Vehicle roof comprising a mounting structure for at least two environmental sensors and attached to a support structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle roof, in particular for a passenger vehicle, comprising a roof skin (18) forming a visible outer surface of the vehicle roof, and a sensor unit (32) having at least two environmental sensors (28) for detecting the environment of the vehicle, the sensor unit (32) being arranged below the roof skin (18) and attached to a support structure (22), and the sensor unit (32) comprising a mounting structure (36, 36') for the at least two environmental sensors (28). A thermal decoupling means is arranged between the support structure (22) and the mounting structure (36, 36').

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle roof, in particular for a passenger car. BACKGROUND

[0002] Vehicle roofs of this type are known in practice and are in particular configured as roof modules which are separate components which are placed on roof side beams and / or transverse roof beams which, when in the installed state, are part of the vehicle body which forms the vehicle superstructure. The vehicle roof comprises a roof skin which forms the visible outer surface of the vehicle roof and which, ideally, is optically and geometrically adapted to the design of the vehicle. A sensor unit comprising at least two environmental sensors, which are laser radar sensors or the like, and which are part of a system which enables autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question, is arranged beneath the roof skin.

[0003] The two environmental sensors can be arranged on a common mounting platform which forms a mounting structure for the environmental sensors and which is placed on top of the roof frame. The roof frame thus forms a support structure for the vehicle roof which can also support the roof skin.

[0004] The environmental sensors need to be kept within a suitable temperature range in order for them to function perfectly. To this end, the environmental sensors can be connected to a thermal management system which is able to cool the environmental sensors. However, there is the problem that the introduced cooling capacity inadvertently affects not only the environmental sensors but also the support structure. SUMMARY

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vehicle roof of the aforementioned type whose environmental sensors can be operated under improved operating conditions.

[0006] This object is achieved by a vehicle roof according to the invention.

[0007] The invention thus proposes a vehicle roof, in particular for a passenger car, comprising a roof skin which forms the visible outer surface of the vehicle roof, and a sensor unit having at least two environmental sensors for detecting the environment of the vehicle. The sensor unit is arranged beneath the roof skin and is attached to a support structure. Furthermore, the sensor unit comprises a mounting structure for the at least two environmental sensors. A thermal decoupling means is arranged between the support structure and the mounting structure in order to be able to cool and / or heat the environmental sensors in a defined manner without part of the energy consumed for this purpose being dissipated into the support structure.

[0008] The decoupling of heat between the support structure and the mounting structure, according to the configuration of the application, allows the environmental sensors to reach and remain at a suitable operating temperature, by coupling a thermal management system to the mounting structure or directly to the environmental sensors, without the risk of the support structure absorbing the introduced heating and / or cooling capacity.

[0009] The mounting structure can be considered as a multifunctional mounting structure for a plurality of environmental sensors, the sensor unit being attached to the support structure via the mounting structure. The support structure is preferably formed by a roof frame of a roof of a vehicle, or by another attachment platform that is part of a vehicle according to the application.

[0010] Thus, a plurality of environmental sensors can be integrated on the mounting structure. These components can thus be pre-installed, allowing the entire sensor unit comprising the environmental sensors and the mounting structure to be connected to the support structure during final assembly.

[0011] In order to make the thermal decoupling between the mounting structure and the support structure as effective as possible, the thermal decoupling member can comprise at least one rod formed on the mounting structure and engaging a recess formed on a fixing element attached to the support structure.

[0012] The rod preferably has a diameter as small as possible relative to the dimensions of the mounting structure, in order to keep the thermal conduction low. The rod can be a journal portion entering the recess, or a connection between two areas of the mounting structure passing through the recess of the fixing element.

[0013] The rod is preferably in contact with the fixing element via linear contact, in order to keep the heat transfer as low as possible. This can in particular be achieved in the case where the rod has a circular or elliptical cross section that is different from the cross section of the recess.

[0014] The rod can be fixed in the recess, for example by means of a fixing plate, in order to keep the rod in the recess. The fixing plate can in turn be screwed or riveted to the fixing element.

[0015] The fixing element is preferably thermally isolated from the support structure, in order to further improve the thermal decoupling between the mounting structure and the support structure. For example, a gap is formed between the fixing element and the support structure, which can be an air gap or filled with a thermal insulation material.

[0016] In one preferred embodiment of a roof of a vehicle according to the application, the rod is arranged in the recess with one- or two-dimensional play, in order to be able to compensate for different thermal expansions of the support structure and the mounting structure.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the application, the fixing element is made of a material having a low thermal conductivity. In particular, the material can be a plastic material, which can be a polyamide material, which is in particular reinforced with glass fibers.

[0018] Preferably, a thermal management system is provided, which is connected to the mounting structure, in order to be able to efficiently control the temperature of the environmental sensor, i.e. to cool the environmental sensor. The thermal management system can comprise a so-called heat pipe or heat conducting pipe, which is connected on one side to the mounting structure and on the other side to a heat exchanger; the heat exchanger can be associated only with the sensor unit in question, or with other components of the vehicle roof, for example another environmental sensor. The environmental sensor provided on the mounting structure can essentially be of any type. For example, the environmental sensor is a camera. These cameras can together be part of one or more stereo cameras. Alternatively, the environmental sensor can be a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, a sound wave sensor, an antenna and / or the like.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the application, the mounting structure is a metal cast or milled piece, which is in particular made of an aluminum material, so that the mounting structure has a high thermal conductivity and the temperature of the environmental sensor can be controlled by means of a thermal management system connected to the mounting structure.

[0020] As mentioned above, the support structure can be a frame of the vehicle roof. The mounting structure can be connected to the frame via a thermal decoupling member in a window-like recess of the frame. In particular, the mounting structure can be connected to the frame from below.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle roof according to the application is a roof module. Such a roof module forms a structural unit in an integrated manner, in which the components required for autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question are contained. A plurality of functional elements can be integrated in the roof module. The roof module can be connected by the vehicle manufacturer to a vehicle body or vehicle framework, which comprises roof beams, for example roof side beams and / or transverse roof beams. The roof module is thus a so-called roof sensor module (RSM: Roof Sensor Module), which enables autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question.

[0022] In autonomous driving mode, the vehicle equipped with the vehicle roof according to the application and configured for autonomous driving drives autonomously at least without substantial intervention by a driver. In semi-autonomous driving mode, the vehicle roof according to the application can be part of a driver assistance system.

[0023] According to the present invention, the vehicle roof may be provided with a transparent fixed roof and / or a roof opening system for roof opening.

[0024] In particular, the vehicle roof according to the invention is the roof of a passenger car. However, it is also conceivable that it is the roof of a multi-purpose vehicle, such as a truck, bus, autonomous minibus, such as a so-called passenger transport or traction unit.

[0025] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle including a vehicle roof of the type described above, and the vehicle frame of said motor vehicle is particularly provided with a roof module configured as a roof sensor module.

[0026] Other advantages and advantageous configurations of the subject matter of this invention will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0027] An exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle having a vehicle roof according to the invention is schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be discussed in more detail in the following description. In the accompanying drawings,

[0028] Figure 1 It is a top view of a motor vehicle having a vehicle roof according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is an internal view of the front frame portion of the roof frame of the vehicle.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a rear view of the sensor assembly on the vehicle's roof;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a front perspective view of the middle sensor unit of the sensor assembly;

[0032] Figure 5 This is an interior view of the front frame portion of the roof frame, which is an alternative embodiment of the vehicle roof.

[0033] Figure 6 Is it through Figure 2 Sensor components and Figure 5 A three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the first attachment region A of the sensor assembly;

[0034] Figure 7 Is it through Figure 2 Sensor components and Figure 5 A three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the attachment region B of the sensor assembly; and

[0035] Figure 8 Is it through Figure 2 Sensor components and Figure 5 A three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the attachment area C of the sensor assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The accompanying drawing illustrates a motor vehicle 10 configured as a passenger vehicle and equipped with a vehicle roof 12, the vehicle roof 12 including roof side beams 14 located on both sides of a longitudinally central roof plane, the roof side beams 14 being part of the vehicle body, which is the vehicle frame. A roof module 16 covering the interior of the motor vehicle 10 is attached to the roof side beams 14, the roof longitudinal beams 14 forming a frame support structure.

[0037] The roof module 16 includes a roof skin 18, which can form a transparent roof 20 in a central area, allowing light to enter the vehicle interior. The roof skin 18 is disposed on or attached to a circumferential roof frame 22, which is a supporting structure for the roof module 16 and also forms the intersection between the roof module 16 and the vehicle frame.

[0038] The roof module 16 is configured as a roof sensor module (RSM) equipped with means enabling the motor vehicle 10 to drive autonomously. For this purpose, the roof module 16 has a sensor system including sensor assembly 24, by means of which the vehicle environment can be detected, thereby enabling the motor vehicle 10 to drive autonomously. The current traffic conditions can be determined by evaluating the measurement signals from sensor assembly 24 with the aid of a controller of the motor vehicle 10, which allows the motor vehicle 10 to autonomously or automatically adapt to and react accordingly to the current traffic conditions.

[0039] The sensor assembly 24 is mounted on the front transverse frame portion 26 of the roof frame 22 and includes two environmental sensors 28, which are lidar sensors respectively located in the corner regions of the roof module 16. The two environmental sensors 28 are respectively mounted on the support plate 30 attached to the roof frame 22. Furthermore, the sensor assembly 24 includes an intermediate sensor unit 32, which is attached to the roof frame 22 in the region of the window-shaped front center cutout 34.

[0040] The sensor unit 32 includes a mounting structure 36 formed from an aluminum die-casting and serving as a carrier for a centrally located radar device 38, and in this embodiment, as a carrier for six cameras 40A, 40B, 42A, 42B, 44A, and 44B. For this purpose, the mounting structure 36 is configured as a bracket and has six seats 46 on its rear side for the cameras 40A, 40B, 42A, 42B, 44A, and 44B as environmental sensors. Each seat 46, formed during the die-casting process, has a rectangular, particularly square, base surface. An electrical insulating element 48 is provided in each seat 46 for current decoupling; the insulating element 48 is a sleeve-shaped insert with a rectangular or square base surface and is made of PET plastic with a thermal conductivity of 6.5 W / m·K or TPE plastic with a thermal conductivity of 2.0 W / m·K. Cameras 40A, 40B, 42A, 42B, 44A, and 44B are inserted into corresponding insulating elements 48 that are provided in a form-fitting manner in the mount 46, such that the camera housings are surrounded by the corresponding insulating elements 48 in a form-fitting manner. The high thermal conductivity of the insulating elements 48 couples cameras 40A, 40B, 42A, 42B, 44A, and 44B to the mounting structure 36 while simultaneously decoupling them from each other electrically.

[0041] Each insulating element 48, in which a camera is disposed, is secured by means of a resilient clip 50, which is a fixing member and is screwed to the mounting structure 36 at its lower part by a screw 52, ​​while having a flap 54 at its upper part that engages with a groove 56 of the mounting structure 36. Each clip 50 has an elliptical hole-shaped opening that is engaged by the connecting elements of the corresponding cameras 40A, 40B, 42A, 42B, 44A, and 44B.

[0042] The mounting structure 36, which is symmetrical about the vertical longitudinal center roof plane, has two heat-conducting plates 62 on its rear side. Each of the two heat-conducting plates 62 is connected to a heat pipe 64 or a heat-conducting pipe that leads to a heat exchanger 66, which is associated with one of the environmental sensors 28 located in the corner region of the roof module 16.

[0043] Cameras 40A and 40B form two camera heads for detecting near-field stereo cameras. Cameras 42A and 42B form two camera heads specifically for detecting far-field stereo cameras. Camera 44A is used to detect traffic signs, specifically corresponding in this embodiment to traffic lights used in Europe. Camera 44B is used to detect traffic signs and traffic lights primarily used in the United States.

[0044] Connecting the mounting structure 36 to the heat pipe 64 and thus to the heat exchanger 66 allows for thermal management of all environmental sensors (radar devices 38 and cameras 40A, 40B, 42A, 42B, 44A and 44B) mounted on the mounting structure 36, which is part of the thermal management system.

[0045] The mounting structure 36, formed from aluminum die castings, is attached to the support structure 22 via four fixed regions A, B, B, C, each of which has a thermal decoupling component or is a thermal decoupling component.

[0046] To achieve thermal decoupling, the first fixing region A includes a journal-shaped rod 68 having a circular cross-section and forming an extension of the mounting structure 36. Specifically, in Figure 6 As can be seen, the rod 68 engages with a recess 70, which is formed by a base-like fixing element 72, which is screwed to the roof frame 22 via two screws 74. The rod 68 is held in the recess 70 by means of a fixing plate 76, which is screwed to the base-like fixing element 72 by screws 78. To minimize heat transfer between the fixing element 72, which is made of plastic, and the roof frame 22, which may be made of metal, a gap 80, which can be filled with thermal insulation material, is provided between the two elements. The fixing element 72 is made of a plastic material, which may be a glass fiber reinforced polyamide material. The recess 70 has a base surface that is at least approximately rectangular, meaning that the rod 68 has clearance in the recess 70 in the transverse direction of the roof.

[0047] Furthermore, the mounting structure 36 includes two rods 82 in the fixing area B for implementing additional thermal decoupling components. The rods 82 extend in the transverse vehicle direction, and each rod 82 engages a recess 84 of a base-like fixing element 86, which is also tightened to the roof frame 22 by screws 90 (see [link]). Figure 7 Each rod 82 is held in the recess 84 by a fixing plate 88 tightened to the base-shaped fixing element 86 by screws 90. Due to the elastic properties of the fixing plate 88, each rod 82 has play in both the vertical and lateral directions within the recess 84. The fixing element 86 is also attached to the roof frame 22 in such a way that the fixing element 86 is spaced apart from the roof frame 22 via a gap 94 specially filled with heat-insulating material, thereby keeping the heat transfer between the two elements low.

[0048] exist Figure 8In the enlarged fixed area C, the mounting structure 36 has a journal-shaped rod 96 for realizing another thermal decoupling component. The rod 96 protrudes upward and engages a recess 98 of the fixing element 100, which is screwed to the roof frame via screws 102. The fixing element 100 is made of a plastic material, which may also be a glass fiber reinforced polyamide material.

[0049] The circular cross-sectional shapes of rods 68, 82, and 96, the different cross-sections of the corresponding recesses 70, 84, and 98, and the selected materials effectively realize the thermal decoupling between the mounting structure 36 and the roof frame 22, which serves as the supporting structure.

[0050] Figure 5 An alternative embodiment of the mounting structure 36' is shown, which is attached to the roof frame 22 and disposed in a window-like cutout 34 of the roof frame 22. In this embodiment, the mounting structure 36' accommodates two cameras 40A and 40B, which together form a stereo camera.

[0051] In the above and in Figures 1 to 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting structure 36' is attached to the roof frame 22 via four fixing regions A, B, C, each forming a thermally decoupling member. Fixing region A has a journal 68 that engages a recess 70 of a fixing element 72, which is attached to the roof frame 22 via screws 74. Fixing region A corresponds to the fixing region A of the exemplary embodiment described above, and in… Figure 6 This is explained in detail below. Therefore, to avoid repetition, please refer to the explanation above.

[0052] Both fixing areas B have journal-shaped rods 82 that engage with recesses 84 of base-shaped fixing elements 86, which are screwed onto the roof frame. Fixing areas B are in... Figure 7 As shown in the figure, and corresponding to the fixed method according to Figures 1 to 4 The fixed region B in the embodiment is why the above explanation in this regard is referred to to avoid repetition.

[0053] The fourth fixing region C includes a journal-shaped rod 96 that engages a recess 98 of a fixing element 100, which is screwed onto the roof frame 22. This fixing region corresponds to... Figures 1 to 4 The fixed region C of the exemplary embodiment, and in Figure 8 This is shown in detail below. To avoid repetition, please refer to the explanation above.

[0054] List of reference numerals

[0055] 10 Motor vehicles

[0056] 12 vehicle roofs

[0057] 14. Roof side beams

[0058] 16 Roof Modules

[0059] 18. Roofing

[0060] 20 car roof

[0061] 22 Roof frame

[0062] 24 Sensor Components

[0063] 26. Horizontal Frame Section

[0064] 28 Environmental Sensors

[0065] 30 Support Plate

[0066] 32 sensor units

[0067] 34 Incisions

[0068] 36, 36′ Installation Structure

[0069] 38 Radar Device

[0070] 40A and B cameras

[0071] 42A and B cameras

[0072] Cameras 44A and 44B

[0073] 46 seats

[0074] 48 Insulating elements

[0075] 50 clips

[0076] 52 screws

[0077] 54 winglets

[0078] 56 slots

[0079] 62 heat-conducting plate

[0080] 64 heat pipes

[0081] 66 Heat Exchanger

[0082] 68 strokes

[0083] 70 recess

[0084] 72 Fixing Components

[0085] 74 screws

[0086] 76 Fixing plate

[0087] 78 screws

[0088] 80 gap

[0089] 82 strokes

[0090] 84 recess

[0091] 86 Fixing Components

[0092] 88 Fixing Plate

[0093] 90 screws

[0094] 92 screws

[0095] 94 gap

[0096] 96 strokes

[0097] 98 recess

[0098] 100 Fixed Components

[0099] 102 Roof frame

Claims

1. A vehicle roof, the vehicle roof comprising: A roof skin (18) forming the visible outer surface of the vehicle roof and a sensor unit (32) having at least two environmental sensors (28) for detecting the vehicle environment, the sensor unit (32) being disposed below the roof skin (18) and attached to a support structure (22), and the sensor unit (32) including mounting structures (36, 36') for the at least two environmental sensors (28), characterized in that a thermal decoupling member is provided between the support structure (22) and the mounting structures (36, 36'), the thermal decoupling member including at least one rod (68, 82, 96), the at least one rod (68, 82, 96) being formed on the mounting structures (36, 36') and engaging with recesses (70, 84, 98) formed on fixing elements (72, 86, 100) attached to the support structure (22).

2. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rods (68, 82, 96) contact the fixing elements (72, 86, 100) via linear contact.

3. The vehicle roof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The rods (68, 82, 96) are fixed in the recesses (70, 84) by means of fixing plates (76, 88).

4. The vehicle roof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The fixing elements (72, 86, 100) are thermally isolated from the supporting structure (22).

5. The vehicle roof according to claim 4, characterized in that, There are gaps (80, 94) between the fixing elements (72, 86, 100) and the support structure (22).

6. The vehicle roof according to claim 5, characterized in that, The gaps (80, 94) are filled with thermal insulation material.

7. The vehicle roof according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5, and 6, characterized in that, The rods (68, 82, 96) are disposed in the recesses (70, 84, 98) with one-dimensional or two-dimensional clearance.

8. The vehicle roof according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5, and 6, characterized in that, The fixing elements (72, 86, 100) are made of plastic material.

9. The vehicle roof according to claim 8, characterized in that, The plastic material is a polyamide material.

10. The vehicle roof according to claim 8, characterized in that, The plastic material is a glass fiber reinforced polyamide material.

11. The vehicle roof according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, and 10, characterized in that, The mounting structures (36, 36') are made of metal.

12. The vehicle roof according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, and 10, characterized in that, The mounting structure (36, 36') is made of aluminum.

13. The vehicle roof according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, and 10, characterized in that, The vehicle roof is a roof used for passenger vehicles.

14. A motor vehicle, characterized in that, The motor vehicle includes a vehicle roof according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

Images