METHOD FOR PRODUCING A LIT COMPONENT FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A lit component for a vehicle has a multi-layered structure with integrated electronic components with an outer surface on the visible side. One of the layers has a metal. On the side of the layer having the metal facing away from the visible side, light-emitting diodes are arranged as part of the electronic components. The layer having the metal that faces away from the visible side is partially covered by a colored layer. The portions of the layer having the metal that are not covered by the colored layer have a three-dimensional shape, in the region of which light de-coupling structures are arranged on the side of the layer having the metal which faces away from the visible side.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A method for producing a lit component for a vehicle having a multi-layered structure with integrated electronic components and having an outer surface on a visible side, wherein one of layer of the multilayered structure has a metal, and wherein on a side facing away from a visible side of the one layer, the one layer having metal includes light-emitting diodes as part of the electronic components, wherein the one layer having the metal is partially covered with a colored layer on a surface of the one layer having metal facing the visible side of the one layer, wherein portions of the one layer having the metal not covered by the colored layer have a three-dimensional shape, wherein a region of the portions of the one layer having metal not covered by the colored layer include light de-coupling structures arranged on the side of the one layer having the metal which facing away from the visible side of the one layer, the method comprising: providing film forming the one layer having the metal with the colored layer arranged on a front side of the one layer facing the visible side of the one layer; forming, on a rear side of the film facing away from the visible side of the one layer, at least a part of the electronic components; mounting further electronic components, including the light-emitting diodes, one the rear side of the film; three-dimensionally shaping the portions of the one layer having metal not covered by the colored layer by deep drawing or thermoforming; applying a supporting layer to the rear side of the film; and providing the visible side of the one layer with a transparent plastic as a transparent covering layer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transparent covering layer is applied via flooding or over-molding with a polyurethane as the transparent plastic.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the light de-coupling structures are applied to the film in the forming step by printing or in the three-dimensionally shaping step by embossing.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the one layer having the metal is a chromium film.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the colored layer is an opaque colored layer.

12. A lit component of a vehicle, the lit component comprising: a multi-layered structure with integrated electronic components, wherein one of layer of the multilayered structure has a metal, wherein on a side facing away from a visible side of the one layer, the one layer having metal includes light-emitting diodes as part of the electronic components, wherein the one layer having the metal is partially covered with a colored layer on a surface of the one layer having metal facing the visible side of the one layer, wherein portions of the one layer having the metal not covered by the colored layer have a three-dimensional shape, wherein a region of the portions of the one layer having metal not covered by the colored layer include light de-coupling structures arranged on the side of the one layer having the metal which facing away from the visible side of the one layer.

13. The lit component of the vehicle of claim 12, wherein the one layer having the metal is a chromium film.

14. A method for producing a lit component of a vehicle, the method comprising: providing a first layer having metal as a film, wherein the first layer has a visible side facing a visible side of the lit component and a rear side opposite the visible side; forming a colored layer on portions of the visible side of the first layer; mounting electronic components on the rear side of the first layer; three-dimensionally shaping portions of the first layer not covered by the colored layer by deep drawing or thermoforming; applying a supporting layer to the rear side of the first layer; and forming a transparent plastic covering layer on the visible side of the first layer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mounting of electronic components comprises: mounting light de-coupling structure on the rear side of the first layer; and mounting light emitting diodes on the rear side of the first layer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the light de-coupling structures are applied to the first layer by printing or by embossing.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first layer is a chromium film.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0023] Here:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a possible lit component in principle in a schematic depiction; and

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a sectional depiction through a part of this lit component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the depiction of FIG. 1, a lit component, the entirety of which is labelled 1, can be seen, which can, for example, be introduced in the region of the exterior cladding of a vehicle. It can, for example, be the portion in the front of the vehicle, described in conventional vehicles with an internal combustion engine as a radiator grille, which, in the case of electric vehicles, can for example no longer be designed as a light-permeable grid, and can instead be designed in the form of a closed component. The component 1 itself is partially designed in the car color, and has several portions, here depicted in the form of four rectangles and a circle, labelled 3, which are not designed in the car color, and which instead appear in a metallic color, for example with a chromium appearance, when back-lighting is switched off.

[0027] As can be seen with reference to the depiction in FIG. 2, they are three-dimensional in shape, and face the observer within a transparent covering layer 4, such that, for example, the generally known appearance of chrome-plated brand logos, for example the well-known star of the applicant is created. To achieve the above, the structure is designed as is shown in the section in the depiction of FIG. 2. Particular focus lies on a simple and compact structure, which is in particular very thin in form, and yet is still in the position to achieve a three-dimensional optical effect. For this purpose, a chromium film 5 is provided as the central component as a layer having metal. The latter is provided with the colored layer 2 already mentioned on its side facing the visible side 6 depicted above in the depiction of FIG. 2, where the colored layer can in particular be a color layer in the car color. If this colored layer 2 is partially applied to the chromium film 5, the portions labelled 3 in the depiction of FIG. 1 are left free. These, as can be seen in the depiction of FIG. 2, later form a three-dimensional structure in the direction of the visible side 6, or in principle also in the opposite direction to the visible side 6.

[0028] First, the composite produced in this first method step consisting of the chromium film 5 and the colored layer 2, which has partially been applied to this chromium film 5, is still flat, however. It is then provided with electronic components, which are at least partially printed on. Purely as an example, in the depiction of FIG. 2, printed conductor paths 7 can be seen, in the region of which two light-emitting diodes 8 are then applied. In the region 3, light de-coupling structures 9 are applied, also via printing, also on the side of the chromium film 5 facing away from the visible side 6, such that the light de-coupling structures cannot be seen from the visible side 6 in the unlit state. This composite consisting of electronics 7, 8, chromium film 5 and colored layer 2, with the light de-coupling structures 9 applied in the corresponding portions 3, is now subjected to a deep drawing process or a thermal re-forming, in order to generate the three-dimensional design which can already be seen in FIG. 2. This three-dimensional design creates two facets within the portion 3, which can be seen from the visible side 6. After this three-dimensional forming process, the supporting layer 10 depicted in FIG. 2 is then applied, for example by back-injecting the previous structure with this supporting layer 10. The supporting layer 10 is designed as a transparent or translucent thermoplastic. The latter can in particular be back-injected behind the printed conductor paths 7, the LEDs 8 and the light de-coupling structures 9 in the region of the three-dimensionally formed regions 3.

[0029] Finally, the structure is then sealed with the covering layer 4 already mentioned, which can also be designed as a transparent thermoplastic, or in particular as a cast layer of polyurethane. The component is thus, for example, over-molded or preferably flooded with this covering layer 4, such that the layer thickness of the covering layer 4 is greater than the three-dimensional shape of the portions 3. A smooth surface is thus created on the visible side 6, under which the three-dimensional shape of the portions 3, and thus the facet structure, can be correspondingly seen, but does not protrude beyond the surface of the visible side 6.

[0030] In the unlit state, the structure now has the optical impression of the combination of the chromium of the chromium film 5 in the portions 3 and the car color in the colored layer 2 applied thereon. If the light-emitting diodes 8 are switched on, then the lit component 2 is back-lit, because the transparent or translucent supporting layer 10 is backlit. Ideally, however, the colored layer 2 is impermeable for light, such that light is emitted in the direction of the visible side 6 only in the region of the portions 3, supported or enabled by the light de-coupling structures 9. The impression thus arises of a component painted in the car color with lit portions 3, for example a lit brand logo. The light-emitting diodes 8 may be realized and controlled in any way, such that in particular different colors, changing colors or the like are also conceivable, as is flashing, regulating the light intensity, for example depending on the ambient brightness, increasing and decreasing fluctuations in the light intensities or the like.

[0031] The entire component 1 can thus be constructed exceptionally compactly transversely to the stacking direction of the individual layers, and can thus be integrated without issue into almost every existing design, and, unlike the previous structures with more complex, and correspondingly thicker lighting technology, can also be easily and efficiently installed into existing designs without having to structurally adjust the proportions and the available installation spaces.

[0032] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.