Top module with transmitter and / or receiver device

Abstract

A roof module comprising a panel member (12) forming at least a portion of a roof covering (14) of a roof (100) of a vehicle, the roof covering serving as an outer sealing surface of the roof module (10), the panel member having a viewing zone (19), characterized in that at least one emitter and / or receiver device (16) of an environmental sensor (18) is arranged directly and gaplessly at the viewing zone (19) and / or the panel member (12), or integrated in the viewing zone and / or the panel member, the at least one emitter and / or receiver device of the environmental sensor (18) being configured to be able to emit and / or receive electromagnetic signals and / or optical signals (24) directly via the viewing zone (19) and / or the panel member (12).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a roof module for forming a vehicle roof of a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the present application also relates to another roof module for forming a vehicle roof of a motor vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] Universal roof modules are known in the art. A universal roof module forms a vehicle roof of a motor vehicle it is configured for, the roof module being prefabricated as a self-contained functional module and being directly available on an assembly line for assembly. The roof module forms at least a portion of a roof cladding of the vehicle roof on its outer surface, which prevents moisture and / or air flow from entering the interior of the vehicle. The roof cladding is formed by one or more panel members, which can be made of a stable material, such as a coated metal sheet or a coated or solid colored plastic support. The roof module can be part of a rigid vehicle roof or part of a roof module group that can be opened.

[0003] Furthermore, the development of vehicle manufacturing is increasingly focusing on autonomous or partially autonomous motor vehicles. For the vehicle control system to automatically or partially automatically control the motor vehicle, a plurality of electrical, electronic and / or electromagnetic components needs to be installed extensively throughout the motor vehicle. Such components can be, for example, environmental sensors, such as lidar sensors, radar sensors, cameras, multi-cameras, similar including other (electric) components, etc., which are configured to record the environment surrounding the motor vehicle and to determine the corresponding traffic situation, for example, from the recorded environmental data.

[0004] Furthermore, roof modules are known from the state of the art, which comprise a plurality of environmental sensors to record the vehicle environment as comprehensively as possible. Such roof modules are referred to as roof sensor modules (RSM). The known environmental sensors emit and / or receive electromagnetic signals, such as laser beams or radar beams, the evaluation of which allows a data model of the vehicle environment to be generated, which can be used by the vehicle control system.

[0005] From the current state of the art, various ways of arranging environmental sensors on a roof module are known. For example, it is known from DE 10 2019 122 193 B4 to arrange environmental sensors on a frame of the roof module, by means of which the roof module is mounted on a vehicle-roof frame of a vehicle chassis. In most cases, panel members are arranged over or engage on such environmental sensors, which are respectively observed by predetermined viewing areas on the panel members. Furthermore, DE 10 2020 102 643 A1 discloses equipping a roof module with environmental sensors, which are movably mounted on the roof module between a non-active position and an active position.

[0006] There are several problems with these known methods of arranging environmental sensors in the top module. Limited installation space in the top area and the reportedly negative impact on the top module's shape and design due to sensor placement are issues. Furthermore, optimizing the packaging of the top area is impossible. Similarly, solutions regarding overall weight and production costs are also disadvantageous.

[0007] Another set of problems exists with known fixed environmental sensor methods, which require the environmental sensor to record the vehicle environment through multiple observation areas, particularly windows or lenses. Therefore, for example, a window and / or lens are provided within the housing of the environmental sensor, through which the sensor observes. This housing is, for example, arranged on a top module frame and covered by a panel member. Another observation area, particularly a window and / or lens, is provided within the panel member. In the prior art, environmental sensors are configured to look out from two or more observation areas to record the vehicle environment. Therefore, the electromagnetic rays and / or optical signals emitted and / or received by the environmental sensor must pass through multiple windows and / or lenses to record the vehicle environment. This results in light loss, which increases with each passage through each observation area. Furthermore, the multiple observation areas that switch downstream from each other cause optical offset and / or optical blur, negatively impacting the measurement accuracy of the environmental sensor. In other words, the environmental sensor's vision deteriorates.

[0008] To circumvent this problem, it is known to fix the environmental sensor, including its housing, into an opening in the panel component, for example, by inserting the housing into the opening. In this case, the housing has an observation area, meaning the environmental sensor can only observe through this area. However, this solution has significant problems with water tightness because the opening provided in the panel component must be completely sealed to prevent water from entering the top module. The sealing strips used require maintenance and may become brittle and crack due to exposure to sunlight, also resulting in a negative appearance. Furthermore, alternative solutions are at least more disadvantageous in terms of production costs. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a top module that avoids the disadvantages of the aforementioned known art, and in particular reduces light loss and / or recording loss of environmental sensors and / or solves a series of problems surrounding watertightness.

[0010] This objective is achieved through a top module taught according to this application. Alternatively, this objective is achieved through a top module taught according to other embodiments. Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved through a motor vehicle having an embodiment of a top module according to the invention.

[0011] Furthermore, all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the specification and / or figures are within the scope of this invention. Of course, the embodiments mentioned when referring to the top module are equally applicable to motor vehicles according to the invention, and need not be mentioned separately.

[0012] According to a first aspect, the top module according to the invention includes a panel member that forms at least a portion of a top cover of a vehicle, the top cover serving as an outer sealing surface of the top module, the panel member having an observation area. The top module is characterized in that a transmitter and / or receiver device for at least one environmental sensor is disposed directly and without gaps at the observation area and / or the panel member, or is integrated into the observation area and / or the panel member. The transmitter and / or receiver device is configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic and / or optical signals directly via the observation area and / or the panel member. According to this aspect, at least one transmitter and / or receiver device is preferably configured at the observation area and / or the panel member to directly contact a surface of the observation area and / or the panel member pointing inwards towards the top module. In other words, the transmitter and / or receiver device is preferably affixed to the inner surface of the observation area, or directly integrated into or integrated at the observation area. Particularly preferred is that the transmitter and / or receiver device is glued and / or screwed and / or directly connected in any way to the observation area and / or panel component, particularly to the observation area and / or panel component without any other intermediate components, especially to the surface of the observation area and / or panel component pointing towards the interior of the top module. Alternatively, the transmitter and / or receiver device can be integrated into the observation area and / or panel component, for example, embedded and / or molded and / or injection molded into the observation area and / or panel component. The observation area can be made of, for example, plastic or glass or any other material transparent to the transmitter and / or receiver device. The observation area preferably has optical filtering properties through which a predetermined wavelength, in particular, is selectively blocked, meaning that the observation area is opaque and / or impermeable to such a predetermined wavelength. Alternatively or additionally, the transmitter and / or receiver device can be integrated into the panel component, which is preferably made of a material preferably permeable to the electromagnetic signals used by the transmitter and / or receiver device. Thus, the transmitter and / or receiver device can also be included, for example, in the wall of the panel component. When the transmitter and / or receiver device is arranged on or integrated into a panel member, the panel member is preferably made of a transparent material that is permeable to the electromagnetic radiation used by the transmitter and / or receiver device. The transmitter and / or receiver device is preferably arranged in or integrated into a predetermined area of ​​the panel member and / or the observation area.

[0013] According to a second aspect, the top module according to the invention includes a panel member that forms at least a portion of a top cover of the vehicle, the top cover serving as the outer sealing surface of the top module. The panel member has an observation area. The top module is characterized in that a transmitter and / or receiver device for at least one environmental sensor is arranged in a housing without walls facing the observation area and connected to the panel member, and configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic and / or optical signals through the observation area and / or the panel member and an air gap between the observation area and the at least one transmitter and / or receiver device. According to this aspect, the transmitter and / or receiver device is arranged indirectly, i.e., through the housing, at the observation area and / or the panel member. The transmitter and / or receiver device is preferably arranged at or within the housing, or contained by the housing. The housing is preferably arranged on the panel member and / or configured such that the transmitter and / or receiver device is oriented within the housing so that it can be observed unobstructed through the observation area and / or the panel member. The housing is preferably located on and / or connected to and / or integrally formed with the panel member surrounding the observation area. The transmitter and / or receiver device is preferably disposed within or on the housing, and the transmitted and / or received electromagnetic and / or optical signals are transmitted into and / or received from the vehicle environment through the observation area and / or panel components and through an air gap formed between the transmitter and / or receiver device and the interior surface of the top-pointing module of the observation area.

[0014] According to the first and second aspects, the arrangement of at least one transmitter and / or receiver device contemplated by the present invention makes it possible to improve the shape and design of the top module compared to the prior art. Furthermore, the present invention allows for optimized packaging of the top area. Therefore, the overall weight can be optimized and reduced, and production costs can be lowered. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a greater range of design freedom for the layout and shape of the top module. Similarly, the present invention also solves a series of problems surrounding sealing, as plug solutions known in the art can be omitted.

[0015] According to the invention, the available mounting space is also expanded for the vehicle interior and / or other top module components, such as panoramic roofs and / or sunroofs, because preferably only the transmitter and / or receiver devices of the environmental sensor can be arranged in the edge region of the top module and within the predetermined mounting space. Other components of the environmental sensor, such as control and / or evaluation electronics and / or camera control units (CCUs) and / or image preprocessing devices and / or image processing devices, can instead be particularly preferably arranged in the top module and / or other areas of the vehicle, where a larger mounting space can be obtained than in the top module. This allows the mounting space in the top module for transmitting and / or receiving electromagnetic and / or optical environmental signals for recording the vehicle environment to be limited to a minimum size, because in the best case, only the transmitter and / or receiver devices can be arranged in the top module, particularly spatially distanced from other sensor components. In other words, only the transmitter and / or receiver devices can be arranged indirectly or directly at or within the observation area, and particularly communicated with other electrical and / or electronic and / or electromagnetic components of the environmental sensor via one or more cables or without cables. In this way, electromagnetic signals can be received from the vehicle environment within the field of view of the environmental sensor, and / or transmitted into the vehicle environment via transmitter and / or receiver devices. The flow of electrical signals is preferably via one or more cables or without cables. The field of view of the environmental sensor is preferably determined by the type and size of the transmitter and / or receiver devices and / or by the design of the observation area, for example, by selecting the lens forming the observation area. Particularly preferred is that multiple transmitter and / or receiver devices can be arranged in a top module. For each of the multiple transmitter and / or receiver devices, preferably one or more cables lead to other components of the environmental sensor. According to the invention, it is particularly preferred that other components, such as control and evaluation electronics and / or camera control unit (CCU) and / or image preprocessing devices and / or image processing devices, can be used together, i.e., for multiple transmitter and / or receiver devices. Thus, in other words, signals received and / or transmitted by multiple transmitter and / or receiver devices can be processed and / or evaluated by a centralized component. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to associate all the components required for a functional environmental sensor with each transmitter and / or receiver device. This reduces cost, weight, and required installation space. Furthermore, this makes it possible to place the transmitter and / or receiver device in almost any location on the top module, as a single transmitter and / or receiver device requires almost no installation space compared to a typical environmental sensor.

[0016] In other words, the present invention improves the positioning of environmental sensors, particularly through the arrangement of at least one transmitter and / or receiver device, because different sensor components can be arranged according to the available mounting space within the top module and / or vehicle frame, and in particular, arranged spatially spaced from each other. Compared to the prior art, the environmental sensor according to the invention is therefore no longer considered as having to be inserted into a uniform mounting space prepared for it, but can instead be arranged in different available mounting spaces throughout the top module and / or vehicle by being divided into individual sensor components, meaning that space can be optimally utilized. Furthermore, redundancy regarding individual sensor components can be omitted, as individual sensor components (see above) can preferably be grouped together. This allows for optimization of the field of view (FOV), etc., which increases the overall safety of the vehicle. According to the invention, arranging or integrating at least one transmitter and / or receiver device at or within the observation area makes it possible to omit some other components, such as de-icing devices, because the thermal performance of at least one transmitter and / or receiver device can be used to keep the observation area, particularly the windows and / or lenses, free of snow, ice, and / or fog. Therefore, by attaching at least one transmitter and / or receiver device, de-icing and / or defogging functions can be provided. If at least one transmitter and / or receiver device is arranged in the housing, this de-icing and / or defogging function is preferably provided by a heat trap within the housing, through which the observation area is heated internally.

[0017] The phrase "at least one" expresses that the top module according to the invention may include one or more of the aforementioned components. It is also understood that the top module may include multiple transmitter and / or receiver devices according to other embodiments. Furthermore, it is apparent that the panel component may include multiple mutually separated observation areas, each observation area preferably associated with at least one transmitter and / or receiver device. Similarly, the panel component may have at least one observation area sized such that multiple transmitter and / or receiver devices can be observed through this at least one observation area.

[0018] The top module according to the invention can be formed into a component in which devices, such as at least one environmental sensor, are integrated for automatic or partial automatic driving or driver-assisted driving, and this component can be attached as a unit to the vehicle body by the vehicle manufacturer. Furthermore, the top module according to the invention can be designed as a simple rigid roof or a roof including a top opening system. Additionally, the top module can be designed for passenger cars or commercial vehicles.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one transmitter and / or receiver device includes an image sensor, particularly a silicon sensor and / or a radar sensor. The image sensor is preferably a device that records a two-dimensional image of light in an electrical and / or mechanical manner. Preferably, a semiconductor-based image sensor is used, capable of recording light up to the mid-infrared range. Two-dimensional semiconductor detectors exist for recording high-energy ionizing beam types, such as X-ray beams and gamma rays. Particularly preferred is that the image sensor comprises a two-dimensional array whose signals are read out electronically. In other words, the image sensor is preferably a flat, thin component, like a circuit board. Such a component can be particularly preferably arranged directly in or integrated into the observation area, as little mounting space is required for it. Especially when evaluating infrared light, such an array is referred to as a focal plane array (FPA). The silicon sensor can be, for example, a CCD sensor, a Bayer filter, or an active pixel sensor.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing defines a housing section without walls facing the observation area, which is arranged on the panel member, particularly glued and / or screwed and / or bolted and / or welded and / or brazed to the panel member. Therefore, in the direction facing the observation area, the housing does not have its own walls but is enclosed by the observation area. The housing may, for example, consist only of a carrier element on which at least a transmitter and / or receiver device is arranged; in other words, it does not need to be completely enclosed. The housing may be only a partial housing and / or housing section. It is also understood that, in addition to the transmitter and / or receiver device, at least one other electrical and / or electronic and / or electromagnetic component of the environmental sensor, particularly control electronics and / or evaluation electronics and / or image processing electronics and / or image preprocessing electronics and / or at least one cable and / or communication module, may also be disposed at or within the housing. Therefore, the environmental sensor can be completely housed within the housing as an independent functional unit. However, according to the invention, it is preferable if only the transmitter and / or receiver devices are placed in the housing, particularly keeping them spatially distanced from other sensor components, as this optimizes the installation space. The material of the housing is generally arbitrary. Particularly preferred is that the housing is independent in its arrangement on the panel component, forming a dry area in which at least the transmitter and / or receiver devices of the environmental sensor and / or at least the antenna and / or at least the lighting device and / or at least the switch and / or at least the valve and / or at least the control unit can be arranged, particularly protected from moisture.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing and the panel component are integrally connected. Therefore, the housing is preferably formed integrally on the panel component. This can be achieved by deep drawing or die casting. In other words, the housing is made of the same material as the panel and is integral with it. Therefore, the housing is manufactured together with the panel component. The advantage of this is that no additional assembly is needed to secure the separate housing. Furthermore, it is possible to form a dry area for attaching at least one of the aforementioned components without the need for sealing for this purpose. In fact, sealing is already provided through the integral design. Therefore, integrating the housing into the panel component can omit some components or integrate them into other components. This achieves functional and / or partial integration. This has a positive impact on production costs and overall weight.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the observation area is embedded and / or inserted into, or formed by, the panel member, particularly integrally formed with the panel member. Particularly preferred is that the observation area includes at least one lens or at least one window. Particularly preferred is that the observation area is designed to be integral with the panel member. This can be achieved, for example, by the panel member being made of plastic or glass and corresponding to the desired transparency characteristics, at least within the area of ​​the observation area, thus being permeable to wavelengths that can be processed by the transmitter and / or receiver device. Particularly preferred is that the observation area can be designed as a lens. The lens preferably has a convex curve pointing towards the vehicle environment, through which the field of view (FOV) of the environmental sensor can be influenced. The lens can be integrally formed with the panel member by the material thickness formed within the area of ​​the observation area, for example, the material thickness can be cut in another step, for example, to produce the optical properties of the lens.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the environmental sensor includes a lidar sensor and / or a radar sensor and / or a camera sensor and / or a multi-camera sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor. Generally, the environmental sensor according to the invention can be designed in many different ways, including lidar sensors, radar sensors, optical sensors, such as cameras or multi-cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and / or similar sensors. The wavelength of the lidar sensor is, for example, 905 nm or even about 1550 nm. The material of the observation area of ​​the environmental sensor is preferably transparent to the wavelength range used by the environmental sensor and is selected according to the wavelength used by the environmental sensor. It is understood that only a transmitter and / or receiver device, such as an image sensor and / or photoelectric chip, may be provided. Separately, evaluation electronics, particularly referred to as a camera control unit (CCU), may be arranged, for example, in the top module and / or area of ​​the vehicle, and this evaluation electronics is configured to evaluate the signal recorded by the image sensor.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the panel component includes at least one electrical, electronic, and / or electromagnetic component. Clearly, the present invention allows for the direct or indirect configuration of at least one electrical, electronic, and / or electromagnetic component on the panel component, replacing or supplementing the transmitter and / or receiver device of an environmental sensor. Therefore, according to the present invention, the top module is also contemplated as at least one component serving as a replacement or supplement to the transmitter and / or receiver device of an environmental sensor. In other words, at least one electrical, electronic, and / or electromagnetic component can be directly, particularly without interconnection with other components, or indirectly, particularly through other components and / or through a housing, constructed on the panel component. For example, the at least one component can be contained within a housing, which in turn is disposed on or integrally formed with the panel component. The at least one component can include at least one antenna and / or at least one measuring sensor and / or at least one communication device and / or at least one lighting device. Clearly, the component can also include multiple components mentioned above. The antenna can be an electric or magnetic antenna. The measuring sensor can be a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, GPS sensor, accelerometer, and / or similar measuring sensors, for example. The communication device can be a WiFi interface, an LTE interface, or any type of short-range, medium-range, or long-range communication interface. The vehicle is configured to communicate with its environment via communication devices, particularly by transmitting and / or receiving data. Lighting sensors may include one or more illuminators. These illuminators are specifically designed to display partially automated and / or automated driving operations and / or different driving conditions of the vehicle.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the top module is arranged as a component on the top frame of the vehicle frame. This arrangement of the top module on the top frame can preferably be achieved by adhesive bonding, bolting, and / or welding. For this purpose, the top module may have a top module frame, or it may simply be arranged on the top frame or on the roof frame as a panel component, i.e., without a top frame module.

[0026] The present invention also relates to a vehicle having a vehicle frame, wherein, according to one embodiment, at least one top module is disposed on the vehicle frame. Clearly, according to the present invention, a motor vehicle may include multiple top modules that form at least a portion of the motor vehicle's top cladding and / or are disposed at least in the top region of the vehicle, for example, in the region of the longitudinal beams and / or transverse beams of the motor vehicle's top frame. Such a top module according to the present invention may, for example, only cover a portion of the vehicle's top. Therefore, such a top module does not form a continuous top cladding or a continuous motor vehicle top.

[0027] It is obvious that the embodiments and exemplary embodiments mentioned above and described in more detail below are not limited to implementation alone, but can be combined with each other in any way without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, it is obvious that the embodiments and exemplary embodiments mentioned above and described in more detail below refer to the top module of the invention as well as, or at least similarly, to, the invention, without needing to be explicitly stated. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention are schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in more detail below.

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a motor vehicle with a vehicle frame and a top module is shown;

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a first arrangement of the transmitter and / or receiver device contemplated by the present invention is shown;

[0031] Figure 3 A side view of a first arrangement of the transmitter and / or receiver device contemplated by the present invention is shown;

[0032] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a second arrangement of the transmitter and / or receiver device contemplated by the present invention is shown;

[0033] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a second arrangement of the transmitter and / or receiver device contemplated by the present invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a first arrangement of environmental sensors in the prior art;

[0035] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a first arrangement of environmental sensors in the prior art;

[0036] Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of a second arrangement of environmental sensors in the prior art; and

[0037] Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a second arrangement of environmental sensors in the prior art. Detailed Implementation

[0038] exist Figure 1The image shows a motor vehicle 1000 with a vehicle roof 100. In this example, the vehicle roof 100 is formed by a roof module 10. The roof module 10 can be attached as a component to the top frame 102 of the vehicle frame 103. This covering action is illustrated in dashed lines in this example. The roof module 10 includes a panel member 12, which forms the top cladding 14 of the vehicle roof 100. A front crossbeam 104 forms the front top of the vehicle 1000. The front crossbeam 104, together with the rear crossbeam 104 and two side beams 106, constitutes the top frame 102.

[0039] Viewed longitudinally (x) from the vehicle, on the front, central top region of the top module 10, the transmitter and / or receiver device 16 of the environmental sensor 18 is directly and without gaps arranged on the panel member 12. The transmitter and / or receiver device 16 is configured to directly transmit and / or receive electromagnetic signals and / or optical signals 24 via an observation area 19. The observation area 19 is permeable to the signals processed by the transmitter and / or receiver device 16. In this case, the observation area 19 is also transparent to visible wavelengths, meaning that the transmitter and / or receiver device 16 can be seen through the observation area 19. The observation area 19 is currently designed as a lens. Figure 1 In this case, the transmitter and / or receiver device 16 is adhered to the surface of the observation area 19 facing the interior of the top module 10. Alternatively, the transmitter and / or receiver device 16 can also be integrated into the observation area, for example, by casting. The transmitter and / or receiver device 16 is an image sensor or photoelectric chip. Other technical components 21 of the environmental sensor 18, particularly image processing or evaluation devices, are arranged in the mounting space of the rear area of ​​the wheel guards or fenders of the vehicle frame 103 in this example, and are shown in a strongly simplified manner as a box. The transmitter and / or receiver device 16 is communicatively connected to the other technical components 21 via cable harness 22, i.e., via multiple cables in this embodiment. The cable harness 22 is preferably guided to the other technical components 21 along the vehicle frame or along the top frame 102.

[0040] In this example, vehicle sensor 18 is a lidar sensor. Other sensor types, such as (multi-directional) cameras and / or ultrasonic sensors, may also be used. Environmental sensor 18 is configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic signals 24 in order to record the vehicle environment of vehicle 1000 in this way (e.g., for autonomous driving or for parking).

[0041] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the transmitter and / or receiver device 16 may be configured at the housing 20 (see [reference]). Figures 2 to 5 In this case, at least two different types of casings are conceivable. However, casing 20 can also be a partial casing or a casing segment.

[0042] according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The housing 20 may be a housing 20 connected to the panel member 12, having no walls in the direction facing the observation area 19, and arranged and / or attached to the panel member 12 as a separate component. In the (separate) housing 20, the transmitter and / or receiver device 16 is arranged to be spatially distanced from the other components 21 of the environmental sensor 18 and connected to them via a cable harness 22. Figure 3 The diagram illustrates that electromagnetic and / or optical signals 24 are transmitted and / or received via observation area 19 and an air gap 23 within housing 20 between observation area 19 and at least one transmitter and / or receiver device 16. Therefore, electromagnetic and / or optical signals 24 do not necessarily need to pass through multiple observation areas 19 as in the prior art shown in Figures 6 and 7. This reduces optical loss.

[0043] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In this case, the housing 20 is integrally formed with the panel member 12. Therefore, the housing 20 is integrally arranged on the panel member 12, and it is not necessary to install it separately.

[0044] Figures 6 to 9 illustrate embodiments of prior art sensor arrangements. As can be seen from Figures 6 and 7, in the prior art, the environmental sensor 18 is typically arranged as a closed functional unit within a separate, independent housing 20 on the top module 10, which is common practice. For this purpose, the housing 20 has its own observation area 19, meaning that the environmental sensor 18 must pass through two observation areas 19 to record the vehicle environment.

[0045] As can be seen from Figures 8 and 9, there is a prior art insertion scheme in which the environmental sensor 18 is inserted into the panel member 12 as an independent functional unit 18 through an opening in the closed housing 20. In this case, the environmental sensor 18 can be observed only through the observation area 19 of the housing 20; however, in this case, there is a problem with sealing performance because the opening needs to be sealed.

[0046] List of reference numerals

[0047] 10 Top Modules

[0048] 12 panel components

[0049] 14 Top Cover

[0050] 16 transmitter and / or receiver devices

[0051] 18 Environmental Sensors

[0052] 19 Observation Zones

[0053] 20 sets of shells

[0054] 21 Other components of environmental sensors

[0055] 22 Cable harness

[0056] 23 air gap

[0057] 24 Electromagnetic signals and / or optical signals

[0058] 100 vehicle tops

[0059] 102 Top Frame

[0060] 103 vehicle chassis

[0061] 104 crossbeams

[0062] 106 side beams

[0063] 1000 motor vehicles

Claims

1. A top module comprising a panel member (12) forming at least a portion of a top cover (14) of a vehicle top (100), the top cover serving as an outer sealing surface of the top module (10), the panel member having an observation area (19), characterized in that, At least one transmitter and / or receiver device (16) of the environmental sensor (18) is disposed directly and without gaps in the observation area (19) and / or the panel member (12), or integrated in the observation area and / or the panel member, and at least one transmitter and / or receiver device of the environmental sensor (18) is configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic signals and / or optical signals (24) directly via the observation area (19) and / or the panel member (12).

2. A top module comprising a panel member (12) forming at least a portion of a top cover (14) of a vehicle top (100), the top cover serving as an outer sealing surface of the top module (10), the panel member having an observation area (19), characterized in that, At least one transmitter and / or receiver device (16) of the environmental sensor (18) is arranged in a housing (20) without walls in the direction toward the observation area (19) and connected to the panel member (12), and at least one transmitter and / or receiver device of the environmental sensor (18) is configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic signals and / or optical signals (24) via the observation area (19) and / or the panel member (12) and the air gap (23) between the observation area (19) and the at least one transmitter and / or receiver device.

3. The top module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The at least one transmitter and / or receiver device (16) includes an image sensor.

4. The top module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The at least one transmitter and / or receiver device (16) includes a silicon sensor.

5. The top module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The housing (20) defines a housing section that has no wall in the direction toward the observation area (19) and is located at the panel member (12).

6. The top module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing section is glued and / or fixed with screws and / or bolted and / or fused and / or brazed at the panel component.

7. The top module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The housing (20) and the panel component (12) are integrally connected.

8. The top module according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5-7, characterized in that, The observation area (19) is embedded in and / or inserted into the panel member (12), or is integrally formed by the panel member (12), the observation area including at least one lens or at least one window.

9. The top module according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5-7, characterized in that, The environmental sensor (18) includes a lidar sensor and / or a radar sensor and / or a camera sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor.

10. The top module according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5-7, characterized in that, The panel component (12) includes at least one electrical, electronic and / or electromagnetic component, which has at least one antenna and / or at least one measuring sensor and / or at least one communication device and / or at least one lighting device.

11. The top module according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5-7, characterized in that, The top module (10) is arranged as a structural unit on the vehicle frame (103).

12. A vehicle (1000) having a vehicle frame (103) on which a top module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is disposed.

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