DE102019129885B4 - Roof module with roof skin and surroundings sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

Roof module for a motor vehicle, in particular for a passenger car, comprising a roof skin, which forms an outer visible surface of the roof module, and at least one sensor module (20), which comprises a radar antenna and detects a vehicle environment in autonomous or semi-autonomous driving mode of the motor vehicle, characterized by a Flat substrate on which a structured coating in the form of a thin film (32) is arranged, which forms the radar antenna and is connected to a control and evaluation unit (36), the substrate being formed by a transparent area for a surroundings sensor (50).

Description

The invention relates to a roof module having the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a roof module is known from practice and can form a vehicle roof in a passenger car, which is placed as a separate structural unit on a vehicle body forming a vehicle shell. Such a roof module can be designed as a fixed roof with a roof skin that is continuously fixed to the bodywork or also have a roof opening system which includes a cover element, by means of which a roof opening can be selectively closed or opened. The roof module can be provided with sensor modules that enable autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the relevant vehicle using driver assistance systems. The sensor modules, which have environment sensors such as radar sensors for monitoring and detecting the vehicle environment, are attached to the vehicle roof, since this is usually the highest elevation of the vehicle in question, from which the vehicle environment can be easily viewed. However, the environment sensors that are placed on the vehicle roof impair the appearance of the roof module. In particular, the vehicle roof resulting from the surroundings sensors also does not meet high requirements in terms of aerodynamics, which is also reflected in the energy consumption of the vehicle in question.

From pamphlet JP 2019-009712 A a vehicle roof is known which comprises a roof skin made of metal on which a dielectric layer is arranged. An antenna structure, which is covered by a continuous cover layer, is arranged on the dielectric layer.

From pamphlet DE 10 2016 210 366 B3 an antenna roof module for a motor vehicle is known. This antenna roof module includes a primary antenna arrangement and a radar antenna arrangement of a radar sensor.

From pamphlet DE 102 42 526 A1 vehicle parts made of plastic with integrated antenna elements are known. The antenna elements are inserted between a layer of lacquer and a plastic carrier as part of a painting process.

The object of the invention is to create a roof module that includes a sensor module and in which a radar antenna is integrated in such a way that the roof module satisfies high demands in terms of visual appearance and aerodynamics.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the roof module having the features of patent claim 1 .

The subject matter of the invention is therefore a roof module for a motor vehicle, in particular for a passenger car, comprising a roof skin and at least one sensor module with a surroundings sensor which comprises a radar antenna. The radar antenna is applied to a flat substrate of the roof module in the form of a thin film and thus forms a structured, conductive coating on the flat substrate. The thin film, which is in particular laser-structured and forms the radar antenna, is connected to a control and evaluation unit in order to evaluate or control the signals it receives or the signals it emits. A flat substrate that is available in any case with a roof module can be used as a carrier for the radar antenna. This means that no modifications are required to integrate the radar antenna into the roof module in terms of shape. Instead, existing shapes can be used, with the radar antenna also being integrated into the roof module as part of the surroundings sensor. In addition to the radar sensor, which has the radar antenna, the roof module according to the invention can also be provided with other surroundings sensors or sensor modules with surroundings sensors. These environmental sensors can be designed in a variety of ways and include, for example, a LiDAR sensor, an optical sensor, such as a camera, or the like.

In principle, the flat substrate on which the radar antenna is arranged can be made of plastic or of glass. For example, the flat substrate consists of a polycarbonate material or PMMA.

With the invention, a sensor roof or roof sensor module (RSM) is provided, which enables autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question. In an autonomous driving mode, the vehicle in question drives independently, at least without significant intervention by a driver. In the semi-autonomous driving mode, the roof module according to the invention is part of a driver assistance system, for example.

The roof module designed according to the invention represents a vehicle roof in an integrated manner, in which components are accommodated that are required for autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question. The roof module, in which a variety of functional elements is integrated, can be used as a compact unit by a vehicle manufacturer to form a Vehicle roof are connected to a vehicle body or a vehicle body.

Furthermore, the roof module according to the invention can be used in particular in a passenger car. However, it can also form a vehicle roof or be part of a vehicle roof in the case of a commercial vehicle, such as a delivery van or a truck tractor.

The substrate, which represents the carrier for the radar antenna or the thin film forming the radar antenna, can, as already explained above, be formed by the most varied of areas or elements of the roof module. For example, the substrate is formed by the roof skin, which can also represent a housing for the sensor module.

In the roof module according to the invention, the substrate is formed by a see-through area, behind which another environment sensor is arranged. The see-through area, which can be part of the roof skin, must be transparent for the wavelengths used by this environment sensor. In the case of a so-called LiDAR sensor, the wavelength used is preferably 905 nm or also around 1550 nm. If the environment sensor is a camera, the wavelength range used can be in the visible light range and/or in the infrared range. In particular, the see-through area is designed in such a way that signals lying in a wavelength range between 300 nm and 2000 nm can pass through. Transparency for radar radiation should also be ensured, particularly when the radar antenna formed by the thin film and the flat substrate on which the radar antenna is arranged are located behind the see-through area, or the see-through area carries the radar antenna on its inside.

For safety reasons, it is advantageous if a signal light arrangement is integrated into the roof module according to the invention, which indicates a driving mode of the vehicle in question, i.e. indicates an activation state of the sensor module, so that it can be seen from the vehicle surroundings whether the vehicle in question is in a autonomous driving mode. Such a signal light arrangement is often referred to as ADS (Autonomous Drive Signal) light. In an embodiment of the roof module not covered by claim 1, the substrate of the roof module according to the invention, on which the radar antenna is arranged, is part of the signal light arrangement.

For example, the signal light arrangement includes a transparent cover forming a window element through which the signal light can be seen and which forms the substrate for the radar antenna.

In order to minimize the risk of damaging the radar antenna, the structured coating that forms the radar antenna is arranged on a side of the transparent cover that faces a light source of the signal light arrangement, ie that faces away from the vehicle environment. The transparent cover, which can be formed by the roof skin, or the window element formed by this, forms the flat substrate in this case.

In a further special embodiment of the roof module, which is not covered by claim 1, a light source of the signal light arrangement forms the flat substrate for the structured coating. In this case, the light source is formed by an LED field, for example.

In a further alternative embodiment of the roof module, which is also not covered by claim 1, the substrate is formed by a flat light guide element of the signal light arrangement. When the signal light arrangement is activated, light emitted by a light source is coupled into the planar light-guiding element, which then emits the light in the direction of the surroundings of the vehicle.

It is also conceivable that the flat substrate on which the radar antenna is arranged is formed by a flat diffuser element of the signal light arrangement.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the substrate is formed by an optical component, such as a lens, a scattering element or the like, which is part of the signal light arrangement.

The subject of the invention is also a motor vehicle comprising a roof module of the type described above.

Further advantages and advantageous configurations of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the description, the drawing and the patent claims.

• 1 eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf ein Fahrzeugdach mit einen Dachmodul;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer Signallichtanordnung des Dachmoduls nach 1 mit einer Radarantenne;
• 3 einen Schnitt durch eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Signallichtanordnung eines Dachmoduls der in 1 dargestellten Art;
• 4 einen Schnitt durch eine dritte Ausführungsform einer Signallichtanordnung eines Dachmoduls der in 1 dargestellten Art;
• 5 einen Schnitt durch eine vierte Ausführungsform einer Signallichtanordnung eines Dachmoduls der in 1 dargestellten Art;
• 6 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer fünften Ausführungsform einer Signallichtanordnung eines Dachmoduls der in 1 dargestellten Art;
• 7 einen Schnitt durch eine sechste Ausführungsform einer Signallichtanordnung eines Dachmoduls der in 1 dargestellten Art;
• 8 einen Schnitt durch eine siebte Ausführungsform einer Signallichtanordnung eines Dachmoduls der in 1 dargestellten Art;
• 9 einen Schnitt durch eine achte Ausführungsform einer Signallichtanordnung eines Dachmoduls der in 1 dargestellten Art; und
• 10 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung eines Sensormoduls eines Dachmoduls der in 1 dargestellten Art.

Exemplary embodiments of a roof module are shown schematically simplified in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

• 1 a perspective plan view of a vehicle roof with a roof module;
• 2 a schematic representation of a signal light arrangement of the roof module 1 with a radar antenna;
• 3 a section through a second embodiment of a signal light arrangement of a roof module in 1 depicted species;
• 4 a section through a third embodiment of a signal light arrangement of a roof module in 1 depicted species;
• 5 a section through a fourth embodiment of a signal light arrangement of a roof module in 1 depicted species;
• 6 a schematic perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a signal light arrangement of a roof module in 1 depicted species;
• 7 a section through a sixth embodiment of a signal light arrangement of a roof module in 1 depicted species;
• 8th a section through a seventh embodiment of a signal light arrangement of a roof module in 1 depicted species;
• 9 a section through an eighth embodiment of a signal light arrangement of a roof module in 1 depicted species; and
• 10 a schematic perspective view of a sensor module of a roof module in 1 shown type.

In 1 a vehicle roof 10 of a motor vehicle designed as a passenger car is shown, which has a roof module 12 which is placed on a vehicle shell 14 . The roof module 12 is embodied as a fixed roof and comprises a roof skin with a transparent roof area 16 that is framed by a non-transparent area 18 that also forms a roof panel that extends to a front edge and a rear edge of the roof module 12 .

The non-see-through area 18 forms a cover for sensor modules 20A, 20B and 22 in a front edge area of the roof module 12, with the sensor modules 20A and 20B each comprising a LiDAR sensor as an environmental sensor and the sensor module 22 comprising a camera as an environmental sensor, which works in the visible wavelength range and works in the infrared range. For the sensor modules 20A, 20B and 22, the non-see-through area 18 designed as a plastic screen forms a sensor see-through area that is transparent at least for the wavelength used in each case.

A signal light arrangement 24A or 24B is arranged between sensor module 20A and sensor module 22 and between sensor module 20B and sensor module 22;

At the rear of the roof viewing area 16, the roof module 12 includes in its rear edge area, in addition to further sensor modules for detecting the vehicle surroundings, a further signal light arrangement 26 which displays the driving mode of the vehicle in question.

The roof module 12 thus represents a sensor roof module or a roof sensor module (RSM), which is equipped with devices that enable autonomous driving of the motor vehicle in question.

In the area of the bow-side signal light assemblies 24A and 24B includes the roof module 12, such as 2 as can be seen, in each case a window element 28 which is received by the roof skin forming the non-see-through region 18 or is formed by the latter itself. An LED field 30 is arranged behind the window element 28, which is formed from a multiplicity of LEDs and represents a so-called LED array. A structured coating in the form of a conductive thin film 32 is arranged on the LED field 30 . The LED field 30 thus forms a substrate for the thin film 32. The thin film 32 is a radar antenna, which is connected via a signal and control line 34 to an evaluation and control unit 36, which is shown very schematically.

A radar antenna of the type described above can also be formed in the area of the rear signal light arrangement.

In 3 a signal light arrangement 24 of the type described above is shown which, behind a transparent window element 28, comprises a light guide element 38 which is formed from a polymer such as polycarbonate or PMMA and which is provided with a light source 40 at the edge. On the side facing away from the window element 28, the light guide element 38 is provided with a coating 42, which is designed as a reflector or diffusing element and serves to direct light that was coupled into the light guide element 38 from the light source 40, according to a light path 44 from the light guide element 38 decouple in the direction of the vehicle environment.

The light-guiding element 38 can also have a decoupling element that has a diffuser structure, is a microstructured surface of the light-guiding element itself, is a microstructured coating, or is printed on the light-guiding element.

On the side facing the window element 28, the light guide element 38 is provided with a structured coating which is formed from a conductive thin film 32 and which has a radar surface represents tenne. The thin film 32 is connected to an evaluation and control unit 36 . According to the arrows 46 shown in dashed lines, radar signals can be transmitted and received by means of the thin film 32 forming the radar antenna. The thin film 32 is transparent to light that is coupled out of the light-guiding element 38 according to the light path 44 .

In 4 A signal light assembly 24 is shown forming a further alternative embodiment and differing from the embodiment shown in FIG 3 differs in that the light guide element 38 has no reflector coating on the side facing away from the window element 28 . Rather, an LED field 30 is arranged on the side of the light-guiding element 38 facing away from the window element 28, the light of which is coupled into or through the light-guiding element 38 when activated and is extensively and diffusely scattered and emitted through the thin film 32 and the window element 28 in accordance with the light path 44 becomes.

For the rest, the signal light arrangement corresponds to 4 that after 3 , which is why reference is made to the relevant description.

In 5 a further embodiment of a signal light arrangement 24 is shown, which differs from the signal light arrangement according to FIG 4 differs in that no LED field is arranged on the side of the light-guiding element 38 facing away from the window element 28, but rather reflector optics 48 which emit light emitted by a light source 40 in the direction of the light-guiding element 38 and the window element 28.

For the rest, the signal light arrangement corresponds to 5 that after 4 .

In 6 a signal light arrangement 24 is shown, which largely according to that 2 corresponds, but differs from this in that it has a window element 28, which has a thin film 30 on its inside, i.e. on its side facing an LED field 30, which is designed as a structured metal coating of the window element 28 and has a Forms radar antenna, which is part of an environment sensor designed as a radar sensor.

For this purpose, the thin film 30 is connected to an evaluation and control unit 36 . For the rest, the signal light arrangement corresponds to 6 that after 2 .

In 7 a signal light arrangement 24 is shown, which essentially corresponds to the signal light arrangement 3 corresponds, but differs from this in that the window element 28 has a thin film 32 on its side facing the planar light-guiding element 38, which is designed as a structured metal coating and represents a radar antenna. The thin film 32 is connected to an evaluation and control unit.

For the rest, the signal light arrangement corresponds to 7 that after 3 .

In 8th a signal light arrangement 24 is shown, which is essentially the same as that shown in FIG 4 corresponds, but differs from this in that it has a structured thin film 32, which is arranged on the inside of the window element 28 and forms a radar antenna of a radar sensor, which is connected to an evaluation and scattering unit. The light guide element 38 does not carry a thin film.

For the rest, the signal light arrangement corresponds to 8th that after 4 .

In 9 a signal light arrangement 24 is shown which has a window element 28 which is arranged in front of a reflector optics 48 which is provided with a light source 40 . On the inside, the window element 28 carries a metallic, conductive thin film 32, which consists of a structured coating of the window element 28, which represents a flat substrate, and forms a radar antenna. The thin film 32 is connected to an evaluation and control unit 36 and is therefore part of an environment sensor or a sensor module with an environment sensor.

In 10 a sensor module 20 is shown that includes an environment sensor 50 that includes a LiDAR sensor and/or a camera system that operates in the visible wavelength range and in the infrared range. As a cover, sensor module 20 includes a window element 28 that is transparent to the wavelength ranges used by environment sensor 50 .

On its inside, the window element 28 of the in 10 Sensor module 20 shown has a metallic thin film 32, which is designed as a structured coating and represents a radar antenna of a radar sensor, which is a further environment sensor of the relevant roof module.

In the above-described embodiments, the thin film 32, which is formed from a laser-structured, conductive coating, is thus formed on a transparent substrate, which has a dual function, namely on the one hand the formation of a substrate for the thin film and on the other hand the formation of a functional element of the concerned Signal light arrangement or the sensor module, in particular as a housing or Window element, as a light guide element, as a diffuser element or as another optical element of a signal light arrangement or as a housing or window element of a further environment sensor, which can be designed in particular with a LiDAR sensor and/or a camera system.

The flat substrate for the radar antenna can consist of an inorganic or organic glass or an inorganic or organic polymer, for example a polycarbonate or PMMA.

The respective radar antenna or the thin film forming it can be produced by laser structuring of a coating of the substrate.

With the roof module according to the invention, it is possible to combine a radar sensor with other sensors and/or other light elements, so that there is a dual function. The radar antenna can be applied directly to a transparent substrate of the roof module, which is made of glass or plastic. In addition, the radar antenna formed from the thin film requires essentially no additional installation space, since components that are already present are used as the substrate. The arrangement of the radar antenna on the roof module gives the assigned sensor an unobstructed view of the surroundings.

Reference List

10

vehicle roof

12

roof module

14

body shell

16

roof viewing area

18

non-see-through area

20, 20A, 20B

sensor module

22

sensor module

24, 24A, 24B

signal light arrangement

26

signal light arrangement

28

window element

30

LED field

32

thin film

34

signal and control line

36

Evaluation and control unit

38

light guide element

40

light source

42

coating

44

light path

46

radar signals

48

reflector optics

50

environment sensor

Claims (3)

Roof module for a motor vehicle, in particular for a passenger car, comprising a roof skin, which forms an outer visible surface of the roof module, and at least one sensor module (20), which comprises a radar antenna and detects a vehicle environment in autonomous or semi-autonomous driving mode of the motor vehicle, characterized by a Flat substrate on which a structured coating in the form of a thin film (32) is arranged, which forms the radar antenna and is connected to a control and evaluation unit (36), the substrate being formed by a transparent area for a surroundings sensor (50). roof module claim 1 , characterized in that the substrate is formed by the roof skin. Motor vehicle, comprising a roof module claim 1 or 2 .

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