Component for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a component (7) for a motor vehicle, comprising an electrical carrier element (8) through which an electrically conductive conductor track arrangement (9) of an electrical circuit (11) with at least one electrical component (10) is carried and which is at least partially covered by at least one plastic material (13).In the component, either the electrical carrier element (8) is fastened to a base support (12) of the component (7) and the base support (12) with the electrical carrier element (8) is at least partially encapsulated with the at least one plastic material (13), or the electrically conductive conductor track arrangement (9) is formed by indium tin oxide (ITO) and the electrical carrier element (8) is at least partially encapsulated with the at least one plastic material (13), or the component (7) is designed as a component (7) having an accessible surface on both sides, in particular as a flap, cover or similar wing element, and the electrical carrier element (8) is at least partially encapsulated with the at least one plastic material (13).

Description

The invention relates to a component for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.In the series vehicle construction of motor vehicles, extensive efforts are currently being made to automate and visualize the control and actuation of different components and components. For example, door handles in the form of so-called winglets are already known, the contacts of which generate a capacitive signal, by means of which the closing device of the vehicle is actuated and the door is opened. Such components usually comprise an electrical carrier element in the form of a circuit board on which an electrically conductive conductor track arrangement of an electrical circuit having at least electrical components is provided, which components have hitherto been enclosed or at least partially covered by usually two housing parts made of a plastic material. However, a relatively great outlay is required here in order--especially if the component is arranged on the outside of the motor vehicle--to ensure a corresponding tightness and thus a corresponding protection for the printed circuit board. Therefore, it is desirable to design such components in a particularly simple manner.DE 10 2014 106 585 A1 discloses a multilayer body having a carrier layer with a lighting means, a decorative layer and an injection-molded plastic layer. Further apparatuses forming the technological background of the present invention are known from CN 1 10 576 914 A and CN 1 16 262 526 A.FR 3 137 321 A1 discloses a component for a motor vehicle, having an electrical carrier element, by means of which an electrically conductive conductor track arrangement of an electrical circuit having at least one electrical component is carried and which is at least partially covered by at least one plastic material, wherein the electrical carrier element is fastened to a base carrier of the component and the base carrier with the electrical carrier element is at least partially encapsulated by the at least one plastic material.It is an object of the present invention to provide a comparatively large load-bearing component for use in a motor vehicle, which component provides various electrical functions.This object is achieved according to the invention by a component having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are evident from the dependent claims.The component according to claim 1 comprises an electrical carrier element, for example a carrier film, for example ET plastics, which may also be provided with openings and by which an electrically conductive conductor track arrangement of an electrical circuit having at least one electrical component is carried. The conductor track arrangement can be formed, for example, by a screen printing method or by applying indium tin oxide (ITO). Other materials for the respective conductor tracks of the conductor track arrangement are also conceivable. The conductor tracks form electrical lines, sensors which react to contact or approach, antennas or similar electronic elements. The respective conductor tracks or the conductor track arrangement and electronic or electrical components such as diodes, capacitors, sensors, cameras or displays, for example, form an electrical circuit by means of which respective functions, controls or actuations can take place in the motor vehicle. It is thus conceivable, for example, to perform the opening and / or closing of components or devices by means of the electrical / electronic circuit, as well as the detection or display of respective states, information or the like.In claim 1, the electrical carrier element is fastened to a base carrier of the component and the base carrier together with the electrical carrier element is at least partially encapsulated with the at least one plastic material. Consequently, a base carrier, which can be formed from a metal material or plastic, for example, is integrated into the component, so that the component can also be used, for example, at locations in or on the motor vehicle, at which the component is exposed to considerable forces. An example of this is a so-called winglet. In this case, it is necessary that higher forces may also have to be transmitted by means of the door handle or winglet, or a certain degree of robustness of the component is required in common use in order to withstand the mechanical forces. This is ensured in an optimum manner by the base support. In addition, the base carrier can serve in a particularly advantageous manner as a holder and / or support for the electrical carrier element, for example the electrical carrier film, so that the latter can be configured to be relatively labile.The base carrier and the electrical carrier element are at least partially coated or cast around with the at least one plastic material by casting, for example injection molding. This means that, for example, only one side of the component is provided with a corresponding plastic material or, advantageously, at least substantially the base carrier and the electrical carrier element are surrounded completely by the plastic material. This has the advantage that, in particular, plastic material is protected in an optimum manner against moisture ingress, dust ingress or the like, in particular if the component is arranged on the outside of the motor vehicle. Consequently, it is therefore particularly advantageous if at least the electrical carrier element is surrounded by the plastic material in such a way that it is sealed off from its outer side.According to the invention, it is provided that the component is designed as a component having an accessible surface on both sides, in particular as a flap, cover or similar leaf element, wherein the carrier element is at least partially encapsulated with the at least one plastic material. In other words, by casting the at least one plastic material around the electrical carrier element, for example by injection molding, a component can be created, the opposite surfaces of which can have functions or actuations effected by the electrical circuit. It is thus possible, for example, to create a fuel cap which can be controlled and actuated, for example, by approach or contact, so that the fuel cap opens and / or closes. The opening and / or closing is effected by the electrical circuit. On the inside, for example, a symbol, a graphic or a display of the electrical circuit can be arranged, which for example provides a state of charge of the vehicle or other information. Thus, a dual use of the electrical circuit arranged within the component can take place, namely on the outside, for example for opening and / or closing the cover, and on the inside for generating information about the state of charge of the vehicle or other information.According to claim 2, the electrically conductive conductor track arrangement of the electrical carrier element is formed by indium tin oxide (ITO), and the electrical carrier element is at least partially encapsulated by the at least one plastic material. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a transparent conductive oxide film used in various applications of the electronics and optics industry. The great advantage of indium tin oxide (ITO) is that it is transparent in the visible spectrum, making it ideal for applications in which a transparent conductive trace arrangement is desirable, for example in screens, in particular touch-sensitive screens, transparent panels or solar cells. Indium tin oxide (ITO) has a very high electrical conductivity, so that an electrical circuit can be created which functions extremely reliably. It is likewise advantageous that indium tin oxide (ITO) can be applied to flexible carrier elements, for example carrier films, which makes it suitable for applications with flexible circuits, for example flexible displays or flexible solar cells. Moreover, indium tin oxide (ITO) is chemically stable and exhibits good resistance to environmental influences such as humidity and temperature changes. Finally, indium tin oxide (ITO) can be produced in various thicknesses and layer structures, which makes it suitable for a multiplicity of conductor track arrangements or electrical circuits.It is also particularly advantageous if the electrically conductive conductor track arrangement is at least partially encapsulated by plastic material, in particular by casting, and further in particular by injection molding. This results in a particularly favorably sealed arrangement of the electrical carrier element with the electrically conductive conductor track arrangement within the component.It is clear that such dual use can take place in a wide variety of other ways and with other components and components on the vehicle.In a further embodiment of the invention, the base carrier can be formed from a metal active substance or a carrier plastic, which is for example fiber-reinforced. By means of such a base support, the component can be designed to be particularly stable against forces or to be shape-resistant.Furthermore, it has been shown to be advantageous if the base carrier is at least partially insulated with an electrical insulation from the electrical carrier element. In particular if the base carrier is formed from a metal alloy, electrical faults in the electrical circuit on the electrical carrier element can thus be avoided.A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the at least one covering plastic material is designed as a transparent casting material, in particular injection molding material. In a further embodiment of the invention, this can be effected in particular by flooding or PUR flooding. The covering plastic material, in particular formed by PUR flooding, can in this case directly surround the electrical carrier element with the electrical circuit arranged thereon or else be formed as a further layer, which can be formed, for example, as a plastic material directly surrounding the electrical carrier element or the electrical circuit. The transparent material has the advantage, especially in connection with likewise transparent or transparent indium tin oxide (ITO), that it is thus possible to produce sheets, touch-sensitive displays or the like transparently.Furthermore, it has been shown to be advantageous if the at least one plastic material is at least partially non-transparent and thus opaque. In the non-transparent or opaque region, this plastic material has at least one light passage opening for light from a light source connected to an electrical circuit, in order thus to generate a display, a symbol or the like, for example. In this case, this at least one non-transparent or opaque plastic material can be covered by a transparent plastic material, for example by PUR flooding, in order to close the light passage opening or to obtain an optically high-quality surface.A further advantageous embodiment provides that the at least one further plastic material is designed as a decorative layer. Consequently, it is also conceivable to form this non-transparent or opaque surface as a decorative layer, for example in black or with wood optics.It is furthermore advantageous if the electrical carrier element is designed as a transparent plastic film. Even if the plastic material surrounding the electrical carrier element with the electrical circuit on the outer circumference is transparent, a disk or the like can thus be produced which is completely transparent.The component according to the invention can, for example, also be designed in particular as a handle, switch or similar actuating element, since these can be produced particularly favorably and can be designed to be watertight. In addition, these components can enable a wide variety of electrical or electronic functions and actuations.Finally, it has been shown to be advantageous if the electrical component of the electrical circuit is formed on the electrical carrier element as a display. This display can thus be cast in a simple manner in a corresponding plastic material and arranged in a fixed manner, wherein the display can optionally also be overmoulded by a transparent plastic layer. This advantageously results in a particularly protected arrangement of the display.Further features of the invention are evident from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or alone.The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a detail perspective view of a front and rear side door of a motor vehicle, wherein a winglet, which functions as a door handle and by means of which the vehicle door can be opened and / or closed, is arranged at the height of a curb edge; FIG. 2 shows a detail perspective view of the door handle according to FIG. 1 embodied as a winglet; FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a component designed as a winglet, for example, according to a first embodiment; and FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the component analogous to FIG. 3.FIGS. 1 and 2 show a detail perspective view and a detail and enlarged perspective view, respectively, of a door handle in the form of a winglet 1 for a front side door 2 of a motor vehicle. The front side door 2 is adjoined by a rear side door 3.The door handle or winglet 1 is arranged at the height of a curb 4 of the side doors 2, 3 and has a leg 5 running in the transverse direction of the vehicle and a leg 6 running in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The door handle or winglet 1 can be arranged on the door in a fixed or pivotable manner, depending on whether an emergency function is intended to be integrated, for example via a Bowden cable, such that a closing device of the door 2 can be actuated by means of the winglet 1.In normal operation, the opening takes place, for example, by an operator, for example the driver, who for example carries with him a transmission element such as a key, a chip card or the like, approaching the winglet 1 with his hand or touching it. Here, either a proximity sensor system or a touch sensor system, which will be explained in more detail below, is integrated within the winglet 1, so that, when the winglet 1 is moved and / or touched accordingly, the closing device of the front side door 2 or of the closing system as a whole is automatically actuated and the door lock is opened, for example. For example, as a result of the door sealing forces, the door is then opened by a corresponding gap. Alternatively, an automatic system with a door drive can be provided, so that the side door 2 opens automatically, for example. In addition to the proximity or touch sensor system, the winglet 1 can also be integrated with corresponding symbols, displays or the like, for example, which provide information about an opening state of the side door 2 and / or further information about a vehicle state or the like.By way of example, a schematic sectional view shows a component 7, in the manner of which the winglet 1 can be configured, for example. This component initially comprises, for example, an electrical carrier element 8, which can be embodied in particular as a carrier film. This carrier film is formed, for example, from a PET plastic or from another material, either transparent, partially transparent or opaque. If necessary, this carrier element or this carrier film 8 can also have respective openings, perforations or the like.An electrically conductive conductor track arrangement 9 is applied to the carrier foil or the electrical carrier element 8, which has one or more conductor tracks. The conductor track arrangement 9 can be applied to the carrier foil or the carrier element 8, for example, in a screen printing method. After the application of the conductor track arrangement 9, the carrier element or the carrier foil 8 is equipped with electrical components 10. This can be done, for example, by an automatic placement machine. The fastening of the electrical components 10 to the carrier element or the carrier film 8 is effected, for example, via an electrically conductive adhesive or the like.The conductor track arrangement 9 and the electrical components 10 form an electrical circuit 11, with which a wide variety of functions or actuations can be carried out in and on the motor vehicle. Thus, for example, as in the case of the winglet, corresponding door locks or locking devices can be triggered by corresponding approach or contact. In this case, the corresponding conductor track of the electrical circuit acts as a sensor, electrode, transponder or similar electrical functional component. The electrical components 10 can be, for example, diodes, transistors, capacitors, displays or other electrical components. Touch fields, symbols, images or the like can therefore also be displayed by the electrical circuit 11.As can be seen furthermore from FIG. 3, the electrical carrier element or the carrier foil 8, on which the conductor track arrangement 9 with the components 10 for forming the circuit 11 are arranged, is fastened in the present case to a base carrier 12. This base carrier can be formed, for example, from a metal material, in particular an aluminum die casting material, a molded part or the like, or else from a carrier plastic, which is optionally fiber-reinforced. The component 7 can be connected to a connection component, for example, via the base carrier 12. It is thus possible, for example, to fasten or mount the winglet 1 via the base carrier 12 to a corresponding blank component or holding part of the side door 2.The base carrier 12 has the advantage that an extremely stable and stiff component, for example winglet 1, can be created, which can be exposed to high mechanical requirements.A further advantage of the component 7 is that the electrical carrier element or the electrical carrier foil 8 can be fastened, clamped, supported or the like on the base carrier 12 in order to cast it with at least one plastic material 13 in a plastic injection molding tool. In the present case, the base carrier 12 and the carrier part / carrier film 8 are surrounded by the plastic 13 in a complete manner by way of example. Nevertheless, it would also be conceivable to support the plastic 13 only partially or in a surface-area manner.The plastic 13 can be designed, for example, as a PU plastic, as a PC plastic or as a PE plastic. Of course, other plastics are also conceivable.In addition, the plastic material 13 can either be formed as a transparent casting material, in particular injection-molded material or similar plastic material, or as a transparent or opaque material. In the present exemplary embodiment, the plastic material 13 is, for example, opaque and comprises at least one light passage opening 15 for light from a light source 16 connected to the electrical circuit 11 in a non-transparent region 14.The plastic material 13 can also be formed by one or more further plastic layers or plastic materials. According to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, a decorative layer 17 is provided, for example, which is formed in the present case from a transparent plastic. Here, for example, PU or PUR alignment is appropriate, so that, for example, the light passage opening 15 is closed on the outside and a uniform, for example glossy, surface is formed. The decorative layer can consequently be either transparent or else partially transparent or opaque. In this case, the decorative layer 17 can likewise have, for example, light passage openings or the like.A further particular feature of the component 7 according to FIG. 3 is that the base carrier 12 is insulated on the outer circumference or overall, in particular with respect to the electrical carrier element / the carrier film 8, by an insulation layer 18, in order to achieve shielding between the metallic base carrier 12 and the electrical circuit 11.The embodiment according to FIG. 3 with the component 7 with the base carrier 12 can be used, for example, in the winglet 1 described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, the light passage openings 15 can be arranged here on the underside of the leg 5 running in the vehicle transverse direction or on the inside of the leg 6 running in the vehicle vertical direction or light can emerge in such a way that the light emerges on the underside of the winglet 1 onto the outer skin or towards the interior of the vehicle in the direction of the side windows. In general, light emission in all directions and the arrangement of the LEDs or similar light sources at all positions of the component 7 is conceivable.The embodiment according to FIG. 3 is recommended because of the integrated base carrier 12, especially when large components with correspondingly high mechanical loads are used.Nevertheless, a component 7, as shown in FIG. 4, can also manage without such a base carrier 12. In this respect, the embodiment according to FIG. 3 differs from that according to FIG. 4 In the case of the component 7, the electrical carrier element or the electrical carrier film 8 is consequently directly encapsulated on both sides by the plastic material 13. In this case, the carrier element or the carrier film 8 is clamped, for example, in a corresponding tool and is thus stabilized during the injection molding with the plastic material 13.Overall, the method for producing such a component was carried out in particular by first providing the electrical carrier element or the electrical carrier foil 8 with the conductor track arrangement 9 and then fitting it with the components 1 in order to produce the circuit 11. Depending on whether a base carrier 12 is present, it is inserted together with the carrier element 8 or the carrier element 8 separately into a plastic injection molding tool and injection molded with the plastic material 13. If a base carrier 12 is used, it can be provided with the insulation 18 in a preceding step, for example, likewise by injection molding with plastic. Of course, other insulations by means of corresponding coatings or the like are also conceivable, which are applied between the base carrier 12 and the carrier element 8.After the insertion or insertion into the tool, the carrier element 8 is encapsulated by injection molding with the plastic material 13 and optionally with further plastic materials in order to produce the component 7. This can be generated, for example, within transfer tools in so-called multi-k methods.In particular, it is also conceivable for the carrier element 8 or the carrier foil to be shaped before being inserted into the plastic tool, in order to be adapted to the shape of the later component 7, for example. This can be effected, for example, by thermoforming. Consequently, the shaped carrier film 8 can be inserted into the corresponding injection mold and subsequently injection molded with the plastic material 13. In this case, the plastic material 13 achieves in particular a moisture- and dust-tight sealing of the carrier element or of the carrier film 8 with the electrical circuit 11.A component 7 described in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be designed in particular as a wing element, for example as a flap, and in particular as a fuel filler flap, a trunk flap, a trunk flap or the like. In this case, it is a great advantage, for example, that the electrical circuit on one side of the component 7, for example the outer side, can serve for establishing an opening and / or closing of the wing element. Thus, for example, a closing device of the wing element can be actuated by the electrical circuit 11, so that the wing element, for example the fuel filler flap, can be moved from the closed position into the open position. Of course, other functions, displays or the like are also conceivable. On the opposite inner side of the component, a different function or representation can be effected, for example, by one and the same circuit or by a further circuit inserted by means of a separate carrier film 8. For example, in the case of a fuel filler flap, a display, symbol or other graphic can be provided on the inside in order to obtain information about a state of charge of the vehicle, for example. In this case, the display can be integrated in a simple manner into the plastic material 13 or into further plastic materials.By suitable combination of opaque and transparent plastic materials 13, 17, an arbitrary layer structure can thus be created, with which corresponding symbols, graphics or the like can be integrated into a respective component 7.In particular, a component can also be created which is embodied as completely transparent. In this case, the carrier film 8 can be formed from a corresponding material, for example. The conductor track arrangement 9 can be formed in particular from an indium tin oxide (ITO), which is likewise transparent. In addition, a plurality of plastic layers 13, 17 can be used, which are likewise transparent, so that, for example, plastic disks can also be created, into which an electrical circuit 11 of this type is integrated, so that the functions described can be achieved.List of reference characters1 Winglet 2 Side door 3 Side door 4 Edge 5 Leg 6 Leg 7 Component 8 Carrier element 9 Conductor track arrangement 10 Components 11 Circuit 12 Base carrier 13 Plastic material 14 Region 15 Light passage opening 16 Light source 17 Decorative layer 18 Insulation layer

Claims

Component (7) for a motor vehicle, having an electrical carrier element (8), by means of which an electrically conductive conductor track arrangement (9) of an electrical circuit (11) having at least one electrical component (10) is carried and which is at least partially covered by at least one plastics material (13), wherein the electrical carrier element (8) is fastened to a base carrier (12) of the component (7) and the base carrier (12) is at least partially encapsulated with the at least one plastics material (13) by the electrical carrier element (8), characterized in that the component (7) is designed as a component (7) having an accessible surface on both sides, in particular as a flap, cover or similar wing element, and the electrical carrier element (8) is at least partially encapsulated with the at least one plastics material (13).Component (7) according to the preamble of claim 1, characterised in that the electrically conductive conductor track arrangement (9) is formed by indium tin oxide (ITO) and the electrical carrier element (8) is at least partially surrounded by the at least one plastic material (13) by casting.Component (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base carrier (12) is formed from a metal material or a carrier plastic.Component (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base carrier (12) is at least partially insulated with an electrical insulation from the electrical carrier element (8).Component (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one covering plastic material (13) is designed as a transparent casting material, in particular injection-moulding material.Component (7) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the at least one covering plastics material (13) is formed by PUR flooding.Component (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one plastic material (13) is formed at least in regions in a nontranspatient manner and has at least one light passage opening (15) in the nontransparant region (14) for light from a light source (16) connected to the electrical circuit (11).Component (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one further plastic material (13) is designed as a decorative layer (17).Component (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical carrier element (8) is designed as a transparent plastic film.Component (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component (7) is designed as a handle, switch or similar actuating element.Component (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component (7) is a pane or the like, at least partially transparent component (7).Component (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one electrical component of the electrical circuit (11) is designed as a display.

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