DUMMY ELEMENT HAVING AN ILLUMINANT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dummy element, in particular a dummy vehicle, comprising a dummy body having an illumination area which simulates an illumination device to be simulated of an element to be simulated, in particular a vehicle, the illumination area having on its surface graphic contours which reproduce a frame of the illumination device to be simulated, and an illuminant, wherein the dummy body comprises, in the illumination area, an opening in which the illuminant is arranged.

Claims

1. A dummy element, in particular a dummy vehicle, the dummy element comprising: a dummy body having an illumination area which simulates an illumination device to be simulated of an element to be simulated, in particular a vehicle, an illuminant which is designed without a housing, wherein the dummy body comprises an opening in the illumination area in which the illuminant is arranged.

2. The dummy element according to claim 1, wherein the illumination area has graphic contours on its surface, which in particular reproduce a frame of the illumination device to be simulated.

3. The dummy element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the illuminant is fixed in the opening by means of a press fit.

4. The dummy element according to claim 3, wherein the opening and the illuminant form a clearance fit so that the illuminant is retractable into the opening like a drawer.

5. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the illuminant is fixed in the opening by means of an adhesive connection.

6. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the illuminant is fixed in the opening by means of a form fit.

7. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the illuminant comprises a luminous body and a circuit board, wherein the luminous body protrudes from the circuit board.

8. The dummy element according to claim 7, wherein the circuit board is designed to be flexibly, in particular elastically, deformable.

9. The dummy element according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the circuit board is fixed in the opening of the dummy body and the luminous body protrudes from the opening.

10. The dummy element according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the opening has an outlet region in the dummy body through which the luminous body projects outwardly and has a fastening region in the dummy body at which the circuit board is present.

11. The dummy element according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the opening has an outlet region in the dummy body into which the luminous body, in particular LED, fastened on the circuit board projects and lies completely within the outlet region, and has a fastening region in the dummy body at which the circuit board is present.

12. The dummy element according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein an opening diameter of an outlet region is smaller than an opening diameter of the fastening region so that the fastening region forms an undercut, wherein the dummy body is designed to be elastically deformable such that the circuit board can be pressed through the outlet region and, when present in the fastening region, forms a form fit for fastening the illuminant.

13. The dummy element according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the illuminant comprises a plurality of luminous bodies, in particular LEDs, which are coupled to the circuit board, wherein the opening in the dummy body has a plurality of outlet regions, wherein one of the luminous bodies is arranged in each outlet region.

14. The dummy element according to any one of claims 7 to 13, further comprising: a cooling device wherein the cooling device is thermally coupled on the side of the circuit board facing away from the luminous body, wherein the cooling device comprises in particular at least one of the group of: a water cooling system; an air cooling system; and a thermoelectric cooling system, in particular a Peltier element.

15. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the opening is a through opening and connects an inner portion of the dummy body to the surface of the illumination area, wherein the illuminant is insertable through the openings from the inside.

16. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the illuminant comprises an LED, in particular an LED matrix.

17. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 16, where the dummy body is a foamed plastic.

18. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the graphic contours are applied to the surface of the illumination area by means of a colorant.

19. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the graphic contours are applied to the surface of the illumination area by means of stickers.

20. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the illuminant has supply cables to which an energy source is connectable.

21. The dummy element according to anyone of claims 1 to 19, wherein the illuminant comprises a battery as an energy source.

22. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the illuminant has an induction coil by means of which energy can be supplied to the illuminant.

23. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the illuminant comprises a signal transmitter, wherein the signal transmitter is configured to receive control signals for controlling the illuminant.

24. The dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the illuminant has an acceleration sensor so that accelerations and decelerations can be measured.

25. A system for moving a dummy element, the system comprising a dummy element according to any one of claims 1 to 24, a movable platform, wherein the dummy element is fastened on the movable platform.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the dummy element has a first interface and the movable platform has a second interface, wherein the first interface and the second interface are configured to correspond to each other such that particular data signals or power are interchangeable between the platform and the dummy element.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0052] The same or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals. The illustrations in the figures are schematic.

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a section of a dummy element 100, wherein the opening 104 is formed as a through opening. The dummy element 100 is, for example, a motor vehicle wherein a sectional view of the front portion is shown in FIG. 1. The dummy element 100 comprises a dummy body 101 having an illumination area 102 which simulates an illumination device to be simulated of an element to be simulated, in particular a vehicle. The illumination area 102 has graphic contours 103 on its surface which reproduce a frame of the illumination device to be simulated, and an illuminant 110. The illuminant 110 is designed without a housing. The dummy body 101 has an opening 104 in the illumination area 102, in which the illuminant 110 is arranged.

[0054] In particular, the illumination area 102 and the illuminant 110 simulate headlights, turn signals, or brake lights of a vehicle.

[0055] The opening 104 is, for example, a through opening and connects an inner portion 106 of the dummy element 101 to the surface 105 of the illumination area 102, which faces the surrounding area 107 of the dummy element 100. The illuminant 110 may be inserted through the openings 104 from the inside.

[0056] The illuminant 110 comprises supply cables to which an energy source 109 is connectable.

[0057] The illuminant 110 further comprises a signal transmitter 111, wherein the signal transmitter 111 is configured to receive control signals for controlling the illuminant 110.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a section of a dummy element 100, wherein the opening 104 is formed as a blind hole with an undercut. The dummy element 100 is, for example, a motor vehicle wherein a sectional view of the front portion is shown in FIG. 2. Here, the illuminant 110 is fixed in the opening 104 by means of a form fit.

[0059] The illuminant 110 comprises a luminous body 201 and a circuit board 202, wherein the luminous body 201 protrudes from the circuit board 202. A corresponding embodiment of the illuminant 110 may also be used in the through hole 104 of FIG. 1. In particular, the circuit board 202 is configured to be elastically deformable.

[0060] The circuit board 202 is fixed within the opening 104 of the dummy body 101, and the luminous body 201 protrudes or projects from the opening 104. In other words, the opening 104 may be provided as a hole in the dummy body 101, wherein the circuit board 202 is present in the hole and the luminous body 201 is present in the region of the opening 104. In this regard, the luminous body 201 may be present within the opening 104 or may protrude from the opening 104.

[0061] The opening 104 has, in the dummy body 101, an outlet region 203 through which the luminous body 201 projects outwardly, and, in the dummy body 101, a fastening region 204 at which the circuit board 202 is present. The opening diameter of the outlet region 203 is smaller than the opening diameter of the fastening region 204, so that the fastening region 204 forms an undercut. The dummy body 101 is formed to be elastically deformable such that the circuit board 202, which may itself be elastically deformable, may be pressed through the outlet region 203 and, when present in the fastening region 204, forms a form fit for fastening the illuminant 110.

[0062] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a cooling device may be thermally coupled on the side of the circuit board 202 facing away from the luminous body 201. For example, the cooling device may comprise a water cooling, an air cooling or a thermoelectric cooling (in particular a Peltier element). Also, the cooling device may advantageously comprise a combination of different cooling systems.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a front portion of a car dummy as a dummy element 100. The dummy element 100 is fastened on a movable platform 300.

[0064] The dummy element 100 has a first interface 301 and the movable platform 300 has a second interface 302, wherein the first interface 301 and the second interface 302 are configured to correspond to each other such that particular data signals or energy are interchangeable between the platform 300 and the dummy element 100.

[0065] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a front portion of a motorcycle dummy as a dummy element 100. The dummy element 100 is fastened on a movable platform 300.

[0066] The dummy element 100 has a first interface 301 and the movable platform 300 has a second interface 302, wherein the first interface 301 and the second interface 302 are configured to correspond to each other such that particular data signals or energy are interchangeable between the platform 300 and the dummy element 100.

[0067] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a section of a dummy element 100, wherein the opening 104 comprises a plurality of outlet regions 203 for luminous bodies 201, in particular LEDs. The LEDs may thus form a predetermined LED array. The outlet regions 103 may be round, oval or rectilinear or in the shape of a slot or slit. The circuit board 201 is attached to the dummy body 101 towards the inner side 106. The luminous bodies 201 project from the circuit board 101 towards the surrounding area 107. The luminous bodies 201 may be located in the outlet regions 203 or project therefrom towards the surrounding area 107. The fastening region 204 is formed in the shape of a slot and holds the circuit board 202 in place in a form-fitting manner.

[0068] In FIG. 5, the dummy body 101 is shown in the non-deformed state. In FIG. 6, the dummy body 101 is shown in the deformed state. Due to the number of outlet regions 203 in the dummy body 101, the dummy body 101 is, for example, readily deformable in this region. Furthermore, the circuit board 202 is formed to be elastically deformable and may deform along with the dummy body 101. Thus, the embodiment example provides a good elastic deformability of the dummy body 101 in the illumination area 102.

[0069] Supplementally, it should be noted that “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. It should further be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as a limitation.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0070] 100 Dummy element

[0071] 101 Dummy body

[0072] 102 Illumination area

[0073] 103 Graphic contours

[0074] 104 Opening

[0075] 105 Surface of the illumination area

[0076] 106 Interior

[0077] 107 Surrounding area

[0078] 108 Supply cable

[0079] 109 Energy source

[0080] 110 Illuminant

[0081] 111 Signal transmitter

[0082] 201 Luminous body

[0083] 202 Circuit board

[0084] 203 Outlet region

[0085] 204 Fastening region

[0086] 300 Movable platform

[0087] 301 First interface

[0088] 302 Second interface