Sensor Module For Being Mounted on a Panel Component of a Motor Vehicle and Panel Component Comprising Such a Sensor Module

Abstract

Sensor module for mounting on a motor vehicle panel component having a sensor housing, at least one environment sensor, at least part of which is disposed in the sensor housing, and which is configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to thus detect a vehicle environment, and a kinematic system having a drive configured to move the sensor housing from a retracted position into at least one deployed position. The kinematic system is configured to move the sensor housing into a first deployed position, which activates the at least one environment sensor to detect the vehicle environment in a portion of its field of view, and to move the sensor housing into a second deployed position, which activates the at least one environment sensor to detect the vehicle environment in its entire field of view.

Claims

1. A sensor module for being mounted on a panel component of a motor vehicle, the sensor module comprising: a sensor housing, at least one environment sensor, at least part of which is disposed in the sensor housing and which is configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to thus detect a vehicle environment, and a kinematic system having a drive configured to move the sensor housing from a retracted position into at least one deployed position, wherein the kinematic system is configured to move the sensor housing into a first deployed position, which activates the at least one environment sensor to detect the vehicle environment in a portion of its field of view, and to move the sensor housing into a second deployed position, which activates the at least one environment sensor to detect the vehicle environment in its entire field of view.

2. The sensor module according to claim 1, wherein the kinematic system is configured to also move the sensor housing into any intermediate position between the retracted position and a fully deployed position as a function of a predefined field of view of the at least environment sensor required in a given situation.

3. A sensor module for being mounted on a panel component of a motor vehicle, the sensor module comprising: a sensor housing, a first and a second environment sensor, at least part of each of which is disposed in the sensor housing and which are each configured to send and/or receive electro-magnetic signals to thus detect a vehicle environment, and a kinematic system having a drive configured to move the sensor housing from a retracted position into at least one deployed position, wherein the kinematic system is configured to move the sensor housing into a first deployed position, which activates the first environment sensor to detect the vehicle environment and in which the second environment sensor is preferably deactivated, and to move the sensor housing into a second deployed position, which activates the second environment sensor to detect the vehicle environment.

4. The sensor module according to claim 3, wherein the kinematic system comprises a controller which is configured to detect and/or adjust a current position of the sensor housing and to activate the first and/or the second environment sensor as a function of the current position.

5. The sensor module according to claim 1, wherein the kinematic system comprises a slide, and the drive is connected to the slide in a force-transmitting manner via a flexible shaft or a spindle nut drive.

6. The sensor module according to claim 5, wherein the drive is configured to move the slide back and forth along a guided, preferably linear, curved, circular and/or similarly shaped track by means of the flexible shaft or the spindle nut drive.

7. The sensor module according to claim 5, wherein a slot is provided in the slide, a sliding pin being supported in the slot in a translationally movable manner, the sliding pin being rigidly connected to the sensor housing and/or a spindle nut of the spindle nut drive.

8. The sensor module according to claim 5, wherein the slot comprises a ramp-shaped section , the drive being configured to move the slide in such a manner that the sliding pin slides along the ramp-shaped section, the sliding pin being able to move between a first stop of the slot, which fixes the sensor housing in the retracted position, and a second stop of the slot, which fixes the sensor housing in a fully deployed position.

9. The sensor module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor comprises a lidar sensor and/or a radar sensor and/or a camera sensor and/or a multi-camera sensor and/or an ultrasonic sensor and/or a light source.

10. A panel component of a motor vehicle, the panel component having at least one opening in which at least one sensor module according to claim 1 is disposed in a movable manner, the sensor housing comprising a cover configured in such a manner that it closes the at least one opening in a flush and preferably moisture-proof manner when the sensor housing is in the retracted position.

11. A panel component according to claim 10, wherein the panel component is a fender, a bumper or an external cladding component of a sunroof, a window, a door, a sliding roof, a top, a folding top, a hood, a front hood or a trunk lid.

12. A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module comprising a panel component according to claim 10, which at least partially forms a roof skin of the vehicle roof and serves as an outer visible surface of the roof module.

13. A motor vehicle comprising at least one panel component according to claim 10.

14. A motor vehicle comprising a roof frame structure and a roof module according to claim 12, which is installed on the roof frame structure as a structural unit.

15. The sensor module according to claim 3, wherein the kinematic system comprises a slide, and the drive is connected to the slide in a force-transmitting manner via a flexible shaft or a spindle nut drive.

16. The sensor module according to claim 3, wherein the at least one environment sensor comprises a lidar sensor and/or a radar sensor and/or a camera sensor and/or a multi-camera sensor and/or an ultrasonic sensor and/or a light source.

17. A panel component of a motor vehicle, the panel component having at least one opening in which at least one sensor module according to claim 3 is disposed in a movable manner, the sensor housing comprising a cover configured in such a manner that it closes the at least one opening in a flush and preferably moisture-proof manner when the sensor housing is in the retracted position.

18. A panel component according to claim 17, wherein the panel component is a fender, a bumper or an external cladding component of a sunroof, a window, a door, a sliding roof, a top, a folding top, a hood, a front hood or a trunk lid.

19. A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module comprising a panel component according to claim 17, which at least partially forms a roof skin of the vehicle roof and serves as an outer visible surface of the roof module.

20. A motor vehicle comprising at least one panel component according to claim 17.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle comprising multiple panel components and two sensor modules according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a detail view of a panel component comprising an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module according to the invention;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a panel component comprising an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module according to the invention in three positions;

[0050] FIG. 4 is a side view of a panel component comprising an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module according to the invention in three positions;

[0051] FIG. 5 is a side view of a panel component comprising an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module according to the invention in two positions;

[0052] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a panel component comprising an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module according to the invention in three positions;

[0053] FIG. 7 is a side view of a panel component comprising an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module according to the invention in three positions; and

[0054] FIG. 8 is a side view of a panel component comprising an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module according to the invention in three positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 1000 having a vehicle roof 100. Vehicle roof 100 is formed by a roof module 10 in the case at hand. Roof module 10 can be placed on a roof frame structure 102 of the motor vehicle body as a structural unit, which is indicated by dashed lines. Roof module 10 comprises a first panel component 12 for forming a roof skin 14 of vehicle roof 100. In a front middle roof portion of roof module 10 with respect to a vehicle length direction x, a first sensor module 16 is disposed in an opening of the first panel component 12 in a retractable and deployable manner. First sensor module 16 is disposed directly behind a front transverse rail 104, which defines a header of the roof of the vehicle. The front transverse rail, the rear transverse rail 104 and two side rails 106 together form roof frame structure 102.

[0056] First sensor module 16 comprises a first environment sensor 17, which is a multi-camera, for example, and a second environment sensor 18, which can be a lidar sensor, for example. Other sensors types, such as (multidirectional) cameras and/or ultrasonic sensors, can be employed. Furthermore, sensor module 16 comprises a sensor housing 19, in which both first environment sensor 17 and second environment sensor 18 are at least partially disposed. In the case at hand, environment sensors 17 and 18 are each fully disposed in the housing. However, sensor housing 19 can also be a partial housing or a housing portion. First and second environment sensors 17 and 18 are each configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to thus detect a vehicle environment of motor vehicle 1000 (e.g., for autonomous driving or parking).

[0057] In the case at hand, the motor vehicle body comprises other components besides roof frame structure 102, which are each covered by panel components, which form an outer skin of the motor vehicle. For example, the motor vehicle body comprises a fender 108, a fender of a rear wheel (not shown) being illustrated in the case at hand. Fender 108 is covered by an appropriately shaped second panel component 20, which defines an outer skin of fender 108. A second sensor module 22 is disposed in an opening of second panel component 20 in a retractable and deployable manner. First sensor module 16 and second sensor module 22 can be identical or technically different sensor modules (comprising other environment sensors 18, for example). Explanations made in relation to first sensor module 16 can equivalently relate to second sensor module 22. Explanations made in relation to second sensor module 22 can in turn equivalently relate to first sensor module 16. In the case at hand, first sensor module 16 differs from second sensor module 22 in that first sensor module 16 comprises first and second environment sensors 17 and 18, whereas second sensor module 22 comprises only one environment sensor. The environment sensor of second sensor module 22 is identical to second environment sensor 18 and therefore provided with the same reference sign. For simplification, first and second sensor modules 16 and 22 will also simply be referred to as sensor module 16, 22.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of a portion of a fender 108 which comprises an opening in which sensor module 16, 22 is disposed in a retractable and deployable manner. Sensor module 16, 22 further comprises a kinematic system 24, which has a drive 26, which is configured to move sensor housing 19 from a retracted position (see FIGS. 3(a), 4(a), 6(a), 7(a) and 8(a)) into at least one deployed position. Drive 26 is schematically indicated in FIG. 8 and can be an electric motor or an electric stepper motor. Other drives or types of drives (mechanical and/or pneumatic drives) are possible, as well.

[0059] Furthermore, sensor housing 19 comprises a cover 28, which forms a lid part of sensor housing 19, the lid part closing a respective opening in a respective panel component 12, 20 flushly with a respective panel component when sensor housing 19 is in the retracted position (see FIGS. 3(a), 4(a), 6(a), 7(a) and 8(a)). A cross section of cover 28 preferably corresponds to a cross section of the covered (flushly closed) opening of the respective panel component, tolerances considered. Furthermore, sensor housing 19 is supported on roof frame structure 102, for example, or another body structure in a rotatable manner via at least one guide lever 30 (see FIG. 8).

[0060] Sensor housing 19 comprises at least one see-through area 32, through which the at least one environment sensor 17, 18 can look in order to detect the vehicle environment. Respective see-through area 32 of the respective environment sensor 17, 18 is preferably transparent to wavelength ranges in which the respective environment sensor 17, 18 operates.

[0061] In the case of FIG. 3, sensor housing 19 comprises three see-through areas 32, 32′ and 32″ on a front housing portion 34. Two of the three see-through areas 32′, 32″ are positioned on sensor housing 19 or front housing portion 34 in such a manner relative to third see-through area 32 that they are closer to cover 28. First environment sensor 17 looks through the two see-through areas 32′ and 32″ in order to detect the vehicle environment. Second environment sensor 18 looks through third see-through area 32 in order to detect the vehicle environment.

[0062] According to a first exemplary embodiment, sensor module 16, 22 can comprise the at least one environment sensor 18, such as a lidar sensor, as described above. According to the first exemplary embodiment, sensor module 16, 22 may comprise only one see-through area 32, which is installed in front housing portion 34 in the manner of a window (see FIGS. 6 and 8). According to the first exemplary embodiment, sensor module 16, 22 is characterized in that the kinematic system 24 is configured to move sensor housing 19 into a first deployed position (see FIGS. 4(b), 5(a), 6(b), 7(b), 8(b)), which activates the at least one environment sensor 18 to detect the vehicle environment in a portion 35 of its field of view 36 (see FIG. 7(b)). Furthermore, kinematic system 24 is configured to move sensor housing 19 into a second deployed position, which activates the at least one environment sensor 18 to detect the vehicle environment in its entire field of view 36 (see FIG. 7(c)). Portion 35 of field of view 36 has a smaller cone opening angle than entire field of view 36. Thus, the environment sensor can detect only part of the vehicle environment. Other areas of the vehicle environment cannot be detected by the environment sensor. So in this exemplary embodiment (see FIGS. 6 and 7), environment sensor 18 can selectively detect the vehicle environment when in the first deployed position. In the first deployed position, sensor housing 19 is deployed in such a manner relative to panel component 12, 20 that only part of see-through area 32 protrudes over panel component 12, 20 (see FIG. 6(b)). In the second deployed position, sensor housing 19 is deployed in such a manner relative to panel component 12, 20 that entire see-through area 32 protrudes over panel component 12, 20 (see FIG. 6(c)).

[0063] According to a second exemplary embodiment, sensor module 16, 22 can comprise first and second environment sensors 17 and 18 as described above. First environment sensor 17 can comprise two ultrasonic sensors, for example. Second environment sensor 18 can comprise a lidar sensor, for example. According to the first exemplary embodiment, sensor module 16, 22 can comprise the three see-through areas 32, 32′, 32″, which are each installed in front housing portion 34 in the manner of windows at a distance from each other (see FIG. 3). According to the second exemplary embodiment, sensor module 16, 22 is characterized in that kinematic system 24 is configured to move sensor housing 19 into a first deployed position (see FIGS. 3(b) and 5(a)), which activates first environment sensor 17 to detect the vehicle environment and in which second environment sensor 18 is preferably deactivated, and to move sensor housing 19 into a second deployed position (see FIGS. 3(c) and 5(b)), which activates second environment sensor 18 to also detect the vehicle environment. As can be seen in FIG. 5(b), field of view 36 of first environment sensor 17 overlaps with field of view 36 of second environment sensor 18 in the second deployed position. The second deployed position preferably corresponds to a fully deployed position (see FIG. 5(b)). In the case at hand, environment sensor 17 has a field of view 36 with a smaller cone opening angle compared to second environment sensor 18 (see FIG. 5(b)). So in the first deployed position, only first environment sensor 17 is activated. In the second deployed position, on the other hand, second environment sensor 18 is activated, as well. Thus, a selective activation of environment sensors 17 and 18 is possible.

[0064] For moving sensor housing 19, kinematic system 24 has a controller 38, which is configured to detect a current position of sensor housing 19, for example. Controller 38 can preferably be configured to activate first and/or second environment sensor 17, 18 as a function of the respective position (see schematically in FIG. 8(b)).

[0065] With reference to FIG. 8, kinematic system 24 comprises a slide 40 according to any exemplary embodiment according to the invention. Drive 26 can preferably comprise a drive pinion (not shown). The drive pinion or drive 26 can be connected to slide 40 in a force-transmitting manner via a spindle nut drive 42. Alternatively, a flexible shaft (not shown) can be disposed on the drive pinion. Drive 26 is configured to move slide 40 back and forth along an essentially linear track by means of spindle nut drive 42.

[0066] A slot 44 is provided in slide 40, a sliding pin 46 being supported in slot 44 in a translationally movable manner. Sliding pin 46 can be disposed on sensor housing 19 in a rigid (translationally immobile) manner. Slide 40 can be disposed on a spindle nut 48 of spindle nut drive 42 in a rigid (translationally immobile) manner. Spindle nut drive 42 further comprises a spindle 50, which can rotate relative to spindle nut 48, allowing drive 26 to move spindle nut 48 and slide 40 with it back and forth on spindle 50.

[0067] Slot 44 comprises a ramp-shaped section (see FIG. 8), drive 26 being configured to move slide 40 in such a manner that sliding pin 46 slides along the ramp-shaped section. Slide 40 is configured in such a manner that sliding pin 46 can preferably slide between a first stop position, which fixes sensor housing 19, i.e., environment sensor 17, 18, in the retracted position (see FIG. 8(a)), and a second stop position (see FIG. 8(c)), which fixes sensor housing 19, i.e., environment sensor 17, 18, in the second deployed position. When sensor housing 19, i.e., environment sensor 17, 18, is in the first deployed position, on the other hand, sliding pin 46 is disposed in a middle area of ramp-shaped slot 44 (see FIG. 8(b)). The movement of spindle nut 48 along spindle 50, which is driven by drive 26, causes the slide to translationally move along a drive axis 52. Since sliding pin 46 is fixed to sensor housing 19 and sensor housing 19 is connected to, for example, roof frame structure 102 or another body structure via guide lever 30 in a rotatable but stationary manner, a relative movement of slide 40 along drive axis 52 causes sliding pin 46 to move along slot 44. This causes sensor housing 19 to rotate about its axis of rotation 54, which is determined by a bearing point of guide lever 30 an roof frame structure 102 or another body structure. Consequently, sensor housing 19 (see FIG. 8(a)) moves.