Heating system for motor vehicle roof, motor vehicle roof for motor vehicle, and motor vehicle having motor vehicle roof

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating system (1) for a motor vehicle roof of a motor vehicle and to a motor vehicle roof comprising such a heating system (1). The invention further relates to a motor vehicle equipped with the motor vehicle roof. The heating system (1) has a heating element assembly (3) arranged to be mounted in a ceiling of the motor vehicle roof. Furthermore, the heating system (1) has an image sensing device (7) which is designed to capture an image of the head of a user of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the heating system (1) comprises: an image evaluation unit (8), which is arranged to ascertain a head coverage state of the user on the basis of the image; control means (9) configured to dose the heating power provided by means of the heating energy source (2) to the heating element assembly (3) as a function of the detected head covering state.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating system for a motor vehicle roof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to such a motor vehicle roof having a heating system. Additionally, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a motor vehicle roof having the heating system. Background Art

[0002] In an electrically drivable motor vehicle, its traction battery is arranged in or at the bottom of the motor vehicle. In order to be able to ensure a suitable headroom for the occupants in the interior space of such an electric vehicle, these electric vehicles have a greater vehicle height compared to motor vehicles in which the traction battery is installed at other locations (especially compared to conventional motor vehicles that can be driven by an internal combustion engine). However, the known objective is to arrange the center of mass of the motor vehicle as low as possible, especially from the perspective of operation and thus the associated safety aspects. Therefore, there is a need to, on the one hand, position the traction battery as far as possible at the bottom of the motor vehicle and, on the other hand, implement the motor vehicle with as low a vehicle height as possible. For this purpose, there is a possibility of constructing the motor vehicle roof as thin as possible and / or designing the roof such that it is arranged particularly close to the heads of ordinary vehicle users. For example, a glass roof can be used. However, this results in the heat emitted by the user's head being conducted particularly quickly through the roof to the surrounding environment of the motor vehicle, whereby the user particularly quickly feels an uncomfortable cold sensation on the head in this case. This effect is even enhanced in users with short hair (whose head hair growth is sparse or bald) especially when the user is not wearing a hat or the like.

[0003] From the prior art, for example, from DE102020127121A1 or DE102019208691A1, a motor vehicle roof having a heating device is known. DE112021000312T5 and DE102020003881A1 disclose a passenger heating unit for a motor vehicle, by means of which different passenger body regions can be heated differently independently of each other. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a particularly efficient solution in order to be able to provide heat for the users in the interior space of the motor vehicle in a user - personalized and demand - compliant manner.

[0005] This task is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further possible design solutions of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Features, advantages and possible design solutions set forth in the scope of the description for one of the subjects of the independent claims are considered to be at least similarly applicable, across classes and embodiments, to the corresponding subjects of the other independent claims and to each possible combination of the features, advantages and possible design solutions of the subject of the independent claims, optionally in combination with one or more of the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, a heating system for a motor vehicle roof is provided. Furthermore, a motor vehicle roof having the heating system is provided. Furthermore, a motor vehicle having the motor vehicle roof and implemented, for example, as a passenger car is provided. Furthermore, a method for operating the heating system can be readily apparent from the description. In the prescribed installation position, the heating system forms part of the motor vehicle roof. Furthermore, the motor vehicle roof forms part of the motor vehicle in the prescribed installation position. The motor vehicle roof can be a fixed roof, for example, used in limousines, coupes, etc. Furthermore, the motor vehicle roof can be a convertible roof or a roof that can be folded in sections, as used in convertibles. In any case, the motor vehicle roof has organic and / or inorganic materials, such as wood, metallic materials, glass, textiles, etc.

[0007] The heating system has a heating element assembly which is arranged to be installed in the headliner of the motor vehicle roof. Thus, for the motor vehicle roof or the motor vehicle, it is applicable that the heating element assembly is installed or integrated into the headliner. The heating element assembly has one heating element or a plurality of heating elements, wherein, in the heating operation of the heating system, the ambient air in the surroundings of the respective heating element is heated by means of the respective heating element. The heating system, in particular the heating element assembly, can have air guiding elements and / or air deflecting elements in order to guide the heated air to the interior space of the motor vehicle in a particularly efficient and targeted manner (for example, directly towards the user of the motor vehicle).

[0008] One or more of the heating elements are, for example, respective heat exchange elements through which a fluid (gas and / or liquid) heated by a heating unit is guided in the heating operation of the heating system, such that the ambient air in the surroundings of the heat exchange element is heated. In this case, the respective heating element and the heating unit are fluidly connected or connectable to each other by means of a pipe and / or hose arrangement. The heating of the fluid can be carried out by an exothermic reaction upon ignition of a combustible substance (such as gas, vapor, liquid, solid or mixture) using oxygen.

[0009] Furthermore, one or more of the heating elements, such as corresponding electric heating elements, conduct current through the heating strands or heating wires of the electric heating elements by means of a heating voltage source during the heating operation of the heating system, thereby heating the heating strands / wires, and thus heating the ambient air in the environment around the electric heating element. The corresponding electric heating element can be configured as a heating pad. The heating voltage source and the corresponding heating element are electrically connected or connectable to each other by means of an electrical conductor device (which, for example, has current cables and / or busbars). The heating voltage source can have the traction battery of the motor vehicle and / or another battery. A DC voltage converter can be connected between the heating voltage source and the heating element assembly, and by means of this DC voltage converter, the heating voltage provided by the heating voltage source is smoothed and / or adapted to the voltage level required by the heating element assembly, for example 12 V (volts). The corresponding heating element can, for example, be a photovoltaic element.

[0010] The heating system further has an image detection sensing device, which is arranged to take an image of the head of the user of the motor vehicle. The image detection sensing device has one image sensor (such as a camera) or multiple image sensors. The corresponding image sensor can be arranged in the motor vehicle roof or in the interior space or on the housing of the motor vehicle. During the operation of the heating system, an image of the user's head is taken by means of one image sensor or multiple image sensors. This can be done during the approach of the user to the motor vehicle, for example, by means of the first image sensor of the image detection sensing device, and / or when the user is seated in the interior space of the motor vehicle, for example, by means of the second image sensor of the image detection sensing device.

[0011] A further feature of the heating system is an image evaluation unit which is configured to determine the head covering state of the user based on an image. Here, the head covering is understood not only as the natural head covering of a person which is configured as hair, but also as an artificial head covering. This means that it is determined by means of the image evaluation unit whether the user of the motor vehicle or the heating system has short hair, sparse / little head hair growth or is bald. Alternatively or additionally, it is determined whether the user has an artificial head covering, such as a hat, a top hat, a cap, etc. For this purpose, it is provided that an image of the head is provided to the image evaluation unit, where, for example, by means of image data processing it is determined whether there is a scalp area on the image which is not covered by the (natural or artificial) head covering and / or how much scalp area there is. Furthermore, it can be determined whether there are areas on the image of the head which are different from the bald scalp (since they are covered by hair and / or an artificial head covering) and / or how many such areas there are. The image evaluation unit can be a computer unit on which software is stored, which software, when implemented, causes the computer unit to determine the head covering state of the user based on the image of the head. The computer unit can be the controller of the heating system, the controller of the motor vehicle roof or the controller of the motor vehicle, in particular the central controller. Thus, the image evaluation unit can be a software module which is implemented by means of the corresponding controller, in particular by means of the central controller, for determining the head covering state.

[0012] The control device of the heating system, for example the controller of the heating system, is set to allocate the heating power provided by means of the heating energy source to the heating element assembly, that is, to one heating element or a plurality of heating elements, depending on the head covering state. The control device can be a second computer unit storing control software, and when the control software is implemented, the second computer unit distributes or provides the heating energy of the heating energy source to the heating element assembly as needed. The second computer unit can be the controller of the heating system, the controller of the motor vehicle roof or the controller of the motor vehicle, especially the central controller. Therefore, the control device can be a second software module, which is implemented by means of the corresponding controller, especially by means of the central controller, for controlling the heating system. The heating energy source can be part of the heating system, part of the motor vehicle roof and / or part of the motor vehicle. Depending on the one heating element / plurality of heating elements present, the heating energy source includes a heating unit and / or a heating voltage source as a heat exchange element or an electric heating element. When it is determined by means of the image evaluation unit that the user has little or no hair on the head, or has little hair growth or is bald and / or has no artificial head covering, the heating system is operated by means of the control device such that a first heating power of the heating energy source is provided to the heating element assembly. When it is determined by means of the image evaluation unit that the user has a lot of hair on the head, that is, has thick hair growth and / or has a head covering, the heating system is operated by means of the control device such that a second heating power of the heating energy source is provided to the heating element assembly. Here, the first heating power is higher than the second heating power. In short, more or less heating power is allocated to one heating element or a plurality of heating elements by means of the heating system based on the user's head hair growth, so as to heat the user's head more or less accordingly.

[0013] In this way, the personal situation of the user is taken into account when providing the heating power, and the heating power is not provided arbitrarily by means of the heating system. More heat is provided as needed for users with little hair on the head, while less heat is provided as needed for users with a lot of hair on the head. Therefore, heat is provided for the user in the interior space of the motor vehicle in a personalized and on-demand manner, whereby the heating system operates particularly energy-efficiently. In addition, it is also conceivable to manually activate / deactivate and / or set the heat provided to the user, whereupon the heating system has corresponding hardware and / or software operating elements that can be manipulated by the user. The operating elements can include an output unit, such as a display, such as a head-up display, etc., for displaying the current set parameters of the heating system to the user.

[0014] In another possible embodiment, one or more heating elements of the heating element assembly are formed by (corresponding) photovoltaic elements, which are configured to operate in a voltage generation operating mode and a heating operating mode. In the voltage generation operating mode, voltage is provided by means of the heating element, and in the heating operating mode, heat is provided by means of the heating element. Here, the control device is configured to selectively operate the heating element in the voltage generation operating mode or the heating operating mode. In this regard, the heating element implemented as a photovoltaic element can in particular be switched between the voltage generation operating mode and the heating operating mode by means of the control device. Thus, the heating element advantageously has a dual function, namely, firstly, it is used as an energy conversion element in the voltage generation operating mode, by means of which sunlight is converted into voltage for use in a motor vehicle, and secondly, it is used as a heating element in the heating operating mode, by means of which heat is provided to the user of the motor vehicle in the interior space. In the heating operating mode, the photovoltaic element acts as an infrared light-emitting diode and thus as an infrared heat source. The photovoltaic element is in particular specifically configured to operate not only in the heating operating mode but also in the voltage generation operating mode according to regulations.

[0015] According to a possible improvement, the heating element is configured as a flexible photovoltaic film. This has advantages in terms of the particularly versatile possible uses of the heating element or the photovoltaic element. For example, the photovoltaic film can be installed on the curved part of the motor vehicle roof. In addition, the photovoltaic film is particularly thin, so that despite the presence of the heating element on the motor vehicle roof, a particularly thin motor vehicle roof can still be achieved. The photovoltaic film can be implemented in all possible colors from black to white.

[0016] According to another possible embodiment, the photovoltaic film is transparent, especially image-transparent, so that the heating element can advantageously be used in combination with the glass roof part of the motor vehicle roof. In an improvement, the photovoltaic film can be 100% transparent or translucent, that is, glass-transparent. In a possible improvement of the motor vehicle roof, the motor vehicle roof has such a glass roof part that has an inner glass plate and an outer glass plate, and the transparent heating element or the transparent photovoltaic film is arranged between the glass plates. Thus, the transparency of the glass roof part is not impaired by the heating element. This is desirable because a transparent glass roof or glass roof part provides a particularly advantageous spatial feeling for the user, especially when the motor vehicle roof is arranged particularly close to the user's head.

[0017] According to a further possible design, the heating system has two or more heating element groups, which have one or more heating elements of a heating element assembly. A first heating element group of the heating element groups, that is to say for example a first heating element, is assigned to a first seat area of the motor vehicle, while a second heating element group of the heating element groups, that is to say for example a second heating element, is assigned to a second seat area of the motor vehicle. The heating element groups can be controlled individually or independently of one another by means of a control device. The control device is thus configured to allocate the heating power individually to the respective heating element groups according to the head covering state of the user. A corresponding seat area is for example a single seat or a bench seat of the motor vehicle. In particular, the heating system has as many heating element groups as the motor vehicle has seat areas. Thus, if it is determined during the operation of the heating system that a first user with little hair and / or no artificial head covering on the head enters or sits in the first seat area, the heating system is controlled by means of the control device such that a higher first heating power of the heating energy source is provided to the first user, more precisely by means of one first heating element or a plurality of first heating elements of the first heating element group. Furthermore, if it is determined during the operation of the heating system that a second user with a lot of hair and / or with a head covering on the head enters or sits in the second seat area, the heating system is simultaneously controlled by means of the control device such that a lower second heating power of the heating energy source is provided to the second user, more precisely by means of one second heating element or a plurality of second heating elements of the second heating element group. It can be provided that the heating system has respectively assigned image detection sensing means for each seat area and / or for each user, and / or that the image detection sensing means are arranged to take a personalized image of the user for each user. It is also conceivable to determine the head covering state of two or more users by means of an image showing the heads of two or more users. Since the heating element groups can be controlled individually, the heating system can also operate more energy-efficiently and can advantageously dispense with the unnecessary heating / warming of the entire motor vehicle roof. Instead, personalized different heating powers or heat quantities are provided for the users. Thus, the electrical energy stored in the motor vehicle is not wasted due to the unnecessary heating of the motor vehicle roof as a whole and can be used for example for the electric driving range of the motor vehicle.

[0018] According to possible improvement solutions, the heating system includes a seat area occupancy sensing device configured to detect the occupancy of the seat area. The control device is configured to allocate the heating power to each of the heating elements individually according to the occupancy of the corresponding seat area and according to the head covering state. The seat area occupancy sensing device has one or more seat area occupancy sensors. In particular, the corresponding seat area occupancy sensors are constituted by sensors that are originally used in the motor vehicle roof and / or in the motor vehicle independently of the heating system. The seat area occupancy sensing device may, for example, have a door contact sensor, a seat back lock sensor, a seat belt lock sensor, a thermal sensor, a seat occupancy sensor pad, a contact sensor, an image sensor (especially a camera), a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a gesture recognition sensor, a microphone, and / or an operating element (especially a steering wheel and / or pedals, etc.) as the corresponding seat area occupancy sensors. In particular, the corresponding seat area occupancy sensors are coupled or can be coupled to a control device for sensor data transmission. It is also conceivable that the seat area occupancy sensors are coupled or can be coupled to the motor vehicle roof or another control unit of the motor vehicle, especially to the central controller. During the operation of the heating system, the sensor data of the sensors acting as seat area occupancy sensors are then provided to the control device or the occupant recognition unit by means of another control unit. The occupant recognition unit can be a third computer unit on which a third software is stored. When the third software is implemented, the third computer unit determines the seat area occupancy according to the data of the seat area occupancy sensing device. The third computer unit can be the controller of the heating system, the controller of the motor vehicle roof, or the controller of the motor vehicle, especially the central controller. Therefore, the occupant recognition unit can be a third software module that is implemented by means of the corresponding controller, especially by means of the central controller, for seat area occupancy recognition. By means of the seat area occupancy sensing device, it is possible to determine particularly accurately and reliably whether a user is sitting in the motor vehicle and, if so, in which seat area of the seat area the user is sitting. The accuracy and reliability of seat occupancy detection are further improved in the case of sensor fusion using two or more of the above-mentioned seat area occupancy sensors. Thus, if it is detected during the operation of the heating system that the user of the motor vehicle is sitting in the first seat area, the motor vehicle roof is heated at this location, for example, by supplying heating power to the first heating element group assigned to the first seat area by means of the control device. Here, if it is detected during the operation of the heating system that no user is sitting in the second seat area, the interior space is not heated by means of the heating system in the second seat area at the same time. Therefore, the control device does not supply heating power to the second heating element group assigned to the second seat area. Therefore, in particular, a heating system that can operate in a particularly energy-efficient manner should be considered to a certain extent.

[0019] A further possible embodiment of the heating system provides that the heating system has temperature sensing means which itself has one or more of the following temperature sensors:

[0020] - an external temperature sensor for detecting the external temperature, i.e. the temperature present in the surroundings of the motor vehicle,

[0021] - an interior space temperature sensor for detecting the interior space temperature,

[0022] - a roof temperature sensor for detecting the roof temperature.

[0023] The control means is also configured in this embodiment to allocate heating power to the heating element assembly, i.e. one heating element or a plurality of heating elements, based on the external temperature and / or the interior space temperature and / or the roof temperature and according to the head covering state. For this purpose, in particular, corresponding limit temperatures are preset, i.e. an external limit temperature, an interior space limit temperature and / or a roof limit temperature. During operation of the heating system, when the external temperature sensor, the interior space temperature sensor and / or the roof temperature sensor detects a temperature below the corresponding limit temperature, the heating power is provided to the heating element assembly or the heating element arranged in the motor vehicle roof by means of the control means. The external limit temperature, the interior space limit temperature and the roof limit temperature can have different values. In an improvement, it is provided that, in order to detect the external temperature, alternatively or additionally, data is provided by means of a backend server device outside the vehicle. In this regard, the control means and the backend server device are coupled or can be coupled for data transmission, in particular by means of the telematics controller of the motor vehicle. The backend server device obtains meteorological data, in particular from a meteorological service. Thus, during operation of the heating system, not only the head covering state of one or more users is advantageously taken into account, but also the temperature conditions present in and / or around the motor vehicle are additionally taken into account.

[0024] Further features of the invention can be derived from the claims, the drawings and the description of the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features shown separately below in the description of the drawings and / or in the drawings can be used not only in the respectively given combinations, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention. Description of the Drawings

[0025] The drawings show in a single figure (which is referred to as Figure 1 ) a schematic view or block diagram of a heating system 1 for a motor vehicle roof. In Figure 1In the figures, identical and functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference signs. Although the motor vehicle roof and the motor vehicle having the motor vehicle roof are not shown in Figure 1 they are described in the following common description of the heating system 1, the motor vehicle roof, and the motor vehicle. Since the motor vehicle roof has the heating system 1 as a component part, the motor vehicle having the motor vehicle roof has the heating system 1 as a component part. Detailed Description

[0026] The heating system 1 or the motor vehicle has a heating energy source 2 which is configured as a heating voltage source or a heating unit. Furthermore, the heating system 1 has a heating element assembly 3, the heating elements of which are installed in the ceiling of the motor vehicle roof. If the heating elements are each configured as heat exchange elements, then in this case the heating energy source 2 having the heating unit and the heating element assembly 3 are fluidly directly connected or connectable to each other by means of a pipe and / or hose device 4. During the heating operation of the heating system 1, the fluid heated by the heating unit of the heating energy source 2 is guided through the channels of the respective heat exchange elements, thereby heating the air in the surroundings of the heat exchange elements. As long as the heating elements are each implemented as electric heating elements, then in this case the heating energy source 2 having the heating voltage source and the heating element assembly 3 are electrically connected or connectable to each other by means of an electrical conductor device 5, in the present case by means of a DC voltage converter 6. By means of the heating strands or heating wires of the respective electric heating elements, a current is guided by means of the heating voltage source of the heating energy source 2 during the heating operation of the heating system, thereby heating the heating strands / heating wires and thus heating the air in the surroundings of the electric heating elements. At least one of the heating elements of the heating element assembly 3 is configured as a photovoltaic element in the present case. It can be provided that the heating system 1 has not only at least one heating element configured as a heat exchange element but also at least one heating element configured as an electric heating element, whereupon the heating energy source 2 has not only a heating unit but also a heating voltage source, which are connected / connectable to the associated heating elements by means of a pipe or hose device 4 or by means of an electrical conductor device 5 for transmitting heating energy.

[0027] In addition, the heating system 1 has an image detection and sensing device 7, by means of which an image of the head of the user of the motor vehicle is taken during the operation of the heating system 1. The image can be taken when the user approaches the motor vehicle and / or when the user is sitting in the interior space of the motor vehicle. The image is provided to the image evaluation unit 8 of the heating system 1. By means of the image evaluation unit, the head covering state of the user is determined based on the image, that is, for example, whether the user has short hair, whether the user has only (still) sparse head hair growth or is already bald, has strong / thick hair growth and / or whether the user has an artificial head covering (hat, top hat, etc.). Then, the result of the determination of the head covering state is provided to the control device 9 of the heating system 1. By means of this control device, during the operation of the heating system 1, the heating power provided by the heating energy source 2 is allocated to the heating element assembly 3, that is, one heating element or a plurality of heating elements, according to the detected head covering state or according to the result of the determination of the head covering state. The control device 9 also controls the heating energy source 2 (that is, the heating voltage source and / or the heating unit) in such a way that more or less heating power (heated fluid and / or heating voltage) is supplied to one heating element or a plurality of heating elements as required. In other words: for example, if the user has only a small amount of hair left, a high first heating power is supplied to the user, while if the user has an artificial head covering, for example, a lower second heating power is supplied to the user.

[0028] At least one of the heating elements of the heating element assembly 3 is configured as a photovoltaic element in the form of a transparent photovoltaic film or pad in the present case. Here, the heating element implemented as a photovoltaic element is provided for selectively operating in a voltage generation operating mode and in a heating operating mode according to regulations. In the voltage operating mode, a voltage is provided by means of the heating element / photovoltaic element, whereby, for example, the battery of the motor vehicle, especially the traction battery, is charged. On the contrary, in the heating operating mode, the current is converted into heat by means of the heating element / photovoltaic element. Here, the battery of the motor vehicle, especially the traction battery, provides current for the heating element / photovoltaic element to generate heat. The control device 9 is configured to selectively operate the heating element / photovoltaic element in the voltage generation operating mode or the heating operating mode, or to switch between the modes.

[0029] In this case, the motor vehicle roof has a glass roof part, such as a glass sliding roof, a non-movable or partially movable panoramic glass roof section, etc. The glass roof part has an inner glass plate fastened to each other on the inner chamber side and an outer glass plate arranged on the outer side. Here, the transparent photovoltaic film or the correspondingly configured heating element is arranged between the glass plates.

[0030] Here, in this example, the heating system 1 also has a first heating element group of the heating element assembly 3 and a second heating element group of the heating element assembly 3. The first heating element group is assigned to the first seat area of the motor vehicle, and the second heating element group is assigned to the second seat area of the motor vehicle. Each corresponding heating element group has one or more heating elements of the heating element assembly 3. In addition, the control device 9 is hereby set up to allocate the heating power individually to each heating element group according to the detected head covering state. For the operation of the heating system 1, it is expedient that the heating element groups, or the heating elements grouped into heating element groups, are controlled individually or independently of one another by means of the control device 9, where,

[0031] - if it is determined that a first user with little hair and / or no artificial head covering on the head enters or sits in the first seat area, a higher first heating power of the heating energy source 2 is provided to this first user, and

[0032] - if it is determined that a second user with a lot of hair and / or a head covering on the head enters or sits in the second seat area, a lower second heating power of the heating energy source 2 is provided to this second user.

[0033] The seat area occupancy sensing device 10 of the heating system 1 detects the occupancy of the seat area during the operation of the heating system 1. Here, the heating power is allocated individually to the heating elements by means of the control device 9 according to the occupancy of the respective seat area and according to the detected head covering state of the user. Thus, if it is detected during the operation of the heating system 1 that a user of the motor vehicle is sitting in the first seat area, the motor vehicle roof is heated at this location by supplying the heating power to the first heating element group assigned to the first seat area by means of the control device 9. Here, if it is detected during the operation of the heating system 1 that no user is sitting in the second seat area, the interior space is not heated by means of the heating system 1 in the second seat area at the same time. In the current embodiment, it is stipulated that the seat area occupancy sensing device 10 provides its sensor data to the occupant recognition unit 11, and the occupant recognition unit then determines whether a user / occupant is sitting in the respective seat area. Then the result is provided to the control device 9 by means of the occupant recognition unit 11.

[0034] Furthermore, the heating system 1 in the present case has a temperature sensing device 12, which for example includes an external temperature sensor, an interior space temperature sensor, and a ceiling temperature sensor. During the operation of the heating system 1, the external temperature (i.e., the temperature present in the vehicle's surroundings) is detected by means of the external temperature sensor. During the operation of the heating system 1, the interior space temperature is detected by means of the interior space temperature sensor, and during the operation of the heating system 1, the ceiling temperature is detected by means of the ceiling temperature sensor. The control device 9 is also configured in this embodiment to allocate heating power to the heating element assembly 3, i.e., one heating element or a plurality of heating elements, based on the external temperature and / or the interior space temperature and / or the ceiling temperature and according to the head covering state. For this purpose, an external limit temperature, for example 10 °C (degrees Celsius), an interior space limit temperature (e.g., 10 °C), and / or a ceiling limit temperature (e.g., 5 °C) are preset. During the operation of the heating system 1, when the external temperature sensor, the interior space temperature sensor, and / or the ceiling temperature sensor of the temperature sensing device 12 detects a temperature below the corresponding limit temperature, the heating power is provided to the heating element assembly 3 by means of the control device 9. Alternatively or additionally, meteorological data is called from the backend server device 13 for detecting the external temperature. The backend server device 13 currently receives meteorological data, especially temperature data, from a meteorological service and provides these temperature data to the control device 9. It is stipulated here that the backend server device 13 provides the meteorological data or temperature data to the telematics controller 14 of the vehicle.

[0035] Here, the image evaluation unit 8, the control device 9, and the occupant recognition unit 11 are corresponding software modules, which are implemented by means of a central controller 15 (which is in particular a component of the vehicle) for operating the heating system 1 / during the operation of the heating system. The central controller is a computer unit.

[0036] In Figure 1 it is shown in solid lines how the elements or components of the heating system 1 of the vehicle roof or the vehicle, in particular, are connected or can be connected to each other for the transfer of heating power. In Figure 1 it is shown by means of dashed lines how the elements or components of the heating system 1 of the vehicle roof or the vehicle, in particular, can be coupled or can be coupled to each other wirelessly and / or wiredly for data and / or control signal transmission. Thus, by Figure 1It is known that the image detection sensing device 7 and the central controller 15 or its control device 9 can be indirectly coupled / couplable to each other, i.e., via another controller 16, which is here a dedicated sensing device controller for the image detection sensing device 7 and / or the seat area occupancy sensing device 10. The heating energy source 2, the heating element assembly 3, optionally the DC voltage converter 6, the image detection sensing device 7 and the seat area occupancy sensing device 10 (here each via the controller 16), the temperature sensing device 12, the operating element 17 (here via the controller 16) and the telematics controller 14 are connected to the central controller 15 in terms of data transmission technology, for example by means of an in-vehicle data bus, in particular a CAN bus. The backend server device 13 and the telematics controller 14 are connected to each other, in particular via a wireless data connection (such as cellular radio, e.g., LTE, 5G, WLAN, etc.) for data transmission. The camera and the display of the heating system 1 can alternatively or additionally be connected by means of a standardized SerDes connection (serializer / deserializer). The operating element 17 here has, for example, means for manually activating / deactivating and / or setting the heat or heating power and means for displaying the current set parameters of the heating system 1. The operating element 17 is, for example, a central control display of a motor vehicle, a vehicle infotainment system, a head-up display, etc.

[0037] The control of the heating system implemented by means of the control device 9 decides whether the heating operation of the heating system 1 is required based on the information provided to it. The heating system control device obtains an input from the occupant recognition unit 11 regarding the location of the occupant in the motor vehicle (i.e., the seat area). In addition, it is determined by means of the heating system 1 whether an occupant with a bald head is in the motor vehicle. For example, the motor vehicle roof can be heated as a whole or only locally heated by supplying heating power only to those groups of heating elements assigned to the seat area where the occupant is sitting, until the corresponding area above the recognized occupant is heated. Deciding which groups of heating elements in the interior space should be supplied with heat requires information from multiple sensors. This includes the measurement of the interior space temperature, the exterior temperature, and the temperature of the motor vehicle roof (especially the glass roof). These sensors can be directly connected to the central controller 15 or to another controller 16 located in the vehicle, and this other controller forwards the required information or data to the central controller 15. It is also conceivable to control the heating power based on weather forecasts or meteorological data. For this purpose, the relevant on or off commands or setting commands are sent by the backend server device 13 via the telematics controller 14 to the control device 9 in the central controller 15. If the temperature falls below a predetermined limit temperature (e.g., in the interior space), the heating system 1 is switched to the heating operation. For this purpose, it is possible to rely only on the temperature value, such as the interior space temperature, or to create a correlation, for example, between the interior space temperature and the exterior temperature and / or the roof temperature. The on or off and / or setting of the operating parameters of the heating system 1 is carried out by means of a control signal that is sent by the control device 9 arranged in the central controller 15 to the corresponding components. Alternatively or additionally, there can be separate on and off thresholds, especially for the season, the height and gender of the occupant, whether the occupant has an artificial head covering, whether the occupant is bald, etc. If the occupant can be clearly identified, for example, by means of face recognition and image comparison carried out by the heating system 1 and / or the camera of the motor vehicle, personalized setting possibilities can also be provided. In this case, the user can set how hot they want to be in a specific situation or whether they even want heat delivery from the heating system 1 at all. In particular, a graded setting of the heating power is conceivable, such as "minimum value", "medium value", "maximum value".

[0038] The image evaluation unit 8, also referred to as the bald head recognition device, can be an independent software module or an integrated part of the occupant recognition unit 11. The bald head recognition device detects the bald heads of one or more users and provides this information in combination with the seat area occupancy of the control device 9. Here, for the man-machine communication between the motor vehicle and the user, especially for setting and / or activating / deactivating the heating system 1, an operating element 17 is provided. In addition, an acoustic output of the current operating parameters of the heating system can be carried out, where the operating element then has a speaker.

[0039] Possible application scenarios of the heating system 1 are, for example: In winter, the external temperature is -20 °C, and the customer has parked the motor vehicle in front of his house. The temperature inside the vehicle's interior space is 0 °C, and the roof temperature is -10 °C. The customer (hairless, without an artificial head covering) is moving towards the motor vehicle, getting in, and intends to drive the motor vehicle. By approaching the motor vehicle, by unlocking the motor vehicle and / or by entering the motor vehicle, the central controller 15 is activated. The occupant recognition unit 11 detects by means of sensor data fusion that the user has taken a seat on the driver's seat. The image evaluation unit 8 evaluates an image of the user's head taken by means of the image detection sensor device 7 and recognizes that the user is hairless. Since in the current situation the external temperature, the interior space temperature and the roof temperature have values lower than the preset limit temperatures, the heating element assembly 3 is accordingly supplied with heating power by means of the control device 9 in order to supply heat to the user via the heating system 1.

[0040] Another relevant application scenario for the heating system 1 is the preconditioning of the motor vehicle roof by user settings. For example, the user can determine the departure time at which he wishes to heat the motor vehicle. If desired by the customer, heating of the motor vehicle roof belongs to this preconditioning. This active activation information of the heating system 1 can be set, for example, in the motor vehicle. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the user provides the control device 9 with relevant information in this regard by means of remote control, in particular by means of a personal computer unit, such as a smartphone, etc. The information for operating or controlling the heating system 1 can in particular be sent to the backend server device 13 and from there transmitted to the motor vehicle or to the heating system 1.

[0041] List of reference numerals

[0042] 1 Heating system

[0043] 2 Heating energy source

[0044] 3 Heating element assembly

[0045] 4 Duct or hose device

[0046] 5 Electrical conductor device

[0047] 6 DC voltage converter

[0048] 7 Image detection sensor device

[0049] 8 Image evaluation unit

[0050] 9 Control device

[0051] 10 Seat area occupancy sensor device

[0052] 11 Occupant recognition unit

[0053] 12 Temperature sensing device

[0054] 13 Back-end server device

[0055] 14 Telematics controller

[0056] 15 Central controller

[0057] 16 Additional controller

[0058] 17 Operating element

Claims

1. A heating system (1) for a motor vehicle roof of a motor vehicle, the heating system having: - a heating element assembly (3) which is arranged to be installed in the headliner of the motor vehicle roof, - an image detection sensing device (7) which is arranged to capture an image of the head of a user of the motor vehicle, - an image evaluation unit (8) which is arranged to determine the head covering state of the user based on the image, - a control device (9) which is configured to allocate the heating power provided by means of a heating energy source (2) to the heating element assembly (3) according to the detected head covering state.

2. The heating system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating elements of the heating element assembly (3) are formed by photovoltaic elements which are configured to operate in a voltage generation operating mode and a heating operating mode, in the voltage generation operating mode a voltage is provided by means of the heating elements, and in the heating operating mode heat is provided by means of the heating elements, wherein the control device (9) is configured to selectively operate the heating elements in the voltage generation operating mode or the heating operating mode.

3. The heating system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the heating elements are constructed as flexible photovoltaic films.

4. The heating system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the photovoltaic film is transparent.

5. The heating system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first heating element group of the heating element assembly (3) is assigned to a first seat area of the motor vehicle, and a second heating element group of the heating element assembly (3) is assigned to a second seat area of the motor vehicle, wherein the control device (9) is configured to allocate the heating power separately to each of the heating element groups according to the head covering state.

6. The heating system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that a seat area occupancy sensing device (10) which is arranged to detect the occupancy of each of the seat areas, wherein the control device (9) is configured to allocate the heating power separately to each of the heating elements according to the occupancy of the respective seat area and according to the head covering state.

7. The heating system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a temperature sensing device (12) which has one or more of the following temperature sensors: - an external temperature sensor for detecting the external temperature, - an interior space temperature sensor for detecting the interior space temperature, - a headliner temperature sensor for detecting the headliner temperature, wherein the control device (9) is configured to allocate the heating power to the heating element assembly (3) based on the external temperature and / or the interior space temperature and / or the headliner temperature and according to the head covering state.

8. A motor vehicle roof for a motor vehicle, wherein, The motor vehicle roof has a heating system (1) configured according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. The motor vehicle roof according to claim 8, characterized in that a glass roof section having an inner glass plate and an outer glass plate, wherein a heating element configured according to claim 4 is arranged between each of the glass plates.

10. A motor vehicle having a motor vehicle roof according to claim 8 or 9.

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