Roof Module for Forming a Vehicle Roof

Abstract

A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module may have a panel component whose outer surface at least partially forms the roof skin of the vehicle roof, the roof module having at least one environment sensor configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals for detecting the vehicle environment. At least one reflector element at which the electromagnetic signals can be reflected is associated with the environment sensor.

Claims

1. A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module comprising: a panel component whose outer surface at least partially forms the roof skin of the vehicle roof, the roof module comprising at least one environment sensor configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals for detecting the vehicle environment, wherein at least one reflector element at which the electromagnetic signals can be reflected is associated with the environment sensor.

2. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the reflector element has a reflection surface which is spherically curved in a convex or concave manner.

3. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the environment sensor is indirectly or directly attached to a frame or body shell part of the vehicle roof.

4. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the reflector element is formed by a reflective surface portion of a component.

5. The roof module according to claim 4, wherein the reflective surface portion is formed by a polished, vapor-deposited, and/or coated reflection surface.

6. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the reflector element is attached to the panel component of the roof module.

7. The roof module according to claim 4, wherein the reflector element is glued, injected, screwed or clipped to the inner side of the panel component.

8. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the reflector element is attached to a sensor housing of the environment sensor.

9. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the environment sensor and the reflector element are attached to a support component together.

10. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the environment sensor and the reflector element are disposed on the sensor housing in an encapsulated manner, the sensor housing comprising at least one passage element at which the electromagnetic signals can pass through.

11. The roof module according to claim 10, wherein the reflector element is disposed above the passage element in the vertical direction.

12. The roof module according to claim 11, wherein the environment sensor is at least partially disposed at the same height as the passage element in the vertical direction.

13. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein an adjusting device is associated with the environment sensor and/or the reflector element, the adjusting device allowing the relative position between the environment sensor and the reflector element to be adjusted.

14. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning device configured to clean the passage element is associated with the environment sensor.

15. The roof module according to claim 14, wherein the cleaning device comprises a cleaning nozzle configured to discharge a cleaning liquid.

16. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein a heating device configured to heat the reflector element is provided on the roof module.

17. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the environment sensor is a lidar sensor and/or a radar sensor and/or a camera sensor and/or a multi-camera sensor.

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

Description

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section of a roof module having an environment sensor and a reflector element;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a side view of an environment sensor having a reflector element attached to a support component;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross section of an environment sensor having a reflector element installed in the sensor housing.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of a roof module 01, only the right side edge of roof module 01 being illustrated in FIG. 1. Roof module 01 is placed on a frame or body shell part 02 of the vehicle roof at the sides and attached there in a suitable manner. A panel component 03, which forms the roof skin, and a roof frame 04 define a cavity 05, in which an environment sensor 06 is installed on each side. A reflector element 07 is associated with each environment sensor 06. Electromagnetic signals 09, such as light beams or radar beams, can be reflected at reflective surface 08 of the reflector element 07, reflective surface 08 being spherically curved in a convex manner. In FIG. 1, electromagnetic signals 09 are indicated only at the borders of the field of view, but reflected electromagnetic signals 09 can of course cover the entire field of view between the borders of the field of view.

[0031] Depending on the beam direction, i.e., depending on whether the signals are first emitted by environment sensor 06 or are to be detected by environment sensor 06, electromagnetic signals 09 pass through a passage element 10 prior to or after the reflection and are deflected at reflector element 07 in the process. This allows electromagnetic signals 09 to either be reflected onto the sensor surface of environment sensor 06 or be radiated in the desired direction by the reflector element. This deflection of electromagnetic signals 09 allows environment sensor 06 to be integrated into roof module 01 in a compact manner. At the same time, the field of view directly below the roof module can be observed along the side edge of the vehicle. This allows the immediate vicinity around the vehicle to be covered. Also, an improved 360° view with a smaller blind spot or a smaller blind area can be realized.

[0032] A cleaning nozzle 11 by means of which the cleaning liquid can be sprayed onto the outer side of passage element 10 if too much dirt has accumulated thereon is provided for cleaning passage element 10.

[0033] Reflector element 07 is glued, injected, screwed or clipped to the inner side of panel component 03 of roof module 01. Additionally, reflector element 07 can be heated by means of a heating device, which is not illustrated separately in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the reflector element can also be produced by vapor-depositing a suitable material having good reflective properties, e.g., by vapor-depositing a metal layer.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows an environment sensor 12, to whose side a support component 13 is attached. On the front side of support components 13, opposite the sensor of environment sensor 12, a reflector element 14 is attached, e.g., glued, to support component 13. Attaching reflector element 14 to environment sensor 12 in this manner allows the correct orientation of reflector element 14 relative to environment sensor 12 to be tested prior to the installation in the roof module.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows another environment sensor 15, which is installed in a sensor housing 16. A reflector element 17 is attached, e.g., glued, to the inner side of sensor housing 16. Housing wall 18, which is located opposite reflector element 17, is made of a material transparent to electromagnetic signals 09 of environment sensor 15, such as a material transparent to light or transparent to radar beams. In this manner, environment sensor 15 can be accommodated in a capsule-type housing unit together with reflector element 17 in such a manner that they are protected against harmful environmental conditions.

Reference Signs

[0036] 01 roof module

[0037] 02 frame or body shell part

[0038] 03 panel component

[0039] 04 roof frame

[0040] 05 cavity

[0041] 06 environment sensor

[0042] 07 reflector element

[0043] 08 reflective surface

[0044] 09 electromagnetic signal (borders of the field of view)

[0045] 10 passage element

[0046] 11 cleaning nozzle

[0047] 12 environment sensor

[0048] 13 support component

[0049] 14 reflector element

[0050] 15 environment sensor

[0051] 16 sensor housing

[0052] 17 reflector element

[0053] 18 housing wall