IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,060,015
Granted Patent B2
US 12,060,015 · App. 18/035,774 · Granted Aug 13, 2024

Decorative element for a vehicle having a semitransparent element, a light guiding element, and a molding compound layer

Inventors: Martin Schneebauer (Munich, DE); Bernd Veihelmann (Landshut, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
B60R13/005B32B3/30B32B27/08B32B27/283G01S7/027G02B6/005G02B6/0065B32B2255/10B32B2255/20B32B2255/26B32B2255/28B32B2307/41B32B2307/412B32B2451/00B32B2605/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,060,015
App. No.
18/035,774
Granted
Aug 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A decorative element for a vehicle includes a partially transparent element having light-permeable portions and light-impermeable portions, and a light-guiding element which is configured to couple out, at least in some portions in the direction of the partially transparent element, light which has been coupled in. The partially transparent element and the light-guiding element are permeable for radar beams. A molding material layer is arranged between the partially transparent element and the light-guiding element, and is permeable for the light coupled out from the light-guiding element and for the radar beams. The molding material layer connects the partially transparent element to the light-guiding element.

Claims (19)

1. A decorative element for a vehicle, the decorative element comprising:

a semitransparent element, which includes light-transmissive sections and light-opaque sections,

a light-guiding element, which is configured to decouple coupled-in light at least in sections in a direction of the semitransparent element, and

a molding compound layer arranged between the semitransparent element and the light-guiding element, wherein the molding compound layer is transmissive to light decoupled from the light-guiding element and to radar beams, and connects the semitransparent element and the light-guiding element to one another,

wherein the semitransparent element and the light-guiding element are transmissive to the radar beams.

2. The decorative element according to claim 1 , wherein the molding compound layer is made of silicone.

3. The decorative element according to claim 1 , wherein the semitransparent element includes a semiconducting layer arranged on a surface of the semitransparent element facing toward the molding compound layer.

4. The decorative element according to claim 3 , wherein the semiconducting layer is made of silicon or indium.

5. The decorative element according to claim 1 , wherein the semitransparent element includes a first transparent layer made of a first plastic.

6. The decorative element according to claim 5 , wherein depressions are introduced into a surface of the first transparent layer facing toward the molding compound layer, and corresponding projections of the molding compound layer are inserted into the depressions.

7. The decorative element according to claim 1 , wherein the semitransparent element includes a light-opaque layer that is arranged at least in sections on a surface of the semitransparent element facing toward the molding compound layer and forms the light-opaque sections.

8. The decorative element according to claim 1 , wherein the semitransparent element includes a first lacquer layer arranged on a surface of the semitransparent element facing away from the molding compound layer.

9. The decorative element according to claim 1 , wherein the light-guiding element includes a light-guiding layer.

10. The decorative element according to claim 1 , wherein the light-guiding element includes a decoupling structure on a surface facing away from the molding compound layer.

11. The decorative element according to claim 10 , wherein the light-guiding element includes a second transparent layer that is made of a second plastic and adjoins the decoupling structure.

12. The decorative element according to claim 11 , wherein the light-guiding element includes a second lacquer layer arranged on a surface of the second transparent layer facing away from the light-guiding layer.

13. The decorative element according to claim 1 , further comprising a light source that couples light into the light-guiding element.

14. The decorative element according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one seal element between the semitransparent element and the molding compound layer.

15. A vehicle comprising the decorative element according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2023
From: SCHNEEBAUER, MARTIN; VEIHELMANN, BERND
To: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 063574/0350 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2021 102 565.6 · Feb 4, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240010137A1 · Jan 11, 2024
Cited By (1)
US 12,748,251