VEHICLE PANE WITH A LIGHTING DEVICE

Abstract

A vehicle pane with a light guide layer on the pane inner face and a lighting device which introduces light of a light source into the light guide layer by means of a light-coupling device. The light-coupling device has at least one light-coupling element that has a base surface and is optically connected to a light guide layer inner face, which faces the vehicle interior, via the base surface. The light-coupling element may have a light-coupling region which lies opposite the base surface and on which the light source has at least one LED is positioned, said light source emitting light into the light-coupling element via the light-coupling region.

Claims

1. A vehicle pane having a light guide layer on the pane inner side and having a lighting device, which introduces light from a light source into the light guide layer by a light incoupling device, the light incoupling device having at least one light incoupling element which has a base surface and is optically connected, via its base surface, to an inner surface of the light guide layer facing a vehicle interior, wherein the light incoupling element has a light incoupling region which is situated opposite the base surface and on which is positioned the light source having at least one LED which radiates light into the light incoupling element via the light incoupling region.

2. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LED is mounted on a carrier plate which is arranged on the underside of the light incoupling element situated opposite the base surface.

3. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LED is connected to the light incoupling region via a light guide optics unit.

4. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the light guide optics unit is formed on the light incoupling region of the light incoupling element or is positioned as an optics component between the light incoupling region of the light incoupling element and the LED.

5. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light incoupling element has on its light in-coupling region a plane light incoupling surface which is arranged to the base surface at an acute angle with respect to the base surface.

6. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 4, wherein the light incoupling element has in its light in-coupling region a depression into which the LED or the light guide optics unit is at least partly inserted.

7. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 4, wherein the light incoupling element has in its light in-coupling region a depression at or in which the light guide optics unit is formed in a manner set back into the interior of the light incoupling element.

8. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the light guide optics unit comprises a total internal reflection collimator.

9. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light incoupling element has a lateral boundary surface which is directed to an adjacent pane edge and at which light radiated into the light incoupling element is reflected by total internal reflection in the direction of the light guide layer.

10. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 9, wherein the boundary surface is formed as a planar reflection surface and is oriented perpendicularly to the base surface or at an internal angle of greater than 90 with respect to the base sur-face, or in that the boundary surface is formed as a curved reflection surface or has at least one curved portion.

11. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 9, wherein the boundary surface has a reflective surface or coating.

12. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light incoupling element has a mount keeping the carrier plate fixed relative to the light incoupling element.

13. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mount has at least two pins which are arranged at the light incoupling element inward from the LEDs and in each case offset with respect to the LEDs and which engage by way of a respective securing clip in assigned openings in the carrier plate.

14. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrier plate is attached to a cover which covers the light incoupling element.

15. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 14, wherein the carrier plate is attached to the cover by a mount or an adhesive bond.

16. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light incoupling element, via its base surface, is formed in one piece with the light guide layer.

17. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one LED is a top LED.

18. The vehicle pane as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrier plate is a PCB carrier plate, which is arranged on the underside of the light incoupling element situated opposite the base surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing on the basis of exemplary embodiments of a vehicle pane according to the invention. In the figures:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a vehicle roof with a vehicle pane according to the invention;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a lateral edge region of the vehicle pane with a lighting device with an LED light source and with a light incoupling element on a light guide layer of the vehicle pane;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the light incoupling element;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the light incoupling element;

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the light incoupling element;

[0039] FIG. 6A shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the light incoupling element;

[0040] FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the light incoupling element;

[0041] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the light incoupling element with an LED light source coupled via a light guide optics unit;

[0042] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the light incoupling element with a coupled LED light source;

[0043] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a carrier plate which carries the LED light source and which is secured to the light incoupling element;

[0044] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a mount of the carrier plate which carries the LED light source; and

[0045] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a mount of the carrier plate which carries the LED light source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] A vehicle, such as e.g. an automobile, comprises a vehicle roof 1 (FIG. 1) with a roof opening 2, in which is arranged a vehicle pane 3, which, for example, is fixedly arranged in the roof opening 2 or is in the form of a lid, which is mounted movably in the roof opening 2 by means of a mounting device and is adjustable between a closed position and ventilating or open positions in a manner known per se. The vehicle pane 3 may also be a fixed part or portion of a roof module or panoramic roof. The vehicle pane 3 has a respective lighting device 4 which is arranged on the pane inner side 5 and is preferably arranged along a respective side edge 6 of the vehicle pane 3 and inward from the side edge 6.

[0047] The vehicle pane 3 comprises (see FIG. 2) an outer pane 7, an inner pane 8, and a connecting layer 9, which connects the outer pane 7 and the inner pane 8 to one another and contains e.g. a laminate layer, laminate film or hot-melt adhesive film. For example, the outer pane 7 is a tinted glass pane. The inner pane 8 is in particular a transparent glass pane or clear glass pane, which forms a light guide layer 10.

[0048] The lighting device 4 has a strip-shaped light source 11 having a plurality of LEDs 12 arranged next to one another. An elongate light incoupling element 13 of the lighting device 4 constitutes an optical prism and is, for example, a plastics injection-molded part. The light incoupling element 13 has a base surface 14, via which the light incoupling element 13 is secured to an inner surface 15 of the inner pane 8 or the light guide plate 10 e.g. by means of an adhesive bond 16 (FIG. 2), for example in the form of a transparent adhesive or a transparent adhesive tape. The light incoupling element 13, which is in particular substantially wedge-shaped in cross section, is formed with a wedge vertex 17 directed in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal extent of the light incoupling element 13 and inward in the direction of the center of the vehicle pane 3.

[0049] The light incoupling element 13 has a light incoupling region 18 situated on the underside 19 of the light incoupling element 13 situated opposite the base surface 14. The light incoupling region 18 is formed with a plane light incoupling surface 20 of the light incoupling element 13, said surface being oriented parallel to the base surface 14, for example. The light incoupling surface 20 expediently adjoins a lower wedge reflection surface 21 inclined with respect to the base surface 14 and extending as far as the wedge vertex 17.

[0050] The light incoupling element 13 has a lateral boundary surface 22 on its outer side 24 facing a lateral pane edge 23 of the vehicle pane 3. The lateral boundary surface 22 is e.g. planar and extends from the light incoupling surface 20 as far as the base surface 14 over the entire outer side 24 of the light incoupling element 13. In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the lateral boundary surface 22 is arranged in a manner inclined with respect to the base surface 14 and with respect to the light incoupling surface 20, e.g. at an obtuse internal angle of e.g. 135 with respect to the base surface 14.

[0051] The LEDs 12 are fixedly attached on a carrier plate 25. The carrier plate 25 is expediently a PCB (printed circuit board) and configured as a sheetlike strip-shaped component via which the power supply of the LEDs 12 and the control thereof take place. The carrier plate 25 is arranged in its installation position approximately parallel to the pane inner side 5 or to the inner surface 15 of the inner pane 8 and also to the base surface 14 and at a distance therefrom. The LEDs 12 are LEDs that emit light upward, or top LEDs, which, therefore, in their position on the carrier plate 25 in which they are situated on the side of the carrier plates 25 facing the light guide layer 10, emit the light perpendicularly from the surface of the carrier plate 25. Alternatively, the LEDs can also have a different emission direction, but can be provided with a corresponding optics unit (not illustrated), such that the main emission direction thereof is directed toward the light incoupling surface 20. Alternatively, it is also possible to use side LEDs with predominantly lateral outcoupling of light, wherein here, too, the main emission direction thereof is directed toward the light incoupling surface 20.

[0052] The carrier plate 25 is positioned relative to the light incoupling element 13 in such a way that the LEDs 12 are arranged in front of or at the light incoupling surface 20. The LEDs 12 radiate light into the light incoupling element 13 via the light incoupling surface 20. The light is reflected by total internal reflection in particular at the lateral boundary surface 22 and is radiated into the light guide layer 10. FIG. 2 depicts two light beams 26 and 27 representing by way of example the light emitted by the LED 12 within an emission angle of e.g. 120.

[0053] The LEDs 12 are thus arranged on the light incoupling element 13 below the light incoupling region 18 or the light incoupling surface 20. Consequently, the region in front of the outer side 24 of the light incoupling element 13 in the direction of the pane edge 23 is not required for the arrangement of a part of the illumination or of the light source. Accordingly, the width of the lighting device 4 in the transverse direction of the vehicle pane 3 is smaller than in the case of a lighting device as known e.g. from DE 10 2020 109 338 B3, in which the light source is arranged in front of a lateral end face of the light incoupling element directed toward the pane edge. A larger see-through region of the vehicle pane 3 remains as a result of the smaller width of the lighting device 4. The carrier plate 25 extends below the light incoupling element 13 preferably only as far as the outer side 24 of the light incoupling element 13 or only slightly beyond that. This means that the carrier plate 25 also does not increase, or does not significantly increase, the installation space of the lighting device 4 in the width direction thereof or in the transverse direction.

[0054] The light incoupling element 13 has a mount 28 (FIG. 9), which positions and keeps fixed the carrier plate 25 with the LED 12 relative to the light incoupling element 13 and to the light incoupling surface 20. The carrier plate 25 is preferably embodied as a longitudinally extending strip and preferably has a plurality of LEDs 12. Each LED 12 is preferably assigned a light incoupling element 13 or each light incoupling element 13 is assigned at least one LED 12. The mount 28 contains at least one, preferably a plurality of projections or pins 29 which are attached to the light incoupling element 13, expediently to the wedge reflection surface 21, or are molded thereon during injection molding and project downward beyond the light incoupling element 13 or the light incoupling surface 20 thereof and thus protrude on the opposite side of said element relative to the base surface 14. A securing clip 30 is attached to or molded on each pin 29. The carrier plate 25 has a respective hole or opening 31 assigned to each pin 29. The carrier plate 25 is plugged onto each pin 29. At least one securing clip 30 latches in place on the carrier plate 25 and preferably engages behind the latter at the hole or opening 31. The carrier plate 25 is thus kept fixed by means of the securing clip(s) 30 latched in place on the carrier plate 25. The pins 29 are preferably expediently arranged offset with respect to the LEDs 12 in the longitudinal direction of the light incoupling element 13, such that when observed laterally, a respective pin 29 is arranged between two LEDs 12. Each pin 29 is thus arranged on the wedge reflection surface 21 in a region with relatively low light reflection. In addition, it is also possible to provide at least one pin 29 without securing clip 30 which is assigned to a hole or opening 31 and serves for positioning the carrier plate 25 vis--vis the at least one light incoupling element 13.

[0055] An alternative securing of the carrier plate 25 provides (see FIG. 10) for the carrier plate 25 to be attached to a cover 32. The cover 32 has a mount 33 on the inner side, the carrier plate 25 being fixable to said mount. The mount 33 comprises e.g. clips, latching mounts or plug connections, in particular for releasably securing the carrier plate 25. The cover 32 covers the lighting device 4 like a screen downward toward the vehicle interior. The cover 32 is adhesively bonded for example to the inner surface 15 of the inner pane 8 via an inner limb 34 and to a roof component or roof frame or the like via an outer limb 35.

[0056] In the case of a further alternative securing, the carrier plate 25 (FIG. 11) is secured to an inner side 36 of the cover 32 by means of an adhesive bond 37 comprising e.g. an adhesive layer or an adhesive tape.

[0057] One preferred embodiment provides for (see FIG. 7) the LED 12 to be connected to the light incoupling region 18 via a light guide optics unit 38. The light guide optics unit 38 is arranged as an optics component 39 on the LED 12 and is positioned at the light guide surface 20 by means of the carrier plate 25. The light guide optics unit 38 or the optics component 39 is configured e.g. in such a way that the light emitted by the LED 12 is influenced in a desired manner for entry in the light incoupling region 13, e.g. with regard to the direction or focusing of the light beams. The light guide optics unit 38 or the optics component 39 comprises in particular a TIR (total internal reflection) collimator, which generates a substantially parallel beam path of the light radiation.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows an alternative configuration of the light incoupling element 13 with a light guide optics unit 38. The light guide optics unit 38 is formed by an optical configuration of the light incoupling region 18 of the light incoupling element 13. FIG. 8 furthermore shows an embodiment in which the light incoupling element 13 has in its light incoupling region 18 a respective depression 40 which is assigned to an LED 12 and in which the light guide optics unit 38 is formed in a position set back into the interior of the light incoupling element 13. The depression 40 is of such a size and has such a, for example round or rectangular, cross section that the LED 12 with its housing can be accommodated therein at least partly in a recessed manner and is oriented in a manner assigned to the light guide optics unit 38. A wall of the depression 40 can be configured in relation to the LED 12 and its housing in such a way that the LED 12 with its housing is kept centered with respect to the light guide optics unit 38. This light guide optics unit 38 formed in the light incoupling element 13 can also be configured as a TIR collimator.

[0059] FIGS. 3 to 6A and 6B show light incoupling elements 13 of varying configurations.

[0060] The light incoupling element 13 illustrated in FIG. 3 has (in line with FIG. 7) a lateral boundary surface 22 which is oriented perpendicularly to the base surface 14 and forms the entire lateral outer side 24 of the light incoupling element 13. This boundary surface 22 reflects in particular such light from an LED 12 which is emitted by the LED 12 over a large emission angle.

[0061] The light incoupling element 13 illustrated in FIG. 4 has a lateral boundary surface 22 in line with the embodiment in FIG. 2. The lateral boundary surface 22 is arranged in a manner inclined at an obtuse internal angle with respect to the base surface 14. By way of example, the boundary surface 22 is oriented at an obtuse internal angle in the range of approximately 120 to 140 with respect to the base surface 14.

[0062] In the case of the light incoupling elements 13 in FIGS. 3 and 4, the light incoupling surface 20 is arranged or oriented parallel to the base surface 14.

[0063] The light incoupling element 13 illustrated in FIG. 6A is a modification of the light incoupling element 13 in FIG. 4 and in contrast thereto has a light incoupling surface 20 which is not arranged parallel to the base surface 14, but rather is inclined in a direction toward the radiation of light into the light guide layer 10. An internal angle between the light incoupling surface 20 and the wedge reflection surface 21 is smaller than the corresponding internal angle of the embodiment in FIG. 4.

[0064] FIG. 6B shows a light incoupling element 13 in accordance with a further modification of the light incoupling element 13 in FIG. 4. The light incoupling element 13 in FIG. 6B has a light incoupling surface 20 which is not arranged parallel to the base surface 14, but rather is inclined in a direction toward the radiation of light into the light guide layer 10. Therefore, in principle, this light incoupling element 13 is similar to that in FIG. 6A. However, further geometric conditions arise in the case of the light incoupling element 13 in FIG. 6B. As is illustrated in FIG. 6B, the light source 11 in the form of the LED 12 is arranged in a specific orientation at the light incoupling surface 20. In the case illustrated, the light source 20 has a light direction axis or light incidence axis a, along which light is principally radiated into the light incoupling element 13 from the light source 11.

[0065] In this exemplary embodiment, the cross section of the light incoupling element 13 is configured in such a way that the light incidence axis a forms an angle with the base surface 14, which angle is in the range of 45 to 135 inclusive, as is illustrated in FIG. 6B. In this case, the light incoupling surface 20 extends substantially perpendicularly to the light incidence axis a and is thus at an acute angle in relation to the base surface 14, as likewise illustrated in FIG. 6B.

[0066] Preferably, the angle formed by the lateral boundary surface 22 with respect to the base surface 14 is in the range of 90 to 180 inclusive, with an internal angle between the light incoupling surface 20 and the wedge reflection surface 21 preferably being in the range of 100 to 150.

[0067] As is furthermore discernible in FIG. 6B, the light incoupling surface 20 at least partially covers the boundary surface 22, i.e. an area of the boundary surface 22 projected in the light incidence axis a overlaps the light incoupling surface 20 or an area of the light incoupling surface 20 projected in the light incidence axis a. In other words, the area of the boundary surface 22 projected in the light incidence axis a lies completely within the area of the light incoupling surface 20 projected in the light incidence axis a.

[0068] What is particularly advantageous about the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6B is that the light from the light source 11 in the form of the LED 12 is radiated into the light incoupling element 13 in the form of a prism in such a way that the light is already guided obliquely in the direction of the light guide layer 10. Light that impinges on the boundary surface 22 is deflected in such a way that either it is incoupled obliquely into the light guide layer 10, or it is incoupled obliquely into the light guide layer 10 via the wedge reflection surface 21 situated opposite the base surface 14 as a rising flank.

[0069] A further advantage of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6B is that light which, having been reflected by the light guide layer 10, is coupled back into the light incoupling element 13 is reflected in a deflected manner via the wedge reflection surface 21 and is coupled back obliquely into the light guide layer 10. Alternatively, the light coupled back into the light incoupling element 13 is reflected toward the boundary surface 22 via the wedge reflection surface 21 and/or the light incoupling surface 20 and is incoupled into the light guide layer 10 again for the most part. Furthermore, light that does not follow the light incidence axis a and is guided from the LED 12 into the light incoupling element 13 to the boundary surface 22 is reflected in such a way that this light, having been reflected in a deflected manner via the wedge reflection surface 21, is incoupled into the light guide layer 10.

[0070] Preferably, the incoupling of light from the light incoupling element 13 in the form of the prism into the light guide layer 10 thus takes place for the most part at an angle in such a way that the light remains in the light guide layer 10 by virtue of total internal reflection. Preferably, the light is in this case outcoupled only at defined outcoupling points on the light guide layer 10.

[0071] The light incoupling element 13 illustrated in FIG. 5 has a curved boundary surface 22. The boundary surface 22 curves proceeding from the base surface 14 with a center of curvature situated at the light incoupling element 13 downward as far as the light incoupling surface 20.

[0072] Ambient light illumination is provided by the two lighting devices 4, which are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical longitudinal central plane of the roof in the region of the respective side edge 6 of the vehicle pane 3.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 1 Vehicle roof 2 Roof opening 3 Vehicle pane 4 Lighting device 5 Pane inner side 6 Side edge 7 Outer pane 8 Inner pane 9 Connecting layer 10 Light guide layer 11 Light source 12 LED 13 Light incoupling element 14 Base surface 15 Inner surface 16 Adhesive bond 17 Wedge vertex 18 Light incoupling region 19 Underside 20 Light incoupling surface 21 Wedge reflection surface 22 Boundary surface 23 Pane edge 24 Outer side 25 Carrier plate 26 Light beam 27 Light beam 28 Mount 29 Pin 30 Securing clips 31 Opening 32 Cover 33 Mount 34 Inner limb 35 Outer limb 36 Inner side 37 Adhesive bond 38 Light guide optics unit 39 Optics component 40 Depression