DE102023111600A1 - window arrangement for a vehicle and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A window arrangement for a vehicle comprises:
- a plate-shaped light guide disc (111),
- a functional element (120) which is fixed to a main side (112) of the light guide disc (111) by means of an adhesive connection (130),
- a reflection layer (140) arranged between the light guide disc (111) and the functional element (120) to reflect light (151) in the direction of the light guide disc (111).

Description

A window arrangement for a vehicle is specified. In addition, a vehicle is specified that has such a window arrangement.

Motor vehicles have transparent or translucent windows in various places. In the EP 3787894 A1 A laminated glass pane for a vehicle is described. The panes can be illuminated.

It is desirable to provide a window arrangement for a vehicle which enables reliable operation and which in particular enables undesired coupling of light from the window to be avoided. It is also desirable to provide a vehicle with such a window arrangement.

This is achieved by the independent claims. Particularly advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

• - eine plattenförmiges Lichtleitscheibe,
• - ein Funktionselement, das mittels einer Klebeverbindung an einer Hauptseite der Lichtleitscheibe fixiert ist,
• - eine Reflexionsschicht, die zwischen der Lichtleitscheibe und dem Funktionselement angeordnet ist, um Licht in Richtung der Lichtleitscheibe zu reflektieren.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a window arrangement for a vehicle comprises:

• - a plate-shaped light guide disc,
• - a functional element which is fixed to a main side of the light guide disc by means of an adhesive connection,
• - a reflection layer arranged between the light guide disc and the functional element to reflect light towards the light guide disc.

The plate-shaped light guide disc has, for example, a glass disc and/or a plastic disc. The light guide disc is in particular transparent or translucent. The light guide disc is designed to guide the light from a light source along the main side. The light can be coupled out of the light guide disc. Thus, lighting for the vehicle can be implemented using the light guide disc and the light source, in particular lighting for the interior of the vehicle. For example, the light guide disc is part of a composite disc that has two or more discs that are connected to one another.

The light guide plate is formed, for example, from a single plate. Alternatively, the light guide plate can be constructed from a plurality of layers. For example, the light guide plate has a light guide layer that has approximately the same refractive index as an adjacent plate. The plate and the light guide layer together guide light along the main side. For example, the light guide layer is arranged between the plate and the functional element.

The light guide disc is flat and extends in particular with a main side along an XY plane. During operation, the main side faces the interior of the vehicle, for example. The main side has a significantly larger extent than a transverse side aligned perpendicular to it. During operation, the main side is aligned essentially along the horizontal. The transverse side is aligned essentially along or parallel to the normal to the main side, i.e. essentially along the vertical, i.e. in particular along a vertical direction Z.

The functional element is, for example, a plastic element. For example, the functional element is designed to couple other elements of the vehicle to the light guide disk. For example, the functional element provides an interface for connecting an interior roof liner. In particular, the functional element is part of a connection for connecting an interior roof liner of the vehicle to the light guide disk. For example, the interior roof liner can be attached to the light guide disk using the functional element by means of a connection and/or clip connection.

According to embodiments, the disk arrangement has a plurality of functional elements that are arranged at a distance from one another in or on the main side of the light-guiding disk. For example, the surface via which the functional element is coupled to the light-guiding disk does not extend over the entire length/surface of the main side of the light-guiding disk, but has a significantly smaller extent than the light-guiding disk. Analogously or additionally, one or more functional elements can be arranged on the side of the light-guiding disk opposite the main side.

An arrangement of components such as the functional element on the light guide plate usually leads to light being extracted. However, this light extraction is not always desired. In particular, light should not be extracted from the functional element. The reflective layer is intended for this purpose.

The reflective layer enables the reflection of light, for example due to a jump in the refractive index. For example, the refractive index of the reflective layer differs from the refractive index of an adjacent layer.

For example, the light guide disc has a refractive index of 1.55 or 1.52. An adjacent A layer adjacent to the light guide disk, for example a hot melt adhesive layer adjacent to the light guide disk, has a refractive index of 1.48. This refractive index jump is sufficient to cause total reflection at the boundary layer between the light guide disk and the adjacent layer. Preferably, a larger difference in the respective refractive index between the light guide disk and the adjacent layer is selected, with a refractive index of less than 1.48 preferably being selected for the adjacent layer.

In particular, a refractive index jump between the light guide disk and the adjacent layer of more than 0.01 is provided, for example by more than 0.1. The refractive index jump causes total reflection of light at the reflective layer, so that the light guided in the light guide disk does not couple out of the light guide layer at the reflective layer.

The reflection layer is made of transparent or largely transparent material, for example. Optional layers between the reflection layer and the light guide are also transparent or largely transparent.

It is also possible that the reflection layer is alternatively or additionally formed by means of a mirror layer. The reflection layer is glossy or reflective in order to reflect in particular the light guided in the light guide disc, so that the light guided in the light guide disc is not coupled out by the reflection layer but is reflected back into the light guide disc and thus remains in the area of the functional element in the light guide disc. For example, the reflection layer is made of a metal, for example the reflection layer comprises aluminum or silver.

The reflective layer enables reliable guidance of the light in the light guide disc, even at the point where the functional element is attached to the main side by means of the adhesive connection. Absorption and/or spectral division of the light caused by absorption or reflection at the adhesive connection and in particular at the functional element is thus avoided or at least reduced. This increases the efficiency of the light guidance in the light guide disc. The light in particular contains electromagnetic radiation in the range visible to humans. In addition, there is little or no spectral change in the light guided in the light guide disc in the area of the functional element or the reflective layer. Furthermore, shading due to absorption or coupling out is reduced/avoided.

The reflective layer enables the use of a dark, for example black, functional element without an undesirable amount of light being absorbed in the area of the functional element. Undesirable coupling at the adhesive connection can also be avoided using the reflective layer. This means that even with the glued functional element, even light can be guided evenly within the light guide panel. Less bright areas behind the functional element and the adhesive connection can be avoided. This increases the reliability and efficiency of the panel arrangement.

According to at least one embodiment, the reflection layer is arranged between the light guide disk and the adhesive connection. The light is reflected by the reflection layer before it can reach the adhesive connection. The adhesive connection is arranged in particular between the reflection layer and the functional element. In particular, the reflection layer in this embodiment is designed as a mirror layer. For example, the reflection layer is vapor-deposited and/or printed onto the main side. For example, the reflection layer has a metal layer. In particular, the reflection layer is applied directly to the main side of the light guide disk. Coupling out of the light due to the adhesive connection is thus reliably avoided.

According to at least one embodiment, the reflection layer is alternatively or additionally arranged between the functional element and the adhesive connection. The adhesive connection is arranged between the light-guiding disk and the reflection layer. Light passes through the adhesive connection, for example from the light-guiding disk into the adhesive connection and is then reflected by the reflection layer and coupled back into the light-guiding disk through the adhesive connection.

For example, the light guide disc and the adhesive connection have the same or very similar refractive index in order to be able to couple the light in and out between the light guide disc and the adhesive connection. The reflection layer reduces the absorption of light by the functional element.

In this embodiment, the reflection layer is designed in particular as a mirror layer. In particular, a coupling surface of the functional element facing the light guide disk is designed to be mirrored.

According to at least one embodiment, the adhesive connection has an adhesive layer. The reflection layer is formed by means of the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is formed from an adhesive in order to bond the functional element to the light guide disk. The adhesive layer has in particular a first refractive index. The light guide disk has a second refractive index. The first refractive index is smaller than the second refractive index. Thus, total reflection occurs at the interface between the adhesive layer and the light guide disk. In particular, the first refractive index is 0.1 or more smaller than the second refractive index. For example, the first refractive index has a value between 1 and 1.45, in particular a value less than 1.35.

According to at least one embodiment, the adhesive connection has an adhesive tape. The reflection layer is formed as part of the adhesive tape. For example, the adhesive tape has a substrate layer on which the reflection layer is applied and an adhesive layer to fix the adhesive tape to the light guide disk. The functional element can be glued to the substrate layer. For example, the adhesive tape is designed as a double-sided adhesive tape. It is therefore possible for the substrate layer of the adhesive tape itself to be designed with the low refractive index in order to realize total reflection.

According to at least one embodiment, a vehicle is specified that has a window arrangement according to one of the embodiments described here. The window arrangement closes a roof opening of the vehicle. The window arrangement is thus designed, for example, as a so-called fixed glass element for the vehicle roof. Interior lighting for the vehicle can be implemented using the window arrangement in the vehicle roof.

Further advantages, features and developments can be seen from the following examples explained in conjunction with the figures. Identical, similar and equivalent elements can be provided with the same reference symbols across all figures.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Teils eines Fahrzeugs gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel,
• 2 bis 6 jeweils schematische Darstellungen einer Scheibenanordnung gemäß Ausführungsbeispielen.

They show:

• 1 a schematic representation of a part of a vehicle according to an embodiment,
• 2 to 6 each show schematic representations of a disk arrangement according to embodiments.

1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 is in particular a passenger car. The vehicle 100 has a plurality of windows, in particular a windshield 103 and a window arrangement 110, which is provided as a roof window in a roof opening 104 of a vehicle roof 101 of the vehicle 100. A vehicle longitudinal direction 102 extends from a rear window in the direction of the windshield 103.

2 shows the pane arrangement 110 according to an embodiment. The pane arrangement 110 has, for example, further panes that are not explicitly shown. For example, a light-guiding pane 111 of the pane arrangement 110 faces an interior of the vehicle 100. The light-guiding pane 111 is flat and extends in particular with a main side 112 along an XY plane ( 1 ). During operation, the main side 112 faces the interior of the vehicle. The main side 112 has a significantly larger extent than a transverse side 113 aligned transversely thereto. During operation, the main side 112 is aligned essentially along the horizontal. The transverse side 113 is aligned essentially along or parallel to the normal to the main side 112, ie essentially along the vertical, i.e. in particular along a vertical direction Z.

A light source 150 is provided to couple light 151 into the light guide disk 111 on the transverse side 113. The light source 150 has in particular one or more LEDs or other light-emitting elements. Alternatively or additionally, light 151 can also be coupled in via coupling elements (not explicitly shown), for example a prism, a diffuser element, light guides via the main side or via a side opposite the main side. Alternatively or additionally, coupling points can be formed in the light guide disk 111, for example as depressions in the main side 112.

The light 151 is guided in the light guide disk along the main side 121, since total reflection takes place at the boundary surfaces of the light guide disk, for example at the transition between the main side of the light guide disk 111 and air. The light 151 can thus also be distributed over the plate-shaped extension of the light guide disk 111. A coupling-out structure 115 is provided at predetermined locations where the light 151 is to be coupled out. The coupling-out structure 115 is, for example, a print, a surface change or another element, and causes the light 151 to leave the light guide disk 111 at the main side 112.

The window arrangement 110 has a functional element 120. The functional element 120 is in particular a connection element. For example, an interior roof liner of the vehicle 100, which a bodywork, can be fastened to the window arrangement 110, in particular the light-guiding window 111, by means of the functional element 120. The functional element 120 can also have a different function. For example, three functional elements 120 spaced apart from one another are fastened to the light-guiding window 111 along the longitudinal direction X and/or along a transverse direction Y. The functional element 120 has, for example, a base area of between 2 and 8 square centimeters, in particular between 5 and 7 square centimeters. In particular, a coupling surface 121 of the functional element 120 has this extent.

The coupling surface 121 faces the light guide disk 111, in particular the main side 112. The functional element 120 is attached to the light guide disk 111 by means of the coupling surface 121.

The pane arrangement 110 has an adhesive connection 130. The adhesive connection 130 serves to connect the functional element 120 to the light-guiding pane 111. The adhesive connection 130 is arranged along the vertical direction Z between the coupling surface 121 and the main side 112. The functional element 120 is thus glued to the light-guiding pane 111. The adhesive connection 130 is designed, for example, as an adhesive layer 131 made of an adhesive. Alternatively, the adhesive connection 130 can have an adhesive layer 131 on the side facing the main side 112 and a further adhesive layer on the side facing the functional element 120. The adhesive connection 130 can be constructed from several adhesive layers.

The pane arrangement 110 has a reflection layer 140. In the embodiment according to 2 the reflection layer 140 is arranged between the main side 112 and the adhesive layer 131. The adhesive layer 131 has an adhesive surface 133, which is preferably in direct contact with a first surface 142 of the reflection layer 140. The reflection layer 140 is flat. The first surface 142 is a surface of the reflection layer 140 which faces away from the light guide disk 111.

The reflective layer 140 has a second surface 143 which is in contact with the main side 112 of the light guide disk 111.

The reflective layer 140 is arranged on the main side 112 of the light-guiding disk 111 along a stacking direction 114, which is aligned along the vertical direction Z. The adhesive layer 131 of the adhesive connection 130 is arranged on the first surface 142 of the reflective layer 140. The functional element 120 is arranged on a further adhesive surface 134 of the adhesive connection 130, which faces away from the light-guiding disk 111. The adhesive surface 134 is in particular a component of the adhesive layer 131.

The reflection layer 140 is designed to reflect the light 151 in a region 141 of the functional element 120. In particular, the light 151 is reflected at the reflection layer 140 without the light 151 being able to reach the adhesive layer 131 and/or without the light 151 being able to reach the functional element 120, in particular the coupling surface 121. This prevents undesired coupling out and/or absorption of the light 151 in the region 141. An undesirable spectral shift is also prevented in the region 141. The light 151 is also reliably held in the light guide disk 111 in the region 141, even if there is no transition between the light guide disk 111 and air or another medium (e.g. a connecting film) which, for example, has a low refractive index compared to the light guide disk 111.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the reflection layer 140 has, for example, a metal layer. For example, the reflection layer 140 has an aluminum layer that is designed to be reflective. The reflection layer 140 is, for example, vapor-deposited and/or printed onto the main side 112. In the present exemplary embodiment, a large part of the main side 112, i.e. in particular more than 90% of the main side 112, is free of the reflection layer 140. The reflection layer 140 is preferably only applied where the functional element 120 is to be arranged on the light guide disk 111.

The reflection layer 140 thus enables the light 151 to be guided along the light guide disk 111 and local attenuation due to absorption or undesired coupling is avoidable. The light 151 appears to a human observer to be homogeneously distributed or guided without a significant spectral division and/or a significant loss of intensity occurring in the area of the coupled functional element. The reflection layer 140 is mirrored and thus opaque to the light 151. In the area 141, the light 151 thus remains in the light guide disk 111. Luminance losses are thus significantly reduced.

3 shows the disk arrangement 110 according to a further embodiment. In contrast to the embodiment according to 2 the reflection layer 140 is arranged between the coupling surface 121 of the functional element 120 and the further adhesive surface 134 of the adhesive surface 130.

The adhesive layer 131 is thus arranged on the main side 112 of the light guide disk 111 along the stacking direction 114. The reflection layer 140 is arranged on the further adhesive surface 134 of the adhesive connection 130. The functional element 120 is arranged on the first surface 142 of the reflection layer 140. The coupling surface 121 of the functional element 120 is in direct contact with the reflection layer 140.

In the area 141, the light 151 can reach the adhesive layer 131 or the adhesive connection 130 due to small differences in the refractive indices of the light guide disk 111 and the adhesive layer 131. On the second surface 143 of the reflection layer 140 facing the light guide disk 111, the light 151 is reflected back in the direction of the light guide disk 111 and couples back into the light guide disk 111. The light 151 is reflected on the reflection layer 140 without the light 151 being able to reach the functional element 120. This avoids absorption, in particular a loss of intensity and/or a spectral division of the light 151 on the functional element 120. Luminance losses can thus be significantly reduced.

The reflection layer 140 is, for example, a metallic or other type of mirror coating on the coupling surface 121. For example, the coupling surface 121 is mirrored with an aluminum layer or silver.

4 shows the pane arrangement 110 according to a further embodiment. The reflection layer 140 is realized by means of the adhesive layer 131 or the adhesive connection 130. For this purpose, the adhesive layer 131 or the adhesive of the adhesive layer 131 or the adhesive connection 130 has a refractive index that differs from the refractive index of the light-guiding pane 111 or that is adapted to the refractive index of the light-guiding pane 111 in order to bring about a reflection at the common interface. Thus, a refractive index jump is also realized in the region 141, which leads to a total reflection of the light 151. In the region 141 in which the adhesive connection 130 is formed, light reflection also takes place due to the refractive index differences, similar to outside the region 141 at the transition between the light-guiding pane 111 and air. For example, the adhesive layer 131 has a refractive index of less than 1.45, in particular a refractive index of less than 1.35. A separate reflection layer 140, which is formed in addition to the adhesive layer 131, is therefore not necessary. The reflection of the light 151 takes place directly at the transition between the light guide plate 111 and the adhesive layer 131, i.e. in particular at the transition between the main side 112 and the adhesive surface 133. The light 151 therefore does not penetrate the adhesive layer 131 or only penetrates to a very limited extent. Luminance losses can thus be significantly reduced.

The light guide disk 111 is thus initially provided along the stacking direction 114 and the adhesive layer 131 on the main side 112. The functional element 120 is arranged on the further adhesive surface 134. The coupling surface 121 of the functional element 120 is in direct contact with the adhesive layer 131, which also forms the reflection layer 140. Here too, the adhesive layer 131 and the further adhesive surface 134 can be formed in one piece and thus form a single surface.

5 shows the pane arrangement 110 according to a further embodiment. The functional element 120 is attached to the light guide pane 111 by means of an adhesive tape 132. The adhesive tape 132 has a substrate 170. The substrate 170 is, for example, flexible. For example, the substrate 170 is made of a plastic. For example, the substrate 170 has PET.

The reflection layer 140 is arranged between the substrate 170 and the light guide disk 111. The substrate 170 has a substrate surface 171 facing the light guide disk 111. The reflection layer 140 is arranged on the substrate surface 171.

The reflection layer 140 is designed in particular as a mirror layer, for example as a layer comprising metal and/or as a layer with a low refractive index.

The adhesive layer 131 is arranged on the second surface 143 of the reflection layer 140, which faces the light guide disk 111.

The light guide disk 111, then the adhesive layer 131, then the reflection layer 140 and then the substrate 170 are thus arranged along the stacking direction 114.

The functional element 120 is connected to the substrate 170 by means of a further adhesive connection 160. The further adhesive connection 160 has an adhesive which is applied, for example, to the coupling surface 121 in order to fasten the functional element 120 to the adhesive tape 132. It is also possible for the adhesive tape 132 to comprise the further adhesive connection 160 and/or to be designed, for example, as a double-sided adhesive tape. Thus, both the adhesive layer 131 and the adhesive layer of the further adhesive connection 160 are connected to the substrate 170. The functional element 120 can then be attached to the substrate 170 by means of the double-sided adhesive tape. adhesive tape 132 to the light guide disk 111.

During operation, the light 151 can reach the adhesive layer 131 in the area 141. The light is reflected back into the light guide disk 111 by means of the reflection layer 140. The light 141 does not reach the substrate 170, the further adhesive connection 160 and/or the functional element 120. Luminance losses are thus significantly reduced.

6 shows the disk arrangement 110 according to a further embodiment. The functional element 120 is fixed to the light guide disk 111 by means of the adhesive tape 132. In contrast to the embodiment according to 5 However, the adhesive tape 132 does not have a separate substrate 170. The adhesive tape 132 is formed by means of the reflection layer 140 and the adhesive layer 131. If the adhesive tape 132 is designed as a double-sided adhesive tape, the further adhesive layer of the further adhesive connection 160 is also provided. The reflection layer 140 thus takes over the substrate function, for example.

The adhesive layer 131 and the reflection layer 140 are thus provided on the light guide disk 111 along the stacking direction 114. The second surface 143 of the reflection layer 140 is in direct contact with the further adhesive surface 134 of the adhesive layer 131. The further adhesive connection 160 is formed on the first surface 142 of the reflection layer 140. The functional element 120 is arranged on the further adhesive connection 160.

During operation, light passes through the adhesive layer 131 to the reflection layer 140 and is reflected there back to the light guide disk 111. The light 151 therefore does not reach the further adhesive connection 160 and in particular not to the functional element 120. Luminance losses can thus be significantly reduced.

The pane arrangement 110 with the reflective layer 140 according to the different embodiments enables the reduction of the loss of luminance even in the area 141 in which the adhesive connection 130 is formed. An undesired coupling out of the light 151 and/or an absorption of the light 151 on the dark functional element 120 can be avoided by means of the reflective layer 140. Color changes on colored surfaces can be avoided. The local adhesives for fixing the functional elements 120 can thus be implemented in the areas 141 without this leading to an inhomogeneity of the light image. The pane arrangement 110 thus enables reliable interior lighting for the vehicle 100.

reference sign

100

vehicle

101

vehicle roof

102

vehicle's longitudinal direction

103

windshield

104

roof opening

110

disc arrangement

111

light guide disc

112

main page

113

short side

114

stacking direction

115

decoupling structure

120

functional element

121

coupling surface

130

adhesive bond

131

adhesive layer

132

tape

133

adhesive surface

134

wider adhesive surface

140

reflective layer

141

Area

142

first surface

143

second surface

150

light source

151

Light

160

further adhesive connection

170

substrate

171

substrate surface

X

longitudinal direction

Y

transverse direction

Z

vertical direction

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 3787894 A1 [0002]

Claims (11)

Window arrangement for a vehicle, comprising: - a plate-shaped light-guiding window (111), - a functional element (120) which is fixed to a main side (112) of the light-guiding window (111) by means of an adhesive connection (130), - a reflection layer (140) which is arranged between the light-guiding window (111) and the functional element (120) in order to reflect light (151) in the direction of the light-guiding window (111). Disc arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the reflection layer (140) is arranged between the light guide plate (111) and the adhesive connection (130). Disc arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 , in which the reflection layer (140) is applied to the main side (112) of the light guide disk (111). Disc arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , in which the reflection layer (140) is arranged between the functional element (120) and the adhesive connection (130). Disc arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , in which the reflection layer (140) is applied to the functional element (120). Disc arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , in which the adhesive connection (130) has an adhesive layer (131) and the reflection layer (140) is formed by means of the adhesive layer (130). Disc arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the adhesive layer (131) has a first refractive index and the light guide disk (111) has a second refractive index, wherein the first refractive index is smaller than the second refractive index. Disc arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , wherein the adhesive connection (130) comprises an adhesive tape (132) and the reflection layer (140) is part of the adhesive tape (132). Disc arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 , comprising a light source (150) which is designed to emit light (151) such that the light (151) can be coupled into the light guide disk (111). Disc arrangement according to Claims 9 , wherein the light source is designed such that the light (151) can be coupled into the main side (112) or into a side opposite the main side (112). Vehicle with a roof opening (104), comprising a window arrangement (110) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , wherein the pane arrangement (110) closes the roof opening (104).