Component for a motor vehicle as well as motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a component (10) for a motor vehicle (12), which has a surface (14) that is arranged externally in the operating position of the component (10), and a partial area (16) of the surface (14) is provided with an electroluminescent coating (18) by which functional lighting is formed, by which a vehicle function for the motor vehicle (10) can be implemented. The invention further relates to a corresponding motor vehicle (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a component for a motor vehicle according to claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle according to claim 7.

[0002] Conventional functional lights, such as brake lights, turn signals, and so on, are strongly tied to their respective positions in the vehicle due to their packaging requirements, weight, and other specifications, in addition to legal requirements. This can, for example, lead to limitations in the implementation of various vehicle functions.

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a component for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle, by which a functional lighting, which forms a vehicle function for the motor vehicle, can be provided in a particularly advantageous manner.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0005] A first aspect of the invention relates to a component for a motor vehicle which has a surface which is arranged externally in the operating position of the component, wherein a part of the surface is provided with an electroluminescent coating by which a functional lighting is formed by which a vehicle function can be formed for the motor vehicle.

[0006] The component in question can be, in particular, a body panel, a longitudinal member panel, or the like, which, in its operating position, is arranged on a motor vehicle such that its surfaces are visible from the outside, i.e., from the vehicle's surroundings, and thus essentially serve as a visible surface. The motor vehicle can be, in particular, a passenger car, a truck, or, for example, a motorcycle. The surface can be painted, with a portion of the surface having an electroluminescent coating, either as an alternative or in addition to the paint. This coating has the property of illuminating itself when a voltage is applied, allowing the portion of the component's surface to be switched between a non-illuminating and an illuminating state, thus enabling the self-illuminating portion of the surface to function as functional lighting.Functional lighting, and thus this sub-area, constitutes the vehicle function intended for the operation of the motor vehicle and can, for example, represent or implement a warning signal, such as a brake light, or a direction indicator, such as a turn signal, or the like. Therefore, functional lighting is not purely a design element.

[0007] In other words, an area of ​​the component is coated with electrically switchable, luminescent paint, whereby the area is designed and the luminescence of the paint is chosen so that the vehicle function or the functional lighting can be created.

[0008] This results, for example, in a particularly advantageous weight saving compared to conventional functional lights or luminaires. Furthermore, the power consumption of the luminous paint or electroluminescent coating is particularly low compared to conventional lighting; for example, a power consumption of 0.00000155 a / mm² is possible. 2 be made possible.

[0009] Furthermore, another advantage is the positioning flexibility, which allows the component to be used as an enabler for other vehicle functions. This also results in a particularly high degree of design freedom. Model updates can also be implemented very efficiently, and costs can be significantly reduced, as, for example, no separate components or installation space are required for conventional lighting. This also results in a component-free and therefore reliable vehicle.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electroluminescent coating is multilayered and comprises a back electrode, a dielectric layer or insulator layer, a pigment layer comprising color pigments which give the functional lighting its color, and a front electrode or bus, as well as a top layer.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the functional lighting and thus the sub-area is designed as a brake light, turn signal, side marker light and / or daytime running light.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a power supply for the electroluminescent coating comprises a control unit and / or an inverter and / or a vehicle electrical system connection.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the color of the electroluminescent coating corresponds to or differs from the paint color of the surface.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the component is designed as a longitudinal beam cladding, as a body component and / or as a spoiler element.

[0015] A second aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle which has a component according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the first aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments and further developments of the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

[0017] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those mentioned below 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 individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0018] It shows: Fig. 1. A schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle showing several components, each with a sub-area that has an electroluminescent coating; Fig. 2 Rear view of the vehicle according to Fig. 1, wherein a component designed as a spoiler element has a partial area with an electroluminescent coating.

[0019] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle 12, which has several components 10, which in the illustrated embodiment of the Fig. 1 are designed in particular as body components or at least as outer skin components, each of which, in the operating position, i.e., in a state mounted on the motor vehicle 12, has a surface 14 that is external or forms a visible surface. The respective surface 14 has at least a partial area 16 which has an electroluminescent coating 18, by which a functional illumination is formed, by which a vehicle function of the motor vehicle 12 can be realized.

[0021] Firstly, a daytime running light can be integrated as functional lighting on a component 10 designed as a front apron. Furthermore, an outer surface of the mirror and, for example, a door handle can each be used as a direction indicator or turn signal, provided that at least the respective sub-area 16 is provided with the electroluminescent coating 18.

[0022] Fig. Figure 2 shows the motor vehicle 12 according to Fig. 1 in a rear view, wherein a further component 10 is formed as a spoiler element or spoiler blade, and also has an electroluminescent coating 18 in a partial area 16, which in its function or vehicle function and thus as functional lighting forms a brake light.

[0023] In particular, a compliant third brake light is formed, which can be provided in addition to the two conventional brake lights.

[0024] The electroluminescent coating is particularly multi-layered and can, for example, be sprayable, making it especially easy to apply to the sub-area 16 or a lacquer layer located on it. The layers comprise a backplain, which forms a back electrode; a dielectric, which serves as insulation; a color pigment layer, which can be referred to as Lumicolor; and a front electrode, which, for example, forms a partial layer, such as a busbar, as the counterpart to the back electrode. A conductive, connective topcoat is then applied as a protective layer.

[0025] Another vehicle function not shown could be, for example, a side marker light. Additionally, component 10 could, for example, be designed as a longitudinal member cladding, which would advantageously allow for the integration of the side marker light.

[0026] The use of a paint that can be switched between a luminous and non-luminous state, which can be formed by the electroluminescent coating 18, has several advantages over conventional functional lights or functional lamps. For example, it has a particularly low weight and particularly low power consumption, which allows the motor vehicle 12 to be operated particularly efficiently.

[0027] Furthermore, the dimensions of conventional functional lights can sometimes result in a significant amount of installation space required. Particularly in sports cars, this could lead to disadvantages in terms of passive safety, such as the integration of the third brake light in the trunk, or for potential spoiler positions. For example, an otherwise advantageous spoiler position could obscure the third brake light. This can be avoided to a particularly advantageous degree by the component 10 shown and the associated vehicle 12. Moreover, the reduced package size opens up new possibilities for utilizing available installation space and for implementing useful vehicle and driving functions.

[0028] Furthermore, conventional functional lights are permanently visible in both the switched-on and switched-off states and therefore have a significant impact on the design. The electroluminescent switchable layer, for example, can be applied invisibly depending on requirements and application, thus opening up new design possibilities. The electroluminescent layer or coating 18 can therefore have the same color as the paint on surface 14 or differ from it, depending on the desired design objectives.

[0029] Furthermore, the component 10 presented here offers a particularly advantageous cost reduction compared to conventional functional lights, as, for example, safety measures, manufacturing, and assembly adjustments are significantly reduced or can even be avoided. For instance, the electroluminescent coating 18 can be applied to the surface 14 or its sub-area 16 in a manner similar to a paint.

[0030] Component 10 and vehicle 12 thus open up various application areas through the integration of a paint layer and a lighting function into the existing paint system. The lighting function can be applied visibly or invisibly in the finished product, and lights in various colors are possible.

[0031] Power supply and control can be implemented via a control unit and / or an inverter, which is connected to a vehicle electrical system, particularly one with a 12-volt supply. The operating voltage of the electroluminescent coating 18 can, for example, be between 80 and 400 volts AC, and the frequency between 50 and 2000 hertz.

[0032] The component 10 presented here makes it possible to represent functional lights using luminous paint.

Claims

[1] Component (10) for a motor vehicle (12), which has a surface (14) which is arranged on the outside in the use position of the component (10), and a partial area (16) of the surface (14) is provided with an electroluminescent coating (18) by means of which a functional lighting is formed, by means of which a vehicle function for the motor vehicle (10) can be formed. [2] Component (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the electroluminescent coating (18) is multi-layered and comprises a back electrode, a dielectric layer, a pigment layer and a front electrode as well as a cover layer. [3] Component (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the functional lighting is designed as a brake light, indicator, side marker light and / or daytime running light. [4] Component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a power supply of the electroluminescent coating (18) comprises a control unit and / or an inverter and / or an on-board power supply connection. [5] Component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a color of the electroluminescent coating (18) corresponds to or deviates from a paint color of the surface (14). [6] Component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the component (10) is designed as a longitudinal member panel, body component and / or spoiler element. [7] Motor vehicle (12) comprising a component (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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