Signal light for vehicles with a layer of luminous elements between two boundary films, wherein the layer of luminous elements is connected to a carrier and a cover plate by injection molding and by means of heat and / or pressure, and manufacturing method

Abstract

Signal light for vehicles with a support (1), with a transparent cover plate (2) and with a layer of luminous elements (3) arranged between the support (1) and the cover plate (2), characterized by that a boundary film (5, 6) extends to both flat sides (4, 4') of the luminous element layer (3) as barrier films for encapsulating the luminous element layer (3), such that the luminous element layer (3) is connected to the carrier (1) and the cover plate (2) by injection molding, wherein the luminous element layer (3) is also additionally firmly connected to the carrier (1) and the cover plate (2) by means of heat and / or pressure, wherein the luminous element layer (3) is enclosed over its entire surface between the boundary foils (5, 6) by heat and / or pressure, and that the first boundary film (5) and the second boundary film (6) extend beyond a marginal edge (10) of the luminous element layer (3), wherein the luminous element layer (3) and the boundary films (5, 6) are arranged in a recess (11) on an upper side (1') of the carrier (1).

Description

The invention relates to a signalling light for vehicles according to the preamble of claim 1.Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a signal lamp according to the preamble of claim 8.DE 202 07 799 U1 discloses a signal lamp for vehicles which is of relatively flat design and has a carrier, a transparent cover pane and an OLED luminous element layer arranged between the latter. The luminous element layer is arranged loosely between the cover pane and the carrier, wherein only edge sections of the carrier and the cover pane protruding beyond the luminous element layer are glued or welded to one another.DE 103 47 987 A1 discloses a signal lamp having a carrier and an electroluminescent layer sequence which is applied to the carrier after the electroluminescent layer sequence has been produced by a screen printing method. The electroluminescent layer sequence is bonded to the carrier by lamination.U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,089 A discloses a signal lamp for vehicles, which has a carrier and a cover pane, between which a luminous element layer is arranged. The light emitting element layer is formed by a phosphor layer disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The luminous element layer is firmly connected to the electrodes in the usual manner.It is an object of the present invention to specify a signal lamp for vehicles and a method for producing a signal lamp in such a way that, on the one hand, it has a relatively flat structure and, on the other hand, it ensures robust and long-term stable operation.To achieve the object, the invention has the features of claim 1.The particular advantage of the signal lamp according to the invention is that it has a compact and robust construction which enables long-term stable operation, in particular in extreme weather conditions. Because the luminous element layer is enclosed over its entire surface between boundary films by heat and / or pressure, an intimate connection is ensured between the luminous element layer and the adjoining layers or the carrier and the cover pane.According to the invention, the luminous element layer and the boundary films are arranged in a depression of the carrier, so that there is clear positioning of the latter before there is an intimate and firm connection between the cover pane and the carrier with thermal adhesion of the luminous element layer between the latter.According to a further development of the invention, a second boundary film arranged on the side facing the cover pane is embodied as transparent, so that no optical effect thereon is exerted on the light beam emitted by the luminous element layer.According to a further development of the invention, a masking film can be arranged between the cover pane and the luminous element layer, so that the appearance of the signal lamp can be influenced as a result.According to a further development of the invention, the luminous element layer is formed as an OLED film layer, so that the signal lamp has a relatively flat structure, in particular a thickness of less than 5 mm.According to a further development of the invention, an electronic control circuit can be arranged integrated in a region between the luminous element layer and the carrier, so that the signal lamp has a relatively compact structure. From this, only contact lines need to lead out of the housing formed in this way.To achieve the object, the method according to the invention has the features of claim 7.The particular advantage of the method according to the invention is that a long-term stable and firm connection of a luminous element layer is formed in a region between a carrier and a transparent cover pane, which permits long-term stable operation and a robust construction.An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.It shows:FIG. is an exploded view of a signal lamp according to the invention.A signal lamp for vehicles according to the present invention can be preferably used as a side marker lamp.The signal lamp essentially comprises a carrier 1, a transparent cover plate 2 and a plurality of films which are arranged between the carrier 1 and the cover plate 2.The carrier 1 is of relatively flat design and has an upper side 1' facing the cover pane 2 and a rear side 1" facing away from the cover pane 2. The rear side 1" may be fixed to a body part of the vehicle.A light-emitting element layer is preferably formed as an OLED film layer 3 (organic light-emitting diode layer), on the flat sides 4, 4' of which a first boundary film 5 and a second boundary film 6 are arranged. The first boundary film 5 extends on a side of the luminous element layer 3 facing the carrier 1. the second boundary film 6 extends on a side of the luminous element layer 3 facing the cover pane 2 and is transparent.Between the second boundary film 6 and the cover pane 2, a masking film 7 is arranged, which has a plurality of transparent sections 8 and non-transparent sections 9. As a result, the illuminated area formed by the signal lamp can have a predetermined appearance.In the first boundary film 5, a not-illustrated drive electronics circuit for the luminous element layer 3 can be arranged. Alternatively, the electronic control circuit can also be arranged on an additional film, not shown, which extends between the first boundary film 5 and the carrier 1. Advantageously, the control electronics can thereby be arranged integrated in the signal lamp.The first boundary film 5, the second boundary film 6 and preferably the masking film 7 extend beyond a marginal edge 10 of the luminous element layer 3, such that the narrow sides of the luminous element layer 3 are surrounded by the first boundary film 5 and / or the second boundary film 6.The luminous element layer 3 is additionally firmly connected to the carrier 1 and the cover pane 2 by means of heat and / or pressure. The first boundary film 5 and the second boundary film 6 serve here as barrier films for encapsulating the luminous element layer 3.To produce the signal lamp, in a first step, the carrier 1 is produced by injection molding and placed in a mold space. Subsequently, the first boundary film 5, the luminous element layer 3, the second boundary film 6 and the masking film 7 are successively positioned in a depression 11 of the carrier 1. The depression 11 of the carrier 1 extends on the upper side 1' of the carrier 1. the first boundary film 5, the second boundary film 6 and / or the masking film 7 are preferably dimensioned such that they can be inserted into the depression 11 of the carrier 1 with play.In a further step, a transparent plastic compound is injected into the mold space of the injection molding tool to form the cover pane 2, wherein an edge section 12 of the cover pane 2 is directly and firmly connected to an edge section 13 of the carrier 1. Only one contact line 14, which protrudes from a narrow side of the luminous element layer 3, runs in the region between the edge sections 12 and 13 of the cover pane 2 or of the carrier 1.Since the second boundary film 6 and / or the masking film 7 protrudes beyond an upright wall 15 of the depression 11, the narrow sides of the first boundary film 5 are surrounded by the carrier 1 and the second boundary film 6 or the masking film 7 are surrounded by the cover pane 2.Because the luminous element layer 3 is enclosed between the first boundary film 5 and the second boundary film 6 by means of heat and / or pressure, wherein an edge region extending beyond the edge 10 is additionally firmly connected by injection molding behind the carrier 1 by means of a plastic compound to form the cover pane 2, the luminous element layer 2 is enclosed in an air- or liquid-tight manner, so that a relatively flat construction having a thickness of less than 5 mm and an integral configuration of the signal lamp is made possible. For example, the cover plate 2 can have optical structures, so that a predefined light distribution is generated. For connection to different vehicle types, the carrier 1 only needs to have a different configuration of the rear side 1".List of reference characters1, 1', 1" carrier, top side, rear side 2 cover pane 3 luminous element layer 4, 4' flat side 5 boundary film 6 boundary film 7 masking film 8 transparent section 9 transparent section 10 marginal edge 11 depression 12 marginal section 13 marginal section 14 contact line 15 upright wall

Claims

Signal light for vehicles, having a carrier (1), having a transparent cover pane (2) and having a luminous element layer (3) arranged between the carrier (1) and the cover pane (2), characterized in that a boundary film (5, 6) extends on both flat sides (4, 4') of the luminous element layer (3) as barrier films for encapsulating the luminous element layer (3), in such a way that the luminous element layer (3) is connected to the carrier (1) and the cover pane (2) by injection molding, wherein the luminous element layer (3) is also additionally firmly connected to the carrier (1) and the cover pane (2) by means of heat and / or pressure, wherein the luminous element layer (3) is enclosed over the whole area between the boundary films (5, 6) by heat and / or pressure, and in that the first boundary film (5) and the second boundary film (6) extend beyond a marginal edge (10) of the luminous element layer (3), wherein the luminous element layer (3) and the boundary films (5, 6) are arranged in a depression (11) on an upper side (1') of the carrier (1).Signal lamp according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least the second boundary film (6) arranged on a side of the luminous element layer (3) facing the cover pane (2) is transparent, the boundary film arranged on the side of the luminous element layer (3) facing the carrier (1) being the first boundary film (5).Signal lamp according to Claim 2, characterized in that a masking film (7) having a plurality of transparent sections (6) and a plurality of non-transparent sections (9) is arranged between the second boundary film (6) and the cover pane (2).Signal lamp according to either of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that an electronic control circuit is arranged integrated into the first limit film (5) or in an additional film.Signal lamp according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the luminous element layer (3) is formed as an OLED film layer.Signal lamp according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the luminous element layer (3) is integrally connected to the carrier (1) and the cover pane (2) by heat and / or pressure via the first boundary film (5) and the second boundary film (6).Method for producing a signal light, wherein a carrier (1), a luminous element layer (3) and a cover pane (2) are connected to one another, characterized in that, in a first step, the carrier (1) is produced with a depression (11) on its upper side (1') by injection molding and is placed in a mold space of an injection molding tool, in that, in a second step, a first boundary film (5) is placed in the depression (11) of the carrier (1), the luminous element layer (3) is placed on the first boundary film (5), a second boundary film (6) is placed on the luminous element layer (3) and a marking film (7) is placed on the second boundary film (6), in that, in a third step, a transparent plastic compound is injected into the mold space to form the cover pane (2), whereby an edge section (12) of the cover pane (2) is directly and firmly connected to an edge section (13) of the carrier (1) arranged outside the depression, and wherein only a contacting line (14), which protrudes from a narrow side of the luminous element layer (3), runs in the region between the edge section (12) of the cover pane (2) and the edge section (13) of the carrier (1), wherein the second boundary film (6) and / or the marking film (7) protrudes beyond an upright wall (15) of the depression (11) and thereby the narrow sides of the first boundary film (5) are surrounded by the carrier (1) and the second boundary film (6) or the marking film (7) is surrounded by the cover pane (2), wherein the luminous element layer (3) is enclosed between the first boundary film (5) and the second boundary film (6) by means of heat and / or pressure, wherein in addition an edge region extending beyond an edge edge (10) of the luminous element layer (3) is firmly connected by injection moulding behind the carrier (1) by means of a plastic compound to form the cover pane (2), whereby the luminous element layer (3) is enclosed in an air- or liquid-tight manner.

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