Air outlet arrangement for a vehicle

Abstract

Air outlet arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1), comprising at least one air outlet (11) and at least one evaluation and control unit (14), wherein the at least one air outlet (11) comprises an outlet opening (12) configured to direct an airflow into an interior space (3), at least one controllable adjustment device (16) configured to adjust the direction of the airflow directed into the interior space (3) and its target area, and at least one projection device (17) configured to generate and output at least one light beam (18), wherein the at least one evaluation and control unit (14) is configured to control the at least one controllable adjustment device (16) of the at least one air outlet (11) accordingly based on at least one user input and to direct the airflow to the specified target area, wherein the evaluation and control unit (14) is further configuredto operate the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) in different operating modes, wherein the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) is configured to generate the at least one light beam (18) with a high intensity as a spotlight beam in a first operating mode and to output it in such a way that the at least one light beam (18) follows the direction of the output airflow and directly visualizes the airflow and generates at least one projection (19) at the target area of ​​the airflow.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an air outlet arrangement for a vehicle.

[0002] Air outlet arrangements for vehicles with at least one air outlet are known in numerous variations. In air outlet arrangements known from the prior art, manually operated outlets are generally used, in which the direction of the airflow directed into the interior through the corresponding outlet opening is changed directly at the outlet, for example, via an adjustment lever. This provides a logical link between the user's action and the system's reaction by changing the direction of the airflow. The user can thus, for example, precisely direct the airflow to a specific area of ​​the body where they wish to be affected by the airflow.With air outlets whose airflow direction is adjusted by means of controllable adjustment devices and which can no longer be manually operated via an adjustment element directly on the outlet, such a logical connection between the user's action and the system's reaction is no longer possible. This spatial separation of the control device from the outlet significantly complicates precise adjustment of the airflow.

[0003] From CN 1 14 927 079 A, ​​a vehicle interior component is known which comprises an air outlet device, a power supply device, and a control device. The air outlet device is provided with an air outlet through which an airflow passes. A projection device is arranged such that it is concealed by the air outlet device and invisible to vehicle occupants. Light projected by the projection device can be projected through the air outlet into the vehicle interior to display an image visible to a vehicle occupant.

[0004] From DE 10 2008 051 251 A1, a supply device for a means of transport is known, comprising a first component in the form of an air shower with an air inlet and at least one air outlet, and a second component in the form of a lighting device. The first and second components are arranged essentially concentrically to each other. One of the two components essentially surrounds the other component in a ring-like fashion. This creates an integrated reading light with an air shower, or an integrated air shower with a reading light, which requires little installation space.

[0005] From WO 2023 / 095 502 A1, an airflow discharge device is known which comprises an air outlet for discharging a directional airflow, a lighting device which is capable of emitting directional light in a direction along the discharge direction of the airflow discharge device, and a control device which controls the airflow discharge device and the lighting device.

[0006] From DE 198 47 884 A1, an interior light with a ventilation nozzle for a vehicle interior is known. In this design, a reading light and the ventilation nozzle are arranged concentrically relative to each other in a housing and are pivotable.

[0007] From DE 102019 126 102 A1, a vehicle ventilation device is known which comprises a body and a lighting device. The body defines a guide duct for an airflow, with at least one guide element extending into the body. The lighting device is configured to produce visible illumination on a visible part of the guide element. For this purpose, the lighting device comprises a mirror and a semi-reflective mirror oriented towards each other, and at least one light source configured to emit light between the mirror and the semi-reflective mirror such that each light ray reaching the mirror is reflected to the semi-reflective mirror, and each light ray reaching the semi-reflective mirror is partially reflected and partially transmitted and visible on the visible part.

[0008] From DE 10 2006 011 125 A1, an air outlet for a motor vehicle is known which allows a visual assessment of its operating status even in low ambient light. For this purpose, at least one component of the air outlet is at least partially made of a light-conducting material. Light can be supplied to this component. In addition, the component is visible from a room to be ventilated by the air outlet and can be wetted by an airflow exiting the air outlet.

[0009] From DE 10 2020 128 614 A1, an air outlet for an air duct of a vehicle is known, comprising an outlet opening, a housing limiting the outlet opening, and an optical display device designed to display set parameters of an airflow exiting the outlet opening. The optical display device includes at least one projection device which displays the set parameters of the airflow as animated projections on at least one projection surface arranged in the area of ​​the air outlet.

[0010] The invention is based on the objective of providing an air outlet arrangement for a vehicle, with at least one air outlet, which simplifies the targeted adjustment of an outflow direction of an airflow exiting the at least one air outlet and increases the ease of use of the air outlet arrangement.

[0011] This problem is solved by an air outlet arrangement for a vehicle with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0012] In order to provide an air outlet arrangement for a vehicle, with at least one outlet, which simplifies the targeted adjustment of an outflow direction of an airflow exiting the at least one outlet and increases the ease of use of the air outlet arrangement, the at least one outlet of the air outlet arrangement comprises an outlet opening designed to direct an airflow into an interior space, at least one controllable adjustment device designed to adjust an outflow direction of the airflow directed into the interior space and its target area, and at least one projection device designed to generate and emit at least one light beam.This system includes at least one evaluation and control unit that, based on at least one user input, controls at least one adjustable device of the at least one outlet and directs the airflow to the specified target area. The at least one evaluation and control unit is further configured to operate at least one projection device of the at least one outlet in different operating modes. In a first operating mode, the at least one projection device of the at least one outlet is configured to generate at least one high-intensity light beam as a spotlight and output it in such a way that the light beam follows the direction of the output airflow, directly visualizing the airflow and generating at least one projection at the target area of ​​the airflow.

[0013] In embodiments of the air outlet arrangement according to the invention, the at least one light beam and the at least one projection can, for example, be effective such that the at least one light beam extends the outgoing airflow along the outlet axis, so that a target area or impact area of ​​the airflow, for example on the body of the vehicle occupants, but also on specific surfaces such as side windows, can be directly detected via which at least one projection can be seen. The at least one light beam can preferably be projected in the form of a ring at the target area or impact area of ​​the airflow, so that the projection then directly illuminates the vehicle occupants and thus directly visualizes the direction of the airflow.

[0014] The direct visibility of the airflow direction using optical reference points significantly simplifies the alignment of the airflow from the at least one outlet, the direction of which is adjustable via at least one adjustment device. This at least one adjustment device can, for example, comprise a first actuator and at least one first air guide element, which is adjustable by the first actuator, and a second actuator and at least one second air guide element, which is adjustable by the second actuator. The first actuator and the first air guide element allow for lateral deflection of the airflow to the left or right. The second actuator and the second air guide element allow for upward or downward deflection of the airflow.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the air outlet arrangement, the at least one evaluation and control unit can be configured to operate at least one projection device of the at least one air outlet during an adjustment process of the airflow direction directed into the passenger compartment in the first operating mode. This reduces the distraction of the occupants by visible light rays during airflow adjustment while driving, and simultaneously simplifies the airflow adjustment process. Additionally, a waiting period can be specified after the adjustment process is completed before the first operating mode is terminated.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the outlet arrangement, the at least one projection device of the at least one outlet can be further configured to generate, in a second operating mode, the at least one light beam with a lower intensity as a diverging light beam and output it in such a way that the at least one light beam illuminates the outlet opening of the at least one outlet without any projection occurring. For example, an annular illumination of the outlet opening can be generated at its edge without any projection taking place.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the outlet arrangement, the at least one projection device can be further configured to generate, in a third operating mode, the at least one light beam from the at least one outlet with high intensity and to output it with a constant output direction or with an output direction that changes according to a predetermined movement pattern, so that at least one projection can be generated in the interior. The at least one evaluation and control unit can be configured to operate the at least one projection device in the third operating mode before commissioning or after operation of the vehicle.For example, appealing moving or static scenarios are conceivable, such as a disco mode with multiple high-intensity spotlight beams or the projection of rings onto the interior sky as a welcome or farewell scenario. In this case, at least one projection device of the at least one air outlet can be further configured to specify an output color for the generated at least one light beam. This allows the spotlight beams or rings to be generated and projected in different colors.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the outlet arrangement, the at least one projection device can be configured to visualize a set strength of the airflow emitted by the at least one outlet during the second operating mode by means of the intensity of the at least one light beam. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one projection device can be configured to visualize a set temperature during the second operating mode by means of different color tones of the at least one light beam. Thus, during the second operating mode, the illumination in the outlet and the intensity of the illumination can visualize the strength of the emitted airflow, and the temperature of the emitted airflow can be visualized via different colors.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the air outlet arrangement, different colors can be assigned to several outlets, so that the projection devices of the individual outlets generate and output the corresponding light beam of the assigned color during the first operating mode. The possibility of multi-colored projection allows the various air outlets installed in the vehicle to be directly identified and distinguished.

[0020] In a further advantageous embodiment of the outlet arrangement, at least one operating device, which is arranged separately from the at least one outlet, can be configured to receive at least one user input and output at least one corresponding operating signal to the evaluation and control unit. The at least one operating device can, for example, be configured as a menu-driven screen with a touch-sensitive surface or as a so-called "touchscreen" via which manual operating inputs are possible.

[0021] The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those subsequently mentioned in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which can be derived and generated from the explained embodiments by separate combinations of features, are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention.

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, identical reference numerals denote components or elements that perform the same or analogous functions. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic and partial representation of the interior of a vehicle with an embodiment of an air outlet arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle, and Fig. 2 a schematic block representation of essential components of the exhaust air arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle made of Fig. 1.

[0023] As from Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the illustrated embodiment of an air outlet arrangement 10 according to the invention for a vehicle 1 comprises at least one air outlet 11 and at least one evaluation and control unit 14. The at least one air outlet 11 includes an outlet opening 12, which directs an airflow into an interior space 3, at least one controllable adjustment device 16, which sets the direction and target area of ​​the airflow directed into the interior space 3, and at least one projection device 17, which generates and outputs at least one light beam 18. Based on at least one user input, the at least one evaluation and control unit 14 controls the at least one controllable adjustment device 16 of the at least one air outlet 11 accordingly and directs the airflow to the predetermined target area.The at least one evaluation and control unit 14 operates the at least one projection device 17 of the at least one outlet 11 in various operating modes. In a first operating mode, the at least one projection device 17 of the at least one outlet 11 generates the at least one light beam 18 with high intensity as a spotlight beam and outputs it in such a way that the at least one light beam follows the direction of the emitted airflow and directly visualizes the airflow, generating at least one projection 19 at the target area of ​​the airflow.

[0024] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 1, the air outlet arrangement 10 in the illustrated embodiment comprises several air outlets 11, which are arranged on an instrument panel 5. A first air outlet 11A is located in the driver's area at the left edge of the instrument panel 5. A second air outlet 11B is located in the driver's area to the left of the center of the instrument panel 5. A third air outlet 11C is located in the passenger area to the right of the center of the instrument panel 5. A fourth air outlet 11D is located in the passenger area at the level of an unspecified glove compartment on the instrument panel 5. A fifth air outlet, not shown, is located in the passenger area at the right edge of the instrument panel 5.

[0025] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 1, in the illustrated embodiment of the air outlet arrangement 10, a control device 7, designed as a touchscreen 7A, is arranged centrally on the instrument panel 5, separate from the air outlets 11. The control device 7, designed as a touchscreen 7A, receives user input via a menu-driven interface and outputs corresponding control signals to the evaluation and control unit 14, which then performs the corresponding control of the adjustment devices 16 and projection devices 17 of the individual air outlets 11. Of course, other suitable embodiments for the control device 7 are also possible for receiving user input.

[0026] As from Fig. As can be seen further in section 2, the individual outlets comprise 11, of which in Fig. Figure 2 shows only one outlet 11 as an example, two controllable adjustment devices 16, and only one projection device 17. The projection device 17 functionally links the generated light beam 18 with a vector representing the direction of the airflow from the corresponding outlet 11. To adjust the direction of the airflow from the corresponding outlet 11, a first adjustment device 16A allows the airflow to be deflected laterally to the left or right. A second adjustment device 16B allows the airflow to be deflected upwards or downwards. For this purpose, the two adjustment devices 16A and 16B can each, for example, comprise an actuator (not shown) and corresponding air guide elements, which are moved by the actuators.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet arrangement 10 comprises only one evaluation and control unit 14, which controls the adjustment devices 16 and projection devices 17 of the individual outlets 11. The evaluation and control unit 14 operates the projection devices 17 of the affected outlets 11 during an adjustment process of the outflow direction of the airflow directed into the interior space 3 in the first operating mode. This means that the evaluation and control unit 14 terminates the first operating mode of the projection devices 17 of the affected outlets 11 when the adjustment process of the outflow direction of the airflow directed into the interior space 3 by the affected outlets 11 is complete. Furthermore, after completion of the adjustment process, the evaluation and control unit 14 specifies a waiting period before the first operating mode is terminated.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment of the outlet arrangement 10, the projection devices 17 of the respective outlets 11 generate, in a second operating mode, the at least one light beam 18 as a diverging light beam with a lower intensity and emit it in such a way that the light beam 18 illuminates the outlet opening 12 of the at least one outlet 11 and no projection 19 is created. In the illustrated embodiment, the individual projection devices 17 visualize a set strength of the airflow emitted by the corresponding outlet 11 during the second operating mode via the intensity of the at least one light beam 18. In the second operating mode, the maximum adjustable intensity is predetermined such that the at least one light beam 18 does not yet produce a projection 19.Furthermore, during the second operating mode, the individual projection devices 17 visualize a set temperature of the airflow emitted by the corresponding outlet 11 using different color tones of the at least one light beam 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the evaluation and control unit 14 operates the individual projection devices 17 of the affected outlets 11 in the second operating mode when the setting process of the outflow direction of the airflow to be emitted by the affected outlets 11 is completed and the first operating mode has been terminated.

[0029] In a third operating mode, the projection devices 17 of the affected air outlets 11 generate at least one light beam 18 with high intensity and output it, depending on a selected scenario, with a constant output direction or with an output direction that changes according to a predefined movement pattern, so that at least one projection 19 can be generated in the interior 3. The evaluation and control unit 14 operates the projection devices 17 of the affected air outlets 11 before commissioning or after operation of the vehicle in the third operating mode. This means that the user can select a greeting or farewell scenario from various options, which is then executed by the evaluation and control unit 14 by appropriately controlling the projection devices 17 of the affected air outlets.For this purpose, projection devices 17 of the outlets 11 can each specify an output color of the generated at least one light beam 18.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment of the outlet arrangement 10, different colors are assigned to the several outlets 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, so that the projection devices 17 of the individual outlets 11 generate and output the corresponding at least one light beam 18 with the assigned color during the first operating mode.

[0031] Fig. Figure 1 shows the outlet arrangement 10 in a state in which the first outlet 11A and the second outlet 11B are each operated in the first operating mode by the evaluation and control unit 14. As shown in Figure 1, the first outlet 11A and the second outlet 11B are operated by the evaluation and control unit 14 in the first operating mode. Fig.As can be seen in Figure 1, a first light beam 18A in a first color indicates the outflow direction of a first airflow from the first outlet 11A, which is directed towards the chest of an occupant 9. The target area of ​​the first airflow is indicated by a circular first projection 19A in the chest area of ​​the occupant 9. A second light beam 18B in a second color different from the first indicates the outflow direction of a second airflow from the second outlet 11B, which is also directed towards the chest of the occupant 9. The target area of ​​the second airflow is indicated by a circular second projection 19B in the chest area of ​​the occupant 9. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 vehicle 3 Interior 5 Instrument panel 7 Operating device 7A Touch-Screen 9 occupants 10 air outlet arrangement 11, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D air vents 12. Outflow opening 14 Evaluation and control unit 16, 16A, 16B Adjustment device 17 Projection device 18, 18A, 18B Light beam 19, 19A, 19B projection

Claims

[1] Air outlet arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1), comprising at least one air outlet (11) and at least one evaluation and control unit (14), wherein the at least one air outlet (11) comprises an outlet opening (12) configured to direct an airflow into an interior space (3), at least one controllable adjustment device (16) configured to adjust the direction of the airflow directed into the interior space (3) and its target area, and at least one projection device (17) configured to generate and output at least one light beam (18), wherein the at least one evaluation and control unit (14) is configured to control the at least one controllable adjustment device (16) of the at least one air outlet (11) accordingly based on at least one user input and to direct the airflow to the specified target area, wherein the evaluation and control unit (14) is further configured,to operate the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) in different operating modes, wherein the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) is configured to generate the at least one light beam (18) with a high intensity as a spotlight beam in a first operating mode and to output it in such a way that the at least one light beam (18) follows the direction of the output airflow and directly visualizes the airflow and generates at least one projection (19) at the target area of ​​the airflow. [2] Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the at least one evaluation and control unit (14) is designed to operate at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) during an adjustment process of the outflow direction of the airflow directed into the interior (3) in the first operating mode. [3] Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) is further designed to generate the at least one light beam (18) with a lower intensity as a diverging light beam in a second operating mode and to output it in such a way that the at least one light beam (18) illuminates the outlet opening (12) of the at least one outlet (11) and no projection (19) is created. [4] Outlet arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by, that the at least one projection device (17) is further designed to generate the at least one light beam (18) of the at least one outlet (11) with high intensity in a third operating mode and to output it with a constant output direction or with an output direction that changes according to a predetermined movement scheme, so that at least one projection (19) can be generated in the interior (3). [5] Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 4, characterized by , that the at least one evaluation and control unit (14) is designed to operate at least one projection device (17) before commissioning or after operation of the vehicle (1) in the third operating mode. [6] Outlet arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) is further designed to specify an output color of the generated at least one light beam (18). [7] Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the at least one projection device (17) is designed to visualize, during the second operating mode, a set strength of the airflow emitted by the at least one outlet (11) via the intensity of the at least one light beam (18). [8] Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by , that the at least one projection device (17) is designed to visualize a set temperature via different color tones of the at least one light beam (18) during the second operating mode. [9] Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 6, characterized by, that several outlets (11) are assigned different colors, so that the projection devices (17) of the individual outlets (11) generate and output the corresponding at least one light beam (18) with the assigned color during the first operating mode. [10] Outlet arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that at least one operating device (7), which is arranged separately from the at least one outlet (11), is designed to receive at least one user input and to output at least one corresponding operating signal to the evaluation and control unit (14).

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