Vehicle component and radiator grille equipped with such component

Abstract

The present invention relates to a component (1) for a vehicle (2) comprising a visible element (3) with a decorative area (4). It is important that the decorative area (4) is designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays. The component (1) further comprises a support element (7) designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays, including a heating element (8) designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays for heating the decorative area (4), a light guide device (9) designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays for illuminating the decorative area (4), and a radar camera (11) for traffic monitoring, configured to emit a radar beam. The present invention also relates to a radiator grille (23) for a vehicle (2) comprising at least one such component (1).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The invention relates to a component for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention particularly relates to a radiator grille for a vehicle equipped with such a component. [Background technology]

[0002] From patent document 1, attribute-compatible parts for vehicles are known.

[0003] From US Pat. No. 5,999,149 a radome is known which comprises a radio-transmission substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a radio-transmission coating on the first surface.

[0004] From the patent application WO 02 / 04994, a device for illuminating a vehicle is known using a light guide plate containing a fluorescent material.

[0005] From DE 10 2004 013 14 A1 a radome is known which comprises a front and a rear surface, at least one in-coupling structure for coupling light into the radome, and a heating device. A vehicle component is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,629,499. The component has a visible element including a decorative area, which has a decorative design visible from the surroundings and can be transilluminated by a radar beam of a radar camera. The patent document further proposes a heating element that can heat the decorative area, thereby preventing or eliminating possible fogging of the decorative area, such as icing or condensation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] DE102016007119A1 [Patent Document 2] WO2021 / 018422A1 [Patent Document 3] US5709453A [Patent Document 4] DE102015004204A1 [Patent Document 5] DE102014002438A1 [Patent Document 6] DE102014002438A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an improvement over known components or at least one alternative embodiment of a component, in particular a radiator grille for a vehicle equipped with such a component. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the present invention, this problem is solved in particular by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the description.

[0009] The basic idea of ​​the present invention is to provide additional illumination or backlighting for such components.

[0010] To this end, a component for a vehicle, particularly a vehicle designed for semi-autonomous driving, is proposed, which has visible elements including a decorative area. The decorative area is designed to be at least partially or completely transparent to radar beams and light rays. Furthermore, the decorative area includes a visible surface and a back surface opposite the visible surface. The decorative area can be provided with or form a decorative design visible from the surroundings, for example, a three-dimensional design, pattern, or similar aesthetic element. The component according to the invention further includes a support element designed to be at least partially or completely transparent to radar beams and light rays. The support element itself is arranged on the aforementioned back surface of the decorative area and includes a heating element, for example, located on the opposite side of the decorative area and configured to heat the decorative area. It is important that the component according to the invention is equipped with a light guide device, designed to be at least partially or completely transparent to radar beams and light rays, for illuminating or backlighting the decorative area and / or the visible elements. The light guide device can, for example, be located on the opposite side of the heating element. It may also be provided that a light beam, for example provided by a light source of the component or vehicle, can be laterally coupled into the component or light guide device by means of a light guide device. It is further provided that the light guide device is arranged on the rear support surface of the support element opposite the decorative area and is configured to emit a light beam towards the decorative area. It is also important that the component according to the invention is equipped with a radar camera for traffic monitoring, in particular for distance measurement, which is arranged on the rear surface of the light guide device opposite the support element and is configured to emit a radar beam towards the decorative area.

[0011] This provides a component that can be transilluminated by light rays and radar beams. The property of being transilluminable by radar beams is then utilized for traffic monitoring, particularly distance measurement, while the additional property of being transilluminable by light rays also allows for illumination or backlighting of the component, which provides a visually pleasing effect for the user of the component. Using the heating element, the decorative area of ​​the visible component can be heated, thereby preventing or removing, for example, fogging, such as ice or condensation, which may form on the visible surface of the decorative area during vehicle operation. This has the advantage that light rays and radar beams can pass through the decorative area unhindered even in adverse weather conditions, which further ensures the component according to the invention can operate reliably.

[0012] For the purposes of the present invention, "light rays" is understood to mean electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength range visible to the human eye.

[0013] Furthermore, for the purposes of the present invention, "radar beam" is understood to mean electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength range lies in the radio frequency range.

[0014] The light guide device and / or the support element are preferably intended to form a cover for the radar camera, whereby the rear surface of the light guide device and / or the rear supporting surface of the support element at least partially or completely covers the aperture opening of the radar camera's aperture directed toward the decorative area, thereby protecting the radar camera from harmful environmental influences such as moisture or sunlight.

[0015] According to the invention, the light-guiding device is intended to include a central light-guiding element, which is designed to be transparent to the radar beam and the light rays and which can advantageously laterally couple the light rays, and a light-guiding element for guiding the light rays from the light source to the central light-guiding element. The central light-guiding element can be designed to be out-of-tool, i.e., to be manufactured in a single manufacturing step without requiring a separate processing or assembly step. The central light-guiding element can be manufactured, in particular, as an injection-molded element in an injection molding process. The central light-guiding element can be placed on the part during its manufacture, i.e., the central light-guiding element can be attached, in particular, to the support element and / or the radar camera by injection molding.

[0016] Furthermore, it can be provided in particular that the central light-guiding element is supported on the above-mentioned diaphragm of the radar camera on the one hand and / or on the support element on the other hand and covers the diaphragm opening.

[0017] According to the present invention, it is provided that the light-guiding element is ring-shaped and is optionally supported on the light-input surface of the central light-guiding element for coupling the light beam into the central light-guiding element. In this case, it is provided that the light-input surface of the central light-guiding element and / or the ring-shaped light-guiding element extend outside and surround the light path formed by the radar beam and / or the light beam. The ring-shaped light-guiding element can be formed, in particular, circular or elliptical. It is also conceivable that the ring-shaped light-guiding element has the shape of a triangular, rectangular, or polygonal ring element. The ring-shaped light-guiding element is suitably provided with a corresponding light-input surface arranged on the light-input surface of the central light-guiding element, so that the light beam coupled into the light-guiding element can be efficiently transferred from the light-guiding element to the central light-guiding element. The light-input surface of the central light-guiding element is suitably structurally adapted to the light-guiding element or the corresponding light-input surface. In that case, the light in-coupling surface of the central light-guide element may be polished and / or tooled to improve the light in-coupling of the light rays with the light-guide element, and of course the same may be contemplated for the corresponding light in-coupling surfaces.

[0018] It is expedient if the component or the vehicle equipped with the component has at least one light source for providing the component with a light beam, for example, the light source can be used to couple a light beam into a light-guiding device, preferably into a light-guiding element of the light-guiding device.

[0019] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the radar camera has an aperture including an aperture opening facing the decorative area, and the radar camera is configured to emit a radar beam onto the decorative area through the aperture opening. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the ring-shaped light-guiding element is equal to or greater than the aperture diameter of the aperture opening. This ensures that, in the assembled state, the ring-shaped light-guiding element does not obscure the aperture opening, and the radar beam can reach the decorative area from the radar camera through the aperture opening and the central light-guiding element without being obstructed by the light-guiding element. Preferably, the ring-shaped light-guiding element and, for example, the circular aperture opening are arranged coaxially / concentrically with each other.

[0020] The radar camera may be formed by a conventional traffic monitoring radar camera.

[0021] According to a second embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the light in-coupling surface of the central light-guiding element tapers in a funnel-like manner toward the decorative area or the radar camera. The light-guiding element is supported on the light in-coupling surface of the central light-guiding element to couple light rays into the central light-guiding element. The light in-coupling surface of the central light-guiding element is thereby formed in a funnel shape, with the virtual funnel tip directed toward either the decorative area or the radar camera. This allows for a relatively simple and space-saving solution for coupling light into the light-guiding device or the central light-guiding element. In particular, this allows for space-saving lateral coupling of light rays into the central light-guiding element or the light-guiding device.

[0022] Furthermore, it is expedient to provide that the light guide device or the light guide elements of the light guide device and the central light guide element of the light guide device form a prefabricated structural unit. This structural unit can be used as an intermediate product as an insert part during the manufacture of a component or a radiator grille comprising such a component, and can be fastened to a support element, in particular by injection molding. The use of a corresponding intermediate product can simplify and, in particular, accelerate the manufacture of the component. Furthermore, it is possible to prefabricate and store the intermediate product so that it can be used later during the manufacture of the component.

[0023] It is intended that the heating element is a heating foil, preferably realized by an electrically operable heating foil. Alternatively or additionally, the heating element can be arranged on the back side of the decorative area. Corresponding irradiable heating elements can be provided inexpensively and in large quantities, making the overall production of the component inexpensive. The advantage of arranging the heating element on the back side of the decorative area is that the heat provided by the heating element can be provided directly to the decorative area without significant time delay to prevent or remove fogging. In principle, it is also conceivable that the heating element is completely embedded in the center of the support element or arranged on the supporting back side of the support element.

[0024] It is furthermore expediently provided that the support element is made of or comprises a plastic material, which may in particular be polycarbonate (abbreviated PC), thereby providing an embodiment of the support element that can be produced inexpensively.

[0025] Furthermore, it is also contemplated that the visible element and / or the decorative area may comprise or form a flat layer assembly, which may comprise a flat outer layer, for example made of polyurethane coating (abbreviated as PU), which comprises or forms the visible surface, a flat lacquer layer disposed on the outer layer, and a flat chrome layer disposed on the lacquer layer, the chrome layer comprising or forming the back surface of the decorative area. The lacquer layer may in principle have any color, but preferably the color of the vehicle's outer panel. The chrome layer may be designed as a chrome foil, which provides a desirable overall structure for the visible element and / or the decorative area.

[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, a radiator grille for a vehicle, in particular a vehicle designed for semi-autonomous driving, is expediently provided, the vehicle being equipped with at least one component designed according to the preceding description.

[0027] In summary, the present invention relates to a vehicle component having a visible element, which advantageously has a decorative area. It is important that the decorative area is designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays. The component further comprises a heating element, designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays, for heating the decorative area; a light guide, designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays, for illuminating the decorative area; and a support element, designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays, including a radar camera for traffic monitoring, which is configured to emit a radar beam. The present invention also relates to a radiator grille for a vehicle having at least one such component.

[0028] Other important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description based on the drawings.

[0029] It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those further described below can be used not only in the respective combinations described, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0030] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and described in more detail below, where like reference numbers indicate identical or similar, or functionally identical, components.

[0031] In that case, each is shown diagrammatically. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is a highly simplified perspective view of a vehicle equipped with a radiator grille according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a similarly highly simplified cross-sectional view of a component according to the invention that can be mounted on the radiator grille of FIG. 1; [Figure 3] 1 is a similarly highly simplified cross-sectional view of a structural unit that can be used as an insert part in the manufacture of a component according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] As mentioned above, Figure 1 shows in a highly simplified perspective view an exemplary vehicle, generally designated by the reference numeral 2, equipped with a radiator grille 23 having or formed by at least one component 1 according to the invention.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows, in a highly simplified cross-sectional view, a component 1 according to the invention, which can be mounted, for example, by means of a frame 27 on a chassis (not shown) of a vehicle 2. It comprises a visible element, generally designated 3, which has a decorative area 4, designated by a dashed vertical line in FIG. 2, designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays, the decorative area 4 comprising a visible surface 5 facing the periphery 24 and a rear surface 6 opposite the visible surface 5. The decorative area 4 can be provided with or can form a decorative design 28 visible from the periphery 24. It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that the visible element 2 and / or the decorative area 4 comprise or are formed by a flat layer assembly 19. The layer assembly 19 comprises a flat outer layer 20, for example made of a polyurethane coating (abbreviated as PU), which comprises or forms the visible surface 5, a flat lacquer layer 21 arranged on this outer layer, and a flat chrome layer 22 arranged on the lacquer layer 21. The latter can comprise or form the rear surface 6 of the decorative area 4. Additionally, the chrome layer 22 has uncovered areas with another decorative design 25. The chrome layer 22 can be realized by chrome foil.

[0035] It is important that the component 1 has a support element 7, which is arranged on the rear surface 6 of the decorative area 4 and is designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays, and a heating element 8, which is designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays, for heating the decorative area 4. The heating element 8 is realized here by a heating foil and is arranged directly on the rear surface 6 of the decorative area 4, in which area a white print is additionally provided behind the chrome layer 22 or can be a white print.

[0036] In FIG. 2 , the component 1 has a light guide device 9 designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays for illuminating the decorative area 4. This light guide device 9 is located, for example, opposite the heating element 8, on the support back surface 10 of the support element 7 opposite the decorative area 4 and is configured to radiate light rays onto the decorative area 4. Furthermore, the component 1 has a radar camera 11 for traffic monitoring, in particular distance measurement, which is located on the back surface 12 of the light guide device 9 opposite the support element 7 via a sealing frame and a camera holder 26 attached thereto and is configured to radiate a radar beam onto the decorative area 4. The decorative area 4 of the visible element 3 can be heated by the heating element 8, thereby preventing or removing any fogging that may occur on the visible surface 5 of the decorative area 4 during operation of the vehicle 2. The heating element 8 and the light guide device 9 are adapted to the radar camera 11 in such a way that interference with the radar camera 11 is prevented. This has the advantage that light rays and radar beams can pass unhindered through the decorative area 4 even in adverse weather conditions, thereby ensuring reliable operation of the component 1 according to the present invention.

[0037] Furthermore, the light-guiding device 9 and the support element 7 are designed to form a cover for the radar camera 11, thereby protecting the radar camera 11 from harmful environmental influences such as moisture or sunlight. In FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the light-guiding device 9 further comprises a central light-guiding element 13, which is designed to be transparent to the radar beam and light rays, and a light-guiding element 14 for guiding light rays from a light source (not shown) to the central light-guiding element 13. The light-guiding element 14 here has a ring-like shape and allows light rays to be coupled into the light-guiding device 9 laterally, which allows for a relatively compact design of the component 1. In FIG. 2 , it can also be seen that the ring-shaped light-guiding element 14 is supported on a polished light-incoupling surface 15 of the central light-guiding element 13 in order to couple the light rays into the central light-guiding element 13. The polished light-incoupling surface 15 of the central light-guiding element 13 is here formed in a funnel shape, with the virtual funnel tip facing the radar camera 11. It should further be mentioned that the radar camera 11 has an aperture 16 with an aperture opening 17 facing the decorative area 4. The aperture 16 can be provided with a reflective foil by white printing. The radar camera 11 is designed so that the radar beam it provides is emitted through the aperture opening 17 onto the decorative area 4. In order to prevent undesired influence of the radar beam by the light-guiding device 9, it is provided here that the ring-shaped light-guiding element 14 and the aperture opening 17 are arranged coaxially or concentrically with each other, and the inner diameter of the light-guiding element 14 is equal to or larger than the aperture diameter of the aperture opening 17. This ensures that the ring-shaped light-guiding element 14 does not obscure the aperture opening 17.

[0038] 3 shows a prefabricated structural unit 18 formed by the light-guiding device 9 or by the light-guiding elements 14 of the light-guiding device 9 and the central light-guiding element 13 of the light-guiding device 9. The structural unit 18 is an intermediate product that is prefabricated and can be used as an insert part during the production of the component 1. For example, the prefabricated structural unit 18 can be fixed to the support element 7 during the production of the component 1, in particular by an injection molding method.

Claims

1. A component (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising: - a visible element (3) having a decorative area (4) with a visible surface (5) and a back surface (6) opposite said visible surface (5), - said decorative area (4) is designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays; - the component (1) has a support element (7) designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays, the support element being arranged on the back surface (6) of the decorative area (4) and including a heating element (8) designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays for heating the decorative area (4), - the component (1) has a light guide device (9) for illuminating the decorative area (4), which is designed to be at least partially transparent to radar beams and light rays, the light guide device being arranged on the rear support surface (10) of the support element (7) facing away from the decorative area (4) and being configured to emit light rays onto the decorative area (4); the component (1) comprises a radar camera (11) for traffic monitoring, the radar camera being arranged on the rear surface (12) of the light-guiding device (9) opposite the support element (7) and configured to emit a radar beam onto the decorative area (4), - said light-guiding device (9) comprises a central light-guiding element (13) designed to be transparent to the radar beam and to the light rays, and light-guiding elements (14) for guiding the light rays from the light source to said central light-guiding element (13); - said light-guiding element (14) is formed in the shape of a ring; - the radar camera (11) has an aperture (16) with an aperture opening (17) facing the decorative area (4), and the radar camera (11) emits a radar beam through the aperture opening (17) onto the decorative area (4); the inner diameter of said ring-shaped light-guiding element (14) is equal to or greater than the aperture diameter of said aperture opening (17); Or, - said light-guiding device (9) comprises a central light-guiding element (13) designed to be transparent to the radar beam and to the light rays, and light-guiding elements (14) for guiding the light rays from the light source to said central light-guiding element (13); - said light-guiding element (14) is formed in the shape of a ring; - said light-guiding element (14) is supported on a light-incoupling surface (15) of said central light-guiding element (13) for coupling light rays into said central light-guiding element (13); the light in-coupling surface (15) of the central light-guiding element (13) is tapered in a funnel shape towards the decorative area (4) or towards the radar camera (11); The part (1) is characterized by:

2. Component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the light guide device (9) and / or the support element (7) form a cover for the radar camera (11).

3. - Component (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light guide device (9) or the light guide elements (14) of the light guide device (9) and the central light guide element (13) of the light guide device (9) form a prefabricated structural unit (18), which can be used as an intermediate product, as an insert part, during the production of the component (1), and can be fixed to the support element (7), in particular by an injection molding method.

4. - said heating element (8) is a heating foil, preferably realized by an electrically operable heating foil, and / or Component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the heating element (8) is arranged on the back side (6) of the decorative area (4).

5. Component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the visible element (3) and / or the decorative area (4) comprise or form a flat layer assembly (19) having a flat outer layer (20) comprising or forming the visible surface (5), a flat lacquer layer (21) arranged on the outer layer, and a flat chrome layer (22) arranged on the lacquer layer (21), the chrome layer comprising or forming the back surface (6) of the decorative area (4).

6. A radiator grille (23) for a vehicle (2), in particular a vehicle designed for semi-autonomous driving, said radiator grille (23) comprising at least one component (1) formed according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images