Solar roof for motor vehicles

• US 5,545,261 A
• Filed: 05/31/1995
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
• Original Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
• Inventors: Lutz, Berthold, Ganz, Thomas, Liedl, Bernhard, Weissbrich, Alfons
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US08/455,854
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 136/251, 136/291, 296/215, 296/216
• US Class Current: 136/251
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/00 Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels , e.g. rotary sunroofsB60J10/00 takes precedence; window aspects B60J1/00; fixed roofs B62D25/06; mechanisms for operating wings E05F11/00, E05F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

Solar roof for motor vehicles with a solar generator having solar cells for supplying power to a power consumer and/or a battery and with a D.C. converter for impedance matching between the solar generator and the consumer and/or battery. The D.C. converter is a flat module and is integrated into the solar cell carrying roof panel.

Claims

1. A solar roof for motor vehicles comprising a movable roof panel, solar generator carried by said roof panel and composed of solar cells for supplying power to at least one of a power consumer and a battery, and a D.C. converter for impedance matching between the solar generator and the at least one of the power consumer and the battery;

wherein the D.C. converter is a flat module and is integrated into the movable roof panel.

2. Solar roof according to claim 1, wherein an inside roof lining is located under the movable cover panel;

and wherein the D.C. converter is housed in a construction space existing between the movable cover panel and the inside roof lining.

3. Solar roof according to claim 2, wherein at least one additional module is integrated into the movable cover panel.

4. Solar roof according to claim 3, wherein the at least one additional module is at least one of a solar power supply and a solar cover control.

5. Solar roof according to claim 4, wherein the movable cover panel with the solar cells thereon forms a partially transparent solar cover;

and wherein the D.C. converter sits under an opaque part of the solar cover.

6. Solar roof according to claim 4, wherein the movable cover panel with the solar cells thereon forms a partially transparent solar cover;

and wherein the D.C. converter sits under an opaque part of the solar cover.

7. Solar roof according to claim 1, wherein at least one additional module is integrated into the movable cover panel.

8. Solar roof according to claim 3, wherein the at least one additional module is at least one of a solar power supply and a solar cover control.