A drive device for a roof component of a vehicle, such as, for instance, a sliding roof and a solar protection roller blind, may have an electric motor which for activating the roof component interacts with a gearbox. The electric motor here is an external rotor electric motor of a flat construction mode which is aligned so as to be parallel to the installation height of the drive device in a vehicle roof and which has a wheel-shaped external rotor which by way of a toothing provided on the external circumference of the latter engages with the gearbox.

A drive device for a roof component of a vehicle, such as, for instance, a sliding roof and a solar protection roller blind, may have an electric motor which for activating the roof component interacts with a gearbox. The electric motor here is an external rotor electric motor of a flat construction mode which is aligned so as to be parallel to the installation height of the drive device in a vehicle roof and which has a wheel-shaped external rotor which by way of a toothing provided on the external circumference of the latter engages with the gearbox.

An open roof construction for a vehicle comprises a panel for opening and closing an opening in the fixed roof of the vehicle by means of at least one lever assembly connected to the panel. A stationary frame is fitted in the opening of the fixed roof. A drive motor is placed in the vicinity of the rear edge of the opening and in the vicinity of a longitudinal center line of the opening. The drive motor comprises an output shaft having a center axis which is perpendicular to a center axis of a rotor shaft of the drive motor. The drive motor is connected to a motor support which is attached to the frame by means of vibration dampers. The motor support supports a separate gearbox which is capable of transferring the driving torque from the drive motor to the at least one lever assembly connected to the panel.

An open roof construction for a vehicle comprises a panel for opening and closing an opening in the fixed roof of the vehicle by means of at least one lever assembly connected to the panel. A stationary frame is fitted in the opening of the fixed roof. A drive motor is placed in the vicinity of the rear edge of the opening and in the vicinity of a longitudinal center line of the opening. The drive motor comprises an output shaft having a center axis which is perpendicular to a center axis of a rotor shaft of the drive motor. The drive motor is connected to a motor support which is attached to the frame by means of vibration dampers. The motor support supports a separate gearbox which is capable of transferring the driving torque from the drive motor to the at least one lever assembly connected to the panel.

An actuation system and method of operation for moving a closure panel in one of a normal drive state and a back drive state are provided. The actuation system includes a mechanical coupling for moving the closure panel. A motor with a shaft is directly and operably connected to the mechanical coupling to directly move the mechanical coupling. A sensor detects movement of the closure panel and couples to a controller connected to the motor. The controller moves the closure panel with the motor based on a detected motor movement command in the normal drive mode. The controller also detects movement of the closure panel using the at least one sensor and selectively brakes the movement of the closure panel based on the movement detected in the back drive state.

An actuation system and method of operation for moving a closure panel in one of a normal drive state and a back drive state are provided. The actuation system includes a mechanical coupling for moving the closure panel. A motor with a shaft is directly and operably connected to the mechanical coupling to directly move the mechanical coupling. A sensor detects movement of the closure panel and couples to a controller connected to the motor. The controller moves the closure panel with the motor based on a detected motor movement command in the normal drive mode. The controller also detects movement of the closure panel using the at least one sensor and selectively brakes the movement of the closure panel based on the movement detected in the back drive state.

The present invention provides a drive unit and a method for attaching the same with which it is possible to improve the ease of attaching the drive unit to an attachment object. A limiting member is configured so as to limit the rotation of a drum when a lock member has fixed a pulley in a first position, and to allow rotation of the drum when a coil spring has caused the pulley to move to a second position. This makes it possible to prevent rotation of the drum in the state (vehicle mounting preparation state) before attaching the drive unit to a vehicle body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a pair of cables from loosening inside a drum housing and catching on other constituent components. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the ease of attaching the drive unit to a vehicle body.

The present invention provides a drive unit and a method for attaching the same with which it is possible to improve the ease of attaching the drive unit to an attachment object. A limiting member is configured so as to limit the rotation of a drum when a lock member has fixed a pulley in a first position, and to allow rotation of the drum when a coil spring has caused the pulley to move to a second position. This makes it possible to prevent rotation of the drum in the state (vehicle mounting preparation state) before attaching the drive unit to a vehicle body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a pair of cables from loosening inside a drum housing and catching on other constituent components. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the ease of attaching the drive unit to a vehicle body.

A tandem drive device for at least one adjustable vehicle part, in particular for a sliding roof system, preferably comprising at least two sliding roof elements such as, for example, a glass roof and a roller shutter, wherein the tandem drive device includes at least a first drive system having a first gear mechanism and a first drive motor, and a second drive system having a second gear mechanism and a second drive motor, as well as a common control circuit for the first drive motor and the second drive motor, wherein the first gear mechanism and the second gear mechanism as well as the control circuit are accommodated in a common housing.

A tandem drive device for at least one adjustable vehicle part, in particular for a sliding roof system, preferably comprising at least two sliding roof elements such as, for example, a glass roof and a roller shutter, wherein the tandem drive device includes at least a first drive system having a first gear mechanism and a first drive motor, and a second drive system having a second gear mechanism and a second drive motor, as well as a common control circuit for the first drive motor and the second drive motor, wherein the first gear mechanism and the second gear mechanism as well as the control circuit are accommodated in a common housing.