Roof device for vehicle and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11724580-B2
Application number	US-202217688033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2022
Priority date	Nov 5, 2021
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A roof device for a vehicle includes: a plurality of plate members and a frame coupled to a vehicle body and configured to support the plurality of plate member, where at least a portion of the frame is configured to rotate around its edge, and at least one of the plurality of plate members is configured to slide along an inner edge of the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A roof device for a vehicle, the roof device comprising:
a plurality of plate members; and
a frame coupled to a vehicle body and configured to support the plurality of plate members,
wherein at least a portion of the frame is configured to rotate around its edge, and at least one of the plurality of plate members is configured to slide along an inner edge of the frame.

2. The roof device of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a plurality of supporting members, and
wherein each of the supporting members is configured to support a different group of the plate members in a state in which the roof device is closed, and at least one of the plurality of supporting members is configured to rotate around its edge.

3. The roof device of claim 2 , wherein:
the plurality of plate members include a first plate member, a second plate member, a third plate member, and a fourth plate member, and
the plurality of supporting members include a first supporting member configured to support the first plate member, a second supporting member configured to support the second plate member and the third plate member, and a third supporting member configured to support the fourth plate member, in a state in which the roof device is closed.

4. The roof device of claim 3 , wherein the first supporting member is disposed on one side of the second supporting member and the third supporting member is disposed on an opposite side of the second supporting member, in a state in which the roof device is closed.

5. The roof device of claim 4 , wherein:
the first plate member and the second plate member are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a height direction of the vehicle body, and
the third plate member and the fourth plate member are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the height direction of the vehicle body.

6. The roof device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit power of a first motor to at least one of the plurality of plate members such that the at least one plate member slides along the inner edge of the frame.

7. The roof device of claim 6 , wherein the power transmission mechanism includes a driving gear configured to be rotated by the first motor and a rail gear coupled to the at least one of the plurality of plate members and engaged with the driving gear.

8. The roof device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second motor configured to let at least a portion of the frame rotate on its edge.

9. The roof device of claim 4 , wherein:
the first supporting member is configured to rotate on its edge in a width direction of the vehicle body, and
the third supporting member is configured to rotate on its edge parallel in a width direction of the vehicle body.

10. The roof device of claim 9 , wherein each of the first supporting member and the third supporting member is configured to rotate around its edge on the opposite side of the second supporting member.

11. The roof device of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sealing member mounted on the frame.

12. A control method of a roof device for a vehicle including a control unit for controlling a first motor configured to supply power to a power transmission mechanism such that at least one of a plurality of plate members slides on supporting members, and control a second motor configured to supply its power to at least one of the supporting members to rotate the at least one of the supporting members around its edge, the control method comprising:
receiving, by the control unit, a speed of the vehicle from a wheel speed sensor;
determining, by the control unit, whether the vehicle is driving; and
controlling, by the control unit, a rotation amount of each of the first motor and the second motor, to control an opening state of the roof device.

13. The control method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving, by the control unit, information on a rotation angle of a supporting member input by an occupant of the vehicle and information on a sliding distance of the at least one of the plurality of plate members from an input unit of the vehicle, when it is determined that the vehicle is not driving; and
controlling, by the control unit, the rotation amount of each of the first motor and the second motor according to the information on the rotation angle of the at least one of the plurality of supporting members and the sliding distance of the at least one of the plurality of plate members.

14. The control method of claim 12 , wherein controlling the rotation amount of each of the first motor and the second motor includes:
determining, by the control unit, whether the occupant of the vehicle is at risk based on a speed value of the vehicle; and
controlling, by the control unit, the first motor and the second motor to close the roof of the vehicle, when it is determined that the occupant is at risk.

15. The control method of claim 14 , wherein controlling the rotation amount of each of the first motor and the second motor includes:
determining whether the vehicle is driving at a high speed based on the speed value of the vehicle when it is determined that the occupant is not at risk;
controlling, by the control unit, the rotation amount of each of the first motor and the second motor so that the change in the rotation amount of the first motor with respect to the change in the speed of the vehicle, and the change in the rotation amount of the second motor with respect to the change in the speed of the vehicle have a value less than or equal to 0, when it is determined that the vehicle is not driving at a high speed; and
controlling, by the control unit, the second motor so that the rotation amount of the second motor is a minimum rotation amount, when it is determined that the vehicle is driving at a high speed.

16. The control method of claim 12 , further comprising:
controlling, by the control unit, a display unit of the vehicle to inform the occupant that an opening amount of the roof device is limited, when it is determined that the vehicle is driving.

17. The control method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving, by the control unit, an automatic control driving signal of the roof device input by an occupant of the vehicle from an input unit,
wherein the control method of the roof device is performed, after receiving the driving signal.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Jo Ho Ssang

Classifications

• B60J7/02 Primary

  of sliding type {, e.g. comprising guide shoes} · CPC title

• B60J7/04

  with rigid plate-like element or elements {, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels (B60J7/061 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60J7/043

  Sunroofs (B60J7/047 - B60J7/053 take precedence){e.g. sliding above the roof} · CPC title

• B60J7/047 Primary

  movable to overlapping or nested relationship {(B60J7/041 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60J7/0573

  power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical · CPC title