VEHICLE ATTACHMENT WITH INTEGRATED FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS

Description

[0001] The invention lies in the technical field of vehicle manufacturing and relates to an add-on part for a vehicle, hereinafter also referred to as a vehicle add-on part or simply add-on part, which comprises several integrated functional elements. The invention further extends to a method for manufacturing the vehicle add-on part and to the use of the vehicle add-on part for integrating functional elements into vehicles.

[0002] It is common to control devices such as mobile phones and computers, especially tablet computers, via touch-sensitive displays (touchscreens). Control is achieved by tapping a finger on specific selection areas of the touchscreen. Also common is the use of touch swipe gestures, i.e., movements of one or more fingers across the touchscreen, for example, to switch between different user interfaces or to open menus with selection fields. This method of interacting with devices is usually quick for users to learn and practical to use, which is why it has become widespread.

[0003] Touch technology has already found its way into automotive engineering. A common application is the finger-based control of navigation devices via a touchscreen. Furthermore, it is known that some vehicles on the market are equipped with capacitive motion sensors in their B-pillar covers, allowing the vehicle to be unlocked by touching and entering a preset code.

[0004] Touch technology always relies on physical contact from the user, which can be unsuitable in certain environments and situations, for example, if the user is wearing gloves or the touchscreen surface is dirty. This is particularly true for the use of capacitive motion sensors in B-pillar covers, where the user has to remove their gloves even in cold weather to perform a touch input. Furthermore, a layer of dirt on the outer surface can contaminate the touching finger or even impair proper input.

[0005] US 2019 / 0152433 A1 discloses an attachment part of a B-pillar of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1, which has sensors for user input in the form of touches or swipe gestures.

[0006] DE 10 2016 100 064 A1 shows an adaptive display in a B-pillar of a motor vehicle with a detection device for detecting an approach and gestures of a person and a display device with a presentation of content depending on the gestures.

[0007] Comparable add-on or cover components are known from DE 10 2017 208 368 A1, US 2018 / 170309 A1, EP3 473 498 A1, WO2009 / 036552 A1 and US 2019 / 143910 A. In contrast, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved vehicle add-on component with which disadvantages caused by touch technology can be avoided.

[0008] These and other problems are solved according to the invention by a vehicle add-on component with integrated functional elements and by a method for manufacturing the vehicle add-on component according to the dependent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] One aspect of the disclosure relates to a vehicle add-on part with integrated functional elements, comprising a cover with an outer and an inner surface, wherein the cover has at least one transparent area made of a transparent thermoplastic material. The vehicle add-on part further comprises a support element arranged on the inner surface of the cover and bonded to the cover. For the purposes of the present invention, the surface of the cover facing the external environment of the vehicle in its installed position is referred to as the outer surface. The surface of the cover facing the interior of the vehicle in its installed position is referred to as the inner surface.

[0010] The vehicle attachment incorporates several integrated functional elements, which are mounted on the carrier part for this purpose. These functional elements are designed to perform a specific function assigned to each element. All functional elements are arranged and designed in such a way that their function can be performed through the cover.

[0011] The functional elements comprise at least one capacitive motion sensor capable of detecting user gestures on the outside of the cover without physical contact. Preferably, the at least one capacitive motion sensor is capable of detecting user gestures on the outside of the cover exclusively without physical contact. The capacitive motion sensor detects gestures, i.e., movements of the hand and / or one or more fingers, performed near the surface (outside) of the vehicle attachment, recording the direction and speed of the movements. The gestures are typically movements in three-dimensional space (three-dimensional gestures). Crucially, the user's gestures can be detected without physical contact, thus eliminating the need to touch the outside of the cover.

[0012] The gestures detected contactlessly by the capacitive motion sensor are generally used to control vehicle functions and / or to display vehicle information, for which a multitude of possible applications are conceivable. For example, contactless gesture control can be used to lock or unlock the vehicle, open or close vehicle windows, or switch the vehicle lights on or off. Vehicle status information, such as battery status in electric cars or oil level in combustion engines, can also be displayed.

[0013] The capacitive motion sensor, designed for preferably exclusively contactless detection of user gestures, is connected to a control unit (controller) for controlling vehicle functions. Sensor output signals are generated based on the detected gestures and fed to the control unit. The control unit then uses these sensor output signals to control vehicle functions. To interpret the gestures detected by the capacitive motion sensor and assign meaning, the detected gestures are compared, for example, with gesture patterns stored in a data memory before a corresponding instruction is sent to the control unit for processing. Similarly, vehicle status information can be read from a data memory.

[0014] The capacitive motion sensor can detect minute changes in an electric field generated by appropriate sensor antennas. In particular, the electric field is disturbed by the presence of a finger or hand, allowing the sensor to detect the direction and speed of gestures. The capacitive motion sensor is designed and positioned so that the electric field for contactless gesture detection extends through the cover to the immediate vicinity of the cover's outer surface. Capacitive motion sensors also function flawlessly when installed behind an electrically insulating material. The basic structure and function of capacitive motion sensors are well known to those skilled in the art, so further explanation is unnecessary.

[0015] The functional elements further comprise at least one display device arranged opposite the transparent area for displaying information based on at least one gesture detected contactlessly by the capacitive motion sensor. The display on the device should be visible on the outside of the cover. The display device is designed and arranged such that the display is visible through the transparent area of ​​the cover. For this purpose, the display device is arranged in a recess (opening) or at least a local thinning of the carrier part, so that the display device is visible through the transparent area of ​​the cover.Preferably, the at least one capacitive motion sensor and the display device are arranged spatially separate from each other, wherein the at least one capacitive motion sensor and the display device are arranged spatially offset from each other, in particular along a direction of extension of the vehicle attachment (e.g. along a B-pillar of a motor vehicle).

[0016] The display device can be designed, for example, as a liquid crystal display or an OLED display. It is also conceivable to design the display device as an element backlit by an LED, such as a polymer film screen-printed with symbols.

[0017] The display device shows information and preferably provides the user with feedback on the successful detection of a gesture. This is particularly important because there is no haptic feedback. This helps prevent errors caused by repeatedly performing gestures, which can occur if a user is unsure whether their input has been registered. In addition to providing feedback on successful gesture input, the display device can also show one or more user interfaces for controlling vehicle functions. These interfaces are preferably context-sensitive to the specific gesture detected and can be used to control vehicle functions and display vehicle information.

[0018] The invention thus utilizes the advantages of contactless gesture recognition for vehicle add-on parts, with the display device advantageously providing feedback on successful recognition. The aforementioned disadvantages of conventional touch-sensitive touchscreens can be avoided, and in particular, the user does not need to remove a glove to make an input.

[0019] According to the embodiment of the vehicle add-on component according to the invention, it comprises, as a further functional element, a camera arranged opposite the transparent area, which—like all functional elements—is attached to the support part. The camera is designed and appropriately configured for image capture through the transparent area. The beam path extends from the outside of the cover, through the transparent area of ​​the cover, to the camera located on the inside. The camera expands the technical capabilities of the add-on component in a variety of ways. Image capture is particularly advantageous, for example, for the purpose of person recognition, especially by facial recognition, preferably to authorize a predefined user for data input. It would also be conceivable, for example, to capture (scan) a QR code containing data to be transmitted in encoded form.The QR code could, for example, be displayed on a mobile phone screen, enabling simple and quick communication between the phone and the add-on part. The mobile phone could be equipped with a special application designed for controlling vehicle functions and displaying vehicle-related information. The user could select the desired action on the phone and transmit it to the add-on part via the QR code. A touchless gesture from the user, detected by the capacitive motion sensor, could then initiate the reading of the QR code. This is just one example of the many applications that are advantageously enabled by the use of a camera.

[0020] The camera lens can have any suitable diameter. The diameter of the camera lens is preferably between 1 mm and 100 mm, particularly preferably between 1 mm and 50 mm, and most preferably between 5 mm and 30 mm, for example 11 mm.

[0021] The camera is preferably designed to detect visible light with wavelengths from 380 nm to 780 nm and / or infrared light with wavelengths from 780 nm to 1300 nm. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the wavelength range detected by the camera essentially corresponds to the wavelength range visible to the human eye, i.e., 380 nm to 780 nm.

[0022] According to the embodiment of the vehicle add-on component according to the invention, it comprises, as a further functional element, at least one additional capacitive motion sensor attached to the carrier part for the touch-based detection of taps and / or (two-dimensional) swipe gestures on the outside of the cover. The capacitive motion sensor is designed and arranged such that the electric field for touch-based detection of taps and / or swipe gestures extends through the cover to the immediate vicinity of the outside of the cover. Preferably, the capacitive motion sensor is designed such that only taps can be detected. This additional functional element also expands the technical possibilities of the add-on component, since touch inputs can also be advantageous under suitable circumstances.For example, a gesture-specific user interface with selection fields is provided on the display device based on a touchless gesture, whereby the selection fields can be selected by touch input (e.g., tapping with a finger or a swipe gesture). It would also be conceivable, for instance, to open a selection menu with further selection fields by a touch swipe gesture, which can then be selected by touch tap input.

[0023] According to the embodiment of the vehicle add-on component according to the invention, the support part is provided with at least one recess (i.e., opening) or at least one local thinning, wherein one or more functional elements are at least partially accommodated in the at least one recess or local thinning of the support part. This also applies to electrical connecting conductors associated with the respective functional elements. This reduces the space required for the functional elements. Furthermore, it improves the function of non-capacitive functional elements that are intended to be visible through the transparent area of ​​the cover or that capture an image (display device, camera). This is particularly true if the support part is opaque. In particular, a separate recess or local thinning can be provided for each functional element.

[0024] The term "thinning" as used here and in the following refers to a reduction in the wall thickness of the thermoplastic material or carrier part. This thinning is only present on the side of the carrier part facing away from the inside of the cover. That is, the thinning is not present on an outer surface of the carrier part facing the inside of the cover, but only on an inner surface of the carrier part facing away from the cover. The at least one recess and / or local thinning can, in principle, have any shape suitable for receiving a functional element, for example, the shape of a cuboid or a circular disc.

[0025] The functional elements are permanently attached to the support component. In principle, a fixed connection between the functional elements and the support component can be made in any way, as long as a permanently stable attachment is ensured. A detachable attachment to the support component is advantageous, allowing functional elements to be removed for maintenance or replaced in case of failure, while the rest of the component remains usable. For example, the functional elements can be bonded to the support component using adhesive. It is advantageous for the support component to be provided with one or more fastening elements for the detachable attachment of at least one functional element. For example, the fastening element could be in the form of a clip or a clamp.

[0026] According to an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle attachment according to the invention, the at least one functional element is (exclusively) attached to an inner surface of the carrier part facing away from the cover, i.e., the at least one functional element is directly attached to an inner surface of the carrier part facing away from the cover.

[0027] According to the design of the vehicle attachment component according to the invention, at least one functional element is attached to an inner surface of the carrier part facing away from the cover by means of a circuit board.

[0028] According to the embodiment of the vehicle attachment component according to the invention, the support part is provided on an inner surface facing away from the cover with at least one collar for attaching the at least one functional element. In particular, a separate collar can be provided for each functional element.

[0029] According to the embodiment of the vehicle add-on part according to the invention, the cover consists of a thermoplastic material, wherein the transparent area of ​​the cover consists of a transparent thermoplastic material. In addition to the transparent thermoplastic material, the cover can, for example, contain a film, an opaque plastic, and / or metal parts. Advantageously, the cover consists entirely of a transparent thermoplastic material, so that the cover is completely transparent and has no non-transparent area. According to the invention, the support part also consists of a thermoplastic material and, in particular, of an opaque thermoplastic material. The vehicle add-on part is designed as a two-component injection-molded part.

[0030] The embodiment in which the carrier part is manufactured from thermoplastic material as an injection-molded part offers the advantage of simplified assembly of the functional elements, since in this case one or more recesses or local thinnings for the functional elements, as well as fastening elements such as domes, clip openings, etc., can be directly incorporated into the injection-molded carrier part. Preferably, the functional elements have a mating mounting concept, so that the functional elements can, for example, simply be clipped onto the carrier part, and gluing is not necessary. In contrast, with a cover made of mineral glass, the inner shell and fastening elements often have to be additionally glued.

[0031] The transparent thermoplastic material of the cover is preferably 1 mm to 5 mm thick, and particularly preferably 2 mm to 3 mm thick. In the vehicle attachment according to the invention, the transparent thermoplastic material of the cover constitutes, in particular, the outer skin of the attachment visible to the observer. An advantage of the attachment is that the weight of the cover is significantly reduced compared to a cover made of mineral glass if the cover is made at least partially, and in particular entirely, of a transparent thermoplastic material.

[0032] The transparent thermoplastic material of the cover preferably contains at least polyethylene (PE), polycarbonates (PC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, polybutadiene, polynitriles, polyesters, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethanes (PU), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyacrylates, polyamides (PA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN), acrylonitrile ester styrene acrylonitrile copolymers (ASA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polycarbonate mixtures (ABS / PC), and / or their copolymers, cocondensates, and / or mixtures. The transparent thermoplastic material of the cover particularly preferably contains polycarbonates (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), and / or copolymers or mixtures thereof. These polymers allow processing to create high-gloss surfaces, some of which are partially glass-like, depending on the application.Advantageously, at least one transparent area of ​​the cover, in particular the entire cover, consists of one or more of the aforementioned materials.

[0033] The transparent thermoplastic material of the cover can have surface structures incorporated on its inner surface that optimize the camera's optical properties or the incidence of light on it, such as curvatures, prisms, or Fresnel lenses. Besides reducing weight, this represents a further advantage over the use of mineral glass, since such surface structures cannot be incorporated into mineral glass.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the support element is made of thermoplastic material. It preferably contains polyethylene (PE), polycarbonates (PC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, polybutadiene, polynitriles, polyester, polyurethane, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylates, polyester, polyamines, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), preferably acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polycarbonate (ABS / PC), and / or copolymers or mixtures thereof. The thermoplastic support element preferably contains inorganic or organic fillers, particularly preferably SiO₂, Al₂O₃, TiO₂, clay minerals, silicates, zeolites, glass fibers, carbon fibers, glass beads, organic fibers, and / or mixtures thereof. These fillers can increase the stability of the support element.Furthermore, the fillers can reduce the proportion of polymeric materials and thus lower the manufacturing costs of the component. Advantageously, the support component consists of one or more of the aforementioned materials.

[0035] The thermoplastic material of the support part is preferably opaque, particularly preferably colored, especially of a dark color, most preferably black. In an alternative embodiment, the thermoplastic material of which the support part is made is transparent.

[0036] The support element, made of thermoplastic material, is preferably 1 mm to 100 mm thick, particularly preferably 2 mm to 50 mm, most preferably 2 mm to 10 mm, and especially 2 mm to 3 mm thick. In areas of local thinning, the thermoplastic material of the support element is, for example, thinned to a maximum of 1 mm.

[0037] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the vehicle attachment according to the invention, the attachment, in particular the cover, is coated, at least on its outer surface, and / or the carrier part is coated with a protective coating (hardcoat). Preferably, the coating consists of thermally or UV-curing lacquers, particularly preferably polysiloxanes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyurethanes, and / or mixtures or copolymers thereof. The hardcoat improves resistance to mechanical damage, weathering, temperature fluctuations, UV radiation, and / or aggressive chemicals from the air or splash water. Optionally, the hardcoat can also serve a decorative function. The protective coating preferably has a thickness of 1 µm (micrometer) to 50 µm, particularly preferably from 2 µm to 25 µm.

[0038] The vehicle add-on component according to the invention can, in principle, be any component of the vehicle that forms part of the vehicle's outer skin or is attached to the outside of the vehicle. According to the invention, it is preferred if the vehicle add-on component is a windshield, a rear window, a side window, a roof window, a trim strip, a bumper, a sill, a spoiler, a lamp cover, or a panel. A B-pillar trim panel is particularly preferred.

[0039] The outer surface of the cover has the form of a flat or curved surface. In its installed position, the outer surface of the cover constitutes the outer skin visible to an observer. Therefore, the attachment according to the invention is not an additional component for mounting on the inside of a vehicle window, as is the case with the component described in DE 10 2004 024 735 A1.

[0040] Within the scope of the invention, the feature "transparent" refers to transparency in the visible range and is also advantageous in the infrared range, wherein transmission for wavelengths from 200 nm to 2000 nm, particularly at wavelengths in the visible light range, is preferably more than 60%, more preferably more than 70% and particularly more than 90%.

[0041] The invention further extends to a method for manufacturing a vehicle attachment component according to the invention with integrated functional elements.

[0042] In a first step, a cover which has at least one transparent area is manufactured using an injection molding process, and in a second step, a carrier part made of thermoplastic material is injection molded onto the inside of the cover in such a way that the inside of the cover is bonded to the carrier part.

[0043] Alternatively, in a first step a carrier part made of a thermoplastic material is produced using an injection molding process, and in a second step a cover, which has at least one transparent area, is injection molded onto the carrier part in such a way that the inside of the cover is bonded to the carrier part.

[0044] In a third step, the integrated functional elements are attached to the support part.

[0045] According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the carrier part is provided with at least one recess or local thinning formed in the form of an opening, wherein at least one functional element is arranged in the recess or the local thinning directly opposite the transparent area of ​​the cover.

[0046] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the inventive method, the cover and the attached support part are manufactured using a two-component injection molding process. This process enables virtually waste-free production because subsequent trimming of the workpiece is unnecessary. Complex structures can also be manufactured directly. Either the cover can be manufactured first as an injection-molded part and then the support part injected onto it, or alternatively, the support part can be manufactured first and then the cover injected onto it.

[0047] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the inventive method, a protective coating (hardcoat) is applied to the cover, at least to one outer surface of the cover, and / or to the carrier part. This process step typically takes place between the second and third process steps, since applying a protective coating after the functional elements have been attached can damage them (due to high process temperatures during the curing of a coating). In this variant, the application of the protective coating would therefore be a third step, followed by the attachment of the integrated functional elements to the carrier part in a fourth step.

[0048] The invention further extends to the use of the vehicle attachment according to the invention for the integration of functional elements in vehicles, in particular motor vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, buses, in particular for integration in a window, in particular a windscreen, a rear window, a side window or a roof window, in a strip, in particular a side strip, a front strip, a rear strip or a decorative strip, in a bumper, in a sill, in a spoiler, in a lamp cover or in a panel, in particular a pillar panel, in particular a B-pillar panel.

[0049] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the accompanying figures. Identical and equivalently acting elements are designated with the same reference numerals. The figures are shown in a simplified, not to-scale representation: Fig. 1 shows a top view of an attachment according to the invention with integrated functional elements; Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through the attachment. Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the motion sensor; Fig. 3 a cross-section through the attachment of Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the display device; Fig. 4 a cross-section through the attachment of Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the camera; Fig. 5 a top view of a partially depicted vehicle with the attachment of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 6 a flow diagram of a process for manufacturing an attachment according to the invention.

[0050] First of all Figure 1 The figure shows a component according to the invention, designated overall by the reference numeral 1, with integrated functional elements, in a top view of the outer surface I. The component 1 is here, for example, designed in the form of a B-pillar cover.

[0051] The vehicle attachment 1 comprises a cover 2 made of a transparent thermoplastic material, and a support part 3 made of an opaque (e.g., black) thermoplastic material, which is firmly attached to it. The cover 2 has an outer surface (outer skin of the vehicle) I and an inner surface. Figure 1 The inner surface II is not visible, with the outer surface I facing the vehicle's external environment and the inner surface II facing the vehicle interior when installed. The outer surface I is essentially flat, but can also be curved. The cover 2 and the attached support part 3 of the in Figure 1 The illustrated attachment 1 is manufactured, for example, as a two-component injection-molded part. The attachment 1 can be mounted to the vehicle by means of a mounting section 7 of the cover 2, which will not be discussed in detail here, as it is irrelevant to the understanding of the invention.

[0052] As in Figure 1As shown, the outer surface I of the cover 2 has several zones, which depend on the functional element underneath, as shown in the cross-sectional views of the Figures 2 to 4 As shown, various functions are assigned to the different areas. For example, the outer surface I of cover 2 has a sensor zone 4, in the immediate vicinity of which user gestures can be detected without contact. The outer surface I of cover 2 also has a display zone 5 for showing information and a camera zone 6 for capturing images. A logo zone 8 displays a user-selectable logo (e.g., "freeglas").

[0053] Reference will now be made to the Figures 2 to 4 taken, in which various cross-sectional views of the attachment part 1 of Figure 1 shown.

[0054] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view in the area of ​​sensor zone 4. In the section view of Figure 2The cover 2 with outer surface I and inner surface II, as well as the support part 3, are clearly visible. The outer surface 14 of the cover 2 is simultaneously the outer surface of the attachment part 1, and the inner surface 15 of the support part 3 is simultaneously the inner surface of the attachment part 1.

[0055] A capacitive motion sensor 9 is arranged on the inner surface 15 of the carrier part 3, i.e., on the side of the carrier part 3 facing away from the inner surface II of the cover 2. The motion sensor 9 is functionally and structurally connected to a printed circuit board 10. A connecting cable 11 extends from the circuit board 10, via which the motion sensor 9 can be electrically connected to the vehicle's on-board electronics. Output signals from the motion sensor 9 can be transmitted via the connecting cable 11 to the on-board electronics, in particular to a control unit (controller) for controlling vehicle functions and for reading vehicle information. As shown in Figure 2As shown, the motion sensor 9 is fixedly attached to the carrier part 3, with the circuit board 10 connected to the motion sensor 9 being fixedly connected to a collar 12 projecting from the inner surface 15 of the carrier part 2 by a fastening element 13. The fastening element 13 is, for example, a screw that is screwed into a matching thread in the collar 12, which is shown in Figure 2 not shown in detail. It is understood that other suitable fastening means can also be used. The collar 12 forms a recess 16 in which the motion sensor 9 is received. The recess 16 is, for example, square, rectangular or round in plan view, which is shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 2 is not recognizable. The shape of the recess 16 is advantageously adapted to the shape of the motion sensor 9.

[0056] A recess in the carrier part 3 in the area of ​​the motion sensor 9 is not required, since the materials of the carrier part 3 and the cover 2 are electrically insulating, allowing the electric field generated by the motion sensor 9 to pass through both the carrier part 3 and the cover 2. The motion sensor 9 is designed and arranged such that its electric field is located in the immediate vicinity of the outer surface I, i.e., in the immediate vicinity of the outer surface 14 of the cover 2, so that gestures in the immediate vicinity of the outer surface 14, specifically in the area of ​​sensor zone 4, can be detected without contact.

[0057] Figure 3 This shows a cross-sectional view in display zone 5. To avoid unnecessary repetition, only the differences from the cross-sectional view of [previous view] are shown. Figure 2 explained, and otherwise reference is made to the explanations regarding Figure 2 referred.

[0058] A display device 17 is arranged on the inner surface 15 of the carrier part 3. The display device 17 is functionally and structurally connected to a printed circuit board 10. A connecting cable 11 extends from the circuit board 10, via which the display device 17 can be electrically connected to the vehicle's on-board electronics, in particular to a control unit (controller) for controlling vehicle functions and for reading vehicle information. Input signals can be transmitted to the display device 17 via the connecting cable 11 to display information. As shown in Figure 3As shown, the display device 17 is fixedly attached to the carrier part 3, wherein the circuit board 10, which is fixedly connected to the display device 17, is fixedly connected to a collar 12 projecting from the inner surface 15 of the carrier part 2 by a fastening element 13. The fastening element 13 is, for example, a screw that is screwed into a corresponding thread of the collar 12, which is shown in Figure 2 The collar 12 forms a recess 16. The support part 3 is also provided with a cutout (opening) 18. The recess 16 and the cutout 18 together form a space for receiving the display device 17. The edges of the cutout 18 are chamfered, for example. The cutout 18 in the support part 3 allows the display device 17 to be clearly visible from the outside I through the transparent cover 2.

[0059] Figure 4This shows a cross-sectional view in the area of ​​camera zone 6. To avoid unnecessary repetition, only the differences to the cross-sectional view of [previous view] are shown. Figure 3 explained, and otherwise reference is made to the explanations regarding Figure 3 referred.

[0060] A camera 19 is arranged on the inner surface 15 of the carrier part 3. The camera 19 is functionally and structurally connected to a printed circuit board 10. A connecting cable 11 extends from the circuit board 10, through which the camera 19 can be electrically connected to the vehicle's on-board electronics, in particular to a control unit (controller) for controlling vehicle functions and reading vehicle information. Output signals from the camera 19 can be transmitted to the on-board electronics via the connecting cable 11. As shown in Figure 3As shown, the camera 19 is fixedly attached to the carrier part 3, with the circuit board 10 connected to the camera 19 being firmly connected to a collar 12 projecting from the inner surface 15 of the carrier part 2 by a fastening element 13. The fastening element 13 is, for example, a screw that is screwed into a corresponding thread in the collar 12, which is shown in Figure 3 The collar 12 forms a recess 16. The support part 3 is also provided with a cutout (opening) 18. The recess 16 and the cutout 18 together form a space for the camera 19. The edges of the cutout 18 are, for example, beveled. The cutout 18 in the support part 3 allows the camera 19 to take pictures of the external surroundings of the outer surface I of the support part 3 through the transparent cover 2.

[0061] Figure 5shows the installed state of the add-on part 1, which is designed in the form of a B-pillar cover. Figure 1 based on a top view of a partially depicted vehicle 100.

[0062] The cover 2 and the attached support part 3 of the in Figure 1 The attachment part 1 shown here is, for example, manufactured as a 2-component injection molded part.

[0063] In Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a process for manufacturing the attachment part 1 according to the invention. Figure 1 shown.

[0064] In the process, in a first process step a), the cover 2 is injection molded from a transparent thermoplastic material. In a second process step b), the support part 3, made of a thermoplastic, preferably black, material, is cast onto the cover 2. The support part 3 is cast such that it has a recess 18 for the display device 17 and the camera 19.

[0065] Alternatively, in a first process step a), the carrier part 3 is injection molded from a thermoplastic, preferably black, plastic. The carrier part 3 is molded such that it has a recess 18 for the display device 17 and the camera 19. In a second process step b), the cover 2, made of a transparent thermoplastic, is molded onto the carrier part 3.

[0066] In a third process step c), the functional elements 9, 17, 19 are attached to the support part 3.

[0067] Optionally, the process can include coating, preferably flood coating, with a protective covering (hardcoat) as a further process step, wherein the coating takes place before the functional elements 9, 17, 19 are attached to the carrier part 3.

[0068] From the above explanations, it follows that the invention provides a novel vehicle add-on component that avoids the disadvantages of touch technology known in the prior art. Gestures can be detected contactlessly by a capacitive motion sensor. A display device provides the user with feedback on successful gesture input. Furthermore, a display related to the detected gesture can be provided, particularly for controlling vehicle functions and displaying information. Reference symbol list

[0069] 1 Attachment 2 Cover 3 Support part 4 Sensor zone 5 Display zone 6 Camera zone 7 Mounting section 8 Logo zone 9 Motion sensor 10 Circuit board 11 Connection cable 12 Collar 13 Fastener 14 Outer surface 15 Inner surface 16 Recess 17 Display device 18 Cutout 19 Camera I Outside II Inside

Claims

1. A vehicle add-on part (1) with integrated functional elements (9, 17, 19), comprising: - a cover (2) comprising an outer side (I) and an inner side (II), wherein the cover (2) has at least one transparent region, - a support part (3) which is arranged on the inner side (II) of the cover (2) and is fixedly connected to the cover (2), wherein at least the following functional elements (9, 17, 19) are fastened to the support part (3): i) at least one capacitive motion sensor (9) for exclusively contactless detection of gestures on the outer side (I) of the cover (2), ii) at least one display device (17) arranged opposite the transparent region for the display of information based on at least one detected gesture, characterized in that the vehicle add-on part (1) has, as a functional element, a camera (19) arranged opposite the transparent region and fastened to the support part (3) for person recognition and / or for the detection of a QR code, which camera is provided for image capture through the transparent region, wherein the cover (2) consists of a thermoplastic material, wherein the transparent region of the cover consists of a transparent thermoplastic material and / or wherein the support part (3) consists of a thermoplastic material, in particular an opaque thermoplastic material, wherein the cover (2) and the support part (3) are formed as a 2-component injection-molded part, wherein the support part (3) is provided, on an inner surface (15) facing away from the cover (2), with at least one collar (12) for the fastening of the at least one functional element (9, 17, 19), wherein the support part (3) is provided with at least one fastening element (13) for the fastening of the at least one functional element (9, 17, 19), wherein the at least one functional element (9, 17, 19) is fastened to the at least one collar (12) via a printed circuit board (10) using the at least one fastening element (13), and wherein at least the at least one display device (17) and the camera (19) are respectively received at least partially in at least one recess (18) that is formed as an aperture or in a local thinning of the support part (3).

2. The vehicle add-on part (1) according to claim 1, which has as a functional element at least one capacitive motion sensor fastened to the support part (3) for contact-based detection of tap inputs on the outer side (I) of the cover (2).

3. The vehicle add-on part (1) according to either of claims 1 or 2, in which the at least one functional element (9, 17, 19) is fastened to an inner surface (15) of the support part (3) facing away from the cover (2).

4. The vehicle add-on part (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is a windshield, a rear window, a side window, a roof window, a trim strip, a bumper, a sill, a spoiler, a lamp cover, or a panel, in particular a B-pillar panel.

5. A method for manufacturing a vehicle add-on part (1) comprising integrated functional elements according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which: in a first step, a cover (2), which has at least one transparent region, is manufactured by means of an injection molding process, and in a second step, a support part (3) made of thermoplastic material is molded onto the inner side (II) of the cover (2) such that the inner side (II) of the cover (2) is connected to the support part (3); or in a first step, a support part (3) consisting of a thermoplastic material is manufactured by means of an injection molding process, and in a second step, a cover (2), which has at least one transparent region, is molded onto the support part (3) such that the inner side (II) of the cover (2) is connected to the support part (3); in a third step, the integrated functional elements are fastened to the support part (3).

6. The method according to claim 5, in which the support part (3) is provided with at least one recess (18) that is formed as an aperture or a local thinning, wherein at least one functional element (17, 19) is arranged in the recess (18) or in the local thinning, directly opposite the transparent region.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, in which the cover (2) and the support part (3) connected thereto are manufactured by a 2-component injection molding process or by a 2-component injection-compression molding process with reversible plate technology.

8. A use of the vehicle add-on part (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for the integration of functional elements into vehicles, in particular motor vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, or buses, in particular for integration into a window, in particular a windshield, a rear window, a side window or a roof window, into a trim strip, in particular a side strip, a front strip, a rear strip or a decorative strip, into a bumper, into a sill, into a spoiler, into a lamp cover, or into a panel, in particular a pillar panel, in particular a B-pillar panel.