Sensor module with environmental sensor and cleaning element

Abstract

A sensor module (18) for a motor vehicle (1000) is proposed, comprising an environment sensor (22), a first viewing area (24), a second viewing area (28) and a cleaning element (34), wherein the second viewing area (28), viewed in the direction of an optical axis (30) of the environment sensor (22), is arranged in front of the first viewing area (24), wherein the environment sensor (22) is designed to detect a vehicle environment through the first and the second viewing area (24, 28), and wherein the cleaning element (34) is arranged to be movable between the first and the second viewing area (24, 28) in order to clean the second viewing area (28), in particular mechanically.

Description

The invention relates to a sensor module, in particular a Roof sensor module (RSM) for a passenger vehicle, having a surroundings sensor for detecting a vehicle environment. The invention further relates to a vehicle roof having such a sensor module. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having such a sensor module and / or such a vehicle roof.Vehicle roofs are known from practice. A vehicle roof can be designed, for example, as a roof sensor module, which can be placed as a separate structural unit on a vehicle body of a passenger vehicle forming a vehicle body shell. As an interface to the vehicle roof, the vehicle body comprises roof rails which can be designed as longitudinal rails and / or as transverse rails and constitute a vehicle-body-side carrier device. The vehicle roof comprises a roof skin which forms an outer viewing surface and has sensor see-through regions by means of which environment sensors which serve for detecting a vehicle environment and are arranged under the roof skin can detect the vehicle environment.Autonomous or semi-autonomous driving vehicles comprise, for example, a roof designed as a sensor roof module or robot sensor module (RSM), which is equipped with a multiplicity of environment sensors. The environment sensors, which are integrated in a dry area into the vehicle roof, which is designed in particular as a roof sensor module and which are designed, for example, as lidar sensors and / or as radar sensors and / or as cameras, record the environment around the vehicle and make corresponding measurement signals available to control electronics of the relevant vehicle, so that a respective traffic situation can be determined and the driving behavior of the relevant vehicle can be adapted to this traffic situation.In order to enable the vehicle environment to be detected as free of interference as possible, it is known to keep a see-through region through which the environment sensor looks in order to detect the vehicle environment free of optical interference, such as water drops and / or dirt particles. The see-through region may either be arranged directly on the environment sensor and may be designed, for example, as a lens. Alternatively or additionally, the see-through region can also be provided in a cover of the environment sensor, which can be part of a sensor housing or of another body component.Various cleaning devices are known for cleaning the see-through area. The cleaning can be effected, for example, by means of compressed air or by means of another cleaning fluid. Known cleaning devices, however, do not provide a limited cleaning effect or remove dirt and / or droplets completely from the see-through area, so that optical interference variables can remain during sensor operation. In addition, known cleaning devices have a high consumption of compressed air and / or the cleaning fluid used. Particularly in the case of compressed air-based cleaning, high noise emission also occurs as a result of the cleaning. Ultrasonic-based cleaning devices are also known. However, these are designed only for small see-through areas and are also limited in which size of foreign bodies can be removed from the see-through area. Furthermore, mechanical cleaning devices, such as wipers or the like, are known, but are often very complex in technical terms. In addition, these cleaning devices require a large amount of installation space and impair the design and styling of the vehicle. Furthermore, continuous maintenance of the wipers or replacement must be ensured, for example, in order to renew the wiping blades which are worn away. This results in increased maintenance costs.Further prior art can be found in the publications DE 10 2020 126 762 A1, DE 10 2022 117 608 A1, DE 10 2017 221 515 A1, DE 102018 118 846 A1 and DE 10 2018 121 809 A1.An object of the invention is to provide a sensor module having an improved cleaning function.This object is achieved by the features of the main claim 1 and the dependent claims 11 and 12.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. All combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims and / or the figures fall within the scope of the invention. In this case, it is understood in particular that standard language transformations and / or a corresponding replacement of respective terminology within the scope of standard language practice, in particular the use of synonyms supported by the generally accepted language literature, are encompassed by the present disclosure content without being explicitly mentioned in their respective wording.According to the invention, a sensor module, in particular for a passenger car, is proposed. The sensor module has a surroundings sensor, a first see-through region, a second, preferably movable and / or deformable and / or flexible, see-through region and a cleaning element. The second see-through region is situated, viewed in the direction of an optical axis of the surroundings sensor, in front of the first see-through region. The environment sensor is designed to detect a vehicle environment through the first and the second see-through region. The cleaning element is arranged movably between the first and the second see-through region in order to clean the second see-through region, in particular mechanically, namely preferably by a translatory relative movement of the cleaning element to the first and the second see-through region.By the present cleaning member disposed between the first and second see-through regions, the second see-through region can be effectively cleaned. This leads to an effective removal of dirt and / or liquid droplets from the second range of view of the environment sensor, so that trouble-free sensor operation is made possible. This achieves an improvement in continuous cleaning, for example in the case of rain. In addition, the present sensor module with its improved cleaning function improves an external design or appearance and styling of the motor vehicle. Overall, optimization of the layout and of the package can be achieved. The present cleaning element likewise enables a cleaning of larger and optionally also curved or otherwise shaped see-through regions, since the cleaning element can preferably be designed to be flexibly movable. The present cleaning member reduces the noise emission generated by the cleaning. The present cleaning element can also achieve a reduction in the installation space, the weight of the sensor module and a reduction in the production and maintenance costs.The cleaning element is preferably arranged below a cover of the sensor module in a rest position and is therefore not visible from the outside. The first and / or the second see-through region can also be arranged on the cover of the sensor module. The first see-through region can also be integrated in the cover or formed integrally with the cover. The cover may be part of a housing of the environment sensor or a cover of the sensor module or a cover of a body component on which the sensor module is arranged. The cover preferably serves for fixing the second see-through region.In the present case, the cleaning element is therefore provided between the see-through regions of the environment sensor, which can also be formed on a preferred cover or directly on the environment sensor. The cleaning element enables the mechanical cleaning of the see-through area. The cleaning element is preferably translationally movable in one or more dimensions, for example horizontally and / or vertically, relative to the first and the second see-through area and thus makes it possible to remove dirt and / or droplets or the like from the second see-through area, in particular directed outwards or exposed to a vehicle environment.The environment sensor of the vehicle roof can be designed in a variety of ways, use electromagnetic radiation and / or acoustic waves and comprise, for example, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, an optical sensor, such as a camera, an ultrasonic sensor, an antenna device and / or the like. If the environment sensor is a lidar sensor, it preferably operates in a wavelength range of approximately 905 nm or also of approximately 1550 nm. A camera used as a surroundings sensor may operate in the wavelength range of visible light and / or in the infrared range.The transmission range is transparent in particular for a wavelength range between 300 nm and 2000 nm. In addition, it is also advantageous if the transmission range is transmissive for radar beams.In a preferred embodiment, the first see-through region comprises a lens or a film. The lens can be designed in a wide variety of ways and serve, for example, to adapt and / or focus or extend a field of view of the environment sensor. The lens may enable, for example, a viewing angle and / or a field of view of ±90° about an optical axis of the environment sensor. The lens may be made of glass or a plastic. The film is preferably made of a plastic. The film is preferably transparent to a wavelength used by the environment sensor. The film is preferably flexible and / or deformable.In a preferred embodiment, the second see-through area comprises a film. The film is preferably made of a plastic. The film is preferably transparent to a wavelength used by the environment sensor. The film is preferably flexible and / or deformable. The preferred film is, for example, flexible and can thus be adapted to a shape of the first see-through area. For example, if the first see-through region is curved and / or curved, the film may adapt to the curvature(s) and / or curvature(s).In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning element comprises a wire or a rod or a lever or a rod-shaped or bar-shaped element. The preferred wire is, for example, flexible and / or flexible and can thus be adapted to a shape of the first see-through region. For example, if the first see-through region is curved and / or curved, the wire may conform to the curvature(s) and / or curvature(s). The cleaning element can also be designed as a rod which is, for example, not flexible or flexible, but rather rigid. This is advantageous in particular when the first and / or the second see-through region is planar or not curved and / or is formed without a curvature. The cleaning element can also have at least one lever. The cleaning element can also have a plurality of levers which can be movable with respect to one another, for example mounted in an articulated manner. In this way, a complex movement of the cleaning element can be achieved. The cleaning element can also be designed in the form of a rod or a beam, i.e. preferably has a longitudinal extent which is substantially greater than a thickness and / or width of the cleaning element. The cleaning element preferably has a round or oval cross section (viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent).In a preferred embodiment, the sensor module has a drive for translatory movement of the cleaning element between the first and the second see-through region along at least one direction of movement. The drive is preferably coupled directly or indirectly to the cleaning element. In this way, a movement of the drive, for example a rotational movement, can be converted and / or translated into the translatory movement of the cleaning element relative to the first and the second see-through region. The indirect coupling can be achieved, for example, by the intermediate connection of further components between the drive and the cleaning element. The cleaning element can preferably also be movable in two translatory movement directions relative to the first and the second see-through region. This can be achieved, for example, by a corresponding mechanical guide of the cleaning element, which can be effected by levers or by guide rails. The drive and / or further components of the drive can / can be arranged on the preferred cover or on the sensor module itself, and are preferably not visible from the outside. The drive and / or further components of the drive can / can be arranged in a drying region which is protected from moisture.In a preferred embodiment, the sensor module has a movement guidance device, in particular designed as at least one guide profile with a slider, wherein the cleaning element is held or mounted movably in the movement guidance device, in particular in a sliding manner, in order to be moved in the at least one movement direction in this way by the drive. The preferred movement guidance device is preferably designed in such a way that a predetermined movement of the cleaning element can be achieved. For example, guide rails can be provided in an outer region of the first and the second see-through region, preferably in two mutually opposite edge regions of the first and the second see-through region. The cleaning element can be held in the two guide rails in a slidable manner. And may extend, for example, orthogonally or at an angle to the guide rails. The guide rails are preferably arranged parallel or substantially parallel to one another.In a preferred embodiment, the drive has a spindle rod and / or a wire cable and / or a worm cable and / or an electric motor and / or a link and / or a magnetic track. The movement of the cleaning element, for example the wire or a similar cleaning element, can be realized by at least one profile and in each case a slider mounted therein, to which the cleaning element is fastened, and by the drive. Alternatively or additionally, one or more spindle rods, one or more wire cables, one or more worm cables or the like can be provided for guiding the movement of the cleaning element. The drive can be formed by an electric motor, by one or more wire cables, by one or more worm cables, by one or more steering rods and / or also by one or more magnetic tracks.In a preferred embodiment, a mechanical stress or an electrostatic stress or an electrodynamic stress is generated between the first and second see-through regions to adhere the first and second see-through regions to each other. It is therefore preferable for static or active electricity to act on the see-through regions or the foils or the foil and the lens, by means of which the see-through regions are held together. Alternatively, a mechanical tension force can also hold the see-through regions or the foils or the foil and the lens together.In a preferred embodiment, the first see-through region is spaced apart from the second see-through region, wherein a liquid, in particular a gel-like liquid that is optically transparent to the environment sensor, is introduced between the first and second see-through regions in order to adhere the first and second see-through regions to one another. A gel-like liquid can therefore be introduced between the films or the lens and the film, which liquid holds the see-through regions together and is preferably transparent to a wavelength or a wavelength range used by the environment sensor.In a preferred embodiment, the second see-through area faces an external environment of the motor vehicle. The second see-through region is therefore exposed to the external conditions during operation of the sensor module and can be impaired, for example, by droplets or dirt. By the movement of the cleaning element relative to the first and the second see-through area and by the fact that the second see-through area is preferably movable and / or deformable and / or flexible, the second see-through area can be cleaned.In the present case, a vehicle roof of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one sensor module according to any desired embodiment, is also claimed.A preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof is designed as a roof sensor module. Such a roof sensor module integrally forms a structural unit that accommodates components required for autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question. The roof sensor module, in which a plurality of functional elements can thus be integrated, thus represents a compact structural unit which is connected on the side of a vehicle manufacturer to a vehicle body or a vehicle body shell which comprises roof spars, such as roof side spars and / or roof longitudinal spars. The vehicle roof designed as a roof sensor module thus represents a sensor roof module or Rof sensor module (RSM), which enables autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the relevant vehicle.A motor vehicle which is equipped with such a vehicle roof and is designed as an autonomously driving vehicle drives independently in the autonomous driving mode at least without significant interventions by a driver. In a partially autonomous driving mode, the vehicle roof according to the invention forms, for example, a part of a driver assistance system.The vehicle roof may be provided with a transparent fixed roof portion and / or a roof opening system for a roof opening.In particular, the vehicle roof at least partially forms a roof of a passenger car. However, it can also be a roof of a commercial vehicle which is designed, for example, as a delivery truck, as a bus, as an autonomously driving small bus, such as a so-called pople mover, or else as a truck tractor.In the present case, a motor vehicle is also claimed which comprises a sensor module and / or a vehicle roof of the type described above. The vehicle roof preferably forms a roof sensor module, a Roof sensor module (RSM), which can be arranged as a pre-assembly unit on a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. In other words, a vehicle bodyshell of the motor vehicle can thus in particular be provided with a prefabricated or pre-assembled roof sensor module which is designed as a sensor roof module or roof sensor module.Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be derived from the description, the drawing and the patent claims.Exemplary embodiments of a motor vehicle having a vehicle roof according to the invention are shown in a schematically simplified manner in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle having a vehicle roof and an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module; FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module; FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module with a cleaning element in a rest position; FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of the exemplary embodiment of the sensor module shown in FIG. 3 ; FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module with a cleaning element in a cleaning position; FIG. 6 shows a schematic front view of the exemplary embodiment of the sensor module shown in FIG. 5 ; FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view with a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module with a cleaning element in a rest position; and FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view with detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of a sensor module with a cleaning element in a cleaning position.FIG. 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle 1000 having a vehicle body 1002. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1000 has a roof sensor module 10, which is arranged as a structural unit on the vehicle body 1002 and forms a vehicle roof 100 of the motor vehicle 1000 at least in regions. The roof sensor module 10 may be provided as a pre-assembly unit.In alternative embodiments, the vehicle roof 100 can also be a vehicle roof which is not designed as a roof sensor module. Thus, all embodiments also relate to such a vehicle roof 100.The roof sensor module 10 comprises a planar component 12 which at least in regions forms a roof skin 14 of the vehicle roof 100. According to FIG. 1, the roof sensor module 10 comprises a fixed roof element 16, which forms an at least partially transparent see-through region of the vehicle roof 100. In other or additional embodiments, the roof sensor module 10 can have a roof opening system which comprises a cover element which can be displaced for the selective opening or closing of a roof opening.The roof sensor module 10 (see FIG. 1 ) or the vehicle roof 100 has a sensor module 18. The sensor module 18 may include a cover 20 or a housing. Furthermore, the sensor module 18 has at least one environment sensor 22 for detecting a vehicle environment, which is arranged under the one- or multi-part cover 20 in the present case. The environment sensor is configured to detect the vehicle environment via a first see-through region 24. The first see-through region 24 is arranged on the cover 20 in the present case. Environment sensor 22 may be a lidar sensor and / or a camera. Other sensors are also conceivable. Environment sensor 22 is situated in a sensor housing 26. As is schematically evident from FIG. 2, environment sensor 22 is situated below cover 20, or is covered by cover 20. According to FIG. 2, the first see-through region 24 is arranged like a type of window in an opening of the cover 20, which opening is not shown in detail.The sensor module 18 further has a second see-through region 28, which is arranged in front of the first see-through region 24, as viewed in the direction of an optical axis 30 (see FIG. 1 ) of the environment sensor 22. The optical axis 30 extends in the present case parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction x. It is understood that the sensor module 18 can also have further layers configured as a see-through region. An exemplary third see-through area 32 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The third see-through area 32 may serve, for example, to support the first and second see-through areas 24, 28. The third see-through region 32 is arranged behind the first see-through region 24, as viewed in the direction of the optical axis 30. The third transmission range 32 is preferably transparent to a wavelength used by the environment sensor 22 for detecting the vehicle environment or a wavelength range. Environment sensor 22 may thus be designed to sense the vehicle environment through first, second, and third see-through regions 24, 28, 32.It is understood that the present concept can also be combined with an additional cleaning device, not shown, for example a nozzle cleaning or the like.According to FIGS. 3 to 8, the first see-through area 24 comprises a film. Alternatively, the first see-through region 24 can also be designed as a lens. The second see-through region 28 likewise has a film. The second see-through region 28 in the present case faces an external environment.The sensor module 18 further comprises a cleaning element 34. The cleaning element 34 is movably arranged between the first and the second see-through regions 24, 28 in order to clean the second see-through region 28 mechanically. The cleaning is effected by the cleaning element 34 being moved translationally relative to the first and the second see-through regions 24, 28. During this movement, the second transparent region 28, which is designed to be flexible or deformable, is deformed, as a result of which adhering dirt or droplets are removed.The cleaning element 34 is embodied as a wire in the present case. Other embodiments, for example as a rod or a lever or a rod-shaped or bar-shaped element, are also conceivable.In order to enable the movement of the cleaning element 34, the sensor module has a drive 36. The drive 36 is configured to move the cleaning element 34 translationally between the first and the second see-through regions 24, 28 along at least one direction of movement 38. The drive 36 can have a spindle rod and / or a wire cable and / or a worm cable and / or an electric motor and / or a link and / or a magnetic track.For guiding the movement of the cleaning element 34 relative to the first and the second see-through region 24, 28, the sensor module 18 can have a movement guiding device 40. The movement guidance device 40 can be designed as at least one guide profile 42 with a slider 44. The respective slider 44 is movably mounted or guided in the respective guide profile 42. The drive 36 can be configured to move the respective slider 44 of the respective guide profile 42 within the respective guide profile 42. The cleaning element 34 is movably held or mounted in the movement guidance device 40, in the present case on the respective slider 44, in order to be moved in this way by the drive 36 in at least the one movement direction 38. The cleaning element 34 is mounted on the respective slider 44, for example by pins or in some other way. The guide profiles 42 are arranged in the present case parallel and spaced apart from one another at opposite edge regions of the first and second see-through regions 24, 28 and extend in the vehicle width direction y or in the movement direction 38 parallel thereto. The cleaning element 34 is preferably arranged at an oblique angle or orthogonally to the guide profiles 42. In the rest position (see FIGS. 3 and 4 ), the cleaning element 34 is preferably arranged orthogonally to the guide profiles 42. In the cleaning position (see FIGS. 5 and 6 ), the cleaning element 34 is preferably arranged at an oblique angle to the guide profiles 42. The guide profiles 42 are preferably arranged parallel to one another. The guide profiles 42 can be held on the cover 20 and covered by the latter towards the outside.Not explicitly shown in the figures, a mechanical stress or an electrostatic stress or an electrodynamic stress may be generated between the first and second see-through regions 24, 28 to adhere the first and second see-through regions 24, 28 to each other. Alternatively, the first see-through area 24 may be spaced apart from the second see-through area 28. In this case, a gel-like liquid which is optically transparent to the environment sensor 22 can be introduced between the first and second see-through regions 24, 28 in order to adhere the first and second see-through regions 24, 28 to one another.Due to the adhesion, the movement of the cleaning element 34 can be transferred to the second see-through region 28, whereby the latter deforms along the movement direction 38, whereby particles or droplets adhering thereto can be removed.List of reference characters10 Roof sensor module 12 Planar component 14 Roof skin 16 Fixed roof element 18 Sensor module 20 Cover 22 Environment sensor 24 First see-through region 26 Sensor housing 28 Second see-through region 30 Optical axis 32 Third see-through region 34 Cleaning element 36 Drive 38 Direction of movement 40 Movement guide device 42 Guide profile 44 Slider 100 Vehicle roof 1000 Motor vehicle 1002 Vehicle body x Vehicle longitudinal direction y Vehicle width direction

Claims

Sensor module (18) for a motor vehicle (1000) comprising a surroundings sensor (22), a first see-through region (24), a second see-through region (28) and a cleaning element (34), wherein the second see-through region (28), viewed in the direction of an optical axis (30) of the surroundings sensor (22), is arranged in front of the first see-through region (24), wherein the surroundings sensor (22) is designed to detect a vehicle surroundings through the first and the second see-through regions (24, 28), and wherein the cleaning element (34) is arranged movably between the first and the second see-through regions (24, 28) in order to clean the second see-through region (28).The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the first see-through area (24) comprises a lens or a film.The sensor module of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second see-through area (28) comprises a film.Sensor module according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning element (34) comprises a wire or a rod or a lever or a rod-shaped or bar-shaped element.Sensor module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor module (18) has a drive (36) for translatory movement of the cleaning element (34) between the first and the second see-through region (24, 28) along at least one direction of movement (38).Sensor module according to Claim 5, wherein the sensor module (18) has a movement guidance device (40), wherein the cleaning element (34) is held or mounted movably in the movement guidance device (40) in order to be moved in this way by the drive (36) in the at least one movement direction (38).Sensor module according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the drive (36) has a spindle rod and / or a wire cable and / or a worm cable and / or an electric motor and / or a link and / or a magnetic track.The sensor module of any preceding claim, wherein a mechanical stress or an electrostatic stress or an electrodynamic stress is generated between the first and second see-through regions (24, 28) to adhere the first and second see-through regions (24, 28) to each other.The sensor module of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first see-through area (24) is spaced from the second see-through area (28), wherein a liquid is introduced between the first and second see-through areas (24, 28) to adhere the first and second see-through areas (24, 28) to each other.The sensor module of any preceding claim, wherein the second see-through area (28) faces an external environment.Vehicle roof (100) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one sensor module (18) according to one of Claims 1 to 10.Motor vehicle (1000) comprising a sensor module (18) according to one of Claims 1 to 10 and / or a vehicle roof (100) according to Claim 11, wherein the vehicle roof (100) forms a roof sensor module (10) which can be arranged as a pre-assembly unit on a vehicle body (1002) of the motor vehicle (1000).

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