Illuminated textile, interior component and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an illuminated textile comprising: a textile (100) in or on which optical fibres (120-126) are arranged, wherein a plurality of optical fibres (120-126) are bundled into a group (130) and are each arranged with one end in a sleeve (140); a light source (150); a variable scattering element (160, 160A, 160B) which is arranged between the sleeve (140) and the light source (150) such that light emitted by the light source (150) is coupled through the scattering element (160, 160A, 160B) into the ends of the optical fibres of the group (130); and a control device (170) which is designed to control the variable scattering element (160, 160A, 160B) so that the passage of light through the variable scattering element is changed. The invention further relates to an interior component having an illuminated textile and to a motor vehicle.

Description

[0001] Light textile, interior component and motor vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a light textile, an interior component with a light textile and a motor vehicle with such an interior component.

[0003] The integration of decorative or informative lighting accents into a vehicle is becoming increasingly important. Textiles with integrated optical fibers are available on the market. The optical fibers are bundled in groups of approximately 40-80 in a sleeve and connected to a light source, such as an LED module. The light source directs light into each individual optical fiber, and the light travels axially inside the optical fiber to an exit surface.

[0004] Due to this structure, the light is uniform in terms of its light color, intensity, etc., for all 40-80 optical fibers in a group. The formation of different light colors or different intensities in a segment of the light textile that only contains optical fibers from one group is therefore not possible.

[0005] There is a need to create greater freedom in terms of lighting display options.

[0006] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a solution for creating a lighting display with a high degree of design freedom. In particular, the solution should be cost-effective and customizable.

[0007] This object is achieved by a light textile according to patent claim 1 and an interior component according to patent claim 7 and a vehicle according to patent claim 8. Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0008] A light textile is specified comprising a textile in or on which optical fibers are arranged, wherein a plurality of optical fibers are bundled into a group and each end is arranged in a sleeve. The entirety of the optical fibers of the light textile can be bundled, for example, into a single group or two or more separate groups. Any number of optical fibers can be present in each group. The textile can be, for example, a woven fabric, knitted fabric, nonwoven fabric or similar. The optical fibers can, for example, be incorporated into the textile, e.g. woven in, or connected to it by an adhesive layer. The optical fibers can also be pressed into a carrier material, such as, for example, an NF-PP mat (natural fiber mat with PP as the binding matrix).Preferably, the optical fibers are bundled into a group near the sleeve and are separated further along and arranged in smaller groups or individually on the textile. The optical fibers are arranged in particular in a section of the textile, also called a segment. The textile can preferably have further segments in which optical fibers of further lengths are arranged.

[0009] groups. It is particularly preferred that a segment of the textile comprises exclusively optical fibers from one group.

[0010] The light textile also comprises a light source and a variable diffusion element arranged between the sleeve and the light source such that light emitted by the light source is coupled through the diffusion element into the ends of the optical fibers in the group. The light source can be, for example, an LED module or other lighting device.

[0011] Furthermore, the light textile comprises a control device configured to control the variable scattering element so that the light transmission through the scattering element is varied. For this purpose, the control device is preferably operatively connected to the scattering element.

[0012] The scattering element influences the light so that it is switched off, filtered, attenuated, etc. in specific areas. The scattering element is variable in that the influence of the scattering element on the separated light can be changed locally or over time. In other words, the effect of the control element on the incoming light can be modified using the control device. The result is a more flexible and customized representation of the light on the A-side. For example, the optical fibers in a group can have different brightnesses, individual optical fibers can be completely darkened by sealing them off, or the light can be broken down into spectral colors in the manner of a plasma, which are then introduced into defined optical fibers.

[0013] In one embodiment, the scattering element partially blocks the passage of light locally. Such a scattering element preferably has partial areas that are opaque. This makes it possible to couple light specifically into individual optical fibers.

[0014] In a further embodiment, it is particularly advantageous if the scattering element has light passage regions whose position relative to the optical fibers of the group can be changed by the control device.

[0015] Particularly preferably, the position of the light passage is changed by rotating the control element relative to the optical fibers of the group. In a further embodiment, the scattering element comprises electrochromic glass, and the control device is configured to change the light transmittance of the intelligent glass.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the scattering element contains a liquid and the control device is configured to change the light transmittance of the liquid.

[0017] Furthermore, an interior component with a light textile as described above is specified. The light textile can, in particular, be arranged on a carrier material. The optical fibers can then, for example, be pressed into the carrier material and / or connected to the textile. The interior component can be, for example, a door panel, a pillar panel, etc.

[0018] In a further aspect, a motor vehicle with such an interior component is specified.

[0019] The same technical effects and advantages can be achieved with the interior component or the motor vehicle with interior component as already described for the light textile.

[0020] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. Where the term "may" is used in this application, this refers to both the technical possibility and the actual technical implementation. Exemplary embodiments are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show, in schematic representation:

[0021] Figure 1 shows an example of a light textile,

[0022] Figures 2 to 4 show detailed views of exemplary designs, Figure 5 shows an exemplary interior component and

[0023] Figure 6 shows an example vehicle.

[0024] Figure 1 shows an exemplary light textile 100. Optical fibers 120-126 are integrated into a textile 110 in the form of a woven fabric. The optical fibers 120-126 are arranged in or on the textile 110, for example, woven into it or glued to it. Several optical fibers 120-126 are combined into a group 130 where they emerge from the textile 110 and bundled by their ends in a sleeve 140. This group 130 of optical fibers 120-126 is arranged in a first section 112 of the textile 110. Further groups 132-136 of optical fibers are arranged in further sections 114, 116, 118 (indicated here by hatching) of the textile 110.

[0025] The sleeve 140 is connected to a light source 150, e.g. an LED module, wherein a variable scattering element 160 is arranged between the sleeve 140 and the light source 150 such that light L emitted by the light source 150 is coupled by the scattering element 160 into the ends of the optical fibers 120-126 of the group 130.

[0026] Figure 2A shows the scattering element 160 and the sleeve 140 in a detailed view. The group 130 of optical fibers 120-126 is bundled in the sleeve 140, so that the optical fibers 120-126 extend essentially longitudinally through the sleeve 140 and terminate in it. Figure 2B shows a sectional view AA of the individual optical fibers 120-126. The scattering element 160 is operatively connected to a control device 170, which is configured to control the variable scattering element 160 such that the light passage through the variable scattering element 160 is changed.

[0027] Fig. 2C shows an exemplary embodiment of a variable diffusion element 160. This has an opaque disk 164 in which several light passage areas 162 are provided in the form of through holes. These allow light to pass from one side of the diffusion element 160 to the other side, i.e., from the illumination device 150 into the optical fibers 120-126. The disk is rotatably mounted relative to an edge of the diffusion element 160, so that the position of the light passage areas 162 can be changed by a rotational movement (see arrow). Only light is coupled into those optical fibers to which light passes through the light passage areas 162. The rotational movement is controlled by the control device 170. For this purpose, for example, a motor (not shown) can be provided.

[0028] Figure 3A shows a further embodiment. Identical reference numerals describe identical features and will not be explained again. The scattering element 160A provided in this embodiment is configured to perform an electronic or magnetic modification of the light. For example, it is electrochromic glass, which is made partially opaque by applying a voltage. Figure 3B shows the scattering element 160A in a sectional view BB, wherein, by way of example, six regions 166A-F are provided, the light transmittance of which can be changed independently of one another by applying a voltage. If the scattering element 160A is used in the light textile 100 of Figure 1, the control device 170 is configured to control the voltage applied to the scattering element 160A. Figures 4A and 4B show a further embodiment. The basic structure corresponds to the structure in Figure 3A.The scattering element 160B contains a liquid inside that modifies the introduced light. For this purpose, components / particles can be added to the liquid that can produce other effects, such as reflective particles. By applying a voltage, the liquid can be dynamically generated, for example, when magnetic or polar particles are used. For additional dynamic light, bubbles can also be generated in the liquid, e.g., by applying a voltage or by adding air.

[0029] The scattering elements 160A and 160B can be used as an alternative to the scattering element 160 in the light textile according to Figure 1. The scattering element 160A or 160B is controlled by means of the control device 170.

[0030] Figure 5 shows an exemplary interior component 10 in the form of a door panel with a light textile 100 according to Figure 1.

[0031] Figure 6 shows a motor vehicle 1 in which the exemplary interior component 10 from Figure 5 is arranged.

[0032] List of reference symbols

[0033] 1 motor vehicle

[0034] 10 Interior component

[0035] 100 light textiles

[0036] 110 Textile

[0037] 112, 114, 116, 118 sections of the textile

[0038] 120-126 optical fiber

[0039] 130 - 136 Group

[0040] 140 sleeve

[0041] 150 light source

[0042] 160, 160A, 160B variable scattering element

[0043] 162 light passage areas

[0044] 164 disc

[0045] 166A-F Areas of the scattering element

[0046] 170 Control device

Claims

Patent claims 1. Light textile with a textile (100) in or on which optical fibers (120-126) are arranged, wherein a plurality of optical fibers (120-126) are bundled into a group (130) and each arranged with one end in a sleeve (140), a light source (150) and a variable scattering element (160, 160A, 160B) that is arranged between the sleeve (140) and the light source (150) in such a way that light emitted by the light source (150) is coupled through the scattering element (160, 160A, 160B) into the ends of the optical fibers of the group (130), and with a control device (170) that is set up to control the variable scattering element (160, 160A, 160B) so that the light passage through the variable scattering element is changed.

2. Light textile according to claim 1, wherein the scattering element (160, 160A, 160B) locally partially prevents the passage of light.

3. Light textile according to claim 2, wherein the scattering element (160) has light passage regions (162) whose position relative to the optical fibers (120-126) of the group (130) can be changed by the control device (170).

4. Light textile according to claim 3, wherein the change in position is effected by rotating the control element (160) relative to the optical fibers (120-126) of the group.

5. Light textile according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the scattering element (160A) comprises an intelligent glass, and the Control device (170) is configured to change the light transmittance of the intelligent glass.

6. Light textile according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the scattering element (160B) contains a liquid, and the control device (170) is configured to change the light transmittance of the liquid.

7. Interior component (10) with a light textile (100) according to one of the preceding claims.

8. Motor vehicle (1) with an interior component (10) according to claim 7.

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