Cover module

• US 7,306,276 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Donnelly GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Magna Donnelly GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Berberich, Wolfgang, Fuchs, Hans-Joachim, Seitz, Edwin, Meyer, Wolfram
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US10/510,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.34, 296/193.04, 296/37.7, 296/97.5, 296/97.9, 296/214, 296/215, 296/97.6, 296/97.8
• US Class Current: 296/24.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body

Abstract

A covering module (04, 05, 09, 19, 29, 48, 60) is provided for arrangement on the inside of the roof of a vehicle. The covering module (04, 05, 09, 19, 29, 48, 60) covers the inside of the roof in the area of the sheet metal car body (02) at least partially, in particular essentially completely. All function elements to be provided overhead from the passengers in the vehicle are completely preassembled on the covering module (04, 05, 09, 19, 29, 48, 60).

Claims

1. A covering module for arrangement on the inside of the roof of a vehicle, whereby the covering module covers the interior of the roof in an area of a sheet metal car body at least partially, the module comprising:

a covering module body having recesses and/or concavities in which transparent components are arranged, said transparent components comprising panes of glass having electrochromatic properties;

a plurality of function elements, to be provided overhead of the passengers in the vehicle, completely preassembled on the covering module body.

2. The covering module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a contact element in the form of a plug strip, provided on the covering module body, so that said function elements contact said plug strip to be in contact with an electric onboard network and/or the electronic databus of the vehicle via a roof contact element provided on the inside of the roof and designed with a complementary function.

3. The covering module according to claim 2, wherein the electric onboard network of the vehicle has a power supply voltage of approximately 42 volts.

4. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein the covering module body is locked in position with a simple joining movement on the inside of the roof.

5. The covering module according to claim 2, wherein the contact element is designed and arranged so that it is in contact with a contact element designed with a complementary function by attaching the covering module body on the inside of the roof.

6. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein the covering module body is composed of multiple partial modules.

7. The covering module according to claim 6, wherein a partial module of the covering module designed in multiple parts is installed facing the front of the vehicle, and the other partial module of the covering module, which is designed in multiple parts, is installed facing the rear of the vehicle.

8. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein in an area in front of the windshield, the covering module body has at least one recess in which a rearview device is arranged, so that the driver observes the traffic following behind the vehicle.

9. The covering module according to claim 8, wherein the rearview device has a mirror element.

10. The covering module according to claim 9, further comprising a drive device, wherein the mirror element is drivable by remote control to adjust the viewing angle with the drive device.

11. The covering module according to claim 10, wherein the mirror element has a memory function so that settings of the mirror element stored according to the respective driver can be called up automatically.

12. The covering module according to claim 9, wherein the mirror element is designed in the manner of a glass prism having two reflective surfaces, whereby the mirror element is dimmed by remote-controlled drive of the glass prism.

13. The covering module according to claim 9, wherein an electrochromatic dimming system is provided on the mirror element to alter the transmission properties.

14. The covering module according to claim 9, wherein the mirror element is colored.

15. The covering module according to claim 8, wherein the rearview device is designed in the manner of an electronic display on which electronic image data can be displayed.

16. The covering module according to claim 15, wherein the display is designed in the manner of a TFT display screen.

17. The cover element according to claim 8, wherein the rearview device has a projection surface on which images emitted by a projection device can be reflected.

18. The covering module according to claim 17, wherein the projection device is integrated into the covering module.

19. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein a left and/or a right sun visor is adjustably mounted on the covering module body and can be adjusted between a resting position and a sun protection position.

20. The covering module according to claim 19, wherein the sun visors pivot rotationally between a resting position and a sun protection position.

21. The covering module according to claim 19, wherein at least one drive unit is provided for adjustment of the sun visors.

22. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein an optical and/or acoustic sensor, is provided in the covering module so that video data and/or audio data can be recorded in the passenger compartment.

23. The covering module according to claim 22, wherein the optical sensor is designed in the manner of a video camera with a CCD chip.

24. The covering module according to claim 22, wherein a wide-angle lens is mounted on the optical sensor.

25. The covering module according to claim 22, wherein the field of view of the driver can be recorded with the optical sensor.

26. The covering module according to claim 22, wherein people sitting on the back seat can be recorded with the optical sensor at least in some areas.

27. The covering module according to claim 22, wherein the optical sensor is suitable for controlling a child seat detection device.

28. The covering module according to claim 22, wherein the data picked up by the sensor is stored temporarily in a memory unit and deleted on a rotating basis.

29. The covering module according to claim 28, wherein the data in the last 5 to 60 seconds of a period of time is stored in a buffer memory in the memory unit.

30. The covering module according to claim 28, wherein on occurrence of a predefined event, the data recording is stopped and the data stored temporarily in the memory unit (24) is saved.

31. The covering module according to claim 22, wherein the memory unit is designed in the manner of a trip recorder in which the data is stored in blocks on a separate data medium.

32. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein the covering module has an antenna carrier element.

33. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein a surface of the antenna carrier element is essentially flush with the top side of the roof.

34. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein an antenna is arranged directly or indirectly on a lower side of the antenna carrier element opposite a surface of the antenna carrier element.

35. The covering module according to claim 34, wherein the antenna is a GPS antenna.

36. The covering module according to claim 35, wherein the GPS antenna is integrally connected to a telematic control unit.

37. The covering module according to claim 34, wherein the antenna is a VHF antenna.

38. The covering module according to claim 34, wherein the antenna is a radio antenna.

39. The covering module according to claim 34, wherein the antenna is integrally connected to the antenna carrier element.

40. The covering module according to claim 34, wherein the antenna is sheathed by material of the antenna carrier element.

41. The covering module according to claim 34, wherein the antenna is a ring body antenna.

42. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein the antenna carrier element is made of a material which is permeable for electromagnetic waves.

43. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein the antenna carrier clement is made of plastic.

44. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein the antenna carrier element is made of glass.

45. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein the antenna carrier element has at least one hook part which in the installed state of the antenna carrier element extends around the roof with an undercut.

46. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein the antenna carrier element is glued to the roof.

47. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein the antenna carrier element has a projection in which an antenna cable is arranged.

48. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein at least one solar cell is arranged in the area of a surface of the antenna carrier element.

49. The covering module according to claim 48, wherein the solar cell is integrally arranged in the antenna carrier element.

50. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein at least one sensor is arranged in or on the antenna carrier element.

51. The covering module according to claim 49, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

52. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein the antenna carrier element is painted the same color as the roof.

53. The covering module according to claim 32, wherein the antenna carrier element is made of a plastic material, which is the same color as an automotive part.

54. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein at least one lighting device is integrated into the covering module body for lighting the interior.

55. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein a radio receiver for controlling a central lock and/or an interior lighting circuit is integrated into the covering module body.

56. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein a rain sensor and/or a light sensor is/are integrated into the covering module.

57. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein at least one glove compartment is integrated into the covering module.

58. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein a brake light and/or a flashing light and/or a searchlight is integrated into the covering module behind a window of the vehicle.

59. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein at least one loudspeaker is integrated into the covering module body.

60. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein an anti-theft alarm system is integrated into the covering module.

61. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein a multifunction display is integrated into the covering module.

62. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein a sliding roof control is integrated into the covering module.

63. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein an actuating element for remote adjustment of an interior and/or exterior rearview mirror is integrated into the covering module.

64. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein a video display that is pivotably mounted, is integrated into the covering module so that entertainment data can be displayed on it.

65. The covering module according to claim 64, wherein the video display is designed in the manner of a TFT display screen.

66. The covering module according to claim 64, wherein the video display is arranged above the back seat in the field of view of passengers sitting there.

67. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein a media console, with a DVD player, is integrated into the covering module.

68. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein a communication device, is integrated into the covering module.

69. The covering module according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor measuring the distance from vehicles traveling in front of and/or behind the vehicle is integrated into the covering module body.