Patent ID: 12226978

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same or similar elements throughout the several views.

FIG.1Aillustrates a vehicle roof1having an open roof assembly arranged therein. The open roof assembly comprises a moveable panel2aand a fixed panel2b. The moveable panel2ais also referred to as a closure member, since the moveable panel2ais moveable over a first roof opening3asuch to enable to open and to close the first roof opening3a. A wind deflector4is arranged at a front side of the first roof opening3a.

In the illustrated embodiment, the moveable panel2amay be in a closed position, which is a position wherein the moveable panel2ais arranged over and closes the first roof opening3aand thus usually is arranged in a plane of the vehicle roof1. Further, the moveable panel2amay be in a tilted position, which is a position wherein a rear end RE of the moveable panel2ais raised as compared to the closed position, while a front end FE of the moveable panel2ais still in the closed position. Further, the moveable panel2amay be in an open position, which is a position wherein the moveable panel2ais slid open and the first roof opening3ais partly or completely exposed.

It is noted that the illustrated vehicle roof1corresponds to a passenger car. The present invention is however not limited to passenger cars. Any other kind of vehicles that may be provided with a moveable panel are contemplated as well.

FIG.1Billustrates the same vehicle roof as shown inFIG.1Ahaving panels2aand2b. In particular, whileFIG.1Ashows the open roof assembly in the open position,FIG.1Bis an exploded view of the open roof assembly in a closed position. Further, in this exploded view ofFIG.1B, it is shown that there is a second roof opening3b. The first and second roof openings3a,3bare provided in a frame5of the open roof assembly. An edge5aof the frame5defines the first roof opening3a.

The second roof opening3bis arranged under the fixed panel2bsuch that light may enter a vehicle interior passenger compartment through the fixed panel2b, presuming that the fixed panel2bis a glass panel or a similarly transparent panel, for example made of a plastic material or any other suitable material. The second roof opening3bwith a transparent or translucent fixed panel2bis optional and may be omitted in another embodiment of the open roof assembly.

The wind deflector4is commonly a flexible material, e.g. a woven or non-woven cloth having through holes arranged therein or a web or net. The flexible material is supported by a support structure4a, e.g. a bar-like or tube-like structure, which structure is hingedly coupled, directly or indirectly, to the frame5at a hinge4b.

The wind deflector4is arranged in front of the first roof opening3aand adapts air flow when the moveable panel2ais in the open position. In its raised position, the wind deflector4reduces inconvenient noise due to air flow during driving. When the moveable panel2ais in the closed position or in the tilted position, the wind deflector4is held down below the front end FE of the moveable panel2a.

Usually, the wind deflector4is raised by a spring force when the moveable panel2aslides to an open position and the wind deflector4is pushed down by the moveable panel2awhen the moveable panel2aslides back into its closed position. InFIG.1A, the moveable panel2ais shown in an open position and the wind deflector4is shown in a raised position. InFIG.1B, the moveable panel2ais shown in a closed position and the wind deflector4is correspondingly shown in a position in which it is held down.

FIG.1Bfurther illustrates a drive assembly having a first guide assembly6a, a second guide assembly6b, a first drive cable7and a second drive cable8. The first and second guide assemblies6a,6bare arranged on respective side ends SE of the moveable panel2aand may each comprise a guide and a mechanism. The guide is coupled to the frame5, while the mechanism comprises moveable parts and is slideably moveable in the guide. The first and the second drive cables7,8are provided between the mechanisms of the respective guide assemblies6a,6band a electric motor9.

The drive cables7,8couple the electric motor9to the mechanisms of the respective guide assemblies6a,6bsuch that upon operating the electric motor9, the mechanisms start to move. In particular, a core of the drive cable7,8is moved by the electric motor9such to push or pull on the mechanisms of the respective guides6a,6b. Such a drive assembly is well known in the art and is therefore not further elucidated herein. Still, any other suitable drive assembly may be employed as well without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, in a particular embodiment, an electric motor may be operatively arranged between the respective guides and the respective mechanisms of the guide assemblies6a,6band, in such embodiment, a drive assembly may be omitted completely.

In the illustrated embodiment, the guide assemblies6a,6bmay start movement with raising the rear end RE of the moveable panel2a, thereby bringing the moveable panel2ain the tilted position. Then, from the tilted position, the guide assemblies6a,6bmay start to slide to bring the moveable panel2ain the open position. The present invention is however not limited to such embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the moveable panel2amay be moveable to a tilted position by raising the rear end RE, while an open position is reached by first lowering the rear end RE and then sliding the moveable panel2aunder the fixed panel2bor any other structure or element provided behind the rear end RE of the moveable panel2a. In further exemplary embodiments, the moveable panel2amay be merely moveable between a closed position and a tilted position or between a closed position and an open position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the electric motor9is mounted near or below the front end FE of the moveable panel2aat a recess10. In another embodiment, the electric motor9may be positioned at any other suitable position or location. For example, the electric motor9may be arranged near or below the rear end RE of the moveable panel2aor below the fixed panel2b.

A control module11is schematically illustrated and is operatively coupled to the electric motor9. The control module11may be any kind of processing module, either a software controlled processing module or a dedicated processing module, like an ASIC, which are both well known to those skilled in the art. The control module11may be a stand-alone control module or it may be operatively connected to another control module, like a multipurpose, generic vehicle control module. In yet another embodiment, the control module11may be embedded in or be part of such a generic vehicle control module. Essentially, the control module11may be embodied by any control module suitable for, capable of and configured for performing operation of the electric motor9and thus the moveable roof assembly.

FIG.2Ashows a top view of a transparent roof panel20arranged in a roof of a vehicle. The transparent panel20comprises a transparent intermediate area21and opaque second areas22, wherein the opaque areas22may comprise a black ceramic composition, such as an enamel layer, or a black rubber-like composition, also well-known as encapsulation. In a first area arranged in a central part of the transparent panel20, an electric apparatus30is mounted on a passenger compartment side of the transparent panel20. An opaque layer may be provided on or in the transparent panel20to hide a backside of the electric apparatus30from view from the outside.

InFIG.2B, the transparent panel20is shown in more detail;FIG.2Cshows the central part I of the transparent panel20enlarged; andFIG.2Dshows a cross-section of the transparent panel20along line A-A.

Referring toFIGS.2B-2D, the transparent panel20comprises a first terminal41arranged in the first area, a second terminal42arranged in the second area22and a first subarea43of a visually-transparent conductive layer arranged in the intermediate area21. Further, the transparent panel20comprises a third terminal51, a fourth terminal52and a second subarea53of the visually-transparent conductive layer. The first and second subareas43,53electrically connect the first and second terminals41,42and the third and fourth terminals51,52, respectively.

As illustrated inFIG.2D, the terminals41,42,51,52and the visually-transparent conductive layer are arranged between a first transparent pane23and a second transparent pane24. The first transparent pane comprises a first main surface231and a second main surface232. The second transparent pane24comprises a third main surface243and a fourth main surface244.

A through hole22is provided in the second transparent pane24and extends between the third main surface243and the fourth main surface244. An intermediate layer25such as an EVA or PVB layer adheres the first and second transparent panes23,24to each other.

In this first embodiment, the second and fourth terminals42,52extend along a side edge of the transparent panel20and the first and third terminals41,51are arranged in the first area in the central part of the transparent panel20adjacent to the through hole22. Further, all terminals41,42,51,52and the visually-transparent conductive layer are arranged on the second main surface232.

The terminals41,42,51,52may comprise an electrically conducting material, preferably a conductive material having a low resistivity, e.g. a metal such as copper, gold, silver, or the like. The terminals41,42,51,52may be applied by plating or as a band adhered to the first transparent pane23by use of an adhesive or an adhesive tape. Any other suitable method of application may be used as well.

The visually-transparent conductive layer comprises, in this first embodiment, a coating of an electrically conductive transparent composition. Such a composition may comprise an metal-oxide, like indium-tin-oxide (ITO) or the like. Such conductive and transparent coatings are known in the art. The conductivity of such a thin layer of electrically conductive transparent composition may however be limited as compared to a plated or adhered metallic layer. Therefore, a surface area covered with the electrically conductive transparent composition may be selected to be large in order to increase the conductivity as much as possible.

The electric apparatus30(not shown inFIG.2D) is mounted on the fourth main surface244and is electrically connected to the first and third terminal41,51for receiving a supply voltage, which is applied to the second and fourth terminal42,52and is conducted to the first and third terminal41,51through the layer of the electrically conductive transparent composition in the first and second subareas43,53in the intermediate area21. Electrically conductive leads may be electrically connected to the first and third terminal41,51and extend through the through hole22to the electric apparatus30.

FIG.2Eshows a second embodiment, wherein three through holes221,222,223are provided in the second transparent pane. The first terminal41is arranged around a peripheral edge of the first through hole221and the third terminal51is arranged around a peripheral edge of the second through hole222. A fifth terminal61and a seventh terminal71are arranged adjacent to a peripheral edge of the third through hole223. The fifth terminal61is electrically coupled to a sixth terminal62via a third visually transparent and electrically conductive subarea63. The seventh terminal71is electrically coupled to an eighth terminal72via a fourth visually transparent and electrically conductive subarea73.

The first terminal41and the third terminal51are configured to provide a supply voltage and a corresponding supply current. Such supply current may be relatively large. Therefore, a large surface area of the second or third main surface232,243are covered with the electrically conductive transparent composition to provide a relatively large conductivity, as above described. Moreover, a length of a boundary between the subareas43,53of electrically conductive transparent composition and the respective first and third terminals41,51is made relatively large by arranging the subareas43,53all around the respective terminals41,51in order to further improve conductivity to said terminals.

The fifth and seventh terminals61,71are provided for input or output of an electrical signal. Such a signal may be a control signal for controlling operation of the electric apparatus or it may be a sensor signal generated by a sensor in the electric apparatus and used by another device arranged in another part of the vehicle. Usually, such a signal does not require a large current and therefore, a smaller subarea63,73is provided for the layer of the electrically conductive transparent composition connecting the fifth and the seventh terminal61,71to the sixth and the eighth terminal62,72, respectively.

As apparent fromFIGS.2B and2E, a local shortest distance between the first terminal41and the second terminal42varies. Consequently, a local conductivity and thus local heat generation may vary as well. In order to reduce local temperature differences, which could lead to undesired stress and tension in the transparent panel20, the subarea43of the layer of electrically conductive transparent composition may be divided in two or more parts and the second terminal42may be divided in a corresponding number of parts such that a local current density in the layer of the electrically conductive transparent composition may be controlled. As apparent to those skilled in the art, other conductive layers may be divided similarly.

A connection to the electric apparatus30may be embodied in any other technically suitable manner as well. For example, a wireless connection through radio communication (e.g. WiFi, Bluetooth) or through optical communication (e.g. LiFi) may be used. Additionally or alternatively, an optical connection using one of the transparent panes23,24as an optical guide may be used or an optical connection through a fibre optic cable arranged between the first and the second transparent panes23,24may be used.

FIGS.3A-3Cillustrate a third embodiment of the transparent panel20.FIG.3Bshows a cross-section along line B-B.FIG.3Cshows a cross-section along line C-C.

Compared to the above first and the second embodiments, in third embodiment, the electrically conductive transparent composition is omitted and, instead, a first set of thin conductive leads44are provided between the first and the second terminal41,42and a second set of thin conductive leads54, including leads541,542,543and544, are provided between the third and fourth terminal51,52. The first and second sets of leads44,54are configured and designed to be unnoticeable under normal viewing conditions. Thereto, the leads are selected to be thin, i.e. to have a small cross-sectional area and in particular a small width (dimension of the leads parallel to line C-C), such to have a low visibility. Further, a spacing between the leads is selected to be relatively large to further reduce visibility. On the other hand, the cross-sectional area is selected to be as large as possible and a number of leads is selected to be as high as possible to improve conductivity. Hence, a balance between visibility and conductivity is sought.

The width of each lead is preferably smaller than 100 micrometres to prevent visibility and is preferably even smaller. For example, the width may be smaller than 70 micrometres or even smaller than 50 micrometres. In order to enable a sufficiently large electrical current, a number of leads may be increased with decreasing cross-sectional area of each lead. For example, with a length of about 80 cm, a safe current of 3 A may be achieved with a cross-sectional area of about 0.14 mm2. Assuming a square cross-sectional shape of each lead, table1shows a number of leads needed to jointly provide such a cross-sectional area.

TABLE 1Lead width [μm]203040506070Cross-sectional4 ·9 ·1.6 ·2.5 ·3.6 ·4.9 ·area per lead [mm2]10−410−410−410−310−310−3Number of leads35015688563929

Conductivity may be further improved by keeping the leads44,54short. So, for example, the first and third terminal41,51may be arranged to have an edge near an edge of the electric apparatus (outline indicated by dashed line30). In this illustrated third embodiment, the first terminal41is shown in a T-shape, while the third terminal51is shown in a triangular shape. In practice, any shape may be selected, wherein the leads44,54may be kept short and an electrical connection to the electric apparatus30may be made through the through hole22e.g. using leads31,32. The leads31,32may be soldered or adhered using a conductive adhesive or paste, for example, to the first and third terminal41,51. The leads31,32may be formed by wires or as a flexible printed circuit (FPC), or the like. In another embodiment, metal leaf springs may be used to provide for an electrically conductive connection by clamping between the first and third terminal41,51and the electric apparatus30, for example. The electric apparatus30may be adhered to the fourth main surface244using a suitable adhesive33, for example. If mounted on the exterior side of the transparent panel20, the adhesive33may be enclosing the through hole22to provide for water tightness.

Although the third embodiment is illustrated to have the electrically conductive assembly arranged on the second main surface232, in another embodiment, the conductive assembly may be arranged on the third main surface243.

The leads44,54may be thin wires or may be thin tracks, e.g. comprising a non-transparent conductive composition. Wires may be first adhered to the intermediate layer25, which may be performed by applying the wires on the intermediate layer25in a heated state such that the wires locally melt the intermediate layer25. Then, the first and second transparent panes23,24may be adhered by the intermediate layer25using heat, pressure or both, thereby embedding the leads44,54in the intermediate layer25.

FIGS.4A-4Cillustrate a fourth embodiment, wherein the electrically conductive assembly is partly arranged on the second main surface232and partly on the third main surface243. As illustrated inFIGS.4B and4C, the second and fourth terminals42,52are arranged along the periphery of the first and the second transparent panes23,24, respectively, while the first and third terminals41,51are arranged in a central part thereof. In the second transparent pane24, the through hole22is provided, which extends through the third terminal51as well as through the second transparent pane24. The intermediate surface area43,53is provided with a layer of an electrically conductive transparent composition, similar to the above first and the second embodiment. Due to the increased surface area43,53and the increased length of the boundary between these surface areas43,53and the first and third terminals41,51, respectively, a higher conductivity may be achievable or a thinner layer of the electrically conductive composition may suffice for the desired electrical current to be supplied to the electric apparatus30.

It is noted that the fourth embodiment may additionally or alternatively be provided with a set of conductive leads as described above in relation to the third embodiment. However, care should be taken that leads on the second main surface232and leads on the third main surface243do not become visible in combination, e.g. due to minor misalignment caused by manufacturing tolerances when adhering the first and the second transparent pane23,24.

FIGS.5A and5Billustrate a fifth embodiment, wherein a first set and a second set of leads44,54are provided and are arranged in a star topology. The spacing of the leads44,54near the first and third terminals41,51is smaller than the spacing near the second and fourth terminals42,52. This may assist in reducing visibility as such. On the other hand, if the leads44,54are slightly visible, it may appear as a design feature and may thus visually disappear in the background without attracting the attention of vehicle occupants.

FIG.5Bshows a cross-section along line D-D. As illustrated therein, shorter leads541,542have a smaller cross-sectional surface than the longer lead543and the longest lead544. Considering that a longer lead has a higher resistivity, resulting in a lower current with a same voltage, while at the same time considering that a local heat generation may be preferred to be equal along each lead541,542,543,544, the cross-sectional surface area or thickness of each lead may be adapted. Based on electric power generation theory, Ohm's law and Pouillet's law, the cross-sectional area of each of the set of leads44,54may be proportional to its length squared. Still, other or additional considerations may lead to a different preferred relationship between the length and the cross-sectional area. For example, heat conductivity in the transparent panel, heat transfer to the surroundings, lead material composition and variation therein, and any other potentially relevant aspect and property may be taken into account.

In this fifth embodiment, the first transparent pane23is shown to be darkened or tinted as well known in the art. Such darkened or tinted pane may further reduce visibility of the leads44,54due to decreased contrast. As apparent to those skilled in the art, such tinted or darkened transparent pane may be advantageously used in any of the above described embodiments as well. Instead of a darkened or tinted transparent pane23,24, the intermediate layer25may be tinted or darkened to achieve a same effect.

The electric apparatus as described herein may comprise any kind of function. For example, one or more sensors for monitoring an interior of the vehicle or for monitoring an exterior of the vehicle, a lighting function, a multimedia function like an audio and/or video player, a projector, or a central communication hub for external roof sensors like an antennae may be arranged in the electric apparatus.

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in expectedly any appropriately detailed structure. In particular, features presented and described in separate dependent claims may be applied in combination and any advantageous combination of such claims are herewith disclosed.

Further, it is contemplated that structural elements may be generated by application of three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques. Therefore, any reference to a structural element is intended to encompass any computer executable instructions that instruct a computer to generate such a structural element by three-dimensional printing techniques or similar computer controlled manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, any such reference to a structural element is also intended to encompass a computer readable medium carrying such computer executable instructions.

Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly.

The invention being thus described it is apparent that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be apparent to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.