Motor vehicle with a vehicle body featuring an actively controllable, optically changeable coating

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle (1), wherein the motor vehicle (1) comprises: - external surfaces, wherein the external surfaces are at least partially provided with an actively controllable optically modifiable coating (11), - a control device, wherein the control device is configured to control the optically modifiable coating (11). By controlling the optically changeable coating (11), the color of the outer surfaces can be changed, the control device being configured to control the optically changeable coating (11) depending on a driving mode selected by a driver of the motor vehicle (1) and / or depending on a state of charge of a traction battery of the motor vehicle (1).

Description

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

[0002] Techniques are known in the prior art that allow for the active and reversible modification of surface appearances, for example, to achieve a color change. For instance, there are so-called "paramagnetic paints" that change color when an electrical voltage is applied. Similarly, so-called e-paper (electronic paper) is known in the prior art; its appearance, such as color or contrast, can be altered by applying an electrical voltage.E-paper, for example in the form of a film, can comprise a multitude of microcapsules containing particles of a first particle type and particles of a second particle type, wherein the particles of the first particle type can differ in color and charge from those of the second particle type, wherein by applying an electrical voltage the arrangement of the particles in the microcapsule can be changed and thereby a color change or contrast change can be effected.

[0003] In principle, it is also known from the prior art to use such techniques in motor vehicles. For example, DE 10 2015 205 082 A1 discloses a motor vehicle that has the features of the preamble of claim 1. It is provided that the motor vehicle comprises a control device having an output and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control an outer coating of the vehicle via the output based on a user-specific profile and based on driving information.

[0004] DE 10 2016 014 711 A1, DE 10 2019 212 607 A1 and DE 10 2017 206 611 A1 reveal further state of the art.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to further develop a motor vehicle having the features of the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that the change in the appearance of the outer surface of the motor vehicle is used advantageously to make properties and / or states of the motor vehicle recognizable to outside observers.

[0006] This problem is solved by the object that has the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous further developments.

[0007] The motor vehicle according to the invention has external surfaces, wherein the external surfaces are at least partially provided with an actively controllable, optically changeable coating. Furthermore, the motor vehicle has a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the optically changeable coating. By controlling the optically changeable coating, the color of the external surfaces can be changed, wherein the control unit is configured to control the optically changeable coating depending on a driving mode selected by the driver of the motor vehicle and / or depending on the state of charge of a traction battery of the motor vehicle.This changes the visual impression that an outside observer, for example another road user, has of the motor vehicle, depending on the selected driving mode and / or depending on the charge level of the vehicle's traction battery.

[0008] The design described above allows an observer to determine the vehicle's operating mode and the traction battery's charge level based on the color of the exterior surfaces. Indicating the traction battery's charge level through color coding offers the advantage of enabling the user to easily see the battery's charge level before use. This is particularly beneficial when the user has access to a variety of vehicles, for example, when selecting a vehicle from a fleet of parked cars.This allows the user of the vehicle to select the vehicle with a sufficient traction battery charge for the intended use. Similarly, in motor races with electric or partially electric vehicles, color-coding the traction battery charge level of each vehicle is advantageous for spectators, enabling them to quickly and easily identify the charge status of each vehicle.

[0009] The motor vehicle can be a purely combustion engine-powered motor vehicle, a purely electric or electromechanical motor-powered motor vehicle, or a partially electric motor vehicle, for example in the form of a hybrid vehicle.

[0010] The energy required to control the optically changeable coating for altering the color of the exterior surfaces can be supplied, in particular, by the traction battery. However, it is also conceivable that a low-voltage battery supplying the vehicle's low-voltage electrical system could provide the energy for controlling the optically changeable coating to alter the color of the exterior surfaces. The voltage range of the low-voltage electrical system is preferably between 7 and 20 volts.

[0011] It is considered particularly advantageous if the motor vehicle has at least one aerodynamic element, wherein an outer surface of the aerodynamic element is provided with the optically variable coating. Highlighting aerodynamic elements, especially depending on the driving mode, has proven particularly advantageous for aesthetic reasons. For example, by controlling the coating with a corresponding color, the aerodynamic elements can be emphasized in a driving mode corresponding to a sport mode.

[0012] The at least one aerodynamic element could be, for example, a rear spoiler, ventilation louvers, a front spoiler, a rear diffuser or a side blade.

[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that at least a first driving mode and a second driving mode can be selected as the driving mode, wherein the second driving mode differs from the first driving mode by one or more of the following: - a characteristic curve of an accelerator pedal, - an adjustment of an adaptive chassis, in particular the damping of the shock absorbers, - a steering resistance applied by a feedback actuator to a steering handle, - a control system for the powertrain of a motor vehicle.

[0014] The first driving mode could be, for example, a normal mode, and the second driving mode could be a sport mode.

[0015] It is quite conceivable that the motor vehicle has an operating device that allows the driver to switch between different driving modes. This operating device could, for example, be integrated into a gear selector lever. The gear selector lever could be for a manual transmission or for an automatic transmission.

[0016] It is considered particularly advantageous if the control device is designed to control the optically variable coating in such a way that, in the second driving mode, the outer surface of at least one aerodynamic element contrasts more strongly in color with adjacent outer surfaces than in the first driving mode.

[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the control unit is configured to control the optically variable coating in the second driving mode such that one or more color-contrasting stripes running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle are formed. Such a design, namely color-contrasting stripes running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, is colloquially known as rally stripes. Such rally stripes are used particularly on sports cars when the vehicle participates in a race. The color-contrasting stripes serve not only to visually enhance the vehicle but also to distinguish the different vehicles participating in the race. This is particularly advantageous when several vehicles of the same type or with the same exterior design are participating in the race.This makes it easier for both the spectator and the pit crew to recognize and differentiate.

[0018] It is considered particularly advantageous if the motor vehicle is an electrically or partially electrically powered vehicle.

[0019] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the motor vehicle has a charging management control unit, wherein the charging management control unit is configured to detect the state of charge of the traction battery, wherein the charging management control unit is configured to transmit information concerning the state of charge of the traction battery to the control unit during a charging process at an external charging device, wherein the control unit is configured to control the coating during the charging process depending on the current state of charge, such that the color of the coating depends on the current state of charge.

[0020] In an advantageous further development, it is provided that the optically changeable coating is an electrically controllable coating.

[0021] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the optically changeable coating is a film. The advantages of a film lie particularly in its cost-effective production and high flexibility in application, control, and replacement.

[0022] However, it is also conceivable that the coating is a layer of lacquer.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment, the optically modifiable coating comprises at least first particles and second particles, wherein the arrangement of the first and second particles within the coating can be changed by controlling the optically modifiable coating to alter the coating's outer color. The position and arrangement of the particles, and thus the optical appearance of the coating, particularly its color, can be changed, for example, by an electric field. The electric field can be provided, for example, by electrodes controlled by the control device. Preferably, the color of the first particles differs from the color of the second particles. The first particles can, for example, be white, and the second particles can be black.It is quite conceivable that the optically changeable coating includes further particles or particle types with further color variations.

[0024] It is considered particularly advantageous to modify the optical appearance of the coating using electrophoresis. The advantage lies in the relatively low energy consumption required to change the color. Furthermore, when modifying the optical appearance via electrophoresis, especially the change in the outer color, it is possible to design the modification in such a way that electrical energy is required to effect a change in the state of the outer color, but no electrical energy, or only a significantly lower amount, is required to maintain the existing state.

[0025] The following figures explain the invention in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, without being limited to these. They show: Fig. 1 a motor vehicle in a first driving mode in a top view, Fig. 2 the motor vehicle in a second driving mode in a top view, Fig. 3 the motor vehicle in the first driving mode in a view from a rear oblique angle, Fig. 4 the motor vehicle in the second driving mode in a view from a rear oblique angle, Fig. 5 the motor vehicle in the first driving mode in a view from a rear oblique angle looking at a rear diffuser, Fig. 6 functional components of the motor vehicle in a schematic representation, Fig. 7 A color-changing film applied to an exterior surface of the motor vehicle in a schematic representation.

[0026] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figures 2 each show a motor vehicle 1 in a top view along a vertical direction. The motor vehicle 1 is a partially electrically powered motor vehicle, i.e., a hybrid vehicle, which has a conventional internal combustion engine and at least one electric drive that is supplied with electrical energy via a traction battery 6. However, the invention is not limited to a partially electrically powered motor vehicle 1, but can also be applied, for example, to purely internal combustion engine-powered motor vehicles 1 or to purely electrically powered motor vehicles 1.

[0027] A vehicle longitudinal direction is indicated by the arrow X and a vehicle longitudinal direction is indicated by the arrow Y.

[0028] The motor vehicle 1 has external surfaces, namely the outer sides of its body, some of which are covered with a flexible film. This flexible film forms an actively controllable coating 11, the color of which can be changed by a control device 4. This allows the color of the external surfaces covered with the coating 11, and thus the visual appearance of the motor vehicle 1 to be altered for an external observer.

[0029] The control unit 4 is designed to control the optically changeable coating 11 depending on a driving mode selectable by the driver of the motor vehicle 1 and thus to change its appearance.

[0030] In the present case, the motor vehicle 1 has an operating device 5 that can be operated by the driver of the motor vehicle 1. The operating device 5 is located in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is shown schematically and can, for example, be integrated into a gear selector lever of the motor vehicle 1. The driver of the motor vehicle can select four different driving modes via the operating device 5. These are described in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 marked with the designations “0”, “S”, “S+” and “I”.

[0031] In the Fig. 1. The driving mode selected is mode “0”, which corresponds to a normal mode. In the Fig. 2. Driving mode “S+” is selected, which corresponds to a sport mode. In sport mode, the driving characteristics and the operation of the vehicle's powertrain are optimized for maximum performance and less for comfort. For example, in sport mode, the damping of the vehicle's adaptive suspension is increased, and the suspension is set to a lower vehicle height than in normal mode. Furthermore, the cooling and heating strategy of the vehicle's traction battery 6 is designed to ensure that the highest possible power output can be drawn from the traction battery 6.

[0032] How to directly compare the Fig. 1 with the Fig. As can be seen from Figure 2, the visual appearance, namely the exterior color of the vehicle 1, differs between Sport mode and Normal mode. While the vehicle 1 is essentially a single color in Normal mode, the color scheme in Sport mode is modified in certain areas by controlling the coating 11. In Sport mode, the coating 11 is controlled in such a way that two color-contrasting stripes running parallel to the longitudinal axis, i.e., along the longitudinal direction, of the vehicle 1 are visible in the area of ​​the hood, roof, and rear of the vehicle 1. Such stripes are also colloquially referred to as rally stripes 12.

[0033] Furthermore, in Sport mode, aerodynamic elements of the vehicle 1 are highlighted in color compared to their appearance in Normal mode. This is particularly noticeable to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, which show the motor vehicle 1 in a rear area, with a sideblade 9 in the sport mode, which is shown in the Fig. 4 is shown, highlighted in contrasting color, whereas the appearance of sideblade 9 in normal mode, which is shown in the Fig. 3 shows little or no contrast to the surrounding outer surfaces. Furthermore, a rear diffuser 8, which is shown in the Fig. As shown in 5, the sport mode will be highlighted in color.

[0034] The control of the coating 11, depending on the operating mode selectable via the actuating device 5, is achieved by means of the control unit 4 by activating two electrodes 118, 119 of the coating 11, thereby altering the electric field between the electrodes 118, 119. This change in the electric field alters the arrangement or position of different types of particles 111, 112, 113, 114, which differ in their color. This, in turn, changes the color and thus the external color of the coating 11 as perceived by an external observer.

[0035] In normal mode, the actively controllable, optically changeable coating 11 is controlled by the control unit 4 in such a way that the outer surfaces of the motor vehicle 1 are approximately the same color, as is also the case in the Fig. 1 is shown schematically. In the sport mode, however, which is in the Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the optically variable coating 11 is controlled by the control unit 4 in such a way as to achieve a high color contrast effect on the outer surfaces. This results, as also shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 4 is shown schematically, with the rally stripes visible and the aerodynamic elements highlighted in color. In an alternative embodiment, the actively controllable, optically modifiable coating 11 can be controlled by the control unit 4 in such a way that the outer surfaces also exhibit a color contrast effect in normal mode. For example, in such an embodiment, the optically modifiable coating 11 can then be controlled by the control unit 4 in sport mode in such a way that the color contrast effect in sport mode differs from the color contrast effect in normal mode.

[0036] Instead of or in addition to controlling the coating 11 based on the driving mode, the control unit 4 can also be configured to control the coating 11 depending on the state of charge of a traction battery 6 of the vehicle 1. For this purpose, the vehicle 1 has a charging management control unit 7, which is configured to detect the state of charge of the traction battery 6. The charging management control unit 7 is configured to transmit information about the state of charge of the traction battery 6 to the control unit 4 during charging at an external charging device. The control unit 4 is configured to control the coating 11 during the charging process depending on the current state of charge, such that the color of the coating 11 depends on the current state of charge.For example, during a charging process, the coating 11 can be controlled such that its color is green, with the color saturation of the coating 11 depending on the state of charge. For example, the color saturation can be greater at a higher state of charge than at a lower state of charge. This allows for a simple indication of the state of charge of the vehicle 1. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2015 205 082 A1

[0003] DE 10 2016 014 711 A1

[0004] DE 10 2019 212 607 A1

[0004] DE 10 2017 206 611 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (1), wherein the motor vehicle (1) has: - external surfaces, wherein the external surfaces are at least partially provided with an actively controllable optically modifiable coating (11), - a control device (4), wherein the control device (4) is configured to control the optically modifiable coating (11), characterized by , that by controlling the optically changeable coating (11) the coloring of the outer surfaces can be changed, wherein the control device (4) is configured to control the optically changeable coating (11) depending on a driving mode selected by a driver of the motor vehicle (1) and / or depending on a state of charge of a traction battery (6) of the motor vehicle (1). [2] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle (1) has at least one aerodynamic element, wherein an outer surface of the aerodynamic element is provided with the optically changeable coating (11). [3] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one aerodynamic element is one of the following: - a rear spoiler, - Ventilation louvers, - a front splinter, - a rear diffuser (8), - a sideblade (9). [4] Motor vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a first driving mode and a second driving mode can be selected as the driving mode, wherein the second driving mode differs from the first driving mode by one or more of the following: - a characteristic curve of an accelerator pedal, - an adjustment of an adaptive chassis, in particular the damping of the shock absorbers, - a steering resistance applied by a feedback actuator to a steering handle, - a control system for the powertrain of a motor vehicle. [5] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 2 or 3 and 4, wherein the control device (4) is configured to control the optically variable coating (11) in such a way that in the second driving mode the outer surface of the at least one aerodynamic element contrasts more strongly in color with adjacent outer surfaces than in the first driving mode. [6] Motor vehicle (1) according to one of claims 4 to 5, wherein the control device (4) is configured to control the optically changeable coating (11) in the second driving mode such that one or more color-contrasting stripes running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle (1) are formed. [7] Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the motor vehicle (1) is an electrically or partially electrically powered motor vehicle. [8] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 7, wherein the motor vehicle (1) has a charging management control unit (7), wherein the charging management control unit (7) is configured to detect the state of charge of the traction battery (6), wherein the charging management control unit (7) is configured to transmit information concerning the state of charge of the traction battery (6) to the control unit (4) during a charging process at an external charging device, wherein the control unit (4) is configured to control the coating (11) during the charging process depending on the current state of charge, such that the color of the coating (11) depends on the current state of charge. [9] Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the optically changeable coating (11) is a film. [10] Motor vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the optically modifiable coating (11) comprises at least first particles (111) and second particles (112), wherein by controlling the optically modifiable coating (11) an arrangement of the first particles (111) and the second particles (112) in the coating (11) can be changed to change the coloring of the outer surfaces.

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