Sensor arrangement with adjustable sensor unit, vehicle roof with such a sensor arrangement and motor vehicle with such a sensor arrangement

Abstract

Sensor arrangement for a motor vehicle (10) for a vehicle roof, comprising a vehicle outer skin forming a vehicle outer side with a sensor opening (30), at least one sensor unit (26, 26"), which comprises a support structure and an environment sensor (28) with a sensor viewing area (32), and a cleaning device with a nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36"), wherein the sensor unit (26, 26") is adjustable relative to the vehicle outer skin between a rest position and an operating position, in which the environment sensor (28) is extended over the sensor opening (30) and the sensor viewing area (32) is arranged on the vehicle outer side, and the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") is adjustable between a retracted zero position of the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") and an extended cleaning position of the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36"), in which a cleaning fluid is applied to the Sensor viewing area (32) of the environment sensor (28) can be applied,further comprising a coupling device (52) which converts an adjustment movement of the sensor unit (26, 26") relative to the vehicle outer skin into an adjustment movement of the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36"), wherein the coupling device (52) comprises a cable pull (54) which is connected to the cleaning device and which, when the sensor unit (26, 26") is adjusted to the rest position, displaces the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") to its zero position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sensor arrangement, in particular a sensor arrangement of a vehicle roof, comprising a sensor unit with an environment sensor for detecting a vehicle environment, which is adjustable between an extended operating position and a retracted rest position, as well as a vehicle roof with such a sensor arrangement and a motor vehicle with such a sensor arrangement.

[0002] A sensor arrangement of the type described above is known in practice and is used as an integrated component of a vehicle roof. The vehicle roof has an outer skin which is made up of a surface component and which forms a visible surface of the vehicle roof facing the vehicle surroundings. Several surface components can be used to form the outer skin. A sensor unit is integrated into the vehicle roof and has an environment sensor which can detect the vehicle surroundings via a sensor viewing area. The sensor unit can be moved between a retracted rest position and an operating position in which the sensor viewing area lies above the outer roof skin. A lidar sensor, a radar sensor, a camera or the like can be used as an environment sensor, for example. The environment sensor can be part of an autonomous orsemi-autonomous driving system of the motor vehicle in question and be connected to a control device which, on the basis of the environmental data determined by the environmental sensor, recognises a respective traffic situation and, depending on this, controls the drive and / or steering of the vehicle in question.

[0003] To enable the most uninterrupted and trouble-free operation of the environment sensor, it is important that the sensor viewing area, through which the relevant environment sensor detects the vehicle's surroundings, is kept free of contamination. For this purpose, it is known to provide a sensor arrangement with a cleaning device which, as needed, applies a cleaning fluid, which may be in liquid or gaseous form, to the sensor viewing area via a nozzle arrangement. The nozzle arrangement can comprise a nozzle rod or nozzle shaft on which the nozzle is formed and which, by means of the fluid pressure provided by a cleaning system, can be adjusted from a retracted zero position to an extended cleaning position in which the cleaning fluid can be applied to the sensor viewing area of the environment sensor.Without fluid pressure, the nozzle shaft is returned to its retracted zero position by a return spring or held in the retracted zero position. There is a risk that the nozzle shaft could become jammed in its guide, preventing the automatic return movement from occurring.

[0004] Further prior art can be found in DE 10 2021 130 337 B3, DE 10 2021 115 326 B3, DE 10 2021 115 340 A1, DE 102021 122 877 A1, DE 10 2021 123 989 B3, DE 10 2008 008 656 A1 and US 2022 / 0 063 516 A1.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of creating a sensor arrangement with an extendable sensor unit and an extendable nozzle arrangement, in which the nozzle arrangement reliably assumes the retracted zero position, in particular when the sensor unit is retracted into the rest position.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by the sensor arrangement having the features of patent claim 1 and the independent claims 11 and 13. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, a sensor arrangement for a motor vehicle, in particular a sensor arrangement for a vehicle roof, is proposed, which has a vehicle outer skin forming a vehicle exterior with a sensor opening, at least one sensor unit comprising a support structure and an environment sensor with a sensor viewing area, and a cleaning device with a nozzle arrangement. The sensor unit is adjustable relative to the vehicle outer skin between a rest position and an operating position, in which the environment sensor is extended over the sensor opening of the vehicle outer skin and the sensor viewing area is arranged on the vehicle exterior. The nozzle arrangement is adjustable between a retracted zero position and an extended cleaning position, in which a cleaning fluid can be applied to the sensor viewing area of the environment sensor.A coupling device is provided which converts an adjustment movement of the sensor unit relative to the vehicle outer skin into an adjustment movement of the cleaning device.

[0008] In the sensor arrangement designed according to the invention, the movement or drive of the sensor unit is therefore also used to adjust the cleaning device or the nozzle arrangement of the cleaning device. The coupling device can therefore ensure that the nozzle arrangement is reliably moved to its zero position, for example, when the sensor unit is retracted, i.e. is not needed. Jamming of the nozzle arrangement in a guide can thus be counteracted. This can reduce the risk of the cleaning device and / or other components of the sensor arrangement being damaged by external forces or the like. Furthermore, it can be ensured that the nozzle arrangement is always ready for operation when the sensor unit is extended. In a special embodiment, the coupling device can therefore provide an automatic nozzle function.An additional drive for the nozzle arrangement is not required, which in turn provides a weight, cost and installation space advantage.

[0009] The sensor arrangement according to the invention is particularly a component of a system for autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of a vehicle and can, in principle, be arranged anywhere on the vehicle. The vehicle's outer skin is formed by a surface element that can be flat or one- or two-dimensionally curved.

[0010] The environmental sensor, which is part of the sensor unit, can be designed in a variety of ways, use electromagnetic radiation and, for example, comprise a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, an optical sensor such as a camera, and / or the like.

[0011] If the environment sensor is a lidar sensor, it preferably operates in a wavelength range of approximately 905 nm or approximately 1550 nm. A camera used as an environment sensor can operate in the wavelength range of visible light and / or in the infrared range.

[0012] The sensor viewing area of the sensor arrangement according to the invention, which is assigned to the environment sensor in the sense of the invention, expediently has a permeability for electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range between 300 nm and 2000 nm. If the environment sensor is designed as a radar sensor, the sensor viewing area is also permeable to radar beams.

[0013] In an autonomously or semi-autonomously driving vehicle, the environment sensor of the sensor arrangement according to the invention is preferably connected to a control device of the vehicle, which determines a respective traffic situation on the basis of the measurement signals of the environment sensor and, if applicable, further environment sensors, so that the vehicle can adapt autonomously or independently to the respective traffic situation and behave accordingly.

[0014] In a special embodiment, the sensor unit of the sensor arrangement according to the invention comprises a plurality of adjacent environmental sensors which can monitor or detect the vehicle environment via at least one sensor viewing area.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the sensor arrangement according to the invention, the nozzle arrangement of the cleaning device is arranged on the support structure of the sensor unit. The nozzle arrangement then forms a component of the sensor unit. In this case, the coupling device designed according to the invention can be used in particular such that an adjustment movement of the sensor unit relative to the vehicle outer skin is converted into an adjustment movement of the nozzle arrangement relative to the support structure of the sensor unit. This can ensure, for example, that the nozzle arrangement, which is preferably used when the sensor unit assumes its operating position, is adjusted to its retracted zero position in good time when the sensor unit is adjusted from the operating position to the rest position, so as not to collide with adjacent vehicle components, for example the vehicle outer skin that borders the sensor opening, when the sensor unit is retracted.Damage to the nozzle arrangement due to the adjustment movement of the sensor unit can thus be essentially ruled out.

[0016] In a specific embodiment of the sensor arrangement according to the invention, which can be implemented using technically simple means, the nozzle arrangement comprises a nozzle shaft guided in a shaft guide of the support structure of the sensor unit, and a nozzle opening for applying the cleaning fluid to the sensor viewing area of the environment sensor. To adjust the nozzle arrangement from the zero position to the cleaning position, the nozzle shaft is displaced in the shaft guide so that the nozzle opening is located outside a housing of the sensor unit and a fluid cone of the cleaning fluid can be directed onto the sensor viewing area.

[0017] To minimize the drive means for the nozzle assembly, the nozzle assembly of the cleaning device can be adjusted to its cleaning position depending on the pressure of the cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid, pressurized in particular by a pump of the cleaning device, then automatically adjusts the nozzle assembly to its cleaning position.

[0018] In order to maintain the nozzle assembly in its zero position during standard operation of the sensor assembly when the cleaning device is not in use, or to automatically return the nozzle assembly to its zero position after use of the cleaning device, the cleaning device in a preferred embodiment of the sensor assembly according to the invention is provided with a return spring that biases the nozzle assembly toward its zero position. In this embodiment, the coupling device of the sensor assembly according to the invention preferably serves as a safety mechanism that can pull the nozzle assembly back to its zero position if the nozzle assembly becomes jammed or if the return spring malfunctions when the sensor unit is adjusted relative to the vehicle's outer skin.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment of the sensor arrangement according to the invention, in which the nozzle arrangement is automatically extended into the cleaning position when the sensor unit is moved into the operating position, the cleaning device is provided, for example, with a release spring that biases the nozzle arrangement toward its cleaning position. The coupling device releases the nozzle arrangement when the sensor unit is moved into the operating position, so that the nozzle arrangement can be moved into the cleaning position. When the sensor unit is returned to the rest position, the coupling device retracts the nozzle arrangement back to the zero position.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the sensor arrangement according to the invention, the coupling device comprises a cable pull connected to the cleaning device, which preferably moves the nozzle arrangement to its zero position when the sensor unit is moved to the rest position. The cable pull is lightweight, cost-effective, and requires little installation space.

[0021] In this context, the term "cable pull" is to be interpreted in its broadest sense and thus encompasses a conventional cable made of a synthetic, metallic, or naturally occurring material, a ribbon-like structure, and, for example, a compression-resistant drive cable or the like. For example, a Bowden cable represents a cable pull within the meaning of the invention.

[0022] The cable of the sensor arrangement according to the invention is preferably connected to the body with its end facing away from the cleaning device or the nozzle arrangement, whereby it relaxes when the sensor unit is adjusted from the rest position to the operating position and exerts a tensile force on the nozzle arrangement when the sensor unit is adjusted from the operating position to the rest position. To ensure the functional reliability of the cable, a guide sleeve for the cable is preferably arranged on the sensor unit, which is supported by both ends on the sensor unit. It is of course also conceivable that, instead of the guide sleeve, another suitable guide channel for the cable is formed on the sensor unit or the support structure of the sensor unit.

[0023] To ensure that the cleaning device is depressurized with respect to the cleaning fluid when the nozzle assembly is retracted to the zero position, in an advantageous embodiment of the sensor assembly according to the invention, the nozzle assembly can have a pressure relief opening that can be released by means of the coupling device. For example, at the beginning of the adjustment path of the sensor unit, the coupling device exerts an adjusting force on a relief slide. This slide is arranged in front of the pressure relief opening in the cleaning position and can be displaced by means of the coupling device against a stop on the nozzle assembly, thereby releasing the pressure relief opening. As soon as the stop is reached, the relief slide is displaced together with the nozzle assembly by means of the coupling device to achieve the zero position of the nozzle assembly.

[0024] The invention also relates to a vehicle roof comprising a sensor arrangement of the type described above.

[0025] The vehicle roof according to the invention is preferably a roof module which can be placed as a unit onto a vehicle body and in particular comprises an interface to the vehicle body formed by a roof frame. The roof module thus forms an integrated assembly in which components are accommodated which are required for autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question. The roof module according to the invention consequently forms a compact structural unit in which a large number of functional elements can be integrated and which can be connected to the vehicle body or a vehicle body shell by a vehicle manufacturer. The vehicle body or the vehicle body shell can comprise support elements such as roof side members and / or roof cross members against which the roof frame can be brought into contact. Furthermore, the roof module designed according to the invention represents in particular a so-called sensor roof module orRoof Sensor Module (RSM), which enables autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question.

[0026] Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with the sensor arrangement described above or the vehicle roof described above and designed as an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. In an autonomous driving mode, the motor vehicle drives independently by means of a computer-aided control device, at least without significant intervention by the driver. In a semi-autonomous driving mode, the sensor arrangement or the vehicle roof forms, for example, part of a driver assistance system.

[0027] The motor vehicle equipped with the sensor arrangement designed according to the invention is in particular a passenger car, but can also be a commercial vehicle designed, for example, as a delivery van, a bus, an autonomously driving minibus, such as a so-called people mover, or even as a truck tractor.

[0028] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the description, the drawings, and the patent claims. The scope of the invention includes all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims, and / or the figures; that is, each feature mentioned in the description can be part of the claimed subject matter independently of the further features and / or specifications mentioned in the respective context.

[0029] Exemplary embodiments of a sensor arrangement are shown schematically in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: Fig. 1 a plan view of a roof area of a motor vehicle with sensor arrangements according to the invention; Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through one of the sensor arrangements in the retracted state of a sensor unit along the line II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 one Fig. 2 corresponding longitudinal section of the sensor arrangement, but with the sensor unit extended; Fig. 4 one Fig. 3 corresponding longitudinal section of the sensor unit, but with additionally extended nozzle arrangement of a cleaning device; Fig. 5 a front view of the sensor unit; Fig. 6 a longitudinal section through an alternative embodiment of a nozzle arrangement in its cleaning position; Fig. 7 a longitudinal section through the nozzle arrangement according to Fig. 6, but in a pressure relief position of a relief valve; and Fig. 8 a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of a sensor arrangement according to the invention.

[0030] In Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle 10 having a vehicle roof 12 covering a vehicle interior and comprising a roof module 14, which represents a compact structural unit accommodating, in particular, electrical and mechanical devices that allow autonomous driving of the motor vehicle 10. The roof module 14, which forms a so-called sensor roof module or Roof Sensor Module (RSM), is fastened to a frame fixed to the body, which, relative to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, comprises on each side a roof side member 16, on the front side a front roof cross member 18, which is assigned to a front or front cowl, and on the rear side a rear roof cross member 20, which is assigned to a rear or rear cowl.

[0031] The roof module 14 comprises a single-part or multi-part roof skin arrangement 22, which forms a vehicle outer skin or a vehicle outer side and is fixed to a Fig. 1 is attached to a circumferential roof frame 24 shown in dashed lines, which is placed on the roof side members 16, the front roof cross member 18 and the rear roof cross member 20 and thus forms an interface of the roof module 14 to the vehicle body.

[0032] The roof module 14 has a sensor unit 26 in each of its front-end corner regions relative to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle. Each sensor unit includes an environmental sensor 28, by means of which the vehicle's surroundings can be detected to realize autonomous driving of the motor vehicle 10. By evaluating the measurement signals of the environmental sensors using electromagnetic radiation, a respective traffic situation can be determined by means of a control device of the motor vehicle 10, so that the motor vehicle 10 can adapt autonomously or independently to the respective traffic situation and behave accordingly.

[0033] The sensor units 26 are each part of a sensor arrangement, to which the roof skin arrangement 22 is also assigned, in which a sensor opening 30 is formed for each of the sensor units 26. The sensor units 26 can be connected via the respectively assigned sensor opening 30 between a Fig. 2 shown rest position and one in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, in which the respective environment sensor 28 can detect the vehicle's surroundings via a sensor viewing area 32. The sensor viewing area 32 is made of a material that is transparent to the wavelengths used by the environment sensors 28.

[0034] In principle, the environmental sensors 28 can each be designed in a variety of ways and can include, for example, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, a camera, an antenna device and / or another suitable sensor which in particular uses electromagnetic radiation.

[0035] The sensor units 26 each comprise a housing 34 as a support structure, which is pivotably mounted on the roof frame 24 and can be adjusted between the rest position and the operating position by means of a suitable adjustment kinematics not shown in detail here.

[0036] In order to keep the sensor viewing areas 32 free from contamination, the sensor units 26 each have a Fig. 2 to 5, which is part of a cleaning device for the respective sensor arrangement. The nozzle arrangements 36 each comprise a particularly cylindrical nozzle shaft 38, which is guided axially displaceably in a shaft guide 40 of the housing 34 and is provided on its circumference with a nozzle opening 42, through which a cleaning fluid can be applied to the respective sensor viewing area 32 of the respective sensor unit 26, forming a fluid cone F. The nozzle opening 42, which is formed by a transverse channel of the nozzle shaft 38, is connected to an axial channel 44 of the nozzle shaft 38. The axial channel 44 leads to a pressure chamber 46, which borders a rear end face of the nozzle shaft 38. A front end face of the nozzle shaft 38 forms an outer surface of the sensor unit 26.The pressure chamber 46 is connected to a pressure line 48, through which the cleaning fluid can be supplied at a preset delivery pressure by means of a suitable pump or the like. Furthermore, the nozzle shaft 38 can be provided with a return spring 50, which urges it in the direction indicated in the... Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shown zero position, in which the nozzle shaft 38 is retracted into the housing 34.

[0037] When the pressurized cleaning fluid is supplied via the pressure line 48 and the pressure chamber 46, the nozzle shaft 38 is moved against the spring force of the return spring 50 into the Fig. 4, so that the cleaning fluid can then be applied to the sensor viewing area 32 for cleaning via the lateral nozzle opening 42. When the supply of cleaning fluid via the pressure line 48 is stopped, a pressure drop occurs in the pressure chamber 46, whereby the nozzle arrangement 36 or the nozzle shaft 38 is returned to the position shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 can be reset to the zero position shown.

[0038] In order to prevent the respective sensor unit 26 from moving out of the nozzle shaft 38 in the event of a malfunction. Fig. 4 into the rest position, which could damage the nozzle arrangement 36, the sensor arrangement comprises a coupling device 52 which converts an adjustment movement of the sensor unit 26 relative to the roof skin arrangement 22 into an adjustment movement of the nozzle arrangement 36 relative to the housing 34 of the sensor unit 26. The coupling device 52 comprises a cable 54 designed as a Bowden cable, which is connected at one end to the roof skin arrangement 22 at a fastening point 56 and at its other end to the nozzle shaft 38 of the nozzle arrangement 36. In the area of the sensor unit 26, the cable 54 is guided in a guide sleeve 58 which is pressure-resistant in the direction of travel and which is supported at both its ends on the housing 34 of the sensor unit 26. In the area between the housing 34 and the fastening point 56, the cable 54 is exposed.

[0039] In the Fig. 2, the cable 54 is tensioned. When the sensor unit 26 is brought into its operating position via the associated sensor opening 30 of the roof skin assembly 22, in which the surroundings sensor 28 is located above the roof skin assembly 22 and can detect the vehicle surroundings, the cable 54 is released, so that a loose, untensioned loop of the cable 54 is formed between the housing 34 of the sensor unit 26 and the attachment point 56 on the roof skin assembly 22. When the sensor viewing area 32 of the sensor unit 26 becomes dirty and / or at specified intervals, the cleaning device is actuated, with a pressurized cleaning fluid being provided via the pressure line 48, which fluid, via the pressure chamber 46, pressurizes the nozzle shaft 38 into the Fig. 4 and is applied to the sensor viewing area 32 via the axial channel 44 and the nozzle opening 42. A tensile force is exerted on the cable 54, so that it is at least largely tensioned.

[0040] When the sensor unit 26 is pivoted back from the cleaning position of the nozzle assembly 36 or the nozzle shaft 38 from the operating position to the rest position, a tensile force is exerted on the nozzle shaft 38 by means of the cable pull 54, thus moving the nozzle shaft 38 in the shaft guide 40 into the retracted zero position. This prevents the nozzle assembly 36 from being damaged by an adjustment movement of the sensor unit 26.

[0041] In the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shows a nozzle arrangement 36' which is part of a roof module of the Fig. 1 and is an integral part of a sensor unit which is designed in accordance with the Fig. 1 to 5, which is why, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the relevant description.

[0042] According to the embodiment described above, the nozzle assembly 36' comprises a nozzle shaft 38 in which an axial channel 44 is formed, which leads to a nozzle opening 42 through which the cleaning fluid can be applied to the sensor viewing area. The axial channel 44 is connected to a pressure chamber 46, via which a discharge pressure can be exerted on the rear end face of the nozzle shaft 38. This discharge pressure can be provided via a pressure line of the type described above.

[0043] Deviating from the provisions of the Fig. 1 to 5, the nozzle assembly 36' comprises a relief slide 60 designed as a cylindrical guide sleeve, which is slidably guided on the circumference of the nozzle shaft 38 and is delimited externally by a guide ring 62, which is fixedly arranged on the nozzle shaft 38. A biasing spring 64, which is delimited by the nozzle shaft 38 and the guide ring 62, presses the relief slide 60 into a closed position ( Fig. 6). The relief slide 60 is connected to a cable pull 54, which is part of a coupling device 52 of the type described above, which ensures that the nozzle assembly 36' is always brought into the zero position or held in the zero position when the sensor unit, of which the nozzle assembly 36' is a part, is adjusted from the operating position to the rest position. This prevents damage to the nozzle assembly 36 due to a collision with the roof skin assembly.

[0044] The relief slide 60 serves to release a pressure relief opening 66, which is connected to the axial channel 44, so that pressure relief can take place in the axial channel 44 or the cleaning fluid contained in the axial channel 44 can flow out via the pressure relief opening 66.

[0045] The nozzle arrangement 36' according to the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 equipped sensor arrangement operates in the manner described below.

[0046] According to the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 to 5, the nozzle assembly 36' is in the retracted state of the sensor unit in its zero position retracted into the housing. In this case, according to the position in Fig. 7, the pressure relief opening 66 is released, i.e., the relief slide 60 assumes its release position. Starting from this rest position, when the sensor unit is moved into its operating position via the sensor opening of the roof skin assembly, the vehicle's surroundings can be detected by the associated surroundings sensor. In this case, the cable 54 relaxes (see Fig. 3), whereby the relief slide 60 moves into its Fig. 6 shown locking position. If the cleaning fluid is now applied to the sensor viewing area via the associated pressure line and the associated pressure chamber as well as the axial channel 44 and the nozzle opening 42, the nozzle arrangement 36 is accordingly Fig. 4 into its extended cleaning position. This also tensions the cable 54 (see Fig. 4).

[0047] When the sensor unit is moved from the operating position to the rest position in the cleaning position of the nozzle assembly 36', a tensile force is exerted on the cable pull 54 according to the embodiment described above, so that the cable pull first moves the relief slide 60 against a stop formed on the nozzle shaft 38 to release the pressure relief opening 66 and then retracts the nozzle assembly 36' together with the relief slide 60 into the retracted zero position. This prevents the nozzle assembly 36' from colliding with the roof skin assembly 22 when the sensor unit is moved.

[0048] In Fig. 8 shows a sensor arrangement with a sensor unit 26", which is largely similar to that according to Fig. 1 to 5, but differs from these in that it comprises a nozzle arrangement 36" which is automatically adjusted by means of a deployment spring 68 without additional fluid pressure from the zero position into the cleaning position extended from the housing 34 when the sensor unit 26" is adjusted by means of its drive kinematics into the extended operating position in which the environment sensor of the sensor unit 26" can detect the vehicle's surroundings. When the sensor unit 26" is deployed, the cable 54 of the coupling device 52 releases the nozzle shaft 38 so that it extends out of the housing 34 due to the spring force of the deployment spring 68. When the sensor unit 26" is adjusted from the operating position, the nozzle shaft 38 is pulled back into the zero position by means of the cable 54, which is guided in a guide sleeve 58 in the area of the housing 34, against the pretension of the deployment spring 68.

[0049] Furthermore, the Fig. 8 shown sensor arrangement of the Fig. 1 to 5, which is why, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the relevant explanations. List of reference symbols 10 motor vehicle 12 Vehicle roof 14 roof module 16 roof side rail 18 Roof cross member 20 roof cross member 22 Roof skin arrangement 24 roof frames 26, 26" sensor unit 28 Environment sensor 30 Sensor opening 32 Sensor viewing area 34 housings 36, 36', 36" nozzle arrangement 38 nozzle shaft 40 Shaft guide 42 nozzle opening 44 axial channel 46 Printing room 48 pressure line 50 return spring 52 Coupling device 54 cable pull 56 attachment point 58 Guide sleeve 60 relief valves 62 guide ring 64 preload spring 66 Pressure relief opening 68 Opening spring

Claims

[1] Sensor arrangement for a motor vehicle (10) for a vehicle roof, comprising a vehicle outer skin forming a vehicle outer side with a sensor opening (30), at least one sensor unit (26, 26"), which comprises a support structure and an environment sensor (28) with a sensor viewing area (32), and a cleaning device with a nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36"), wherein the sensor unit (26, 26") is adjustable relative to the vehicle outer skin between a rest position and an operating position, in which the environment sensor (28) is extended over the sensor opening (30) and the sensor viewing area (32) is arranged on the vehicle outer side, and the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") is adjustable between a retracted zero position of the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") and an extended cleaning position of the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36"), in which a cleaning fluid is applied to the Sensor viewing area (32) of the environment sensor (28) can be applied,further comprising a coupling device (52) which converts an adjustment movement of the sensor unit (26, 26") relative to the vehicle outer skin into an adjustment movement of the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36"), wherein the coupling device (52) comprises a cable pull (54) which is connected to the cleaning device and which, when the sensor unit (26, 26") is adjusted to the rest position, displaces the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") to its zero position. [2] Sensor arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") is arranged on the sensor unit (26, 26'). [3] Sensor arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") comprises a nozzle shaft (38) which is guided in a shaft guide (40) of the support structure, and a nozzle opening (42) for applying the cleaning fluid to the sensor viewing area (32) of the environment sensor (28). [4] Sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") is adjustable into its cleaning position depending on a pressure of the cleaning fluid. [5] Sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the cleaning device is provided with a return spring (50) which preloads the nozzle arrangement (36) towards its zero position. [6] Sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the cleaning device is provided with a release spring (68) which pretensions the nozzle arrangement (36") in the direction of its cleaning position. [7] Sensor arrangement according to claim 1, characterized bythat the cable pull (54) is connected to the body with its end facing away from the cleaning device, so that the cable pull (54) relaxes when the sensor unit (26, 26") is adjusted from the rest position to the operating position and the cable pull (54) exerts a tensile force on the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") when the sensor unit (26, 26") is adjusted from the operating position to the rest position. [8] Sensor arrangement according to claim 1 or 7, characterized by that a guide sleeve (58) for the cable pull (54) is arranged on the sensor unit (26, 26"), which is supported with its two ends on the sensor unit (26, 26"). [9] Sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the nozzle arrangement (36') has a pressure relief opening (66) which can be released by means of the coupling device (52). [10] Sensor arrangement according to claim 9, characterized bythat the cleaning device has a relief slide (60) which can be displaced against a stop of the nozzle arrangement (36, 36', 36") by means of the coupling device (52) in order to release the pressure relief opening (66). [11] Vehicle roof comprising a sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10. [12] Vehicle roof according to claim 11, characterized by that it is a roof module (14) which can be placed as a unit on a vehicle body and comprises an interface to the vehicle body formed by a roof frame (24). [13] Motor vehicle (10) comprising a sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10.

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