Module combination with a windscreen module and a roof module

Abstract

Module combination (100) with a windscreen module (16) and a roof module (15), which can be connected at least indirectly to a chassis (11) of a vehicle (10) and, in the assembled state, have an inner side (20) facing a vehicle cabin (17) and an outer side (21) facing away from the vehicle cabin (17), wherein the inner sides (20) of the windscreen module (16) and of the roof module (15) have a common display (22) at least in some regions, characterized in that the roof module (15) is connected to the windscreen module (16) via an electronic coupling point (24) in the assembled state and the module combination (100) is connected to the on-board electrical system of the vehicle (10) via a central plug (25) in the assembled state, wherein the coupling point (24) and the central plug (25) are designed for data exchange and energy supply.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a module combination comprising a windscreen module and a roof module, which can be connected at least indirectly to a chassis of a vehicle and, in the assembled state, have an inner side facing a vehicle cabin and an outer side facing away from the vehicle cabin, wherein the inner sides of the windscreen module and the roof module have a common display at least in some areas.

[0002] In future factories, vehicle assembly will be increasingly autonomous and self-learning. Increasingly autonomous and even fully autonomous vehicle assembly will be facilitated if the vehicles produced are designed in a modular and low-variant manner. The desired and advantageous vehicle variance is achieved in this case through the individual and customer-specific wiring of interfaces. Fully automated vehicle assembly is facilitated by the modular design, so that only the various modules need to be provided, which are then interconnected in a modular manner to form a finished vehicle. For this purpose, automated connectors and joining techniques are used.

[0003] With regard to the modular or semi-modular construction of a vehicle, WO 01 / 42051 A1 discloses a roof module with various integrated assemblies / components that is connected to a vehicle's roof frame. Particularly with regard to individual and customer-specific variations, the roof module according to WO 01 / 42051 A1 disadvantageously allows little scope for individual design.

[0004] In this respect, a first object of the invention is to increase the variance in a modular vehicle design. In particular, the functional variance for the customer should be increased without increasing the variance of the hardware module. Ideally, the variance of the hardware module can be reduced and the functional variance for the customer increased.

[0005] Furthermore, it is already foreseeable that future vehicles will increasingly drive autonomously, which will exacerbate the problem of so-called motion sickness (kinetosis) for many passengers. It is known, in particular from US 10,926,773 B2 and WO 2021 / 198687 A1, that the symptoms of motion sickness can be alleviated if the passenger is in a semi-reclining position. To increase driving comfort, WO 2021 / 198687 A1 proposes designing the vehicle's roof lining as a projection surface, so that moving and / or still images can be projected onto the projection surface using a projector. Any movement of the images can also correlate with the movement of the vehicle. These measures are intended to effectively prevent the occurrence of motion sickness symptoms.

[0006] Regardless of this, WO 2021 / 198687 A1 provides only limited options for preventing / limiting the symptoms of motion sickness, because the roof lining as a projection surface for the images is not equally visible to all passengers.

[0007] In this respect, a second object of the invention is to provide means by which the symptoms of motion sickness can be remedied simultaneously in several passengers, in particular in those sitting in different rows of seats.

[0008] Finally, the prior art proposes monitoring and entertaining children or people in need of assistance in the rear seats of a vehicle using accessories such as graphic interfaces retrofitted to the vehicle. However, the additional assembly of such components runs counter to a modular and automatable design and is associated with additional costs, particularly for manual assembly.

[0009] It is therefore a third object of the invention to provide, within the framework of a modular construction of a vehicle, means by which children and persons in need of assistance can be entertained and, if necessary, monitored on the rear seats.

[0010] US 2020 / 0180436 A1 describes a computer system for an autonomous vehicle. The system includes a display system that interacts with a passenger in the vehicle. The display system is mounted on a window of the autonomous vehicle and is controlled by a server in the vehicle. The server activates the display system when the autopilot is engaged.

[0011] US 2019 / 0243132 A1 relates to a vehicle display device. The device displays images and information in the vehicle and can display different images depending on the vehicle's condition and surroundings. It includes a main display and an additional display that work together to provide relevant information to the driver and passengers.

[0012] US 2014 / 0168608 A1 describes a system for controlling vehicle functions based on the vehicle's position. The system uses sensors and communication modules to collect data and adjust vehicle functions accordingly.

[0013] US 2023 / 0054104 A1 relates to an image processing device, a display system, an image processing method, and a recording medium. The device optimizes the screen mode for displaying content based on the automated driving state of the vehicle and the information about the content to be displayed. It includes a shape determination unit and an image creation unit.

[0014] JP 2017-149222 A describes a device for displaying lighting effects in a vehicle. The system includes a display that shows images and lighting effects based on the vehicle's surroundings and driving conditions.

[0015] WO 2016 / 166160 A1 describes a virtual panoramic roof or sunroof for a motor vehicle. The roof can realistically reproduce or adapt the outside world and is intended to reduce driving noise and fuel consumption. It comprises at least one sensor device for detecting the surroundings.

[0016] DE 10 2020 102 874 A1 concerns a roof module for a motor vehicle that integrates sensors and air conditioning systems. The module can monitor and adjust the temperature and air quality in the vehicle.

[0017] These objects are achieved by the module combination according to claim 1.

[0018] The invention is based on a module combination with a windscreen module and a roof module, which can be connected at least indirectly to a chassis of a vehicle and, in the assembled state, have an inner side facing a vehicle cabin and an outer side facing away from the vehicle cabin, wherein the inner sides of the windscreen module and the roof module have a common display at least in some regions. To simplify the automated or automatable assembly of such a module combination, the invention provides that the roof module is connected to the windscreen module in the assembled state via an electronic coupling point and the module combination in the assembled state is connected to the vehicle's electrical system via a central connector, wherein the coupling point and the central connector are designed for data exchange and power supply.

[0019] In particular, a single electronic coupling point is provided to connect the roof module to the windscreen module. Similarly, the assembled module combination is connected to the vehicle's electrical system via a single central connector. This eliminates the need for extensive and complex wiring of the windscreen module and roof module with cable harnesses, which are currently laboriously installed within the vehicle body. Furthermore, despite the spaced-apart sections, the display is connected to a common control unit, thus forming a single display between the spaced-apart sections.

[0020] This increases the visual and functional variance both in the windshield and roof lining areas without negatively impacting the modular and automated assembly of the vehicle. Furthermore, the display area for moving and / or still images is not only enlarged but also improved in terms of orientation, as the display is visible not only on the roof lining but also in the windshield area, which can be viewed by passengers, particularly in the front row, with a conventional seat adjustment. Finally, the module combination provides a modular and automated means of entertaining and / or monitoring children and people in need of assistance in the rear seats.

[0021] Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified below and in the subclaims.

[0022] Preferably, the display is designed as a display of a user interface (human-machine interface (HMI)), wherein the display is preferably configured as a touch display that allows the input of control commands. In this case, the display can be designed as an OLED display, a display based on electronic ink, or as a projection surface for a projector. In particular, in the area of ​​the front screen module, the display can be designed in the form of a film that is applied to the front screen. Regardless of the specific design of the display, the display can be switchable to a completely transparent state, in particular in the area of ​​the front screen module, which is particularly advantageous for an embodiment in which the display completely covers the front screen in the area of ​​the front screen module.The described display designs predominantly rely on components that are known from the state of the art, at least with regard to other applications, so that the module combination can be manufactured cost-effectively and operated intuitively by the user.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the display in the area of ​​the roof module completely covers the interior or has a length of at least 1 m and a width of at least 0.8 m with respect to a vehicle coordinate system. This provides the display in the area of ​​the roof module with the largest possible surface area, which expands the possibilities for displaying both moving and still images. In particular, the entertainment value is increased many times over.

[0024] Preferably, the roof module has a solar collector on an outer side facing away from the inner side, which is designed to generate electrical energy that can be used directly to power the roof module or fed into the vehicle's electrical system. For this purpose, a cooling device for actively or passively cooling the roof module is preferably arranged between the solar collector and the display. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling device is designed as a Peltier element. In particular, the electrical energy can also be used to charge the vehicle battery, which has a positive effect on the vehicle's range if the vehicle is designed as an electric vehicle.The cooling advantageously prevents overheating of the display, particularly in the area of ​​the roof module, which, when used as intended, is exposed to increased solar radiation and therefore increased heat, particularly during the summer months.

[0025] In order to expand the application spectrum of the module combination, in particular of the user interface, it is preferably provided that the roof module has integrated cameras and / or loudspeakers and / or microphones and / or a LIDAR and / or an antenna.

[0026] In the area of ​​the windshield module, the display preferably completely covers the inside or, with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, has an upper area and a lower area which are spaced apart from one another and create a section of the windshield that is designed free of a display. The upper area and / or the lower area preferably completely cover the windshield module in the horizontal direction or have a width of at least 0.8 m. In this case, it is preferably provided that the upper area is designed to display an electronic sun visor and / or a control surface and / or a rear-view mirror display. The lower area of ​​the display in the area of ​​the windshield module, in contrast, is designed to display an information panel and / or as an exterior mirror display.

[0027] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the display in the area of ​​the roof module and in the area of ​​the windshield module is designed to simultaneously display moving and / or still images, whereby the displays can be dependent or independent of each other in terms of content. This allows passengers in different rows of seats to play computer games with and against each other, for example, which is particularly advantageous for entertainment purposes in fully autonomous vehicles.

[0028] Overall, the proposed module combination creates various synergies that have a particularly positive impact on assembly and operation. Because the module combination includes significant additional components or can be implemented electronically, the installation of separate sun visors, information panels, loudspeakers, reading lights, and the associated connecting cables within the vehicle cabin is eliminated, further facilitating automated assembly. The module combination also improves customer benefits and opens up new business models, particularly through the integration of functionally integrated modules. This also enables the implementation of new recycling concepts. Furthermore, modularization reduces the logistics effort during assembly and generates a comparatively lower amount of packaging waste.The modularization of a uniform body structure enables clustering during production of different vehicles of a platform and across different brands / models, resulting in advantageous scaling effects.

[0029] The proposed module combination, in particular with its preferred embodiments, is intended for vehicles that drive autonomously or at least semi-autonomously in levels 3, 4 and 5.

[0030] Finally, the application of comparable concepts is planned in dental practices to calm patients, in public transport to inform and entertain passengers, or in ambulances to communicate with patients without (temporary or permanent) speech ability.

[0031] Specific embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1 an exploded view of a vehicle with several modules, Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view of a vehicle with a detailed view of the module combination and Fig. 3a, b perspective views of the module combination.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows, by way of example, a vehicle 10 that has a modular structure, particularly with regard to the body, and therefore facilitates / allows automated assembly. The vehicle 10 has a chassis 11 that can be connected at the front and rear to wheel modules 121, 122, to a battery 13, and to a body frame 14. A module combination 100 comprising a roof module 15 and a windshield module 16 can be fixed to the body frame 14. For this purpose, the modules 15, 16 are, for example, glued to the body frame 14.

[0033] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle 10 with a vehicle cabin 17 in which a front row of seats 181 and a rear row of seats 182 are arranged. Passengers 191, 192 are shown in each of the two rows of seats 181, 182, with the front passenger 191 in a conventional upright seating position and the rear passenger 192 in a semi-reclining position. As a result, the view of the front passenger 191 is directed toward the windshield module 16, and the view of the rear passenger 192 is directed toward the roof module 15.

[0034] The module combination 100 of the vehicle 10 with the windscreen module 16 and the roof module 15 is particularly in the detailed view of the Fig. 2 and the perspective representations of the Fig. 3a, b shown.

[0035] Both the roof module 15 and the windshield module 16 have an inner side 20 facing the vehicle cabin 17 and an outer side 21 facing away from the vehicle cabin 17. The inner sides 20 of the windshield module 16 and the roof module 15 have a common display 22 in some areas, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a display 22 of a user interface 23. The display 22 is configured as a touch display, which allows the user to input control commands by touching the surface of the display 22 at defined or definable points. The display 22 is designed as an OLED display both in the area of ​​the roof module 15 and in the area of ​​the windshield module 16. The roof module 16 is connected to the windshield module 15 via an electronic coupling point 24, and the module combination 100 has a central connector 25 that allows a connection to the on-board electrical system of the vehicle 10.In the illustrated embodiment, both the electronic coupling point 24 and the central connector 25 are designed for data exchange and for supplying energy to the module combination 100.

[0036] On the outer side 21, the roof module 15 in the illustrated embodiment has a solar collector 26 designed to generate electrical energy. The electrical energy can be used directly to supply power to the module combination 100 or fed into the vehicle's electrical system 10. To cool the display 22, a cooling device 27 in the form of a Peltier element 271 is arranged between the display 22 of the roof module 15 and the solar collector 26. For registering and / or monitoring passengers, the roof module 15 has at least one integrated camera 28. Furthermore, at least one loudspeaker 29 and at least one microphone 30 are provided for advantageously designing the user interface. Furthermore, the roof module 15 has a LIDAR 31 and an antenna 32, both of which are used for control devices of the vehicle that are not relevant here.All components of the roof module 15 are at least indirectly connected to a support element 43 with a Z-shaped cross section, which is connected to the body frame 14 during assembly.

[0037] In the area of ​​the windshield module 16, the display 22 covers the inner side 20 with respect to a vehicle coordinate system in an upper area 33 and a lower area 34, which are spaced apart from each other to create a section 35 of the windshield module 16 that is designed without a display. The upper area 33 of the display 22 is designed to display an electronic sun visor 36, a control surface 37, and a rearview mirror display 38. The control surface 37, in particular, has control elements for activating the electronic sun visor 36 and a front reading light 39. The lower area 34, in contrast, is designed to display an information panel 40 and as an exterior mirror display 41.In such a configuration, the display-free section 35 provides a sufficient view of the traffic situation ahead, so that the vehicle 10 with such a module combination 100 can be controlled not only autonomously, but also semi-autonomously or manually.

[0038] In particular, in a vehicle 10 which is controlled completely autonomously, the display 22 in the area of ​​the roof module 15 and in the area of ​​the windscreen module 16 can be designed to simultaneously display moving and / or still images 42 ( Fig. 3b), whereby the representations can be interdependent or independent of each other with regard to content. This allows passengers in different rows of seats 181, 182 to play computer games with or against each other, for example, while the autonomously controlled vehicle 10 travels a predetermined route.

[0039] When the module combination 100 is used as intended, the following functions can be implemented.

[0040] The display 22 can show moving or still images of the sky, particularly a night sky with stars or a daytime sky with clouds, particularly in the area of ​​the roof module 15. The displayed images can be stored video data from real (natural) recordings, simulated video data, and live images. To display live images, the module combination 100, particularly the roof module 15, has an outward-facing camera configured to record the images. In this respect, the display 22 can assume the function of a virtual glass roof, particularly in the area of ​​the roof module. Independent of the image shown, the display can also include an artificial horizon that moves / shifts depending on the vehicle's movement, which is particularly helpful in reducing symptoms of motion sickness.The display also allows for AR (augmented reality) enhancement as well as the display of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, including holograms.

[0041] Furthermore, the module combination 100 can create a customer-specific ambience, which can be designed, in particular, as an individual greeting scenario when boarding the vehicle 10. In this case, the display 22 can be controlled to display ambient lighting, and the loudspeakers 29 can be controlled to emit ambient sound. List of reference symbols 100 module combinations 10 vehicles 11 chassis 121 Wheel module (front) 122 Wheel module (rear) 13 Battery 14 body frame 15 roof module 16 Windscreen module 17 Vehicle cabin 181 row of seats (front) 182 row of seats (rear) 191 Passenger (front) 192 passengers (rear) 20 Inside 21 Outside 22 Display 23 User interface 24 electronic coupling points 25 central plugs 26 solar collector 27 Cooling device 271 Peltier element 28 Camera 29 speakers 30 microphone 31 LIDAR 32 antenna 33 upper area 34 lower area 35 display-free sections 36 electronic sun visor 37 Control panel 38 Rearview mirror display 39 reading light 40 Information board 41 Exterior mirror display 42 Image 43 supporting element

Claims

[1] Module combination (100) with a windscreen module (16) and a roof module (15), which can be connected at least indirectly to a chassis (11) of a vehicle (10) and, in the assembled state, have an inner side (20) facing a vehicle cabin (17) and an outer side (21) facing away from the vehicle cabin (17), wherein the inner sides (20) of the windscreen module (16) and the roof module (15) have a common display (22) at least in some areas, characterized by in that the roof module (15) is connected to the windscreen module (16) in the assembled state via an electronic coupling point (24) and the module combination (100) in the assembled state is connected to the on-board network of the vehicle (10) via a central plug (25), wherein the coupling point (24) and the central plug (25) are designed for data exchange and energy supply. [2] Module combination (100) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the display (22) is designed as a display (22) of a user interface (23) (HMI), wherein the display (22) is preferably designed as a touch display that allows the input of control commands. [3] Module combination (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the display (22) is designed as an OLED display, a display (22) based on an electronic ink or as a projection surface for a projector. [4] Module combination (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the display (22) in the area of ​​the roof module (15) completely covers the inner side (20) or has a length of at least 1 m and a width of at least 0.8 m with respect to a vehicle coordinate system. [5] Module combination (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized byin that the roof module (15) has, on an outer side (21) facing away from the inner side (20), a solar collector (26) which is designed to generate electrical energy which can be used directly to supply energy to the roof module (15) or can be fed into the on-board network of the vehicle (10), wherein a cooling device (27) for actively or passively cooling the roof module is preferably arranged between the solar collector (26) and the display (22), wherein the cooling device (27) is preferably a Peltier element (271). [6] Module combination (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the roof module (15) has at least one camera (28) and / or at least one loudspeaker (29) and / or at least one microphone (30) and / or a LIDAR (31) and / or at least one antenna (32). [7] Module combination (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized byin that the display (22) in the region of the windscreen module (16) completely covers the inner side (20) or, with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, has an upper region (33) and a lower region (34) which are spaced apart from one another and create a section (35) of the windscreen module (16) which is designed without a display, wherein the upper region (33) and / or the lower region (34) preferably completely covers the windscreen module (16) in the horizontal direction or has a width of at least 0.8 m. [8] Module combination (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that a) the upper region (33) is designed to display an electronic sun visor (36) and / or a control surface (37) and / or a rearview mirror display (38) and / or b) the lower region (34) is designed to display an information panel (40) and / or as an exterior mirror display (41). [9] Module combination (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the display (22) in the area of ​​the roof module (15) and in the area of ​​the windscreen module (16) is designed to display moving and / or still images simultaneously, the displays being dependent on or independent of one another with regard to their content.

Images