Vehicle windscreen with lighting device

Abstract

A vehicle windscreen is proposed comprising a windscreen body assembly (16) having an outer surface facing a vehicle environment and an inner surface facing a vehicle interior, aligned parallel to the outer surface and comprising a light guide layer forming the inner surface, a lighting device (24), and at least one light coupling device with at least one light coupling element (30, 30') arranged on the inner surface of the windscreen body assembly (16) and coupling light emitted by the lighting device (24) into the light guide layer via a coupling surface (34) opposite the inner surface of the windscreen body assembly (16).The light coupling device is provided with at least one light guide means (38) which is arranged on a coupling side of the at least one light coupling element (30, 30') and guides the light emitted by the lighting device (24) from a first light guide zone (L1), which corresponds to a position of the lighting device (24), into a second light guide zone (L2), which is offset from the first light guide zone (L1) in the direction of the disk body arrangement (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle window having the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Such a vehicle window is known from WO 2021 / 198262 A1 and, in the form of a cover element of a roof opening system or a fixed roof element, is a component of a vehicle roof. The known vehicle window comprises a window body arrangement designed as a composite structure and comprising a light guide layer to which a strip-shaped light coupling element is attached. Furthermore, the vehicle window comprises an illumination device connected to the light coupling element, so that light emitted by the illumination device is deflected in the light coupling element and coupled into the light guide layer. A luminous surface can thus be realized on the light guide layer, which forms the visible surface of the vehicle window accessible from the vehicle interior.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of creating a vehicle window designed according to the type mentioned in the introduction, by means of which an optimized coupling of the light emitted by the lighting device into the light coupling device is possible.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by the vehicle window having the features of patent claim 1.

[0005] According to the invention, a vehicle window is therefore proposed, comprising a window body arrangement which has an outer side facing a vehicle environment and an inner side facing a vehicle interior, in particular aligned parallel to the outer side, and comprises a light guide layer which forms the inner side, further comprising an illumination device and at least one light coupling device with at least one light coupling element which is arranged on the inner side of the window body arrangement and couples the light emitted by the illumination device into the light guide layer via a coupling surface opposite the inner side of the window body arrangement.To achieve optimized coupling of the light into the light coupling device, the device is provided with at least one light guide means arranged on a coupling side of the at least one light coupling element and guides the light emitted by the lighting device from a first light guide zone, which corresponds to a position of the lighting device on the vehicle window, into a second light guide zone, which is offset from the first light guide zone in the direction of the window body arrangement. The light guide means thus causes the light to be transferred from a first plane to another or second plane, which is closer to the window body arrangement than the first plane, so that it can be coupled by means of the coupling device at least largely loss-free into the light guide layer, which is a component of the window body arrangement.The offset is particularly perpendicular to the plane of the window body assembly. A geometrically determined position of the lighting device that is offset relative to the light coupling device at least approximately perpendicular to the inside or inner surface of the window body assembly, which is positioned closer to the edge of the vehicle window compared to the coupling device and, when projected onto the window body assembly, laterally next to the coupling device, can thus be compensated for.

[0006] In principle, the pane body arrangement of the vehicle window according to the invention can be designed as a composite structure, in particular as laminated safety glass (VSG), or also as a single pane or toughened safety glass (ESG).

[0007] When using a composite structure as a pane body arrangement, this preferably has an outer pane body and an inner pane body that is connected to the outer pane body via at least one connecting layer. The inner pane body then preferably forms the light guide layer. The light coupling element of the light coupling device is preferably arranged directly on the inner side of the pane inner body, which forms a large area of ​​the pane body arrangement and which may be formed by a continuous coating or one that is interrupted in the region of the light coupling element. An additional, potentially cost-intensive light guide layer is not required. The inner pane body can provide a flat or pattern-like ambient light function when the lighting device is activated.

[0008] It is also conceivable, in the case of a laminated safety glass with an outer pane body and an inner pane body, to attach an additional light guide layer to the inside of the inner pane body, into which the light from the lighting device can be coupled by means of the light coupling device.

[0009] The inner pane body of a composite structure used as a light guide can, in principle, be made of any material suitable for this purpose. For example, the inner pane body is made of a material that includes glass and / or a polycarbonate material and / or another plastic material.

[0010] In a specific embodiment of the vehicle window according to the invention, the light coupling device comprises a plurality of light coupling elements arranged in series next to one another or one behind the other, which are arranged on the inner side formed by the light guide layer, which is in particular aligned plane-parallel to the outer side of the window body arrangement. In this case, the illumination device preferably comprises a corresponding number of light sources or LEDs, which can be arranged on a common carrier board.

[0011] In a vehicle window according to the invention used as a roof window, in one expedient embodiment, a light coupling device with at least one light coupling element is arranged near one edge of the window body assembly or, alternatively, near two opposite edges of the window body assembly. Both light coupling devices are each provided with an illumination device, which can have multiple light sources. Rows of several adjacent light coupling elements can also be arranged on both sides or at both edges of the vehicle window, each of which is assigned at least one light source of the illumination device.Furthermore, it is also conceivable, in the case of a vehicle window having a substantially rectangular base area according to the invention, to provide a light coupling device along each of the four edges, which, in the sense of the invention, has at least one light coupling element to which at least one lighting device is assigned.

[0012] The light coupling element of the vehicle window according to the invention is preferably designed for the optimized coupling of the light emitted by the lighting device in such a way that it has at least one wedge surface which is formed by a boundary surface of the light coupling element facing away from the window body arrangement and which is inclined or inclined relative to the coupling surface which lies opposite the inside of the window body arrangement or rests against it and relative to the inside of the window body arrangement, so that the boundary surface and the inside of the window body arrangement enclose an acute angle.

[0013] The light coupling element is preferably designed as a plastic body, which is made in particular from a material comprising PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PC (polycarbonate), PA (polyamide), COC (cycloolefin copolymer), or COP (cycloolefin polymer). It is also conceivable for the light coupling element to be a glass element.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle window according to the invention, the light guide means, by means of which the light to be coupled in is guided from the first to the second light guide zone, is made of the same material as the light coupling element, so that both have the same refractive indices. If the light guide means and the light coupling device are made of different materials, the refractive indices of these materials should differ little from each other.

[0015] The light guide means of the vehicle window according to the invention, by means of which the light is transferred from the first light guide zone to the second light guide zone, has an S-shaped cross-section in a preferred embodiment of the invention. Thus, viewed in section, it is curved in two opposing directions between the illumination device and the light coupling device, so that the light emitted by the illumination device, which is coupled into the light guide means via a coupling surface, is guided into the second light guide zone, which corresponds to the light coupling device, with as little loss as possible.

[0016] In one embodiment, the light-guiding element can have an optical element on the side surface directed toward the LED. The optical element can be a lens. This lens can be realized, for example, as a convex side surface. Alternatively or additionally, a surface structure can be formed on the side surface, for example, with a grid structure or with a roughened surface. The light coupling element and / or the light guide means can have a reflective layer or cover, for example, comprising aluminum.

[0017] In a structurally simple embodiment of the vehicle window according to the invention, the light guide means is formed from a separate light guide element that rests against a side surface of the light coupling element. The light guide means thus represents a separate component that is arranged between the illumination device and the light coupling device and preferably rests against the light coupling element without an air gap, for example, via an adhesive.

[0018] The light guide means or the separate light guide element is particularly strip-like and preferably formed in one piece, so that it can extend along a respective edge of the disc body arrangement. The strip-like design makes it possible for the light guide means to be assigned to or adjacent to multiple light coupling elements and to guide the light emitted by a respective light source of the lighting device into the assigned light coupling element in a defined manner.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment of the vehicle window according to the invention, the light guide means is formed integrally with the light coupling element, so that it is an integral component of the light coupling element. In this case, the light guide means forms, in particular, a lateral extension of the light coupling element, which is provided with a coupling surface via which the light from the illumination device is first coupled into the light guide means and from there guided from the first light guide zone into the second light guide zone and into a coupling section of the light coupling element, so that there it is coupled into the light guide layer of the window body arrangement by corresponding internal reflection via the coupling surface.

[0020] As already explained above, the lighting device can comprise a carrier board on which at least two light sources are arranged, each of which is preferably assigned to a light coupling element of the light coupling device and which can in particular each be designed as an LED. The lighting device can be connected to the disc body arrangement via the carrier board.

[0021] The light sources of the illumination device are preferably designed as so-called top LEDs, i.e., LEDs whose light is emitted essentially at right angles to the plane of the carrier board. It is also conceivable to use so-called side LEDs, whose light is emitted essentially parallel to a carrier board, which is then arranged in an optimized manner on the disk body arrangement.

[0022] In principle, the vehicle window according to the invention can be arranged at any location on a motor vehicle. However, the vehicle window according to the invention is preferably a roof window, which forms either a fixed roof element arranged rigidly and immovably relative to the vehicle body or a movable cover element of a roof opening system.

[0023] The invention also relates to a vehicle roof comprising a vehicle window of the type described above.

[0024] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the description, the drawings, and the patent claims. The scope of the invention includes all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims, and / or the figures; that is, each feature mentioned in the description can be part of the claimed subject matter independently of the further features or specifications mentioned in the respective context.

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of a vehicle window according to the invention are shown schematically in simplified form in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: Fig. 1 a plan view of a vehicle roof with a vehicle window according to the invention; Fig. 2 a section through the vehicle window after Fig. 1 along line II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a plan view of a lighting device and a coupling device of the vehicle window; Fig. 4 one Fig. 2 corresponding section through an alternative embodiment of a vehicle window; and Fig. 5 a plan view of a lighting device and a coupling device of the vehicle window according to Fig. 4.

[0026] In Fig. 1 shows a vehicle roof 10 of a motor vehicle (not shown in detail), which is designed as a panoramic roof, comprising an adjustable cover element 12 and a fixed roof element 14, which is fixed or immovable relative to the vehicle body. The cover element 12, which is part of a roof opening system, and the fixed roof element 14 each comprise a glass component that forms a vehicle window and is provided with a so-called ambient light function. The basic structure of the vehicle windows of the cover element 12 and the fixed roof element 14 is the same in the present case and can be seen from the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shown schematically.

[0027] The vehicle windows of the cover element 12 and the fixed roof element 14 comprise, as Fig. 2, each of the panes comprises a pane body assembly 16 constructed as laminated safety glass (VSG), comprising an outer pane body 18 facing the vehicle's surroundings, and an inner pane body 20 facing the vehicle interior, which is connected to the outer pane body 18 via a connecting layer 22, which may be formed from a lamination film. A liquid crystal assembly, which may be of multi-layer construction and forms an electronically switchable shading device for the vehicle pane, may also be arranged between the outer pane body 18 and the inner pane body 20.

[0028] The pane body assembly may include additional layers and coatings, such as a print, a tinted film, an infrared ray reflecting coating and / or a heat ray reflecting coating (so-called low-E coating).

[0029] The pane outer body 18 consists of an outwardly curved glass plate, made, for example, of a colored soda-lime glass, or of a curved plastic element, made, for example, of a polycarbonate material. The pane inner body 20, which is particularly outwardly curved, can also be made of an organic glass, such as a soda-lime glass, or a plastic material, such as a polycarbonate material.

[0030] The disc inner body 18 forms an outer side or outer surface of the disc body arrangement 16, whereas the disc inner body 20 forms an inner side or inner surface of the disc body arrangement 16 aligned parallel to the outer side.

[0031] The vehicle window of the cover element 12 and the vehicle window of the fixed roof element 14 each comprise two lighting devices 24, each extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and each arranged on a respective lateral edge of the cover element 12 or the fixed roof element 14. The vehicle longitudinal direction is the direction that extends from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle when the vehicle window is installed on the vehicle in question.

[0032] The lighting devices 24 are each designed as a so-called PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and each comprise a particularly flexible circuit board 26 on which electronic components are arranged and on which a plurality of LEDs 28 are arranged one behind the other as light sources in the longitudinal direction. In order to be able to couple the light emitted by the LEDs 28 into the inner pane body 20, which represents a light guide layer, a plurality of light coupling elements 30 with a wedge-shaped cross section are arranged one behind the other on the inside of the pane body arrangement 16. These light coupling elements 30 together form a light coupling device and are each connected to the inside of the pane inner body 20 via an adhesive layer 32. The surfaces of the light coupling elements 30 facing the inner pane body 20 each form a coupling surface 34 that is aligned parallel to the inside of the pane body arrangement 16.

[0033] The light coupling elements 30 have a side surface 36 which is aligned substantially at right angles to the plane of the disc body arrangement 16 and which forms a coupling surface of the respective light coupling element 30, and a wedge surface 37 which forms an acute angle with the coupling surface 34.

[0034] Between the side surfaces 36 of the light coupling elements 30 and the LEDs 28 of the lighting device 24, a light guide 38 is arranged. This light guide is designed as a separate component or light-guiding element and extends in the longitudinal direction of the roof in a strip-like manner. The light guide 38, which is made of the same plastic material as the light coupling elements 30, borders directly on the side surfaces 36 of several light coupling elements 30 on one coupling side and is firmly connected to them, for example via an adhesive surface. In the present case, the light guide 38 extends over all light coupling elements 30 arranged on one side of the relevant vehicle window. However, it is also conceivable for several light guides to be provided on the relevant edges of the vehicle windows, each of which is assigned to a light coupling element and / or a portion of the light coupling elements.

[0035] How Fig. As can be seen from Figure 2, the light guide means 38 each have a broadly S-shaped cross-section, i.e., a cross-section that follows two opposing curves, wherein a frontal coupling surface 40 is formed in each case, which borders the LEDs 28. The coupling surface 40 has a height that defines a first light guide zone L1, which lies in the region of the LEDs 28 arranged on the circuit board 26. The height of the front side facing away from the coupling surface 40, which borders the side surface 36 of the light coupling elements 30, defines a second light guide zone L2.Due to the geometry of the light guide means 38, light emitted by the LEDs 28 onto the coupling surfaces 40 is guided in the light guide means 38 from the light guide zone L1 into the light guide zone L2, which is offset from the first light guide zone L1 in the direction of the pane body arrangement 16, so that the light guided by the light guide means 38 is coupled into the light coupling elements 30 with precise positioning. By means of these, the light is then coupled via the coupling surface 34 into the pane inner body 18, where it can propagate. Coupling out of the pane inner body 18 to generate a luminous surface and / or luminous patterns can be achieved by corresponding coupling-out structures, which are formed, for example, by printing on the surface of the pane inner body 20 facing the pane outer body 18.

[0036] In the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a vehicle window, which basically corresponds to the Fig. 1 and can also represent a movable cover element of a roof opening system or a fixed roof element of a vehicle roof.

[0037] The Fig. 4 and Fig. The vehicle window shown in Figure 5 largely corresponds to the vehicle window described above, but differs from it in that a plurality of light coupling elements 30' are arranged in a row one behind the other on the two edges extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which light coupling elements are also fixed to the inside of the window inner body 20 via an adhesive surface 32. The light coupling elements 30' each have, in an integrated and one-piece manner, a wedge-shaped coupling section 42 and, on one coupling side, an extension 44 which adjoins laterally in the direction of the respective lighting device 24 and which represents a respective light guide means 38 which, according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 has an S-shaped cross-section, at least in the broadest sense. By means of the light guide means 38, each of which has a coupling surface 40 opposite the illumination device 24, light emitted by the LEDs 28 is guided from a light-time zone L1 located in the region of the LEDs 28, which is defined by the height of the coupling surface 40, into a light guide zone L2, which lies in the region of the coupling section 42 and whose height is defined by the height of the coupling section 42 of the light coupling element 30'. In the coupling section 42, an internal reflection of the light takes place, in particular at the wedge surface 37, so that it is optimally coupled into the inner pane body 18.

[0038] The transition between the light guide 38 and the coupling surface 40 is located approximately in the region of the edge of the adhesive surface 32, which faces the lighting device 24.

[0039] Furthermore, the vehicle window complies with the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 of those after the Fig. 1 to 3, which is why, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the relevant description. List of reference symbols 10 Vehicle roof 12 cover element 14 fixed roof element 16 Disc body arrangement 18 Disc outer body 20 disc inner body 22 Connection layer 24 Lighting equipment 26 circuit boards 28 LED 30, 30' light coupling element 32 adhesive surface 34 coupling area 36 side surface 37 Wedge surface 38 optical fibers 40 coupling area 42 coupling section 44 Extension L1 light guide zone L2 light guide zone QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2021 / 198262 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Vehicle window, comprising a window body arrangement (16) which has an outer side facing a vehicle environment and an inner side facing a vehicle interior, aligned parallel to the outer side and comprising a light guide layer which forms the inner side, an illumination device (24), and at least one light coupling device with at least one light coupling element (30, 30') which is arranged on the inner side of the window body arrangement (16) and couples light emitted by the illumination device (24) into the light guide layer via a coupling surface (34) opposite the inner side of the window body arrangement (16), characterized byin that the light coupling device is provided with at least one light guide means (38) which is arranged on a coupling side of the at least one light coupling element (30, 30') and guides the light emitted by the illumination device (24) from a first light guide zone (L1), which corresponds to a position of the illumination device (24), into a second light guide zone (L2) which is offset from the first light guide zone (L1) in the direction of the disc body arrangement (16). [2] Vehicle window according to claim 1, characterized by that the light guide means (38) has an S-shaped cross-section and has a coupling surface (40) via which the light of the lighting device (24) is coupled into the light guide means (38). [3] Vehicle window according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the light guide means (38) is formed from at least one separate light guide element which rests against a side surface (36) of the light coupling element (30). [4] Vehicle window according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the light guide means (38) is formed integrally with the light coupling element (30'), so that it is an integral part of the light coupling element (30'). [5] Vehicle window according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized by that the light guide means (38) is designed in the form of a strip. [6] Vehicle window according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the lighting device (24) comprises a carrier board (26) on which at least two light sources are arranged, which are preferably each assigned to a light coupling element (30, 30') of the light coupling device. [7] Vehicle window according to claim 6, characterized bythat the carrier board (26) is aligned at least approximately at right angles to the disc body arrangement (16) and the light sources each have a radiation direction that is aligned at right angles to the plane of the carrier board (26). [8] Vehicle window according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the at least one optical fiber means (38) and the at least one light coupling element (30, 30') are made of the same material, in particular of the same plastic material. [9] Vehicle window according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that it is a roof element and is designed as an adjustable cover element (12) of a roof opening system or as a fixed roof element (14). [10] Vehicle roof comprising a vehicle window according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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