Interior trim part and exterior facing part of a vehicle having an ultrasonic sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9340167-B2
Application number	US-201113580428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2011
Priority date	Feb 24, 2010
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to an interior trim part of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a composite having a carrier ( 30 ) and a decorative element ( 10 ) on one side of the carrier, the decorative element comprising a viewing side ( 11 ) visible to an observer from the interior ( 100 ) of the vehicle comprising a substantially continuously closed surface at least in a partial region (B 1 ), characterized in that the composite is thinner within the partial region (B 1 ) facing away from the viewing side perpendicular to the viewing side, and is capable of ultrasonic vibration in the thinned region (B 1 ), and by an ultrasonic sensor having an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is connected to the side of the composite facing away from the viewing side ( 11 ) over the entire surface of the thinned area (B 1 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An interior trim part of a motor vehicle comprising:
a composite having a carrier and a decorative element on one side of the carrier, the decorative element comprising a viewing side discernible by a viewer from the interior of the vehicle and having a substantially continuously closed surface at least in a partial region, wherein
within the partial region the composite is thinned, perpendicularly in relation to the viewing side, from a side that faces away from the viewing side, and is configured for ultrasonic vibration in the thinned region, and
an ultrasonic sensor comprising an ultrasonic generator, the ultrasonic generator being connected, in the thinned region, with full surface contact to the side of the composite that faces away from the viewing side, wherein, in use,
the ultrasonic generator causes the thinned region to vibrate with a frequency in the ultrasonic range such that the thinned region emits ultrasonic waves, and
the thinned region vibrates by reflected ultrasonic waves, wherein the reflected ultrasonic waves are identified by the ultrasonic generator to enable evaluation by an electronic circuit.

2. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic generator has a piezoelectric generator, which is connected with full surface contact to the side of the composite that faces away from the viewing side, such that at least a portion of the thinned region of the composite functions as a membrane of the ultrasonic generator.

3. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic generator has a membrane and piezoelectric generator, which is connected to one side of the membrane, the membrane being connected with full surface contact to the side of the composite that faces away from the viewing side, such that the vibration of the membrane is transferred to at least a portion of the thinned region of the composite.

4. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic generator is connected by material bonding to the side of the composite that faces away from the viewing side.

5. The interior trim part according to claim 4 , wherein the ultrasonic generator is adhesive-bonded to the side of the composite that faces away from the viewing side.

6. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic sensor has a cylindrical element, which is connected to the ultrasonic generator or to the side of the composite that faces away from the viewing side.

7. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic sensor has an astigmatic transmit/receive characteristic.

8. The interior trim part according to claim 7 , wherein the ultrasonic sensor has an ellipsoid transmit/receive lobe having the long half axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having the short half axes in the transverse direction and in the height direction of the vehicle.

9. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the composite in the thinned region has a residual wall thickness of 3 mm or less.

10. The interior trim part according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier is fully relieved in the thinned region.

11. The interior trim part according to claim 10 , wherein the decorative element in the thinned region is at least partially thinned.

12. An exterior facing part of a vehicle, comprising:
a body, which comprises a viewing side discernible by a viewer and having a substantially continuously closed surface at least in a partial region, wherein:
within the partial region the body is thinned, perpendicularly in relation to the viewing side from a side that faces away from the viewing side, and is configured for ultrasonic vibration in the thinned region, and
an ultrasonic sensor comprising an ultrasonic generator, the ultrasonic generator being connected, in the thinned region, with full surface contact to the side of the composite that faces away from the viewing side, wherein, in use,
the ultrasonic generator causes the thinned region to vibrate with a frequency in the ultrasonic range such that the thinned region emits ultrasonic waves, and
the thinned region vibrates by reflected ultrasonic waves, wherein the reflected ultrasonic waves are identified by the ultrasonic generator to enable evaluation by an electronic circuit.

13. The exterior facing part according to claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic generator has a piezoelectric generator, which is connected with full surface contact to the side of the body that faces away from the viewing side, such that at least a portion of the thinned region of the body functions as a membrane of the ultrasonic generator.

14. The exterior facing part according to claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic generator has a membrane and a piezoelectric generator, which is connected to one side of the membrane, the membrane being connected with full surface contact to the side of the body that faces away from the viewing side, such that the vibration of the membrane is transferred to at least a portion of the thinned region of the body.

15. The exterior facing part according to claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic generator is connected by material bonding to the side of the body that faces away from the viewing side.

16. The exterior facing part according to claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic generator is adhesive-bonded to the side of the body that faces away from the viewing side.

17. The exterior facing part according to claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic sensor has a cylindrical element, which is connected to the ultrasonic generator or to the side of the body that faces away from the viewing side.

Assignees

• Steckel Michael
• Draexlmaier Lisa Gmbh

Inventors

• Steckel Michael

Classifications

• H03K2217/94005

  activated by voice or sound · CPC title

• G01S7/521

  Constructional features · CPC title

• H03K17/94

  characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated · CPC title

• B60R16/00 Primary

  Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for {(devices for protecting vehicle occupants in case of accidents B60R21/00; safety belts B60R22/00; central door locking E05B49/00, E05B77/50)} · CPC title