Exterior trim arrangement for a vehicle with an exterior trim part made of at least two plastic materials and with at least one optical sensor unit

Abstract

Exterior trim arrangement for a vehicle comprising an exterior trim part (1) made of at least two plastic materials and with at least one optical sensor unit (2), wherein the outer cladding part (1) comprises a thin-walled cladding element (3) with a suitable visible side (S) and a rear side (I) opposite the visible side (S), wherein the cladding element (3) comprises a carrier substrate (4) made of a first plastic material and a cover substrate (5) made of a second plastic material on or above the carrier substrate (4), wherein the optical sensor unit (2), facing the rear (I), is arranged behind a partial area (6) of the cladding element (3), wherein at least the sub-area (6) is penetrable for at least one wavelength of the visible or infrared light spectrum emitted by and / or incident on the optical sensor unit (2), characterized by the fact that at least one of the two substrates (4, 5) in the sub-region (6) is designed such that the sub-region (6) functions as an optical lens.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior trim arrangement for a vehicle with an exterior trim part made of at least two plastic materials and with at least one optical sensor unit, wherein the exterior trim part comprises a thin-walled trim element with a designated visible side and a rear side opposite the visible side, wherein the trim element comprises a carrier substrate made of a first plastic material and a cover substrate made of a second plastic material on or above the carrier substrate, wherein the optical sensor unit is arranged behind a partial region of the trim element facing the rear side, wherein at least the partial region is penetrable by at least one wavelength of the visible or infrared light spectrum which is emitted by the optical sensor unit and / or which is radiated onto the optical sensor unit.

[0002] A disadvantage of known exterior cladding arrangements is that the optical sensor unit must be equipped with relatively large camera lenses to achieve high light output.

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an exterior cladding arrangement which enables the same or even a higher light output with more compact sensor units.

[0004] This object is achieved in the present case by an outer trim arrangement for a vehicle with an outer trim part made of at least two plastic materials and with at least one optical sensor unit, wherein the outer trim part comprises a thin-walled trim element with a designated visible side and a rear side opposite the visible side, wherein the trim element comprises a carrier substrate made of a first plastic material and a cover substrate made of a second plastic material on or above the carrier substrate, wherein the optical sensor unit is arranged behind a partial area of ​​the trim element facing the rear side, wherein at least the partial area is penetrable by at least one wavelength of the visible or infrared light spectrum which is emitted by the optical sensor unit and / or which is irradiated onto the optical sensor unit,wherein at least one of the two substrates in the partial region is formed such that the partial region functions as an optical lens.,

[0005] Advantageously, in an exterior cladding arrangement according to the invention, a portion of the cladding element arranged in front of the optical sensor unit assumes the function of an optical lens, effectively relocating some of the sensor unit's optical components into the cladding element. This allows for the use of more compact optical sensor units that require less space and are lighter. An "optical lens" is an object that deflects light of a specific light spectrum in its path.

[0006] The infrared light spectrum refers to the region of the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and the longer-wavelength terahertz radiation. It includes light with a wavelength between 780 nm and 1 mm. The visible light spectrum, also known as the light or color spectrum, is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can perceive. It ranges from red (about 760 nm) to violet (about 380 nm).

[0007] The cladding element can additionally be designed to be locally translucent in at least one luminous area when illuminated from the inside.

[0008] As a variant, both substrates in the partial area can be designed so that the partial area functions as an optical lens.

[0009] For further optimization, as a variant of the invention, the respective optical densities of the two plastic materials can differ from each other for at least one wavelength. The varying refractive indices can further enhance the optical effect of the partial area.

[0010] The carrier substrate can be convex or concave, or biconvex or biconcave, in the partial area. The cover substrate can be convex or concave, or biconvex or biconcave, in the partial area. These specifications refer to a cross-section through the partial area.

[0011] At least one additional protective layer can be provided on the cover substrate, in particular a protective layer comprising a silane or a silane compound. The protective layer can, in particular, reduce damage caused by stone chips or abrasive media.

[0012] The first plastic material can preferably be a transparent or translucent plastic material for forming a transparent or translucent carrier substrate. The transparent or translucent plastic material can comprise polypropylene and / or polycarbonate and / or polyethylene terephthalate and / or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and / or polymethyl methacrylate and / or polyamide.

[0013] The second plastic material may comprise polyurethane or polyurea to form the cover substrate.

[0014] The cover substrate can preferably be applied to the carrier substrate using the reaction injection molding (RIM) process.

[0015] The exterior trim part can be a bumper fascia, an outer door panel, an outer tailgate panel, a fender liner, a front grille, or a radiator grille. A front grille is the part of a vehicle that used to be the radiator grille on combustion-engine vehicles. Especially in electric vehicles, this front grille is no longer designed as an air intake to the radiator (which no longer exists), but rather as a design element in the center of the vehicle.

[0016] The optical sensor unit can be an environment observation camera or a lidar sensor unit. A lidar sensor (short for light detection and ranging or light imaging, detection and ranging) is used for optical distance and speed measurement. Laser beams are used instead of radio waves like radar. This technology is also used in the control and navigation of autonomous vehicles. A typical lidar sensor emits pulsed light waves into the environment. These pulses bounce off surrounding objects and return to the sensor. The sensor uses the time it took for each pulse to return to the sensor to calculate, for example, the distance traveled. Typical wavelengths are between 905 nm and 1800 nm, but can also be outside this range depending on the application. Examples of implementation

[0017] The invention is explained below with reference to drawings illustrating exemplary embodiments. They show schematically: Fig. 1 a front view of an exterior cladding arrangement; Fig. 2a - 2e Cross-sectional views along the section line AA from Fig. 1 in different variants.

[0018] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0019] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a front view of an exterior trim part assembly for a vehicle according to the invention. The exterior trim assembly for a vehicle is formed with an exterior trim part 1 made of at least two plastic materials and with at least one optical sensor unit 2 (indicated schematically here, since the exterior trim part 1 covers the sensor unit). The trim element is additionally designed to be locally translucent in at least one luminous area 8 when illuminated from the inside.

[0020] The outer cladding part 1 comprises a thin-walled cladding element 3 with a designated visible side S and a rear side I opposite the visible side S (see also Fig. 2a - 2e).

[0021] The cladding element 3 comprises a carrier substrate 4 made of a first plastic material and a cover substrate 5 made of a second plastic material on or above the carrier substrate 4. The carrier substrate 4 and the cover substrate 5 together form a layered structure.

[0022] The optical sensor unit 2, facing the rear side I, is arranged behind a partial area 6 of the cladding element 3 (cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2a).

[0023] At least the partial area 6 is penetrable by at least one wavelength of the visible or infrared light spectrum that is emitted by the optical sensor unit 2 and / or that is radiated onto the optical sensor unit 2 (for example, the reflection of lidar radiation from an object when using a lidar sensor unit).

[0024] At least one of the two substrates 4, 5 is formed in the partial region 6 such that the partial region 6 functions as an optical lens (cf. Fig. 2a - Fig. 2e).

[0025] It may even be that both substrates 4, 5 are formed in the partial area 6 in such a way that the partial area 6 functions as an optical lens. Examples of this are Fig. 2a (the carrier substrate 4 is convex in the partial area 6 and the cover substrate is convex in the partial area 6), Fig. 2b (the carrier substrate 4 is concave in the partial area 6 and the cover substrate is bi-convex in the partial area 6), Fig. 2c (the carrier substrate 4 is bi-concave in the partial area 6 and the cover substrate is bi-convex in the partial area 6) and Fig. 2e (the carrier substrate 4 is convex in the partial area 6 and the cover substrate is convex in the partial area 6).

[0026] Figure 2a shows that at least one additional protective layer 7 can be provided on the cover substrate 5, in particular a protective layer 7 comprising a silane or a silane compound. The variants shown in the other figures can, of course, also be provided with such a protective layer 7. For reasons of clarity, the protective layer 7 is not explicitly shown here.

[0027] The first plastic material is a transparent or translucent plastic material for forming a transparent or translucent carrier substrate 4. The transparent or translucent plastic material comprises in particular polycarbonate, but can also comprise polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or polymethyl methacrylate or polyamide.

[0028] The second plastic material for forming the cover substrate 5 comprises polyurethane or polyurea.

[0029] The outer trim part 1 in this embodiment is a bumper trim, wherein the trim element 3 is designed as a front mask which is accommodated in the bumper trim.

[0030] The cover substrate 5 can be applied to the carrier substrate 4 in particular using the reaction injection molding (RIM) process.

Claims

[1] Exterior trim arrangement for a vehicle with an exterior trim part (1) made of at least two plastic materials and with at least one optical sensor unit (2), wherein the outer cladding part (1) comprises a thin-walled cladding element (3) with a designated visible side (S) and a rear side (I) opposite the visible side (S), wherein the cladding element (3) comprises a carrier substrate (4) made of a first plastic material and a cover substrate (5) made of a second plastic material on or above the carrier substrate (4), wherein the optical sensor unit (2), facing the rear side (I), is arranged behind a partial area (6) of the cladding element (3), wherein at least the partial area (6) is penetrable by at least one wavelength of the visible or infrared light spectrum which is emitted by the optical sensor unit (2) and / or which is radiated onto the optical sensor unit (2), characterized by , that at least one of the two substrates (4, 5) in the partial region (6) is designed such that the partial region (6) functions as an optical lens. [2] Exterior cladding arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that both substrates (4, 5) in the partial region (6) are designed such that the partial region (6) functions as an optical lens. [3] Exterior cladding arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the respective optical density of the two plastic materials differs from each other for at least one wavelength, [4] Exterior cladding arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the carrier substrate (4) is convex or concave or bi-convex or bi-concave in the partial region (6). [5] Exterior cladding arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cover substrate (5) is convex or concave or bi-convex or bi-concave in the partial area (6). [6] Exterior cladding arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one additional protective layer (7) is provided on the cover substrate (5), in particular a protective layer (7) which comprises a silane or a silane compound. [7] Exterior cladding arrangement according to claim 6, characterized by that the first plastic material is a transparent or translucent plastic material for forming a transparent or translucent carrier substrate (4). [8] Exterior cladding arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the transparent or translucent plastic material comprises polypropylene and / or polycarbonate and / or polyethylene terephthalate and / or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and / or polymethyl methacrylate and / or polyamide. [9] Exterior cladding arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second plastic material for forming the cover substrate (5) comprises polyurethane or polyurea. [10] Exterior cladding arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the outer trim part (1) is a bumper trim or an outer door trim or an outer tailgate trim or a fender trim or a front mask or a radiator trim. [11] Exterior cladding arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cover substrate (5) is applied to the carrier substrate (4) using the reaction injection molding (RIM) process.

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