DE102022125678A1 - Vehicle window arrangement with composite structure and lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle window arrangement is proposed, comprising a composite structure which has a window body arrangement (14) which comprises an outer window body (16) which faces a vehicle environment and an inner window body (18) which faces a vehicle interior and which is connected to the outer window body (16) via a lamination layer (20), and an illumination device (22). The illumination device (22) comprises an optical waveguide (26) which is connected to a light source (24), which is received by the lamination layer (20) and which is provided with a light decoupling device (32) in at least one region, so that light can be coupled out of the optical waveguide (26) in the direction of the vehicle interior, and in the region of the light decoupling device (32) at least one light wavelength modulator (38, 38') is arranged which defines the wavelength of the light emitted by the optical waveguide (26) in the direction of the vehicle interior.

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle window arrangement with the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a vehicle window is known, for example, from the publication EN 10 2016 100 772 A1 known and comprises a composite structure with a window body arrangement which has an outer window body which faces a vehicle environment and an inner window body which faces a vehicle interior. The outer window body and the inner window body are connected to one another via an intermediate layer designed as a lamination layer. A light source is arranged on one edge of the inner window body, the light of which can be coupled into the inner window body so that this is part of a lighting device. In the vehicle window arrangement described above, the inner window body lights up essentially over its entire surface when the light source is activated. Light effects or changes in light color are only possible with great effort.

The invention is based on the object of creating a vehicle window arrangement designed according to the type mentioned in the introduction, in which the lighting device is designed such that lighting is only possible at certain positions and with a desired color.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the vehicle window arrangement having the features of patent claim 1.

According to the invention, a vehicle window arrangement is proposed which comprises a composite structure which has a window body arrangement which comprises an outer window body which faces a vehicle environment and an inner window body which faces a vehicle interior. The outer window body and the inner window body are connected to one another via a lamination or adhesive layer. In addition, a lighting device is provided. The lighting device comprises an optical waveguide which is arranged in the lamination layer, i.e. between the outer window body and the inner window body, which is connected at one end to a light source and which is designed in a cord-like manner, in particular in the manner of a fiber optic cable. The optical waveguide is provided with a light output device in at least one area, so that light can be output from the optical waveguide in the direction of the vehicle interior. In the area of the light output device, at least one light wavelength modulator is arranged which determines the wavelength of the light emitted into the vehicle interior and in particular changes the wavelength of the light output from the optical waveguide.

With the vehicle window according to the invention, it is therefore possible to couple light out of the optical waveguide at precisely defined positions in relation to the surface of the window body arrangement, so that spatially defined illumination of the vehicle interior is possible. In addition, the light wavelength modulator ensures that the light emitted into the vehicle interior has a desired color.

In principle, it is conceivable that the light output device is designed in such a way that light is output over the entire length of the optical waveguide. Preferably, however, the light output device is limited to one or more sections of the optical waveguide, so that certain segments along the optical waveguide light up when the light source is activated and other segments along the optical waveguide remain unlit.

In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof arrangement according to the invention, the light coupling device is implemented in that the optical waveguide or the core of the optical waveguide is provided with a structure produced, for example, by means of a laser, whereby the light is coupled out of the optical waveguide in a radial direction or radially in one direction. In this way, ambient light functionalities and also useful light applications, such as reading light applications, can be implemented, either together or alternatively.

Depending on the design of the light output device, which, as already explained above, can be realized by structuring the optical waveguide, it is also possible to adjust the intensity of the output light and/or the radiation direction (radially all the way around or only in one direction to create spot light effects).

The light output device realized by a scattering structure of the optical waveguide can lead to a directed emission of light with a small luminous cone.

In an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle window arrangement according to the invention, several light coupling areas are realized over the length of the optical waveguide by the light coupling device, which are characterized in particular by the degree of structuring of the optical waveguide under so that the amount of light coupled out also differs.

The light wavelength modulator, which can be implemented in particular by a layer or photoluminescence layer adjacent to a structured core of the optical waveguide, defines the color of the light emitted in the direction of the vehicle interior. By using different light wavelength modulators along the extension of the optical waveguide, it is possible for light in different colors to be emitted from the vehicle window arrangement when using a single optical waveguide.

The light emerging from the lightwave modulator can be monochromatic or have a wider bandwidth.

In order to keep the installation space occupied by the lighting device small, the light wavelength modulator is integrated into a casing of the optical waveguide in an expedient embodiment of the vehicle window arrangement according to the invention. However, the light wavelength modulator can also be implemented by an additional layer in the composite structure.

Preferably, the light source of the lighting device of the vehicle window arrangement according to the invention is a laser, which can be designed as a high-power light source, so that the light coupled out along the optical waveguide can also have a high intensity.

The light source can be a monochromatic light source, which means that it only emits light of one wavelength, such as a laser diode. For example, the light source emits ultraviolet light in a wavelength range between 300 nm and 490 nm, which is converted into light with a wavelength in the visible range by the light wavelength modulator after being coupled out of the optical waveguide by means of the light coupling device.

The lamination layer that connects the outer pane body and the inner pane body can be made of a suitable transparent or colored material. For example, the lamination layer is made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), PVB (polyvinyl butyral) or EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate). The optical fiber can be arranged in a corresponding recess in the lamination layer or, in the case of a cast lamination layer, can be cast in the relevant material.

In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle window arrangement according to the invention, a particularly transparent guide element for the optical waveguide is arranged on the window body arrangement, in particular on the outer window body, which preferably forms a channel into which the optical waveguide engages. In particular during the manufacture of the vehicle roof arrangement according to the invention, a defined and precisely positioned course of the optical waveguide in the composite structure can thus be ensured.

In principle, the vehicle window arrangement according to the invention can be arranged at any location on a motor vehicle. Preferably, however, the vehicle window arrangement according to the invention is a roof window which forms either a fixed roof element arranged rigidly and immovably relative to a vehicle body or a movable cover element of a roof opening system.

The outer pane body and the inner pane body can each be made of glass or of a plastic, such as polycarbonate. In particular, if the vehicle pane arrangement according to the invention represents a vehicle pane for a vehicle roof, the pane body arrangement is expediently curved. The curvature can in particular be a three-dimensional curvature, whereby the curvature in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can differ from the curvature in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the description, the drawings and the patent claims.

• 1 eine schematische Draufsicht auf ein Fahrzeugdach mit einer Fahrzeugscheibenanordnung;
• 2 eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Fahrzeugscheibenanordnung in Alleinstellung;
• 3 einen Schnitt durch die Fahrzeugscheibenanordnung entlang der Linie III-III in 2; und
• 4 einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch einen Lichtwellenleiter der Fahrzeugscheibenanordnung.

An embodiment of a vehicle roof with a vehicle window arrangement according to the invention is shown in a simplified schematic in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

• 1 a schematic plan view of a vehicle roof with a vehicle window arrangement;
• 2 a schematic plan view of the vehicle window arrangement in isolation;
• 3 a section through the vehicle window arrangement along the line III-III in 2 ; and
• 4 a schematic longitudinal section through an optical fiber of the vehicle window arrangement.

In 1 is a vehicle roof 10 of a motor vehicle not otherwise shown in detail shown. The vehicle roof 10 comprises a vehicle window arrangement 12, which forms a fixed roof element which is firmly or immovably connected to the vehicle body.

The vehicle window assembly 12, which in 2 shown in isolation, has a composite structure which forms a laminated safety glass (VGS) and comprises a pane body arrangement 14 which has an outer pane body 16 which faces a vehicle environment and an inner pane body 18 which faces a vehicle interior and is connected to the outer pane body 16 via a lamination layer 20.

The outer pane body 16 is formed from a curved glass plate, which is made, for example, from a colored soda-lime glass. It is of course also conceivable that the outer pane body 16 is made from a plastic element, for example from a polycarbonate element. The inner pane body 18 can also be made from an inorganic glass, such as a soda-lime glass, or from a polymer, for example a polycarbonate.

The window body arrangement 12 comprises an illumination device 22, which is provided with a light source 24, which is designed as a laser diode. In addition, the illumination device 22 comprises an optical waveguide 26 or a fiber optic cable, which is connected to the light source 24 at one end. The other end of the optical waveguide 26 is exposed. The optical waveguide 26 is embedded in the lamination layer 20 and runs between the outer window body 16 and the inner window body 18, meandering through the vehicle window arrangement 12.

In order to precisely define the position and course of the optical waveguide 26, a guide element 28 is connected to the underside or inside of the outer disc body 16, which forms a channel 30 into which the optical waveguide 26 engages. The guide element 28, which can be continuous or interrupted, also forms a holder for the optical waveguide 26.

In the present case, the optical waveguide 26 is provided in five sections, each with a light coupling device 32 that forms scattering elements and is produced by laser structuring a core 34 of the optical waveguide 26. By means of the light coupling devices 32, light that was coupled into the optical waveguide 26 by the light source 24 is coupled out at right angles to the direction of propagation in the optical waveguide 26 with an unchanged wavelength λ ₁ (cf. 4 ).

The optical waveguide 26 is provided with a casing 36 which surrounds the core 34 and which is provided in the area of the light output devices 32 with a light wavelength modulator 38 or 38`, which are formed by so-called photoluminescence segments. By means of the light wavelength modulators 38 and 38`, the wavelength λ1 of the light output from the core 34 of the optical waveguide 26 is converted into a different wavelength λ2 and in the area of the light wavelength modulator 38` also into a different wavelength λ3. In the area of the light wave modulators 38, light is thus output in the direction of the vehicle interior in a color which differs from the color of the light output in the area of the light wavelength modulator 38` in the direction of the vehicle interior. In the area between the light wavelength modulators 38 and 38` no light is coupled out of the optical waveguide 26.

Due to the different light wavelength modulators 38 and 38`, it is possible, for example, to realize a reading light for occupants of the vehicle in question in the area of the light wavelength modulator 38` and to provide so-called ambient light functionalities in the area of the light wavelength modulators 38.

List of reference symbols

10

Vehicle roof

12

Vehicle window arrangement

14

Disc body arrangement

16

Disc outer body

18

Disc inner body

20

Lamination layer

22

Lighting equipment

24

Light source

26

optical fiber

28

Guide element

30

channel

32

Light decoupling device

34

core

36

Wrapping

38, 38`

Light wavelength modulator

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

• DE 102016100772 A1 [0002]

Claims (6)

Vehicle window arrangement, comprising a composite structure which has a window body arrangement (14) which comprises an outer window body (16) which faces a vehicle environment and an inner window body (18) which faces a vehicle interior and which is connected to the outer window body (16) via a lamination layer (20), and an illumination device (22), characterized in that the illumination device (22) comprises an optical waveguide (26) which is connected to a light source (24), which is at least partially received by the lamination layer (20) and which is provided with a light decoupling device (32) in at least one region, so that light can be coupled out of the optical waveguide (26) in the direction of the vehicle interior, and in that at least one light wavelength modulator (38, 38') which defines the wavelength of the light emitted by the optical waveguide (26) in the direction of the vehicle interior is arranged in the region of the light decoupling device (32). Vehicle window arrangement according to Claim 1 , characterized in that over a length of the optical waveguide (26) several light output devices (32) are provided, which differ so that the respective quantities of light coupled out differ. Vehicle window arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the at least one light coupling device (32) is formed by structuring the optical waveguide (26). Vehicle window arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the light wavelength modulator (38, 38') is applied to a casing of the optical waveguide or is integrated into a casing (36) of the optical waveguide (26). Vehicle window arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that a guide element (28) for the optical waveguide (26) is arranged on the disk body arrangement (14), which preferably forms a channel (30) into which the optical waveguide (26) engages. Vehicle window arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the light source (24) is a laser diode.

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