Motor vehicle roof

• US 6,283,543 B1
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
• Original Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
• Inventors: Hahn, Ferdinand, Schulz, Horst, Kraus, Thomas, Ganz, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US09/361,315
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 296/223, 180/282, 180/286, 49/31, 318/268, 318/271, 318/277
• US Class Current: 296/223
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/028 Means preventing passenger from falling out of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/632 for horizontally-sliding wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/659 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/41 for closing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

An improved motor vehicle roof is provided which includes a roof opening provided in a fixed roof surface, at least one closing element for selectively at least partially closing the roof opening, an electrical adjusting drive for driving the closing element and a sensor engineering system for detecting a situation which adversely affects the safety of the passengers and for producing a corresponding danger signal. Importantly, the roof includes a quick-action closing device coupled to the sensor engineering system which causes the closing element to close from its open or partially open position when a danger signal is present. The closing device includes means for producing an electrical voltage which exceeds the normal feed voltage (rated voltage) of the adjusting drive by several times, and for applying the voltage to the electric adjusting drive.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle roof for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a fixed roof surface;

a roof opening located in the fixed roof surface;

at least one closing element for selectively at least partially closing the roof opening;

an electrical adjusting drive for driving the closing element;

a sensor engineering system for detecting a situation which adversely affects the safety of passengers in the vehicle and for producing a corresponding danger signal; and

a quick-action closing device coupled to the sensor engineering system and adapted to cause the closing element to close from one of an open and a partially open position when the danger signal is present, wherein the closing device includes a means for producing an electrical voltage exceeding a normal feed voltage of the adjusting drive by several times and for applying the voltage to the electric adjusting drive.

2. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein the means for producing an electrical voltage includes a step-up DC/DC transformer connected to a motor vehicle battery.

3. The motor vehicle roof of claim 2, further including a line connecting one output of the step-up DC/DC transformer to one input of the adjusting drive, the line being independent of a motor vehicle electrical system.

4. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein the means for generating an electrical voltage generates an electrical voltage exceeding a normal feed voltage of the electrical adjusting drive by several times.

5. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein the voltage, which is applied to the electrical adjusting drive when a danger signal is present, is between 100 and 120 V.

6. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, further including a seat occupancy detection device which interacts with the closing device.

7. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, further including a belt locking detection device which interacts with the closing device.

8. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, further including a pinching protection device which interacts with the closing device.

9. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein the closing device includes an electronic circuit which at least one of stops and completely prevents the closing motion of the closing element depending on the output signals of at least one of a seat occupancy detection means, a belt lock detection means and a pinch protection device.

10. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein the closing element is a movable head liner.

11. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein the closing element is a roof cover.

12. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, further including an air bag capable of covering the roof opening in case of danger.

13. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein the closing means stops the closing motion before reaching an end position of the closing element.

14. A process for at least partially closing a roof opening provided in a fixed roof surface of a motor vehicle using an electrically drivable closing element and an electrical adjusting drive for driving the closing element, comprising the steps of:

detecting a situation which adversely affects the safety of the passengers using a sensor engineering system provided on the vehicle;

producing an electrical voltage which exceeds a rated normal feed voltage of the electrical adjusting drive for driving the closing element by several times; and

applying the electrical voltage which exceeds the rated normal feed voltage to the electrically drivable closing element.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein the voltage which exceeds the rated normal feed voltage of the electrical adjusting drive by several times is produced by a step-up DC/DC transformer connected between a vehicle battery and the electrical adjusting drive.

16. The process of claim 14, wherein the voltage which exceeds the rated normal feed voltage of the electrical adjusting drive by several times is produced by a voltage source.

17. The process of claim 14, further including the steps of monitoring the roof opening during the closing motion of the closing element for possible pinching of at least one of articles and vehicle passengers, and stopping the movement of the closing element when a threatening pinching situation is detected.

18. The process of claim 14, further including monitoring the occupancy of seats in the motor vehicle in an area of the roof opening.

19. The process of claim 14, further including the step of monitoring whether seat belts, on seats located in the area of the roof opening, are locked.