number of optical fibers may be present in each group. The textile material may be, for example, woven, knitted, nonwoven, or similar. The optical fibers may be incorporated into, for example, the textile material or connected to the textile material by an adhesive layer. The optical fibers may also be pressed into a carrier material, for example, pressed into NF-PP felt (a natural fiber felt with PP as the bonding matrix). Preferably, the optical fibers are bundled into a group near the sleeve and separated in a subsequent process and arranged on the textile material in smaller groups or individually. The optical fibers are particularly arranged in partial segments of the textile material, also called sections. Preferably, the textile material may have additional sections in which additional groups of optical fibers are arranged. Particularly preferred is that a section of the textile material has only one group of optical fibers.

[0008] Furthermore, the luminescent fabric has a light source and variable scattering elements arranged between the sleeve and the light source such that light emitted from the light source is coupled through the scattering elements to the ends of the optical fibers in the assembly. The light source may be, for example, an LED module or other light-emitting device.

[0009] Furthermore, the luminescent fabric has a control device configured to manipulate a variable scattering element, thereby altering light transmission through the scattering element. For this purpose, the control device is preferably in operative connection with the scattering element.

[0010] The scattering element affects the light in such a way that it is switched off, filtered, attenuated, or similar in targeted areas. The scattering element is variable such that its effect on the separated light can be changed locally or temporally. In other words, the effect of the scattering element on the incident light can be altered using a control device. The result is a more flexible and personalized presentation of light on plane A. For example, the individual fibers in a group can have different brightness levels; individual fibers can be completely darkened by isolation, or the light can be decomposed into spectral colors in a prism-like manner, which are then introduced into the defined optical fibers.

[0011] In one embodiment, the scattering element is specified to locally and partially block light transmission. This scattering element preferably has an opaque region. This allows light to be selectively input and coupled only into a single optical fiber.

[0012] In another embodiment, it is particularly advantageous that the scattering element has a light-transmitting region whose position relative to the optical fibers of the group can be changed by a control device.

[0013] Particularly preferably, the position of the light-transmitting areas is changed by twisting the scattering element relative to the optical fibers of the group.

[0014] In another embodiment, the scattering element has electrochromic glass, and the control device is configured to change the light transmittance of the smart glass.

[0015] In another embodiment, the scattering element comprises a liquid, and the control device is configured to change the transmittance of the liquid.

[0016] Furthermore, an interior trim component having the luminescent fabric described above is provided. The luminescent fabric can be arranged on a carrier material. The optical fibers can then be, for example, pressed into the carrier material and / or connected to the textile material. The interior trim component can, for example, involve door panels, pillar panels, etc.

[0017] On the other hand, a motor vehicle with such interior components is presented.

[0018] The same technical effects and advantages as described for luminescent fabrics can be achieved by using interior components or by using motor vehicles with interior components.

[0019] Other advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, features mentioned in the claims and description are important to the invention, either individually or in any combination. The use of the term "may" throughout this application refers not only to technical possibility but also to practical technical implementation. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the embodiments schematically:

[0021] Figure 1 An example of a luminescent fabric is shown.

[0022] Figures 2 to 4 show detailed illustrations of exemplary embodiments.

[0023] Figure 5 Exemplary interior trim components are shown, and

[0024] Figure 6 An example vehicle is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1 An exemplary luminescent fabric 100 is shown. Optical fibers 120-126 are integrated into a textile material 110 in the form of a woven fabric. The optical fibers 120-126 are arranged in or on the textile material 110, for example, woven into or bonded to the textile material. Multiple optical fibers 120-126 are grouped into a set 130 at the points where they exit the textile material 110 and are bundled together at their ends in a sleeve 140. The set 130 of optical fibers 120-126 is arranged in a first segment 112 of the textile material 110. Further sets 132-136 of optical fibers are arranged in other segments 114, 116, 118 (shown here in shaded areas) of the textile material 110.

[0026] The sleeve 140 is connected to the light source 150, such as an LED module, wherein a variable scattering element 160 is arranged between the sleeve 140 and the light source 150 such that light L emitted from the light source 150 is coupled into the ends of the optical fibers 120-126 of the group 130 through the scattering element 160.

[0027] Figure 2A The scattering element 160 and the sleeve 160 are shown in detail. A group 130 of optical fibers 120-126 is bundled in the sleeve 140, so that the optical fibers 120-126 extend substantially longitudinally through the sleeve 140 and terminate in the sleeve. Figure 2B Cross-sectional views AA of each optical fiber 120-126 are shown.

[0028] The scattering element 160 is operatively connected to the control device 170, which is configured to manipulate the variable scattering element 160 such that light transmission is altered by the variable scattering element 160.

[0029] Figure 2CAn exemplary embodiment of a variable scattering element 160 is shown. The scattering element has an opaque disk 164 with a plurality of light-transmitting regions 162 in the form of through-holes. These light-transmitting regions allow light transmission from one side of the scattering element 160 to the other, i.e., from the illumination device 150 to the optical fibers 120-126. The disk is torsionalally supported relative to the edge of the scattering element 160, so that the position of the light-transmitting regions 162 can be changed by rotational movement (see arrow). Light is coupled only into the optical fibers through which it reaches the light-transmitting regions 162. The rotational movement is controlled by a control device 170. For this purpose, a motor (not shown) may be provided, for example.

[0030] Figure 3A Another embodiment is shown. The same reference numerals describe the same features and are not restated. The scattering element 160A in this embodiment is configured for electronic or magnetic modification of the light. This relates, for example, to electrochromic glass that becomes partially opaque by applying a voltage. Figure 3B The scattering element 160A is shown in cross-sectional view BB, where, exemplary, six regions 166A-F are provided, the transmittance of which can be independently changed by applying a voltage to each region. If the scattering element 160A is used in... Figure 1 In the luminescent fabric 100, the control device 170 is configured to control the voltage applied to the scattering element 160A.

[0031] Figure 4A and 4B Another implementation scheme is shown. The basic structure and... Figure 3A The structure conforms to the description. The scattering element 160B contains a liquid inside, which modifies the introduced light. For this purpose, components / particles capable of producing other effects (e.g., reflective particles) can be mixed into the liquid. Dynamics of the liquid can be generated by applying a voltage, for example, when using magnetic or polar particles. Additional dynamics of the light can also be achieved by generating bubbles in the liquid, for example, by applying a voltage or by adding air.

[0032] Alternatives based on Figure 1 The scattering element 160 in the luminescent fabric can be either scattering element 160A or 160B. The control of scattering element 160A or 160B is performed by means of control device 170.

[0033] Figure 5 Showing according to Figure 1 An exemplary interior trim component 10, in the form of a door panel, is a luminous fabric 100.

[0034] Figure 6The vehicle 1 is shown, in which a motor vehicle is arranged a Figure 5 An example interior component 10 is shown.

[0035] List of reference numerals

[0036] 1 motor vehicle

[0037] 10 Interior Components

[0038] 100 luminous fabric

[0039] 110 Textile Materials

[0040] Segmentation of textile materials 112, 114, 116, and 118

[0041] 120-126 optical fiber

[0042] 130-136 sets

[0043] 140 sleeve

[0044] 150 light source

[0045] Variable scattering elements 160, 160A, and 160B

[0046] 162 light-transmitting area

[0047] 164 disks

[0048] The region of the 166A-F scattering element

[0049] 170 control device

Claims

1. A luminescent fabric, wherein the luminescent fabric has: Textile material (100), wherein optical fibers (120-126) are arranged in or on the textile material, wherein, Multiple optical fibers (120-126) are bundled into a group (130) and arranged in a sleeve (140) with one end of each fiber. Light source (150) and Variable scattering elements (160, 160A, 160B) are arranged between the sleeve (140) and the light source (150) such that light emitted from the light source (150) is coupled into the ends of the optical fibers of the group (130) through the scattering elements (160, 160A, 160B). It has a control device (170) configured to manipulate the variable scattering elements (160, 160A, 160B) to change the light transmission through the variable scattering elements.

2. The luminescent fabric according to claim 1, wherein, The scattering elements (160, 160A, 160B) partially block light transmission.

3. The luminescent fabric according to claim 2, wherein, The scattering element (160) has a light-transmitting area (162), the position of which relative to each optical fiber (120-126) of the group (130) can be changed by a control device (170).

4. The luminescent fabric according to claim 3, wherein, The change in position is achieved by twisting the scattering element (160) relative to the optical fibers (120-126) of the group.

5. The luminescent fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The scattering element (160A) has smart glass, and the control device (170) is configured to change the light transmittance of the smart glass.

6. The luminescent fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The scattering element (160B) contains a liquid, and the control device (170) is configured to change the transmittance of the liquid.

7. An interior component (10) having a luminescent fabric (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. A motor vehicle (1) having the interior trim (10) according to claim 7.

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