Interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting

Abstract

The invention relates to an interior vehicle component with dimmable illumination, such as a display, operating unit with search illumination, decorative illumination device and / or illuminated instruments in the instrument panel or in the central console, which interior vehicle component is provided with at least one light source, an ambient light detection sensor that has an angle of incidence-dependent sensitivity, and with an evaluation and control unit that receives signals from the ambient light detection sensor and generates control signals for controlling the at least one light source for the purpose of adjusting the brightness of the emitted light. The ambient light detection sensor is provided with a light detection distribution for detecting ambient light to different extents depending on the angle of incidence from which ambient light impinges on the ambient light detection sensor. The ambient light detection sensor has a light detection side that has a light-shielding mask with light-shielding elements arranged at different densities distributed over the surface of the mask.

Description

[0001] Interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting

[0002] The invention relates to an interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting, such as a display, a control unit with searchlight, a decorative lighting device and / or an illuminated instrument in the instrument panel or in the center console.

[0003] It is known to control the intensity of displays on vehicle components located in the interior of a vehicle, where the occupants' ability to read the display may be affected by ambient light, with respect to the intensity of their light output depending on the ambient light. It is particularly important to adjust this influence on the light output depending on the angle of incidence of the ambient light on the vehicle component. The situation described here applies especially to LCD, OLED, or mini / micro-LED displays.

[0004] Detecting ambient light from specific angular ranges is usually only possible with special optical lenses. The integration of multiple components in the optical path results in large positional tolerances, leading to system instability. Simultaneously, it is essential to ensure that the sensor, its light-sensitive element, and / or the optical lens are concealed behind the cover as much as possible.

[0005] From DE-A-103 37 192, an interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting is known, in which the ambient light falling on the interior vehicle component is detected as a function of the solid angle. For this purpose, a sensor is used which has four light-sensitive elements designed as quadrants, which emit measurement signals depending on the solid angle at which the ambient light occurs, from which the solid angle of the incident ambient light can be determined.

[0006] Optical sensors are also known from DE-T-11 2017 003 242, DE-T-698 04 110, US-A-5 602 384 and JP-A-H07-120 314. The object of the invention is to provide an improved solution in this respect.

[0007] The invention proposes an interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting, such as a display, control unit with searchlight, decorative lighting device and / or illuminated instruments in the instrument panel or center console, comprising at least one light source, an ambient light detection sensor having an angle-dependent sensitivity, and an evaluation and control unit that receives signals from the ambient light detection sensor and generates control signals for controlling the at least one light source to adjust the brightness of the emitted light, wherein the ambient light detection sensor is provided with a light detection distribution for detecting varying intensities of ambient light depending on the angle of incidence from which the ambient light strikes the ambient light detection sensor, and wherein the ambient light detection sensor has a light detection side.which has a light-blocking mask that has light-blocking elements arranged at different densities across the plane of the mask.

[0008] In an advantageous further development of the invention, it can be provided that light barrier elements are designed as light barrier partial surfaces or as grid struts with different sizes or widths, whereby different sized light-transmitting distance areas result between such adjacent light barrier elements.

[0009] The light-blocking mask has a plurality of holes of the same or different sizes and / or the same or different densities, with light-blocking elements of the same or different sizes or of the same or different densities between the holes. In an advantageous or alternative embodiment of the invention, it can further be provided that the light-blocking mask has a plurality of holes of the same or different sizes and / or the same or different densities, with light-blocking elements of different sizes or of the same or different densities between the holes, whereby ambient light, which is incident substantially in the direction normal to the light-blocking mask, is blocked more effectively than light which is incident laterally, i.e., obliquely from one of the sides of the light-blocking mask.

[0010] According to the invention, an opaque, absorbing light-blocking mask, e.g., in the form of a print or a film with translucent areas, is used. This mask allows for the definition of the angles of incidence (solid angle ranges) from which light incident on the sensor reaches the actual light-sensitive sensor element. By using, for example, a grid structure consisting of lines or other geometric shapes, or a (micro-)hole structure of holes of different or equal sizes and / or densities as part of the opaque mask made of absorbing material between the sensor and the cover, incident light rays can be blocked in specific angular ranges. This allows the overall sensor sensitivity characteristic across the hemisphere to be freely defined, taking into account the sensor's own reception characteristics. Specific applications include, for example...In the automotive sector, this involves the detection of incident light from lateral directions.

[0011] The structure of the light-blocking mask used according to the invention replaces additional components, ensures a flat design and minimizes the number of assembly steps, which are the advantages of the concept according to the invention.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ambient light detection sensor comprises a single light-sensitive element, e.g., in the form of a photodiode, which outputs a measurement signal representing the intensity of all ambient light reaching the light-sensitive element. The light-sensitive element of the ambient light detection sensor thus does not detect the intensity of the light with spatial resolution or as a function of the solid angle. According to the invention, the solid angle-dependent intensity detection is achieved by the light-blocking mask associated with the light detection side. Unlike, for example, as described in DE-A-103 37 192, the light-sensitive element of the ambient light detection sensor according to the invention therefore does not have any pixels or similar light-sensitive sub-areas that, depending on the solid angle at which the ambient light is incident, determine the intensity of the detected light as a function of location or as a function of the solid angle.The invention is represented by measurement signals with range resolution. The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawing. Specifically, the drawing shows:

[0013] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the driver's side of the interior of a vehicle with an interior vehicle component according to the invention, comprising a display in the form of a screen, which can be designed, for example, as a touchscreen.

[0014] Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view of the display,

[0015] Fig. 3 shows in the upper part an enlarged top view of the area of ​​the display device in which the ambient light detection sensor is located, and in the lower part a section in exploded view along line III-III of Fig. 2,

[0016] Fig. 4 Graphics illustrating the angle-dependent light reception sensitivity of the ambient light detection sensor and

[0017] Figures 5A-5C show an embodiment of the light-blocking mask as a perforated mask with a top view showing the perforation pattern (Figure 5C) and with horizontal (Figure 5A) and vertical (Figure 5B) light transmission profile representations. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the driver's side of the interior 10 of a vehicle 12. The instrument panel 14, for example, has a screen 16. A control device 20 is arranged, for example, in the transition area between the center console 18 and the instrument panel 14.

[0018] The screen 16 is an example of an interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting, i.e., with dimmable light output of the display area 22 of the screen 16.

[0019] This requires at least one light source (symbolically indicated at 24 in Fig. 1) and an evaluation and control unit 26, also arranged in the housing of the screen (likewise only symbolically indicated in Fig. 1), which are designed as electronic components. These components of, for example, a backlit display area 22 of a screen will not be discussed further, as they are known to those skilled in the art.

[0020] For example, within the frame 28 of the screen 16 there is an ambient light detection sensor 30.

[0021] Details of this ambient light detection sensor 30 are shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a top view of the screen with an ambient light detection sensor 30 arranged approximately in the middle of the upper region of the frame 28 (see also the enlarged view in Fig. 3 above). In this embodiment, the ambient light detection sensor 30 is designed as an SMD component and has a single light-sensitive element 34, for example a photodiode 36, arranged in a potting compound or in a housing 32. The photodiode 34 has contacts 38 on its underside, typically with bond wire connections 40 to the photodiode 36. The housing 32 has an opening 42 through which the sensitive light-sensing side 44 of the light-sensitive element 34 is exposed. This opening 42 is filled with a transparent plastic material 46 for protection. In this embodiment, the ambient light detection sensor 30 is located on a circuit board 47, which is arranged behind the frame 28 of the screen 16.The frame 28 itself can be designed as a separate component that encloses the display area 22; however, the frame 28 can also be designed as a so-called black print on the cover glass 48 of the screen 16 or the display area 22.

[0023] The frame 28 has a translucent opening 50 behind which the ambient light detection sensor 30 is arranged. The opening 50 has a light-blocking mask 52 with individual light-blocking elements 54, which in this embodiment are designed as parallel "grid struts" (light-blocking strips) crossing the opening 50. If the edge 28 of the screen 16 is printed in black, these grid struts are designed as black lines.

[0024] As can be seen from Fig. 2 (or also from Fig. 3), the density (and possibly also the width) of the grid struts, i.e., the light-blocking elements 54, are denser or wider in line with the housing 32 and, in particular, in line with the sensitive light-sensing side 44 of the light-sensitive element 34 than to the left and right of it. Between the light-blocking elements 54 are gaps 56 that are transparent to ambient light. This ensures that ambient light incident directly in the direction of the normal is blocked from the light-sensitive element 34, while ambient light incident laterally, i.e., from the left or right, can reach the light-sensitive element 34 of the ambient light detection sensor 30. This gives the ambient light detection sensor 30 an angle-dependent ambient light detection distribution or sensitivity, as shown graphically in Fig. 4.

[0025] This embodiment describes the construction of an ambient light detection sensor with an incidence-angle-dependent sensitivity. The sensor itself comprises the optoelectronic light-sensitive element 34, preferably in the form of a photodiode 36, which is embedded in a potting compound and contacted via externally extending contacts. The housing is, for example, designed as an SMD component and typically has a flat top surface. On this top surface or a cover, the light-blocking mask 52 is located, comprising a plurality of light-blocking elements 54 whose spacing and size vary across the plane spanned by the mask. In this embodiment, the light-blocking elements 54 are designed as parallel "grid struts" or light-blocking strips, arranged wider and closer together directly above the photodiode than to the left and right of it.In this exemplary embodiment, the entire assembly is symmetrical. This embodiment describes an ambient light detection sensor 30 that is more sensitive to obliquely incident ambient light than to directly incident light, in that more light striking the sensor to the left or right of center reaches its light-sensitive element 34 than light striking it substantially perpendicularly. The angle-dependent light sensitivity of the ambient light detection sensor according to the invention in the X and Y directions is shown in Fig. 4. With an arrangement of light-blocking elements and light-transmitting spaces between them of varying density / size, also above the grid structure according to Fig. 2, it would also be possible to influence light striking the light-blocking mask 52 from above so that it is transmitted to the sensor, if desired.

[0026] Fig. 5C shows a light-blocking mask 52' in the form of a perforated mask which has holes 56' as light-transmitting areas in an opaque surface, wherein the partial areas between the holes 56' function as light-blocking elements 54'.

[0027] As can be seen in Fig. 5C, the density of holes of a first size varies to the left and right of the central axis, which is vertical with respect to Fig. 5C. Holes of a second size are arranged in the outer area, and further holes 56' are arranged above and below the hole pattern described so far. The horizontal light transmission profile according to Fig. 5A shows that light striking the hole mask from the left and right at an angle of up to 50° to the normal of the hole mask reaches the sensor, while light striking perpendicularly is largely blocked. Fig. 5C shows that light transmitted obliquely from above or obliquely from below (up to about 40° to the normal) reaches the sensor.

[0028] REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0029] 10 Interior

[0030] 12 vehicles

[0031] 14 Instrument panel

[0032] 16-inch screen

[0033] 18 Center console

[0034] 20 Operating device

[0035] 22 Display area

[0036] 24 light sources

[0037] 26 Control unit

[0038] 28 frames

[0039] 30 Ambient light detection sensor

[0040] 32 cases

[0041] 34 light-sensitive elements

[0042] 36 photodiode

[0043] 38 contacts

[0044] 40 Bond wire connection

[0045] 42 Opening

[0046] 44 sensitive light detection sides

[0047] 46 transparent plastic material

[0048] 47 ladder map

[0049] 48 Cover glass

[0050] 50 light-transmitting openings

[0051] 52 Light Blocking Mask

[0052] 52' Light Blocking Mask

[0053] 54 light barrier element

[0054] 54' Light barrier element

[0055] 56 translucent spacing areas (column)

[0056] 56' translucent spacing areas (holes)

Claims

REQUIREMENTS 1. Interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting, such as a display, control unit with searchlight, decorative lighting device and / or illuminated instruments in the instrument panel or center console, comprising at least one light source (24), an ambient light detection sensor (30) having an angle-dependent sensitivity, and an evaluation and control unit (26) that receives signals from the ambient light detection sensor (30) and generates control signals for controlling the at least one light source (24) to adjust the brightness of the emitted light, wherein the ambient light detection sensor (30) is provided with a light detection distribution for detecting ambient light with varying intensity depending on the angle of incidence from which the ambient light strikes the ambient light detection sensor (30), and wherein the ambient light detection sensor (30) has a light detection side (44).which has a light barrier mask (54) which has light barrier elements (52) distributed over its surface at different densities and / or of different sizes, with light-transmitting gaps (56) between the light barrier elements (52) at different densities and / or of different sizes.

2. Interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting according to claim 1, characterized in that the light barrier elements (52) are designed as light barrier partial surfaces or as grid struts with different sizes or widths, wherein differently sized light-transmitting distance areas (56) are arranged between such adjacent light barrier elements (54).

3. Interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light barrier mask (54) has a plurality of holes of the same or different size and / or the same or different density with the light barrier elements (52) of the same or different size or the same or different density between the holes.

4. Interior vehicle component with dimmable lighting according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the ambient light detection sensor (30) has a light-sensitive element (34), e.g. in the form of a photodiode (36), which outputs a measurement signal representing the intensity of the total ambient light reaching the light-sensitive element (34).

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