Decorative panel incorporating a molded light plate

Abstract

Decorative panel incorporating a molded light plate. The invention relates to a decorative panel comprising at least one decorative film (22) and at least one light plate (24) having a first surface (24.1) covered by the decorative film (22). According to the invention, the light plate (24) is obtained by molding and comprises a first film (26) onto which point light sources are attached before the light plate (24) is obtained by molding, as well as at least one layer, interposed between the first film (26) and the decorative film in operation, which comprises at least one non-homogeneous optical characteristic adjusted to homogenize the luminous intensity of the light fluxes emitted by the different point light sources (34), perceived by a person (40) looking at the first surface (24.1) of the light plate (24) through the decorative film (22). Figure 6

Description

Title of the invention: Decorative panel incorporating a molded light plate

[0001] The present application relates to a decorative panel incorporating a molded light plate.

[0002] A car with internal combustion engines includes a grille at the front to capture air in order to cool its internal combustion engine. In the case of an electric car, such a grille is no longer necessary and can be replaced by a solid panel, specifically configured to improve the car's aerodynamic performance. Such a panel can have significant dimensions, such as a length greater than or equal to 1 m and a width greater than or equal to 15 cm.

[0003] For some cars, such a panel has a decorative function and incorporates light sources.

[0004] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig.1], a decorative panel 10 comprises a visible front face 10.1 and a rear face 10.2. This decorative panel 10 includes, among other things, a rigid support 12 positioned at the rear face 10.2, a decorative film 14 positioned at the front face 10.1 and a printed circuit board 16, plated against the support 12, supporting a plurality of light-emitting diodes 16.1. Since these form point light sources, the decorative panel 10 comprises several parts 18.1 to 18.4 to direct and homogenize the light fluxes emitted by the light-emitting diodes 16.1 in order to obtain a homogeneous rendering at the level of the decorative film 14. All these elements 12, 16, 18.1 to 18.4 are distinct from each other and must be manufactured independently of each other in order to be all assembled.

[0005] This embodiment is not satisfactory because the decorative panel 10 includes a large number of parts to be manufactured, managed and assembled, which impacts the final (assembled) cost of such a decorative panel 10.

[0006] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0007] For this purpose, the invention relates to a decorative panel comprising at least one decorative film and at least one light plate having a first surface covered by the decorative film and a second surface opposite to the first surface, said light plate comprising a plurality of point light sources.

[0008] According to the invention, the luminous plate is obtained by molding and comprises a first film onto which the point light sources are attached before obtaining the luminous plate by molding, as well as at least one layer, interposed between the first film and the decorative film in operation, which includes at least one non-homogeneous optical feature adjusted to homogenize the luminous intensity (of the luminous fluxes emitted by the point light sources) perceived by a person looking at the first surface of the light plate through the decorative film.

[0009] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0010] [Fig-1] is a schematic cross-section of a decorative panel illustrating a method of realization of prior art,

[0011] [Fig.2] is a schematic cross-section of a decorative panel incorporating a plate luminous and a decorative film illustrating an embodiment of the invention,

[0012] [Fig.3] is a front view of a first film of the luminous plate visible on the [Fig.2],

[0013] [Fig.4] is a front view of a second film of the light plate visible on [Fig.2],

[0014] [Fig.5] represents a light-emitting diode and a curve of the luminous intensity of the luminous flux emitted by this light-emitting diode in the absence of correction,

[0015] [Fig.6] represents a schematic cross-section of part of the decorative panel of [Fig.2] as well as a curve of the luminous intensity of the luminous flux emitted by a light-emitting diode and perceived through the decorative film in the presence of a second film configured to homogenize the luminous intensity,

[0016] [Fig.7] is a schematic cross-section of part of a light plate illustrating another embodiment of the invention,

[0017] [Fig.8] is a front view of a second film illustrating another embodiment of the invention,

[0018] [Fig.9] is a schematic cross-section of part of a luminous plate illustrating another embodiment of the invention,

[0019] [Fig. 10] is a schematic cross-section of part of a luminous plate illustrating another embodiment,

[0020] [Fig. 11] is a schematic cross-section of part of a light plate illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

[0021] According to an embodiment shown in [Fig. 2], a decorative panel 20 comprises at least one decorative film 22 having a visible face 22.1 and a rear face 22.2 (opposite the visible face 22.1), as well as at least one light plate 24 having a first surface 24.1 oriented towards the decorative film 22 and a second surface 24.2 (opposite the first surface 24.1). By way of example, this Decorative panel 20 can be integrated into the passenger compartment of a car or used as a bodywork element.

[0022] The decorative film 22 is not described further as it may be identical to those of the prior art.

[0023] The decorative panel 20 may include other elements such as a support, sensors, or others. Not all of these elements are described further because they may be identical to those of the prior art.

[0024] According to an embodiment shown in [Fig.2], the light plate 24 comprises: a. a first film 26 which has a first face forming the second surface 24.2 of the light plate 24 and a second face oriented towards the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24; b. a second film 28 which has a first face forming the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24 and a second face oriented towards the second surface 24.2 of the light plate 24; c. a soul 30 interposed between the first and second films 26, 28 and linking them.

[0025] According to one method, the light plate 24 is obtained by in-mold electronics (IME) injection molding. According to this method, a manufacturing process includes a step of positioning the first and second films 26 and 28 against the first and second surfaces of the mold respectively shaped as the first and second surfaces 24.1, 24.2 of the light plate 24 to be obtained, a step of closing the mold, a step of injecting a plastic material into the mold between the first and second films 26, 28 so as to fill it, a step of cooling the injected plastic material and then a demolding step.

[0026] This operating method makes it possible to obtain a luminous plate 24 in one piece with a strong cohesion between the core 30 and each of the first and second films 26, 28, which makes it possible to reduce the number of parts to be manufactured, managed and assembled and, ultimately, to reduce the costs of the decorative panel.

[0027] The core 30 is made of a transparent material that diffuses light. In one embodiment, the core 30 is made of polycarbonate, preferably a polycarbonate with diffusing properties.

[0028] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], the first film 26 forms a flexible substrate having a first face (which corresponds to the second face of the first film 26) on which an electronic circuit 32 and a plurality of light-emitting diodes 34 (or any other point light sources) are affixed. The first film 26 is based on polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic polymethyl methacrylate or any other material allowing a flexible substrate to be obtained.

[0029] According to one configuration, the first film 26 comprises, at the level of its second face oriented towards the core 30, a reflective coating 36, such as white paint for example.

[0030] According to an arrangement visible in figures 2, 6, 7 and 9, the first film 26 is flat or has a geometry identical to that of the second surface 24.2 of the light plate 24 to be obtained.

[0031] According to another arrangement visible in [Fig.10], the first film 26 is thermoformed and comprises, at least at the level of a light-emitting diode 34, a hollow shape 38 in the form of a cup, the light-emitting diode 34 being positioned at the bottom of the hollow shape 38, the latter having rising edges 38.1 configured to reflect and concentrate the luminous flux emitted by the light-emitting diode 34.

[0032] The second film 28 forms a flexible substrate that can be thermoformed. Initially, the second film 28 is transparent. For example, the second film 28 is based on polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

[0033] As illustrated in [Fig. 5], each light-emitting diode 34, positioned on a surface S, emits a luminous flux 34.1 centered with respect to a line D perpendicular to the surface S and passing through the center of the light-emitting diode 34. At the level of a flat plane P substantially perpendicular to the line D, the luminous flux 34.1 exhibits a non-uniform luminous intensity. Thus, the luminous flux 34.1 has a maximum luminous intensity I at the point of intersection A of the line D and the plane P, this luminous intensity decreasing concentrically with respect to the point of intersection A.

[0034] Consequently, at the level of the second film 28, in the absence of correction, the luminous fluxes 34.1 emitted by the light-emitting diodes 34 positioned at the level of the first film 26 are non-homogeneous and exhibit brighter spots at the right of each of the light-emitting diodes 34.

[0035] According to embodiments visible in figures 4, 6 to 8, to remedy this non-homogeneous aspect, the second film 28 has at least one non-homogeneous optical characteristic adjusted so as to homogenize the light intensity perceived by a person 40 looking at the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24 through the decorative film 22.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the second film 28 has, at the right of each light-emitting diode 34, a light transmission capacity approximately inversely proportional to the light intensity initially received at the level of the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24 in the absence of a second film 28. Thus, the second film 28 has, at the right of each light-emitting diode 34, a minimum light transmission capacity at the point of intersection A' of the line D and the second film 28, this light transmission capacity increasing concentrically as it moves away from the point of intersection A'.

[0037] According to a first configuration, the second film 28 has, for each light-emitting diode 34, at least one pattern 42 configured to modulate the light transmission capacity of the second film.

[0038] According to an embodiment shown in [Fig. 4], the second film 28 comprises, for each light-emitting diode 34, several identical patterns 42 having the same opacity and a density that varies according to the desired light transmission capacity. Thus, the density of the patterns is high at the point of intersection A' and decreases with distance from said point of intersection A'.

[0039] According to another embodiment visible in [Fig.6], the second film 28 comprises, for each light-emitting diode 34, several patterns 42 having the same opacity and presenting different surfaces, the pattern 42 located at the point of intersection A' having a large surface area, the patterns 42 having surfaces of less and less importance moving away from the point of intersection A'.

[0040] According to another embodiment shown in [Fig. 8], the second film 28 comprises, for each light-emitting diode 34, at least one motif 42 exhibiting variable opacity. Thus, the motif 42 has a disk 42.1, centered with respect to the point of intersection A', with maximum opacity, as well as at least one ring 42.2 surrounding the disk 42.1 and having an opacity lower than that of the disk 42.1. In the presence of several concentric rings, the opacities of these rings decrease as they move away from the disk 42.1. According to this embodiment, the opacity of the motif 42 varies discontinuously.

[0041] As illustrated in [Fig.7], the second film 28 comprises, for each light-emitting diode 34, a pattern 42 whose opacity varies continuously away from the point of intersection A'.

[0042] Of course, the invention is not limited to these embodiments for obtaining a variable light transmission capacity. Thus, it is possible to provide several patterns 42 which have different surfaces, different opacities and / or different densities, these three characteristics being able to be combined to adjust the light transmission capacity of the second film 28.

[0043] According to an arrangement visible in figures 4, 6, 8, the motifs 42 are printed on at least one of the faces of the second film 28.

[0044] According to another arrangement visible in [Fig.7], the motifs 42 are embedded in the second film 28.

[0045] Of course, the ability of the second film 28 to transmit light is not the only adjustable optical characteristic. Thus, it is possible to adjust at least one optical characteristic, including the reflectivity, scattering capacity, and transmission capacity of the second film 28, in order to homogenize the light intensity perceived by a person 40 looking at the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24 through the decorative film 22. In the case of reflection, at least part of the luminous flux emitted by a light-emitting diode 34 can be reflected by the second film 28 towards the first film 26, which in turn reflects it towards an area of ​​the second film 28 where the light intensity is lower.

[0046] According to an embodiment visible in [Fig.9], at least one area of ​​at least one face of the second film 28 is not flat and includes a texture 44, a roughness or a geometry adapted so as to homogenize the light intensity perceived by a person 40 looking at the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24 through the decorative film 22.

[0047] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. As illustrated in [Fig. 11], the light plate 24 may not include a second film 28. In this case, the core 30 includes at least one non-homogeneous optical feature adjusted to homogenize the light intensity perceived by a person 40 looking at the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24 through the decorative film 22.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the face of the core 30 forming the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24 is not flat and includes a texture 46, a roughness or a geometry adapted so as to homogenize the light intensity perceived by a person 40 looking at the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24 through the decorative film 22. In this case, the mold used to inject the plastic material forming, after cooling, the core 30 includes a surface that corresponds to the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24, not flat, said surface having a texture, a roughness or a geometry complementary to that desired at the level of the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24.

[0049] Regardless of the embodiment, the light plate 24 obtained by molding comprises at least one layer, intercalated between the first film 26 and the decorative film 22 in operation, which comprises at least one non-homogeneous optical characteristic adjusted so as to homogenize the light intensity perceived by a person 40 looking at the first surface 24.1 of the light plate 24 through the decorative film 22.

Claims

Demands

1. Decorative panel comprising at least one decorative film (22) and at least one light plate (24) having a first surface (24.1) covered by the decorative film (22) and a second surface (24.2) opposite the first surface (24.1), said light plate (24) comprising a plurality of point light sources emitting luminous fluxes having a luminous intensity; characterized in that the light plate (24) is obtained by molding and in that the light plate (24) comprises a first film (26), positioned at the level of the second surface (24.2), on which the point light sources are attached before obtaining the light plate (24) by molding, a second film (28) positioned at the level of the first surface (24.1).1) of the luminous plate (24) and a core (30) interposed between the first and second films (26, 28) and connecting them, the second film (28) comprising at least one non-homogeneous optical characteristic adjusted so as to homogenize the luminous intensity perceived by a person (40) looking at the first surface (24.1) of the luminous plate (24) through the decorative film (22).

2. Decorative panel according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second film (28) has, at the right of each point light source (34), a light transmission capacity inversely proportional to the light intensity.

3. Decorative panel according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second film (28) has, for each point light source (34), at least one pattern (42) configured to modulate the light transmission capacity of the second film (28).

4. Decorative panel according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second film (28) comprises, for each point light source (34), several patterns (42) having at least one characteristic, among the density, surface area and opacity of each of the patterns (42), adjusted so as to homogenize the light intensity perceived by a person (40) looking at the first surface (24.1) of the light plate (24) through the decorative film (22).

5. Decorative panel according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the pattern(s) 42 is / are printed on at least one of the faces of the second film (28).

6. Decorative panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one area of ​​at least one face of the second film (28) comprises a texture (44), a roughness or a geometry adapted so as to homogenize the light intensity perceived by a person (40) looking at the first surface (24.1) of the light plate (24) through the decorative film (22).

7. Decorative panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first film (26) comprises a reflective coating (36).

8. Decorative panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first film (26) comprises, at least at the level of a point light source (34), a hollow shape (38) in the form of a bowl, the point light source (34) being positioned at the level of the bottom of the hollow shape (38), the latter having rising edges (38.1) configured to reflect and concentrate the luminous flux emitted by the point light source (34).

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