Abstract:
Device for opening/closing an opening in a vehicle roof by means of a transparent sunroof cover on the one hand and an opaque sunscreen cover on the other hand, which covers can be actuated separately from each other in accordance with a manual actuation of a control device, whereby, from a fully open or a fully closed position, the sunscreen cover can be moved first in the opening in each case.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2004 041 168.9, which was filed on Aug. 25, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a device for opening or closing an opening in a vehicle roof wherein a transparent sunroof cover on the one hand and an opaque sunscreen cover on the other hand can be operated by a drive system in accordance with a manual actuation of a control device.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     A vehicle sunroof normally consists of a metal or glass part by means of which an opening in the roof panel can be closed partially or completely either manually or by remote control. If the sunroof is power-operated, the drive motor is generally housed directly in the roof itself or in the rear area of the vehicle. The power is transmitted via bowden cables or tensile-rigid or compressive-rigid cables. In addition to this sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a lifting device is generally provided by means of which the rear edge of the glass part can be raised up above the roof panel.  
         [0004]     Where a sunroof is made of glass, there is generally an opaque sliding cover, also called a roof lining part, arranged under the glass part to keep excessive solar radiation out of the passenger compartment. This roof lining part can also be moved either manually or under motor control (power-operated).  
         [0005]     In the case of power-operated vehicle sunroofs where both the glass part and the roof lining part can each be moved in the roof opening independently of each other by means of separate drives, the fresh air supply and the amount of incident light can conveniently be controlled individually in the passenger compartment. In practice, however, this control over the settings is subject to certain restrictions. Thus, it must not be possible for the drives to be controlled in such a way that the cover part is wide open but the roof lining part is closed, since the roof lining part cannot permanently withstand the wind load acting on it when the vehicle is in motion.  
         [0006]     DE 42 21 043 C2 discloses a sunroof for a vehicle wherein the possibility of a closed roof lining part coinciding with an open cover part is excluded by the control device. By this means weather conditions and air stream cannot damage the roof lining part if the cover part is open. A closed roof lining part would in any case not allow any increase in the air circulation in the passenger compartment. The movement of the cover is linked to the movement of the sun shade part in such a way that, when the switch is operated to open the cover, this results not just in the opening of the cover, but also in a selective opening movement of the sun shade part such that the sun shade part assumes a partially open position according to the position of the cover.  
         [0007]     Although this linking of the movement of the sun shade part to the movement of the cover, wherein first the cover is moved and only then the sunscreen, protects the roof lining part from wind load in the middle of the sliding range, it is not felt by many vehicle drivers to be optimal in respect of driving comfort. If, when the vehicle sunroof is opened from a fully closed position, first the cover part is pushed back and only then the sunscreen, this sequence of movements does not seem to be in accord with the subjective expectations of many vehicle drivers. The same applies to the closing operation, where the sliding movement of the transparent cover part is detected through the initially only slowly reducing wind noise.  
         [0008]     This linking is, however, also disadvantageous if the movement operation during opening or closing of a vehicle sunroof is to be better adapted to the respective climatic region in which the vehicle is predominantly used. For example, in a sunny, hot climate it can be desirable if a partial opening of the cover part simultaneously, by the linking of movement, also causes the sunscreen to follow only a short distance behind the cover part. Conversely, where the vehicle is used in cooler regions with lower levels of solar radiation, it can be felt to be thoroughly pleasant if an opening operation of the cover part, once triggered, simultaneously also opens the roof lining part by a correspondingly great distance, so that right at the starts of the movement more light enters the passenger compartment.  
         [0009]     As the individual perception with respect to the linking of the opening and closing movement of the cover and roof lining part varies greatly from person to person, it is essentially desirable that a lag between cover and sunscreen can be adjusted by a control device in the passenger compartment.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     The object of the invention is to specify a device for opening or closing an opening in a vehicle roof providing improved convenience and simple operation.  
         [0011]     This object can be achieved by a device for opening/closing an opening in a vehicle roof by means of a transparent sunroof cover on the one hand and an opaque sunscreen cover on the other, each of which can be actuated separately from the other as a function of a manual actuation of a control device, wherein, from a fully open or a fully closed position respectively, first the sunscreen cover can be slid in the opening.  
         [0012]     The control device may comprise a first user control element with two directions of actuation, a first direction of actuation being assigned to opening and a second direction of actuation being assigned to closing. The control device may comprise a second user control element by means of which it is possible to set an offset by which the sunroof cover follows or precedes the sunscreen cover in a middle range of the sliding distance, in which middle range the sunroof cover and the sunscreen cover are moved in synchronism. The movement sequence during opening or closing can be dependent on the actuation time of the first user control element. A manual mode of operation or an automatic mode of operation can be selected as a function of the actuation time. The first user control element may have two switch positions in each direction of actuation, which positions are assigned to the sunscreen cover and in which positions the manual or automatic operating mode can be selected as a function of the actuation time, and wherein from this first switch position a second switch position that is assigned to the sunroof cover can be switched to. An actuation time of 0.2 seconds to one second may trigger the automatic operating mode and an actuation time greater than 1 second triggers the manual operating mode. The first user control element may have two switch positions in each direction of actuation, the first switch positions nearest to the zero position being assigned to the manual operating mode, and the two switch positions further away from the zero position being assigned to the automatic operating mode. The first user control element can be a two-stage rocker switch or a two-stage rotary knob. The second user control element can be a continuously variable rotary knob. There can be provided a resistance which must be overcome when actuating the first and/or second user control element.  
         [0013]     It is a characteristic of the invention that at the start of an opening or closing movement, first of all the sunscreen cover part is moved and then only subsequent to that the cover part. This has the advantage that in an opening operation, first of all light enters the passenger compartment. Many vehicle drivers feel rather that an opening operation wherein not first fresh air but first light enters through the roof opening into the passenger compartment to be more pleasant. The driver also perceives a closing operation wherein first the roof lining part is moved and only then the cover part, as being more pleasant. When a closing operation is initiated, a shading effect begins immediately in the passenger compartment. Thus, a closing operation is noticeable immediately after it has been triggered.  
         [0014]     Ergonomically it is favorable if the movement operation can be triggered by a single user control element, which control element has a dedicated direction of actuation for the opening and closing respectively.  
         [0015]     In order to better adapt the opening or closing movement of the vehicle sunroof to the particular climatic conditions prevalent at the place of use, it is advantageous if the movement of cover and sunscreen is offset in the middle of the sliding range of the roof opening and if this offset can be preset by means of user control elements of a control device in the passenger compartment. Toward that end, the invention provides another user control element, for example a rotary knob, by means of which the driver can set a distance by which the sunroof cover precedes or follows the sunscreen cover.  
         [0016]     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a manual or an automatic mode of operation can be selected for the sequence of movements for opening or closing as a function of the switching time. This can be achieved for example by use of a rocker switch, whereby the movement of the sunscreen is triggered by one depression of the switch and the movement of the sunscreen cover starts when the switch is released.  
         [0017]     A preferred embodiment has a user control element that provides two switch positions in each direction of actuation. From a zero position, in each case a first switch position can be switched, in which position, controlled by switching time, the manual or automatic operating mode can be selected. From each of these first switch positions, a further switch position can be switched in turn, which further position is assigned to the sunroof cover part.  
         [0018]     In a preferred embodiment, an actuation time of approximately 0.2 seconds to one second is preset for selecting the automatic operating state. The selection of the manual operating state results from an actuation time greater than 1 second.  
         [0019]     A development of this first control element as a two-stage rocker switch or two-stage rotary knob is ergonomically favorable. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to two exemplary embodiments and by the following description of the drawings.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment in which the automatic operating mode is time-controlled;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment in which the automatic operating mode is position-controlled;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows the movement sequence of sunroof cover and sunscreen cover outlined in snapshots a to e during opening;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows the movement sequence of sunroof cover and sunscreen cover outlined in snapshots a to e during closing.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a first exemplary embodiment of the invention in which a manual or automatic mode of operation can be selected by switching time-dependent actuation of a user control element. In the block representation  28  denotes a control device consisting of a first user control element  9  and a second user control element  10 . The opening or closing operation of the sunroof cover or of the sunscreen cover is controlled as a function of manual switching actions on these user control elements  9  and  10 . In this arrangement the instruction to proceed is given by the user control element  9 . User control element  10  can be used to set a distance by which the sunroof cover precedes or follows the sunscreen cover when both are moving in synchronism in a middle range of the slide path. The force to shift the two covers (denoted by the reference numbers  23 ,  24  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) is generated by a drive system  32  consisting of drives  29  and  30  which are separate from each other. Each of said drives  29 ,  30  consists of an electric motor  12 ,  13  and a control circuit  11 ,  20 . The control circuit  20  activates the electric motor  13  of the sunroof cover  23 . The control circuit  11  activates the electric motor  12  of the sunscreen cover  24 . The mechanical transmission of power, which is typically effected via gears and drive cables, is not represented in greater detail in the block diagram in  FIG. 1 . The user control element  9  is a two-stage rocker switch  9 . Said switch has a first direction of actuation  19  and a second direction of actuation  21 . The switch positions situated in the first direction of actuation  19 , i.e. the contacts  1  and  2 , are assigned to the opening operation; the switch positions situated in the second direction of actuation  21 , i.e. the contacts  3  and  4 , are assigned to the closing operation. The switching contact  14  of the rocker switch  9  is in a horizontal zero position in  FIG. 1 . From this horizontal zero position, by tilting about the axis  22  in the direction of actuation  19 , first the first switch position  1  is assumed and then the second switch position  2 . Correspondingly, by tilting in the other direction  21 , first the first switch position  3  is assumed, then the second switch position  4 . Electrical leads  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  connect the individual switch positions with the control circuit  20  or  11 . If, for example, the rocker switch  9  is tilted in a clockwise direction, the switching contact  14  contacts the contact  1 . The electrical lead  5  transmits this switching signal to the “Open” input stage of the control circuit  11  of the sunscreen cover and the motor  12  slides said cover in the opening direction. The electrical lead  6  connects the contact  2  with the input stage “Open” of the control circuit  20  of the sunroof cover. Thus, if the tilting movement is continued, the sunroof cover is also given the command to open. An equivalent process applies for closing. As can be seen from the block diagram in  FIG. 1 , the contacts  3 ,  4  are connected by leads  7 ,  8  (indicated by broken lines in  FIG. 1 ) with the respective input stages “Close” of the control circuit  20  or, as the case may be,  11 .  
         [0026]     The movement sequence when opening or closing can be switched between a manual or automatic mode of operation according to the duration of the switching action in one of the first switch positions. This is described in greater detail below.  
         [0027]     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the manual operating mode is assumed if the actuation time is longer than 1 second in the switch position  1  or  3 . The control circuits  11 ,  20  evaluate the duration of the switching signals of the rocker switch  9  in such a way that in the manual operating mode the movement of the sunscreen cover is maintained for as long as the manual switching action lasts or until the respective final position is reached.  
         [0028]     The automatic mode of operation is assumed if the switching action takes place within a preset time interval. A time interval of approximately 0.2 seconds to one second has proved advantageous. The movement operation, which runs automatically, ends when the sunscreen cover has reached the final position, or by any new depression of the switch.  
         [0029]     According to the invention, when starting from a final position, both in the manual and in the automatic operating mode, it is always the sunscreen alone that is moved first, followed by the cover.  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. As opposed to  FIG. 1 , in this case the automatic operating mode is position-controlled, that is to say it is preset by the switch positions of the rocker switch  9 . The contacts  1  and  2  are routed respectively through leads  15 ,  16  to the two input stages “Open” of the control circuits  11  and  20 . The same applies to the contacts of the switch positions  3  and  4 , which are also switched to the two input stages “Close” of the control circuits  11  and  20  through the leads  17  and  18  respectively. The switch positions  1  and  2  in the first direction of actuation  19  are again assigned to the opening operation, and the switch positions  3  and  4  to the closing operation. In the switch setting  1  and  3 , the control circuit  11  and  20  respectively is instructed to open or close manually. In the switch setting  2  and  4 , the command to close automatically is given. Here too, the respective sliding movement lasts as long as the rocker switch  9  is pressed. The movement stops when the rocker switch  9  is released and springs back into its zero position, or when a final position is reached. In automatic mode, the movement operation triggered is maintained until one of the positions is reached, or the movement operation is stopped by a new switching action whereby the rocker switch  9  is operated again briefly in one of the two directions  19  or  21 .  
         [0031]     The movement of the sunroof cover is linked to the movement of the sunscreen cover. As described in greater detail below with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , this movement takes place in unison in a middle range of the sliding distance and is offset by a distance s preset by the second user control element  10 . The user control element  10  is linked both to the control circuit  20  of the sunroof cover and also to the control circuit  11  of the sunscreen cover.  
         [0032]     In  FIG. 3 , various stages of an opening movement are outlined in sequence one after the other. In  FIG. 3   a , neither of the drives  29  or  30  is active and the opening  31  is completely closed by the sunroof cover  23  and the sunscreen cover  24 . If, from this completely closed position, a command to open is now given by manually operating the user control element  9 , then, according to the invention, first the sunscreen cover  24  is moved in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 3   b  from right to left. After covering a distance s, which can be preset by the second user control element  10 , the sunroof cover  23  also starts to open. In  FIG. 3   c , the sunscreen cover  24  and sunroof cover  23  have reached a middle sliding range  25  of the opening  31 . In this range  25 , the two covers  23  and  24  are moved at the same speed. In the process the sunscreen cover  24  pulls the sunroof cover  23  “along behind it”, offset by the distance s. When the sunroof cover  23  has covered the middle sliding distance  25 , the sunscreen cover  24  has already reached the edge  27  on the opening side. After covering the remaining distance s, the sunroof cover  23  also assumes the fully opened position ( FIG. 3   e ).  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows different stages in the movement sequence during closing. Here too, according to the invention, starting from a fully opened position ( FIG. 4   a ) in which both drives are stopped, a close command causes the sunscreen cover  24  to be moved first. In  FIG. 4   b  this movement runs from left to right and is indicated by an arrow. As soon as the sunscreen cover  24  has passed the path s, the sunroof cover  23  begins to move. Within the middle sliding range  25  the movement is again in synchronism, which is to say that both covers  23  and  24  move at the same speed in the direction of the edge  26  on the closing side. Within the range  25 , the sunscreen cover  24  pushes the sunroof cover  23  “along in front of it” again, offset by the distance s. In  FIG. 4   d  the sunroof cover  23  has reached the edge  26  on the closing side and hence its closed position. In  FIG. 4   e , the sunscreen cover  24  has also arrived at its final position and the frame opening  31  is completely closed by both covers  23  and  24 .