Vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) having a driver seat (2) and a module (5) which is arranged in front of the driver seat (1) in the direction of travel and which has an airbag (3) and a display unit (4) which can be moved in the direction of the driver seat (2). According to the invention, the inclination of the module (5) can be adjusted about a pivot axis parallel to the vehicle transverse axis.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle according to the features of the preamble of claim 1. Background Art

[0002] As described in DE 10 2019 206 584 B3, motor vehicles are known from the prior art. The motor vehicle includes at least one seat, a steering wheel arranged in front of the seat in the driving direction, and an instrument panel arranged in front of the steering wheel in the driving direction. The motor vehicle can operate in an autonomous driving mode. The instrument panel has at least one movable upper instrument panel part having at least one operating or display element and / or an airbag, and at least in the autonomous driving mode, the upper instrument panel part can move relative to the lower instrument panel part fixed in position, covering the steering wheel, in the direction of the seat. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved vehicle compared to the prior art.

[0004] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a vehicle having the features of claim 1.

[0005] Advantageous designs of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The vehicle has a driver's seat and a module arranged in front of the driver's seat in the driving direction, the module having an airbag and a display unit that can move in the direction of the driver's seat.

[0007] According to the present invention, the inclination of the module can be adjusted about a pivot axis parallel to the transverse axis of the vehicle. The display unit is particularly configured as a combined display and input unit, in particular a touch-sensitive screen, also known as a touch screen or touch display.

[0008] The vehicle is particularly configured to perform automated, in particular highly automated or autonomous, driving operations, especially for switching between driving operations performed by the driver of the vehicle and such automated driving operations. In such an automated driving operation, the driver can advantageously adopt different, in particular relaxed, sitting postures, also known as extended sitting postures, in particular by adjusting the seat back of the vehicle seat backward, i.e., tilting the seat back backward and downward. Then, the driver is in a backwardly inclined or at least almost lying sitting posture in the driver's seat.

[0009] The solution according to the invention allows the display unit, in particular the above-mentioned combined display and input unit, to be accessible even in such an extended sitting position, since the module with the display unit and the airbag then moves in the direction of the driver's seat. Since the module includes not only the display unit but also the airbag, it is ensured that the airbag can be deployed unhindered at any time. If only the display unit is moved, there is a risk that the display unit will move into the deployment space of the airbag. As a result, when the airbag is deployed, the display unit will be damaged and the effect of the airbag will be impaired. The solution according to the invention avoids this, since, due to the fact that the display unit and the airbag are jointly mounted in the movable module, the geometric positions of the display unit and the airbag relative to each other always remain unchanged.

[0010] Furthermore, by adjusting the module with the airbag and the display unit, in particular according to the corresponding position of the driver's seat and the corresponding sitting position of the driver, not only is the ergonomics in terms of the display unit improved, but also the effect of the deployed airbag is ensured, thus also ensuring passive safety in the extended sitting position.

[0011] According to the invention, the adjustability of the inclination of the module and thus of the display unit and the airbag about a pivot axis parallel to the vehicle's transverse axis further optimizes this. In terms of the display unit, this enables the inclination to be adjusted according to the corresponding visual axis of the driver in the corresponding sitting position. In terms of the airbag, this enables the deployment direction of the airbag to be adapted to the corresponding sitting position.

[0012] In addition to providing for the adjustment of the module with the airbag and the display unit in the driving direction, i.e. in the direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis, it is also possible, for example, to provide for height / vertical adjustment. These adjustment movements can be carried out, for example, individually or in combination with each other, such that the module can be adjusted obliquely upwards and backwards.

[0013] For example, the inclination of the module can be adjusted by 3° in one pivot direction and 3° in the other pivot direction from the neutral position.

[0014] In a possible embodiment, it is provided that when the automated, in particular highly automated or autonomous, driving operation of the vehicle is activated and the seat back of the driver's seat is adjusted backwards, i.e. in particular into an extended sitting position, the movement of the module in the direction of the driver's seat and the adjustment of the inclination of the module are automatically activated.

[0015] In a possible embodiment, the module extends in the vehicle transverse direction in front of the front passenger seat. Then, it advantageously has two airbags, namely the airbag assigned to the driver's seat, also known as the driver airbag, and the airbag assigned to the front passenger seat, also known as the front passenger airbag. Then, the display unit can also extend, for example, in the vehicle transverse direction in front of the front passenger seat of the vehicle, or the module can have, for example, two display units, namely the display unit assigned to the driver's seat and the display unit assigned to the front passenger seat. In this case, both display units can be configured as described above, i.e., in particular as a combined display and input unit. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] Wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 A vehicle with the driver in a normal sitting position is schematically shown,

[0019] Figure 2 A vehicle with the driver in an extended sitting position is schematically shown,

[0020] Figure 3 A module in a front position that can move in the direction of the driver's seat of the vehicle is schematically shown, and

[0021] Figure 4 A module in a rear position is schematically shown.

[0022] Parts corresponding to each other in all the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0023] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A vehicle 1 is shown, which can perform driving operations performed by the driver F of the vehicle 1, as Figure 1 shown, and can perform automatic, in particular highly automated or autonomous driving operations, as Figure 2 shown. In this automated driving operation, the driver F can adopt different, in particular relaxed sitting postures, also known as extended sitting postures, in particular by adjusting the seat back of the driver's seat 2 backward, i.e., tilting the seat back backward and downward, as Figure 2 shown. Then, the driver F is in a backward tilted or at least almost lying sitting posture in the driver's seat 2.

[0024] Vehicle 1 has an airbag 3 in front of the driver's seat 2, also referred to hereinafter as the driver airbag 3, and has a display unit 4 which is particularly configured as a combined display and input unit, also referred to as a touch-sensitive screen, touch screen or touch display. If the display unit 4 is fixedly mounted in the vehicle 1, it is problematic for use by the driver F in an extended sitting position, since it is no longer optimally aligned with his line of sight, and furthermore, he can no longer reach it with his hand and thus can no longer operate it. If only the display unit 4 is configured to be adjustable, there is a problem that it may move into the deployment space of the driver airbag 3, with the result that when the airbag 3 is activated and deployed, the display unit 4 may be damaged by the latter, and the deployment of the airbag 3 may be hindered by the display unit 4, so that the full protective effect of the airbag can no longer be achieved.

[0025] Therefore, in the solution described here, the display unit 4 and the airbag 3 are fixed to a common module 5, for example to a structural frame, and the module 5 is adjustable. Thus, the module 5 with the driver airbag 3 and the display unit 4 is arranged in front of the driver's seat 2. In the example shown, the module 5 extends in the vehicle transverse direction in front of the co-driver's seat (not shown) of the vehicle 1, and in addition to the display unit 4 and the driver airbag 3 assigned to the driver's seat 2, also has another airbag 6 assigned to the co-driver's seat of the vehicle 1, also referred to hereinafter as the co-driver airbag 6.

[0026] Thus, by this arrangement on the common module 5, the geometric positions of the driver airbag 3, the display unit 4 and, in the example shown, also the additional co-driver airbag 6 relative to one another always remain the same, thus avoiding obstruction of the deployment of the respective airbags 3, 6 by the display unit 4 and damage to the display unit 4 due to the deployment of the respective airbags 3, 6.

[0027] As previously mentioned, the module 5 can be adjusted together with the display unit 4 fixed thereto, and in the example shown, can be adjusted together with the two airbags 3, 6 fixed thereto. In particular, it can be adjusted in the direction of the driver's seat 2, i.e. in particular backwards, i.e. in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Furthermore, it can be adjusted, for example, in the vehicle vertical direction. These two adjustment directions can be carried out, for example, individually or in combination with one another, for example by appropriate alignment of the adjustment means.

[0028] In addition, the inclination of the module 5 together with the display unit 4 fixed thereto and, in the example shown, the two airbags 3, 6 fixed thereto can be adjusted about a pivot axis parallel to the vehicle transverse axis, for example by 3° in each pivot direction from a neutral position.

[0029] For example, such an adjustment of module 5 is provided, in particular automatically, depending on the sitting position, especially the sitting position of driver F of vehicle 1. As a result, good ergonomics regarding display unit 4 and optimal effects of airbags 3, 6 are achieved, or in the example shown, optimal effects of the corresponding airbags 3, 6 are achieved. In addition, due to the possibility of changing the position of display unit 4, the size of display unit 4 is no longer limited by the adjustment of the steering wheel height. In the case of a stationary display unit 4, its size must be determined in such a way that it is fully visible in all settings of steering wheel 7 of vehicle 1. In the solution described here, this can be ensured by appropriate adjustment of module 5. As a result, display unit 4 can have, for example, different sizes, especially regarding its height, thus allowing a larger display area.

[0030] Figure 1 Driver F in a normal sitting position during the driving operation of vehicle 1 is shown. In this example, module 5 with display unit 4 and two airbags 3, 6 is arranged in a front basic position suitable for the driving task of driver F.

[0031] Figure 2 Driver F in an extended sitting position tilted backward during the autonomous driving operation of vehicle 1 is shown. In this example, module 5 with display unit 4 and two airbags 3, 6 is arranged to move backward, i.e., in the direction of driver's seat 2, thus in the direction of driver F, i.e., positioned in a backward-moved position, and can also be tilted, especially downward. As a result, display unit 4 remains in the visual axis of driver F and is also within the reach of driver F in order to be able to operate the display unit, and in addition, the corresponding airbags 3, 6 are in an optimal position and alignment in order to be able to achieve full deployment and protection effect. For example, steering wheel 7 of vehicle 1 retracts because the steering wheel is not required during the autonomous driving operation. Therefore, only a steering column 8 is shown in Figure 2 and steering wheel 7 is not shown.

[0032] For example, between these two positions of module 5, one or more intermediate positions are possible. In particular, stepless adjustment of module 5 is provided in order to be able to optimally adapt it to the corresponding driver F and their corresponding sitting position.

[0033] Figure 3 and 4 Designs of module 5 and possible adjustment devices are shown. For clarity, airbags 3, 6 are not shown here. Figure 3 Module 5 in the front basic position is shown, Figure 2 Module 5 in the backward-moved position is shown.

[0034] As described above, the display unit 4 and the two airbags 3, 6 in this example are fixed to the module 5, which is configured as a structural frame in the example shown. The adjusting device has, for example, at least one telescopic unit 9, and in the example shown, there are two such telescopic units 9, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown. The corresponding telescopic unit 9 has a base portion 10 fixed to the crossbeam of the vehicle 1's housing and at least one drive rod 11 that can linearly extend from and retract into the base portion 10 in a telescopic manner, and the module 5 is fixed to the base portion 10. The extension and retraction of the corresponding drive rod 11 are realized, for example, by an electric motor. The corresponding drive rod 11 can extend, for example, 200 mm, as a result of which the module 5 can be adjusted backward in the direction of the driver's seat 2.

[0035] In addition, an angle adjusting device is provided on the corresponding telescopic unit 9 to enable adjustment of the inclination of the module 5. For this purpose, for example, the module 5 is pivotally fixed to the corresponding drive rod 11 accordingly, or the base portion 10 of the corresponding telescopic unit 9 is pivotally fixed to the crossbeam of the housing accordingly.

[0036] The corresponding telescopic unit 9 can be, for example, a unit provided for steering wheel adjustment or can be constructed similarly to such a unit.

[0037] List of reference numerals

[0038] 1 Vehicle

[0039] 2 Driver's seat

[0040] 3 Airbag, driver airbag

[0041] 4 Display unit

[0042] 5 Module

[0043] 6 Airbag, passenger airbag

[0044] 7 Steering wheel

[0045] 8 Steering column

[0046] 9 Telescopic unit

[0047] 10 Base portion

[0048] 11 Drive rod

[0049] F Driver.

Claims

1. A vehicle (1) having a driver's seat (2) and a module (5) arranged in front of the driver's seat (1) in the driving direction, the module having an airbag (3) and a display unit (4) movable in the direction of the driver's seat (2). Characterized in that the inclination of the module (5) can be adjusted about a pivot axis parallel to the vehicle's transverse axis, the display unit (4) being configured as a combined display and input unit, and when the automated, in particular highly automated or autonomous, driving operation of the vehicle (1) is activated and the seat back of the driver's seat (2) is adjusted rearward, the movement of the module (5) in the direction of the driver's seat (2) and the adjustment of the inclination of the module (5) are automatically activated.

2. The vehicle (1) according to claim 1, Characterized in that the inclination of the module (5) can be adjusted by 3° from a neutral position in each pivot direction.

3. The vehicle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, Characterized in that the module (5) extends in the vehicle's transverse direction in front of the front passenger seat, the module having an airbag (3) assigned to the driver's seat (2) and an airbag (6) assigned to the front passenger seat.

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