METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PANEL WITH INTEGRATED ELECTRONICS

Abstract

A method for producing a panel with integrated conductor tracks and electronic components. The panel includes a panel body, wherein the panel body is in particular a sandwich structure, and a membrane. The membrane is connected to the panel body and has integrated conductor tracks and electronic components. At the beginning of the method, an operation for attaching the conductor tracks and the electronic components to the membrane is provided. The subsequent step includes an operation for connecting the membrane, fitted with the conductor tracks and the electronic components, to the panel body.

Claims

1. A method for producing a panel with integrated conductor tracks and electronic components, the panel comprising: a panel body that comprises a sandwich structure; and a membrane connected to the panel body, and the membrane comprising integrated conductor tracks and electronic components; the method comprising: attaching the conductor tracks and the electronic components to the membrane; and connecting the membrane to the panel body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated conductor tracks and electronic components are attached: to an inner side of the membrane; and/or to an outer side of the membrane; and/or within the membrane.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the conductor tracks and electronic components comprises an additive process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the conductor tracks and electronic components comprises a subtractive process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a thermoplastic polymer, or a thermoplastic polymer comprising polyvinyl fluoride.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the membrane to the panel body is carried out by providing an adhesion layer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesion layer is integrated into the membrane.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the panel body has, on a side facing the membrane, a layer comprising glass-fiber-reinforced plastic impregnated with phenol resin.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a first conductor track and a second conductor track can be connected by a bridging device, wherein the bridging device has a spacing from the membrane, and forms a gap as a result, such that, below the bridging device, a third conductor track can be arranged through the gap produced, without making contact with the first conductor track and second conductor track.

10. The method of one claim 1, wherein the electronic component comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, smoke detector, gas sensor, contact sensor and proximity sensor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is a light-emitting diode or an acoustic emitter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductor tracks and the electronic components have a maximum thickness of 20 μm, or have a maximum thickness of 15 μm.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the membrane is a scratch-resistant decorative film.

14. A side wall of an interior space of an aircraft, comprising a panel produced by the method of claim 1, wherein the panel is a floor panel, a ceiling panel, a side panel or a baggage compartment panel.

15. An aircraft comprising a side wall of claim 14.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Example embodiments of the disclosure herein will be described below with reference to the figures. In the figures:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of the method according to one example embodiment of the disclosure herein.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a panel according to a further example embodiment of the disclosure herein, the membrane having not yet been completely connected to the panel body.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a membrane with integrated conductor tracks, an electronic component and a bridging device, according to a further example embodiment of the disclosure herein.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a side wall of an interior space of an aircraft, according to a further example embodiment of the disclosure herein.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows an aircraft comprising a side wall according to a further example embodiment of the disclosure herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The illustrations in the figures are schematic and not true to scale.

[0051] If the same reference numerals are used in the following description of the figures, these reference numerals refer to identical or similar elements.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of the method 100 according to one example embodiment of the disclosure herein. The method 100 is used to produce a panel 10 with integrated conductor tracks 18 and electronic components 16, wherein the panel 10 and its individual components are shown in more detail in FIG. 2 and are described in the description of FIG. 2. The panel 10 in this case comprises a panel body 12, wherein the panel body 12 in particular comprises a sandwich structure. Furthermore, the panel 10 comprises a membrane 14. In this case, the membrane 14 is connected to the panel body 12 and has integrated conductor tracks 18 and electronic components 16.

[0053] The method 100 is divided into the following steps. At the beginning of the method, an operation for attaching 102 the conductor tracks 18 and the electronic components 16 to the membrane 14 is provided. The subsequent step comprises an operation for connecting 104 the membrane 14, fitted with the conductor tracks 18 and the electronic components 16, to the panel body 12.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a detailed construction of a panel 10 according to the disclosure herein. The panel 10 has a panel body 12 which, in the present embodiment, is produced from a sandwich structure. Provided on the panel body 12 is a layer 30 impregnated with phenol resin and composed of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic. In order to connect the membrane 14 to the panel body, an adhesion layer 28 is also provided. In the example embodiment shown, conductor tracks 18 and electronic components 16 are attached to the membrane on the side facing the panel body 12. In FIG. 2, for better clarity, the conductor tracks 18 and electronic components are shown merely on that part of the membrane 14 which is spaced apart from the panel body 12, however, those skilled in the art will recognize that the conductor tracks 18 and electronic components 16 are also present in the region in which the membrane 14 is connected to the panel body 12.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a membrane 14 with integrated conductor tracks 18, an electronic component 16 and a bridging device 26, according to a further example embodiment of the disclosure herein. A first conductor track 20 and a second conductor track 22 are shown here, the first conductor track 20 being connected to the second conductor track 22 by way of a bridging device 26. In this case, the bridging device 26 has a spacing from the membrane 14, and thus forms a gap. A third conductor track 24 is arranged below the bridging device 26, wherein the third conductor track runs through the gap produced and is not in contact with the first conductor track 20 and the second conductor track 22.

[0056] Furthermore, an electronic component 16 is shown. In this case, the electronic component 16 is connected to the third conductor track 24 and a fourth conductor track 25. It should be understood that a detail of a multiplicity of possibilities for attaching the electronics to the membrane are shown in FIG. 3 only by way of example, and further combinations are conceivable.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a side wall 50 of an aircraft, according to a further example embodiment of the disclosure herein. In the present example embodiment, the side wall is covered with a side panel having cutouts for windows, wherein the side panel is a panel 10 produced by the method 100 according to the disclosure herein. Two panels 10 are shown by way of example, wherein the panels can be attached over the complete length of the interior space of the aircraft (not shown).

[0058] FIG. 5 shows an aircraft 60 comprising a side wall 50 according to a further example embodiment of the disclosure herein. In this case, the side wall 50 is arranged, by way of example, in the fuselage region of the aircraft 60, however it is conceivable for the side wall 50 to be arranged in the cockpit or in the tail region without limitations. In this case, the side panel may also be a floor panel, a ceiling panel or a baggage compartment panel.

[0059] While at least one example embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a”, “an” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.

LIST OF THE REFERENCE SIGNS

[0060] 10 Panel [0061] 12 Panel body [0062] 14 Membrane [0063] 16 Electronic component [0064] 18 Conductor track [0065] 20 First conductor track [0066] 22 Second conductor track [0067] 24 Third conductor track [0068] 25 Fourth conductor track [0069] 26 Bridging device [0070] 28 Adhesion layer [0071] 30 Layer composed of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic impregnated with phenol resin [0072] 50 Side wall [0073] 60 Aircraft