Abstract
A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle. The roof module may have a panel component which at least partially forms a roof skin of the vehicle roof, the roof skin serving as an outer sealing surface of the roof module; at least one environment sensor configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals through a see-through area for detecting a vehicle environment; and at least one cleaning nozzle configured to clean the see-through area. At least one flow guide element is disposed on the panel component, the flow guide element being configured to focus headwind onto at least part of the see-through area.
Claims
1. A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module comprising: a panel component which at least partially forms a roof skin of the vehicle roof, the roof skin serving as an outer sealing surface of the roof module; at least one environment sensor configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals through a see-through area for detecting a vehicle environment; and at least one cleaning nozzle configured to clean the see-through area, wherein at least one flow guide element is disposed on the panel component, the flow guide element being configured to focus headwind onto at least part of the see-through area.
2. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor is disposed in a preferably central front area of the roof skin with respect to the driving direction, and a line of sight of the environment sensor is oriented in the driving direction, the at least one cleaning nozzle is disposed in front of the see-through area toward the front with respect to the line of sight of the environment sensor, and the at least one flow guide element is disposed in front of the at least one cleaning nozzle toward the front with respect to the line of sight of the environment sensor.
3. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor is disposed in a preferably central rear area of the roof skin with respect to a driving direction, and a line of sight of the environment sensor is oriented opposite to the driving direction, the at least one cleaning nozzle is disposed in front of the see-through area toward the rear with respect to the line of sight of the environment sensor, and the at least one flow guide element is disposed behind the at least one environment sensor toward the rear with respect to the line of sight of the environment sensor.
4. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor is disposed in a rear corner area of the roof skin with respect to a driving direction, and a line of sight of the environment sensor is oriented opposite and at an angle to the driving direction, the at least one cleaning nozzle is disposed in the rear corner area in front of the see-through area toward the rear with respect to the line of sight of the environment sensor, and the at least one flow guide element is disposed in front of the at least one environment sensor in a lateral area of the roof skin with respect to the driving direction.
5. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor is disposed in a lateral area of the roof skin with respect to a driving direction, and a line of sight of the environment sensor is oriented perpendicular to the driving direction, the at least one cleaning nozzle is disposed laterally in front of the see-through area with respect to the line of sight of the environment sensor in the lateral area, and the at least one flow guide element is disposed in front of the at least one environment sensor on a lateral area of the roof skin with respect to the driving direction.
6. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow guide element is disposed on the roof skin in a fixed manner relative to the roof skin or is formed by the roof skin.
7. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow guide element is adjustable between a retracted position and at least one deployed position by an adjustment drive.
8. The roof module according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cleaning nozzle is configured to activate the adjustment drive.
9. The roof module according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment drive comprises at least one of a hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical drive.
10. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning nozzle is integrated in the at least one flow guide element.
11. The roof module according to claim 10, wherein at least part of a housing of the at least one cleaning nozzle serves as the at least one flow guide element.
12. The roof module according to claim 10, wherein the at least one cleaning nozzle is adjustable between a retracted position and at least one deployed position.
13. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning nozzle is disposed outside of a field of view of the environment sensor.
14. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor is a lidar sensor and/or a radar sensor and/or a camera sensor and/or a multi-camera sensor.
15. A motor vehicle comprising a roof module according to claim 1.
Description
[0032] An embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated in the drawing and will be discussed as an example below.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle roof having a roof module according to the invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a first illustrative example of the roof module according to the invention, which has a cleaning nozzle integrated in a flow guide element in a front area of the roof module;
[0035] FIG. 3 shows a second illustrative example of the roof module according to the invention, which has a retractable and deployable flow guide element and a cleaning nozzle in a front area of the roof module;
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a third illustrative example of the roof module according to the invention, which has a retractable and deployable cleaning nozzle integrated in a flow guide element and including an adjustment mechanism in a front area of the roof module;
[0037] FIG. 5 shows a fourth illustrative example of the roof module according to the invention, which has two cleaning nozzles disposed laterally in relation to a see-through area in a front area of the roof module; and
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a comparison between cleaning with a flow guide element and cleaning without a flow guide element.
[0039] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle roof 100 of a vehicle (not shown in full), which comprises a roof module 10. Roof module 10 is preferably inserted into a roof frame 104 of the vehicle as a structural unit or placed on at least two transverse rails 102 and at least two longitudinal rails 106 of the vehicle body, which form roof frame 104. In the illustrative example shown, roof module 10 has a panoramic roof 108.
[0040] Roof module 10 comprises a panel component 12 for forming a roof skin 14 of vehicle roof 100. In a front area of vehicle roof 100 or roof module 10 (in a longitudinal vehicle direction x, which corresponds to a driving direction of the motor vehicle), an environment sensor 16 is disposed symmetrically to the longitudinal vehicle axis. Environment sensor 16 is disposed directly behind a front transverse rail 102, which defines a roof header adjacent to a windshield (not shown) of the vehicle. Environment sensor 16 can be retractable and deployable or be fixed to panel component 12. In the case at hand, environment sensor 16 is disposed inside roof module 10 and covered by panel component 12. Environment sensor 16 is disposed in a sensor housing 18, which forms a dry section, in which environment sensor 16 is disposed in a moisture-proof manner. In the case at hand, environment sensor 16 is a lidar sensor. However, other sensor types, such as (multi-directional) cameras, which are used for (semi-)autonomous driving, can be employed, as well.
[0041] Roof module 10 comprises a see-through area 20, which can be made of a preferably shatter-proof plastic, glass, or another (partially) transparent material, for example. Environment sensor 16 is oriented along an optical axis 22, which is parallel to longitudinal vehicle direction x in the case of FIG. 1. A field of view 23 of environment sensor 16, in which environment sensor 16 can send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to thus detect a vehicle environment, extends conically around the optical axis. In the case at hand, see-through area 20 is disposed in panel component 12 and embedded therein in the manner of a window, for example. In the case at hand, see-through area 20 is curved and follows a shape of the surrounding panel component, resulting in a flush contour.
[0042] Roof module 10 further comprises at least one cleaning nozzle 24, by means of which see-through area 20 can be cleaned. In FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, roof module 10 is shown with two cleaning nozzles 24, each of which is supplied with a cleaning fluid (such as a liquid or a gas) through a supply channel (not shown). The two cleaning nozzles 24 are disposed in front of see-through area 20 outside of conical field of view 23 to the right and to the left of environment sensor 16 with respect to a line of sight of environment sensor 16 and are preferably positioned at an angle relative to each other so that see-through area 20 can be cleaned from two different directions. The cleaning fluid can be soap water, for example. Alternatively, cleaning with pressurized air or another pressurized gas is conceivable, as well. When the cleaning fluid exits cleaning nozzles 24, respective fluid cones 26 are produced, which strike see-through area 20 and clean it (see FIG. 5). Fluid cones 26 can preferably at least partially overlap in an area of overlap of see-through area 20 (see FIG. 5).
[0043] According to the invention, roof module 10 has at least one flow guide element 27, which is fixed to panel component 12 (see FIG. 2), retractable and deployable (see FIGS. 3 and 4), or formed integrally by panel component 12. Flow guide element 27 allows headwind W to be focused onto at least part of see-through area 20 so that fluid cone 26 of respective cleaning nozzle 24 is captured by headwind W and accelerated or carried toward see-through area 20. So a deflected flow 25 of headwind W directly onto the see-through area is caused, which is essentially impacted by a flow contour of flow guide element 27. Flow guide element 27 can basically have any geometric design. For instance, flow guide element 27 can have an oblong wedge shape (see FIGS. 1 to 5 in partially different views of the wedge), can have a curved wedge shape, or can be shaped as a curved outer contour of a lateral area of roof module 10. For at least partially channeling the headwind, flow guide element 27 can also comprise a channel portion 29, as indicated in FIG. 2, which at least partially penetrates flow guide element 27 (e.g., in the form of a passage hole). Channel portion 29 can conically taper so as to accelerate the headwind toward the see-through area in the manner of a nozzle.
[0044] Cleaning nozzle 24 can be integrated in flow guide element 27, in which case flow guide element 27 forms a housing 28 of cleaning nozzle 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). Housing 28, i.e., flow guide element 27, can be fixed to panel component 12 together with integrated, e.g., inserted, cleaning nozzle 24, as seen in FIG. 2. Cleaning nozzle 24 can basically also be spaced apart from flow guide element 27 and be disposed in its own housing 28 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Alternatively or additionally, one of flow guide elements 27 can, for example, also be mounted on frame structure 110 and be mounted thereon in an adjustable or movable manner so that flow guide element 27 can be moved between a refracted position and at least one deployed position (see both positions in FIG. 4) together with the at least one cleaning nozzle 24. The flow guide element 27 can also be retractable and deployable without an integrated cleaning nozzle 24, as seen in FIG. 3. According to FIG. 4, flow guide element 27 can be rotated between the retracted position and the deployed position about an axis of rotation 30 together with cleaning nozzle 24.
[0045] The movability between the retracted position and the deployed position is provided by an adjustment drive 34. An exemplary adjustment drive 34 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. Adjustment drive 34 enables flow guide element 27 to be adjusted in such a manner that at least one lid part 36 of flow guide element 27 or a lid part 36 of housing 28 (if cleaning nozzle 24 is integrated in flow guide element 27) is flush with the outer surface of roof skin 14 of the vehicle roof when the at least one cleaning nozzle 24 is in the retracted position (see respective positions in FIGS. 3 and 4). When the at least one flow guide element 27 is in the retracted position on the other hand, flow guide element 27 at least partially protrudes over the outer surface of roof skin 14 of vehicle roof 100, the flow guide element thus acting as a (head) wind spoiler when in the deployed state, said spoiler focusing headwind W directly onto see-through area 20. By focusing headwind W, a more effective cleaning of see-through area 20 is possible. Flow guide element 27 focuses deflected flow 25 onto the see-through area in such a manner that it is preferably at least partially oriented parallel to a striking direction of the cleaning fluid.
[0046] In the case shown in FIG. 4, adjustment drive 34 comprises a pneumatic drive 38, which can be a pressure control valve, for example. Furthermore, flow guide element 27 is biased into one of the positions (i.e., either into the retracted position or into the deployed position) by a bias spring 40 with the result that drive 38 has to generate a counterforce against bias spring 40. Flow guide element 27 will be returned to the biased original position without drive 38 by the restoring force of bias spring 40. Other types of drives are basically conceivable, as well, and can be advantageous depending on the configuration of roof module 10.
[0047] In summary, FIG. 2 shows flow guide element 27 with integrated cleaning nozzle 24 in a fixed situation on panel component 12. Environment sensor 16 is disposed under roof skin 14 behind front transverse rail 102 with respect to driving direction x. Flow guide element 27 is disposed in front of environment sensor 16 toward the front with respect to the line of sight of environment sensor 16.
[0048] FIG. 3 shows flow guide element 27 in a retractable and deployable configuration. Cleaning nozzle 24 is spaced apart from flow guide element 27. Environment sensor 16 is disposed under roof skin 14 behind front transverse rail 102 with respect to driving direction x. Cleaning nozzle 24 is disposed in front of environment sensor 16 toward the front with respect to the line of sight of environment sensor 16. Flow guide element 27 is disposed in front of cleaning nozzle 24 with respect to the line of sight of the environment sensor 16.
[0049] FIG. 4 shows flow guide element 27 with integrated cleaning nozzle 24 in a retractable and deployable configuration on panel component 12. Environment sensor 16 is disposed under roof skin 14 behind front transverse rail 102 with respect to driving direction x. Flow guide element 27, together with cleaning nozzle 24, is disposed in front of environment sensor 16 toward the front with respect to the line of sight of environment sensor 16.
[0050] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the front area of roof module 10 from above. With respect to the line of sight of environment sensor 16, respective cleaning nozzles 24 are disposed on the left and on the right in front of see-through area 20 toward the front. Flow guide element 27 is disposed forward of cleaning nozzles 24 with respect to the line of sight of environment sensor 16.
[0051] FIG. 6 shows a comparison between cleaning by means of a cleaning nozzle 24 using a flow guide element 27 and cleaning without a flow guide element 27 in a top view from above. Environment sensor 16 is disposed in a front area of roof module 10. An ideal fluid cone 26 of first cleaning nozzle 24 (on the left in the Figure) is indicated by solid lines. An ideal fluid cone 26 of second cleaning nozzle 24′ (on the right in the Figure) is also indicated by solid lines. Said fluid cones 26 correspond to fluid cones produced if see-through area 20 is cleaned without wind, i.e., without the effect of headwind W. A densely dashed line indicates a fluid cone 26′ disturbed by headwind W as a comparison for first cleaning nozzle 24. As can be seen, disturbed fluid cone 26′ strikes only a portion of the see-through area compared to ideal fluid cone 26 with the result that the cleaning effect of first cleaning nozzle 24 decreases. On the left-hand side, flow guide element 27 is disposed on the other hand. Flow guide element 27 focuses the headwind onto at least part of see-through area 20 with the result that see-through area 20 is essentially free from wind. As a result, the impact of flow guide element 27 directs a fluid cone 26″ (shown as a dashed and dotted line) at see-through area 20 in such a manner compared to its ideal state that flow guide element 27 can bring the cleaning effect closer to a wind-free ideal case. According to FIG. 6, flow guide element 27 can also be adjustable so that its orientation can be adapted depending on the incoming direction of the headwind and/or potentially added side wind. To this end, flow guide element 27 can be adjustable relative to a bearing point by means of a retaining spring 42 or the like, for example. Such a retaining spring 42 is indicated in FIG. 6 in a stylized manner.
REFERENCE SIGNS
[0052] 10 roof module [0053] 12 panel component [0054] 14 roof skin [0055] 16 environment sensor [0056] 18 sensor housing [0057] 20 see-through area [0058] 22 optical axis [0059] 23 field of view [0060] 24 cleaning nozzle [0061] 25 deflected flow [0062] 26 fluid cone [0063] 27 flow guide element [0064] 28 housing of the cleaning nozzle [0065] 29 channel portion [0066] 30 axis of rotation [0067] 34 adjustment drive [0068] 36 lid part [0069] 38 drive [0070] 40 bias spring [0071] 42 retaining spring [0072] 100 vehicle roof [0073] 102 transverse rail [0074] 104 roof frame [0075] 106 longitudinal rail [0076] 108 panoramic roof [0077] 110 frame structure [0078] W headwind [0079] x longitudinal vehicle direction, driving direction [0080] y vehicle width direction
