Roof module for forming a vehicle roof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237694-A1
Application number	US-202117150647-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 15, 2021
Priority date	Feb 3, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A roof module for realizing a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module having a panel component whose outer surface forms at least a portion of the roof skin of the vehicle roof, the roof module having at least one environmental sensor which can send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to detect the vehicle environment. The environmental sensor is mounted on the roof module in such a manner that it can be displaced between an inoperative position and an operative position, the environmental sensor being displaceable between the inoperative position and the operative position by a drive mechanism.

First claim

1 . A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module comprising:
a panel component whose outer surface forms at least a portion of the roof skin of the vehicle roof, the roof module comprising at least one environmental sensor which can send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to detect the vehicle environment, wherein the environmental sensor is mounted on the roof module in such a manner that it can be displaced between an inoperative position and an operative position, the environmental sensor being displaceable between the inoperative position and the operative position by a drive mechanism.

2 . The roof module according to claim 1 , wherein the roof module comprises at least one sensor housing in which the environmental sensor is disposed, the sensor housing having a recess which accommodates the environmental sensor in the inoperative position.

3 . The roof module according to claim 2 , wherein the recess can be closed by a lid mounted in a displaceable manner when the environmental sensor is in the inoperative position, the environmental sensor being moved out of the recess when in the operative position.

4 . The roof module according to claim 3 , wherein the sensor housing is disposed underneath the roof skin, the lid, which is closed when the environmental sensor is in the inoperative position, forming a portion of the roof skin.

5 . The roof module according to claim 4 , wherein the lid is mounted to pivot on the roof module, the pivot axis extending in the plane of the roof skin.

6 . The roof module according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is a pivot drive.

7 . The roof module according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is a lifting drive.

8 . The roof module according to claim 1 , wherein a wiper element by which a portion of the outer surface of the environmental sensor can be wiped, is disposed in the sensor housing.

9 . The roof module according to claim 8 , wherein the wiper element is fixed in the sensor housing, the wiper element being in contact with the portion to be wiped of the outer surface of the environmental sensor.

10 . The roof module according to claim 1 , wherein a heating means and/or a cooling means by which the environmental sensor can be heated and/or cooled is provided in the sensor housing.

11 . The roof module according to claim 1 wherein the environmental sensor is at least one of a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, a camera sensor, and a multi-camera sensor.

12 . The roof module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one cleaning nozzle which can discharge a cleaning fluid for cleaning the environmental sensor is disposed in the sensor housing.

13 . The roof module according to claim 11 , wherein a drain through which the cleaning fluid can be discharged from the sensor housing is provided in the sensor housing.

14 . A method for operating a roof module according to claim 12 , wherein the cleaning fluid is discharged to clean the environmental sensor when the environmental sensor is in the inoperative position and the lid above the recess of the sensor housing is closed.

15 . A motor vehicle comprising a roof module according to claim 1 .

16 . The roof module according to claim 7 , wherein the lifting drive is a scissor lifting drive.

Assignees

• Webasto SE

Inventors

• Hirschvogel Engelbert
• Huber Max

Classifications

• B62D25/06

  Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) · CPC title

• B60R2011/008

  Adjustable or movable supports · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R11/00 Primary

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60S1/566 Primary

  including wiping devices (B60S1/563, B60S1/583 take precedence) · CPC title