Door assembly of a vehicle having a loudspeaker, and vehicle having a door assembly of this type

A door assembly of a vehicle includes an outer door element, an inner door element, a loudspeaker, and a loudspeaker housing. The loudspeaker housing is arranged in an intermediate space between the inner door element and the outer door element and covers the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker housing also has at least one opening which communicates with the intermediate space, such that the intermediate space can be used as a resonance volume for the loudspeaker.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a door assembly of a vehicle having a loudspeaker. A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle having a door assembly which has a loudspeaker.

In current door assemblies, loudspeakers are arranged in an intermediate space between the inner door element and an outer door element. In order to generate a sound which can be perceived by the occupants in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a diaphragm of the loudspeaker is alternately moved forward and backward. This brings about alternating compression and expansion of the air located in front of the diaphragm and therefore produces soundwaves. The diaphragm, which can be composed, for example, of paper, is, however, very thin and for this reason cannot effectively prevent background noise from the outside, such as for example rolling noise of the tires, from entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In order to solve this problem, the prior art discloses door assemblies in which the loudspeaker is covered by an enclosed housing. The housing therefore blocks background noise from the outside, which then cannot reach the loudspeaker diaphragm. However, so that the loudspeaker can function acoustically, the enclosed housing must be constructed in a correspondingly large size. Such a housing is associated with high costs and a large amount of expenditure on assembly.

The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a door assembly which has a loudspeaker and which permits the external noise in the passenger compartment of the vehicle to be reduced and makes an optimized method of functioning of the loudspeaker possible without a large amount of expenditure on assembly.

The invention solves this problem through the combination of features of the independent claim.

In particular, the door assembly of a vehicle comprises an outer door element, an inner door element, a loudspeaker, which is arranged on the inner door element, and a loudspeaker housing. In this context, the loudspeaker housing is arranged in an intermediate space between the inner door element and the outer door element and covers the loudspeaker. In addition, the loudspeaker housing has at least one opening which communicates with the intermediate space, so that the intermediate space can be used as a resonance volume for the loudspeaker.

In other words, an interior of the loudspeaker housing communicates with the intermediate space of the loudspeaker housing via the opening of the loudspeaker housing.

In the proposed door assembly, background noise which enters the intermediate space through the door outer element is attenuated and deflected by the loudspeaker housing so that it does not reach the loudspeaker diaphragm at all or reaches it with very low energy. As a result, the input of background noise in the passenger compartment of the vehicle is reduced, so that background noise is hardly perceived by occupants of the vehicle. At the same time, the volume of the intermediate space can be used as a resonance volume by virtue of the at least one opening via which an air space of the loudspeaker housing is connected to an air space of the intermediate space. Since the loudspeaker housing itself does not have to have a large interior, it can be made small. Therefore, the design of the door assembly is facilitated and the costs reduced. Moreover, an optimized acoustic function of the loudspeaker can be achieved without the background noise from the outside.

The term “loudspeaker” is understood within the scope of the invention to mean, in particular, a diaphragm with a drive unit which causes the diaphragm to move.

The formulation “covers the loudspeaker” means, in particular that the part of the loudspeaker which is located in the intermediate space or faces away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle is covered by the loudspeaker housing. The part or the side of the loudspeaker which faces the passenger compartment of the vehicle is, in particular, not covered by the loudspeaker housing, so that a sound generated by the loudspeaker can be perceived in the passenger compartment.

The loudspeaker housing is preferably arranged or mounted on the inner door element.

The loudspeaker is arranged, in particular, in an opening in the inner door element or plugged into the opening in the inner door element so that a sound generated by the loudspeaker can be perceived in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

The loudspeaker housing is preferably arranged on the inner door element in such a way that in the mounted state the loudspeaker housing encloses a volume (air space) which is connected to the intermediate space via the at least one opening which is provided.

The outer door element and the inner door element are preferably connected to one another.

The outer door element and/or the inner door element are preferably each embodied as sheet metal. In this context, the outer door element is to be understood as being an outer door sheet metal element and the inner door element as being an inner door sheet metal element.

According to one preferred refinement of the invention, the inner door element is embodied in two parts. The one part is advantageously mounted on the other. The one part (first part) is preferably embodied as a sheet metal element (inner door sheet metal element). The other part (second part) is preferably embodied as a lightweight beam made of plastic.

The inner door sheet metal element and the outer door sheet metal element correspond, in combination with one another, in particular to a door shell of the vehicle.

The loudspeaker housing is also referred to as an adapter housing or snorkel within the scope of the invention.

The at least one opening in the loudspeaker housing has a cross section of at least 0.0015 m2, preferably of at least 0.0030 m2, particularly preferably of 0.0045 m2. This optimizes the acoustic behavior of the loudspeaker.

The loudspeaker housing can preferably have a multiplicity of openings which each communicate with the intermediate space. In this context, the sum of the cross sections of all the openings is preferably at least 0.0015 m2, preferably at least 0.0030 m2, particularly preferably 0.0045 m2.

The sum of the cross sections of all the openings is preferably less than 80% of the diaphragm surface area of the loudspeaker.

In addition, the at least one opening is preferably arranged above the loudspeaker, in a direction parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle. In this way, background noise which propagates upward from below, such as for example rolling noise of the tires, cannot simply pass into the at least one opening. The loudspeaker housing advantageously does not have an opening in the lower area. In other words, the loudspeaker housing is closed from below or in an area underneath the loudspeaker.

The loudspeaker is, in particular, positioned above the center of a wheel/tire, in a direction parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle, particularly preferably above the highest area of a wheel/tire, of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the at least one opening is arranged in an area of the loudspeaker housing which is opposite the loudspeaker, in a direction parallel to the vertical axis of the vehicle. A background noise therefore has to travel a long distance until it has reached the at least opening at all. This has the advantage of still greater attenuation of the background noise.

The at least one opening is further preferably oriented in such a way that a main component of a normal vector of the at least one opening is parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle. This ensures that a background noise initially has to be deflected in order to enter the at least one opening. The deflection causes the background noise to lose more energy.

According to an alternative preferred refinement, the at least one opening is oriented in such a way that a main component of a normal vector of the at least one opening is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Within the scope of the invention, in particular a main component of the normal vector is to be understood as the largest component of the normal vector. The normal vector is directed outward perpendicularly toward the at least one opening.

It is to be noted that the normal vector of the at least opening is to be understood as a normal vector of a hypothetical loudspeaker housing surface at the location of the at least one opening.

Furthermore, the at least one opening is arranged in an area of the loudspeaker housing which faces away from a background noise source of the vehicle. As result, the propagation of a background noise of the background noise source as far as the at least one opening is made more difficult.

“Facing away” means in particular that a minimum distance between the area of the loudspeaker housing and the background noise source is at its largest.

It can also be advantageous if at least one area of a face of the loudspeaker housing which is opposite the outer door element is shaped in such a way that a sound entering the intermediate space through the outer door element can be directed away from the at least one opening.

In particular, the area is inclined in a direction parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle and/or in a direction toward the outer door element, parallel to a normal vector of the at least one opening.

In this way, a background noise which impacts on the loudspeaker housing is fed back to the outer door element. This has the advantage that the background noise is, on the one hand, directed away from the at least one opening and, on the other hand, is attenuated even more.

The at least one area of the loudspeaker housing particularly preferably adjoins the at least one opening.

In other words, the at least one area of the loudspeaker housing is preferably adjacent to the at least one opening.

The opening also preferably has a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening are arranged directly opposite one another. As result, background noise which passes into the loudspeaker housing via the first opening and background noise which passes into the loudspeaker housing via the second opening can be attenuated owing to the opposing input direction of one instance of background noise with respect to the other.

“Directly opposite one another” means, in particular, an overlap of at least 80%, preferably of at least 90%, particularly preferably of 100%, of a cross-sectional area of the relatively small opening.

The ratio between the loudspeaker housing volume (interior/air space of the loudspeaker housing) and the intermediate space volume (air space) is preferably less than 1, preferably less than 0.8 and more preferably less than 0.6.

The loudspeaker housing is preferably embodied in such a way that the interior of the loudspeaker housing is bounded by the loudspeaker housing, the loudspeaker and the inner door element, in particular the second part.

In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle with a door assembly as described above.

The vehicle can be, in particular, a motor vehicle.

The vehicle is particularly preferably an electric vehicle. The provision of a door assembly as described above in an electric vehicle is particularly advantageous since the noise level of an electric vehicle is low, in particular in comparison with a motor vehicle, thanks to the quiet electric motors. With the proposed door assembly, background noise from the outside, which is otherwise perceived in a passenger cell of the electric vehicle and would therefore drown out the sound of the loudspeaker is deflected and attenuated.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description and the figures of exemplary embodiments, wherein identical or functionally identical components are each referred to by the same reference symbol.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A door assembly1of a vehicle100according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is subsequently described in detail with reference toFIGS.1and3.

FIG.1is a schematic view of an area of the vehicle100in which the door assembly1is provided. The door assembly1separates a passenger compartment (passenger cell)103of the vehicle100from an external space200. The vehicle100can be, for example, a motor vehicle or an electric vehicle.

The door assembly1comprises an outer door element2, an inner door element3, a loudspeaker4, which is arranged on the inner door element3, and a loudspeaker housing5.FIG.1also shows a door lining105on the inner door element3.

The loudspeaker4is positioned, in particular, above a tire104of the vehicle100, in a direction parallel to a vertical axis101of the vehicle100.

In the door assembly1, the loudspeaker housing5is arranged in an intermediate space6between the inner door element3and the outer door element2. In particular, the loudspeaker housing5is provided or mounted on the inner door element3.

Furthermore, the loudspeaker4is, in particular, plugged into an opening30in the inner door element3. A first part of the loudspeaker4is therefore located in the intermediate space6, facing the outer door element2. A second part of the loudspeaker4faces the passenger compartment103of the vehicle100.

The loudspeaker housing5covers the loudspeaker4. This means, in particular, that the part of the loudspeaker4which is located in the intermediate space6, facing the outer door element2, is covered by the loudspeaker housing5.

In addition, the loudspeaker housing5has an opening50which communicates with the intermediate space6. An interior (air space)53of the loudspeaker housing5is therefore connected to the intermediate space6. As a result, the intermediate space6serves as a resonance volume for the loudspeaker4, which is therefore embodied as a woofer.

In addition, a background noise201which comes from the outside, such as for example a rolling noise of the tire104, can be deflected and attenuated by the loudspeaker housing5.

The opening50is arranged in an area54of the loudspeaker housing5which faces away from the tire104which acts as a background noise source. As a result, the propagation of the background noise201, caused by the tire104, as far as the opening50is made more difficult.

The area54of the loudspeaker housing5in which the opening50is arranged is opposite the loudspeaker4, in a direction parallel to the vertical axis101of the vehicle100. Therefore, the background noise201must cover a long distance until it reaches the opening50at all. The longer the distance up to the opening50, the more the energy, and therefore the pressure of the background noise wave, are reduced.

In particular, the opening50is arranged above the loudspeaker4, in a direction parallel to the vertical axis101of the vehicle100. Therefore, background noise which propagates upward from below, such as for example rolling noise of the tire104, cannot easily pass into the opening50.

The loudspeaker housing5does not have an opening in the lower area in which the loudspeaker4is positioned.

FIG.2shows a perspective illustration of an area of the door assembly1when viewed from outside (the direction from the exterior space200to the passenger compartment103of the vehicle). For the purposes of illustration, the outer door element2has been removed inFIG.2.

As is apparent fromFIG.2, the inner door element3has a first part31and a second part32. In particular, the first part31is embodied as a sheet metal element, wherein the second part32is embodied as a lightweight beam made of plastic. The second part32is applied to the first part31and connected to the first part31.

It is also apparent fromFIG.2that the loudspeaker housing5is provided on the second part.

In order to acquire a better impression of the design of the loudspeaker housing5,FIG.3illustrates part of the area of the door assembly1fromFIG.2in section.

In this context it is apparent that the opening50in the loudspeaker housing5is oriented in such a way that a main component91of a normal vector90of the opening50is parallel to the vertical axis101of the vehicle100. This ensures that the background noise201firstly has to be deflected, in particular approximately by 180°, in order to pass into the interior53of the loudspeaker housing5via the opening50. The energy of the background noise201is reduced even further by the deflection.

The opening50in the loudspeaker housing5has a cross section of at least 0.0015 m2, preferably of at least 0.0030 m2, particularly preferably of 0.0045 m2. The intermediate space6is therefore optimally used as a resonance space of the loudspeaker5.

It is also apparent fromFIG.3that the opening30in which the loudspeaker4is arranged is formed in the second part32.

In the text which follows, a door assembly according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with reference toFIGS.4to6.

The door assembly1according to the second exemplary embodiment differs from that according to the first exemplary embodiment basically in respect of the number of openings provided in the loudspeaker housing5and their arrangement.

The loudspeaker housing5of the door assembly according to the second exemplary embodiment therefore has a first opening51and a second opening52.

The first opening51and the second opening52are arranged directly opposite one another (FIG.5). Owing to this arrangement, background noise202,203enters the interior53of the loudspeaker housing in opposite directions. Therefore, the instances of background noise202,203can be attenuated with respect to one another.

“Directly opposite one another” means in this case an overlap of 100% of a cross section area of the second opening52with the first opening51in a direction parallel to the vertical axis101of the vehicle100. The first opening51has a larger cross section than the second opening52.

In addition, the sum of the cross sections of the first opening51and of the second opening52is at least 0.0015 m2, preferably at least 0.0030 m2, particularly preferably 0.0045 m2.

In particular the two openings51,52are arranged above the loudspeaker4, in a direction parallel to the vertical axis101of the vehicle100.

In contrast to the opening50in the loudspeaker housing5according to the first exemplary embodiment, the first opening51and the second opening52are not formed here in an area of the loudspeaker housing5which is opposite the loudspeaker4but rather on the sides of the loudspeaker4, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis102of the vehicle100.

In addition, both the first opening51and the second opening52are oriented in such a way that a main component91of a normal vector90of the respective opening is parallel to the longitudinal axis102of the vehicle100. However, to provide a better overview only the normal vector of the first opening51with its components is shown inFIG.5.

This arrangement of the first opening51and of the second opening52can furthermore also prevent the penetration of a background noise204which occurs around an exterior rear view mirror106of the vehicle100as result of the aerodynamic effects.

The first opening51and the second opening52are each arranged in an area54of the loudspeaker housing5which faces away from the tire104which acts as a main source of background noise for the loudspeaker4. In addition, the area of the loudspeaker housing5in which the first opening51is formed also faces the exterior rear view mirror106. The exterior rear view mirror106acts as a secondary source of background noise for the loudspeaker4.

It is also apparent fromFIG.6that an area55of a face of the loudspeaker housing5which is opposite the outer door element2is shaped in such a way that a sound entering the intermediate space6through the outer door element2can be conducted away from the second opening52.

In particular, the area55is inclined with respect to the outer door element2. The area55of the loudspeaker housing5advantageously adjoins the second opening52.

Background noise which impinges on the loudspeaker housing5is therefore conducted back to the outer door element2. This has the advantage that the background noise, or at least part thereof, is directed away from the second opening52and at the same time attenuated further.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1Door assembly2Outer door element3Inner door element4Loudspeaker5Loudspeaker housing6Intermediate space30Opening in inner door element31First part of inner door element32Second part of inner door element50Opening in loudspeaker housing51First opening in loudspeaker housing52Second opening in loudspeaker housing53Interior (air space) of the loudspeaker housing54Area of loudspeaker housing55Area of loudspeaker housing90Normal vector of opening91Main component of opening100Vehicle101Vertical axis of vehicle102Longitudinal axis of vehicle103Passenger compartment/passenger cell of vehicle104Tire105Door lining106Exterior rear view mirror200Space outside vehicle201Background noise202Background noise203Background noise204Background noise