Abstract:
An operational control for a motor vehicle roof, and a motor vehicle roof, which can be opened by motor over different intermediate stages with at least one rotary switch, with operating positions located around the rotary switch signaling the respective opening stage. The motor vehicle roof comprising several successive roof components including a wind deflector louver, a cover and a rear window, actuated by separate drives via the rotary motion of the rotary switch for approaching predetermined opening stages of the motor vehicle roof. The rotary switch includes a pushbutton located under the transparent or translucent cover for manual control of the motorized blind only when the motor vehicle roof is completely closed and operable to open the motorized blind both before a raising of the wind deflector louver and before movement of at least one of the cover and the rear window in an opening direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an operational control for a motor vehicle roof which can be opened by motor over different intermediate stages with at least one rotary switch, and operating positions which are located around the rotary switch and which signal the respective stage. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     One example of an operational control for a motor vehicle is disclosed in German patent DE 44 11 388 C1 which is used to control a complex, openable motor vehicle roof. The roof comprises a second cover, columns and cover elements which are all adjustable by means of separate drives, via a rotary switch during a rotary motion, in various peripheral areas for approaching predetermined opening stages, including an opening stage in which the motor vehicle is a completely open convertible. This control for actuating a complex motor vehicle roof allows comfortable, one-handed operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an operational control for a limited number of roof elements of an openable roof, including a blind for a transparent or translucent cover, which ensures comfortable, one-handed operation of all components. 
     The above object and other objects are achieved by providing an operational control for a motor vehicle roof openable by motor over different intermediate stages, the motor vehicle roof including a motorized blind and successive roof components, including a wind deflector louver, a cover and a rear window, which can be actuated by means of separate drives so as to approach predetermined opening stages, wherein the motorized blind is located under the cover. The operational control comprises at least one rotary switch with operating positions located around the rotary switch for signaling respective opening stages. The rotary switch is capable of a rotary motion for actuating the separate drives and includes a pushbutton which operates as a rocker for manual control of the motorized blind only when the motor vehicle roof is completely closed and operable to open the motorized blind both before a raising of the wind deflector louver and before movement of at least one of the cover and the rear window in an opening direction. The invention is also directed to a motor vehicle roof in combination with the operational control of the present invention. 
     Reliable operation of relatively few roof elements, specifically a wind deflector louver, cover and rear window, of an openable motor vehicle roof is ensured by the present invention. In addition, reliable operability of a blind, free of problems and damage, is achieved in that the pushbutton contained in the rotary switch is used for manual control of the motorized blind which is located under the transparent or translucent cover. The pushbutton allows control by permitting the blind to be optionally moved by the motor only with the motor vehicle roof completely opened and completely wound up before raising the wind deflector louver and before moving the cover and the rear window. This design, on the one hand, yields motorized blind control without problems with the motor vehicle roof closed and, on the other hand, by promptly winding up the blind, prevents it being exposed to the wind load with the motor vehicle roof opened or partially opened. 
     Advantageously, the push button can be provided with another roof control function. Thus, according to one advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that, in the open position of the motor vehicle roof, a quick closing or central closing function for an overall closing process of all components of the motor vehicle roof is assigned to the pushbutton. 
     Two advantageous versions of the operational control are possible. According to a first version in which the rotary switch during rotary motion activates in succession the individual drives for the roof elements in various peripheral areas for approaching predetermined opening positions of the motor vehicle roof, it is provided that the rotary switch, between the peripheral area for actuating the wind deflector louver and cover and the peripheral area for actuating the rear window, has a neutral position in which the blind can be manually moved by means of the pushbutton. 
     According to a second version, two concentric rotary switches are used, by which an inner rotary switch contains a pushbutton for control of the blind, wherein one of the two rotary switches is used for actuating the wind deflector louver and the cover and the other rotary switch is used to actuate the rear window. The blind can be actuated manually via the pushbutton only when the inner and the outer rotary switch both assume a neutral position which corresponds to the completely closed motor vehicle roof. In this version of two concentric rotary switches, a stationary ring is positioned advantageously between the two rotary disks and bears symbols for indicating the operating positions, for example, in the form of pictograms. In this design of the operational control with two concentric rotary switches, a quick closing function can be implemented for manually closing the motor vehicle roof, for example, by turning the rotary switch or the two rotary switches beyond the neutral positions. 
     The rotary switches preferably have catch positions in order to be able to repeatedly trigger predetermined opening positions of the motor vehicle roof in a concerted manner. 
     When several drives are triggered in combination for actuation of the respective roof elements and of the blind, various strategies can be used. For example, there can be evaluation of the operational control by several controls at the same time. Certain operating positions are logically assigned to only one drive so that the respective control decides for itself alone whether it is possible to react to a control request. Alternatively, evaluation of the operational control by a single control and relay of movement requests to other controls follow. Depending on the position of the operational control, the individual drives are triggered in a suitable sequence from the main control. Moreover, it can be provided that some special operating positions control either one drive or the other for the roof elements, depending on the situation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the operational control of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the operational control of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic of a lengthwise sectional view of an openable motor vehicle roof in the closed state, wherein the roof can be opened by a motor via the operational control of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 over various intermediate stages; 
     FIGS. 4A-4E is a schematic similar to FIG. 3 but showing various stages of opening of the cover of the motor vehicle roof, 
     FIGS. 5A-5C is a schematic showing various stages of opening of the rear window of the motor vehicle roof, and 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic showing a cross-sectional view of the control of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The operational control shown in FIG. 1 in a first embodiment for actuation of an openable motor vehicle roof has a generally circular configuration and comprises a generally circular cylindrical base body  10 , also called a console, a rotary switch  11  which is located concentrically on the base body  10 , a first operating position area  13  with the shape of a circular segment and a corresponding second operating position area  14 . 
     The rotary switch  11  can be turned with respect to the base body  10  and includes a grip or handle  12 . The two operating position areas  13 ,  14  signal the operating positions of the rotary switch and can be provided with symbols for labeling or indicating the operating positions in the manner shown, by way of example, in FIG.  2 . In the embodiment of the operational control shown in FIG. 1, the first operating position area  13  extends over a circular arc range of roughly 180°, for example on the face of a clock from 0600 to 1200. Counterclockwise, the first operating position area  13  is adjoined by the second operating position area  14  which extends with reference to a clock face over roughly 90° from 0300 to 0600. In the 0600 position, the rotary switch  11  with its grip  12  assumes a neutral, or zero, position, indicated by reference number  15 , and to which an arrow symbol on the top of the grip  12  points when it is in the neutral position. 
     The grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  is designed as a pushbutton which can be moved, around a transverse axis  38  which runs through the center of the grip  12 , in the manner of a rocker into two different unstable positions by pressing on one or the other end of this pushbutton or grip  12 . The function assignment of the elements of the operational control follow below from the explanation of FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIGS. 4A-4E. The rotary switch  11  is used to control different elements of an openable motor vehicle roof, while the pushbutton and rocker function of the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  is designed to control a blind  21  underneath the transparent cover  17  of the motor vehicle roof. By turning the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  clockwise in FIG. 1, for example, into the first catch position, alternatively into a first unlocked position, a wind deflector louver  16  is raised at its rear edge, by which a ventilation slit is formed between the rear edge of the wind deflector louver  16  and the front edge of the adjacent movable cover  17 . Before actuating the wind deflector louver  16 , i.e. immediately at the start of the operating displacement of the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11 , the blind  21  is first rolled up so that this component which is relatively sensitive to the wind is not exposed to a load by oncoming or outgoing air. The same applies to actuation of the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  counterclockwise, as is explained below using FIGS. 5A-5C. 
     FIG. 3 shows the openable motor vehicle roof  1  in the completely closed position. The openable motor vehicle roof  1  comprises, in a sequence from front to back, a wind deflector louver  16 , a transparent cover  17  and a rear window  18 . In the closed state, these elements  16 ,  17  and  18  of the openable motor vehicle roof  1  are flush with the fixed motor vehicle roof which is formed, following the front edge of the wind deflector louver  16 , by the cowl  19 , and which, following the lower edge of the rear window  18 , is limited by the rear apron or the rear hatch  20 . The elements  16 ,  17  and  18  are made preferably of glass or a transparent plastic so that the motor vehicle roof  1  in the closed state is formed by a continuous glass surface. 
     The blind  17  is positioned underneath the transparent cover  17 . With the motor vehicle roof closed, the blind  21  is in the pulled-tight position which covers the cover  17  from underneath or in the opened position. Both the blind  21  as well as the movable parts of the motor vehicle roof, the cover  17 , the rear window  18  and the wind deflector louver  16 , can be actuated by a motor. Preferably, this actuation is achieved by means of separate drives which can be controlled via the operational control of FIG. 1 (alternatively by the control of FIG.  2  and FIG.  6 ). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the separate drives include electric drives  16 E,  17 E and  18 E for driving wind deflector louver  16 , cover  17  and rear window  18 , respectively, and electric drive  21 B for driving blind  21 . A conventional motor vehicle roof is generally disclosed in published German patent application DE 199 08 253 A1, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Control of the openable motor vehicle roof and of the blind  21  using the operational control shown in FIG. 1 is now explained with reference to FIGS. 4A-4E. The elements, proceeding from the closed position of the motor vehicle roof shown in FIG. 3, can be continuously and/or discretely transferred to different opening stages. The closed position of the motor vehicle roof shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the position of the rotary switch  11  from FIG. 1, i.e. the neutral position of the rotary switch  11 , in which its grip  12  points to the neutral position  15  with its arrow marking. Proceeding from this neutral position  15 , by turning the rotary switch  11  clockwise into a first angular area (on a clock face roughly the area between 0600 and 0800), continuous opening of the wind deflector louver  16  or opening, which takes place via several intermediate catches, is initiated as shown in FIG.  4 A. As discussed above, this raising of the wind deflector louver  16  is preferably preceded by automatic opening of the blind  21 . The position of the motor vehicle roof shown in FIG. 4B corresponds to another rotary position of the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  which follows the rotary position as shown in FIG.  4 A. The former rotary position, which corresponds to, for example, the 0900 position on a clock face, corresponds to the first opening position of the cover  17  as the wind deflector louver  16  continues to be raised, i.e. proceeding from the closed position of the cover  17  to the raised position of the rear edge of the cover  17 . 
     The position of the motor vehicle roof shown in FIG. 4C corresponds to the position of the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  which follows clockwise the position from FIG.  4 B and in which also the front edge of the cover  17  is raised so that the cover  17  is in an alignment with the wind deflector louver  16  in its raised position, thereby making it possible to push the cover  17  backwards via the corresponding guide means (not shown) over the rear window  18 . The positions of the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  which correspond to the area between 0900 and 1200 on a clock face correspond to the cover positions which are shown in FIGS. 4D-4E in which the cover  17  is moved continuously or over several intermediate catches and ultimately completely over the rear window  18 . 
     In all the positions of the wind deflector louver  16  and of the cover  17  shown in FIGS. 4A-4E, a control means or circuit (shown in FIG. 6 relative to embodiment of FIG. 2) prevents any motorized actuation of the blind  21  and the rear window  18  in order not to expose the blind  21  to unnecessary wind loading and to prevent the rear window  18  from colliding with the cover  17 . Motorized movement of the rear window  18  via the rotary switch is only allowed by the control circuit when the wind deflector louver  16  and the cover  17  have been transferred into the closed position (FIG. 3) by transferring the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  counterclockwise into its neutral position  15 . Proceeding from the neutral position  15  which has then been reached again, the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  can be moved counterclockwise within the second operating position area  14  in order to move the rear window  18  continuously or over several intermediate catches for example into its open position, as is shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. 
     Any actuation of the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  counterclockwise proceeding from the neutral position  15  results in that first the blind  21  is rolled up, whereupon next the rear edge of the cover  17  is raised in order to clear space underneath the cover  17  for the movement of the rear window  18  in the opening direction which then takes place as the grip  12  continues to be actuated counterclockwise. The start of this adjustment motion of the rear window  18  occurs with its front edge located underneath the rear edge of the cover  17  as shown in FIG.  5 A. An advanced intermediate position before complete opening of the rear window  18  is shown in FIG. 5B in which the front edge of the rear window  18  comes to rest roughly underneath the center of the cover  17 . FIG. 5C shows the ultimate end position of the rear window  18  in which the front edge of the rear window  18  comes to rest generally in the area of the front edge of the cover  17 , while the rear edge of the rear window  18  comes to rest generally in the area of the rear edge of the cover  17 . The rear window  18  is closed when the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  is turned clockwise into the neutral position  15 . 
     As already indicated, motorized actuation of the blind  21  only, with the openable motor vehicle roof  1  completely closed, is possible, specifically when the grip  12  of the rotary switch  11  is in the neutral position. In this case, the blind  21  can be set into any position by motor by tapping on one end or the other of the grip  12  which is then tilted in the manner of a rocker (not shown specifically in the Figs.). 
     Preferably, in conjunction with the operational control shown in FIG. 1, a central or quick closing function for closing all parts of the motor vehicle roof is also made available. To activate the quick closing function, a pushbutton which, with the roof closed, is advantageously used to actuate the blind  21 . The pushbutton can be adjusted in the manner of a rocker in the form of the correspondingly supported grip  12  of the rotary switch  11 . Two versions for the quick closing function are possible. According to one version, the actuation of each end of the rocker switch leads to all the just opened roof elements, i.e. the cover  17  and/or the rear window  18 , moving into the closed position. Alternatively, it can be provided that one end of the rocker is used for closing the rear window  18  and the other end of the rocker is used for closing the cover  17  in conjunction with the closing of the wind deflector louver  16 . 
     FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the operational control which is alternative to FIG.  1 . This operational control consists of a rectangular base body  22  and two rotary switches  23 ,  24  which are arranged concentrically to one another on the base body  22 , between which there is a stationary operating position indicator ring  25 . Similarly to the rotary switch  11  in FIG. 1, the inner rotary switch  23  comprises a grip  26  with a position indicator  27  which is made as an arrow. The stationary operating position indicator ring  25  is provided with several pictograms which bear reference numbers  28 A to  28 F and  29 A to  29 C in order to indicate operating positions or the positions of the openable motor vehicle roof. Moreover there is also an arrow acting as a position indicator  30  on the external rotary switch  24 . 
     Aside from the projecting grip  26 , the top of the inner rotary switch  23  runs coplanarly to the top of the stationary operating position indicator ring  25 . In the area of the outside edge of the outer rotary switch  24 , grip depressions (one of which is labeled at  31 ) are molded. The grip depressions  31  are spaced uniformly around the periphery, and have the same shape. 
     The assignment of the roof elements to this operational control is as follows. The inner rotary switch  23  is used to actuate the wind deflector louver  16  and the cover  17 . The pictograms which correspond to the positions of these movable elements are then located adjacent to the outside edge of the inner rotary switch  23  on the operating position indicator ring  25 . In this embodiment, the circle at  28 A corresponds to the closed position or the zero position; the arrow  28 B to the raising of the wind deflector louver  16 ; the arrow  28 C to the raising of the rear edge of the cover  17 ; the two parallel lines at  28 D to the lifting of the front edge of the cover  17 ; and the swelling arrow  28 E to the advancing opening of the cover  17  up to the complete opening position  28 F. The outer rotary switch  24  is used exclusively for operating the rear window  18 . The pictograms  29 A to  29 C, which correspond to the opening position of the rear window  18 , are located on the outside edge of the operating position indicator ring  25 . 
     The circle  29 A corresponds to the closed position, the arrow  29 B, which swells counterclockwise, corresponds to increasing opening, and the circle  29 C to complete opening of the rear window  18 . 
     In this embodiment, actuation of the blind  21  by tilting the grip  26  is possible only when all zero position symbols  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30  are located in alignment with one another along a common line, as shown in FIG.  2 . Otherwise, the blind  21  is always rolled up as soon as one of the rotary switches  23 ,  24  is actuated. The coupling of the switch elements  26 ,  23  and  24  for precluding unwanted constellations or even collisions can be implemented either by mechanical blocking on the switch or by the corresponding exclusions in the switching logic. As an example of mechanical blocking, for example, the grip  26  can be tilted for actuating the blind  21  only in the position shown in FIG. 2, while, when one of the rotary switches  23  or  24  is twisted, a blocking ring (not shown), which is turned concomitantly, prevents titling. Otherwise the control of the openable motor vehicle roof proceeds as described above using FIGS. 4A to  4 A and FIGS. 5A-5C. 
     The operational control shown in FIG. 2 also allows quick closing of the motor vehicle roof. This quick closing can either be released, as explained above using FIG. 1, specifically by means of the grip  26  which is made as a rocker (see arrows A in FIG. 6) and which then is, for example, pushed axially down, or, alternatively, by actuating the inner and/or the outer switch  23  or  24  counterclockwise to indicators  29 D and  28 G, respectively, preferably against a compressive resistance  39  as it is overcome beyond the zero position. In doing so, closing of the motor vehicle roof, as may be necessary in an emergency, can take place by actuating one or both of the rotary switches  23 ,  24 . In the latter case, it can also be provided that with one rotary switch the cover and the wind deflector louver are closed, and with the other rotary switch, the rear window is closed.