FR3132476A1 - Trim element for the passenger compartment of a means of transport - Google Patents

Abstract

Trim element for the passenger compartment of a means of transport The invention relates to a trim element for the passenger compartment of a means of transport, in particular of a motor vehicle, which has a passenger compartment side as well a side opposite the passenger compartment (1), with a light-conducting layer (6, 7), with a structured functional layer (5) arranged on the passenger compartment side of the light-conducting layer, which contains electrically conductive sections (15, 16) as well as with a covering layer (3, 4) arranged on the passenger compartment side of the structured functional layer, which has at least one electrically insulating layer (4) and allows light to pass completely or in part, at least in sections. A trim element of this type allows simple manufacturing on an industrial scale, visually recognizable symbols from the passenger compartment side in case of lighting, as well as electrical functional elements that can be easily inserted thanks to suitable configurations of the layer. functional. Figure for the abstract: Fig 1

Description

Trim element for the passenger compartment of a means of transport

The invention lies in the field of materials science and automotive technology and can be used particularly advantageously for the design of the interior of motor vehicles.

Usually, the interior or passenger compartment of motor vehicles, just like the interior of other means of transport such as planes or boats, is coated for aesthetic and practical reasons as well as safety. In a vehicle, the trim is often made up of plastic parts which are constructed in several layers. On the one hand, the trim elements have a certain flexibility, for example to absorb shock in the event of an accident or, more generally, to provide a pleasant sensation to the touch. In addition, the trim elements must ensure an attractive appearance and structure the interior of a motor vehicle in a clear and pleasant manner, independently of the construction and supporting elements.

It has already been proposed in the past to equip vehicle trim elements with lighting from the inside, for example to uniformly illuminate the entire surface as part of ambient lighting. It has also already been proposed to highlight individual surfaces of trim elements with special lighting and to place there, for example, control elements for vehicle functions.

We know for example from document WO 02 061 380 A2 a surface allowing partial light to pass through a covering element, which is illuminated from the inside by a light-emitting diode, a switch to be mechanically actuated being provided in the area of the light-emitting diode, which can be activated by deformation of the decorative surface of the trim element.

We know from document EP 2 060 443 B1 a covering element with a transparent covering layer, a lower part of the covering layer being designed to let light pass through openings which are illuminated from the lower face by means of a light-emitting diode. In the area of the particularly illuminated surface, there is provided a switch for a functional element, which can be implemented as a mechanical, electromagnetic or piezoelectric switch and can be actuated by applying a force to the outer layer of the dressing element.

We know from document WO 2018 073 087 A1 a covering element with a transparent outer layer as well as a printed intermediate layer and a light-conducting layer, the configuration described being able to serve as a functional element of an electrical switch.

We know from document FR 3 079 457 A1 a trim element for the passenger compartment of a vehicle, on which the environment of an actuation button can be illuminated by a surface designed in an optically transparent manner. This is done by lighting from the inside using a light source, which can be configured for example as an LED or OLED. This trim element also has an actuation button for a vehicle function.

In the context of the state of the art, the present invention aims to create a covering element for the passenger compartment of a means of transport, which can be illuminated from the interior side, that is to say say the side opposite the passenger compartment, at least one control element which can be illuminated in a simple manner, which can be integrated into the trim element in the simplest and most economical manner possible.

The problem is solved according to the invention with a covering element for the passenger compartment of a means of transport, in particular of a motor vehicle, which has a passenger compartment side as well as a side opposite the passenger compartment, with a light-conducting layer, with a structured functional layer arranged on the passenger compartment side of the light-conducting layer, which contains electrically conductive sections, and with an electrically insulating covering layer arranged on the passenger compartment side of the structured functional layer , which is permeable to light at least in sections.

In a light-conducting layer, visible light can be guided in a targeted manner in a certain direction, such as in an optical light guide, or visible light can pass diffused or unscattered through the layer. A light-conducting layer may be optically transparent or translucent. Light can be introduced into the light-conducting layer of the trim element either from the side opposite the passenger compartment or also in the transverse direction, parallel to the surface of the trim element. This can be done for example by direct lighting of the light-conducting layer by means of a light source, for example a light-emitting diode or an organic light-emitting diode, or by means of one or more light guides, which are extend into the light-conducting layer and into which light is injected which is partially radially decoupled along the path of the light guide(s). The light can then partially escape through the covering layer towards the passenger compartment, so that, for a passenger, the trim element appears illuminated from the rear or from the interior. The structured functional layer is then integrated into the covering element, which contains electrically conductive sections and which can therefore perform electrical functions such as the conduction of an electric current and/or the conduction of signals as well as the realization of electrical functional elements. The functional layer thus has a structure or pattern of electro-conductive zones or sections and can be part of an actuation element, or one or more actuation elements can be integrated into the functional layer in the form of switches or manually operable regulators, which can be operated by pressing or placing a hand or finger on or by approaching the surface of the covering element. The approach makes it possible, for example, to modify the capacitance or inductance of an electrical circuit. Thus, an inductive or capacitive element, which is for example produced by appropriate guidance of the conductors in the form of a conductive spiral to form an inductive element or in the form of two conductive sections opposed to each other with a insulating layer to form a capacitive element, can for example be integrated into the functional layer. It is also possible to integrate, for example, a piezoelement, a thermocouple or a photosensitive sensor into the functional layer. The functional layer can, for example, be structured in a manner similar to a laminated printed circuit board, such that it has a conductor arrangement with a plurality or a large number of conductors partially interconnected and partially insulated from each other. others.

The functional layer may, for example, have sections allowing light to pass through and sections not allowing light to pass through, the light, which passes through the functional layer, passing at least partially through the covering layer towards the passenger compartment. Optically permeable sections can then be formed, for example, by holes or recesses in the functional layer or by inserts optically allowing light to pass completely or partially, composed of a material which is different from the conductive material of the functional layer.

The covering layer can be constructed with one or more layers, having at least one electrically insulating layer, which advantageously faces the structured functional layer. The electrically insulating layer can, for example, be produced directly as a decorative layer visible from the passenger compartment, or it can carry an additional decorative layer, which consists for example of a colored and surface-structured material, for example grained imitation leather or similar plastic material.

It is advantageous to have a covering layer which is electrically insulating and has on its side facing the passenger compartment a decorative layer and, in addition, an electrically insulating insulation layer, in particular dielectric. In such an advantageous embodiment, the decorative layer faces the passenger compartment and the dielectric insulation layer faces the structured functional layer, so that the dielectric insulation layer is placed between the decorative layer and the functional layer. With a dielectric insulation layer, part of the covering element can, for example, be designed as a capacitive switch or sensor.

Thanks to an appropriate geometric design of the parts allowing light to pass through and not allowing light to pass through the functional layer, it is thus possible, in the event of lighting of the covering element, to make it visible to a passenger, from the passenger compartment side, certain patterns or symbols on the surface of the trim element by lighting. These illuminated elements can be arranged directly in the area in which a functional element formed by or with the structured functional layer, for example a switch, can be operated by placing a finger on it. The shape of the pattern represented can for example indicate in a manner recognizable to a passenger the function triggered. It can then advantageously be provided that an actuating element formed in the covering element, for example of a capacitive or inductive nature, can be actuated without a force being exerted on the covering element and that a layer of the covering element is deformed.

An advantageous embodiment of the covering element may provide for the electrical functional layer to be permeable to light, in particular in sections, at least one section allowing light to pass through from the covering layer and at least one section allowing light to pass through. the light of the functional layer forming a passage allowing light to pass through.

The advantages of such a design of the functional layer have already been explained above.

An advantageous embodiment of the covering element can provide that at least one section allowing light to pass through the functional layer on the passenger compartment side is at least partially covered by a section not allowing light to pass through from the covering layer. recovery. In particular, if the edge of the light-passing section of the functional layer is completely or partially covered, it is possible to obtain a high-quality visual appearance.

If light-passing surfaces are provided in the functional layer, the light-passing surfaces provided in the cover layer, which are each arranged above a light-passing surface of the functional layer, are designed to such that the edges of a light-passing surface of the functional layer, seen from the passenger compartment, are each entirely or partially covered by the edges of a light-passing surface of the covering layer which are located at the -above. This results in a sharper delineation of the marginal rays when the functional layer is illuminated from the light-conducting layer below it. The light-conducting layer can then be a three-dimensional knitted fabric, a fabric or more generally a textile that partially allows light to pass through.

There are various possibilities for illuminating the light-conducting layer, some of which are described elsewhere. A lighting possibility which opens up particular variants consists of arranging inside or below the light-conducting layer a matrix of individual light sources, for example light-emitting diodes or OLEDs, whose operating state, for example switching on and off and/or brightness, can be controlled individually or in groups. Thus, in cooperation with the light-permitting sections of the trim element, different surface sections, patterns or symbols can be made visible separately, simultaneously or successively, seen from the passenger compartment, the brightness of individual sections or patterns can also be ordered individually. The brightness can also increase or decrease or flash continuously for a certain amount of time also in sections, while other sections are not illuminated at all or remain at constant brightness. The color of the lighting can also be controlled by sections.

Another advantageous configuration of the covering element may provide that at least one electrical functional element formed by or with an electrically conductive section of the functional layer is a capacitive element or a controllable electrical resistance.

In addition to a capacitive element and optionally an inductive element or a combination of such functional elements, a controllable electrical resistance can also be formed in the covering element, due to the fact that a series of electrically conductive conductive sections are arranged in respective isolated manner from each other in the functional layer, the application of a finger making it possible to reduce the resistances between respectively neighboring conductive sections and/or to modify a capacitance between respectively neighboring conductive sections, so that the location of the application of the finger can be detected by means of an electronic circuit and it is thus possible to mark on a scale visible towards the passenger compartment on the surface of the trim element a position which corresponds to a determined adjustable value. The conductive and/or component traces, which are provided on the functional layer, can be arranged - seen from the covering layer - on the upper face and/or on the lower face of the functional layer.

For a particularly simple manufacture of a covering element of the type described above, it can advantageously be provided that the functional layer, in particular the electrically conductive sections of the functional layer, is applied to the light-conducting layer or to the covering layer by means of a printing process. The functional layer can also be flexible or even flexible.

For example, to apply an electrically conductive ink, a screen printing process or even an inkjet process can also be used. It is thus possible to create any conductor contour in the functional layer of the covering element.

In order to enable an aesthetically attractive design of the covering element, it can also be provided, for example, that the covering layer has a decorative layer with a grained surface structure.

Thus, the insulation layer, which can for example be produced with a high dielectric constant and which is directly adjacent to the structured functional layer, can advantageously be arranged and fixed on the face of the decorative layer opposite the passenger compartment.

For this purpose, it is for example also possible to provide that the dielectric insulation layer is printed on the decorative layer or on the structured functional layer.

This printing process also makes it possible to obtain great efficiency during the manufacture of the covering element, the dielectric insulation layer can also be structured. It can also be provided, for example, that the dielectric insulation layer is printed on the structured functional layer. In this case, the outermost decorative layer is then applied to the insulation layer, for example also printed or glued. The successive printing of both the structured functional layer and the electrically insulating layer allows, during manufacturing, to carry out two successive printing processes, for example in the same printing device, with inks of different prints. In this context, printing ink is understood not only to be an ink in the traditional sense of the term with a coloring property, but more generally a substance which can be printed, for example also in the context of a 3D printing process, and which fully allows three-dimensional modeling, for example when producing conductive elements in the structured functional layer. When producing the dielectric insulation layer, the formation of relatively thick layers of the order of a few tens to 100 µm, or even up to a few millimeters, may be desired.

If both the conductive sections of the functional layer and the electrically insulating layer following them are printed, the holes and recesses of the functional layer can also, for example, remain open or be filled by printing with an optically transparent or translucent material, which forms entirely or partially the insulating layer.

Another advantageous configuration of the covering element may provide that the light-conducting layer has a light-diffusing layer, in particular with an arrangement of diffusing particles or fibers, as well as, in particular on the side of the passenger compartment of the light diffusing layer, a plastic layer allowing light to pass through.

The light diffusing layer can therefore comprise, for example, a layer of textile, for example a textile fabric, a three-dimensional knit or a layer of fibers or flakes, or a plastic layer allowing light to pass through, for example a foam or a material plastic or, for example, a thermoplastic material with diffusion particles. A plate-shaped light guide or one or more fibrous light guides, for example optical fibers, can for example be inserted or woven into the light-diffusing layer. The potentially intended light-passing plastic layer can be provided in the form of a thin solid layer in order to further optimize the light distribution so that the light intensity is as homogeneous as possible over the surface. It is also possible to provide, for lighting inside or below the light-conducting layer, a matrix of light sources that can be controlled individually or in groups, for example LEDs or OLEDs.

Furthermore, it can be provided that a reversibly compressible layer is arranged on the face of the light-conducting layer opposite the passenger compartment and that the covering layer, the functional layer and the light-conducting layer are flexible and /or elastic. The reversibly compressible layer may be a foamed material. This configuration of the trim element with a reversibly compressible layer provides a vehicle occupant with a pleasant haptic experience when touching the trim element.

Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that a light source and/or a light guide is arranged in or adjacent to the light-conducting layer or the reversibly compressible layer.

This ensures that the introduction of light into the covering element is possible simply and efficiently.

Layers can be glued or merged together or connected in some other way.

In what follows, the invention is illustrated by figures using exemplary embodiments, then described with reference to the appended drawings in which:

There schematically illustrates in cross section the structure of a covering element in a first type of construction;

There is a cross section through a covering element of a second type of construction; And

There shows a trim element with backlit keys.

On the , the passenger compartment is arranged above the succession of layers illustrated and designated by the reference 1, while in the lower zone of the succession of layers, the side of the vehicle body is represented by the reference 2.

On the passenger compartment side, the trim element is delimited by a decorative layer 3 partially allowing light to pass through, which can for example be made of a plastic material and have a grain effect on its surface. PVC or polyurethane materials are particularly suitable for this layer.

The decorative layer can optionally be partially colored in one color.

Under the decorative layer, another part of the covering layer is the electrically insulating dielectric layer 4, which can for example be printed on the decorative layer on the inner side thereof. In this case, the decorative layer 3 and the electrically insulating dielectric layer 4 can together form a covering layer. The electrically insulating layer can, however, be manufactured in another way, for example in the form of a film, and inserted into the composite of the covering element. The dielectric layer is made of a material that does not allow light to pass through. Openings 41 are provided inside the insulating dielectric layer, which allow light to pass through and thus make the structures visible from the passenger compartment. The openings can respectively also be filled with a transparent material or inserts made of a transparent material, or the dielectric material itself can be optically transparent at least in sections. The decorative layer can also have openings or inserts 31 allowing light to pass through.

Viewed from the passenger compartment 1, the functional layer 5, which has elements that are good electrical conductors, such as for example conductive tracks, or which is made of a material that is a good electrical conductor, is arranged under the electrically insulating dielectric layer 4. The zones 51 between the electrically conductive parts can for example be configured in the form of holes in an electrically conductive layer or can be filled with an electrically insulating material, in particular optically transparent. The functional layer therefore makes it possible to make the electrically conductive parts opaque, even optically, and thus to create a structure visible from the passenger compartment when illuminated from the lower face 2. The electrically conductive parts/elements or conductive sections of the layer functional 5 can, for example, form resistive elements, capacitive elements or inductive elements.

The functional layer can be manufactured in the form of a layer printed from an electrically conductive ink and printed for example on the covering layer 3, 4, in particular on the electrically insulating dielectric layer 4. On the other hand, the functional layer can however be printed on the light-conducting layer 6, 7 located below, in particular the solid plastic layer 6 allowing light to pass through. In this embodiment, the plastic layer 6 allowing light to pass through is a light-diffusing layer, which partially diffuses the light beams 111 which arrive on it, so that the light which comes out appears a little more diffuse. The plastic layer 6 may have a plastisol.

The through openings 51 in the functional layer, in particular the edges of the openings 51, are entirely or partially covered by the dielectric layer, seen from the passenger compartment side.

In another embodiment, both the functional layer 5 and the electrically insulating dielectric layer 4 can be printed on the plastic layer 6 allowing light to pass through.

Under the plastic layer 6 allowing light to pass through, there is provided another layer allowing light to pass through, which can consist for example of a sheet of fibers or a textile fabric or an arrangement of flakes or similar particles, this other layer 7 generally having a high air content and being well permeable to light. An adhesive layer can be provided between the plastic layer 6 partially allowing light to pass through and the other layer 7. Layers 6, 7 can therefore form a light-conducting layer.

Under layer 7, there is provided a reversibly compressible layer 8, which, in this embodiment, consists of a foam and which can be thicker or thinner than the other layer 7. In this embodiment, realization, layer 8 lets light pass through. The reversibly compressible layer 8 is glued to the other layer 7 and to a support 9. The support 9 can be manufactured as a solid body, for example by pressing or molding a plastic material, and is non-deformable, so that it generally gives the covering element the necessary/intended three-dimensional shape. The support 9 is then connected to the body of the vehicle by fixing elements, such as for example screws or molded plastic elements such as stop pins.

In the embodiments where the covering element must not have a soft touch, it is possible to do without the reversible compressible layer 8. In other embodiments, the other layer 7 can be reversibly compressed, and it is thus possible to obtain a soft touch even without additional layer 8.

The electrically conductive sections 15, 16 of the functional layer 5 can be guided as printed electrical conductors in connection with the insulating dielectric layer 4 and for example also the decorative layer 3 respectively on the edge of a covering element towards the side of the body 2 of the covering element, so that the conductive sections can be connected there in a connector 12 to a structured printed circuit board 10. Thus, functional elements of the cladding element can be connected to electronics on the printed circuit board 10, so that signals can, for example, be read on the printed circuit board from the functional layer and that desired electrical elements can be controlled thereon.

Under the layers of the covering element described above, it is possible to arrange for example as a light source a light-emitting diode 11 or an OLED, which can be designed to illuminate the covering element from the lower face , which faces the passenger compartment. Light, indicated in the figure by a light cone 111, can enter the light-conducting layer 6, 7 through an opening in the support 9 and through the reversibly compressible layer 8, propagate from there towards the decorative layer 3 through transparent openings or sections in the functional layer 5 and the dielectric layer 4, and is recognizable as a pattern or symbol from the side of the passenger compartment 1, depending on the design of the openings in individual layers. Instead of an individual light source 11, it is also possible to provide a matrix of light sources distributed over the entire surface or over one or more partial surfaces of the covering element, the individual light sources being able, for example, have distances between them of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, for example 10 mm. In another embodiment, the light source is placed on the passenger compartment side of the support. This embodiment has the advantage of not requiring an opening in the support which does not allow light to pass through. It may be particularly advantageous to make certain symbols recognizable by the shaping or arrangement of the material of the dielectric layer and/or the functional layer. These symbols can also, for example, make visible the positioning of places on the surface of the covering element, which are designed as actuation elements, so that by placing a finger on these places, a function can be provoked.

There shows a layered structure of a trim element which largely resembles the structure of the , the lighting of the trim element from the lower face towards the passenger compartment 1 being however designed differently than in the embodiment of the .

In the embodiment of the , a light guide 13 is inserted into the other layer 7, into which light is injected on one side from the boundary of the covering element by means of a light source 14, for example a diode electroluminescent. In one embodiment, the light guide includes several optical fibers, which are woven into a textile fabric. On the one hand, the surface of the light guide can be designed in such a way that the light is radially decoupled along the path of the light guide, so that the light-diffusing plastic layer 6 is generally uniformly illuminated. However, it is also possible, as shown in the , to roughen certain longitudinal sections 19 of the light guide(s) or to provide them with notches or other irregularities, so that a particularly large quantity of light is decoupled in a targeted manner in these areas to illuminate the element dressing. In the example of the , the light, which exits towards the passenger compartment 1 through the openings or light passages 31, 41, 51 represented in the functional layer 5 and the dielectric layer 4 and through the decorative layer 3, as indicated by the dotted lines 111 , is decoupled in zone 19. The light-diffusing plastic layer 6 may comprise a plastisol or consist of a plastisol.

In an alternative embodiment, the light guide 13 is inserted into the reversibly compressible layer 8, instead of being inserted into the other layer 7.

There shows the passenger compartment side of a trim element with six capacitive keys 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. Four of these keys 21, 23, 24 and 25 are visibly backlit, different symbols being visible by a occupant of the vehicle. For two of these keys, their edge 211 and 251 is also visibly backlit. In the illustrated embodiment, the symbols are bright and their surroundings are dark to the edge. In another embodiment, the environment may be bright and the symbols may stand out dark.

Typical, but not limiting, thickness ranges of individual layers of a trim element explained above are shown below. The covering element can for example be manufactured with a total thickness of between 3 and 7 mm. In an embodiment where the textile layer 7 and the reversibly compressible layer 8 are produced as a single layer composed for example of a three-dimensional knit, the covering element can have a total thickness of between 3 and 5 mm .

It is for example possible to provide that the decorative layer 3 has a thickness of between 0.2 and 0.3 mm, in particular 0.25 mm. The thickness of the electrically insulating dielectric layer 4 can be between 0.01 and 0.03 mm, in particular be 0.02 mm. The thickness of the electrically conductive functional layer 5 can be between 0.01 and 0.03 mm, in particular be 0.02 mm. The thickness of the plastic layer 6 allowing light to pass can be between 0.2 and 0.3 mm, in particular be 0.25 mm. The thickness of the other layer 7, in particular when it is a textile layer, can be between 0.4 and 0.6 mm, in particular be 0.5 mm. The thickness of the reversibly compressible layer can for example be between 1 and 4 mm, in particular be 3 mm. In an embodiment where the reversibly compressible layer is not necessary and where the textile layer is a three-dimensional knit, the thickness of such a layer can be between 1.5 mm and 4 mm, for example be 1.8 mm or 3 mm. Adhesive layers are generally provided between the layers mentioned here or between at least two of these layers

Claims (10)

Trim element for the passenger compartment of a means of transport, in particular a motor vehicle, which has a passenger compartment side and a side opposite the passenger compartment (1), with a light-conducting layer (6 , 7), with a structured functional layer (5) arranged on the passenger compartment side of the light-conducting layer, which contains electrically conductive sections (15, 16), as well as with an electrically insulating cover layer (3, 4 ) arranged on the passenger compartment side of the structured functional layer, which is permeable to light at least in sections. Trim element according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically insulating covering layer (3, 4) comprises a decorative layer (3) arranged on its passenger compartment side and an insulation layer (4), in particular dielectric, arranged between the decorative layer (3) and the functional layer (5). Covering element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the functional layer (5) is permeable to light in sections, in which at least one light-permeable section (31, 41) of the covering layer and at least one light-passing section (51) of the functional layer forms a light-passing passage. Trim element according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one section allowing light to pass through (51) of the functional layer (5) on the passenger compartment side is at least partially covered by a section allowing light to pass through. not pass the light of the covering layer (3, 4). Covering element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one electrical functional element formed by or with an electrically conductive section (15, 16) of the functional layer (5) is a capacitive element or a controllable electrical resistance. Trim element according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the dielectric insulation layer (4) is printed on the decorative layer (3) or on the structured functional layer (5). Trim element according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the light-conducting layer (6, 7) is a light-diffusing layer. Covering element according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the light-conducting layer has a textile layer (7). Trim element according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a reversibly compressible layer (8) is arranged on the face of the light-conducting layer opposite the passenger compartment and in that the covering layer (3, 4), the functional layer (5) and the light-conducting layer are flexible and/or elastic. Trim element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a light source (11) and/or a light guide (13) is arranged in or adjacent to the light-conducting layer (6, 7) or the reversibly compressible layer.