JP7767766B2 - vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle.

Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle instrument panel equipped with a footrest that is stored in a glove compartment while the vehicle is in motion and is pulled out from the glove compartment for the occupant's feet to rest on when the occupant is resting. In this vehicle instrument panel, the lid of the glove compartment is configured to move toward the windshield when the footrest is pulled out, thereby isolating the area near the footrest from the outside of the vehicle.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-264694

However, when a vehicle occupant places their feet on an interior component such as an instrument panel, the height of the component may not be suitable for the occupant's physique or posture, making it difficult for them to assume a relaxed posture.

The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle that allows occupants to assume a relaxed posture when resting their feet on interior components.

A vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention includes a front wall surface that forms the front interior wall surface of the passenger compartment, a first interior member that is arranged on the front wall surface and is capable of being raised and lowered, and an interior member adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of the upper surface of the first interior member relative to the seat cushion.

The present invention provides a vehicle that allows occupants to assume a relaxed posture when resting their feet on the interior components.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a vehicle according to an embodiment, and is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the positions of a seat, a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section in a drive position. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the positions of a seat in a relaxed position, a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section in a vehicle according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view showing the positions of a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section in a drive position of a vehicle according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view showing the positions of a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section in a relaxed position in a vehicle according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view showing the positions of a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section in a relaxed position in a vehicle according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic partial perspective view showing the arrangement positions of one-side interior member, the other-side interior member, the second interior member, the pedal section, and the steering section in a vehicle according to a modified embodiment in a relaxed position. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view for explaining an interior member adjustment mechanism of the vehicle according to the embodiment. 1 is a schematic partial perspective view for explaining a pedal adjustment mechanism of a vehicle according to an embodiment; 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle control system according to an embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when the interior of the vehicle according to the embodiment is set from a drive position to a relax position. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when the interior of the vehicle according to the embodiment is set from a relax position to a drive position.

The vehicle according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, FR and RR refer to the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, LH and RH refer to the left and right in the width direction of the vehicle, and UP and DN refer to the top and bottom in the vertical direction of the vehicle. In the following description, the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the left and right in the width direction of the vehicle, and the top and bottom in the vertical direction of the vehicle will be simply referred to as "front of the vehicle," "rear of the vehicle," "left of the vehicle," "right of the vehicle," "top," and "bottom," respectively. Elements having the same function will be assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

A vehicle according to this embodiment is, for example, vehicle V equipped with an automatic driving control function. The automatic driving control function automatically controls the driving of the vehicle based on the circumstances around the vehicle and the state of the vehicle, without relying on driving operations such as steering or pedal operation by the occupant. Because vehicle V is equipped with the automatic driving control function, it is capable of automatic driving, in which acceleration, deceleration, and steering are automatically performed without occupant operation. Note that this automatic driving also includes cases in which vehicle V automatically accelerates, decelerates, and steers without occupant operation under specified driving conditions, such as when traveling on a highway. The state in which vehicle V is traveling in automatic driving mode is simply referred to as "in automatic driving." Note that vehicle V may also be an electric vehicle powered by an electric motor (not shown) and powered by a vehicle drive battery (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 9, vehicle V is equipped with a controller 60 that performs the processing necessary to control vehicle V. Controller 60 is a general-purpose microcomputer equipped with a CPU (central processing unit), memory, input/output units, etc. A computer program for controlling the automatic driving of vehicle V may be installed in the microcomputer. By executing this computer program, the microcomputer can control the automatic driving of vehicle V.

The controller 60 may include an autonomous driving determination unit 61 and a vehicle control unit 62. The autonomous driving determination unit 61 determines whether the vehicle V is autonomously driving. This determination may be made in response to input of a first trigger signal, which is a signal indicating that the selector switch 63 has been pressed. If the autonomous driving determination unit 61 determines that the vehicle V is autonomously driving, it may output a second trigger signal, which is a signal indicating that the vehicle is autonomously driving, to the vehicle control unit 62. The vehicle control unit 62 has the function of controlling the seat drive unit 71, steering drive unit 72, pedal drive unit 73, interior member drive unit 74, etc. This control may be made in response to input of the first trigger signal or the second trigger signal.

As shown in FIG. 1, a seat 5 is disposed above a floor portion 2 that forms the bottom of the passenger compartment 1 at the front side of the vehicle cabin 1 of a vehicle V. The seat 5 illustrated in the figure is a driver's seat in which one of the occupants, a driver who accelerates, decelerates, or steers the vehicle V, sits. Also, to the left of the driver's seat is a passenger seat (not shown) serving as a seat 5 in which an occupant other than the driver sits. The seat 5 may include a seat cushion 6, a seat back 7, and a headrest 8. In the illustrated example, the fore-and-aft direction of the seat 5 corresponds to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. Also, the width direction of the seat 5 corresponds to the vehicle width direction.

The seat 5 is supported by a seat adjustment mechanism 9 provided on the floor 3 of the passenger compartment 1. The seat adjustment mechanism 9 adjusts the position of the seat 5 in the fore-and-aft direction of the seat 5. The seat adjustment mechanism 9 is, for example, a slide mechanism equipped with a pair of rails provided on the floor 3 at a predetermined distance apart in the vehicle width direction. The seat 5 is configured to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle on the pair of rails.

For example, a pair of engaging portions (not shown) that can engage with the pair of rail portions may be provided on each of the left and right ends of the bottom of the seat cushion 6, and the pair of engaging portions may be slidably engaged with the pair of rail portions. This allows the seat 5 to be slidably disposed on the pair of rail portions within a predetermined range in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. For example, the seat 5 can be slid toward the rear of the vehicle as indicated by arrow A in the figure. The seat 5 may also be configured to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the up-down direction. For example, a pedestal (not shown) that rotatably supports the seat cushion 6 may be interposed between the seat cushion 6 and the seat adjustment mechanism 9.

The seat adjustment mechanism 9 may include a seat driver 71, such as an electric motor, that is driven and controlled by the vehicle control unit 62 and adjusts the position of at least the seat 5 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This allows the seat adjustment mechanism 9 to adjust the position of the seat 5 in response to a control signal output by the vehicle control unit 62.

As shown in Figure 1 or Figure 3, an instrument panel 10 is disposed on the front wall surface 4 of the vehicle interior 1. The instrument panel 10 may also include a first interior member 11 and a second interior member 30.

The instrument panel 10 is disposed on the front wall 4 on the vehicle front side, i.e., in front of the seat 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and constitutes the interior of the vehicle front side of the passenger compartment 1 of the vehicle V. The front wall 4 is a wall surface that forms the front inner wall surface of the passenger compartment 1 in front of the seat 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In the illustrated example, the front wall surface 4 is a wall surface that extends vertically between the windshield W and the floor surface 3 and has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

A display 32 may be provided on the instrument panel 10. In the illustrated example, the display 32 is provided at the rear end of the second interior member 30, with the display surface facing the seat 5. The instrument panel 10 may also be provided with a glove compartment 16, an air conditioning vent (not shown), and the like.

The display 32 is a device configured, for example, with a capacitive LCD touch panel, and is capable of displaying various types of information. The information displayed on the display 32 may be, for example, information about the vehicle V, such as the speed, or information about the environment around the vehicle V, such as the route the vehicle V is traveling. In addition, the display surface of the display 32 may be provided with switches that can be operated by the occupant, such as a selector switch 63 for switching between the drive position and the relax position, as described below.

The first interior member 11 is a member that protrudes from the front wall surface 4. In the illustrated example, the first interior member 11 extends in the vehicle width direction, in front of the driver's seat and passenger seat as seats 5 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The first interior member 11 has a hollow box-like structure that is roughly rectangular in plan view, and may be made of resin, for example. The upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 may be covered with fabric made of woven fibers such as cotton, or may be provided with a cushion made of a core material such as urethane foam covered with an exterior material such as woven fabric.

In the illustrated example, the front side of the first interior member 11 is supported by the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 via the connection portion 14. The interior member adjustment mechanism 20 adjusts the height of the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 relative to the seat surface 6a of the seat 5 by raising and lowering the first interior member 11.

7 , the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 includes a pair of guide rails 21 arranged on the left and right sides of the front wall 4 in the vehicle width direction, and an interior member drive unit 74. The pair of guide rails 21 may be arranged on the opposite side of the first interior member 11, across the front wall portion, which is a wall portion of the passenger compartment 1 that constitutes the front wall 4. A slider 22 is arranged on each of the pair of guide rails 21 so that it can slide vertically, and a connecting portion 14 is joined to the slider 22. The connecting portion 14 connects the first interior member 11 and the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 through a pair of openings 23 formed in the front wall portion and extending vertically. Therefore, the first interior member 11 is supported by the pair of guide rails 21 so that it can be raised and lowered. That is, the first interior member 11 is arranged on the front wall 4 so that it can be raised and lowered.

The interior member drive unit 74 may include, for example, an electric motor 24 controlled by the vehicle control unit 62 and a ball screw 25 extending vertically and rotated about its axis by the electric motor 24. In the illustrated example, the interior member drive unit 74 is disposed approximately in the center of the vehicle width direction. A protrusion 15 protruding from the front end of the first interior member 11 is threadedly engaged with the ball screw 25 through an opening 26 extending vertically in a portion of the front wall. Therefore, the elevation of the first interior member 11 can be controlled by controlling the direction and amount of rotation of the electric motor 24 with the vehicle control unit 62. For example, the first interior member 11, which is positioned at the upper limit of elevation as shown in FIG. 1, can be moved downward as indicated by arrow E. In other words, the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 can adjust the elevation of the first interior member 11 in response to a control signal output by the vehicle control unit 62.

As shown in FIG. 5, a glove compartment 16 may be provided below the first interior member 11. The glove compartment 16 has a bottomed, box-like shape that is open at the top, and may be configured to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle within a predetermined range, as indicated by arrow H in the figure. This allows the passenger in the front passenger seat to easily open and close the glove compartment 16 without having to remove their feet, even when they are resting their feet on the first interior member 11, for example, in the relaxed position described below.

As shown in the example in FIG. 3, the first interior member 11 may include a one-side interior member 12 that forms one side of the first interior member 11 in the vehicle width direction, and an other-side interior member 13 that forms the other side. In other words, the first interior member 11 may be divided into the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13. In the example shown, the first interior member 11 is divided at approximately the center in the vehicle width direction.

The one-side interior member 12 forms the right side of the first interior member 11 and is disposed in front of the driver's seat in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The other-side interior member 13 forms the left side of the first interior member 11 and is disposed in front of the passenger seat in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Each of the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13 may have a hollow box-like structure that is approximately rectangular in plan view.

The interior member adjustment mechanism 20 may also include a one-side interior member adjustment mechanism that supports the one-side interior member 12 so that it can be raised and lowered, and an other-side interior member adjustment mechanism that supports the other-side interior member 13 so that it can be raised and lowered. The one-side interior member adjustment mechanism and the other-side interior member adjustment mechanism each include an interior member drive unit 74 and are individually controllable by the vehicle control unit 62. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 , the position of the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13 can be individually set. In this way, the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 may be configured to raise and lower the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13, individually adjusting the height of the upper surface 12a of the one-side interior member 12 and the upper surface 13a of the other-side interior member 13 relative to the seat surface 6a of the seat 5.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the second interior member 30 is disposed on the front wall surface 4 above the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 when it is in its uppermost position. This prevents the first interior member 11 and the second interior member 30 from interfering with each other when the first interior member 11 is set to its uppermost position. In the example shown in the figures, the second interior member 30 is a member with a hollow box-like structure that is approximately rectangular in plan view and extends in the vehicle width direction in front of the driver's seat and passenger seat in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction, and may be made of resin, for example.

Airbags (not shown) may be stored in the second interior member 30. For example, a folded driver's airbag and a folded passenger's airbag may be stored in the portion of the second interior member 30 facing the driver's seat and the portion facing the passenger's seat in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction, respectively. The upper surface 30a of the second interior member 30 may be provided with openable and closable lids 31a and 31b, which are made of, for example, resin and have a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The lid 31a covers the driver's airbag from above, and the lid 31b covers the passenger's airbag from above.

For example, if a collision load is applied to the vehicle V from the front, a sensor (not shown) detects the impact, and the airbag inflates with gas generated by an inflator (not shown). Note that the airbag may also inflate from the upper surface 30a of the second interior member 30 toward the seat 5 below the windshield W.

A pedal unit 40 may be disposed in front of the seat 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, below the first interior member 11. In the illustrated example, the pedal unit 40 is disposed in a sloped portion formed by sloping the front area of the floor unit 2 toward the front and upper side of the vehicle. The pedal unit 40 may also be disposed toward the rear of the vehicle, with at least a portion of it protruding from the floor surface 3 of the passenger compartment 1.

The pedal section 40 may be a pedal unit including a pedal 41 having a tread surface 41a for the occupant to step on, and an opening sensor (not shown) that detects the opening of the pedal 41. The opening sensor may also be electrically connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (not shown) that adjusts the speed of the vehicle V in response to a signal output from the opening sensor. The pedal section 40 may also include an accelerator pedal section 40a and a brake pedal section 40b.

The amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 from the floor surface 3 can be adjusted by the pedal unit adjustment mechanism 45. For example, the amount of protrusion can be adjusted by moving the pedal 41 toward the floor surface 3 of the inclined portion, as shown by arrow D in Figure 1. Note that the amount of protrusion refers to the maximum distance between the floor surface 3 and the tread surface 41a of the pedal unit 40 in the protruding direction of the pedal unit 40.

As shown in the example in FIG. 8 , the pedal adjustment mechanism 45 may include a pedal support portion 46 and a pedal drive portion 73. The pedal support portion 46 supports the pedal 41 so that it can slide in the protruding direction. The pedal drive portion 73 is, for example, an electromagnetic linear actuator that can expand and contract in the direction in which the pedal portion 40 protrudes, and is drive-controlled by the vehicle control portion 62. One end of the pedal drive portion 73 is fixed to the pedal support portion 46, for example, with a fastener, and the other end is fixed by threading into a threaded hole provided in a part of the pedal 41. Therefore, the pedal adjustment mechanism 45 can adjust the amount of protrusion of the pedal portion 40 in accordance with a control signal output by the vehicle control portion 62.

The pedal adjustment mechanism 45 may also include a stop block 47. The stop block 47 is movable through an opening provided on the side of the pedal support portion 46 and is configured to be able to abut against the end portion 41b of the pedal 41 opposite the tread surface 41a. The movement of the stop block 47 through the opening may be adjusted, for example, by an air cylinder 48 fixed to the pedal support portion 46.

8, in which the pedal section 40 is in its maximum protrusion state, the end 41b of the pedal 41 comes into contact with the stop block 47, restricting the pedal 41 from sliding relative to the pedal support section 46. To reduce the protrusion of the pedal section 40 from its maximum protrusion state, the air cylinder 48 moves the stop block 47 outward from the pedal support section 46, as indicated by arrow F, to create an unlocked state in which the end 41b is no longer in contact with the stop block 47. In the unlocked state, the pedal 41 can be slid relative to the pedal support section 46 by controlling the pedal drive section 73 using the vehicle control section 62. For example, the pedal 41 can be slid toward the pedal support section 46, as indicated by arrow G, reducing the protrusion of the pedal section 40.

When the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 adjusts the elevation of the first interior member 11, the pedal adjustment mechanism 45 may adjust the amount of protrusion of the pedal member 40 so that the pedal member 40 does not interfere with at least the first interior member 11, depending on the position to which the first interior member 11 is set. In other words, the vehicle according to this embodiment may be configured to adjust the amount of protrusion of the pedal member 40 so that the first interior member 11 does not interfere with the pedal member 40 when adjusting the height of the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11.

As shown in FIG. 1 or 3, a steering unit 50 may be disposed in the first interior member 11. The steering unit 50 includes, for example, a steering wheel 51 and a steering shaft 52. The steering shaft 52 forms the central axis of rotation of the steering wheel 51. The vehicle V may also include a steering unit adjustment mechanism 55 that adjusts the position of the steering unit 50 between a first position P1 and a second position P2. In the illustrated example, the steering unit adjustment mechanism 55 includes a hinge portion 56, a steering support portion 57, and a rail portion 58.

The hinge portion 56 is disposed on the steering shaft 52. Therefore, the steering shaft 52 can rotate around the support axis of the hinge portion 56. The rotation of the steering shaft 52 may be controlled by an electric motor (not shown) that is driven and controlled by the vehicle control unit 62.

The steering support portion 57 supports the steering shaft 52 rotatably around an axis parallel to its extension, for example via a bearing (not shown).

The rail portion 58 extends from the upper rear of the vehicle to the lower front of the vehicle below the first interior member 11. The steering support portion 57 slidably engages with the rail portion 58. The steering portion adjustment mechanism 55 may also include a steering drive portion 72 that adjusts the sliding of the steering support portion 57 relative to the rail portion 58. The steering drive portion 72 is, for example, an electromagnetic linear actuator that is driven and controlled by the vehicle control portion 62. This allows the steering portion adjustment mechanism 55 to adjust the position of the steering portion 50 in response to a control signal output by the vehicle control portion 62.

The steering unit 50 is arranged to be movable between a first position P1 on the seat 5 side of the first interior member 11 and a second position P2 below the first interior member 11 by means of a steering unit adjustment mechanism 55. In the illustrated example, to move the steering unit 50 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the seat 5 side of the steering shaft 52 is rotated downward around the hinge portion 56 as shown by the arrow B, and the steering support portion 57 is then slid on the rail portion 58 toward the front and bottom of the vehicle as shown by the arrow C.

The steering unit 50 may also include electronic components (not shown), such as a steering angle sensor, torque sensor, and steering reaction force actuator. These electronic components may be disposed, for example, inside the steering support unit 57. The steering angle sensor and torque sensor detect the rotation of the steering shaft 52 to detect the operation of the steering wheel 51 by the driver. The steering reaction force actuator applies a steering reaction force to the steering shaft 52 according to the driving conditions and road surface conditions of the vehicle V. These electronic components may also be electrically connected to a steering control ECU disposed outside the passenger compartment 1 via a wire harness. The wire harness may also be disposed so as to pass through an opening formed in the connection portion 14 that penetrates from the passenger compartment to the outside.

The adjustment of the pedal protrusion amount by the pedal adjustment mechanism 45 and the movement of the steering unit 50 by the steering adjustment mechanism 55 may be performed after the seat adjustment mechanism 9 has moved the seat 5 toward the rear of the vehicle. In other words, the vehicle according to this embodiment may be configured so that the adjustment of the pedal protrusion amount 40 and the adjustment of the position of the steering unit 50 are performed when the seat 5 has been moved toward the rear.

Next, we will explain the effects of the vehicle according to this embodiment.

Figures 1 and 3 show the relative positions of the seat 5, first interior member 11, pedal unit 40, and steering unit 50 of the vehicle V, for example, in a state other than autonomous driving. In the example shown, the vehicle interior 1 is set with the seat 5 adjusted toward the front of the vehicle, the first interior member 11 at its upper limit of its height adjustment range, the pedal unit 40 in its maximum protruding state, and the steering unit 50 at its first position P1. This state is simply referred to as the drive position. In the drive position, an occupant seated in the seat 5 can steer the steering wheel 51 and operate the pedal unit 40.

Figures 2 and 4 show the relative positions of the seat 5, first interior member 11, pedal unit 40, and steering unit 50 in, for example, an autonomously driven vehicle V. Inside the vehicle compartment 1, the seat 5 is adjusted toward the rear of the vehicle, the first interior member 11 is positioned lower than its upper limit of elevation, the pedal unit 40 protrudes less than in its maximum protrusion state, and the steering unit 50 is located in second position P2. This state is simply referred to as the relaxed position. In the relaxed position, an occupant seated in the seat 5 can place their feet on the first interior member 11 and assume a relaxed posture.

Next, with reference to the flowchart in Figure 10, an example of the operation of a vehicle according to this embodiment when the interior of the vehicle cabin 1 of a moving vehicle V is changed from the drive position to the relax position will be described.

For example, when a passenger in a moving vehicle V with the position set to drive presses the selector switch 63 set on the display 32, the autonomous driving determination unit 61 determines in step S100 whether the vehicle V is autonomously driven. If the vehicle V is autonomously driven (Yes in step S100), the process proceeds to step S101. If the vehicle V is not autonomously driven (No in step S100), the process ends without the passenger compartment 1 being set to the relax position.

In step S101, the vehicle control unit 62 controls the seat drive unit 71 to adjust the position of the seat 5 toward the rear of the vehicle. Processing then proceeds to step S102, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the steering drive unit 72 to move the position of the steering unit from first position P1 to second position P2. Processing then proceeds to step S103, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the pedal drive unit 73 to reduce the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40. Processing then proceeds to step S104, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the interior member drive unit 74 to lower the first interior member 11 and set it to a predetermined position. This sets the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 to a relaxed position.

In the illustrated example, step S103 is performed after step S102, but this is not limited to this. Steps S102 and S103 may be performed in the reverse order, or simultaneously. That is, the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 may be adjusted before the position of the steering unit 50 is adjusted, or the adjustment of the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 and the adjustment of the position of the steering unit 50 may be performed simultaneously.

In step S103, the vehicle control unit 62 may adjust the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 so that the pedal unit 40 does not interfere with at least the first interior member 11. For example, the amount of protrusion may be adjusted so that, in the relaxed position, the upper end of the pedal unit 40 is positioned lower than the opposing portion of the bottom of the first interior member 11 that faces the pedal 41 in the vertical direction. This upper end is the uppermost portion of the pedal unit 40. The amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 may be adjusted taking into account other components included in the first interior member 11. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a steering support member 57 is disposed between the opposing portion of the first interior member 11 and the upper end of the pedal unit 40. Therefore, the amount of protrusion is adjusted so that the upper end is positioned lower than the lower end of the steering support member 57. In another embodiment, in step S103, the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 may be adjusted so that it does not protrude from the floor surface 3. This prevents the occupant from accidentally operating the pedal unit 40 in the relaxed position.

The predetermined position at which the first interior member 11 is placed in step S104 is a position that is pre-stored in the controller 60. This predetermined position may be determined taking into consideration how easily the occupant can place their feet in the relaxed position. In the example shown in FIG. 2, this predetermined position is the lift limit position of the first interior member 11. However, this predetermined position is not limited to the example shown, and may be, for example, a position between the upper lift limit position and the lift limit position of the first interior member 11. This predetermined position may also be a position that is pre-stored in the controller 60 through input by the occupant.

In addition, when the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 is set to the relaxed position, the occupant may be able to adjust the elevation of the first interior member 11 by operating a switch or other device. This allows the height of the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 within the vehicle compartment 1 to be set according to the posture the occupant wishes to assume. In this case, the amount of protrusion of the pedal portion 40 may be adjusted according to the elevation of the first interior member 11.

Note that if the first interior member 11 includes a one-side interior member 12 and an other-side interior member 13, the upper surfaces 12a, 13a of the two may be adjusted to individual heights in step S104 of FIG. 10. For example, the position of the one-side interior member 12 may be adjusted to a position preset by the occupant sitting in the driver's seat, and the position of the other-side interior member 13 may be adjusted to a position preset by the occupant sitting in the passenger seat. In this way, the height of the upper surfaces 12a, 13a of the one-side interior member 12 or the other-side interior member 13 can be set depending on the physique of the occupant sitting in the driver's seat or passenger seat, the desired posture, etc.

Next, with reference to the flowchart in Figure 11, we will explain an example of the operation of a vehicle according to this embodiment when changing the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 from the relax position to the drive position.

For example, when the occupant of the vehicle V is set to the relaxation position and presses the selector switch 63 on the display 32, in step S200, the vehicle control unit 62 controls the interior member drive unit 74 to raise the first interior member 11. At this time, the first interior member 11 may be positioned at its upper limit lift position. The process proceeds to step S201, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the pedal drive unit 73 to increase the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40, for example, to the maximum protrusion state. The process proceeds to step S202, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the steering drive unit 72 to move the position of the steering unit from the second position P2 to the first position P1. The process proceeds to step S203, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the seat drive unit 71 to adjust the position of the seat 5 toward the front of the vehicle. This sets the vehicle interior 1 to the drive position.

In the illustrated example, step S202 is performed after step S201, but this is not limited to this. Steps S201 and S202 may be performed in the reverse order, or simultaneously. That is, the position of the steering unit 50 may be adjusted before the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 is adjusted, or the adjustment of the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 and the adjustment of the position of the steering unit 50 may be performed simultaneously.

In the above description, an example has been described in which the drive position and the relax position are switched in response to the occupant's operation of the selector switch 63, but this is not limiting. For example, when the vehicle V is in autonomous driving with the interior of the passenger compartment 1 set to the drive position, if a predetermined condition is met, the interior of the passenger compartment 1 may be set to the relax position without the occupant's operation. The predetermined condition may be, for example, a condition related to the driving state of the vehicle V or the environment around the vehicle V, such as the driving route of the vehicle V.

Note that the situation in which the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 can be placed in the relaxation position is not limited to when the vehicle is autonomously driven. For example, when the vehicle V is parked in a parking lot or the like, the vehicle V may be configured so that the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 can be placed in the relaxation position in response to the occupant pressing the selector switch 63.

While the above embodiment has been described using an example of a vehicle V with an autonomous driving function, this is not limiting. A vehicle according to the embodiment may also be a vehicle without an autonomous driving function. For example, when the vehicle is parked, in response to an occupant pressing the selector switch 63, the vehicle control unit 62 may control the seat drive unit 71 to adjust the position of the seat 5 toward the rear of the vehicle, then control the steering drive unit 72 to move the position of the steering unit from the first position P1 to the second position P2, then control the pedal drive unit 73 to reduce the protrusion of the pedal unit 40, and further control the interior member drive unit 74 to lower the first interior member 11 and set it to a predetermined position. This allows the interior of the vehicle cabin 1 to be set to a relaxed position in a parked vehicle.

(1) The vehicle according to this embodiment includes a front wall surface 4 that forms the front inner wall surface of the passenger compartment 1, located forward of the seat 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction; a first interior member 11 that protrudes from the front wall surface 4 toward the seat 5 and is arranged on the front wall surface 4 so as to be able to be raised and lowered; and an interior member adjustment mechanism 20 that raises and lowers the first interior member 11 to adjust the height of the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 relative to the seat surface 6a of the seat 5.

In the vehicle according to this embodiment, the height of the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 relative to the seat surface 6a of the seat 5 can be adjusted. Therefore, when the vehicle V does not require occupant operation, such as during autonomous driving or when parked, the occupant can lower the first interior member 11, place their feet on the upper surface 11a, and assume a relaxed position. This ultimately makes it possible to ensure a larger space within the vehicle interior for occupants to move around while minimizing the size of the vehicle V.

(2) The vehicle according to this embodiment includes a pedal unit 40 disposed below the first interior member 11, in front of the seat 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a pedal unit adjustment mechanism 45 that adjusts the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 from the floor surface 3 of the passenger compartment 1. When adjusting the height of the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11, the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 is adjusted so that the first interior member 11 and the pedal unit 40 do not interfere with each other.

In the vehicle according to this embodiment, for example, when the position of the first interior member 11 is moved downward, the amount by which the pedal portion 40 protrudes from the floor surface 3 can be reduced. As a result, when the position of the first interior member 11 is lowered, interference between the first interior member 11 and the pedal portion 40 is suppressed, and the position of the first interior member 11 can be positioned further downward.

(3) The vehicle according to this embodiment includes a steering unit 50 that is arranged to be movable between a first position P1 on the seat 5 side of the first interior member 11 and a second position P2 below the first interior member 11, a steering unit adjustment mechanism 55 that adjusts the position of the steering unit 50 between the first position P1 and the second position P2, and a seat adjustment mechanism 9 that adjusts the position of the seat 5 in the fore-and-aft direction of the seat 5, and the adjustment of the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 and the adjustment of the position of the steering unit 50 are performed with the position of the seat 5 moved rearward.

In the vehicle according to this embodiment, the protrusion amount of the pedal unit 40 and the position of the steering unit 50 are adjusted while the seat 5 is moved rearward. Therefore, when adjusting the steering unit 50 or the pedal unit 40, it is possible to prevent the steering unit 50 or the pedal unit 40 from coming into contact with the lower legs of an occupant seated in the seat 5.

(4) In the vehicle according to this embodiment, the first interior member 11 includes a one-side interior member 12 that forms one side of the first interior member 11 in the vehicle width direction, and an other-side interior member 13 that forms the other side. The interior member adjustment mechanism 20 raises and lowers each of the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13, and individually adjusts the height of the upper surface 12a of the one-side interior member 12 and the upper surface 13a of the other-side interior member 13 relative to the seating surface 6a of the seat 5.

In the vehicle according to this embodiment, the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13 can each be raised and lowered independently. Therefore, for example, the height of the upper surface 12a of the one-side interior member 12 can be adjusted relative to the seat surface of the driver's seat, and the height of the upper surface 13a of the other-side interior member 13 can be adjusted relative to the seat surface of the passenger seat. This allows a passenger sitting in the passenger seat to lower the other-side interior member 13, place their feet on the upper surface 13a, and assume a relaxed posture, even while the driver is driving. Furthermore, the heights of the upper surfaces 12a, 13a can be adjusted to suit the physiques of the passenger sitting in the driver's seat and the passenger sitting in the passenger seat.

(5) The vehicle according to this embodiment includes a second interior member 30 that is disposed on the front wall 4 above the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 that is in the uppermost lift position, and the second interior member 30 houses an airbag.

In the vehicle according to this embodiment, even when the first interior member 11 is lowered and the occupant is in a relaxed position, the position of the second interior member 30 that houses the airbag does not change. Therefore, for example, when a collision load is input to the vehicle V from the front, the airbag can more reliably protect the occupant from the collision load.

In the above explanation, the vehicle configuration according to the embodiment has been described using an electric vehicle as an example, but this is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may also be used in a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine such as an internal combustion engine.

V Vehicle P1 First position P2 Second position P1 Vehicle compartment 3 Floor surface 4 Front wall surface 5 Seat 6a Seat surface 9 Seat adjustment mechanism 11 First interior member 11a Upper surface portion 12 One-side interior member 12a Upper surface portion 13 Other-side interior member 13a Upper surface portion 20 Interior member adjustment mechanism 30 Second interior member 40 Pedal portion 45 Pedal portion adjustment mechanism 50 Steering portion 55 Steering portion adjustment mechanism

Claims (5)

In vehicles with autonomous driving functions,
a front wall surface that forms a front inner wall surface of the vehicle compartment in front of the seat in the vehicle front-rear direction;
a first interior member that protrudes from the front wall surface toward the seat and is disposed on the front wall surface so as to be able to rise and fall;
an interior member adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of an upper surface of the first interior member relative to a seat surface of the seat by raising and lowering the first interior member;
a steering section that is disposed so as to be movable between a first position on the seat side of the first interior member and a second position below the first interior member by a steering shaft that constitutes a rotation center axis of the steering wheel and is rotatable around a support shaft of a hinge section;
a steering section adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the steering section between the first position and the second position;
A vehicle equipped with: a front wall surface that forms a front inner wall surface of the vehicle compartment in front of the seat in the vehicle front-rear direction;
a first interior member that protrudes from the front wall surface toward the seat and is disposed on the front wall surface so as to be able to rise and fall;
an interior member adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of an upper surface of the first interior member relative to a seat surface of the seat by raising and lowering the first interior member;
a pedal portion disposed in front of the seat in the vehicle front-rear direction and below the first interior member;
a pedal portion adjustment mechanism for adjusting a protrusion amount of the pedal portion from a floor surface of the vehicle compartment;
Equipped with
When adjusting the height of the upper surface portion of the first interior member, the amount of protrusion of the pedal portion is adjusted so that the first interior member and the pedal portion do not interfere with each other. a steering unit disposed so as to be movable between a first position on the seat side of the first interior member and a second position below the first interior member;
a steering section adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the steering section between the first position and the second position;
a seat adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the seat in the front-to-rear direction of the seat;
Equipped with
3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment of the projection amount of the pedal portion and the adjustment of the position of the steering portion are performed with the position of the seat moved rearward. a front wall surface that forms a front inner wall surface of the vehicle compartment in front of the seat in the vehicle front-rear direction;
a first interior member that protrudes from the front wall surface toward the seat and is disposed on the front wall surface so as to be able to rise and fall;
an interior member adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of an upper surface of the first interior member relative to a seat surface of the seat by raising and lowering the first interior member;
the first interior member includes a one-side interior member that forms one side of the first interior member in the vehicle width direction, and an other-side interior member that forms the other side of the first interior member,
the interior member adjustment mechanism raises and lowers each of the one-side interior member and the other-side interior member, and individually adjusts the height of each of the upper surface portions of the one-side interior member and the other-side interior member relative to a seat surface of the seat. a second interior member disposed on the front wall surface above an upper surface portion of the first interior member that is at an upper limit lift position;
The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second interior member houses an airbag.