LIGHTING DEVICE, LIGHTING SYSTEM, AND MOTOR VEHICLE WITH LIGHTING SYSTEM

Abstract

The described examples relate to a lighting device for a motor vehicle with multiple optical fibers and multiple further fibers, which are woven to a two-dimensional fiber fabric. The multiple further fibers may be formed as multiple further optical fibers or as multiple non-optical fibers. The fiber fabric may be formed corresponding to a developed surface of multiple sides of a preset three-dimensional body, which may be generated by cutting and by selectively separating the multiple optical fibers and the multiple further fibers that are woven with each other, at a distal cut end of the fiber fabric.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising multiple optical fibers and multiple further fibers, the multiple further fibers are formed as multiple further optical fibers or as multiple non-optical fibers, the multiple optical fibers and the multiple further fibers are woven to a two-dimensional fiber fabric, the fiber fabric is to be formed corresponding to a surface of multiple sides of a three-dimensional body through cutting and selective separating of the multiple optical fibers and the multiple further fibers, which are woven with each other, at a distal cut end of the fiber fabric such that the multiple optical fibers and the multiple further fibers protrude separated at a fabric end, the multiple optical fibers and/or the multiple further fibers formed as multiple further optical fibers, which protrude from the fabric end, are bundled to a fiber bundle, the fiber bundle is jacketed with a protective shell and includes a coupling element to couple light into the fiber bundle at a face side, the fiber fabric formed corresponding to the developed surface includes at least two lighting areas different from each other, a first lighting area, from among the at least two lighting areas, includes the fiber bundle with the coupling element only on one side, and/or a second lighting area, from among the at least two lighting areas, includes the fiber bundle with the coupling element on at least two sides arranged opposing each other and/or normally to each other.

9. A lighting system for a motor vehicle, comprising a lighting device according to claim 8, and the three-dimensional body with the surface , which includes multiple sides of the body and at least partially delimits the body, the fiber fabric is formed corresponding to the developed surface of the body.

10. The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the fiber fabric is at least partially arranged on the surface of the body, wherein the fiber fabric comprises at least one bending formation in form of a bending edge, a bending angle, or a bending radius, and/or at least two edges of the fiber fabric abut on each other in a flush manner.

11. The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the fiber fabric comprises: a partially translucent protective layer and/or is attached to the surface of the body by a joining material, wherein the respective fibers are additionally fixed to each other.

12. The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the body is a hollow body and the surface of the hollow body comprises an opening to an internal space of the hollow body, wherein the multiple optical fibers and/or the multiple further fibers protruding from the fiber fabric are bent towards the internal space of the hollow body through the opening, wherein the lighting system includes a coupling-in device, wherein the fiber bundle is guided to the coupling-in device through the internal space and connected to the coupling-in device via the coupling element in optically conducting manner.

13. The lighting system according to claim 10, wherein each of the multiple optical fibers and/or each of the multiple further optical fibers formed as multiple further optical fibers include a core and a coating enveloping the core, wherein the coating comprises a gap, wherein the gap is each only arranged in a lift area of the fiber fabric.

14. A motor vehicle with a lighting system according to claim 10, wherein the three-dimensional body is arranged in an interior of the motor vehicle as a trim element and/or as an operating element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the examples, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a lighting system for the motor vehicle; and

[0035] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram for providing the lighting system.

DESCRIPTION

[0036] The examples explained in the following are examples of the invention. In the examples, the described components of the examples each represent individual features of the examples to be considered independently of each other, which also each develop the examples independently of each other. Therefore, the disclosure is to include also combinations of the features of the examples different from the illustrated ones. Furthermore, the described examples can also be supplemented by further ones of the already described features of the examples.

[0037] In the figures, identical reference characters each denote functionally identical elements.

[0038] FIG. 1 exemplarily shows a motor vehicle 10, wherein a part of an interior 12 of the motor vehicle 10 is partially illustrated in enlarged manner. It includes a selector lever (gear stick) 14 formed as an operating element. Thus, the selector lever 14 is a three-dimensional body 16. The body 16 is formed as a hollow body and comprises an internal space 17 for receiving an electronic member of the selector lever 14, which is delimited by multiple sides of a surface 18 and therefore not visible from the outside for an observer (e.g. a vehicle occupant). Furthermore, the body 16 can comprise a schematically indicated opening 20 in the surface 18, through which the electronic member can for example be serviced or exchanged. In order to illuminate the body 16 formed as a selector lever 14, for example to optically present a currently selected gear (e.g. “P”), a lighting system 22 is provided.

[0039] The lighting system 22 and an associated lighting device 24 are schematically depicted in the representation shown in FIG. 2 in detailed manner, wherein FIG. 2 makes reference to the components shown and described in context of FIG. 1. However, a representation of the body 16 of the lighting system 22 already shown in FIG. 1 is herein omitted. Furthermore, with presence of multiple components identical in member, each only one thereof has a reference character in FIG. 2. Besides the shown lighting device 24, the lighting system 22 comprises four coupling-in devices 25 as respective light sources, which are for example formed as LED lamps.

[0040] The lighting device 24 itself includes multiple optical fibers 26a and multiple further fibers 26b, which are woven to a two-dimensional fiber fabric 28 as warp and/or weft threads, as it is also partially illustrated in enlarged manner. Presently, the multiple further fibers 26b are also formed as optical fibers. Alternatively or additionally, these fibers 26b can also be non-optical. The fiber fabric 28 is formed corresponding to the developed surface 18 of the three-dimensional body 16. Hereto, the fiber fabric 28 is transferred into a required cross shape by cutting. Furthermore, fibers 26a, 26b woven with each other are selectively separated respectively on four distal cut ends 30 of the fiber fabric 28 such that they protrude separated at a fabric end 32. The fibers 26a, 26b protruding from the respective fabric end 32 are each bundled to a fiber bundle 34. Each of the fiber bundles 34 is jacketed by a protective shell 36 (e.g. shrinking hose). Furthermore, each of the fiber bundles 34 comprises a coupling element 38 (ferrule) on a face side for coupling light into the fiber bundle 34, i.e. for connecting the fiber bundle 34 to the coupling-in device 25 in optically conducting manner.

[0041] In order to arrange the fiber fabric 28 at least partially on the surface 18 of the body 16, it can for example comprise four schematically indicated bending edges 40. If the fiber fabric 28 is folded along these bending edges 40, then, each two edges 42a, 42b of the fiber fabric 28 abut on each other in flush manner, i.e. without overlap. Herein, the fiber fabric 28 can be attached to the surface 18 by a joining material (e.g. adhesive), which additionally fixes the respective fibers 26a, 26b to each other. In addition, the fibers 26a, 26b protruding from the fabric end 32 can also be bent towards the internal space 17 of the body 16 through the opening 20 such that the fiber bundle 34 is guided to the coupling-in device 25 through the internal space 17.

[0042] In order to emit the light coupled-in and transported by the coupling-in devices 25 in lateral manner, i.e. in radial direction, from the optical fibers 26a, 26b, a coating enveloping a core of the fibers 26a, 26b can comprise a gap 44, as is only shown centrally in a lift area of the fiber 26a in the enlarged section of the fiber fabric 28 for the sake of overview.

[0043] Since the fiber fabric 28 is formed corresponding to the developed surface 18 and thus can also be irregularly (e.g. asymmetrically) formed, lighting areas 48, 50a, 50b, 50c, 50e different from each other result from it. In a lighting area 48, each only one side comprises the fiber bundle 34 formed of the fibers 26a with the coupling element 38. Thus, light is only coupled in on one side. In a lighting area 50a, two sides oriented opposite to each other each comprise the fiber bundle 34 with the coupling element 38. Thus, light can each be coupled into the fibers 26a, 26b from two sides. Analogously hereto, light can be coupled in from three sides in a lighting area 50b and from four sides in a lighting area 50c, 5e.

[0044] If a protective layer 46 is additionally arranged on the fiber fabric 28 (see hereto a cladding of the selector lever 14 in a grip area for the vehicle driver in FIG. 1), a partial translucence of the protective layer 46 is required. It can for example be realized by a material characteristic or an opening in the protective layer 46.

[0045] With reference to the components shown and described in context of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram for a method for providing the lighting system 22. In a first step S1 of the method, the multiple optical fibers 26a and the multiple further fibers 26b are woven to a two-dimensional fiber fabric. In a second step S2 of the method, the developed surface 18 of the body 16 is captured and developed. In a final third step S3 of the method, the fiber fabric 28 is formed corresponding to the developed surface 18 of the body 16. The second step S2 can be performed temporally before, after or at the same time with the first step S1. In particular, the third step S3 can be effected temporally after the first step S1 and the second step S2. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the first step S1 and the third step S3 are performed in combined manner, wherein the developed surface 18 of the body 16 is taken into account already in producing the fiber fabric 28.

[0046] The lighting system 22 is based on the realization that a light production in the motor vehicle 10, in particular from an interior (internal space 12), plays an increasingly important role. Herein, light can for example be integrated in an installation space of a vehicle door, an instrument panel (ipanel) of a center console and/or a vehicle seat. Hereto, a surface-structured fiber mat (fiber fabric 28) can also be used for an extensive light application, which allows besides a flat construction (package) also positioning of an actual light source (coupling-in device 25) on/in an alternative installation space. A textile (fiber fabric 28) created by weaving for example includes polymer-optical weft threads (each of the multiple optical fibers 26a) and multiple polyester threads without optical effect as warp threads (each of the multiple non-optical fibers), which only stabilize such a knitted fabric. By structuring the optical fibers 26a (POF threads) and coupling in light at an optical interface (e.g. coupling element 38 formed as a ferrule), a lateral light exit from the fiber mat 28 can be allowed. The fiber mat 28 can also be only partially activated or “holes” can be realized in weaving, through which the optical, i.e. light conducting, fibers 26a can be guided.

[0047] However, currently, a method is not known to the applicant, by which the severely deformed three-dimensional body 16, such as a gearshift lever (gear stick or selector lever 14) can be lighted all over. Especially a member size or an already integrated functionality prevents an extensive member illumination. Existing methods require an increased construction height, which is not admissible in such an application in the motor vehicle 10 and injection molded light guides (optical fibers 26a) do not allow a pronounced three-dimensionality, respectively. The fiber mat activated in terms of light (fiber fabric 28 with gap 44) is usually used for a slightly deformed two-dimensional structure such as for an area light in the vehicle door or on the instrument panel.

[0048] In order to counteract this, both weft and warp threads can be woven and activated, respectively, by optical polymeric fibers (i.e. the multiple optical fibers 26a as well as the multiple further fibers 26b formed as further optical fibers) in producing the fiber mat 28 and be equipped with a ferrule (coupling element 38) in the non-woven area as desired. By the advantageous cutting of the fiber mat 28, one obtains a flexible two-dimensional lighting surface, which can be pulled over/deformed on any three-dimensional shape by folding. In addition, it can be transilluminated through a material capable of being transilluminated (protective layer 44 of perforated aluminum or leather and foils, respectively). A positioning of the light source (coupling-in device 25) at the interface of the ferrule 38 is freely selectable due to a flexibility of the fibers 26a, 26b according to installation space.

[0049] Hereby, a very low construction (e.g. ca. 1 mm for the fiber fabric 28) can arise. Furthermore, the shining three-dimensional body 16 can be realized by cutting and/or deforming shining individual parts (i.e. the multiple optical fibers 26a as well as the multiple further fibers 26b formed as further optical fibers) as well as the positioning of the coupling-in device 25 at another installation location.

[0050] In case of the gearshift lever 14 configured shining, a recommended gear change (corresponding to rotational speed), a drive mode and/or an engaged setting (e.g. P, D, R, . . . ) can for example be presented hereby.

[0051] For providing the lighting system 22, it can be produced as follows: [0052] Producing the fiber mat 28 [0053] Additionally weaving the existing fiber mat 28 with POF fibers (multiple optical fibers 26a) and/or providing the fiber mat 28 already comprising the POF fibers (multiple optical fibers 26a); [0054] Producing a cut design (developed surface 18) e.g. by laser cutting (laser cut); [0055] bundling individual fibers 26a, 26b in a shrinking hose (fiber bundle 34 with protective shell 36); and [0056] applying the ferrule 38. [0057] Design of the fiber mat 28 [0058] Constructively transferring the 3D body 16 to be realized with a layer (surface 18), which is separated at reasonable locations, such that a shape developable in 2D (developed surface 18) arises. [0059] Integration [0060] Wrapping the 3D body 16 with the fiber mat 28 and bending ends of the fibers 26a, 26b such that a tight-fitting mesh is spanned around the body 16; [0061] Applying a translucent surface material (protective layer 44) over the fiber mat 28; and [0062] Laying the light transporting fiber bundle 34 in an installation space advantageous in terms of installation space and coupling in the ferrule 38 to the coupling-in device 25.

[0063] Overall, the examples show how a three-dimensional (3D) lighting body (body 16 with fiber fabric 28) for an interior application in an automobile (motor vehicle 10) can be provided.

[0064] A description has been provided with particular reference to examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims, which may include the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” as an alternative expression that refers to one or more of A, B or C, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).