Visible Component for a Motor Vehicle, and Motor Vehicle Having Visible Component

Abstract

A visible component for a motor vehicle includes a fiber-reinforced plastics component having a multi-layer fiber reinforcement which is integrated in an at least largely transparent plastics matrix. The fiber reinforcement is formed by a visible layer in the form of a metallized glass fiber layer and at least one largely transparent structural layer. A touch display is also provided on a rear face of the fiber-reinforced plastics component facing the visible layer.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A visible component for a motor vehicle, the visible component comprising: a fiber-reinforced polymer component having a multilayer fiber reinforcement incorporated into an at least largely transparent polymer matrix, wherein the fiber reinforcement is formed by a visible layer in a form of a metallized glass fiber layer and at least one largely transparent structure layer; and a touch display which is disposed on a reverse side of the fiber-reinforced polymer component which is remote from the visible layer.

16. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the touch display is bonded to the reverse side of the fiber-reinforced polymer component.

17. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the visible layer is a metallized glass fiber layer.

18. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the at least one largely transparent structure layer takes a form of a glass fiber layer.

19. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein: all structure layers take a form of a glass fiber layer.

20. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the at least one largely transparent structure layer is formed by a weave, laid scrim, knit, nonwoven or braid.

21. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the visible layer is formed by a weave, laid scrim, knit, nonwoven or braid.

22. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the polymer matrix is a thermoset polymer matrix.

23. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, further comprising at least one color filter layer disposed atop the fiber-reinforced polymer component.

24. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the touch display is a transparent display, a light source is disposed on a side of the touch display remote from the visible layer, and light emitted from the light source backlights the touch display and the fiber-reinforced polymer component in a direction of the visible layer.

25. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the visible component has a three-dimensional surface, and a flexible display is installed as a touch display.

26. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein the visible component is an interior component of a motor vehicle.

27. The visible component as claimed in claim 15, wherein the visible component is an exterior component of a motor vehicle.

28. A motor vehicle comprising the visible component as claimed in claim 15.

29. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 28, wherein: the touch display is configured to operate a vehicle component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a section view of an illustrative visible component.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the visible component of FIG. 1.

[0033] FIGS. 3 and 4 show top views of the visible component of FIG. 1 with deactivated and activated touch display.

[0034] FIGS. 5 to 7 show section views of further illustrative visible components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a first illustrative visible component 1. The visible component 1 has a fiber composite body 10 which is formed by a polymer matrix 20 into which a fiber reinforcement 30 is embedded. The fiber reinforcement 30 is formed by two or more fiber layers that are layered one on top of another to form a stack. The fiber reinforcement 30 consists, by way of example, of two structure layers 31 and 32, and a visible layer 33. The visible layer 33, being the uppermost layer, faces the visible side 2 of the visible component 1. The visible layer 33 and the structure layers 31 and 32 may preferably take the form of directed fiber layers; the visible layer 33 preferably takes the form of a weave or laid scrim.

[0036] The polymer matrix 20 and the structure layers 31 and 32 are transparent or largely transparent. For example, a transparent polymer matrix and structure layers made of glass fibers are used. If the glass fiber layers are infiltrated with the transparent polymer matrix, they likewise become transparent or largely transparent. By contrast, the visible layer 33 takes the form of a metallized glass fiber layer. The visible layer 33viewed from the visible side of component 1is visible through the polymer matrix 20. In the unlit state, the visible component 1 acts like a conventional visible component, for example in a metal fiber look.

[0037] Also disposed on the reverse side of the component 1i.e. the side remote from the visible layer 2is a touch display 40 bonded to the fiber composite body 10 over the full area by an adhesive layer 50.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a view of the visible component 1 before the touch display 40 is bonded to the fiber composite body 10. In the activated state of the touch display, information is shown on the screen (represented here by way of example as a logo). The touch display offers the further functionality that the display can be altered by touching the screen, for example made smaller or larger, moved etc. Such a touch display, by touching the screen, also enables the selection or activation of stored functions. For example, the touch display, when installed in the vehicle, be coupled to a vehicle component or a control device and enable, for example, the activation of a seat heater, alteration of air conditioning settings or the like. The fiber composite body 10, because of its construction with the fiber reinforcement composed of a metallized glass fiber layer and at least one further glass fiber layer, enables maintenance of the operability of the touch display even when the fiber composite body 10 is adhesive bonded to the touch display. This means that the touch display can be operated by touching the fiber composite body 10.

[0039] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show the illustrative visible component 1 with deactivated and activated touch display. If the touch display 40 is deactivated, the visible component 1 acts like a conventional component in a visible fiber look. The visible layer 33 is apparent through the polymer matrix. With activated touch display 40, the display thereof becomes visible through the fiber composite structure. By virtue of the use of a metallized glass fiber layer 33, a portion of the light from the touch display 40 also passes through the metallized glass fiber layer 33. The metallization or vapor-deposited metal is so thin that the glass fiber layer 33 is translucent with respect to light. The outward effect in the illuminated state is thus that the structure of the visible layer in the background and the touch display are readily apparent.

[0040] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show further alternative visible components 1A, 1B and 1C. Where identical reference numerals are used, these are identical features that will not be described again.

[0041] The visible component 1A, as well is the above-described structure, also has a color filter layer 60 which is on the visible side 2 and is formed, for example, by a color paint layer or color glaze. This may be disposed directly on the fiber composite body 10, or there may be one or more additional layers, for example an adhesion promoter layer, disposed between the fiber composite body 10 and the color filter layer 60. This acts like a color filter, i.e. absorb some of the light and transmits the rest of the light (e.g. a particular color of light). The color filter layer enables additional color effects.

[0042] The visible component 1B in FIG. 6 differs from the visible component 1 in that the touch display 40A used is a transparent OLED touch display and, in addition, a light source 70 is provided, disposed on a side of the touch display 40A remote from the visible layer 33. This may be secured, for example, on the touch display 40A with or without a separation or may be disposed thereon in some other locally fixed manner. Light is emitted from the light source 70 through the touch display 40A in the direction of the fiber composite body 10. The light penetrates through the fiber composite body 10 and exits therefrom on the visible side 2. Because of the use of a largely transparent polymer matrix 20 and the fiber reinforcement 30, only a small portion of the light emitted by the light source 70 is absorbed or reflected, and the intensity of the light that exits on the visible side 1 is reduced only slightly. The light source 70, together with the touch display or alternately, can generate additional light effects in the component.

[0043] The visible component 1C in FIG. 7 corresponds to the visible component 1, but additionally has, on the visible side of the fiber composite body 10, the color layer filter 60 described for FIG. 5, which makes it possible to still further enhance the optical effect achievable in the visible component 1C.

[0044] The construction of the glass fiber body 10 with one visible layer 33 and two structure layers composed of glass fibers, as shown in the figures, showed unlimited operability of the touch display in experiments. The fiber composite bodies in the experiments had wall thicknesses of 0.6 mm to 0.9 mm. The visible layer used was a layer of aluminum-metallized glass fiber roving plain weave with a basis weight of 270 g/m.sup.2 and an aluminum layer thickness of 60 nm. Such a weave can be sourced, for example, under the Alutex or RV270 name from Dr. Gunther Kast GmbH & Co. KG. Although operability decreases with increasing thickness of the fiber composite body and increasing number of glass fiber layers, depending on the required sensitivity of the touch operation, the described functionality is still maintained even in the case of more than two structure layers and a greater component thickness. Therefore, the structure shown is purely by way of example and shall not be limited to the exact number of fiber layers shown.

[0045] The figures show the visible component as a flat component. The visible component may of course also have a three-dimensional surface profile; in that case, the touch display 40, 40A is preferably configured as a flexible display and matched to the profile of the component.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0046] 1, 1A-1C visible component [0047] 2 visible side [0048] 10 fiber composite body [0049] 20 polymer matrix [0050] 30 fiber reinforcement [0051] 31, 32 structure layers [0052] 33 visible layer [0053] 40, 40A touch display [0054] 50 adhesive layer [0055] 60 color filter layer [0056] 70 light source