DE102015009634A1 - Vehicle roof with variable light transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle roof (1) has a roof surface (6) whose translucency is controllable and which is at least locally touch-sensitive to form a user interface (7) for controlling the amount of light transmitted by the roof surface (6). The user interface (7) is marked by electrical vibration.

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle roof in which the amount of light transmitted from a roof surface into the passenger compartment is controllable in accordance with the needs of the vehicle occupants.

Out DE 103 21 964 A1 a vehicle roof is known in which the transmitted amount of light is controllable by moving a roof segment. A user interface for controlling the position of the roof segment is disposed on a front edge of the roof surface, between the movable roof segment and a windshield. The user interface is raised above the surrounding underside of the roof surface, so that it can be safely recognized by the driver and he can place his hand on her, in order subsequently to control the position of the roof segment by swiping his finger over a sensor surface of the user interface.

The operation of this user interface takes the driver's attention in several ways, firstly because, in order to place his hand on the user interface, he tends to look away from the roadway and onto the user interface, and secondly because of the freedom of movement of the finger the user interface is small compared to the freedom of movement of the roof segment and the finger must therefore be moved very precisely to set a desired position of the roof segment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle roof in which the control of the amount of light transmitted by the driver requires less concentration.

The object is achieved by marking the user interface by means of electrical vibration in a vehicle roof with a roof surface whose light transmittance is controllable and which is at least locally touch-sensitive in order to form a user interface for controlling the amount of light transmitted by the roof surface.

Electro-vibration is a sensory perception based on electrostatic forces between an electrode and a user's skin, typically with the fingertips. One known application of electro-vibration is a computer input instrument called TeslaTouch. An alternating electrostatic field generated by an electrode extending below a surface affects the friction felt by a user's fingers as they slide over the surface. This friction is dependent on the amplitude and frequency of the electrostatic field and can be greater, but also lower than the friction in the absence of a field.

Since the electro-vibratory marker need not be exalted or otherwise optically distinguishable from the surrounding roof surface, there are virtually no limitations on both the size and placement of the user interface on the vehicle roof. Therefore, the user interface can also be used above the driver, i. H. be placed at a position of the vehicle roof, which is easily accessible without far reaching the arm; whether he has reached the user interface or not, the driver can feel without looking on the basis of the elektrovibratorischen marking.

A reason to turn away from the roadway to actuate the user interface is not to be found, in particular, when the user interface, apart from the electrovibratory mark, does not correspond to any marking visible on the vehicle roof.

The roof surface can at least how out DE 103 21 964 A1 As is known, comprise a segment adjustable for controlling the amount of light transmitted by the roof surface as a whole.

Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which the roof surface comprises at least one electro-optical segment, such as a foil comprising a liquid crystal material enclosed between electrodes.

The user interface may also be visually marked to illustrate the location of the user interface to the driver at least in a period of getting used to the vehicle and to facilitate their use.

In order to vary the amount of light transmitted, the boundary between a well-transparent area and a poorly-transparent area of the roof area may be movable by means of the user interface. This limit can be an edge of an adjustable segment; if the roof surface comprises a plurality of electro-optical segments, then the boundary between a well translucent segment and a poorly translucent segment can be run and moved by switching one of these segments from good to poorly translucent or vice versa.

Preferably, the limit extends in the vehicle transverse direction and is movable in the vehicle longitudinal direction, so as to the behavior of a driver familiar blinds or foldable Imitate sun visor and facilitate an intuitive use.

In such a case, the user interface may conveniently be arranged to detect a movement of a user via the user interface at least in a direction perpendicular to the boundary and to adjust the limit according to the extent of the detected movement. In particular, the amount of movement that can be measured is the time that elapses between the actuation of two sensors of the user interface, and the shift in the limit is chosen to be greater, the shorter this time or the faster the movement of the user via the two sensors ,

The electromagnetic marker may be made different, for example, by varying the frequency and / or amplitude of the alternating electromagnetic field, depending on whether or not movement of the boundary in the detected direction is possible. That is, for example, if the boundary between the areas of different light transmission has reached a rear edge of the roof surface and can not be moved further back, then the user can be made aware of this by changing the electromagnetic mark, and he can Consider this information in the further operation of the user interface, without having to read an ad for it.

Alternatively, the translucency of at least a portion of the roof surface may be switchable between more than two different values.

To control the amount of transmitted light, the user interface may have two external touch sensors on opposite edges.

To control the amount of transmitted light, the driver may wipe the user interface with his or her hand or finger. For intuitive operation, it is useful if the change in the amount of transmitted light is greater, the faster the controlling movement of the user. Therefore, the time between successive contacts of the two outer sensors can be suitably measured, and the shorter the time, the more the transmitted amount of light can be varied.

For another type of operation, a central touch sensor may be provided between the two outer touch sensors.

Then, in particular, the user interface may be configured to vary a visual parameter of the roof surface selected by touching one of the outer touch sensors as long as the central touch sensor is touched. It is conceivable, in particular, to first touch an external sensor at the rear edge of the user interface with a hand movement coming from behind, thus preselecting a shift of the boundary between good and badly light-transmitting areas to the front and moving the boundary continuously forward as long as the central one Touch sensor remains touched, or, conversely, to shift back the limit when first coming from the front an external touch sensor and then the central touch sensor is touched.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

1 a perspective view of a vehicle roof according to the invention;

2 a schematic section through the vehicle roof to illustrate its layer structure; and

3 to 6 each plan views of the user interface to illustrate different operating concepts.

1 shows a vehicle roof 1 from a glass laminate for installation in a motor vehicle. A leading edge 2 of the vehicle roof 1 adjoins in the installed state in a conventional manner to a windshield of the vehicle; lateral edges 3 are flanked in the assembled state of roof frame elements, connect the A and C pillar of the vehicle together.

For gluing or other types of anchoring of the vehicle roof 1 To hide the roof frame, extends an opaque color layer 4 along the edges 2 . 3 and a trailing edge 5 of the vehicle roof 1 around its main area 6 , In the embodiment of 1 furthermore runs a strip 4 ' the color layer 4 from the trailing edge 5 up to a user interface 7 at a central location of the main area 6 ,

In the main area 6 of the vehicle roof 1 the translucency is variable. To control the translucency, as in 2 based on a schematic cross section through the vehicle roof 1 to recognize, between glass layers 8th . 9 two translucent electrode layers 10 . 11 and, between them, a liquid crystal and polarization layer 12 embedded. The effect of the liquid crystal and polarization layers 12 based on that, if this between the electrode layers 10 . 11 is exposed to an electric field, the liquid crystal material of the layer 12 changes the polarization of the light passing through voltage-dependent, so that it is a polarizer of the layer 12 traversed with different strong losses depending on the applied electric field.

Preferably, the liquid crystal and polarization layer 12 designed to be minimally translucent in field-free condition, so that when the vehicle is parked and the electrode layers 10 . 11 are separated from the vehicle battery, the vehicle roof 1 is opaque on its entire surface. Thus, the heating of the passenger compartment can be limited when the parked vehicle is exposed to the sun.

The two electrode layers 10 . 11 can be continuous over the entire main area 6 extend so that the electric field between the electrode layers 10 . 11 the same everywhere and the light transmission throughout the main area 6 is constant.

Preferably, however, is one of the electrode layers, here the upper electrode layer 10 , in independently of each other electrically controllable electrodes 13 structured to the vehicle roof 1 in each case with the electrodes 13 congruent segments 14 to subdivide, the light transmission is individually adjustable.

A preferred embodiment result in the electrodes 13 or segments 14 , such as in 3 To see the shape of strips that are parallel to each other over the entire width of the vehicle roof 1 extend. Thus, by suitable control of the electrodes 13 for example, a front part 24 of the vehicle roof 1 be made transparent while a rump 23 remains opaque, and a limit 27 between the two parts 24 . 23 is by appropriate control of the electrodes 13 displaceable.

Again on 2 is between the lower electrode layer 11 and the lower glass layer 9 a dielectric layer 15 and an interface electrode layer 16 inserted. In the interface electrode layer 16 are several sensor electrodes 16 . 17 . 19 and one of the sensor electrodes 17 . 18 . 19 surrounding shielding electrode 20 structured. The electrodes 17 to 20 together make up the user interface 7 , Because the electrodes 17 - 20 are transparent, they are in the vehicle roof 1 not visible. Because the driver is the user interface 7 should operate without looking at it, it is also not necessary that a visible mark on the vehicle roof 1 on the location of the user interface 7 points. In the case of 1 forms the top of the strip 4 ' Such a mark, on which a driver unfamiliar with the vehicle can also recognize where the user interface is located 7 located.

The electrodes 17 - 20 are connected in parallel with a first AC voltage source, which provides an AC voltage of suitable amplitude and frequency, at the bottom of the glass layer 9 each under the electrodes 17 to 20 cause a noticeable electric vibration, so when the driver with one finger 25 over the bottom of the glass layer 9 deletes the frictional resistance in the user interface that he feels 7 clearly different from that of other parts of the glass layer 9 , Further measuring voltage sources are each, as known for capacitive proximity sensors, with one of the sensor electrodes 17 . 17 . 19 and the shield electrode 20 connected to a resonant circuit whose resonant frequency through the finger 25 If the driver is in the vicinity of the relevant sensor electrode are detunable. Thus, from a detuning of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to the presence of the finger in front of the relevant electrode 17 . 18 , or 19 getting closed.

3 illustrates the control of the translucency of the vehicle roof 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The top view on the user interface 7 here shows the three already in 2 shown sensor electrodes 17 . 18 . 19 , wherein the sensor electrodes 17 . 19 as well as two further sensor electrodes 21 . 22 an electrode ring around the central sensor electrode 17 form. Relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle is the sensor electrode 17 at the front and the sensor electrode 19 rear. Of the strip-shaped transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction extending electrodes 13 the electrode layer 10 The back are tension-free, giving them an opaque back part 23 of the main area 6 form. The front in the vehicle longitudinal direction electrodes 13 are so energized that in the front part formed by them 24 the main area the liquid crystal and polarization layer 12 is transparent.

If the finger 25 the driver over the glass layer 9 the driver senses, based on the changes in friction caused by the electric vibration, whether the user interface 7 is reached or not.

In a first variant of the method of operation, a control circuit measures the time taken by the finger 25 as if by an arrow 26 indicated from behind, needed to get away from the sensor electrode 19 to the sensor electrode 17 to move. The reciprocal of this time is a measure of the speed of the finger 25 , The larger this reciprocal, the larger the number of segments 14 , across the border in the sequence 27 between the opaque part 23 and the transparent part 24 the roof is moved forward.

If, conversely, the driver's finger 25 against the direction of travel via the user interface 7 first swipe the front sensor electrode 17 and then the rear sensor electrode 19 on, and the time offset between the two determines how many segments 14 the border 27 is moved back against the direction of travel.

If the driver, while holding his finger 25 over the glass layer 9 if it does not feel any magnetic vibration, then it has the user interface as it moves 7 misses and has to make another attempt.

In this type of control is the central sensor electrode 18 functionless and could be omitted. According to an alternative type of control, the limit may be 27 be moved in which the driver's finger 25 stops as soon as he receives the magnetic vibration of the user interface 7 feel. If the finger 25 as by the arrow 26 of the 3 being moved from back to front is characterized by the fact that it is the rear sensor electrode first 19 achieved, determined that the optical parameter of the vehicle roof to be changed 1 the location of the border 27 is, and that it should be moved forward. This happens at constant speed as long as the driver is the sensor electrode 17 touched. Once the limit 27 has reached a comfortable position and he has his finger 25 from the user interface 7 takes, becomes the limit 27 not postponed any further.

To the limit 27 To move backwards backwards, the driver must perform a movement in the opposite direction, at which the finger 25 first over the front sensor electrode 17 touches to set that limit 27 should be moved backwards, before moving to the central sensor electrode 18 comes to a halt and by the duration of whereabouts at this point the extent of the displacement of the border 27 controls.

In the presentation of the 4 the finger approaches 25 the user interface 7 from the left and first reaches the left sensor electrode 21 , When the driver has his finger 25 Without stopping, the time measured between touching the left sensor electrode is also measured here 21 and the right sensor electrode 22 passes, and the extent to which the light transmission of the front part 24 is downshifted in the sequence, is proportional to the reciprocal of this time. In this way, any intermediate values of the light transmittance of the liquid crystal and polarization layers 12 in the front part 24 be set. The translucence of the rear part 23 and the location of the border 27 remains unaffected.

In an analogous way, the light transmission can be controlled when the finger 25 after passing the left sensor electrode 21 at the central sensor electrode 18 comes to a stop. By first the sensor electrode 18 was touched, it is defined that the light transmittance of the front part 24 should be regulated down; the extent to which this happens depends on the duration of the operation by the user's finger 25 from the user interface 7 dissolves as soon as a pleasant value of light transmission is achieved.

In an analogous manner, the light transmittance of the front part 24 be raised again in which the finger 25 coming from the right to the user interface 7 is moved to and there first the right sensor electrode 22 reached.

5 shows another way to control the light transmission of the roof 1 , By here the finger 25 from the front of the user interface 7 approaches and first the front sensor electrode 17 touches, the front part becomes 24 is preselected as the part whose light transmittance is to be controlled. By then the finger 25 on the left sensor electrode 21 The driver may specify that he is reducing the light transmittance of the front part 24 , in the 5 by a slight hatching of the segments 14 of the front part 24 represented, wishes.

It would also be conceivable that the driver after crossing the sensor electrode 16 the finger 25 on the right sensor electrode 22 placed as in 5 indicated by a dashed arrow. So the driver could express his desire that the translucency of the front part 24 should be increased. However, if this translucency is already maximum, the driver can be given feedback in this regard, for example by the sensor electrode 22 is not connected to the same voltage causing the magnetic vibration as the other sensor electrodes 17 - 21 and thus tactile not of the user interface environment 7 is to be distinguished, or by changing the voltage or frequency of this AC voltage of the sensor electrode 22 a significantly different tactile appearance is given as the other sensor electrodes 17 - 21 ,

In case of 6 the finger approaches 25 the user interface 7 from behind, crossing the rear sensor electrode 19 , whereby the rear part 23 as the part of the vehicle roof 1 is preselected, the light transmission is to be controlled. By the finger 25 then the right sensor electrode 22 the driver gives the command, the light transmittance of the rear part 23 to increase. Again, he removes his finger from the user interface 7 as soon as a desired degree of light transmission is achieved.

It should be understood that the foregoing detailed description and drawings, while indicating certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications of the described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims and their equivalence range. In particular, this description and the figures also show features of the embodiments which are not mentioned in the claims. Such features may also occur in combinations other than those specifically disclosed herein. Therefore, the fact that several such features are mentioned in the same sentence or in a different type of textual context does not justify the conclusion that they can occur only in the specific combination disclosed; instead, it is generally to be assumed that it is also possible to omit or modify individual ones of several such features, provided this does not call into question the functionality of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vehicle roof

2

leading edge

3

lateral edge

4

coat of paint

5

trailing edge

6

main area

7

User interface

8th

glass layer

9

glass layer

10

electrode layer

11

electrode layer

12

Liquid crystal and polarization layer

13

electrode

14

segment

15

dielectric layer

16

Interfaces electrode layer

17

sensor electrode

18

sensor electrode

19

sensor electrode

20

shield

21

sensor electrode

22

sensor electrode

23

rump

24

front

25

finger

26

arrow

27

border

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10321964 A1 [0002, 0009]

Claims (13)

Vehicle roof ( 1 ) with a roof surface ( 6 ), whose translucency is controllable and which is at least locally touch-sensitive to a user interface ( 7 ) for controlling the roof area ( 6 ) transmitted light quantity, and the user interface ( 7 ) is marked by electrical vibration. A vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the roof surface comprises at least one segment adjustable for controlling the amount of transmitted light. A vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the roof surface comprises at least one electro-optical segment ( 14 ) whose light transmittance is controllable by an electric field. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, in which the user interface ( 7 ) is also visibly marked. A vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, in which the limit ( 27 ) between a well translucent area ( 24 ) and a poorly translucent area ( 24 ) of the roof area ( 6 ) by means of the user interface ( 7 ) is movable. A vehicle roof according to claim 5, in which the limit ( 27 ) extends in the vehicle transverse direction and is movable in the vehicle longitudinal direction. A vehicle roof according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the user interface ( 7 ), a movement of a user ( 25 ) via the user interface ( 7 ) at least in the border ( 27 ) vertical direction and the limit ( 27 ) according to the extent of the movement detected. A vehicle roof according to claim 7, in which the electromagnetic marking is different, depending on whether a movement of the boundary ( 27 ) in the detected direction is possible or not. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, in which the light transmission of at least one area ( 23 . 24 ) of the roof area ( 6 ) by means of the user interface ( 7 ) is switchable between more than two different values. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, in which the user interface ( 7 ) two external touch sensors ( 17 . 19 . 21 . 22 ) at opposite edges. A vehicle roof according to claim 10, wherein the user interface ( 7 ), the time between successive touches of the two outer sensors ( 17 . 19 . 21 . 22 ) and to vary the amount of transmitted light the more, the shorter this time is. A vehicle roof according to claim 10, wherein a central touch sensor ( 18 ) between the two outer touch sensors ( 17 . 19 . 21 . 22 ) is provided. Vehicle roof according to claim 12, characterized in that the user interface ( 7 ) is arranged by touching one of the outer touch sensors ( 17 . 19 . 21 . 22 ) selected visual parameters of the roof surface ( 6 ) as long as the central touch sensor ( 18 ) is touched.

Images