Vehicle component, vehicle and method for communication between a vehicle and a user

Abstract

A vehicle component includes a display element and/or operating element integrated into a vehicle component surface. The display element and/or operating element has a light source, a base support, a mask and a surface layer. The surface layer is made of a material that becomes transparent when activated.

Claims

1. A vehicle component, comprising: a display element and/or control element integrated into a vehicle component surface, wherein the display element and/or control element has a light source, a base support, a mask configured to block passage of light, and a surface layer; the surface layer comprises a material that becomes transparent through activation by application of a voltage to the surface layer or exposure of the surface layer to a predetermined temperature; and the mask becomes visible when the light source is activated.

2. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein the mask comprises a solid shape of a symbol or a grid of holes of a symbol.

3. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein the light source, the base support, and the mask form a unit and are configured in the form of a display.

4. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein the display element and/or control element further comprises a heat source, a light source and/or a voltage source.

5. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein the material is an electrochromic material or a thermochromic material.

6. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the display element and/or control element is aligned with a surface of the vehicle component.

7. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the display element and/or control element is a constituent part of a center console, a trim strip, a dashboard, an instrument panel, inside paneling or a door panel.

8. A vehicle, comprising a vehicle component according to claim 1.

9. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein the mask is disposed between the base support and the surface layer.

10. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein the mask is disposed between the light source and the base support.

11. A method for communication between a vehicle and a user of the vehicle, comprising the steps of: detecting a user approaching a surface layer or the user touching the surface layer, and in response thereto: activating a display element and/or control element integrated into a vehicle component surface, comprising: applying a voltage to the surface layer, or exposing the surface layer to a predetermined temperature, wherein the display element and/or control element has a light source, a base support, a mask configured to block passage of light, and the surface layer; the surface layer becomes transparent in response to the activation of the display element and/or control element; and the mask becomes visible in response to the activation of the display element and/or control element.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the activation of the display element and/or control element comprises a step of activating the light source.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the surface layer comprises an electrochromic material or a thermochromic material.

14. A vehicle component, comprising: a display element and/or control element integrated into a vehicle component surface, wherein the display element and/or control element has a light source, a base support, a mask configured to block passage of light, and a surface layer; and the surface layer comprises a material that becomes transparent through activation by exposure of the surface layer to a predetermined temperature; wherein the mask becomes visible when the light source is activated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating method steps of a method for communication between a vehicle and a user of the vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a part of a vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the part of the vehicle from FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) The schematic diagram shown in FIG. 1 shows a first method step 100, namely detecting a user approaching a surface layer or the user touching the surface layer. The surface layer is a constituent part of a display element and/or control element. Appropriate sensors can be provided to identify and thus detect the approaching or contact. In response to the process of detecting a user approaching the surface layer or the user touching the surface layer, the display element and/or control element integrated into a vehicle component surface is activated in method step 200.

(5) The display element and/or control element comprise(s) here, by way of example, in this order a light source, a base support, a mask and the surface layer, wherein the surface layer becomes transparent in response to the display element and/or control element being activated. The activation process can, for example, be triggered by activating the light source.

(6) In other words, activating the display element and/or control element not only activates the light source, but also the surface layer, and in such a way that the material of the surface layer changes its structure, particularly on a molecular level, e.g. molecules in the material realign themselves, such that they change from an opaque appearance to a transparent state. This process can, for example, be triggered by applying a voltage, such as in the case of electrochromic materials. Alternatively, this process can be triggered by changing the temperature, such as in the case of thermochromic materials.

(7) As a result of the surface layer becoming transparent, at least the layer below becomes visible, i.e. the mask, which can be designed in the form of a solid mask or a mask with holes, and which is designed such that it displays a symbol by means of illumination through the radiation of the light source, which symbol has a certain information content for the user. In addition, the transparency can cause a control panel of a control element to become visible, by means of which a function can be triggered through interaction with the user.

(8) When the display element and/or control element is in the inactive state, i.e. when the light source is switched off and the surface layer is not transparent, the display element and/or control element is not visible and blends in with the surrounding surfaces of the vehicle. The surface layer can then, for example, be present in the form of a colored layer.

(9) The method enables simple and convenient communication between a user of a vehicle and the vehicle. Moreover, the user is not distracted by permanent visual sensory overload as a result of display elements and/or control elements which are illuminated or lit up, and can, for example, better concentrate on driving.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a part of a vehicle 1 according to one advantageous embodiment of the invention. The vehicle 1 in this case is in particular designed as a motor vehicle.

(11) A vehicle component 2, which comprises a surface 3, into which a display element and/or control element 4 is integrated, is shown in detail. A surface of the display element and/or control element 4, which is designed in the form of a surface layer 5, is aligned with the surface of the vehicle component 3, such that the surface 9 of the display element and/or control element 4 is flush with the surface 3 of the vehicle component 2 and is thus arranged so as neither to protrude nor be recessed or raised with an offset.

(12) In this embodiment, the display element and/or control element 4 comprises, for example, in this order a light source 6, a base support 7, a mask 8 and the surface layer 5. The surface layer 5 comprises a material which becomes transparent through activation.

(13) With regards to the layer arrangement of the display element and/or control element 4, reference is made to FIG. 3, which shows the individual layers and their arrangement in section.

(14) The mask 8 can comprise a solid shape of a symbol or a grid of holes of a symbol and is visible when the display element and/or control element 4 is in the activated state, i.e. when the light source 6 is switched on and the surface layer 5 is transparent. The light emitted by the light source 6 can pass through the solid mask or through the mask with holes or, however, reproduce the contours of a solid mask.

(15) In order for the mask 8 to be sufficiently recognizable, light passes from the light source 6 through the base support 7, which advantageously also has adequate transparency for this purpose and is made, for example, of glass. For instance, sputtered wood that is fine and fragmented such that a sufficient amount of light can pass through it can also be used as a material for the base support 7 as an alternative to glass. Sputtered wood also has an advantageous esthetic aspect.

(16) The light source 6, the base support 7 and the mask 8 form in particular a unit and are preferably designed in the form of a display.

(17) A voltage source 10, which can apply voltage to the surface layer 5, is also provided. This is in particular provided for the use of electrochromic materials in the surface layer 5, which selectively become transparent when a voltage is applied.

(18) The vehicle is characterized by a high level of functionality due to the ability of the display element and/or control element 4 to be activated and also due to its inactive and thus nontransparent state, and blends in with the surface 3 of the vehicle component 2 in an esthetically pleasing manner. In the inactive state, the display element and/or control element 4 is not perceived as disruptive but rather as an integral constituent part of the vehicle component 2. The display element and/or control element 4 is thus preferably also a constituent part of the vehicle component 2, which is designed in particular as a center console, trim strip, dashboard, instrument panel, inside paneling or a door panel.

REFERENCE LIST

(19) 1 Vehicle 2 Vehicle component 3 Surface of the vehicle component 4 Display element and/or control element 5 Surface layer 6 Light source 7 Base support 8 Mask 9 Surface of the display element and/or control element 10 Voltage source