Window Assembly for Automobiles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a window assembly (1), in particular a roof window assembly (2), for a motor vehicle (50), having a transparent base panel (3) and at least one light-emitting means (7) which generates light during operation and outputs it in the direction of the inner surface (4) of the base panel. Improved illumination is achieved by arranging at least one mirror part (10) which reflects light from at least one of the at least one light-emitting means (7) on the inner surface (4) of the base panel. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle (50) having such a window assembly (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a window assembly for a motor vehicle, particularly a roof window assembly. The present invention further relates to a motor vehicle having such a window assembly.

Background Art

[0002] Motor vehicles usually have windows through which the occupants of the motor vehicle can have an external view. This includes, for example, the front window and side windows. Such windows can also be arranged on the roof of the motor vehicle, thereby enabling an upward view and / or allowing light to enter the motor vehicle from the outside.

[0003] In particular, the integration of windows into the roof of a motor vehicle leads to constraints on lighting means.

[0004] From Patent Document 1, a motor vehicle window having a first transparent layer and at least one light emitter arranged on this layer is known. Further, a transparent conductor structure for supplying energy to the light emitter is provided on the first layer. Patent Document 2 describes an interior lamp for a motor vehicle having a glass roof. This lamp has a lamp cover and a light input coupling member that input-couples light from the light emitting means into the lamp cover from the side. In order to emit light only from one side of the lamp cover, the lamp cover has a light shielding device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved or at least alternative embodiment for a window assembly for an automobile, and for an automobile having such a window assembly, in particular, that eliminates the shortcomings of the prior art. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide an embodiment for a window assembly and for an automobile that features improved illumination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim according to the present invention. Advantageous embodiments are subject to the dependent claims.

[0008] Accordingly, the general idea on which the present invention is based is to provide a window for an automobile as an assembly on which a light-emitting means outputs light toward a base panel, wherein a local reflective area is provided on the side of the base panel opposite to the light-emitting means, and this reflective area reflects the light from the light-emitting means, thereby causing the light to exit the base panel outside the reflective area and thus be output. This results in the ability to position the light-emitting means of the assembly, also hereafter referred to as the window assembly, arbitrarily, and especially closer to the intended output location of the light, thereby allowing the window assembly to output light at a higher luminous intensity across the entire window assembly. Furthermore, since the output of light is obstructed by the reflective area, individual outputs of light, in particular, of light patterns, are realized. Furthermore, the reflective area can be used to locally reduce the intensity of the output light, thereby avoiding, or at least reducing, the luminous intensity in areas of increased light output, so-called "hot spots," which usually occur just below the light-emitting means. Thus, it is possible to output light at a higher luminous intensity throughout the entire window assembly, while simultaneously adapting the light output to individual needs. In particular, it is possible to reduce the light output in the area of ​​the vehicle occupants' heads and / or in the direction of their eyes. As a result, this window assembly leads to individualized light output while simultaneously contributing to greater comfort.

[0009] According to this invention, the window assembly has a transparent panel which is a base panel. The base panel has two sides facing opposite each other, which will hereafter be referred to as the inner surface and outer surface of the base panel. Furthermore, the window assembly has a module having at least one light-emitting means, which will hereafter be referred to as an illumination device. The illumination device, and the at least one light-emitting means associated therewith, is positioned on the side of the outer surface of the base panel that faces away from the inner surface of the base panel. Each light-emitting means is configured to generate light when in operation and output it toward the inner surface of the base panel. Furthermore, the window assembly has a reflector. The reflector is positioned on the inner surface of the base panel and has at least one mirror portion and at least one transmissive portion. Each mirror portion is configured to reflect light from at least one of the at least one light-emitting means, preferably from each respective light-emitting means, toward the outer surface of the base panel. Each transmissive portion is configured to transmit light from at least one of the at least one light-emitting means, preferably from each respective light-emitting means, so that the light exits the window assembly through at least one transmissive portion and is output.

[0010] The reflecting device is preferably reflective by at least one mirror portion, thereby reflecting light from at least one light-emitting means and transmitting the rest. As a result, the light exits outside the at least one mirror portion via the reflecting device and is thus output.

[0011] In this context, "transparent" means that it is transparent to light from at least one of the at least one light-emitting means, preferably to light from each of the light-emitting means.

[0012] Preferably, "transparent" means that the entire structure is transparent to visible light. That is, light generated by at least one light-emitting means can be output through the inner surface of the base panel or a reflective device, and at the same time, light, especially sunlight, can enter from the surroundings through the window assembly. This makes it possible to not only take in outside light through the window assembly, but also to view the outside through the window assembly.

[0013] Window assemblies are preferably applied in automobiles.

[0014] In an automobile, the interior space, particularly the passenger compartment, is preferably individually illuminated and / or lit by lighting devices.

[0015] Window assemblies are preferable for dividing the interior space of a vehicle.

[0016] The inner surface of the base panel or the reflective device is preferably oriented towards the interior space of the vehicle.

[0017] The window assembly may be applied as a side window and / or as a door window of an automobile, or as part thereof.

[0018] Preferably, the window assembly is applied to the roof of the vehicle, i.e., the roof window assembly. Thus, when the lighting device is in operation, the window assembly generates light individually and for the purpose of the vehicle's occupants. At the same time, the vehicle's occupants can see outside through the roof window assembly. In this way, it is preferable that the roof window assembly serves as the panoramic roof of the vehicle or is part of the panoramic roof. In this case, the roof window assembly can embody, in particular, individual lighting in the form of a roof liner, and / or ambient lighting.

[0019] The lighting device of the window assembly can have a single light-emitting means.

[0020] The lighting device preferably has at least two light-emitting means. It is convenient for these light-emitting means to be spaced apart from each other. The light-emitting means are preferably evenly distributed in the window assembly, particularly in the lighting device. This enables an even, individual, and accurate light output.

[0021] Each light-emitting means may be arbitrarily configured as long as it generates light during operation and outputs it in the direction of the inner surface of the base panel.

[0022] At least one of the at least one light-emitting means, preferably each light-emitting means, is preferably a light-emitting diode or simply an LED. This enables a compact design form of the window assembly and a larger number of light-emitting means, leading to a reduced energy consumption.

[0023] When the lighting device has two or more light-emitting means, at least two of these light-emitting means can generate different types of light, for example, light of different colors and / or luminosities.

[0024] Embodiments in which the same type of light-emitting means generates are preferred. In this way, a simple and low-cost embodiment of the window assembly is realized, and at the same time, by means of the reflector, the individual output of light and the avoidance of hot spots are also realized in a simple and low-cost manner.

[0025] Each mirror part may be embodied in any way as long as it reflects light from at least one of the at least one light-emitting means, preferably from each light-emitting means.

[0026] At least one of the at least one mirror part, particularly each mirror part, is preferably a reflective layer.

[0027] At least one of the mirror portions, in particular each mirror portion, may be directly coated onto the inner surface of the base panel.

[0028] An embodiment in which the reflective device has a film having at least one mirror portion is preferred. The film is preferably transparent in other portions.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the reflector has at least two mirror sections and at least one transmissive section that separates the mirror sections from each other along the inner surface of the base panel. In this way, more individualized output of light generated by at least one light-emitting means can be achieved.

[0030] Embodiments in which the window assembly has a portion that scatters light reflected by at least one mirror portion are considered preferable, and this portion will be referred to below as the scattering portion. Accordingly, embodiments in which a scattering structure having at least one scattering portion is arranged on the side of the base panel outer surface that faces away from the inner surface of the base panel are preferred. Each scattering portion is configured to scatter light reflected by the reflector toward the inner surface of the base panel. In this way, the scattered light is output from the window assembly as scattered or diffused light through at least one transmissive portion. This leads to further individualization of the light output. Furthermore, in this way it is possible to define a region that is directly reached by light generated by at least one light-emitting means and another region where light generated by at least one light-emitting means is output as scattered or diffused light.

[0031] The window assembly preferably has a cover panel, and the lighting device is positioned between the cover panel and the base panel. That is, the window assembly has the cover panel on the side of the lighting device that faces away from the outer surface of the base panel.

[0032] The lighting device is preferably mounted on the cover panel. This leads to simpler manufacturing and a more compact structure for the window assembly.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the lighting device has a functionalized film, also referred to below as a functional film. The functional film is preferably electrically insulating and preferably made of plastic. The functional film is preferably manufactured by injection molding. At this time, at least one of at least one light-emitting means, preferably each light-emitting means, is attached to the functional film. Such functional films can be attached and / or processed in a simple manner between each panel and on one panel. In this way, the manufacture of the window assembly is simplified and the window assembly becomes more compact.

[0034] The attachment of at least one light-emitting means to the functional film can be carried out in any manner. In particular, the at least one light-emitting means can be bonded to the functional film, for example, by adhesive.

[0035] The functional film is preferably attached to the cover panel, particularly on the side facing the base panel. This leads to simplified manufacturing of the window assembly.

[0036] The functional film preferably has at least one electrical conductor path for supplying power to at least one light-emitting means. In a preferred embodiment, at least one conductor path is printed on the functional film. This leads to a compact configuration of the window assembly and low-cost manufacturing.

[0037] The use of such functional films is known, for example, from so-called "intelligent glass" or "smart glass," particularly "polymer-dispersed liquid crystal devices" or "PDLC" for short, and "suspended particle devices" or "SPD" for short. As a result, window assemblies can be manufactured easily, at low cost, and in an accurate manner.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the at least one scattering portion, particularly the scattering structure, is attached to a functional film. This leads to further simplification of the manufacturing of the window assembly, as well as precise placement of the at least one scattering portion and the resulting precise light output.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the reflector has such a mirror portion on the inner surface of the base panel within the light cone of at least one of the at least one light-emitting means, preferably each light-emitting means, and there is no mirror portion outside the light cone. That is, a region of the reflector without a mirror portion is located outside the light cone, and this will hereafter be referred to as the transmission region. In this way, the aforementioned hot spots are avoided in a simple and effective manner, while accurate and / or wide-area light output is achieved.

[0040] The scattering structure preferably has no scattering portion in at least one region of at least one of the light-emitting means, and has scattering portions spaced apart from the light-emitting means. That is, the scattering structure has at least one region without scattering portions, which will be referred to as a blank region below. It is convenient that each light-emitting means is placed in its assigned blank region.

[0041] An embodiment is considered preferable in which the transmissive region of the reflector, which does not have a mirror portion, and the blank region of the scattering structure, which does not have a scattering portion, are spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the spacing direction between the inner surface of the base panel and the outer surface of the base panel. Preferably, at least one of the at least one transmissive region overlaps with the scattering portion in a direction perpendicular to the spacing direction. As a result, direct emission of light from at least one of the at least one light-emitting means is prevented or at least reduced, thereby avoiding or at least reducing hot spots. At the same time, a wide-area diffused light output is achieved outside the aforementioned hot spots.

[0042] Naturally, in addition to window assemblies, automobiles having such window assemblies are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0043] Further important features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, drawings, and corresponding descriptions based on the drawings.

[0044] The features listed above, and the features further described below, should be understood to be usable not only in the combinations shown, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0045] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below, where the same reference numerals represent the same, similar, or functionally identical components.

[0046] Here, the following is a general description of each drawing: [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0047] [Figure 1] This is a greatly simplified cross-sectional view showing an automobile with a window assembly. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view showing the window assembly. [Figure 3]This is a plan view showing the reflector of the window assembly. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0048] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the window assembly 1 is applied to the automobile 50 shown as an example in Figure 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the window assembly 1 is applied to the roof 52 of the automobile 50 and is therefore a component of, or forming, the panoramic roof 53 of the automobile 50, or a roof window assembly 2. In this case, the window assembly 1 partitions the interior space 51 of the automobile 50 for the occupants (not shown). Thus, the window assembly 1, configured as a roof window assembly 2, partitions the interior space 51 of the automobile 50 in the Z direction 100.

[0049] As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of the window assembly 1 shown in Figure 2, the window assembly 1 has a transparent panel 3, which will hereafter be called the base panel 3. The base panel 3 has two surfaces 4 and 5 spaced apart from each other, which will hereafter be called the inner surface 4 and outer surface 5 of the base panel. The inner surface 4 and outer surface 5 of the base panel are spaced apart from each other in direction 101, which will hereafter be called the spacing direction 101. In the illustrated embodiment, the spacing direction 101 extends substantially parallel to the Z direction 100. Furthermore, the window assembly 1 has a module 6 which includes at least one light-emitting means 7, which will hereafter be called the lighting device 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting device 6 has at least two light-emitting means 7, and these two light-emitting means 7 can be seen in the cross-sectional view of Figure 2. In the illustrated embodiment, each light-emitting means 7 is configured as an LED 8. Thus, the lighting device 6, and consequently at least one light-emitting means 7, is positioned on the side of the outer surface 5 of the base panel that faces away from the inner surface 4 of the base panel. Each light-emitting means 7 is configured to generate light when in operation and output it toward the inner surface 4 of the base panel, and is particularly aligned in this manner. In Figure 2, the light generated and output by the left light-emitting means 7, and its path or propagation, are illustrated by arrows. Furthermore, the window assembly 1 has a module 9, which will also be referred to below as a reflector 9. The reflector 9 is located on the inner surface 4 of the base panel. The reflector 9 has at least one portion 10 that reflects light from at least one of the light-emitting means 9, preferably from each of the light-emitting means 9 in the illustrated embodiment, and will also be referred to below as a mirror portion 10. Each mirror portion 10 is configured to reflect the light from the light-emitting means 7 toward the outer surface 5 of the base panel, as shown in one of the mirror portions 10 in Figure 2. Furthermore, the reflector 9 has a portion 11 that is transparent to light from at least one of the light-emitting means 9, preferably to the entire visible light in this example, and will be referred to below as a transmissive portion 11.In other words, each transparent section 11 is configured to be transparent to the light from the light-emitting means 7, so that the light passes through the transparent section 11 and exits the window assembly 1, i.e., is output. In this way, it is possible to output light from the window assembly 1 through the inner surface 4 of the base panel in any pattern and / or with even higher luminosity, under a compact design.

[0050] Figure 3 shows a plan view of the reflective device 9 in this case. As can be seen from Figure 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the reflective device 9 has a plurality of mirror sections 10 spaced apart from each other, and a continuous transmissive section 11 that separates the mirror sections 10 from each other along the inner surface 4 of the base panel. As can be seen further from Figure 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the reflective device 9 has mirror sections 10 of different sizes. Each mirror section 10 may be made of a correspondingly reflective coating on the inner surface 4 of the base panel, or of a film attached to the inner surface 4 of the base panel (neither of which is shown).

[0051] As shown in Figure 1, in the illustrated embodiment, the window assembly 1 divides the interior space 51 of the automobile 50 by the inner surface 4 of the base panel or the reflector 9. In this way, the window assembly 1 makes it possible to integrate, for example, a roof liner into the panoramic roof 53.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting device 6 is positioned between the base panel 3 and the cover panel 18 of the window assembly 1. That is, the window assembly 1 has the cover panel 18 on the side of the lighting device 6 that faces away from the outer surface 5 of the base panel.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting device 6, as can be seen in Figure 2, has a functional film 14 made of plastic to which a light-emitting means 7 is attached. Here, the functional film 16, and consequently the lighting device 6, are attached to a cover panel 18. The light-emitting means 7, in particular the LED 8, may be bonded to the functional film 14. Furthermore, a conductive path (not shown) for supplying power to the light-emitting means 7 may be printed on the functional film 14.

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment, the window assembly 1 has a structure 12 that scatters light reflected by the reflector 9 toward the inner surface 4 of the base panel by a portion 13, as can be seen in Figure 2, and as a result, the scattered or diffused light is output through at least one transmissive portion 11. The structure 12 will hereafter also be called the scattering structure 12, and the portion 13 will be called the scattering portion 13. Each scattering portion 13 is configured such that, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, the scattering portion 13 scatters light reflected by the reflector 9 toward the inner surface 4 of the base panel. In this illustrated embodiment, the scattering structure 12 is attached to a functional film 14.

[0055] As can be seen particularly clearly from Figure 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the reflector 9 has at least one region 16 that does not have a mirror portion 10 and is therefore transparent to the light of the light-emitting means 7. This region 16 will be referred to as the transparent region 16 below. That is, in the transparent region 16, light can pass through the inner surface 4 of the base panel and exit the window assembly 1. In this case, the reflector 9 has such a mirror portion 10 inside the light cone 15 of each light-emitting means 9 on the inner surface of the base panel, and there is no mirror portion 10 outside the light cone 15. Thus, the transparent region 16 is located in the region outside the light cone 15. As a result, the light generated by each light-emitting means 7 does not exit the window assembly 1 directly, thereby avoiding so-called "hot spots" of light.

[0056] As can be seen further in Figure 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the scattering portions 13 are arranged in groups, and as a result, the scattering structure 12 has regions 17 without scattering portions 13, which will be referred to below as blank regions 17. That is, light is not scattered in the blank regions 17. The light-emitting means 7 are each arranged in such blank regions 17, meaning that the scattering structure 12 does not have scattering portions 13 in the region of the light-emitting means 9. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the transmission region 16 of the reflecting device 9 and the blank regions 17 of the scattering structure 12 are spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the spacing direction 101 between the inner surface 4 of the base panel and the outer surface 5 of the base panel, and as a result, at least one transmission region 16 overlaps with the grouped scattering portions 13. Therefore, as shown by the arrows in Figure 2, the light reflected by the mirror portion 10 of the reflecting device 9 is scattered from the scattering portions 13 towards the transmission region 16.

Claims

1. A window assembly (1) for an automobile (50), - A transparent base panel (3) having an inner surface (4) of the base panel and an outer surface (5) of the base panel facing away from the inner surface (4) of the base panel, - An illumination device (6) having at least one light-emitting means (7) is positioned on the side of the base panel's outer surface (5) that faces away from the inner surface (4) of the base panel. Each of the aforementioned light-emitting means (7) is configured to generate light when in operation and output the light toward the inner surface (4) of the base panel. - Having a reflective device (9) arranged on the inner surface (4) of the base panel, - The reflective device (9) has at least one mirror portion (10) and at least one transmissive portion (11), -Each of the mirror portions (10) is configured to reflect the light from at least one of the at least one of the light-emitting means (7) toward the outer surface (5) of the base panel, - The window assembly, wherein each of the transparent portions (11) is configured to transmit light from at least one of the at least one of the light-emitting means (7) so that the light exits the window assembly (1).

2. The window assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the reflecting device (9) has at least two mirror portions (10) and at least one transmissive portion (11) that separates the mirror portions (10) from each other along the inner surface (4) of the base panel.

3. The window assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a scattering structure (12) having at least one scattering portion (13) is arranged on the side of the base panel outer surface (5) opposite to the inner surface (4) of the base panel, and each of the scattering portions (13) is configured to scatter the light reflected by the reflector (9) toward the inner surface (4) of the base panel.

4. The window assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lighting device (6) has a functional film (14) to which at least one of the light-emitting means (7) is attached.

5. The window assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the scattering structure (12) is attached to a functional film (14) to which at least one of the light-emitting means (7) is attached.

6. The window assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reflecting device (9) on the inner surface of the base panel has the mirror portion (10) in at least one of the light cones (15) of the light-emitting means (7), and the mirror portion (10) is not outside the light cone (15).

7. The window assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the scattering structure (12) does not have the scattering portion (13) in at least one region of the at least one of the light-emitting means (7), and has the scattering portion (13) at an interval from the light-emitting means (7).

8. The window assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the transparent region (16) of the reflecting device (9) without the mirror portion (10) and the blank region (17) of the scattering structure (12) without the scattering portion (13) are spaced apart from each other in a direction laterally with respect to the spacing direction (101) of the inner surface (4) of the base panel with respect to the outer surface (5) of the base panel.

9. The window assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the window assembly (1) has a cover panel (18) on the side of the lighting device (6) that faces away from the outer surface (5) of the base panel, and the lighting device (6) is attached to the cover panel (18).

10. An automobile (50) having a window assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the window assembly (1) partitions the interior space (51) of the automobile (50).

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