HOLOGRAPHIC ENTRY LIGHT IN A DOOR FRAME

Abstract

A door frame for a vehicle includes a holographic door sill panel in a lower door frame portion, a suitable lighting assembly in a lateral door frame portion, a holographic door sill panel suitable for such a door frame, as well as a system that is composed of the holographic door sill panel and the lighting assembly and suitable for such a door frame.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A door frame for a vehicle, comprising: a holographic door sill strip disposed in a lower door frame section, wherein the holographic door sill strip comprises a planar element having a thickness perpendicular to a planar extent of at most 3 mm, which includes at least one planar, reflective holographic structure that is configured to generate a holographic light function in a field of view.

22. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the holographic structure comprises a volume hologram.

23. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the holographic structure comprises an embossed hologram, a hologram stack or a multiplexed hologram.

24. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the holographic structure comprises an embossed hologram, which is included in an element which is configured to predominantly absorb a part of the visible spectrum that is not intended to contribute to the generation of the holographic light function.

25. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the holographic structure is an embossed hologram, is configured to generate the holographic light function when illuminated by daylight and/or ambient light in at least a portion of a range from 420 nm to 700 nm.

26. The door frame of claim 21, further comprising an illumination arrangement that is arranged in at least one lateral door frame section and is configured to illuminate the holographic door sill strip, the illumination arrangement comprising at least one light source, wherein the holographic structure is configured to generate the holographic light function when illuminated by the illumination arrangement.

27. The door frame of claim 26, wherein the lateral door frame section is a front lateral door frame section, an extension of an A-pillar toward the vehicle floor or a lower section of the B-pillar, and/or wherein the lateral door frame section is a rear lateral door frame section, a lower section of a B-pillar toward the vehicle floor or an extension of a C-pillar toward the vehicle floor.

28. The door frame of claim 27, wherein two illumination arrangements are provided, in each case in a front lateral door frame section and a rear lateral door frame section.

29. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the illumination arrangement and the holographic door sill strip are arranged relative to one another for the illumination of the holographic entry light at a centroid angle which is within 10? of a Brewster angle of the holographic door sill strip.

30. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the illumination arrangement is configured to illuminate the holographic structure with an angular spectrum around a centroid angle, with the result that at least 30% of the light rays from the illumination arrangement light the holographic structure, and wherein an intensity distribution of the illumination light is homogeneous and has a ratio of minimum intensity to maximum intensity of greater than 0.8.

31. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the illumination arrangement includes an anamorphic free-form lens as the beam-shaping component part, wherein the anamorphic free-form lens has a shape produced from dimensioning of the holographic structure and/or the arrangement of the illumination arrangement and the holographic entry light relative to one another.

32. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the illumination arrangement includes a biconical lens as the beam-shaping component part, wherein the beam-shaping component part has a shape produced from dimensioning of the holographic structure and/or the arrangement of the illumination arrangement and the holographic entry light relative to one another.

33. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the light source of the illumination arrangement comprises at least one multicolored light source and/or a plurality of monochromatic light sources, each having a different color, so that light in more than one color spectrum is emitted.

34. The door frame of claim 33, wherein the light source of the illumination arrangement comprises red, green, and blue light.

35. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the at least one holographic structure is configured to generate at least one holographic light function for at least some of a spectral range emitted by the light source, wherein different ones of the at least one holographic structure are preferably used for different spectral ranges.

36. The door frame of claim 21, wherein a plurality of differently colored light sources are arranged one above the other in the lateral door frame section and the at least one holographic structure is configured to generate the holographic light function of the respective light source with a respective color and/or at a respective illumination angle.

37. The door frame of claim 21, wherein a field of view is arranged so that the holographic light function can be seen by a driver of the vehicle, a front passenger of the vehicle, a person entering the vehicle, and/or a person exiting the vehicle.

38. The door frame of claim 21, wherein the illumination arrangement and/or the holographic door sill strip has a dirt protection element protecting against dirt when the door is closed, wherein the dirt protection element comprises a rubber lip and/or a rubber apron, which at least partially covers the illumination arrangement and/or the holographic door sill strip when the door is closed, and/or wherein the surface of the holographic door sill strip is configured for a lotus effect against soiling of the surface.

39. A holographic door sill strip, comprising: a planar element having a thickness perpendicular to a planar extent of at most 3 mm, which includes at least one planar, reflective holographic structure that is configured to generate a holographic light function in a field of view.

40. A system, comprising: the holographic door sill strip, comprising a planar element having a thickness perpendicular to a planar extent of at most 3 mm, which includes at least one planar, holographic structure that is configured to generate a holographic light function in a field of view; and an illumination arrangement configured to illuminate the holographic door sill strip, comprising at least one light source, wherein the holographic structure is configured to generate the holographic light function when illuminated by the illumination arrangement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0099] The invention will be explained below with reference to further figures and examples. The examples and figures serve for illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention without limiting the latter. [0100] The door sill strip is visible only when the door is opened. [0101] The door frame and door sill strip are always static with respect to each other-only the door moves relative to the two. [0102] One or more LEDs with (or without) a suitable beam-shaping optical unit should be able to be accommodated in the door frame. The beam-shaping optical unit should be adapted in such a way that the hologram is lit as optimally as possible. If these LEDs are then RGB, white light is incident on the hologram, and the hologram can reproduce a white motif. [0103] The eyebox of the hologram can be aimed at the driver or front passenger or at a person located outside the vehicle (person standing in front of the door). [0104] The LEDs may only come on when the door is opened. [0105] In order to be able to display a white motif holographically, the holographic structure must be designed for at least 3 colors as an RGB hologram. [0106] In order to enable a floating height (i.e. the holographic motif is intended to float a few cm above the actual door sill strip) and at the same time enable a clean motif display, a defined lighting of the hologram is required. [0107] The current installation space (3 mm installation depth) does not provide such space for complex lighting within the door sill strip. [0108] LEDs for illumination are located in the door frame. [0109] The LEDs can be monochromatic, RGB LEDs, or white LEDs. [0110] The arrangement can comprise a monochromatic LED or a plurality of monochromatic LEDs, an RGB LED, or a white LED in order to display a plurality of colors or the color white as well. [0111] The LEDs are arranged in such a way that the hologram is preferably lit at an angle that corresponds to the Brewster angle ?B (alternatively ?B?5? or ?B?10?. (.fwdarw.Centroid angle). This arrangement is advantageous for the exposure of the holograms, as it allows disturbing reflections to be minimized (and the maximum amount of light to penetrate the hologram material). [0112] A plurality of LEDs being arranged vertically results in different centroid angles for the holograms (e.g. ?R, ?G, ?B). The holograms are each designed in such a way that they reconstruct as efficiently as possible at this centroid angle. The use of reflection holograms is advantageous in order to enable a floating height of the hologram motif and at the same time a clean display, since the strong filter effect is inherent in reflection holograms. Attention needs to be paid only to a clean, defined reference illumination.

[0113] FIG. 1 shows a front entry region of a passenger vehicle with a door sill strip.

[0114] FIG. 2 shows a front entry region of a passenger vehicle with an illuminated holographic door sill strip.

[0115] FIG. 3 shows the spectrum of an illumination arrangement with a typical RGB LED light source.

[0116] FIG. 4 shows the basic structure of a door frame with an illumination arrangement without any beam-shaping component part.

[0117] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the light rays from the illumination arrangement without any beam-shaping component part, and the illuminated reflective holographic structure.

[0118] FIG. 6 shows an intensity distribution (illuminance) of the illumination rays on the holographic structure in an illumination arrangement without any beam-shaping component part.

[0119] FIG. 7 shows the angular spectrum (luminous intensity) of the illumination of the reflective holographic structure in an illumination arrangement without any beam-shaping component part.

[0120] FIG. 8 shows the basic structure of a door frame with an illumination arrangement with a beam-shaping component part, and a section with an enlargement of the illumination arrangement.

[0121] FIG. 9 shows an intensity distribution (illuminance) of the illumination rays on and directly next to the holographic structure in an illumination arrangement with a beam-shaping component part.

[0122] FIG. 10 shows the angular spectrum of the illumination (luminous intensity) of the reflective holographic structure in an illumination arrangement with a beam-shaping component part.

[0123] FIG. 11 shows schematically the illumination of the holographic structure at a suitable centroid angle.

[0124] FIG. 12 shows schematically the illumination of the holographic structure in an illumination arrangement with multiple RGB light sources one above the other, which illuminate the holographic structure at a suitable centroid angle.

[0125] FIG. 13 shows the holographic structure as an embossed hologram with a red cover, which substantially only does not absorb the red light of a varicolored spectrum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0126] FIG. 1 shows a front entry region of a passenger vehicle with a door sill strip 1 in a lower door frame section 13.

[0127] FIG. 2 shows a front entry region of a passenger vehicle with an illuminated holographic door sill strip 1 having a holographic structure 3. The holographic light function 4 is generated when illuminated by the illumination arrangement 5, which is accommodated in a front lateral door frame section. The holographic light function 4 can be text, which floats above the door sill strip 1.

[0128] FIG. 3 shows the spectrum of an illumination arrangement with a typical RGB LED light source. The following well-suited LEDs are shown:

Monochrome LEDs:

[0129] Osram Synios P2720 [0130] KS DMLN31.23 (super red, ?dom=632 nm, ?=25 lm) [0131] KT DMLN31.23 (true green, ?dom=528 nm, ?=25 Im [0132] KB DMLN31.13 (blue, ?dom=455 nm, ?=10 lm) [0133] RGB LED combination: [0134] Osram MultiLED LRTB GVSG [0135] LRTB GVSG red (?dom=625 nm, ?=2.01 lm) [0136] LRTB GVSG green (?dom=528 nm, ?=4.48 lm) [0137] LRTB GVSG blue (?dom=460 nm, ?=0.92 lm) [0138] The white light LED, which is also suitable, is not shown: [0139] Osram Synios P2720 [0140] KW DMLN32 SB

[0141] FIG. 4 shows the basic structure of a door frame 9 with an illumination arrangement 5 without any beam-shaping component part. The door frame has an A-pillar 15 and a B-pillar 17. The holographic structure 3 is located in the lower door frame section 13 and is illuminated at an angle with the light rays from the illumination arrangement 5 without any beam-shaping component part 7. The illumination arrangement is located in the rear lateral door frame section 11, which is a part of the B-pillar 17 because it is a front door.

[0142] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the light rays from the illumination arrangement without any beam-shaping component part 7, and the illuminated reflective holographic structure 3.

[0143] FIG. 6 shows an intensity distribution (illuminance) of the illumination rays on the holographic structure in an illumination arrangement without any beam-shaping component part. The unit is lux [Ix], the scale ranges from 0 Ix to 39.8 lx. It can be seen that the lighting is very homogeneous.

[0144] FIG. 7 shows the angular spectrum of the illumination (the light intensity is shown as a function of the horizontal or vertical angle) of the reflective holographic structure in an illumination arrangement without any beam-shaping component part. The angular spectrum is not very large, although no beam-shaping component part is used.

[0145] FIG. 8 shows the basic structure of a door frame 9 with an illumination arrangement 5 with a beam-shaping component part 23, and a section with an enlargement of the illumination arrangement 5. It can be seen that the light rays from the illumination arrangement with a beam-shaping component part 19 are aligned optimally onto the holographic structure 3. In particular, this can be achieved by using an anamorphic (free-form) lens, arranged downstream of the light source 21 (here an LED), as a beam-shaping component part 23, which is optimally shaped in relation to the requirements.

[0146] FIG. 9 shows an intensity distribution (illuminance) of the illumination rays on and directly next to the holographic structure 3 in an illumination arrangement with a beam-shaping component part. It can be seen both that the homogeneity lies in the range described above and that substantially only the holographic structure 3 (to at least 40% based on the total illumination intensity) is illuminated. The extension shown runs in the x-direction (horizontal axis) from ?50 mm to +50 mm and in the y-direction (vertical) from ?10 mm to +10 mm. The intensity scale (cd) shown ranges from 0 to 2.47?10.sup.3 cd.

[0147] FIG. 10 shows the angular spectrum of the illumination (the light intensity is shown as a function of the horizontal or vertical angle) of the reflective holographic structure in an illumination arrangement with a beam-shaping component part. The angular spectrum is even smaller than without the use of the beam-shaping component part.

[0148] FIG. 11 shows schematically the door frame 9 with illumination of the holographic structure 3 along an illumination direction 25 at a suitable centroid angle 27.

[0149] FIG. 12 shows schematically the illumination of the holographic structure 3 in an illumination arrangement 5 with a plurality of RGB light sources one above the other, which illuminate the holographic structure along a respective illumination direction 25 (blue), 25 (green) and 25 (red) at a suitable centroid angle 27 (blue), 27 (green) and 27 (red).

[0150] FIG. 13 shows the holographic structure 3 as an embossed hologram 33 with a red cover 29 (the color is illustrated in the image by diagonal hatching from the bottom left to the top right).

[0151] Daylight or ambient light covers a wide spectrum, including blue along one illumination direction 25, green along one illumination direction 25 and red along one illumination direction 25. Of course, daylight or ambient light also comprises other illumination directions, which, however, are not diffracted or are diffracted differently than the one shown. The light ray 31 that is not absorbed by the cover and is diffracted by the hologram in the example shown is only the red light desired, which generates the holographic light function.

[0152] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, such scope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. Moreover, features or aspects of various example embodiments may be mixed and matched (even if such combination is not explicitly described herein) without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0153] 1 Door sill strip [0154] 3 Reflective holographic structure [0155] 4 Holographic light function [0156] 5 Illumination arrangement [0157] 7 Light rays from the illumination arrangement without any beam-shaping component part [0158] 9 Door frame [0159] 11 Rear lateral door frame section [0160] 13 Lower door frame section [0161] 15 A-pillar [0162] 17 B-pillar [0163] 19 Light rays from the illumination arrangement with a beam-shaping component part [0164] 21 Light source (LED) [0165] 23 Beam-shaping component part [0166] 25 Illumination direction (radiation main direction) [0167] 27 Centroid angle of the illumination [0168] 29 Red cover of an embossed hologram [0169] 31 Light ray that is not absorbed by the cover and is diffracted by the hologram [0170] 33 Embossed hologram