Sunroof utilizing two independent motors

Abstract

Continuous cross sectional profile guide tracks in an outer sliding sunroof/moonroof are provided where both the front and rear mechanism or mechanism links travel fore/aft in the same channels as each other and have fore/aft travel that is limited only by vehicle architecture. The guide track channel is partly or entirely outside/outboard of the primary water/wind sealing system of the sunroof.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A moveable panel system for a roof of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:
 a roof wall of the vehicle, a left lateral edge, a right lateral edge, a front edge, and a rear edge with said roof wall defining a passenger compartment opening between said edges; 
 a pair of tracks disposed in said roof wall and longitudinally extending from said front edge towards said rear edge including a left track extending along said left lateral edge and a right track extending along said right lateral edge; 
 a panel sized to close said opening; 
 a set of mechanical linkages disposed in said tracks and moveably coupling said panel to said tracks, said set of mechanical linkages including a left mechanical linkage coupled to a left side of said panel and a right mechanical linkage coupled to a right side of said panel; 
 a left mechanical interface coupled to said left mechanical linkage having an open mode that moves said left side towards said rear edge and said left mechanical interface having a close mode that moves said left side towards said front edge; 
 a right mechanical interface, independent from said left mechanical interface, coupled to said right mechanical linkage having an open mode that moves said right side towards said rear edge and said right mechanical interface having a close mode that moves said right side towards said front edge; 
 a pair of motors mounted to the vehicle and responsive to a plurality of motor control signals, said pair of motors including a left motor coupled to said left mechanical interface and controlling said modes of said left mechanical interface and including a right motor coupled to said right mechanical interface and controlling said modes of said right mechanical interface, wherein said left mechanical interface includes a left conduit extending from said left motor to said left track and a left flexible cable extending from a reel of said left motor to said left mechanical linkage through said left conduit; wherein said right mechanical interface includes a right conduit extending from said right motor to said right track and a right flexible cable extending from a reel of said right motor to said right mechanical linkage through said right conduit; and wherein said modes of said mechanical linkages are controlled by winding/unwinding said cables; and 
 a motor controller coupled to said motors and generating said plurality of motor control signals including an open control signal and a closed control signal with said open control signal causing said motors to operate their coupled mechanical interfaces in said open mode and with said close control signal causing said motors to operate their coupled mechanical interfaces in said close mode. 
 
     
     
       2. The moveable panel system of  claim 1  wherein said motors are disposed forward of said panel wherein said open mode for said mechanical interfaces includes extending said cables by unwinding said cables from said reels; and wherein said close mode for said mechanical interfaces includes retracting said cables by winding said cables on said reels. 
     
     
       3. The moveable panel system of  claim 1  wherein said motors are disposed rearward of said panel wherein said open mode for said mechanical interfaces includes retracting said cables by winding said cables on said reels; and wherein said close mode for said mechanical interfaces includes extending said cables by unwinding said cables from said reels. 
     
     
       4. A system for operating a moveable panel with respect to an opening in a roof of a passenger vehicle and responsive to a motor controller generating a plurality of motor control signals, comprising:
 a panel guide assembly coupled to the roof, said panel guide assembly including a pair of track at lateral edges of the roof; 
 a set of mechanical linkages moveably coupling the moveable panel to said tracks, said set of mechanical linkages including a first mechanical linkage coupled to a first side of the moveable panel and a second mechanical linkage coupled to a second side of the moveable panel; 
 a pair of mechanical interfaces coupled to said linkages, a first mechanical interface moving said first mechanical linkage and a second mechanical interface moving said second mechanical linkage; and 
 a pair of motors mounted to the passenger vehicle and responsive to the plurality of motor control signals, said pair of motors including a first motor coupled to said first mechanical interface and including a second motor coupled to said second mechanical interface, wherein each said mechanical interface includes a conduit extending from a respective motor to said respective track and a flexible cable extending from a reel of said respective motor to said respective mechanical linkage through said respective conduit; and wherein said mechanical linkages include an open mode and a closed mode controlled by winding/unwinding said flexible cables onto/from said reels. 
 
     
     
       5. The moveable panel system of  claim 4  wherein said motors are disposed forward of said panel wherein said open mode for said mechanical interfaces includes extending said cables by unwinding said cables from said reels; and wherein said close mode for said mechanical interfaces includes retracting said cables by winding said cables on said reels. 
     
     
       6. The moveable panel system of  claim 4  wherein said motors are disposed rearward of said panel wherein said open mode for said mechanical interfaces includes retracting said cables by winding said cables on said reels; and wherein said close mode for said mechanical interfaces includes extending said cables by unwinding said cables from said reels. 
     
     
       7. A method for operating a sunroof of a passenger vehicle, the sunroof moveably coupled to a pair of lateral tracks disposed in a roof of the passenger vehicle, comprising: operating a first mechanical interface coupled to a first lateral edge of the sunroof using a first remote motor; and operating a second mechanical interface, concurrently with operation of said first mechanical interface, coupled to a second lateral edge of the sunroof using a second remote motor; wherein operation of said mechanical interfaces opens and closes the sunroof, wherein each said mechanical interface includes a conduit extending from a respective motor to said respective track and a flexible cable extending from a reel of said respective motor to a respective mechanical linkage through said respective conduit; and wherein said mechanical linkages include an open mode and a closed mode controlled by winding/unwinding said flexible cables onto/from said reels.