Sensor module with environmental sensor and cleaning device

Abstract

A sensor module (18) for a motor vehicle (1000) is proposed, comprising: a viewing area (24), an environment sensor (22) that can detect a vehicle environment through the viewing area (24), and a wiper device (28) for cleaning the viewing area (24); the wiper device (28) comprising a wiper arm (38) and a wiper blade (40) arranged on the wiper arm (38) and in mechanical contact with the viewing area (24) for cleaning the viewing area (24), wherein the wiper arm (38) has at least a section of a resilient material in order to provide a contact pressure (P) on the viewing area (24) for mechanical contact.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sensor module, in particular a roof sensor module (RSM) for a passenger car, comprising an environment sensor for detecting the vehicle's surroundings. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle roof with such a sensor module. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle with such a sensor module and / or such a vehicle roof. State of the art

[0002] Vehicle roofs are known from practice. A vehicle roof can, for example, be designed as a roof sensor module that can be attached as a separate structural unit to a vehicle body of a passenger car forming a vehicle shell. As an interface to the vehicle roof, the vehicle body comprises roof beams that can be designed as longitudinal beams and / or transverse beams and represent a support device on the vehicle body side. The vehicle roof comprises a roof skin that forms an outer visible surface and has sensor see-through areas through which environmental sensors, which serve to detect the vehicle's surroundings and are arranged under the roof skin, can detect the vehicle's surroundings.

[0003] Autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles, for example, include a roof designed as a sensor roof module or roof sensor module (RSM), which is equipped with a multitude of environmental sensors. The environmental 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 radar sensors and / or cameras, record the environment around the vehicle and provide corresponding measurement signals to the control electronics of the vehicle in question, so that the respective traffic situation can be determined and the driving behavior of the vehicle in question can be adapted to this traffic situation.

[0004] To enable the most interference-free detection of the vehicle's surroundings, it is known to keep a viewing area, through which the environment sensor looks to detect the vehicle's surroundings, free of optical interference such as water droplets and / or dirt particles. The viewing area can either be arranged directly on the environment sensor and be designed, for example, as a lens. Alternatively or additionally, the viewing area can also be provided in a cover of the environment sensor, which can be part of a sensor housing or another body component.

[0005] Various cleaning devices are known for cleaning the viewing area. Cleaning can be achieved using compressed air or another cleaning fluid, for example. Mechanical cleaning devices, such as wipers or similar devices, are also known, but are often technically very complex.

[0006] Various wiper blade arms and mounts for wiper blades are already known from the automotive sector. Furthermore, concepts for attaching a wiper blade to a wiper arm for cleaning environmental sensors are also known from the field of windshield and rear window cleaning. Compared to windshield and rear window cleaning, wiper devices for cleaning environmental sensors are small. However, if familiar standard wipers are to be installed in a smaller format for cleaning environmental sensors, the standard interfaces must still be used, which increases the installation space required. Furthermore, wipers for cleaning environmental sensors often pose difficulties when necessary when changing wiper blades. A further difficulty with known wiper devices is that the wiper blades are subject to wear and tear, which means that constant contact pressure on the viewing area cannot be guaranteed.

[0007] Further prior art can be found in WO 2022 / 171 840 A1 and DE 10 2021 212 323 A1.

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a sensor module with an improved cleaning device.

[0009] The problem is solved by a sensor module having the features of patent claim 1.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The scope of the invention includes all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims, and / or the figures. It is particularly understood that customary linguistic transformations and / or analogous replacements of respective terms within the scope of common linguistic practice, in particular the use of synonyms supported by generally accepted linguistic literature, are encompassed by the present disclosure content without being explicitly mentioned in their respective formulation.

[0011] In a first aspect, a sensor module for a motor vehicle is proposed, comprising a view-through area, an environment sensor that can detect the vehicle's surroundings through the view-through area, and a wiper device for cleaning the view-through area. The wiper device comprises a wiper arm and a wiper blade that is arranged on the wiper arm and is designed to be in mechanical contact with the view-through area for cleaning the view-through area. The wiper arm comprises, at least in sections, a resilient material in order to provide contact pressure on the view-through area for the mechanical contact. The resilient material comprises a spring plate from which the wiper arm is formed, at least in sections. The wiper arm comprises a cantilever arm and a blade holder that is rotatably connected to the cantilever arm, and the cantilever arm is formed from the resilient material.

[0012] The wiper blade can be arranged on the wiper arm, preferably in a reversibly detachable manner. The wiper blade can, for example, be guided in a groove in the wiper arm. The wiper arm is constructed from a material designed to provide mechanical contact between the wiper blade and the viewing area. The wiper blade is preferably made of plastic or rubber.

[0013] The present wiper device is more compact, easier to handle and install, and extremely robust. By making at least part of the wiper arm from a resilient material, in particular a spring plate, the structure of the wiper device can be made more compact. Furthermore, fewer components are required, since no additional springs are required to generate a preload force or contact pressure. The wiper arm, which is formed, for example, from a spring plate, preferably also secures the blade holder. In addition, the wiper arm itself, in particular a cantilever arm, forms a pivot point around which the contact pressure is generated. The wiper device impresses with its simple installation and easy servicing and also requires a very small cutout in the cover of the sensor module, which is advantageous in terms of the overall design and appearance.

[0014] According to the invention, it is proposed that the resilient material comprises a spring plate from which the wiper arm is formed at least in sections.

[0015] A spring plate is preferably a thin metal plate, which can be made of spring steel. Spring plates can be manufactured in various shapes and sizes and exhibit high load-bearing capacity and elasticity.

[0016] According to the invention, the wiper arm comprises a cantilever arm and a blade holder rotatably connected to the cantilever arm, wherein the cantilever arm is formed from the resilient material. The rotatable mounting of the blade holder is preferably provided by an at least partially round pin.

[0017] The wiper arm may also include additional components. It is also conceivable for the wiper arm to be formed in one piece, thus providing an integral mount for the wiper blade.

[0018] In a further aspect, it is proposed that the wiper device comprises a drive, a wiper carriage, a linear guide and a lever arrangement which is rotatably connected to the drive and the wiper carriage, wherein the wiper carriage is guided in a rotationally fixed manner on the linear guide, and wherein the drive is configured to move the lever arrangement such that a wiper carriage executes a linear movement along the linear guide.

[0019] The precise design of the lever arrangement is unimportant in this case. It should also be noted that the present invention can also be used in wiper devices in which the wiper arm rotates around at least one pivot point. The present invention is therefore not limited to wiper devices in which the wiper arm performs a linear movement.

[0020] In a further aspect, it is proposed that the extension arm is arranged on the wiper carriage in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0021] The boom arm can be glued, welded, soldered, screwed and / or bolted to the wiper carriage.

[0022] In a further aspect, it is proposed that the cantilever arm is arranged on the wiper carriage in such a way that the wiper blade is prestressed relative to the viewing area.

[0023] For example, the position of the boom arm on the wiper carriage can determine how strong the contact pressure is.

[0024] In a further aspect, it is proposed that the wiper device has a cover by which at least the wiper blade is covered to the outside.

[0025] The cover can be made of plastic, for example. The cover can serve as a concealment for the components of the wiper device.

[0026] In a further aspect, it is proposed that the cover forms the blade holder.

[0027] The cover can also be used synergistically as a blade holder. For this purpose, the cover can, for example, have a mount for the wiper blade, which is designed for reversibly detachable attachment of the wiper blade.

[0028] The present invention also relates to a vehicle roof of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one sensor module according to any embodiment.

[0029] A preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof is designed as a roof sensor module. Such a roof sensor module forms an integrated structural unit that accommodates components required for autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question. The roof sensor module, which can therefore integrate a multitude of functional elements, thus represents a compact structural unit that is connected by a vehicle manufacturer to a vehicle body or a vehicle shell that includes roof spars, such as roof side spars and / or longitudinal roof spars. The vehicle roof designed as a roof sensor module thus represents a sensor roof module or roof sensor module (RSM), which enables autonomous or semi-autonomous driving of the vehicle in question.

[0030] A motor vehicle equipped with such a vehicle roof and designed as an autonomous vehicle drives independently in autonomous driving mode, at least without significant intervention by a driver. In a semi-autonomous driving mode, the vehicle roof according to the invention forms, for example, part of a driver assistance system.

[0031] The vehicle roof may be provided with a transparent fixed roof section and / or a roof opening system for a roof opening.

[0032] In particular, the vehicle roof at least partially forms the roof of a passenger car. However, it can also be the roof of a commercial vehicle, which may be designed, for example, as a delivery van, a bus, an autonomously driving minibus, such as a so-called people mover, or even a truck tractor.

[0033] The present invention also claims a motor vehicle comprising a sensor module and / or a vehicle roof of the type described above. The vehicle roof preferably forms a roof sensor module, Roof Sensor Modul (RSM), which can be arranged as a pre-assembled unit on a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. In other words, in particular, a vehicle body-in-white of the motor vehicle can be provided with a prefabricated or pre-assembled roof sensor module, which is designed as a sensor roof module or Roof Sensor Module.

[0034] It is understood that the embodiments and exemplary embodiments mentioned above and those to be explained below can be implemented not only individually, but also in any combination with one another without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is also understood that the embodiments and exemplary embodiments mentioned above and those to be explained below relate in an equivalent or at least similar manner to all embodiments of the invention, without each being mentioned separately.

[0035] Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained below by way of example. Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle roof with a sensor module. Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a sensor module on a roof module. Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a sensor module. Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a wiper device. Fig. 5 shows a schematic detailed view of an embodiment of a wiper device. Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a wiper device.

[0036] In 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, at least in some regions, forms a vehicle roof 100 of the motor vehicle 1000. The roof sensor module 10 can be provided as a pre-assembled unit.

[0037] In alternative embodiments, the vehicle roof 100 may also be a vehicle roof that is not configured as a roof sensor module. Thus, all embodiments also refer to such a vehicle roof 100.

[0038] The roof sensor module 10 comprises a surface component 12, which at least partially forms a roof skin 14 of the vehicle roof 100. The roof sensor module 10 comprises according to Fig. 1 shows a fixed roof element 16 that forms an at least partially transparent area of ​​the vehicle roof 100. In other or additional embodiments, the roof sensor module 10 may have a roof opening system that includes a cover element that can be displaced to selectively open or close a roof opening.

[0039] The roof sensor module 10 or the vehicle roof 100 has a sensor module 18. The sensor module 18 can have a cover 20. Furthermore, the sensor module 18 has at least one environment sensor 22 for detecting the vehicle's surroundings. The environment sensor 22 is configured to detect the vehicle's surroundings via a viewing area 24. In this case, the viewing area 24 is arranged on the cover 20. The environment sensor 22 can be a lidar sensor and / or a camera and / or a radar sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor and / or a multi-camera sensor. Other sensors are also conceivable.

[0040] The environment sensor 22 is arranged in a sensor housing 26. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the environment sensor 22 is arranged below the cover 20 or is covered by the cover 20. The viewing area 24 is according to Fig. 2 as a window in an opening (not shown in detail) of the cover 20. The see-through area 24 can be provided integrally in the cover 20 or arranged separately therein. The see-through area 24 can also be provided in the sensor housing.

[0041] As can be seen from the Fig. 3-6, the sensor module 18 has a wiper device 28 for cleaning the see-through area 24. For example, the wiper device 28 can have a drive 30 and a lever arrangement 32 connected to the drive 30. The drive 30 can be an electric motor. In this case, the lever arrangement 32 is moved by the drive 30 such that a wiper carriage 34 is set in a linear movement L along a linear guide 36 in order to clean the see-through area 24. A wiper arm 38 is arranged on the wiper carriage 34. A wiper blade 40 is arranged on the wiper arm 38 and is in mechanical contact with the see-through area 24 or rests against it or rests on it in order to clean it during the back-and-forth movement. To protect the wiper blade 40 and the wiper arm 38 and for design reasons, the wiper device 28 may have a cover 42.The wiper device 28 may further include a frame 44 on which the drive 30, the lever assembly 32, the linear guide 36, and possibly other components of the sensor module 18 are arranged. The frame 44 serves to provide mechanical stiffening and a certain degree of rigidity.

[0042] As can be seen from the detailed view in Fig. 5, the wiper arm 38 is formed at least in sections from a resilient material in order to provide a contact pressure P on the see-through area 24 for the mechanical contact of the wiper blade 40 with the see-through area 24. The resilient material has, for example, as can be seen from Fig. 5, a spring plate from which the wiper arm 40 is formed, at least in sections. In the present case, at least a portion of the wiper arm 40 is formed from the spring plate. The spring plate is bent and / or prestressed in such a way that the contact pressure P can be provided.

[0043] The wiper arm 38 is formed in two parts and has a cantilever arm 46 and a blade holder 48, which is rotatably connected to the cantilever arm 46. The cantilever arm 46 is formed from the resilient material or the spring plate. As can be seen from Fig.5, the extension arm 46 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the wiper carriage 34. The wiper carriage 34 is in turn guided in a rotationally fixed manner on the linear guide 36, so that the contact pressure P is built up via the support of the extension arm 46 on the wiper carriage 34, which in turn is supported on the linear guide 36, which in turn is supported on the frame 44. The strength of the contact pressure P can be adjusted or determined via the spring constant of the resilient material, for example by selecting a specific material thickness. In the present case, the cover 42 also forms the blade holder 48. The cover 42 can, for example, be made of a plastic or the like. The cover 42 or the blade holder 48 can preferably also provide a receptacle for the wiper blade 40. The receptacle is designed, for example, as a type of groove or the like.

[0044] The cantilever arm 46 can be attached to the wiper carriage 34, for example, by gluing, welding, soldering, or screwing. Other attachment methods are also possible. The wiper carriage 34 is preferably connected to at least one component of the lever assembly 32 in such a way that the wiper carriage 34 is non-tiltable or non-rotatable relative to the linear guide 36.

[0045] The extension arm 46 can be rotatably connected to the blade holder 44, for example, via a holding device 50, which can be formed integrally with the blade holder 48 or fastened to the blade holder 48 in some other way. The holding device 50 is preferably round or has a rounded shape at least in sections. The blade holder 48 preferably has a formed partial circle to enable rotation between the two components, i.e. the holding device 50 and the blade holder 48. Such rotatability is preferred to enable alignment of the wiper blade 40 with the viewing area 24, so that a constant contact pressure can preferably be achieved. List of reference symbols 10 roof sensor module 12 Surface component 14 Roof skin 16 fixed roof element 18 Sensor module 20 Cover 22 Environment sensor 24 viewing area 26 sensor housings 28 Wiper device 30 drive 32 lever arrangement 34 wiper carriages 36 linear guide 38 Wiper arm 40 wiper blade 42 Cover 44 frames 46 boom arm 48 blade holders 50 holding device 100 vehicle roof 1000 motor vehicles 1002 Vehicle body L Linear movement P contact pressure x Vehicle longitudinal direction y vehicle width direction

Claims

[1] Sensor module (18) for a motor vehicle (1000), comprising: a view-through area (24), an environment sensor (22) that can detect a vehicle environment through the view-through area (24), and a wiper device (28) for cleaning the view-through area (24); the wiper device (28) comprising a wiper arm (38) and a wiper blade (40) that is arranged on the wiper arm (38) and is in mechanical contact with the view-through area (24) for cleaning the view-through area (24), wherein the wiper arm (38) comprises, at least in sections, a resilient material in order to provide a contact pressure (P) on the view-through area (24) for the mechanical contact, characterized bythat the resilient material comprises a spring plate from which the wiper arm (40) is formed at least in sections, and that the wiper arm (38) comprises a cantilever arm (46) and a blade holder (48) which is rotatably connected to the cantilever arm (46), wherein the cantilever arm (46) is formed from the resilient material. [2] Sensor module (18) according to claim 1, wherein the wiper device (28) has a drive (30), a wiper carriage (34), a linear guide (36) and a lever arrangement (32) which is rotatably connected to the drive (30) and the wiper carriage (34), wherein the wiper carriage (34) is guided on the linear guide (36) in a rotationally fixed manner, and wherein the drive (30) is configured to move the lever arrangement (32) such that a wiper carriage (34) executes a linear movement (L) along the linear guide (36). [3] Sensor module (18) according to claim 1 and 2, wherein the cantilever arm (46) is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the wiper carriage (34). [4] Sensor module (18) according to claim 3, wherein the cantilever arm (46) is arranged on the wiper carriage (34) such that the wiper blade (40) is prestressed relative to the see-through area (24). [5] Sensor module (18) according to claim 1, wherein the wiper device (28) has a cover (42) by which at least the wiper blade (40) is covered to the outside. [6] Sensor module (18) according to claim 5, wherein the cover (42) forms the blade holder (48). [7] Vehicle roof (100) of a motor vehicle (1000), comprising at least one sensor module (18) according to one of claims 1 to 6. [8] Motor vehicle (1000), comprising a sensor module (18) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and / or a vehicle roof (100) according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle roof (100) forms a roof sensor module (10) which can be arranged as a pre-assembled unit on a vehicle body (1002) of the motor vehicle (1000).

Images