Vehicle Window Pane Comprising a Light Source and a Light-Conducting Layer

Abstract

A vehicle window pane having a window pane body assembly having an outer side, which faces a vehicle environment, and an inner side, which faces a vehicle interior, and having a light-conducting layer; and a light source configured to couple its light into the light-conducting layer. An input coupling element coupling light emitted by the light source into the light-conducting layer is disposed on the inner side of the window pane body assembly.

Claims

1. A vehicle window pane comprising: a window pane body assembly having an outer side, which faces a vehicle environment, and an inner side, which faces a vehicle interior, and having a light-conducting layer; and a light source configured to couple its light into the light-conducting layer; wherein an input coupling element coupling light emitted by the light source into the light-conducting layer is disposed on the inner side of the window pane body assembly.

2. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the input coupling element is a body of material which is transparent to the light of the light source and which is in the shape of a bar.

3. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the input coupling element has a wedge-shaped or trapezoidal cross section.

4. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the input coupling element is provided with an additional deflection structure on its side facing the window pane body assembly.

5. The vehicle window pane according to claim 4, wherein the additional deflection structure is in one piece with the input coupling element or is a coating of the input coupling element.

6. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the input coupling element is attached to the window pane body assembly via an adhesive layer.

7. The vehicle window pane according to claim 6, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive and/or an liquid optically clear adhesive and/or an adhesive comprising EVA, PVB and/or TPU, and/or an epoxy adhesive and/or an acrylic adhesive.

8. The vehicle window pane according to claim 6, wherein the adhesive layer has a refractive index between 1.40 and 1.65 or between 1.48 and 1.56.

9. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the input coupling element is molded from a casting resin and molded onto the window pane body assembly.

10. The vehicle window pane according to claim 9, wherein the light source, which is an LED bar, is an insert of the casting resin.

11. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the input coupling element is made of a material comprising PMMA, PC, PA, COC and/or COP.

12. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the input coupling element has a refractive index between 1.40 and 1.65 or between 1.48 and 1.59.

13. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein a light conductor is disposed on a lateral surface of the input coupling element, the light conductor being connected to the light source and being in one piece with the input coupling element.

14. The vehicle window pane according to claim 13, wherein the light conductor has an output coupling element or is connected to an output coupling element, the output coupling element directing light in the direction of the input coupling element.

15. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed on a lateral surface of the input coupling element.

16. The vehicle window pane according to claim 15, wherein the light source is an LED bar.

17. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the window pane body assembly comprises an outer window pane body and an inner window pane body which is connected to the outer window pane body via a connecting layer, the inner window pane body forming the light-conducting layer, and the input coupling element being attached to the side of the inner window pane body facing away from the outer window pane body.

18. The vehicle window pane according to claim 17, wherein the inner window pane body has a base area which corresponds to that of the outer window pane body.

19. The vehicle window pane according to claim 17, wherein the outer window pane body is made of an inorganic glass and/or a polymer glass, and/or the inner window pane body is made of an inorganic glass and/or a polymer glass.

20. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the input coupling element is provided with a cladding element and/or accommodated in a molded section which is connected to the window pane body assembly.

21. The vehicle window pane according to claim 20, wherein the cladding element and/or the molded section push/pushes the input coupling element in the direction of the window pane body assembly so that an optical contact between the input coupling element and the window pane body assembly is maintained.

22. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the input coupling element is optically coupled with the window pane body assembly via a transparent immersion agent.

23. The vehicle window pane according to claim 22, wherein the immersion agent comprises an oil and/or a gel.

24. The vehicle window pane according to claim 22, wherein the immersion agent has a refractive index between 1.47 and 1.59 or between 1.51 and 1.52.

25. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1, wherein the immersion agent has a viscosity between 10 and 50,000 cP.

26. A vehicle roof comprising a vehicle window pane according to claim 1.

Description

[0038] Illustrative examples of a vehicle roof with a vehicle window pane according to the invention are schematically illustrated in the drawing and will be discussed in more detail in the following description.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a vehicle roof with a vehicle window pane according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2 is a schematic section through the vehicle window pane of the vehicle roof of FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 is a section through a second embodiment of a vehicle window pane corresponding to FIG. 2;

[0042] FIG. 4 is a section through a third embodiment of a vehicle window pane;

[0043] FIG. 5 is a section through a fourth embodiment of a vehicle window pane;

[0044] FIG. 6 is a section through a fifth embodiment of a vehicle window pane;

[0045] FIG. 7 is a section through a sixth embodiment of a vehicle window pane;

[0046] FIG. 8 is a section through a seventh embodiment of a vehicle window pane; and

[0047] FIG. 9 is a section through an eighth embodiment of a vehicle window pane.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle roof 10 of a motor vehicle not shown in detail otherwise. Vehicle roof 10 is a panoramic roof which has a displaceable cover element 12 and a fixed roof element 14, which is fixed to the vehicle body in an immobile manner. Both cover element 12 and fixed roof element 14 each comprise a glass element which is a vehicle window pane and configured as a laminated safety glass provided with an ambient light function. In this regard, the structure of cover element 12 corresponds to that of fixed roof element 14. This structure is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2.

[0049] Roof elements 12 and 14, which are each a vehicle window pane, each comprise a laminated component comprising an outer window pane body 16 and an inner window pane body 18. Outer window pane body 16 is made of a curved glass plate, which is made of dyed soda-lime glass, for example. It is also conceivable for outer window pane body 16 to be made of a plastic element, such as a polycarbonate element. Inner window pane body 18 can also be made of an inorganic glass, such as soda-lime glass, or a polymer, such as a polycarbonate. Furthermore, in the context at hand, inner window pane body 18 forms a light-conducting layer in which light coupled into its volume propagates.

[0050] Outer window pane body 16 and inner window pane body 18 are connected via a lamination layer, i.e., connecting layer 20, which can be made of a material such as PVB, EVA or TPU. Moreover, connecting layer 20 can be clear, i.e. fully transparent, or dyed. In the case at hand, connecting layer 20 has a thickness of 0.76 mm, but it can also have a different thickness.

[0051] Outer window pane body 16 and inner window pane body 18, which each have a thickness of approximately 2.1 mm in the case at hand, form a window pane body assembly having an outer side, which faces the vehicle environment, and an inner side, which faces the vehicle interior. On the inner side, the window pane body assembly is provided with an illuminator 22, by means of which the ambient light function can be implemented, on either side of a vertical longitudinal center roof plane.

[0052] Illuminators 22 each extend in the longitudinal vehicle direction and are disposed on the respective lateral edges of cover element 12 and the respective lateral edges of fixed roof element 14.

[0053] Illuminators 22 each comprise a light source 24, which comprises an LED array and is disposed on an end face of a light conductor 26, which is formed by a rod or a string and comprises a PMMA material and/or a polycarbonate material, for example. Light conductor 26 can be produced by extrusion or injection molding.

[0054] Furthermore, illuminators 22 each comprise a bar-shaped input coupling element 28, which extends across the length of associated illuminator 22 and has a wedge-shaped or triangular cross section in the case at hand. So input coupling elements 28 each form a prismatic body. The latter is preferably made of a plastic material by extrusion or injection molding; in particular, PMMA, PC, PA, COC and/or COP, whose refractive indices are between 1.48 and 1.59, can be used as materials.

[0055] Input coupling elements 28 are each fixed to the window pane body assembly via an adhesive layer 30. Adhesive layer 30 has a refractive index which is in the range of the refractive index of input coupling element 28 or between that of input coupling element 28 and inner window pane body 18 and which is in particular between 1.48 and 1.56. A pressure-sensitive adhesive, a liquid optically clear adhesive, EVA, PVB, TPU, an epoxy adhesive or an acrylic adhesive can be used as the material for adhesive layer 30.

[0056] Inner window pane body 18 has a refractive index of 1.52.

[0057] Furthermore, illuminators 22 are each provided with a cladding element 32, which is also attached to the underside of the window pane body assembly, i.e., to the underside of inner window pane body 18, and covers input coupling element 28, light conductor 26, and light source 24.

[0058] When light source 24 is activated, the light it emits is coupled into light conductor 26 and from the light conductor into input coupling element 28. The internal reflection at the boundary surfaces of input coupling element 28 couples the light into inner window pane body 18, which is a light-conducting layer, via adhesive layer 30, the light being able to propagate in inner window pane body 18 by internal reflection at the boundary surfaces. The light can be coupled out of inner window pane body 18 in the direction of the vehicle interior through scattering elements, which inner window pane body 18 has. For example, a print which scatters the light in the direction of the vehicle interior is applied to the upper side of inner window pane body 18.

[0059] In an alternative embodiment, light conductor 26 and input coupling element 28 are one piece.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a vehicle window pane 40, which largely corresponds to that of FIG. 2 but differs from it in that it has a light conductor 26′, which is disposed on a lateral surface of input coupling element 28 and is provided with an additional output coupling element 42, which extends across the length of light conductor 26. Output coupling element 42 supports the coupling of light out of light conductor 26′ in the direction of input coupling element 28. Output coupling element 42 can be produced in one piece with light conductor 26′ or be an additional structure which is formed by a print, a prism structure, a dot structure or the like.

[0061] Otherwise, vehicle window pane 40 corresponds to that of FIG. 2.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a vehicle window pane 50, which largely corresponds to that of FIG. 3 but differs from it in that input coupling element 28 comprises an additional deflection structure 52 on its surface facing the window pane body assembly, additional deflection structure 52 optimizing the input coupling of the light emitted in the direction of the window pane body assembly and being formed by rows of asymmetrical prisms having dimensions in the micrometer range or the millimeter range or by a lens array, such as a Fresnel lens array. Additional deflection structure 52 can be a coating of input coupling element 28 or be produced in one piece with the latter. At its edges, input coupling element 28 is connected to the underside of inner window pane body 18 of the window pane body assembly via adhesive strips 54.

[0063] Otherwise, vehicle window pane 50 corresponds to that of FIG. 3.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a vehicle window pane 60, which again largely corresponds to that of FIG. 3 but differs from it in that it comprises an LED bar 62 as a light source, LED bar 62 comprising a plurality of LEDs across the length of input coupling element 28 whose light can be coupled into input coupling element 28 directly via a lateral surface. LED bar 62 is connected to the underside of inner window pane body 18 via a common adhesive layer 30.

[0065] Otherwise, vehicle window pane 60 corresponds to that of FIG. 3.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows a vehicle window pane 70, which largely corresponds to that of FIG. 2 but differs from it in that illuminator 22, i.e., light conductor 26, and input coupling element 28 are not covered by a housing-like cladding element 32. Instead, these elements are accommodated in a polyurethane foaming 72, which forms a molded section and which is foam injected around or onto the edge of the window pane body assembly comprising outer window pane body 16, inner window pane body 18, and connecting layer 20.

[0067] Otherwise, vehicle window pane 70 corresponds to that of FIG. 2.

[0068] FIG. 7 shows a vehicle window pane 80, which largely corresponds to that of FIG. 6 but differs from it in that input coupling element 28 is connected to inner window pane body 18 of the window pane body assembly via an immersion agent 31. Immersion agent 31 forms a film between input coupling element 28 and inner window pane body 18 and has a refractive index of 1.51 and a viscosity of approximately 30,000 cP. Input coupling element 28 is held on inner window pane body 18 by polyurethane foaming 72, which forms a molded section and which also pushes input coupling element 28 against inner window pane body 18, thus maintaining an optimal optical coupling between input coupling element 28 and inner window pane body 18.

[0069] Otherwise, vehicle window pane 80 with illuminator 22, which comprises input coupling element 28 and immersion agent 31, corresponds to that of FIG. 6.

[0070] FIG. 8 shows a vehicle window pane 90, which largely corresponds to that of FIG. 2 but differs from it in that pressure elements 92 are disposed between cladding element 32 and input coupling element 28, cladding element 32 pushing input coupling element 28 in the direction of inner window pane body 18 by means of pressure elements 92 so that an optimal optical transition between input coupling element 28 and inner window pane body 18 is ensured at all times.

[0071] Otherwise, vehicle window pane 90 corresponds to that of FIG. 2.

[0072] FIG. 9 shows a vehicle window pane 100, which largely corresponds to that of FIG. 5 but differs from it in that it comprises an illuminator 22 on its underside, illuminator 22 having an input coupling element 28, which is made of a casting resin molded directly onto the underside of inner window pane body 18 of the window pane body assembly. Input coupling element 28, whose input coupling portion 102 has a triangular or wedge-shaped cross section, is integrally provided with an accommodating portion 104, which accommodates an LED bar 62, which is the light source of illuminator 22, as an insert.

[0073] Otherwise, the vehicle window pane of FIG. 9 corresponds to that of FIG. 5.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0074] 10 vehicle roof [0075] 12 cover element [0076] 14 fixed roof element [0077] 16 outer window pane body [0078] 18 inner window pane body [0079] 20 connecting layer [0080] 22 illuminator [0081] 24 light source [0082] 26, 26′ light conductor [0083] 28 input coupling element [0084] 30 adhesive layer [0085] 31 immersion agent [0086] 32 cladding element [0087] 40 vehicle window pane [0088] 42 output coupling element [0089] 50 vehicle window pane [0090] 52 additional deflection structure [0091] 54 adhesive strip [0092] 60 vehicle window pane [0093] 62 LED bar [0094] 70 vehicle window pane [0095] 72 PU foaming [0096] 80 vehicle window pane [0097] 90 vehicle window pane [0098] 92 pressure element [0099] 100 vehicle window pane [0100] 102 input coupling portion [0101] 104 accommodating portion