DE102007050481B4 - Interior lighting - Google Patents

Abstract

A surface-shaped diffuse interior lighting (202; 302; 400) for a motor vehicle, wherein the interior lighting (202; 302; 400) has a light surface (112) directed towards the vehicle interior (100; 304) of the motor vehicle, wherein - at the light surface (112) on the side remote from the vehicle interior, a light source (116) is arranged, - the light surface (112) and the lighting means (116) are formed so that the light surface (112) over the light surface (112) uniform light emission intensity, - Light surface (112) in a surface of a vehicle interior (100; 304) facing part of the vehicle interior trim (102) is integrated. on the light-emitting means (116) and the light surface (112) facing away from the reflective layer (120) is arranged, which is designed for a uniform diffuse reflection of the light emitted from the illuminant (116) on the light surface (112), wherein the lighting means (116) has a reflector (118), wherein the reflector (118) between the light emitting means (116) and the light surface (112) is arranged, and wherein the reflector (118) for reflection and / or scattering of the light from the (116 ) emitted light is formed on the reflective layer (120).

Description

The invention relates to a sheet-like diffuse interior lighting for a motor vehicle, an instrument panel with an interior lighting according to the invention and a vehicle seat with an interior lighting according to the invention.

Every motor vehicle today has a certain number of interior lighting devices that allow passengers to find their way around the vehicle even when it is dark or to find objects in the vehicle at night. Depending on the vehicle class one or more light sources are housed in the headliner of the vehicle, which emit light from above into the passenger compartment. In particular, for higher vehicle classes is also still, for example, a diffuse lighting of various storage compartments, such as the map pockets of the vehicle door.

So is in US 2003/0002273 A1 discloses a vehicle interior component and lighting assembly that includes a vehicle interior component with fabric disposed over a substrate or foam layer or both. An electroluminescent panel is located between the fabric and the substrate / foam layer and guides light from the panel through the fabric.

Out DE 44 39 547 A1 is a known a light system for the interior of a motor vehicle, with at least one light generating unit, each consisting of an electrically on and off light source and the light of the light source bundling reflector, with at least one light guide, one end for coupling the bundled light with the light generating unit is coupled, wherein the optical fiber consists of a number of flexible single optical fiber and the other end forms at least one light emitting element and / or is connected to at least one light emitting element for direct or indirect illumination of surfaces and symbols.

The DE 10 2005 024 838 A1 discloses a lighting for the interior or exterior of a vehicle with an OLED. The OLED is connected to a carrier and the carrier has a connection means with which the carrier can be connected to the motor vehicle.

In DE 10 2006 052 308 A1 a vehicle seat for a vehicle is proposed with a backrest and a seat part, wherein the vehicle seat has a light source that radiates light against the direction of travel.

In DE 101 23 263 B4 a device for large-scale, homogeneous and glare-free brightening of a vehicle roof in the overhead area of vehicle occupants of a motor vehicle with a light guide is presented, wherein the light conductor is arranged in the region of the inner lining of the vehicle roof and formed as a planar light guide, wherein the coupling of the light at one or more side surfaces the light guide takes place. In addition, the planar light guide is prepared in such a way that the light from the light guide decouples over a large area and homogeneously into the interior of the vehicle.

From the DE 101 04 758 A1 is a lighting device for illuminating the footwell of motor vehicles known. In order to achieve that a better, even when driving not disturbing illumination of the footwell is given, it is proposed that the lighting device illuminates the footwell both in the front seat as well as in the rear seat area glare-free and continuous and event-independent.

However, with respect to the footwell of motor vehicles, the problem that z. B. by lighting, which emanates from the headliner of the motor vehicle, a sufficient illumination of the footwell is not given. This problem is further compounded when passengers are in the passenger compartment, resulting in additional light shielding and associated extremely poor lighting conditions in the footwell of the motor vehicle. This makes it extremely difficult to visually detect objects dropped into the footwell of the motor vehicle.

A solution to this problem in the form of an increase in intensity of housed in the headliner light sources proves to be extremely problematic because by a high brightness of the light sources dazzling, especially things of the driver, prevails, causing road safety is significantly compromised.

Another problem generally provides the integration of interior lighting in a motor vehicle, as for the purpose of optimal overall illumination of the motor vehicle relatively many lights must be accommodated in the vehicle, which in turn leads to strong changes in interior design, with which common shapes must be machined newly, which in turn leads to increased production costs.

In contrast, the object is an improved interior lighting for a motor vehicle, an improved instrument panel with such interior lighting and a to provide improved vehicle seat with such interior lighting.

The objects underlying the invention are solved by the features of the independent patent claims.

According to the invention, a planar diffuse interior lighting is provided for a motor vehicle, wherein the interior lighting has a light surface directed toward the vehicle interior, wherein a light source is arranged on the light surface on the side remote from the vehicle interior, wherein the light surface and the light source are designed such that the light surface a uniform over the light surface light emission intensity, wherein the light surface is integrated in a surface of a vehicle interior facing part of the vehicle interior trim.

The sheet-like diffuse interior lighting has the advantage that on the one hand, an interior lighting over a large area, whereby a shading by, for example, in the footwell by the legs of a passenger, which are located in the footwell, with respect to the quality of illumination is not significant. In addition, since the interior lighting diffused, the glare is greatly reduced, which is a high road safety is ensured even with permanent operation of the interior lighting. The fact that the light surface and the luminous means are formed such that the light surface has a uniform light emission intensity over the light surface also contributes to ensuring uniform illumination of the entire footwell region. In the case of a punctiform light source, unnecessary shadow areas would occur in the footwell, which would make visually finding dropped objects in this shadow area considerably more difficult.

Due to the fact that, moreover, the light surface is integrated in a surface of a part of the vehicle interior trim facing the vehicle interior, passengers in the vehicle interior are not impaired by any protrusion of the interior lighting from the surface of the vehicle interior trim. In addition, the usual geometric shaping of the vehicle interior trim can be completely retained by suitable shaping of the light surface and the luminous means, which eliminates further development costs with respect to a re-design of the vehicle interior or the vehicle interior trim.

Finally, it should be pointed out that the light surface is designed so that the light guide is not visible when viewed on the light surface, whereby a semi-transparent surface is preferred as a light surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the interior lighting further comprises a reflective layer, wherein the reflective layer is disposed on the side facing away from the light source and the light surface, wherein the reflective layer is formed for evenly diffuse reflection of the emitted light from the light source on the light surface.

A use of such a diffusely reflecting layer has the advantage that the light intensity of the diffuse interior lighting can be increased with constant electric power for lighting operation by the light emitted from the illuminant to the vehicle interior side back light is reflected back towards the vehicle interior.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the luminous means has a reflector, wherein the reflector is designed for a reflection or scattering of the light emitted by the luminous means onto the reflective layer. This has the advantage that the luminous means does not emit light directly via the light surface into the vehicle interior, but that indirect illumination takes place due to the reflection of the emitted light at the reflective layer. Alternatively to the use of a reflector, it makes sense to use instead of the reflector only a shading element, which is thus arranged between the light surface and the light source. In this case, only shading of the luminous means takes place and diffusely diffused light from the reflecting layer is thus directed onto the light surface.

The use of a reflector or a shading element is generally suitable in particular when punctiform light sources are used.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the light surface is a light diffuser. This ensures that a uniform interior lighting is given with a uniform over the entire light surface light emission intensity.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the light surface just adjoins the surrounding surface of the vehicle interior trim. Such a plane connection of the light surface to the surrounding surface of the vehicle interior trim has the advantage of a clean Integrating the light surface in the surface of the footwell facing part of the vehicle interior trim, without the light surface protruding from the surrounding surface in a direction perpendicular to said surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the color of the unlit light surface and / or the surface structure of the light surface substantially corresponds to the color and / or surface structure of the vehicle interior trim. This has the advantage that under normal lighting conditions, for example during the day, a viewer does not recognize the light surface as a visually disturbing element in the vehicle interior. For example, the grain of the light surface corresponds to the grain of the decoration surrounding the surface of the vehicle interior trim panel. Only when activated, the light surface appears as a diffuse light source. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the light surface can not be recognized as such in daylight.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the light surface is made of plastic, wherein the plastic light-reflecting surface also contains pigments, wherein the pigments are designed so that when illuminated with the light source, the light surface becomes transparent to the light emitted by the light source. In other words, this means that when the interior lighting is deactivated, the viewer sees, for example, a black, opaque surface of an interior trim part, which is converted into a light surface only after activation of the interior lighting. With appropriate design of the pigments, it is also possible that the light surface has the desired diffuse radiation characteristic of the light in the footwell.

By a suitable choice of the plastic and the pigments, the light surface of the interior lighting can thus be produced simply and conventionally, for example in an injection molding process, thus making it possible, for example, to use the injection molds which have since been used to produce the corresponding vehicle interior trim parts. This is particularly appropriate since nowadays vehicle interior trim parts, for example for the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, are composed of several parts, so that here one of these parts can be used without problem by a plastic injection molded part with integrated pigments to achieve transparency on activation of the illumination.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an upper layer of a motor vehicle interior trim part consists of a plastic. The plastic consists of an opaque, d. H. non-transparent material containing transparent particles. The transparent particles are distributed in the plastic, such as. B. arranged distributed substantially randomly.

In one embodiment, due to their random distribution, some of the particles touch each other so that transparent paths are formed from the bottom to the top of the layer. When the illuminant is switched on, therefore, a portion of its radiation is transmitted through the transparent path through the upper layer into the motor vehicle interior. The transparent particles may be z. B. glass particles, glass fibers or other particles that have good transparency in the visible light range. Preferably, the particles have a size chosen so that the particles on the upper surface of the upper layer are not or hardly visible to the naked eye in normal daylight. By adding the particles, the appearance of the surface does not change in daylight. Since the particles are randomly distributed, the same applies to the transparent paths, so that the overall visual impression of a substantially uniform light emission from the top of the layer results.

According to one embodiment, the particles may be added to a plastic granulate, from which the upper layer is produced by means of plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the particles can be added to a material from which the upper layer z. B. as a slush skin, by deep drawing or the like is produced.

The particles may also be luminescent, d. H. fluorescent and / or phosphorescent particles. The light-emitting means is then designed so that it stimulates the luminescence of the particles. The luminescence causes the illumination of the motor vehicle interior.

The particles may also be OLED particles. These are excited to glow when exposed to an electric field. In this case, the luminous means is designed to generate such an electric field to excite the OLED particles distributed in the upper layer, that is, to emit light. H. that the light source in this case does not emit radiation itself in the visible range. The material of the upper layer preferably has sufficient electrical conductivity to allow current to flow. For this purpose, further electrically conductive particles may be distributed in the material, such as. B. nanotubes to increase its conductivity.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the light surface and / or the lighting means on a coloring. For example, a red coloration is advantageous since, in the case of a red diffuse backlight, the human eye sees itself less impaired in the dark than, for example, in the case of other colors. In addition, it can be created in the vehicle interior depending on the color a desired ambience.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the lighting means is a light guide, wherein the interior lighting further comprises a light source, wherein the light source is provided for feeding light into the light guide. The light guide may be, for example, a surface light guide. The use of such a surface light guide has the advantage that, although light is supplied at only one point, a uniform, areal light distribution takes place on the light surface. In addition, since here ideally only one light source is necessary, it can be geometrically mounted in the vehicle interior so that easy accessibility for replacement of the corresponding light source in case of repair is possible. It should be noted with respect to the above-mentioned coloring that in the case of a surface light guide preferably only the light surface has a coloring. If the surface light guide itself were colored, this would lead to undesirable light absorption and thus to a fall in light within the surface light guide, so that homogeneous and uniform light emission to the light surface would no longer be possible.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the light surface is formed by the surface of the luminous means. This can be achieved, in particular, by the use of a surface light guide, since it is possible here to dispense with a separate light surface. However, this presupposes that the surface light guide or generally the light source already produces a high light diffuse, so that any brightness fluctuations or the effect of a punctiform light emission characteristic can also be avoided here.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the illuminant is an electroluminescent film or light emitting diodes. Both lamps have the advantage that a high heat development during operation of the interior lighting according to the invention can be avoided. This eliminates the need to install additional measures for heat dissipation. In addition, electroluminescent and light-emitting diodes have the advantage of an extremely flat design, so that integration with a height of less than a few millimeters (for example, 5 mm) and thus easy integration into the vehicle interior trim is possible.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the interior lighting is footwell lighting.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to an instrument panel for a motor vehicle in a planar interior lighting according to the invention. In this case, for example, the surface-shaped interior lighting in the form of a footwell lighting is integrated above the limited by the instrument panel footwell in the footwell facing part of the instrument panel. This ensures direct and optimal illumination of the footwell.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle seat for a motor vehicle having a planar interior lighting according to the invention, preferably footwell lighting. The interior lighting is preferably integrated above the limited by the vehicle seat footwell in the footwell facing part of the vehicle seat. This is particularly advantageous if the footwell lighting is integrated in a rear seat. This ensures that even the passengers who are in the rear of the vehicle, have a good illumination of the foot wells. Alternatively, it is also possible to integrate the footwell lighting in the rear footwell facing part of the seat back. This means that for passengers who are located in the rear seats of a motor vehicle, the footwell lighting is located in each of the front seat backs of the driver or front passenger in front of them.

In addition, preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 a schematic view of an instrument panel,

2 another schematic view of an embodiment of an instrument panel according to the invention,

3 a further schematic view of an embodiment of a rear seat according to the invention,

4 a schematic view of a vehicle interior with inventive sheet-like diffuse Fußraumbeleuchtungen.

In the following, similar elements corresponding to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals.

1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an instrument panel according to the invention. It is in the in 1a illustrated schematic view of an exemplary and not inventive instrument panel of the footwell 100 , which from the floor of the motor vehicle and the surface 110 the vehicle interior paneling is clearly visible. A passenger 108 is here with his shins or feet in the footwell 100 ,

The surface 110 the vehicle interior trim is part of the instrument panel 102 , For example, the instrument panel 102 an instrument panel base 104 on which to the surface 110 the vehicle interior panel connects. The light surface 112 is completely in the surface 110 of the footwell 100 a skilled part of the vehicle interior paneling 102 integrated.

Furthermore, in the 1a a sheet-like light source 114 shown. For example, it is the bulb 114 around a surface light guide, with light in this surface light guide 114 by means of a light source 116 is fed. This leads to a uniform illumination of the surface light guide 114 , Wherein that of the surface light guide 114 in the footwell 100 radiated light, for example, through the light surface 112 diffusely scattered and alternatively also dyed.

Compared to 1a is in the embodiment of the 1b no surface light guide used, but a variety of light sources 116 due to the presence of reflectors 118 the light up on the reflective layer 120 reflect. From there, finally, the light on the light surface 112 diffused back so that here, too, the impression of homogeneous, surface-shaped light emission is created.

The 2 shows a further schematic view of an embodiment of an instrument panel according to the invention, this time in a perspective view. The instrument panel 102 has a bottom 200 on, which points to the footwell of the motor vehicle. In the embodiment of the 2 are at this bottom 200 footwell lighting on the driver's and passenger's side of a motor vehicle respectively 202 arranged. The sheet-like footwell lighting 202 Cover almost all of the footwell facing part of the bottom 200 the instrument panel 102 ,

The 3 shows a further schematic view of an embodiment of a rear seat according to the invention 300 , At the rear seat 300 is above the through the rear seat 300 limited foot space 304 a footwell lighting 302 in the footwell 304 pointing part of the rear seat 300 integrated. Here, too, the footwell lighting extends 302 over almost the entire width of the covered footwell 304 ,

The 4 shows a schematic view of a vehicle interior with inventive sheet-like diffuse Fußraumbeleuchtungen. These are the Fußraumbeleuchtungen, which already in the 2 and 3 were discussed. So is on the instrument panel 102 a footwell lighting 202 arranged, which for illuminating the footwell 100 of the passenger serves. Further, at the rear seat 300 a footwell lighting 302 integrated, which here to an illumination of the footwell 304 the rear passengers, which are on the rear seat 300 located, serves. Additionally is in 4 also hinted the possibility of another footwell lighting 400 in the seat back 402 to integrate the passenger seat. In this case, the footwell lighting 400 in the rear footwell 304 pointing part of the seat back 402 integrated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

footwell

102

dashboard

104

Panel bottom

108

passenger

110

Surface of the vehicle interior paneling

112

light area

114

Lamp

116

light source

118

reflector

120

reflective layer

200

bottom

202

footwell lighting

300

Rear seat

302

footwell lighting

304

footwell

400

footwell lighting

402

seatback

Claims (17)

Flat diffuse interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) for a motor vehicle, wherein the interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) to the vehicle interior ( 100 ; 304 ) of the motor vehicle directed light surface ( 112 ), wherein - at the light surface ( 112 ) on the side facing away from the vehicle interior a lighting means ( 116 ) is arranged - the light surface ( 112 ) and the light source ( 116 ) are formed so that the light surface ( 112 ) one over the light surface ( 112 ) has uniform light emission intensity, - the light surface ( 112 ) in a surface of a vehicle interior ( 100 ; 304 ) facing part of the vehicle interior trim ( 102 ) is integrated. on the bulb ( 116 ) and the light surface ( 112 ) facing away from the reflective layer ( 120 ) arranged for uniform diffuse reflection of the light source ( 116 ) emitted light on the light surface ( 112 ) is formed, wherein the lighting means ( 116 ) a reflector ( 118 ), wherein the reflector ( 118 ) between the bulb ( 116 ) and the light surface ( 112 ), and wherein the reflector ( 118 ) for reflection and / or scattering of the light source ( 116 ) emitted light on the reflective layer ( 120 ) is trained. Interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to claim 1, wherein the light surface ( 112 ) is a light diffuser. Interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light surface ( 112 ) just adjacent to the surrounding surface of the vehicle interior trim. Interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the color of the unlit light surface ( 112 ) and / or the surface structure of the light surface ( 112 ) corresponds substantially to the color and / or surface structure of the vehicle interior trim. Interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light surface ( 112 ) consists of plastic, wherein the light surface ( 112 ) further pigments, wherein the pigments are formed so that when illuminated with the illuminant ( 116 ) the light surface ( 112 ) for the light source ( 116 ) emitted light is transparent. Interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light surface ( 112 ) and / or the light source ( 116 ) has a color. Interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting means ( 116 ) is a light guide, wherein the interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) further comprises a light source, wherein the light source ( 116 ) is provided for feeding light into the light guide. Interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to claim 7, wherein the light guide is a surface light guide. Interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein light surface ( 112 ) through the surface of the illuminant ( 116 ) is formed. Interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein it is the bulb ( 116 ) is an electroluminescent film or light-emitting diodes. Interior lighting according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior lighting is footwell lighting. Dashboard ( 102 ) for a motor vehicle with a surface-shaped interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein the interior lighting is footwell lighting. Dashboard ( 102 ) according to claim 12, wherein the sheet-like interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) above the footwell bounded by the instrument panel ( 100 ) in the footwell ( 100 ) pointing part ( 104 ) of the instrument panel ( 102 ) is integrated. Vehicle seat ( 300 ) for a motor vehicle with a surface-shaped interior lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein the interior lighting is footwell lighting. Vehicle seat ( 300 ) according to claim 14, wherein the footwell lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) above the floor space bounded by the vehicle seat ( 304 ) in the footwell ( 304 ) Whitening part of the vehicle seat is integrated. Vehicle seat ( 300 ) according to claim 14, wherein the footwell lighting ( 202 ; 302 ; 400 ) in the part of the seatback which faces the rear footwell ( 402 ) is integrated. Vehicle seat ( 300 ) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the vehicle seat is a rear seat.

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