Vehicle roof system

Abstract

A roof system 100 for a vehicle (400, Fig.4), the roof system configured to be connected to a body structure (152) of a vehicle; the roof system comprising: a roof panel 106 defining an roof surface;

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a roof system for a vehicle, in particular a roof system comprising a sensor. Aspects of the invention relate to a roof system for a vehicle, a vehicle, a method of manufacture of a roof system for connection to a body structure of the vehicle, and a method of fitting a roof system to a body structure of a vehicle. BACKGROUND It is known to provide a sensor on a vehicle, for example on the roof. It can be challenging to include a sensor which meets the design and packing constraints of a vehicle, in particular which allows for the sensor to function as expected, without some re-design or adaptation of the vehicle in the location of inclusion of the sensor to accommodate the sensor and any peripheral element such as wiring which connect the sensor to a control system of the vehicle. It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an aspect there is provided a roof system for a vehicle, the roof system configured to be connected to a body structure of a vehicle; the roof system comprising: a roof panel defining an roof surface; and a sensor located below the roof surface; wherein the sensor is movable between a stowed position in which the sensor is below the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor is above the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle during use. Advantageously, the roof system including the deployable sensor can be manufactured as a standalone unit and fitted to a body structure of the vehicle without the body structure requiring any modifications or redesign to accommodate the roof system. In this way, vehicles can readily be retrofitted with a roof system comprising a deployable sensor without modification to the vehicle body structure. In an aspect there is provided a roof system for a vehicle, the roof system configured to be connected to a body structure of a vehicle; the roof system comprising: a roof panel defining an roof surface; a sensor; and a sensor housing attached to the roof panel, the sensor housing defining a cavity for receiving the sensor, wherein the cavity is located below the roof surface; wherein the sensor is movable between a stowed position in which the sensor resides in the cavity so that the sensor is below the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor is above the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle during use. Advantageously, the roof system including the sensor and sensor housing can be manufactured as a stand-alone unit and can be fitted to a body structure of the vehicle without the body structure requiring any modifications or redesign to accommodate the roof system. In this way, vehicles can readily be retrofitted with a roof system comprising the sensor without modification to the vehicle body structure. The roof system may comprise a front portion configured to be located adjacent to a front roof header of the body structure, and the sensor housing may be located in the front portion. The sensor may be located in the front portion of the roof system so that, when the roof system is connected to a body structure of a vehicle, the sensor housing and sensor are positioned behind a front roof header of the body structure. The roof system may comprise a rear portion opposite the front portion, and the rear portion may be configured to be located adjacent to a rear roof header of the body structure. Advantageously, the roof system can be fitted onto the body structure of the vehicle so that the sensor housing and sensor can sit behind the front header and operate from there, and no structural or design modifications are required in the body structure, in particular in the front header, to accommodate the roof system. This makes it desirable from a manufacturing perspective, and allows for retrofitting of the roof system to various vehicles. The sensor, when in the deployed position, may be configured to have a field of view of an environment in front of the vehicle. Advantageously, the sensor, when deployed, benefits from a field of view in front of the vehicle while residing in the roof portion of the vehicle, and therefore no particular accommodations need to be made in the vehicle structure or elsewhere to house the sensor and for it to function. The sensor may be a lidar sensor. Advantageously, the lidar sensor can be located towards the front of the vehicle roof and perform lidar sensing ahead of the vehicle without changes being made to the body structure, in particularly the front roof header, to accommodate the lidar sensor. The sensor may, in some examples, be a radar, a visible image capture device, an infra-red image capture device, an ultra-violet image capture device, or another computer-vision device. The sensor, when in the stowed position, may be configured to be located entirely within the cavity of the sensor housing. Advantageously, when not in use, the sensor can be fully stowed away so that it may be protected from the outer environment, e.g. the weather and dust, and provide a desirable smooth aesthetic to the vehicle roof. The roof panel may comprise one or more of glass, metal, or carbon fibre. Advantageously, the roof panel may be made of different materials and the roof system may still be made with the sensor housing and sensor present. The roof system may further comprise a sensor cover panel configured to, when the sensor is stowed, lie flush with the external roof surface plane. The sensor cover panel may be one or more of: fixedly attached to an upper surface of the sensor; movable between a first position when the sensor is stowed and a second position when the sensor is deployed; slidingly retractable and configured to retract to allow sensor deployment; and connected to the body surface by a hinge and configured to open to allow sensor deployment. Advantageously, the sensor may have a sensor cover panel located so as to cover the sensor when the sensor is stowed. When the sensor is stowed, the sensor cover panel may sit flush with the roof panel for protection of the sensor and for a smooth overall aesthetic of the roof portion of the vehicle. When the sensor is deployed, the sensor cover panel move to allow sensor deployment and operation (e.g. does not obscure the sensor). The roof panel may comprise a seal located around a perimeter of the sensor housing, the seal configured to provide a fluid tight seal between the sensor cover panel and the roof panel when the sensor is in the stowed position. The sensor cover panel may comprise a seal around the perimeter of the sensor cover panel, the seal configured to provide a fluid tight seal between the sensor cover panel and the roof panel when the sensor is in the stowed position. Advantageously, when the sensor is stowed, a seal between the sensor cover panel and roof panel prevents the ingress of water into the space underneath the roof panel and / or the sensor housing. The roof system may further comprise a sensor base panel having a base panel seal around the perimeter of the sensor base panel. The sensor base panel may be located on the underside of the sensor, e.g. on an opposite surface to the sensor cover panel when present. The sensor base panel and base panel seal may be configured to form a fluid tight seal between the sensor base panel and one or more of the roof panel and the sensor housing when the sensor is in the deployed position. Advantageously, when the sensor is deployed, a seal between the sensor base panel and roof panel and / or sensor housing prevents the ingress of water and dust into the space underneath the roof panel and / or the sensor. The roof panel may comprise a moulding around the perimeter of the roof panel. The moulding may comprise one or more fixture apertures configured to receive one or more fixings to fix the roof panel to the body structure of the vehicle. Advantageously, the roof system may be manufactured from different materials, such as glass, and the moulding provides features allowing the roof system to be fitted to the vehicle body structure. In some examples, one or more other functions may be formed in the moulding, such as water drainage for channelling water out from the body structure, and / or channels for electrical wiring to connect the sensor to an in-vehicle control system. The roof system may further comprise a sunroof portion. Advantageously, the roof system may accommodate both a sunroof, and the sensor housing with sensor, allowing for plural functionality in the roof system. The sensor housing may further comprise one or more of: a fluid drainage conduit, electronic circuitry configured to connect the sensorto a control system of a vehicle to which the roof system is connected; a heating element; and a sensor deployment mechanism. Advantageously, the sensor housing can provide additional functionalities to allow the sensorto operate well. The sensor housing may comprise a sensor deployment mechanism, and the sensor deployment mechanism may be configured to move the sensor between the stowed position and the deployed position. Advantageously, the sensor may be deployed using a deployment mechanism to move it out from the housing and back into the housing in a mechanically reliable way. The sensor deployment mechanism may be configured to move the sensor between the stowed position and the deployed position by one or more of: a translational movement of the sensor; and a rotational movement of the sensor. Advantageously, the sensor deployment mechanism may be configured to precisely adjust the position and orientation of the sensor for best performance. For example the sensor deployment mechanism may be used to deploy a lidar in a precise way to ensure the lidar field of view is maximised ahead of the vehicle. In an aspect there is provided a vehicle comprising the roof system of any preceding claim. Advantageously, the vehicle may be manufactured by fitting the roof system onto the vehicle body structure without requiring the body structure to be adjusted or adapted to accommodate the sensor and sensor housing In an aspect there is provided a method of manufacture of a roof system for connection to a body structure of the vehicle; the method comprising: providing a roof panel defining an roof surface; providing a sensor housing and attaching the sensor housing to the roof panel so the sensor housing is located within the roof surface when the roof system is connected to a body structure of a vehicle; and providing a sensor and connecting the sensor in the roof system so that it is movable between a stowed position in which the sensor is housed within a cavity of the sensor housing and within the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor is located outside the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle. Advantageously, a roof system including a sensor may be manufactured which may be fitted to a vehicle body structure without the body structure needing to be adapted or adjusted to accommodate the sensor. In an aspect there is provided a method of fitting a roof system to a body structure of a vehicle, the roof system comprising a roof panel defining an roof surface; a sensor housing attached to the roof panel; and a sensor movable between a stowed position in which the sensor is housed within a cavity of the sensor housing and within the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor is located outside the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle; the method comprising: providing a body structure of a vehicle, the body structure comprising a roof connection portion configured to connect to a roof system; locating the roof system and the roof connection portion together so the sensor housing is located within the roof surface; and attaching the roof system to the roof connection portion. Advantageously, a roof system including a sensor may be fitted to a vehicle body structure without the body structure needing to be adapted or adjusted to accommodate the sensor. The method may further comprise attaching one or more of: a fluid drainage conduit of the sensor housing to a vehicle fluid drainage conduit of the body structure; a heating element of the sensor housing to heating element control electronics of the vehicle; electronic circuitry of the sensorto sensor operation control electronics of the vehicle; and a sensor deployment mechanism of the roof system to sensor deployment control electronics of the vehicle. Advantageously, the sensor housing can provide additional functionalities to allow the sensorto operate well. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a plan view of a roof system according to embodiments of the invention in relation to a vehicle body structure; Figure 2A shows a portion of a roof system according to embodiments of the invention showing a stowed sensor; Figure 2B shows a portion of a roof system according to embodiments of the invention showing a deployed sensor; Figure 2C shows a portion of a roof system and a deployment mechanism according to embodiments of the invention; Figure 3A shows a method of manufacture of a roof system for connection to a body structure of the vehicle according to embodiments of the invention; Figure 3B shows a method of fitting a roof system to a body structure of a vehicle according to embodiments of the invention; and Figure 4 shows a vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is known to provide a sensor on a vehicle, for example on the roof. The sensor may be a sensor with a field of view, such as a lidar. The location, packaging, and aesthetic appearance and integration of sensors into vehicles is of increasing importance in the automotive industry. It may be desirable to incorporate sensors which can be deployed for use and which may be stowed away when not in use to increase a particular overall aesthetic for the vehicle, and to protect the sensor from the environment when it is not in use. Integration of a sensor into a roof is desirable as it brings the advantage that the roof portion of a vehicle, including the sensor, can be attached to a vehicle body in manufacturing, thereby allowing the roof to be manufactured including the sensor and accompanying elements (e.g. electronic wiring, seals, fluid draining) in one manufacturing step, and then fitted as a roof system to the vehicle body in another manufacturing step. However, it can be challenging to include a sensor which meets the design and packing constraints of a vehicle and the vehicle roof, in particular which allows forthe sensorto function as expected, without some re-design or adaptation of the vehicle structure in the location of inclusion of the sensor. There are space / packing limitations, limitations on locating connections from the sensor to the on-board control system forthe sensor, and constraints in ensuring the sensor has the requisite field of view / field of sensing. Examples disclosed herein provide roof systems and vehicles comprising roof systems in which the sensor in the roof is accommodated in the roof system in a desirable way and without redesigning or adaptation of the vehicle body. The sensor may be located, when the roof system is connected to a vehicle body structure, at the front of the vehicle to have a field of view ahead of the vehicle, without the body structure (in particular, the front header) being modified to accommodate the sensor. Furthermore, vehicles may readily be retrofitted with roof systems disclosed herein because the vehicle body does not need any redesign or modification to accommodate the roof system including the sensor (and accompanying sensor housing, deployment mechanism, electrical connections, etc). Figure 1 shows schematically a top down, plan view in the x-y plane as illustrated, of a roof system 100 in relation to a vehicle body structure 152 according to embodiments of the invention. The roof system 100 comprises a roof panel 106, and a sensor 104. The sensor 104 is illustrated in a sensor housing portion 102 of the roof system 100. This example also illustrates a sunroof portion 108 (e.g. a daylight opening portion) of the roof panel 106. The roof system 100 may thus accommodate both a sunroof, and the sensor housing 102 with sensor 104, allowing for plural functionality in the roof system 100. The roof system 100 is configured to be connected to the body structure 152 of the vehicle. The roof system 100 comprises the roof panel 106 defining a roof surface (in the illustrated example the roof surface is the visible surface). The roof surface may be called an exterior roof surface as it is on the exterior of the vehicle. The roof system 100 comprises the sensor 104 located below the roof surface. Also illustrated is the sensor housing 102 attached to the roof panel 106. The sensor housing 102 defines a cavity for receiving the sensor 104. The cavity is located below the roof surface (as shown in Figure 1, “below” is into the page in the -z direction). The sensor 104 is movable between a stowed position in which the sensor 104 resides in the cavity so that the sensor 104 is below the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor 104 is above the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle during use. This is shown in detail with reference to Figures 2A and 2B. The front header 154 of the vehicle body structure 152 is shown toward the front 120 of the vehicle body structure 152 (opposite the rear 130 of the vehicle body structure 152). The sensor housing 102 and sensor 104 are located behind the front header 154 at the front of the roof portion. The roof system 100 may thus be said to have a front portion 122 configured to be located adjacent to a front roof header 154 of the body structure 152, and the sensor housing 102 (and sensor 104) may be located in the front portion 122. The sensor 104 may be located in the front portion 122 of the roof system 100 so that, when the roof system 100 is connected to a body structure 152 of a vehicle, the sensor housing 102 and sensor 104 are positioned behind the front roof header 154 of the body structure 152. The roof system 100 may comprise a rear portion 124 opposite the front portion 122, and the rear portion 124 may be configured to be located adjacent to a rear roof header (not shown) of the body structure 152. The front header 154 (or front body header 154) is a portion of the vehicle structure 152 which is positioned between the top of the windshield and the front portion 122 of the roof system 100. “Behind a front header” means to the roof side of the front header 154, and not to the windshield side of the front header 154. Advantageously, the roof system 100 can be fitted onto the body structure 152 of the vehicle so that the sensor housing 102 and sensor 104 can sit behind the front header 154 and operate from there. The roof system 100 including the deployable sensor 104 can be manufactured as a stand-alone unit and fitted to a body structure 152 of the vehicle without the body structure 152 (e.g. the front header 154) requiring any modifications or redesign to accommodate the roof system 100 (and sensor 104). In this way, vehicles can readily be retrofitted with a roof system 100 comprising the sensor 104 without modification to the vehicle body structure 152. The term “below the roof surface” is intended to mean “lower than the roof surface” when the roof system is oriented as in normal use when connected as part of a vehicle, i.e. with the roof surface facing away from the ground, and the cavity below the roof surface within the space occupied by the vehicle (also the sensor 104 is below the roof surface within the space occupied by the vehicle when stowed). The term “above the roof surface” is intended to mean “higher than the roof surface” when the roof system is oriented as in normal use when part of a vehicle, i.e. with the roof surface facing away from the ground. The sensor 104, when deployed, is above the roof surface. The roof panel 106 may comprise one or more of glass, metal, or carbon fibre. Advantageously, the roof panel 106 may be made of different materials and the roof system 100 may still be made with the sensor housing 102 and sensor 104 present. Figure 2A shows a portion of the roof system 100 according to embodiments of the invention showing the stowed sensor 104 within the sensor housing 102. Figure 2B shows the sensor 104 in its deployed state outside the sensor housing 102. Both Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a schematic cross section in the y-z plane as illustrated with the front 120 of the vehicle body structure 152 facing to the left and the back 130 of the vehicle body structure 152 facing to the right. The front portion 122 of the roof system 100 is shown adjacent to the front roof header 154 of the body structure 152, and the sensor housing 102 is shown located in the front portion 122. The sensor 104 is located in the front portion 122 of the roof system 100 so that, when the roof system 100 is connected to the body structure 152 of a vehicle, the sensor housing 102 and sensor 104 are positioned behind the front roof header 154 of the body structure 152. The sensor 104 may be a lidar sensor in some examples. Advantageously, the lidar sensor 104 can be located towards the front 120 of the vehicle body structure 152 and perform lidar sensing ahead of the vehicle without changes being made to the body structure 152, in particularly the front header 154, to accommodate the lidar sensor 104. The sensor 104 may, in other examples, be a radar, a visible image capture device, an infra-red image capture device, an ultra-violet image capture device, or another computer-vision sensing device. The sensor 104, when in the stowed position as in Figure 2A, may be configured to be located entirely within the cavity of the sensor housing 102. Advantageously, when not In use, the sensor can be fully stowed away so that it may be protected from the outer environment, e.g. the weather and dust, and provide a desirable smooth aesthetic to the vehicle roof. The sensor 104, when in the deployed position as in Figure 2B, may be configured to have a field of view 212 of an environment in front 120 of the vehicle. Advantageously, the sensor 104, when deployed, benefits from a field of view 212 in front of the vehicle while residing in the roof system 100 of the vehicle, and therefore no particular accommodations need to be made in the vehicle structure 152 (in particular, in the front header 154) or elsewhere to house the sensor 104 and for it to function. This is particularly useful for a vision type sensor, such as lidar, which is configured to detect the environment in front of the vehicle i.e. in the sensor field of view 212. In these examples, the sensor 104 may be located in the roof system 100 (and so be set back from the vehicle front header 154) and still be able to be deployed and a full field of view 212 to be obtained. In some examples, as shown, the roof system 100 may further comprise a sensor cover panel 132. The sensor cover panel 132 is configured, when the sensor 104 is stowed as in Figure 2A, to lie flush with the external roof panel 106 surface plane. The sensor cover panel 132 may be connected in various ways and allow for sensor stowage and deployment, such as being: fixedly attached to an upper surface of the sensor 104 as in Figure 2A and 2B, being movable between a first position when the sensor is stowed and a second position when the sensor is deployed, being slidingly retractable and configured to retract to allow sensor deployment, and / or being connected to the body surface by a hinge and configured to open to allow sensor deployment. Advantageously, the sensor 104 may have the sensor cover panel 132 located so as to cover the sensor 104 when the sensor is stowed. When the sensor 104 is stowed, the sensor cover panel 132 may sit flush with the roof panel 106 for protection of the sensor 104 and for a smooth overall aesthetic of the roof portion of the vehicle. When the sensor 104 is deployed, the sensor cover panel 132 can move to allow sensor deployment and operation (e.g. the sensor cover panel 132 does not obscure the sensor’s field of view). In some examples, as shown, the roof panel 106 may comprise a seal 202, 204 located around the perimeter of the sensor housing 102, and around the perimeter ofthe sensor cover panel 132 when the sensor 104 is stowed. The seal 202, 204 is configured to provide a (e.g. fluid tight) seal between the sensor cover panel 132 and the roof panel 106 when the sensor 104 is in the stowed position. Figures 2A and 2B also show a seal 206,208 located on seal brackets within the sensor housing 102 configured to provide additional sealing to the sealing provided by the seal 202, 204 on the roof panel 106. Such a “double seal” may improve the prevention of water ingress to the sensor housing 102 by channelling water out ofthe sensor housing 102. In some examples, the sensor cover panel 132 may comprise a seal (not shown) around the perimeter of, and attached to, the sensor cover panel 132, which again is configured to provide a (e.g. fluid tight) seal between the sensor cover panel 132 and the roof panel 106 when the sensor 104 is in the stowed position. Advantageously, when the sensor 104 is stowed, a seal between the sensor cover panel 132 and the roof panel 106 prevents the ingress of water (and dust and other contaminants) into the space underneath the roof panel 106 and / or the sensor housing 102. It will be appreciated different sealing mechanisms may be used to seal between the roof panel 106 and sensor cover panel 132. The roof system 100 may in some examples, as shown, comprise a sensor base panel 210 having a base panel seal (not shown) around the perimeter ofthe sensor base panel 210. The sensor base panel 210 and base panel seal may be configured to, when the sensor is deployed as in Figure 2B, form a (e.g. fluid tight) seal between the sensor base panel 210 and the roof panel 106 and / or sensor housing 102. Advantageously, when the sensor 104 is deployed, a seal between the sensor base panel 210 and roof panel 160 / sensor housing 102 prevents the ingress of water and dust into the space underneath the roof panel and / or the sensor 104. The roof panel 106 may comprise a panel of material, such as glass (for a glass-roofed vehicle). The roof panel 106 may comprise a moulding (not shown) around the perimeter ofthe roof panel 106. The moulding may comprise one or more fixture apertures which are configured to receive one or more fixings to fix the roof panel 106 to the body structure 152 ofthe vehicle. Advantageously, the roof system 100 may be manufactured from different materials, such as glass, and the moulding provides features allowing the roof system 100 to be fitted / attached to the vehicle body structure 152. Potentially the moulding may provide other functions such as water drainage for channelling (e.g. rain) water out from the body structure 152. The sensor housing 102 may further comprise one or more of: a fluid drainage conduit, electronic circuitry configured to connect the sensor to a control system of a vehicle to which the roof system is connected; a heating element; and a sensor deployment mechanism. Advantageously, the sensor housing 102 can provide additional functionalities to allow the sensor 104 to operate well. Figure 2C shows the portion of the roof system 100 of Figure 2A and 2B, and a deployment mechanism 240 is schematically illustrated. The sensor housing 102 may thus comprise a sensor deployment mechanism 240, and the sensor deployment mechanism 240 may be configured to move the sensor 104 between the stowed position and the deployed position as shown in Figure 2C. Advantageously, the sensor 104 may be deployed using the deployment mechanism 240 to move it out of the housing 102 and back into the housing 102 in a mechanically reliable way. The sensor deployment mechanism 240 may be configured to move the sensor 104 between the stowed position and the deployed position by one or more of a translational movement of the sensor and / or a rotational movement of the sensor. Advantageously, the sensor deployment mechanism 240 may be configured to precisely adjust the position and orientation of the sensor 104 for best performance. For example the sensor deployment mechanism 240 may be used to deploy a lidar in a precise way to ensure the lidar field of view is maximised ahead of the vehicle. A rotational movement may aid in obtaining a desired field of view and direction of view of the sensor 104 ahead of the vehicle when the sensor 104 is deployed, and obtaining for space-efficient storage of the sensor 104 when stowed. The sensor deployment mechanism 240 may, for example, be electro-mechanical. Other mechanisms may be envisaged. Figure 3A shows a method of manufacture 300 of a roof system for connection to a body structure of the vehicle according to embodiments of the invention. The method of manufacture 300 is of a roof system 100 for connection to a body structure 152 of the vehicle. The method 300 comprising: providing 302 a roof panel defining a roof surface; providing 304 a sensor housing and attaching the sensor housing to the roof panel so that the sensor housing is located within the roof surface when the roof system is connected to the body structure of a vehicle; and providing 306 a sensor and connecting the sensor in the roof system so that it is movable between a stowed position in which the sensor is housed within a cavity of the sensor housing and within the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor is located outside the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle. Advantageously, the roof system including the sensor may be manufactured which may be fitted to a vehicle body structure without the body structure needing to be adapted or adjusted to accommodate the sensor. Figure 3B shows a method of fitting 350 a roof system to a body structure of a vehicle according to embodiments of the invention. The method 350 is of fitting a roof system to a body structure of a vehicle as described herein, namely the roof system comprising a roof panel defining a roof surface; a sensor housing attached to the roof panel; and a sensor movable between a stowed position in which the sensor is housed within a cavity of the sensor housing and within the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor is located outside the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle. The method 350 comprises providing 352 a body structure of a vehicle, the body structure comprising a roof connection portion configured to connect to a roof system; locating 354 the roof system and the roof connection portion together so that the sensor housing is located within the roof surface; and attaching 356 the roof system to the roof connection portion. Advantageously, a roof system including a sensor may be fitted to a vehicle body structure without the body structure needing to be adapted or adjusted to accommodate the sensor. The method 350 may further comprise attaching one or more of: a fluid drainage conduit of the sensor housing to a vehicle fluid drainage conduit of the body structure; a heating element of the sensor housing to heat element control electronics of the vehicle; electronic circuitry of the sensor for sensor operation control electronics of the vehicle; and a sensor deployment mechanism of the roof system. Advantageously, the sensor housing can provide additional functionalities to allow the sensorto operate well. Figure 4 shows a vehicle 400 according to embodiments of the invention. The vehicle 400 comprises a roof system 100 as disclosed herein. Advantageously, the vehicle may be manufactured by fitting the roof system 100 onto the vehicle body structure 152 (which, as shown in Figure 1, comprises the front header 154) without requiring the body structure 152 (e.g. the front header 154) to be adjusted or adapted to accommodate the sensor and sensor housing. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A roof system for a vehicle, the roof system configured to be connected to a body structure of a vehicle; the roof system comprising:a roof panel defining a roof surface;a sensor; anda sensor housing in the roof panel, the sensor housing defining a cavity for receiving the sensor, wherein the cavity is located below the roof surface;wherein the sensor is movable between a stowed position in which the sensor resides in the cavity so that the sensor is below the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor is above the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle during use.

2. The roof system of claim 1, wherein the roof system comprises a front portion configured to be located adjacent to a front roof header of the body structure, and the sensor housing is located in the front portion.

3. The roof system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor, when in the deployed position, isconfigured to have a field of view of an environment in front of the vehicle.

4. The roof system of claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the sensor is a lidar sensor.

5. The roof system of any preceding claim, wherein the roof panel comprises one or more ofglass, metal, or carbon fibre.

6. The roof system of any preceding claim, further comprising a sensor cover panel configured to, when the sensor is stowed, lie flush with the external roof surface plane.

7. The roof system of claim 6, wherein the roof panel comprises a seal located around a perimeter of the sensor housing, the seal configured to provide a fluid tight seal between the sensor cover panel and the roof panel when the sensor is in the stowed position.

8. The roof system of any preceding claim, further comprising a sensor base panel having a base panel seal around the perimeter of the sensor base panel, the sensor base panel and base panel seal being configured to form a fluid tight seal between the sensor base panel and one or more of the roof panel and the sensor housing when the sensor is in the deployed position.

9. The roof system of any preceding claim, wherein the roof panel comprises a moulding aroundthe perimeter of the roof panel, the moulding comprising one or more fixture apertures configured to receive one or more fixings to fix the roof panel to the body structure of the vehicle.

10. The roof system of any preceding claim, wherein the sensor housing further comprises one or more of: a fluid drainage conduit, electronic circuitry configured to connect the sensor to a control system of a vehicle to which the roof system is connected; a heating element; and a sensor deployment mechanism.

11. The roof system of claim 10, wherein the sensor housing (102) comprises a sensor deployment mechanism, and the sensor deployment mechanism is configured to move the sensor between the stowed position and the deployed position.

12. The roof system of claim 11, wherein the sensor deployment mechanism is configured to move the sensor between the stowed position and the deployed position by one or more of: a translational movement of the sensor; and a rotational movement of the sensor.

13. A vehicle comprising the roof system of any preceding claim.

14. A method of manufacture of a roof system for connection to a body structure of the vehicle; the method comprising:providing a roof panel defining an roof surface;providing a sensor housing and attaching the sensor housing to the roof panel so the sensor housing is located within the roof surface when the roof system is connected to a body structure of a vehicle; andproviding a sensor and connecting the sensor in the roof system so that it is movable between a stowed position in which the sensor is housed within a cavity of the sensor housing and within the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor is located outside the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle.

15. A method of fitting a roof system to a body structure of a vehicle, the roof system comprising a roof panel defining an roof surface; a sensor housing attached to the roof panel; and a sensor movable between a stowed position in which the sensor is housed within a cavity of the sensor housing and within the roof surface, and a deployed position in which the sensor is located outside the roof surface so as to be able to sense the environment of the vehicle; the method comprising:providing a body structure of a vehicle, the body structure comprising a roof connection portion configured to connect to a roof system;locating the roof system and the roof connection portion together so the sensor housing is located within the roof surface; andattaching the roof system to the roof connection portion.Application No: GB2409226.4Examiner:Mr Matthew HansonClaims searched: 1-15Date of search: 20 December 2024Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance X 1-15 US 2019 / 0210436 Al (FREDERICK et al.) See particularly the figures and para [0017], X 1-15 US 2022 / 0410816 Al (LANGLAIS) See particularly the figures. X 1-7, 9-15 WO 2023 / 041726 Al (WEBASTO SE) See particularly the figures. v A 1-7, 9-15 US 2023 / 0123315 Al (HUELSEN et al.) See particularly the figures. X 1-6, 10-15 US 2021 / 0237694 Al (HIRSCHVOGEL et al.) See particularly the figures. v A 1-5, 8-15 US 10011230B1 (BROWN et al.) See particularly the figures. X 1, 3-7, 9- 15 US 2017 / 0369106 Al (WILLIAMS et al.) See particularly the figures and paragraph [0028],Categories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if p Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of same category. before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:International Classification:Subclass Subgroup Valid From B60J 0007 / 16 01 / 01 / 2006 B60R 0011 / 04 01 / 01 / 2006

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