VEHICLE TRIM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle trim part, in particular for the interior of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Generic trim parts are usually static and form a design element in the vehicle interior, for example, with a wood veneer or aluminum finish on the visible side facing the passenger compartment. If technical displays or lighting are to be integrated, displays or lighting devices are used. These are also combined with the trim parts.

[0003] However, the prior art solutions have the disadvantage that a power supply and maintenance voltage are always required to display information or colors. Prior art in this technical field is disclosed, for example, in the publications WO 2015 / 069985 A1, US 2014 / 214272 A1, CN 205 930 501 U, and US 2018 / 186309 A1.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a vehicle trim part on the visible side of which variable displays can be generated and maintained without the need for a permanent maintenance voltage.

[0005] This object is achieved by the combination of features according to patent claim 1.

[0006] According to the invention, a sandwich-like vehicle trim part with a rear support element is proposed, which is designed to be attached to the vehicle. The vehicle trim part further comprises a transparent surface layer, which forms an outer surface of the vehicle trim part and, during intended use, a visible side of the vehicle trim part opposite the support element. A layer of electronic paper is arranged between the support element and the surface layer, via which variable displays can be generated on the visible side of the vehicle trim part.

[0007] Variable displays include local information displays on the visible side of the trim part in the form of images or icons, as well as full-surface changes to the overall appearance of the visible side of the trim part, for example, from black to white or gray, or a change between two colors. In other words, the appearance of the trim part changes as a whole on its visible side.

[0008] The support element is preferably injection-molded from plastic (e.g., PE, PP, PC / ABS) or manufactured by metal casting or die-cast aluminum and forms the component used to secure the trim element to the vehicle. Appropriate fastening elements such as locking elements or clips are provided on the support element for this purpose.

[0009] Electronic paper (sometimes also called e-paper or ePaper) is a passive, non-luminous display element. Text, images, icons, or overall surface colors are permanently displayed on the visible side of the vehicle trim part without the need for a maintenance voltage. Whenever colors are mentioned here, this always includes the alternation between black and white. Electronic paper is well-known and readily available on the market. It can be based on various technologies, such as electrophoresis, bistable LCDs, electrowetting, and micromechanically controlled interference modulation. Electropheresis is particularly suitable for the invention. Two flat electrodes are filled with two differently colored pigments that can assume bistable or multiply stable states through a current or voltage pulse without a maintenance voltage, thus saving energy.The power required to generate or change the display is provided by the vehicle.

[0010] Flexible electronic paper is preferably used for the invention. According to the invention, the layer of electronic paper is laminated to a plastic film. Thus, it can be easily adapted to the shape of the support element or the shape of the decorative part with its possible curvatures, edges, and / or phases.

[0011] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the vehicle trim part according to the invention, a metal layer, in particular an aluminum layer or steel layer, is arranged between the layer of electronic paper and the carrier element. In one embodiment according to the invention, the metal layer is designed as a circuit board with electronic components (capacitors, etc.) for controlling the electronic paper. At the same time, the metal layer provides stability for the electronic paper and a base for attachment to the carrier element. Alternatively, in a solution not according to the invention, the metal layer can be supplemented by a flexible film with printed conductors or replaced by such a film.

[0012] A favorable embodiment of the vehicle trim part according to the invention is characterized in that the plastic film with the layer of electronic paper is laminated onto the aluminum layer or steel layer.

[0013] The transparent surface layer, often referred to as a "top coat" in the technical world, is preferably formed from polyurethane (PUR / DD varnish), polyester, or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) so that the electronic paper displays remain visible from the visible side. Simple manufacturing processes such as spray painting or over-coating can be used. A transparent film can also be glued on as a surface layer. In the case of the vehicle trim part, the surface layer covers the entire visible side of the vehicle trim part and the entire layer of electronic paper.

[0014] In a further development, the vehicle trim part has a light sensor, via which the displays on the visible side of the vehicle trim part can be controlled depending on the amount of light falling on the surface layer. The light sensor is preferably integrated into or attached to an edge section of the metal layer. By integrating the light sensor, the vehicle trim part can, for example, be changed to a light surface color, such as white, in the dark, and to a dark surface color, such as black, in sufficiently bright surroundings. The possible "colors" are initially determined during the production of the vehicle trim part. It is also possible for the vehicle trim part to use a light sensor already provided in the vehicle and to be connected to it via signaling to control the amount of light.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, a further embodiment provides that the vehicle trim part has a temperature sensor, via which the displays on the visible side of the vehicle trim part can be controlled depending on the air temperature acting on the surface layer. For example, the trim part can appear blue via the electronic paper as long as the vehicle is being cooled and display red as an alternative color as long as the vehicle is being heated. It is also possible for the vehicle trim part to use a temperature sensor already provided in the vehicle, for example, to control the interior temperature, and to be connected to it via signaling to control the displays.

[0016] For such designs, it is advantageous if the layer of electronic paper extends over the entire visible surface of the vehicle trim part.

[0017] In the vehicle trim part, it is particularly provided that all layers are formed in a sandwich-like manner and have substantially identical shapes and match each other. Thus, it is preferably further provided that the metal layer extends over the entire visible surface of the carrier element of the vehicle trim part.

[0018] Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below together with the description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the figure. It shows: Fig. 1 a schematic exploded view of a vehicle trim part.

[0019] In Figure 1A schematic exploded view of a vehicle trim part 1 in sandwich construction is shown. The basis is a rear carrier element 2 with fastening hooks 9 formed thereon, via which the vehicle trim part 1 is fastened in the vehicle. The metal layer 4, the layer of electronic paper 5 and the surface layer 3, preferably made of PUR, follow the carrier element 2. The layer of electronic paper 5 is laminated to the metal layer 4 and thus fastened to the carrier element 2, for example, by adhesive bonding. The surface layer 3 can be applied as a spray paint or by casting, but processes such as in-mold decoration (IMD) or in-mold labeling (IML) are preferably used for mass production.

[0020] In the embodiment shown, all layers have essentially the same shape and contour, so that the layer of electronic paper 5 completely covers the metal layer 4 and, from the visible side S of the vehicle trim part 1, only the layer of electronic paper 5 can be seen through the surface layer 3. In an embodiment not shown, the arrangement of the remaining layers on the carrier element 2 can, however, also be only sectioned. The metal layer 4 also functions as a circuit board and includes all conductor tracks 11 for controlling the electronic paper 5. The connections 12 for power and signal transmission from the vehicle or external devices, for example via NFC, are also integrated therein. A control unit 19 is arranged on the carrier element 2, via which the displays of the layer of electronic paper 5 are controlled. In addition, a light sensor and a temperature sensor can be integrated, which influence the type, brightness or color of the display.The control unit 19 is connected via lines 12 and 20 both to the electronic paper 5 and to the connected vehicle, from which, in particular, the input for the displays of the electronic paper 5 and the power supply are received.

[0021] Symbols, images, and text can be displayed locally on the visible side of the vehicle trim part via the layer of electronic paper 5. In addition, the entire surface of the visible side can change between at least two colors. If further developments of the electronic paper with multiple colors follow, these can of course be used accordingly. The corresponding control is carried out using methods known in the art for electronic paper. Furthermore, in a further development, an operating point 10 is provided on the vehicle trim part 1, at which the operator can trigger a change in the color of the electronic paper 5, for example by pressing, and thus actively control the display. For this purpose, a pressure sensor (not shown), which is connected to the control of the layer of electronic paper 5, can be positioned on the metal layer 4, for example, behind the operating point 10.Furthermore, variable functions can be displayed via the control point 10, with the displayed image changing to reflect the switch properties stored in the control point 10. This means that the variable display of the button layout on the visible side enables the operation of various functions (e.g., seat adjustment, window lifter, or rearview mirror adjustment, etc.) to always be performed at the same position on the vehicle trim. Thus, there is only a single area on the vehicle trim that is used as a control point to execute various functions.

Claims

1. A vehicle trim part (1) with a rear carrier element (2) which is designed to be attached to the vehicle, a surface layer (3) which forms an outer surface of the vehicle trim part (1), and, in normal use, a visible side (S) of the vehicle trim part (1) opposite the carrier element (2), wherein a layer of electronic paper (5) is arranged between the carrier element (2) and the surface layer (3) via which variable displays can be generated on the visible side (S) of the vehicle trim part (1), characterized in that the layer of electronic paper (5) is laminated onto a plastic film, wherein a metal layer (4) is arranged between the layer of electronic paper (5) and the carrier element (2), wherein the plastic film is laminated onto the metal layer (4) with the layer of electronic paper (5), and wherein the metal layer (4) is embodied as a circuit board with electronic components for controlling the electronic paper (5).

2. The vehicle trim part according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface layer (3) is made of plastic, the surface layer (3) covering the entire visible side (S) of the vehicle trim part (1) and the entire layer of electronic paper (5).

3. The vehicle trim part according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a light sensor (7) via which the displays on the visible side of the vehicle trim part (1) can be controlled as a function of an amount of light incident upon the surface layer (3).

4. The vehicle trim part according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a temperature sensor (8) via which the displays on the visible side (S) of the vehicle trim part (1) can be controlled as a function of an air temperature acting on the surface layer (3).

5. The vehicle trim part according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the layer of electronic paper (5) extends over the entire visible surface of the vehicle trim part (1).

6. The vehicle trim part according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal layer (4) extends over the entire surface of the carrier element (2) of the vehicle trim part (1) facing toward the visible side.

7. The vehicle trim part according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a sandwich structure formed from the layers of the carrier element (2), then the metal layer (4), then the layer of electronic paper (5), and then the surface layer (3).

8. The vehicle trim part according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed to generate variable displays on the visible side (S) of the vehicle trim part (1) via the layer of electronic paper (5) without float voltage.

9. The vehicle trim part according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a fixed operating point (10) via which a representation of variable functions is made possible, it being possible for an image or symbol displayed on the operating point (10) to be changed in order to represent a switching characteristic stored in the operating point (10).