DEVICE FOR HEATING A VEHICLE COVER

Abstract

A device for a vehicle, comprising a cover, a source of electromagnetic heating radiation, which is used to heat the cover, as well as a light guide, through which the heating radiation emerging from the source of electromagnetic heating radiation is guided to the cover.

Claims

1. A device for heating a cover of a vehicle, the device comprising: a cover; a source providing electromagnetic heating radiation, which is used to heat the cover; and a light guide through which the heating radiation emitted by the source of electromagnetic heating radiation is guided to the cover.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is a cover of a sensor device or a headlight or a tail light or a part of a front panel or a bumper.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover at least partially absorbs the electromagnetic heating radiation used, in particular the cover being made from a material or comprising a material which at least partially absorbs the electromagnetic heating radiation used.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the source of electromagnetic heating radiation comprises at least one light-emitting diode, in particular a plurality of light-emitting diodes, in particular the at least one light-emitting diode being able to emit electromagnetic heating radiation in a red and/or infrared wavelength range, preferably in a wavelength range between 600 nm and 1,100 nm.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide is designed as a plate, which is arranged between the at least one light-emitting diode and the cover, in particular arranged on the back side of the cover, the light guide extending in parallel to and abutting the cover.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide is roughened in at least one area, from which the electromagnetic heating radiation is to emerge into the cover.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide is largely transparent for the electromagnetic heating radiation used, in particular the light guide being made from polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene or quartz glass or comprising polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene or quartz glass.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a sensor unit, which emits and/or receives the electromagnetic radiation, in particular electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sensor unit and/or received by the sensor unit passing through the cover during the operation of the device.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the source of electromagnetic heating radiation is situated at a distance from the sensor unit.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the sensor unit is a radar unit.

11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sensor unit and/or received by the sensor unit is a radiation in the microwave range, preferably a radiation in a wavelength range between 1 mm and 100 mm.

12. The device according to claim 8, wherein the cover is largely transparent for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sensor unit and/or received by the sensor unit, in particular the cover being made from a material or comprising a material which is largely transparent for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sensor unit and/or received by the sensor unit.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein the device comprises a housing, in which the sensor unit is at least partially accommodated, the cover at least partially closing the housing.

14. The device according to claim 8, wherein the cover and/or the housing is/are designed as a radome.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one light source, by which, during the operation of the device, visible light may be generated, which may emerge from the device, in particular through at least one light outlet opening in the cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0020] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein the sole figure shows a schematic sectional view of a device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The specific embodiment of a device according to the invention illustrated in the figures used as a sensor device and comprises a sensor unit 1, which is designed, for example, as a radar unit. Sensor unit 1 may emit and/or receive electromagnetic radiation 2. Radiation 2 may be, for example, radiation in a wavelength range between 1 mm and 100 mm.

[0022] The device further comprises a housing, of which only front cover 3 is shown. Radiation 2 emitted by sensor unit 1 emerges from the housing through cover 3. The conical area, in particular the radar cone, in which radiation 2 diffuses, is indicated by reference numeral 4.

[0023] The device comprises a base plate 5, through which radiation 2 passes before it strikes cover 3. The base plate is surrounded by a circuit board 6, on which a plurality of light-emitted diodes 7 are arranged. Instead of a circuit board 6, multiple circuit boards 6 may also be provided. Instead of multiple light-emitting diodes 7, only one single light-emitting diode 7 may also be provided.

[0024] Electromagnetic heating radiation 8 emitted by light-emitting diodes 7 may be, for example, radiation in a wavelength range between 600 nm and 1,100 nm. Heating radiation 8 diffuses to the right in FIG. 1 and enters a light guide 9, which is arranged between light-emitting diodes 7 and cover 3.

[0025] Light guide 9 is designed as a thin plate, which abuts the inner side or the side of cover 3 facing sensor unit 1. Light guide 9 is largely transparent for electromagnetic heating radiation 8 used and is made from, in particular, polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) or quartz glass or comprises polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) or quartz glass.

[0026] Heating radiation 8 emitted by light-emitting diodes 7 is coupled into light guide 9 and guided thereby along the back side of cover 3 in parallel to cover 3. Some areas 10 of the light guide are roughened on the outer side or the side facing the cover 3, so that heating radiation 8, may emerge from light guide 9 in these areas 10 and strike the cover. Cover 3 is at least partially impermeable for the wavelength of heating radiation 8 used, so that heating radiation 8 emerging from areas 10 is absorbed locally by the cover. This results in the heating of cover 3.

[0027] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, cover 3 includes through-openings 11 for visible light, which may be generated by light sources which are not illustrated, in particular for light-emitting diodes, which emit visible light. This visible light may enhance the outer appearance of the device.

[0028] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.