Linear motor actuated moonroofs

A power moonroof for a vehicle, comprising:

• a cassette;
• a glass sheet with a first surface and a second surface, the glass sheet disposed in the cassette;
• and
• a linear motor including:
• a first plurality of electrically conductive coils formed on the first and second surfaces proximate to a first edge of the glass sheet;
• and
• a first plurality of magnets disposed along a length of the cassette and inside the cassette;
• wherein the first plurality of coils and the first plurality of magnets constitute a linear motor, and energization and de-energization of each of the first plurality of coils creates a force to move the glass sheet in a length direction of the cassette.

A vehicle with a power moonroof, comprising:

• an opening in the vehicle roof with a first side and a second side parallel to and disposed distal from the first side;
• and
• a moonroof further comprising:
• a first channel disposed in the first side and a second channel disposed in the second side of the opening of the vehicle roof;
• a glass sheet with a first edge and a second edge parallel to and disposed distal from the first edge, and sized so that when placed within the opening of the vehicle roof, the first edge is substantially covered by the first channel and the second edge is substantially covered by the second channel;
• a first plurality of electrically conductive coils disposed upon the glass sheet proximate to the first edge;
• a second plurality of electrically conductive coils disposed upon the glass sheet proximate to the second edge;
• a first plurality of magnets disposed within the first channel and a second plurality of magnets disposed within the second channel;
• and
• a control module in electrical communication with the first and second plurality of coils and configured to selectively energize the first and second plurality of coils,
• wherein energizing the first and second plurality of coils causes the coils to magnetically interact with the first and second plurality of magnets, respectively, causing the glass sheet to move relative to the first and second channels.