Sensor Module for Being Attached to a Panel Component of a Motor Vehicle and Panel Component Comprising Such a Sensor Module

Abstract

A sensor module for being attached to a panel component of a motor vehicle, the sensor module may have a sensor housing, at least one environment sensor disposed at least partially in the sensor housing and configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to thus detect a vehicle environment, and an adjustment kinematics system having a drive configured to move the environment sensor from a retracted position into at least one deployed position. A cover is disposed on the sensor housing in an adjustable manner, and the drive is configured to move the cover from a covering position into at least one open position.

Claims

1. A sensor module for attachment to a panel component of a motor vehicle, the sensor module comprising: a sensor housing, at least one environment sensor disposed at least partially in the sensor housing and configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to thus detect a vehicle environment, and an adjustment kinematics system having a drive configured to move the environment sensor from a retracted position into at least one deployed position, wherein a cover is disposed on the sensor housing in an adjustable manner and that the drive is configured to move the cover from a covering position into at least one open position.

2. The sensor module according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment kinematics system has a single drive, which is configured to move the at least one environment sensor and the cover through a common motion sequence.

3. The sensor module according to claim 1, wherein the drive is configured to translationally move the environment sensor from the retracted position into the at least one deployed position.

4. The sensor module according to claim 1, wherein the drive is configured to rotationally move the cover from the covering position into the at least one open position.

5. The sensor module according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment kinematics 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 an essentially linear track by 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 rigidly connected to the sensor housing and/or a spindle nut of the spindle nut drive being supported in the slot in a translationally mobile manner.

8. The sensor module according to claim 5, wherein the slot comprises at least one first slot section and a second slot section, which is inclined relative to the first slot section, the drive being configured to move the slide in such a manner that the sliding pin slides in the second slot section, which allows the cover to be moved from the covering position into the at least one open position, and to move the slide in such a manner that the sliding pin slides in the first slot section, which allows the environment sensor to be moved from the retracted position into the at least one 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 ultrasound sensor.

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 an adjustable manner, the cover being configured in such a manner that it covers the at least one opening in a flush and preferably moisture-proof manner when the environment sensor is in the retracted position and the cover is in the covering position.

11. The panel component according to claim 10, wherein the sensor housing comprises a housing portion having a see-through area through which the environment sensor looks in order to detect the vehicle environment and that the housing portion is configured in such a manner that it covers the at least one opening in a flush and preferably moisture-proof manner when the environment sensor is in the deployed position and the cover is in the open position.

12. The panel component according to claim 10, wherein the panel component is a fender, a bumper, or an exterior paneling 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.

13. 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 exterior sealing surface of the roof module.

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

15. A motor vehicle comprising a roof frame structure and a roof module according to claim 13, which is configured to be mounted on the roof frame structure as a structural unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle having multiple panel components and at least one sensor module according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 is a detail view of a panel component with an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a first position;

[0038] FIG. 3 is a detail view of a panel component with an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a second position;

[0039] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a panel component with an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a plan view;

[0040] FIG. 5 is a detail view of a panel component with an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a plan view;

[0041] FIG. 6 is a detail view of a panel component with an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a side view;

[0042] FIG. 7 is a detail view of a panel component with an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a side view;

[0043] FIG. 8 is a detail view of a panel component with an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a first position;

[0044] FIG. 9 is a detail view of a panel component with an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a second position;

[0045] FIG. 10 is a detail view of an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a first perspective view;

[0046] FIG. 11 is a detail view of an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a second perspective view;

[0047] FIG. 12 is a detail view of an illustrative example of a sensor module according to the invention in a third perspective view;

[0048] FIG. 13 are multiple views (a) to (d) for tracking a motion sequence executed by the sensor module when moved by means of a flexible shaft drive; and

[0049] FIG. 14 are multiple views (a) to (c) for tracking a motion sequence executed by the sensor module when moved by means of a spindle nut drive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] 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. A first sensor module 16 is disposed in a retractable and deployable manner in an opening of first panel component 12 in a front center roof area of roof module 10 with respect to a longitudinal vehicle direction x. 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 forms roof frame structure 102 together with rear transverse rail 104 and two side rails 106.

[0051] First sensor module 16 comprises an environment sensor 18, which can be a lidar sensor, for example. Other sensor types, such as (multi-directional) cameras and/or ultrasound sensors can be employed, as well. Furthermore, sensor module 16 comprises a sensor housing 19, in which environment sensor 18 is at least partially disposed. Sensor housing 19 can be a partial housing or a housing portion. Environment sensor 18 is configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to thus detect a vehicle environment of motor vehicle 1000 (e.g., for autonomous driving or for parking).

[0052] In addition to roof frame structure 102, the motor vehicle body comprises other components which are each covered by panel components, which form a respective roof 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 a retractable and deployable manner in an opening of second panel component 20. First sensor module 16 and second sensor module 22 can be equivalent or technically different sensor modules (e.g., with different environment sensors 18). Explanations relating to first sensor module 16 equivalently relate to second sensor module 22. Explanations relating to second sensor module 22 equivalently also relate to first sensor module 16. Hence, second sensor module 22 will also simply be referred to as sensor module 16, 22 below.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of a section 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 an adjustment kinematics system 24 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 and 13 and 14), which has a drive 26, which is configured to move environment sensor 18 from a retracted position (see FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 13(a) and 14(a)) into at least one deployed position (see FIGS. 3, 5, 7 to 9 and 13(c)-(d) and 14(b) and (c)). Drive 26 is schematically indicated in FIG. 10 and can be provided by an electric motor or an electric stepper motor. Other drives or types of drives (mechanical and/or pneumatic drives) are conceivable, as well.

[0054] Furthermore, sensor module 16, 22 according to the invention comprises a cover 28, which is supported on sensor housing 19 in a rotating manner by two guiding brackets 30. Guiding brackets 30 can differ from each other in length if cover 28 is oriented at an angle to a transverse direction of sensor module 16, 22, for example. According to the invention, drive 26 is configured to move cover 28 from a covering position (see FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 10 to 12, 13(a) and 14(a)) into at least one open position (see FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 13(c)-(d) and 14 (b)-(c)).

[0055] Sensor housing 19 comprises a housing portion 32, which has a see-through area 34, through which environment sensor 18 looks in order to detect the vehicle environment. Housing portion 32 is configured in such a manner that it closes the at least one opening in a flush and preferably moisture-proof manner when environment sensor 18 is in the at least one deployed position and cover 28 is in the open position, as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 5, 8 and 9. A cross section of housing portion 32 preferably corresponds to a cross section of the opening, tolerances considered.

[0056] Sensor module 16, 22 can further comprise at least one cleaning nozzle 36. In the examples shown, sensor module 16, 22 comprises two cleaning nozzles, which are disposed in a retractable and deployable manner in openings in sensor housing 19 or housing portion 32. Cleaning nozzles 36 are disposed laterally next to see-through area 34 (with respect to a line of sight of environment sensor 18). When cleaning nozzles 36 are in the retracted position, the respective openings are closed in a flush manner by lid parts 38. In the case at hand, cleaning nozzles 36 can be deployed by water pressure. The retracting function of cleaning nozzles 36 can be provided by a return spring (not shown), for example. Cleaning nozzles 36 are configured to clean see-through area 34. To this end, cleaning nozzles 36 spray a cleaning fluid onto see-through area 34 in the form of a fluid cone. The fluid cone strikes see-through area 34 at an angle when cleaning nozzles 36 are disposed in such a lateral manner. The disposition of cleaning nozzles 36 is advantageous since they are disposed outside of the field of view of environment sensor 18. In FIG. 8, left cleaning nozzle 36 is deployed as an example. In FIG. 9, right cleaning nozzle 36 is deployed as an example.

[0057] According to the invention, adjustment kinematics system 24 comprises a slide 40. Drive 26 can preferably comprise a drive pinion (not shown). A flexible shaft 42 (see schematically indicated in FIG. 10) can be disposed on such a drive pinion, for example. Alternatively, drive 26 can also be connected to slide 40 in a force-transmitting manner via a spindle nut drive 44 (see FIGS. 14(a) to 14(c)). Drive 26 is configured to move slide 40 back and forth along an essentially linear track by means of flexible shaft 42 or spindle nut drive 44.

[0058] A slot 46, in which a sliding pin (not shown since it is covered by guide levers 30) is supported in a translationally mobile manner, is provided in slide 40. The sliding pin can be fixed (in a translationally immobile manner) to sensor housing 19 in the case of flexible shaft 42. In the case of spindle nut drive 44, the sliding pin can be fixed (in a translationally immobile manner) to a spindle nut 48 of spindle nut drive 44. Spindle nut drive 44 further comprises a spindle 50, which can rotate relative to spindle nut 48 so that spindle nut 48 can be moved back and forth on spindle 50 by the action of drive 26 (see FIG. 13).

[0059] Slot 46 comprises at least one first slot section (see in particular FIGS. 13 and 14) and a second slot section, which is angled relative to the first slot section (see FIG. 13(d)), drive 26 being configured to move slide 40 in such a manner that the sliding pin slides in the second slot section, whereby cover 28 can be moved from the covering position into the at least one open position, and to move slide 40 in such a manner that the sliding pin slides in the straight slot section, whereby environment sensor 18 can be moved from the retracted position into the at least one deployed position.

[0060] FIGS. 13 and 14 each depict a motion sequence of sensor module 16, 22 in respective snapshots. In particular, they depict the respective positions of adjustment kinematics system 24. Adjustment kinematics system 24 differs in the illustrative examples shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

[0061] FIG. 13(a) shows sensor module 16, 22 in a position in which environment sensor 18 is fully located in the retracted position, i.e., the inactive position. Cover 28 is located in the covering position, i.e., the closed position, in which it closes the opening in panel component 12, 20 in a preferably flush manner. In FIG. 13(b), cover 28 is in the opening process between the covering position and the open position. Environment sensor 18 is still fully retracted. In FIG. 13(c), cover 28 is in the open position, i.e., it is not opened further. Environment sensor 18 is in the deploying movement between the retracted position and the fully deployed position. In this intermediate position, environment sensor 18 can basically detect the vehicle environment already. In FIG. 13(d), cover 28 is in the open position, i.e., it is not opened further. Environment sensor 18 is in the fully deployed position.

[0062] In FIG. 14(a), sensor module 16, 22 is shown in a position in which environment sensor 18 is in the fully retracted position, i.e., the inactive position. Cover 28 is in the covering position, i.e., the closed position, in which it closes the opening in panel component 12, 20 in a preferably flush manner. In FIG. 14(b), cover 28 is in the open position. Environment sensor 18 is in the process of being moved from the retracted position into the deployed position and is located in an intermediate position between these two positions. In FIG. 14(c), environment sensor 18 is in the fully deployed position. Cover 28 is in the open position.