Illumination unit and vehicle

Abstract

An illumination unit for an interior chamber of a vehicle includes at least one light source integrated into a surface side of a sun shield facing towards an occupant in a non-usage position of the sun shield. The at least one light source emits light in the activated state which is directed towards the occupant. A covering element is provided for covering a light outlet surface of the light source.

Claims

1. An illumination unit for an interior chamber of a vehicle, the illumination unit comprising: at least one light source integrated into a surface side of a sun shield of the vehicle facing towards an occupant of the vehicle in a non-usage position of the sun shield, wherein, in an activated state, the at least one light source is configured to emit light directed towards the occupant; and a covering element arranged on the surface side of the sun shield facing towards the occupant of the vehicle in the non-usage position of the sun shield and covering a light outlet surface of the at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source emits, at an angle, biologically effective light outside a visible range of a driver at least in a driving operation of the vehicle, wherein the angle is 6° between a first line from the driver's eye to a front edge of the at least one light source and a second line from the driver's eye to a rear edge of the at least one light source.

2. The illumination unit of claim 1, wherein the covering element is connected to a switching unit configured to activate and deactivate the at least one light source.

3. The illumination unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is activated when the covering element is open and is deactivated when the covering element is closed.

4. The illumination unit of claim 1, wherein the covering element is a sliding covering, folding covering, or creasing covering, and is fixable in an open position.

5. The illumination unit of claim 1, further comprising: at least one detection unit configured to detect an illumination strength of a surroundings light of the occupant, wherein the at least one light source is activatable depending on the detected illumination strength.

6. The illumination unit of claim 1, wherein the covering element is of a same material as a cladding of the sun shield.

7. The illumination unit of claim 1, wherein the light outlet surface of the at least one light source is configured to diffusely scatter light.

8. The illumination unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is an LED surface light.

9. A vehicle, comprising: a sun shield; an illumination unit, comprising at least one light source integrated into a surface side of the sun shield facing towards an occupant of the vehicle in a non-usage position of the sun shield, wherein, in an activated state, the at least one light source is configured to emit light directed towards the occupant; and a covering element arranged on the surface side of the sun shield facing towards the occupant of the vehicle in the non-usage position of the sun shield and covering a light outlet surface of the at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source emits, at an angle, biologically effective light outside a visible range of a driver at least in a driving operation of the vehicle, wherein the angle is 6° between a first line from the driver's eye to a front edge of the at least one light source and a second line from the driver's eye to a rear edge of the at least one light source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Here are shown:

(2) FIG. 1, schematically, a sun shield with integrated illumination unit and open covering element designed as a sliding covering,

(3) FIG. 2, schematically, the sun shield with integrated illumination unit and closed covering element formed as a sliding covering,

(4) FIG. 3, schematically, the sun shield with a covering element designed as a creasing covering in a closed position,

(5) FIG. 4, schematically, the sun shield with the partially folded back covering element designed as the creased covering,

(6) FIG. 5, schematically, the sun shield with the covering element designed as a creasing covering in an open position,

(7) FIG. 6, schematically, a cut-out of a vehicle with a driver as the occupant and an incident angle range and

(8) FIG. 7, schematically, a driver as an occupant and a region of different incident angles.

(9) Parts corresponding to one another are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a sun shield 1 with an integrated illumination unit 2 for a vehicle 3 depicted in sections in FIGS. 6 and 7. A covering element 4 of a light outlet surface L of a light source 5 of the illumination unit 2 is designed as a sliding covering S, wherein this is shown in an open position in FIG. 1 and in a closed position in FIG. 2.

(11) The illumination unit 2 comprises a light source 5, which can be formed as an LED surface light and emits biologically effective light, wherein this is irradiated in a diffusely scattering manner across the light outlet surface L. Here, the light outlet surface L is designed rectangularly to be milky white, wherein the light outlet surface L occupies a comparatively large area in relation to the surface side of the sun shield 1. In an alternative embodiment, more than one light source 5 are provided for irradiating the biologically effective light.

(12) The light source 5 is integrated into a surface side of the sun shield 1, wherein this surface side in a non-usage position is facing towards an occupant 6 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. If the sun shield 1 is in a usage position, the surface side with the light source 5 is facing away from the occupant 6 and facing towards a windscreen of the vehicle 3 (not shown in more detail). In the usage position of the sun shield 1, this serves to extensively avoid dazzling an occupant 6 of the vehicle 3 by incident sunlight.

(13) Usually, a mirror, in particular a so-called make-up mirror, is arranged on a surface side of the sun shield 1 opposite the illumination unit 2. If the sun shield 1 has such a mirror, then it can serve as a cooling surface for the illumination unit 2, in particular the light source 5.

(14) If the sun shield 1 is in the non-usage position, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the illumination unit 2, in particular the light outlet surface L of the light source 5, integrated into the sun shield 1 is facing towards the occupant 6, wherein, if the covering element 4 has a closed position, the light outlet surface L is covered by means of it.

(15) In addition, the light outlet surface L is arranged on the surface side of the sun shield 1 for user friendliness, which is allocated to the occupant 6 in the non-usage position, since an additional illumination device that can be activated by means of the illumination unit 2 is namely useful when the natural sun radiation is relatively low. In such a state, the sun shield 1 is usually in the non-usage position.

(16) In particular, the sun shield 1, i.e., the light outlet surface L of the light source 5, is positioned in relation to the occupant 6, to whom the sun shield 1 is allocated in terms of seating, in such a way that the biologically effective light is detected by receptors of the eyes 7 of the occupant 6 without the occupant 6 being dazzled. In other words, the biologically effective light emitted by means of the light source 5 reaches the eye 7 of the occupant 6 when the sun shield 1 is in the non-usage position.

(17) According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the covering element 4 is formed as a sliding covering S, wherein a view of the illumination unit 2, in particular of the light outlet surface L, is possible after lateral shifting of the sliding covering S from right to left. A grip element G is arranged or formed on the covering element 4 in the form of the sliding covering S for improved handling of the sliding covering S, i.e., for improved shifting.

(18) The covering element 4 can be designed from an identical or adjusted material, in particular in relation to the surface structure and color, to the surroundings of the covering element 4, i.e., a region surrounding it of the surface side of the sun shield 1.

(19) If the covering element 4 is formed from the same material as the sun shield 1 on this surface side and thus has the same surface structure and color, then the covering element 4 is comparatively unobtrusive in terms of its closed position. Failing that, the covering element 4 can serve as an eyecatcher and have a corresponding surface structure and/or color.

(20) In an embodiment of the illumination unit 2 integrated into the sun shield 1, the covering element 4 can function as a switching element for activating and deactivating the light source 5, i.e., for switching it on and off.

(21) The light source 5 is thus switched on when the covering element 4, according to the present exemplary embodiment the sliding covering S, is opened. If the covering element 4 is closed, such that the light outlet surface L of the light source is covered, this is deactivated, i.e., switched off. The covering element 4 can thus form a switching unit of the illumination unit 2 or alternatively is in effective connection at least with a switching unit for switching the light source 5 on and off.

(22) If the switching unit is defective, such that the light source 5 cannot be deactivated and biologically effective light is continuously emitted, then the light source 5 can be covered by means of the covering element 4, such that the risk of dazzling the occupant 6, to whose seat the sun shield 1, i.e., the light outlet surface L, is allocated, is extensively precluded.

(23) FIGS. 3 to 5 show the sun shield 1 having a covering element 5 formed as a flexible creasing covering A for covering the light source 5 of the illumination unit 2. In FIG. 3, the creasing covering A is shown in the closed position, wherein the light source 5 is completely covered. FIG. 4 shows the covering element 4 in the form of the creasing covering A in the partially folded back state and in FIG. 5, the covering element 4 of the illumination unit 2 is depicted in the open position, such that a light outlet surface L of the light source 5 is completely exposed.

(24) The covering element 4 designed as a creasing cover A can be folded back from left to right to expose the light outlet surface L, such that a handling of the covering element 4 is relatively simple at least for a driver as the occupant 6.

(25) A recessed grip M is formed on the sun shield 1 to the left of the covering element 4 designed as a creasing covering A, such that gripping the creasing covering A is possible in an extensively unproblematic manner.

(26) In the folded back state, i.e., in the open position, of the creasing cover A, it can be fixed on the surface side of the sun shield 1, wherein the fixing can be implemented magnetically, for example, by means of a Velcro and/or button connection.

(27) In an embodiment of the covering element 4 not depicted in more detail, it is formed as a flexible folding covering, such that a width of such a creasing covering A is reduced in the open position and accordingly there is a smaller space requirement. In this embodiment, the covering element 4 can also be fixed in the open position, such that the covering element 4 can be prevented from pivoting caused by the driving operation.

(28) In FIG. 6, a cut-out of a vehicle 3, in particular a vehicle roof 8, is shown, wherein a driver is additionally depicted as the occupant 6 of the vehicle 3.

(29) In FIG. 6, in addition to the sun shield 1, various further installation positions E2 to E5 of the illumination unit 2 are also depicted as the installation position E1.

(30) A second installation position E2 is in the roof region, in particular on the roof liner, wherein the illumination unit 2 is only visible when the sun shield 1 is in the usage position.

(31) A third installation position E3 is in front of the sun shield 1 in the driving direction x of the vehicle 3 in the roof region, wherein a fourth installation position E4 is arranged behind the sun shield 1 in the driving direction x.

(32) A fifth installation position E5 is positioned in the roof region between the two B columns of the vehicle 3 (not depicted in more detail), for example in the region of a mirror and/or roller blind. If the vehicle 3 has a glass roof, sun shields 1 are also provided for occupants 6 in the back seat region, into which sun shields an illumination unit can be integrated in each case for emitting biologically effective light. The arrangement of such an illumination unit 2 in a back seat cosmetic mirror or in a different position suitable for an occupant 6 in the front region or back seat region of the vehicle 3 is also conceivable.

(33) Regardless of the installation position E1 to E5 of the illumination unit 2, a covering element 4 is always provided by means of which the light outlet surface L of the light source 5 can be covered.

(34) FIG. 7 shows a cut-out of the vehicle 3 with the occupant 6 and a region of incident angles for an eye 7 of the occupant 6.

(35) In addition, the light outlet surface L of the activated light source 5 of the illumination unit 2 is depicted, wherein an angle α between a front edge K1 of the light outlet surface L in the non-usage position of the sun shield 1 and a straight outlook line GL of the occupant 6 can be, for example, 15°, and an angle β between a rear edge K2 of the light outlet surface L and the straight outlook line GL can be, for example, 21°.

(36) In such a position of the light outlet surface L, the eye 7 of the occupant 6 detects the biologically effective light of the light source 5, wherein the occupant 6 being dazzled by this light can be extensively precluded.

(37) For example, an intensity of the biologically effective light emitted by means of the light source 5 can be controlled by means of an illumination strength and a color temperature of a surroundings light of the occupant 6, wherein at least one detection unit is provided to do so for detecting the illumination strength and the color temperature of the surroundings light.

(38) In a possible embodiment, it can be provided that the activation and deactivation of the illumination unit 2 is carried out depending on detected signals of the detection unit. If the illumination strength, in particular, falls below a predetermined value, it can be provided that an indication to the occupant 6, in particular the driver of the vehicle 3, is emitted to activate the illumination unit 2 and/or to expose the light outlet surface L by corresponding positioning of the covering element 4.

(39) 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.