Vehicle interior component

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle interior component (1) with a surface (2) designed as a textile (3) and with a vibration generator (4) for generating a vibration of the surface (2) for removing contaminants (5) present on the surface (2). A compact design can be achieved by the textile (3) having a dielectric elastomer (6) which deforms elastically depending on an applied electrical voltage, wherein the vibration generator (4) is electrically coupled to the elastomer (6) and is configured such that the vibration generator (4) applies an electrical voltage oscillating at a vibration frequency to the elastomer (6) of the textile (3) in order to generate a vibration of the surface (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle interior component with a surface designed as a textile, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A generic vehicle interior component in the form of a vehicle seat is known from US 2021 O 162 959 A1 and comprises a vibration generator for generating a vibration of the surface to remove contaminants present on the surface. In the known vehicle interior component, the vibration generator is configured to excite the entire vehicle seat to vibrate. The vibration of the vehicle seat in the known vehicle interior component can also be used as a massage function for a person sitting in the vehicle seat.

[0003] A similar vehicle interior component is known from DE 10 2019 008 314 A1, in which the vehicle interior component is again formed by a vehicle seat, wherein the vibration generator has an actuator installed in the vehicle floor that excites the entire vehicle seat to vibrations.

[0004] Another similar vehicle interior component is known from DE 10 2018 222 652 A1, in which the vehicle interior component is also formed by a vehicle seat, while in this case the vibration generator is configured as an ultrasonic transducer that only excites the surface of the vehicle seat to vibrations.

[0005] Vibration generators that can excite the respective surface or the entire vehicle interior component to vibrations are comparatively large, which necessitates a correspondingly large effort and also entails a comparatively large installation space requirement.

[0006] From CN 1 16 494 917 A a method for removing dust from a vehicle interior is known, in which self-cleaning of the vehicle interior is carried out by means of sound waves.

[0007] From DE 10 2012 005 109 A1, a surface cleaning device for vehicle windows and vehicle exterior mirrors is known, which has a vibration layer applied to the hard surface of the mirror or window, which can be vibrated at a predetermined excitation frequency. The natural frequency of the vibration layer is used as the excitation frequency. The vibration layer can be configured as an electroactive polymer layer.

[0008] The present invention addresses the problem of providing an improved or at least an alternative embodiment of a vehicle interior component of the type described above, which can be integrated into the respective vehicle interior component with comparatively little effort. At the same time, the aim is to achieve the smallest possible installation space requirement.

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0010] The invention is based on the general concept of equipping the textile with a dielectric or electroactive elastomer. Such a dielectric elastomer is characterized by its elastic deformation in response to an applied electrical voltage. The deformation increases with increasing voltage. Conversely, as the voltage decreases, the elastomer relaxes, and the deformation diminishes again due to its elasticity. The vibration generator can then be configured to generate and apply an electrical voltage oscillating at a specific frequency to the elastomer, thereby exciting the surface to vibrate. By integrating the dielectric elastomer, which corresponds to an elastomer structure made of dielectric or electroactive elastomer, into the textile, the vehicle interior component presented here requires little additional installation space.The vibration generator, for example, does not require an actuator to generate mechanical vibrations and therefore requires extremely little installation space.

[0011] In the present context, a “configuration” is synonymous with a “design” and / or “setup” and / or “programming”, so that the phrase “configured so that” is synonymous with the phrase “designed and / or set up and / or programmed so that”.

[0012] Specifically, it is proposed that the textile has a dielectric elastomer, i.e., an elastomer structure made of dielectric elastomer, which deforms elastically depending on an applied electrical voltage, wherein the vibration generator is electrically coupled to the elastomer and configured such that the vibration generator applies an electrical voltage oscillating at a vibration frequency to the elastomer of the textile in order to generate a vibration of the surface.

[0013] It is clear that the dielectric elastomer or the elastomer structure is configured in such a way that two electrical connection areas are available for applying the electrical voltage, whereby the vibration generator is electrically coupled to the elastomer using these electrical connection areas.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, the textile can comprise a textile material into which the elastomer or the elastomer structure is incorporated. For this purpose, the textile only needs to be slightly modified to accommodate the elastomer.

[0015] The elastomer can be advantageously incorporated into the textile material in the form of fibers. The textile material itself consists of fibers that can be woven, knitted, or processed in other ways, making it particularly easy to incorporate the fibrous elastomer during the production of the textile material.

[0016] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the vehicle interior component can be equipped with at least one sensor for detecting surface contamination. The vibration generator can then be coupled to this sensor and furthermore configured such that it excites the surface to vibrate when the sensor detects surface contamination. In this way, the surface of the vehicle interior component is cleaned only as needed and automatically, since the vibration device is only activated when the sensor detects actual surface contamination.

[0017] The sensors can operate optically or using ultrasound. They can include a radar sensor or a lidar sensor.

[0018] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the sensor can be configured to detect and distinguish between two or more different types of contaminants. The vibrator can then be configured to select the vibration frequency at which it excites the elastomer, depending on the type of contaminant detected by the sensor. Consequently, the vibrator can, for example, select a first vibration frequency for a first type of contaminant and a second vibration frequency for a second type of contaminant, which differs from the first. For example, the sensor can distinguish coarse contaminants from fine contaminants. For example, the sensor can distinguish pebbles as coarse contaminants from grains of sand as fine contaminants.It is also conceivable that the sensors can distinguish between solid and liquid contaminants.

[0019] The sensor system can be equipped with a single sensor configured to detect and differentiate between various contaminants. Alternatively, the sensor system could have two or more sensors specialized for different contaminants, so that, for example, a first sensor could detect at least one type of contaminant, while a second sensor could detect at least another type.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the textile and / or the vibration generator can be configured such that the vibrating surface transports the contaminants along the surface in a predetermined direction. In particular, the vibration allows the textile to function like a conveyor belt, thus enabling targeted transport of the contaminants along the surface. This transport effect can depend on the properties of the textile, as well as on the vibration frequency and the type of contaminant.

[0021] A particularly advantageous configuration involves the textile and / or the vibration generator being configured so that the vibrating surface transports the contaminants to a collection point located in or on the vehicle interior component. For example, the collection point could be located at or within an opening in the surface, or at an edge of the surface. This makes it especially easy to remove the contaminants from the surface.

[0022] In another advantageous embodiment, the vehicle interior component may have a dirt collection container located at or within the collection point, such that the contaminants transported to the collection point are drawn into the dirt collection container by the vibration of the surface. In other words, the collection point is essentially formed within the dirt collection container. This allows the surface to be cleaned automatically. The contaminants can be collected discreetly in the dirt collection container and easily removed from there. For example, the dirt collection container can be easily removed from the vehicle interior component and emptied. Similarly, the dirt collection container may be easily accessible to a vacuum cleaner, allowing it to be easily emptied using a vacuum cleaner.

[0023] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the vehicle interior component can be designed as a floor mat. In other words, the vehicle interior component can be a floor mat. Floor mats are particularly prone to accumulating a relatively large amount of dirt. The self-cleaning function of the vehicle interior component presented here makes it relatively easy to keep the floor mat clean.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the vehicle interior component can be designed as a carpet, a vehicle seat, a child seat, or a trunk cover. The carpet can cover the entire floor of the vehicle interior. Likewise, the carpet can cover the trunk floor.

[0025] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawing and the associated description of the figures based on the drawing.

[0026] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Components of a higher-level unit, such as a device, apparatus, or arrangement, mentioned above and those to be mentioned below, which are designated separately, can form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is depicted differently in the drawing.

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0028] The only Fig. Figure 1 shows a highly simplified schematic representation of a vehicle interior component.

[0029] Accordingly Fig. Figure 1 comprises a vehicle interior component 1, shown here only partially and in section, and a surface 2 designed as a textile 3. The vehicle interior component 1 also has a vibration generator 4 configured to generate a vibration of the surface 2, the vibration of the surface 2 serving to remove contaminants 5 located on the surface 2.

[0030] The textile 3 contains a dielectric elastomer 6, which can be configured as a woven fabric. The dielectric or electroactive elastomer 6 represents an elastomer structure 6 formed from a dielectric elastomer. The elastomer structure 6, or the elastomer 6, is configured to deform elastically depending on an applied electrical voltage. The elastomer 6 has two electrical connection areas 7, 8, via which an electrical voltage can be applied to the elastomer 6 to cause its elastic deformation. The vibration generator 6 is electrically connected to the elastomer 6. This can be done, for example, via electrical control lines 9 that are electrically connected to the electrical connection areas 7, 8 of the elastomer 6.The vibration generator 4 is configured to apply an electrical voltage oscillating at a specific frequency to the elastomer 6, causing deformations of the elastomer 6 according to that frequency. By integrating the elastomer 6 into the textile 3, the textile 3, and ultimately the surface 2, is excited to vibrate at the same frequency. These vibrations then cause the contaminants 5 to be removed from the surface 2.

[0031] The vibration generator 4 operates purely electrically and requires no actuator to generate mechanical vibrations. In particular, this also makes it possible to position the vibration generator 4 largely independently of the vehicle interior component 1, as long as the electrical connection to the elastomer 6 is ensured. At the same time, the vibration generator 4 is comparatively small, so that it can easily be integrated into a flat vehicle interior component 1.

[0032] The textile 3 expediently comprises a textile material 10 into which the elastomer 6 is incorporated. For example, the elastomer 6 can be incorporated into the textile material 10 in the form of fibers. It is conceivable that the textile material 10 is woven or knitted with conventional textile fibers in combination with the fibers made of the dielectric elastomer 6, or manufactured in some other way.

[0033] The vehicle interior component 1 presented here can optionally be equipped with a sensor 11 for detecting contaminants 5 on or in the surface 2. The vibration generator 4 can, for example, be electrically coupled to the sensor 11 via a signal line 12. Furthermore, the vibration generator 4 can be configured to excite vibrations to the surface 2 only when the sensor 11 has detected contaminants 5 on the surface 2 and transmitted this information to the vibration generator 4 via the signal line 12.

[0034] According to an advantageous embodiment, the sensor 11 can be configured to detect and distinguish between at least two different types of contaminants. Furthermore, the vibration generator 4 can be configured to select the vibration frequency depending on the type of contaminant 5 detected by the sensor 11. For example, a different vibration frequency may be suitable for removing coarse contaminants than a vibration frequency suitable for removing fine contaminants. This significantly improves the cleaning effect on the surface 2 of the vehicle interior component 1.

[0035] According to an advantageous embodiment, the textile 3 and / or the vibration generator 4 can be configured such that the vibrating surface 2 transports the contaminants 5 in a predetermined direction along the surface 2. Fig. In Figure 1, such a directed transport effect 13 is indicated by arrows. In particular, the textile 3 and / or the vibration generator 4 can be configured such that the vibrating surface 2 transports the contaminants 5 to a collection point 14, which is formed in or on the vehicle interior component 1. The collection point 14 can be located, for example, at an edge or an opening of the vehicle interior component 1 or the surface 2. The textile 3 can have vertically oriented fibers that are inclined relative to the direction of gravity, whereby the vibration of the surface 2 generates the directed transport effect 13. Likewise, the vibration frequency at which the vibration generator 4 excites the surface 2 to vibrate can be matched to the textile 3 and / or the contaminants 5 so that the desired directed transport effect 13 is achieved. At the in Fig.In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the vehicle interior component 1 is equipped with a dirt collection container 15, which is arranged at or in the collection point 14. The vibration of the surface 2 ultimately conveys the contaminants 5 transported to the collection point 14 into the dirt collection container 15. In this respect, the collection point 14 is located within the dirt collection container 15.

[0036] The vehicle interior component 2 could be a floor mat 16. Similarly, the vehicle interior component 1 could be a carpet 17, a vehicle seat 18, a child seat 19, or a trunk cover 20.

Claims

[1] Vehicle interior component (1), - with a surface designed as a textile (3) (2), - with a vibration generator (4) for generating a vibration of the surface (2) for removing impurities (5) present on the surface (2), characterized by , - that the textile (3) has a dielectric elastomer (6) which deforms elastically depending on an electrical voltage applied to it, - that the vibration generator (4) is electrically coupled to the elastomer (6) and is configured such that the vibration generator (4) applies an electrical voltage oscillating at a vibration frequency to the elastomer (6) of the textile (3) in order to generate a vibration of the surface (2). [2] Vehicle interior component (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , - that the textile (3) has a textile material (10) into which the elastomer (6) is incorporated. [3] Vehicle interior component (1) according to claim 2, characterized by , - that the elastomer (6) is incorporated into the textile material (10) in the form of fibers. [4] Vehicle interior component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the vehicle interior component (1) is equipped with a sensor system (11) for detecting contaminants (5) on the surface (2), - that the vibration generator (4) is coupled with the sensor (11) and is configured such that the vibration generator (4) excites the surface (2) to vibrate when the sensor (1) detects impurities (5) on the surface (2). [5] Vehicle interior component (1) according to claim 4, characterized by , - that the sensor (11) is configured to detect and distinguish between at least two different types of contaminants (5), - that the vibration generator (4) is configured to select the vibration frequency depending on the type of contamination (5) detected by the sensor (11). [6] Vehicle interior component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the textile (3) and / or the vibration generator (4) are configured such that the vibrating surface (2) transports the contaminants (5) in a predetermined direction along the surface (2). [7] Vehicle interior component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the textile (3) and / or the vibration generator (4) are configured such that the vibrating surface (2) transports the contaminants (5) to a collection point (14) formed in or on the vehicle interior component (1). [8] Vehicle interior component (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , - that the vehicle interior component (1) has a dirt collection container (15) which is arranged at or in the collection point (14) such that the contaminants (5) transported to the collection point (14) enter the dirt collection container (15) through the vibration of the surface (2). [9] Vehicle interior component (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the vehicle interior component (1) is designed as a floor mat (16) or is a floor mat (16). [10] Vehicle interior component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , - that the vehicle interior component (1) is designed as a carpet (17) or as a vehicle seat (18) or as a child seat (19) or as a trunk cover (20) or is a carpet (17) or a vehicle seat (18) or a child seat (19) or a trunk cover (20).

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