INFORMATION DISPLAY ON THE OUTSIDE OF A VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A HINGED COVER IN THE FORM OF AN INFORMATION DISPLAY

Abstract

An information display on the outside of a vehicle, comprised of at least one illumination element or a display, which is overpainted with paint layers, wherein one of the paint layers has the car colour, and wherein a pattern in the form of holes or areas is produced in all the paint layers by ablation by means of a laser.

Claims

1. An information display on the outside of a vehicle, comprised of at least one illumination element or a display, which is overpainted with paint layers, wherein one of the paint layers has the car colour, and wherein a pattern in the form of holes or areas is produced in all the paint layers by ablation by means of a laser, wherein the information display is a hinged cover for covering a charging socket of an electric vehicle and the hinged cover is or contains a display (6), wherein patterns and information can be displayed on the surface of the hinged cover.

2. The information display according to claim 1, wherein the hinged cover has a mechanical and electrical connection to the opening to be concealed.

3. The information display according to claim 1, wherein the hinged cover contains at least one information display about the charge state.

4. The information display according to claim 1, wherein the hinged cover contains a representation of a brand mark by way of the display.

5. A method for operating a hinged cover in the form of an information display according to claim 1 in connection with the charging of an electric vehicle, comprising the steps: initiating opening of the hinged cover by the driver or by a data link; activating the display or the illumination device of the hinged cover during opening and uncovering of an opening; and closing the hinged cover after a charging plug has been removed.

6. The method for operating a hinged cover according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of: displaying a charge state when the hinged cover is open; and displaying further information, such as the number of kilometres available and/or the charging time, on the hinged cover.

7. The method for operating a hinged cover according to claim 5, wherein illumination elements in the opening of the vehicle are activated when opening of the hinged cover is initiated.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0030] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary component in the prior art.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows the prior art component of FIG. 1 in the illuminated state.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a pattern produced by laser perforation.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a further pattern.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows the dimensioning of a surface treated with the laser.

[0036] FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 show an exemplary embodiment of a charging flap in different states of the method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] There is proposed as an embodiment the display of vehicle traffic information on the outside of a vehicle in the regions painted in the car colour. The information is displayed only when required, which means that the regions in which the information is displayed are if possible invisible or are visible only with difficulty in the switched-off state.

[0038] The paint is rendered light-transmissive by laser ablation. Small regions of the paint are here removed in a pattern of holes, see FIGS. 3 and 4. The ablated holes 10 have a diameter of 100 ?m (+/?50 ?m), but may also be made larger in order to increase the light transmission. Such ablated holes are shown in FIG. 5, wherein the scale in mm is provided.

[0039] The visibility of the removal, as well as the light transmission, can be changed by the spacing of the individual holes 10 removed by ablation and the dot pattern itself. The substrate, the exterior component 20, to which the paint is applied is translucent or transparent material or a display, the surface of which naturally also consists of transparent material. If a display is used, this may also be installed into a larger exterior component 20.

[0040] The structure of the paint on the outside is optimized for the removal and consists of at least two layers S, but preferably of three layers S. The bottommost layer is applied to an exterior component of the vehicle and forms a light-tight layer for preventing any undesirable transmission, namely glimpses of the exterior component. If this layer is already coloured in the car colour, a further layer of base coat paint for colouring can be omitted.

[0041] Generally, however, this first layer is a primer, to which a base coat paint for colouring is then applied as a second layer. In addition, a layer of transparent paint can then already be applied for sealing.

[0042] After these layers have been applied, the laser removal is carried out through all the layers, and the component is then again coated with a layer of transparent/translucent clear paint in order to protect also the lasered regions.

[0043] The pattern of removal can be arranged in very different forms, so that, for example, digital numbers, letters, fill level bars, logos or the like can be displayed.

[0044] In addition to point-wise removal, the paint can also be removed extensively in order to achieve increased transmission and better visibility of the information displayed on the light source/display or in order to give prominence to certain regions. Compared to point-wise removal, extensive removal is also visible from the outside in the switched-off state.

[0045] Conceivable light sources are LEDs, micro LEDs, OLEDs and displays of all possible types. For the above-defined representation it is additionally possible, by means of masking, to separate the illuminated regions from one another and achieve a sharper representation.

[0046] FIGS. 6 to 9 show an exemplary embodiment in different stages of a method.

[0047] There has been chosen, as the exemplary embodiment, a flap which closes an electrical socket for an electrified vehicle. The flap, in the form of a conventional fuel filler flap, has a hinged cover 2 which closes an opening 3 in the exterior of the vehicle 1. The flap is a plastics component 5, which contains a display 6 to which the layers S of the paintwork which have already been described above have been applied. Alternatively, the display 6 is installed behind a transparent plastics component 5 in the form of the flap, to which the layers of paint have been applied. The plastics component 5 also serves to fasten the mechanical components 4 of the hinged cover 2.

[0048] Ablations with ablated holes 10 have also already been introduced into the desired regions of the surface 7 of the hinged cover, so that it is possible for light to shine through.

[0049] The hinged cover 2 is preferably opened electrically. The hinged cover can be operated in different ways. The driver of the vehicle can actively open the hinged cover 2 by operating a switch from the inside or by remote control.

[0050] Alternatively, the hinged cover can be opened when the vehicle is parked at a charging point and a data exchange takes place.

[0051] The hinged cover 2 is shifted and pivoted either upwards or to the side.

[0052] The activation of the hinged cover 2 and the mechanical form of the linkage for pivoting are not important. The hinged cover 2 is not only connected mechanically to the opening 3 but is also contacted with the opening 3 electrically.

[0053] On operation or on receiving the command to open the flap, LEDs or other illumination elements 8 in the opening 3 are activated. As is shown in FIG. 6, these LEDs shine through at the edges even when the hinged cover 2 is closed. Otherwise, the exemplary illumination elements 8 in the opening 3 mark the lower and upper boundaries of the opening.

[0054] While the hinged cover 2 is slowly opening, the display 6 in the hinged cover 2 is activated and patterns, in this case horizontal lines, appear on the surface 7 of the hinged cover. These patterns can be configured as desired and can also include brand marks.

[0055] By activating the display 6 it is possible, for example, to slowly make a brand mark partially appear, to switch multiple brand marks on and off, or to arrange and display multiple brand marks differently over the entire surface and make them flash.

[0056] If the hinged cover 2 is fully open, the charge state is displayed on the display 6 and thus on the surface 7 of the hinged cover 2.

[0057] In the exemplary embodiment, a partial circle with different segments 9 is shown, which segments represent the charge state and can be displayed in a single colour or also in multiple colours.

[0058] In FIG. 9, the display of the charge state on the hinged cover can be seen, as is present, for example, after a charging process and after the electrical plug has been removed.

[0059] There can be seen in the partial circle with the segments 9 a number, which shows the charge state in percent. Further information for the driver of the vehicle is likewise available. Such information is, for example, a displayed range and the charge time, etc.

[0060] The exemplary embodiment requires special laser ablations, which are adapted to the information to be displayed.

[0061] It is thus necessary, if it is desired to display patterns distributed over the entire surface, that the individual part-regions are exposed by means of a laser. When displaying the charge state and further information in the centre of the hinged cover 2, extensive perforation of the paint layers may be expedient.

[0062] On completion of the charging process, removal of the charging cable or operation of a switch or a remote control, the method is terminated and the hinged cover is slowly returned to the covering position again.

[0063] The display 6 on the hinged cover 2 is extinguished, and the illumination elements 8 are switched off as soon as the hinged cover 2 is fully closed.