Abstract:
An automobile panel ( 10 ) includes at least one icon area ( 18 ), the area being illuminated by a light source ( 20 ) placed under the ornament panel, the panel including a flexible translucent skin ( 12 ), forming the outer surface ( 14 ) of the ornament panel, and a backing layer ( 16 ), placed against the translucent skin ( 12 ), the layer ( 16 ) having at least one translucent area aligned with the icon area ( 18 ). The ornament panel includes at least one polarizing filter ( 32 ) placed between the light source ( 20 ) and the icon area ( 18 ) so as to polarize the light illuminating the icon area ( 18 ) and to substantially prevent the subsequent reflection thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an trim panel of the type comprising at least one pictogram area, said area being illuminated by a light source placed under said trim panel, said trim panel including a flexible translucent skin forming the outer surface of the trim panel, and a backing layer placed against the translucent skin, said layer having at least one translucent area opposite the pictogram area. 
     The invention also relates to an automobile comprising such an trim panel. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is known to provide trim panels of the aforementioned type making it possible to display pictograms directly on the skin of these panels, said pictograms indicating certain functions or certain statuses of the vehicle. Such panels are in particular used as the trim for the dashboard of the automobile, positioned under the vehicle&#39;s windshield. 
     However, the light passing through the trim panel and emerging in the pictogram area is reflected by the windshield, which can cause the pictogram to be “displayed” on the windshield, particularly visible at night. This image of the pictogram on the windshield can be bothersome to the driver, who may be disturbed by the light reflected on the windshield. 
     To offset this drawback, it is possible to position the pictogram areas in locations of the trim panel where the reflection of the light on the windshield will not cause a bother for the driver. However, this particular arrangement does not eliminate the reflection of the light on the windshield and does not make it possible to choose the location of the pictograms indifferently. However, one seeks to display the pictograms in locations where they will be easily visible and identifiable by the driver. 
     Another solution to offset this drawback consists of treating the windshield in a particular manner to reduce the reflection of the light on the inner surface thereof. However, such a treatment is particularly costly and complicates making the windshield. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the aims of the invention is to offset the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing an trim panel preventing the later reflection of the light passing through it simply and inexpensively. 
     To that end, the invention relates to an trim panel of the aforementioned type, in which the trim panel comprises at least one polarizing filter positioned between the light source and the pictogram area so as to polarize the light illuminating the pictogram area and substantially prevent its later reflection. 
     The polarization of the light before it reaches the pictogram area makes it possible to greatly reduce, or even eliminate, the later reflection of that light for example on the vehicle&#39;s windshield. 
     According to other features of the trim panel:
         the polarizing filter is a rectilinear polarizing filter;   the backing layer is a layer of foam comprising an opening opposite the light source, the translucent area of the backing layer being formed by a transparent gel element arranged in said opening;   the polarizing filter is positioned between the light source and said gel element;   the gel element is positioned in a bowl-shaped transparent backing element;   the polarizing filter is positioned against the transparent backing element, under it;   the trim panel comprises a mask comprising openings allowing light to pass and areas preventing the passage of the light, said openings defining the shape of the pictogram, said mask being positioned between the light source and the pictogram area; and   the mask is printed on the polarizing filter.       

     The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a trim panel as described above, said trim panel being applied against a part of the passenger compartment of said vehicle. 
     According to another feature of the vehicle, the trim panel is positioned under the windshield of said vehicle, the polarizing filter substantially preventing the reflection of the light illuminating the pictogram area against said windshield. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, provided as an example and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration of an trim panel according to the prior art positioned under a windshield, 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration of an trim panel according to the invention positioned under a windshield, 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration of an trim panel according to the invention showing the arrangement of the pictogram area in detail. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the description, “outer” refers to what is visible from the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, and “inner” refers to what is not visible. The terms “upper” and “lower” are defined relative to a direction starting from the wall of the passenger compartment and going towards the inside of the passenger compartment. 
       FIG. 1  shows the path of the light in an trim panel positioned under a windshield  1  when the light emitted by a light source  2  does not undergo any modification and when the windshield is not treated to prevent glare. The light emitted by the light source  2  passes through the trim panel and reaches a pictogram area  4 , as indicated by arrow F 1 . The pictogram area is then illuminated and visible by the driver  6 , as shown by arrow F 2 . However, one component of the light reaches the windshield  1 , as shown by arrow F 3 , and is reflected by it, the area  8  of the windshield where the light reflects then becomes visible by the driver  6 , as shown by arrow F 4 , which can be bothersome for the driver, in particular at night. 
     To offset this drawback, the invention provides an trim panel  10  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     The trim panel  10  comprises a translucent flexible skin  12 , i.e. allowing light to pass, and a backing layer  16  under and against the translucent skin  12 . The skin  12  forms the outer face  14 , visible from the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, of the panel  10 . The backing layer  16  is for example made from foam in order to make the trim panel  10  flexible to the touch. This assembly can be configured in the desired manner to adapt to the trim of a motor vehicle. The outer surface  14  formed by the skin  12  is for example substantially planar or has protruding or hollow areas, for example to indicate the presence of buttons for controlling functions of the vehicle under the skin  12 /backing layer  16  assembly. 
     The trim panel  10  comprises at least one pictogram area  18  making it possible to display backlit information on the outer face  14  of the translucent skin  12 . To that end, a light source  20  is positioned under the translucent skin  12  opposite the pictogram area  18 . This light source  20  is for example a light box  22  arranged in an opening  24  of the backing layer  16 . The light box  22  is known in itself and for example comprises a light-emitting diode  26  positioned to emit light towards the pictogram area  18 . 
     The opening  24  is filled with a transparent gel element  28  above the light box  22  so as to allow light to pass between the light box and the pictogram area, as indicated by arrow F 5  in  FIG. 2 . The gel element  28  is for example made from polyurethane or silicone and is arranged not to alter the light that passes through it, i.e. it does not influence the polarization of said light. It is for example cast in a rigid bowl-shaped backing element  30  made from a transparent plastic material. The backing member  30  is also arranged not to alter the light that passes through it. According to another embodiment, the gel element  28  is a gel cushion arranged directly in the opening  24  on the light box  22  and under the skin  12 . The upper surface of the gel element  28  is arranged directly against the skin  12 . 
     A polarizing filter  32  is arranged between the upper face of the light box  22  and the gel element  28 , under the backing element  30  or directly under the gel cushion. This filter  32  is arranged to polarize the light coming from the light source  20  before it penetrates the gel element  28 . The filter  32  is for example a rectilinear polarizing filter. The choice of the polarization depends on the architecture of the motor vehicle and the location where the trim panel of the invention is positioned in the vehicle. For a dashboard, the polarizing filter will for example be a horizontal polarizing filter for a display situated on the dashboard in order to decrease the light intensity that reflects on the windshield following an optical path in the vertical plane. For an trim panel positioned on a door panel, the filter will for example be an oblique polarizing filter. The polarization is defined according to the plane containing the optical path followed by the light ray from the display area to the driver&#39;s eye, via a reflection point on a window of the vehicle. 
     The light passing through the trim panel  10  is thus polarized such that the light oriented towards the windshield  1 , as shown by arrow F 6  in  FIG. 2 , is not substantially reflected by it. The pictogram is thus only visible to the driver  6  from the pictogram area  18 , as shown by arrow F 7  in  FIG. 2 . Thus the driver  6  is not bothered by the reflection of the pictogram in the windshield  1 , in particular at night. 
     The position of the polarizing filter  32  under the gel  28  makes it possible to preserve the flexible feel of the trim panel  10 , but another position of said filter under the flexible skin  12  could be considered. 
     To define the shape of the pictogram, a mask is provided arranged in the path of the light between the light source  20  and the pictogram area  18 , comprising openings allowing light to pass and areas blocking the passage of the light. This mask can be an independent element or be printed on one of the elements of the trim panel. According to one embodiment, the mask is printed on the polarizing filter  32 , which enables savings in the production of the trim panel  10 . 
     The trim panel  10  described above makes it possible to greatly reduce the glare of the pictogram on the windshield. The glare is for example reduced by 90%, the remaining 10% being caused by the depolarization of the light when it passes through the translucent skin  12 . However, such a reflection is not likely to bother the driver  6 . A backlit and anti-glare pictogram area is thus obtained. 
     Other alternatives of the invention can be considered. For instance, the light box  22  can be overmolded with a translucent foam, which makes it possible to do away with a gel element  28  in the opening  24 , the polarizing filter  32  being positioned between the light box  22  and the translucent foam. However, this translucent foam can cause an additional depolarization of the light coming from the light box  22 , which can reduce the performance of the trim panel  10  regarding the reflection of the light in the windshield.