Vehicle

Abstract

To provide a leaning vehicle or a straddle vehicle that effectively uses a device installation space and can employ a laser source while preventing or suppressing an increase in size of the vehicle.SOLUTION: At least one of one or a plurality of laser emission mode conversion members 70 and one common laser driver board 54 is at least partially disposed within a body inner coating area 80. The body inner coating area 80 is located, in a plan view, below and overlapping with one of a fuel tank, a dummy tank shaped to resemble the fuel tank, a footboard, or a seat 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle that is a lean vehicle or a saddle type vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle having a lighting device that uses laser light. The vehicle in Patent Document 1 is a saddle-ride type vehicle. The saddle-ride type vehicle in Patent Document 1 leans to the left and right.

[0003] The lighting device includes a laser light source, a light guiding section that guides light from the laser light source to a desired position, and a plurality of light emitting sections that are provided at the tip of the light guiding section and irradiate the light from the light guiding section to the surroundings of the vehicle. The plurality of light emitting sections include light emitting sections having different light emitting modes.

[0004] The laser light source has, as an integrated device, a plurality of laser elements that supply light to a plurality of light-emitting parts. A plurality of drive circuits are required to make the plurality of laser elements emit light in different light emission modes. The laser light source is provided between the seat and the swing arm in a side view. This allows the laser light source, which is relatively heavy, to be closer to the center of gravity of the vehicle. This allows for centralization of mass closer to the center of gravity of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-144573 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to efficiently utilize the equipment installation space in a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle, and to enable the adoption of a laser light source while preventing or suppressing an increase in the size of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present inventors conducted the following investigations.

[0008] A lean vehicle requires the passenger to shift his / her weight when performing an action such as turning. A saddle-type vehicle travels with the passenger straddling the seat. Therefore, a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle is configured to have a smaller vehicle width than a general four-wheeled vehicle having a cabin. In general, a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle is required to have mobility, lightness, and simplicity. Therefore, there is a high demand for a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle to be compact and lightweight. The components inside the body are densely arranged. In particular, in a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle, the components are densely arranged under the fuel tank and the seat. Furthermore, in a vehicle type having a dummy tank, the components may be densely arranged under the dummy tank. In addition, in a vehicle type having a footboard (for example, a scooter), the components may be densely arranged under the footboard.

[0009] As described above, in the vehicle of Patent Document 1, a plurality of laser elements and a plurality of drive circuits are unitized, thereby concentrating the mass near the center of gravity of the vehicle. This is an ingenuity that focuses on weight, but as a result, it brings about another problem, that is, the problem of the large size of the laser light source. As described above, since the components in the body are densely arranged, it is not easy to leave a relatively large space in order to install a large laser light source. Therefore, if a large laser light source is installed in a space where the components are densely arranged, there is a possibility that a loss of installation space will occur or that the layout of the components around the laser light source will be affected. As a result, the degree of freedom of arrangement of each component in the body will decrease.

[0010] The inventors have studied the above-mentioned matters and have come up with the idea of ​​making the light emission modes of multiple laser elements the same, thereby sharing the driver circuit, while separately installing a component that changes the light emission mode of the light-emitting unit in a different position. The inventors have found that this makes it possible to reduce the size of the laser light source and efficiently utilize the equipment installation space in a lean vehicle or a saddle-ride type vehicle, and have completed the present invention. The present invention can employ a laser light source that causes multiple light-emitting units to emit light in different light emission modes, while preventing or suppressing an increase in the size of a lean vehicle or a saddle-ride type vehicle. The present invention employs the following configuration.

[0011] (1) A vehicle that is a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle, The vehicle is A vehicle body supporting a plurality of wheels; A plurality of light emitting units provided so as to be visible from outside the vehicle; One or more laser light source elements configured to output laser light as a single light source common to a plurality of light emitting units; an optical fiber cable constituting at least a part of a laser light path that transmits the output laser light to each of the plurality of light emitting units via one or more branching units; a shared laser driver board having a driver circuit for commonly controlling one or a plurality of laser light source elements so as to output laser light as a single light source to a plurality of light emitting units; one or more laser emission mode conversion members provided downstream of or at a most upstream branching portion located at the most upstream position among one or more branching portions in a laser light transmission direction so that some of the plurality of light-emitting portions emit light in a different emission mode from the remaining light-emitting portions; Equipped with At least one of the one or more laser emission mode conversion members and the one shared laser driver board is at least partially provided within the body inner covering region, and the body inner covering region is below and overlaps one of the following members in a plan view: a fuel tank, a dummy tank having a shape simulating a fuel tank, a footboard, and a seat. A vehicle characterized by:

[0012] The vehicle of (1) above can share a driver circuit while making a plurality of light emitting units emit light in different types of light emission modes by adopting one or a plurality of laser light emission mode conversion members. That is, the present invention includes one shared laser driver board, and the shared laser driver board has one driver circuit that commonly controls one or a plurality of laser light source elements so as to output laser light as one light source to the plurality of light emitting units. Since the driver circuit is shared, the shared laser driver board can be made smaller. In addition, the laser light source element is also shared. The laser light source can be made smaller. The laser light emission mode conversion member is usually smaller than the equipment of the laser light source itself. The laser light emission mode conversion member can be installed, for example, on the light emitting unit or on the path from the light source to the light emitting unit. There are few restrictions on the installation position of the light path, and the degree of freedom of installation is high. Therefore, there are relatively few restrictions on the installation position of the laser light emission mode conversion member.

[0013] In a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle, components are arranged densely in the body interior covering region compared to other vehicles. Therefore, it is difficult to arrange large components in the body interior covering region. In contrast, in the above vehicle, it is possible to arrange a relatively small laser emission mode conversion member separately from the laser light source while miniaturizing the laser light source itself. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a relatively large space for installing the laser light source in a vehicle that is a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle. The loss of installation space can be suppressed or prevented. In addition, the influence of the configuration around the laser light source on the layout can be suppressed or prevented. As a result, the above vehicle has a higher degree of freedom in arranging each configuration in the body, and the equipment installation space can be efficiently used. Therefore, the above vehicle can employ a laser light source to cause a plurality of light-emitting units to emit light in different emission modes while preventing or suppressing the size of the vehicle that is a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle.

[0014] The embodiment may employ, for example, the following configurations.

[0015] (2) The difference in the light emission mode may be, for example, at least one of the difference in the color of the light emitting unit and the timing at which the brightness of the light emitting unit changes. This allows the vehicle to employ a laser light source that causes the multiple light emitting units to emit light of different colors or at different timings while preventing or suppressing an increase in size of the vehicle, which is a lean vehicle or a saddle-ride type vehicle.

[0016] (3) The one or more laser emission mode conversion members are not branching portions that cause some of the light-emitting portions to emit light in a mode different from that of the remaining light-emitting portions.

[0017] (4) The one or more laser emission mode conversion members are color conversion members that change the color of the light-emitting parts and / or light quantity conversion members that change the brightness of the light-emitting parts. This allows the vehicle to employ a laser light source that causes the multiple light-emitting parts to emit light of different colors and / or at different timings while preventing or suppressing an increase in size of the vehicle, which is a lean vehicle or a saddle-ride type vehicle.

[0018] (5) One or more laser emission mode conversion members are provided in either the laser light path, the light emitting unit, or the external path, and the external path is a path along which the light emitted by the light emitting unit travels from the light emitting unit to the outside of the vehicle. In this way, the laser emission mode conversion member can be disposed at a position away from the laser light source, which contributes to, for example, miniaturization of the laser light source unit. This allows the vehicle to employ a laser light source that causes multiple light emitting units to emit light in different modes while more effectively preventing or suppressing an increase in size of a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle.

[0019] (6) The laser light path includes a plurality of branching sections, and at least a portion of the one or more laser emission mode conversion members is provided between the most upstream branching section and a branching section located downstream of the most upstream branching section, or at one branching section.

[0020] In the vehicle (6) above, the laser light whose emission mode has been converted by one or more laser emission mode conversion members passes through a branching section located downstream of the most upstream branching section and is split. In this vehicle, the emission modes of the multiple light-emitting units provided downstream of the branching section can be converted collectively. There is no need to provide an emission mode conversion member for each of the multiple light-emitting units. Therefore, the emission modes of the multiple light-emitting units can be converted with a small number of emission mode conversion members while preventing or suppressing the increase in size of the vehicle, which is a lean vehicle or a saddle-ride type vehicle. Such a configuration is effective, for example, when multiple light-emitting units are made to emit light in the same emission mode (e.g., flashers).

[0021] In the vehicle (6) above, at least a part of one or more laser emission mode conversion members is "provided at one branching section" means that one or more laser emission mode conversion members are provided inside the branching section. However, even in this case, the emission mode of each laser light split by the branching section is the same. For example, one or more laser emission mode conversion members are provided inside the branching section, upstream of the branching point.

[0022] (7) The laser light path includes a plurality of branching sections, the plurality of branching sections including a most upstream branching section and a most downstream branching section located most downstream among the plurality of branching sections in the direction of laser light transmission, and at least a portion of the one or more laser emission mode conversion members are provided between the most downstream branching section and a light emitting section located downstream of the most downstream branching section, or at the most downstream branching section.

[0023] In the vehicle of (7) above, the laser light whose emission mode has been converted by one or more laser emission mode conversion members is transmitted directly to the light emitting unit without passing through the branching unit. In this vehicle, the emission mode of the light emitting unit provided downstream of the most downstream branching unit can be individually converted. The multiple light emitting units can be made to emit light in various emission modes. Therefore, the emission modes of the multiple light emitting units can be diversified while preventing or suppressing the increase in size of the vehicle, which is a lean vehicle or a saddle-ride type vehicle. Such a configuration is effective, for example, when one light emitting unit is made to emit light in a different emission mode from the other light emitting units (for example, a high beam lamp, a brake lamp).

[0024] In the vehicle (7) above, at least a part of one or more laser emission mode conversion members is "provided in the most downstream branching section" means that one or more laser emission mode conversion members are provided inside the most downstream branching section. However, even in this case, the emission modes of the laser lights split by the most downstream branching section are different. For example, one or more laser emission mode conversion members are provided inside the branching section, downstream of the branching point.

[0025] With respect to laser light and the laser light path, "upstream" refers to the optically upstream and "downstream" refers to the optically downstream. That is, upstream refers to the direction toward the light source in the propagation direction of the laser light, and downstream refers to the direction toward the light emitter.

[0026] A vehicle that is a lean vehicle or a saddle-ride type vehicle is, for example, a small vehicle with a passenger capacity of one or two people. The vehicle includes, for example, one or two seats for passengers to sit on. The two seats are arranged, for example, side by side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The two seats may be formed separately, or may be integrally formed as a single seat member. The maximum length of the seat in the left-right direction is, for example, greater than 1 / 2 of the maximum length of the vehicle in the left-right direction. The seat is located in the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction. An example of a state in which the seat is located in the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction includes, for example, a state in which the seat overlaps with the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction and a straight line extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle in a plan view. In a plan view of the vehicle, a part or all of the shared laser driver board is located, for example, to the right of the left end of the seat and to the left of the right end of the seat. Both ends of the seat in the left-right direction are supported by a vehicle body frame arranged below the seat. The vehicle body frame supporting the seat includes, for example, a left frame portion supporting the left end of the seat and a right frame portion supporting the right end of the seat. In a plan view of the vehicle, a part or all of the shared laser driver board is, for example, located to the right of the right end of the left frame portion and to the left of the left end of the right frame portion. The vehicle includes, for example, at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel. The vehicle includes, for example, a drive source that generates power transmitted to the wheels. The drive source may be, for example, an engine, an electric motor, or an engine and an electric motor. The vehicle includes, for example, a power source that stores power used to output the laser light. The vehicle includes, for example, a steering handle. When the steering handle is located in a neutral position, which is the position of the steering handle when the vehicle travels straight, for example, the steering handle has a left-right length that is greater than 1 / 2 of the left-right length of the vehicle in a plan view. Such a steering handle is, for example, a bar handle. The bar handle may be, for example, a single bar handle extending continuously in the left-right direction of the vehicle, or may include a left bar handle and a right bar handle arranged separately in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0027] A saddle-type vehicle is, for example, a vehicle equipped with a seat on which a driver sits astride a saddle. A saddle-type vehicle is, for example, a vehicle in which a driver rides by straddling a saddle. There is no particular limitation on the saddle-type vehicle, and an example of the saddle-type vehicle is a motorcycle. In addition, the saddle-type vehicle is not limited to a motorcycle, and may be, for example, a three-wheeled motor vehicle, an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) having four wheels, or an ROV (Recreational Off-highway Vehicle).

[0028] A lean vehicle is a vehicle that turns in a lean position. A lean vehicle is configured to lean toward the inside of a curve when turning. A lean vehicle includes a vehicle body that tilts toward the inside of a curve when turning. A lean vehicle may also serve as a saddle-ride vehicle. An example of a lean vehicle is a saddle-ride vehicle that is configured to lean toward the inside of a curve when turning. Examples of such vehicles include motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles. A three-wheeled vehicle may be a front two-wheeled type or a rear two-wheeled type. A lean vehicle may be equipped with a sit-in type seat, for example.

[0029] The vehicle body supports a plurality of wheels so that each of them can rotate. The plurality of wheels includes, for example, at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel. The plurality of wheels are, for example, arranged at a distance in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The plurality of wheels includes, for example, at least one steering wheel and at least one driving wheel. The steering wheel is steered, for example, by a driver of the vehicle operating a steering wheel. The traveling direction of the vehicle changes as the steering wheel is steered. The driving wheel rotates, for example, by transmission of power from a power source provided in the vehicle. The vehicle travels as the driving wheel rotates. The vehicle body includes, for example, any one of a fuel tank, a dummy tank having a shape simulating a fuel tank, a footboard, and a seat.

[0030] The light emitting unit is configured to receive the laser light and emit light or transmit the laser light. The light emitting unit is not particularly limited, and has at least one of a lens that refracts the laser light, a reflector that reflects the laser light, and a side emitting fiber that emits the laser light from a side surface. At least one of the plurality of light emitting units is provided so as to be visible to a person around the vehicle when the person looks at the vehicle. At least one of the plurality of light emitting units is provided so as to be visible to a driver of the vehicle when the driver looks at the vehicle. The plurality of light emitting units may be disposed, for example, in front of or behind the shared laser driver board, or may be disposed in a distributed manner in front of and behind the vehicle. Of the plurality of light emitting units, the light emitting unit disposed in front of the shared laser driver board is, for example, a headlight, a flasher, a meter panel light, etc. Of the plurality of light emitting units, the light emitting unit disposed behind the shared laser driver board is, for example, a taillight, a flasher, etc.

[0031] The laser light source element is a power-light conversion element. The laser light source element receives power and outputs laser light. The power supplied to the laser light source element is stored in, for example, a battery provided in the vehicle. That is, the laser light source element receives power from the battery provided in the vehicle and outputs laser light. With regard to "a plurality of laser light source elements are configured to output laser light as one light source common to a plurality of light emitting units", a specific embodiment thereof is, for example, a laser light source unit having an output unit that outputs laser light as one laser light by concentrating laser light output from each of the plurality of laser light source elements. Here, the laser light source unit is a unit that outputs laser light to the outside. The laser light source unit includes, for example, one or more laser light source elements and a shared laser driver board. The laser light source unit further includes, for example, a housing that accommodates one or more laser light source elements and a shared laser driver board. The output unit is provided in, for example, the housing. In addition, the housing of the laser light source unit may be provided with, for example, multiple output units. The multiple output units are provided corresponding to the multiple laser light source elements, for example. The multiple output units each output the laser light from the corresponding laser light source element to the outside of the housing. Even when multiple output units are provided, one driver circuit controls each of the multiple laser light source elements, so that the multiple laser light source elements output laser light as one light source.

[0032] The optical fiber cable is provided, for example, to connect a plurality of light emitting units and the output unit, and transmits the laser light output from the output unit to each of the plurality of light emitting units. When connecting a plurality of light emitting units and a smaller number of output units, the optical fiber cable may be branched midway. The optical fiber cable may connect, for example, one output unit and one light emitting unit corresponding thereto.

[0033] The driver circuit commonly controls one or more laser light source elements that supply laser light to multiple light-emitting units. In other words, even if a vehicle has multiple laser light source elements, there is only one driver circuit that controls the multiple laser light source elements. In short, the same driver circuit controls each of the multiple laser light source elements. When multiple laser light source elements are provided on a shared laser driver board, the multiple laser light source elements operate in the same light emission mode. The light emission mode of the laser light source element here is, for example, the same as that of the light-emitting unit. The light emission mode of the laser light source element includes, for example, the timing at which the color and brightness of the emitted light change. The light emission mode of the laser light source element does not include, for example, brightness.

[0034] The shared laser driver board includes one driver circuit as described above. This allows for efficient use of space. Therefore, the shared laser driver board may further include another driver circuit.

[0035] The laser emission mode conversion member is a member for changing the emission mode of the light emitting unit. The laser emission mode conversion member is, for example, a color conversion member that changes the color of the light emitted from the light emitting unit. The color conversion member is, for example, a filter, a phosphor, or the like. The laser emission mode conversion member is, for example, a light quantity conversion member that changes the brightness of the light emitted from the light emitting unit. The light quantity conversion member is, for example, an optical switch. The optical switch is, for example, a shutter. The shutter may be mechanical or electrical. For the electrical shutter, for example, liquid crystal is used. The light quantity conversion member is controlled, for example, by a control device provided in the vehicle, so that the brightness of the light emitted from the light emitting unit changes over time. The light quantity conversion member may, for example, change the light quantity of the laser light in the external path, or may change the light quantity of the laser light in the laser light path or the light emitting unit. This allows the light emitting unit to operate so that its brightness changes at a different timing from other light emitting units. The light quantity conversion member may have a dimming function that can adjust the light quantity of the laser light in stages. In order to change the light emission mode of one light-emitting unit, one or more laser light emission mode conversion members may be provided. When multiple laser light emission mode conversion members are provided, all the laser light emission mode conversion members may be color conversion members or light quantity conversion members, or the multiple laser light emission mode conversion members may include both color conversion members and light quantity conversion members. For example, when the light-emitting unit is a flasher, a color conversion member and a light quantity conversion member are provided. Regarding "the laser light emission mode conversion member is provided in the external path", a specific embodiment includes, for example, a color conversion member disposed at a position where light is irradiated from the light-emitting unit. In this case, the color conversion member is supported, for example, by the vehicle body. Regarding "the laser light emission mode conversion member is supported by the vehicle body", a specific embodiment includes, for example, a laser light emission mode conversion member supported by a vehicle body cover constituting the vehicle body. The vehicle cover is supported by a vehicle body frame constituting the vehicle body. The vehicle is, for example, provided with a laser light source unit, and is configured so that the volume of at least one laser light emission mode conversion member provided in the vehicle is smaller than the volume of the laser light source unit.The laser light source unit here has one or more laser light source elements, a shared laser driver board, and a housing that accommodates them. An apparatus or part for branching the path of the laser light does not correspond to the laser light emission mode conversion member. As a specific example, a branching part of an optical fiber cable does not correspond to the laser light emission mode conversion member. However, when an apparatus or part for branching the path of the laser light is configured to change the light amount of the laser light distributed to each of the multiple light emitting parts, the apparatus or part functions as a light amount conversion member. The laser light emission mode conversion member may not include, for example, an outer lens. The outer lens is included in, for example, the light emitting part. The outer lens is provided in, for example, a lighting device of the vehicle. The outer lens constitutes, for example, the exterior of the vehicle. The outer lens outputs, for example, the laser light transmitted to the light emitting part to the outside of the vehicle. The outer lens refracts and / or transmits, for example, the laser light transmitted to the light emitting part.

[0036] The branching unit is provided, for example, in a laser light path from a light source to a plurality of light emitting units. The branching unit is provided, for example, in a laser light path from a laser light source unit to a plurality of light emitting units. The branching unit branches, for example, an optical fiber cable. The branching unit is, for example, an optical connector, an optical coupler, etc. The number of optical fiber cables downstream of the branching unit is greater than the number of optical fiber cables upstream of the branching unit. The branching unit branches, for example, the optical fiber cable so as to increase the number of optical fiber cables connected to the branching unit from the upstream. The branching unit branches, for example, the optical fiber cable so as to extend to the left of the center of the vehicle body and to the right of the center of the vehicle body in the left-right direction. The branching unit branches, for example, the optical fiber cable so as to extend in front of the center of the vehicle body and to the rear of the center of the vehicle body in the front-rear direction. The branching unit does not include unwinding at least one of the bundled optical fiber cables from the bundle of optical fiber cables.

[0037] The body interior covering region is located under one of the fuel tank, the dummy tank having a shape simulating the fuel tank, the footboard, and the seat in a plan view and overlaps with the one of the members. The fuel tank is disposed, for example, between the seat and the handlebars in the front-rear direction of the vehicle so as to form the appearance of the upper surface of the vehicle. The fuel tank is disposed, for example, at a position where the driver can grip the tank with his / her knees when riding. The fuel tank is disposed, for example, at a position that cannot be seen from the outside. The dummy tank is disposed, for example, in place of the fuel tank at a position where the fuel tank is disposed. The dummy tank is disposed, for example, at a position where the driver can grip the tank with his / her knees when riding. The footboard is a member provided in a scooter-type vehicle and is disposed at the feet of the driver. The footboard is a member on which the driver places his / her feet when riding. The seat may be a seat for one person or may be a seat for two people (a seat for the driver and a seat for the passenger, i.e., a tandem seat). The seat is a member including a portion on which the driver sits when riding. The fuel tank, the dummy tank, the footboard, and the seat are, for example, entirely or partially included between the front end of the front wheel and the rear end of the rear wheel in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The fuel tank, the dummy tank, the footboard, and the seat are, for example, entirely or partially included between the rotation axis of the front wheel and the rotation axis of the rear wheel in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The fuel tank, the dummy tank, the footboard, and the seat are, for example, entirely or partially included between the rear end of the front wheel and the front end of the rear wheel in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In such a body-interior covering region, the members are densely arranged, so that efficient use of the installation space within the space is preferable for a vehicle that is a lean vehicle or a saddle-ride type vehicle. The light emission mode conversion member and / or the shared laser driver board that are partially or entirely provided in the body-interior covering region are provided so as not to be visible from the outside in a plan view of the vehicle. The light emission mode conversion member and / or the shared laser driver board that are partially or entirely provided in the body-interior covering region are provided so as not to be visible from the outside in a side view of the vehicle.At least a part of the member (i.e., the light emission mode conversion member and / or the shared laser driver board) partially or entirely provided in the body interior covering region overlaps with any of the wheels, for example, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction of the vehicle. At least a part of the member (i.e., the light emission mode conversion member and / or the shared laser driver board) partially or entirely provided in the body interior covering region is located above the wheels, for example, when viewed from the side or front of the vehicle. At least a part of the member (i.e., the light emission mode conversion member and / or the shared laser driver board) partially or entirely provided in the body interior covering region may be located below the upper ends of the wheels, for example, when viewed from the side or front of the vehicle. At least a part of the member (i.e., the light emission mode conversion member and / or the shared laser driver board) partially provided in the body interior covering region is located to the right of the left end of the steering wheel and to the left of the right end of the steering wheel, when viewed from the top or front of the vehicle. The body interior covering region is, for example, located to the right of the left end of the steering wheel and to the left of the right end of the steering wheel in a plan view.

[0038] Combinations of the configurations according to the above-mentioned other aspects are not limited to each other. Before describing the embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the details of the configuration and arrangement of the components described in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present invention is possible in other embodiments and in embodiments with various modifications. In addition, the present invention can be implemented by appropriately combining the modified examples described below. Effect of the Invention

[0039] According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently utilize the equipment installation space in a lean vehicle or a saddle-ride type vehicle, and employ a laser light source while preventing or suppressing an increase in the size of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0040] [Figure 1]FIG. 1(a) is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, together with a block diagram showing a laser light source unit, and FIG. 1(b) is a plan view showing an example of an inner body covering area. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2(a) is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2(b) is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to a modified example different from that in FIG. 2(a). [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a laser light source unit different from the laser light source unit shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4(a) and (b) are block diagrams showing modified examples of the arrangement of the laser emission mode conversion member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] Hereinafter, a saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example. The present invention should not be construed as being limited in any way by the embodiment described below.

[0042] A saddle-type vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1(a). The saddle-type vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body 20, a handlebar 22, a seat 24, a plurality of wheels 30, a plurality of light-emitting units 40, a laser light source unit 50, an optical fiber cable 60, and one laser emission mode conversion member 70.

[0043] The vehicle body 20 rotatably supports a bar handle 22. The vehicle body 20 supports a seat 24. A driver of the saddle riding type vehicle 10 sits on the seat 24 to drive the saddle riding type vehicle 10. The vehicle body 20 leans in the left direction L when the saddle riding type vehicle 10 turns in the left direction L, and leans in the right direction R when the saddle riding type vehicle 10 turns in the right direction R. Note that various directions in the saddle riding type vehicle 10 are based on the driver seated on the seat 24.

[0044] The vehicle body 20 supports a plurality of wheels 30. When the saddle riding type vehicle 10 turns in the left direction L, the plurality of wheels 30 incline in the left direction L together with the vehicle body 20, and when the saddle riding type vehicle 10 turns in the right direction R, the plurality of wheels 30 incline in the right direction R together with the vehicle body 20. The plurality of wheels 30 include a front wheel 30F as a steering wheel and a rear wheel 30R as a driving wheel. The front wheel 30F as a steering wheel is steered in response to an operation of the bar handle 22 by the driver of the saddle riding type vehicle 10, which is mechanically transmitted to the front wheel 30F as a steering wheel. The rear wheel 30R as a driving wheel is rotated by transmitting power from a power unit (not shown) supported by the vehicle body 20, thereby causing the saddle riding type vehicle 10 to travel.

[0045] The light emitting units 40 are provided so as to be visible from outside the vehicle. The light emitting units 40 include, for example, headlights, taillights, flashers, and the like.

[0046] The laser light source unit 50 generates laser light to be output to the multiple light-emitting units 40, and outputs the generated laser light to the multiple light-emitting units 40. The laser light source unit 50 includes one laser light source element 52 and one shared laser driver board 54. Note that the case where the laser light source unit 50 includes multiple laser light source elements 52 is shown in FIG. 3. The laser light source element 52 is configured to output laser light as one light source common to the multiple light-emitting units 40. The shared laser driver board 54 has one driver circuit 56. The driver circuit 56 commonly controls the laser light source elements 52 to output laser light as one light source to the multiple light-emitting units 40.

[0047] The optical fiber cable 60 constitutes at least a part of a laser light path that transmits the output laser light to each of the multiple light-emitting units 40 via one or multiple branching units 90. The optical fiber cable 60 connects the laser light source unit 50 and the multiple light-emitting units 40. The optical fiber cable 60 branches midway.

[0048] One laser emission mode conversion member 70 is provided so as to cause some of the multiple light-emitting units 40 to emit light in a different light emission mode from the remaining light-emitting units 40. Note that a case in which the saddle-type vehicle 10 is provided with multiple laser emission mode conversion members 70 is shown in FIG. 3. One laser emission mode conversion member 70 is provided downstream of or at the most upstream branching unit 91 located at the most upstream position among one or multiple branching units 90 in the transmission direction of the laser light. In this embodiment, since one branching unit 90 is shown, the branching unit 90 corresponds to the most upstream branching unit 91. The laser emission mode conversion member 70 is, for example, a member that changes the color of light emitted by the light-emitting unit 40 as a tail light. The difference in the light emission mode is, for example, at least one difference between the color of the light-emitting unit 40 and the timing at which the brightness of the light-emitting unit 40 changes. One or multiple laser emission mode conversion members 70 are not branching units that cause some of the light-emitting units 40 to emit light in a different light emission mode from the remaining light-emitting units 40. The laser emission mode conversion member 70 is a color conversion member that changes the color of the light-emitting unit 40, or a light quantity conversion member that changes the brightness of the light-emitting unit 40. The laser emission mode conversion member 70 is provided in any one of the laser light path, the light-emitting unit 40, or the external path. The external path is the path along which the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 40 travels from the light-emitting unit 40 to the outside of the vehicle.

[0049] 1(b), at least one of the laser emission mode conversion member 70 and the shared laser driver board 54 is at least partially provided within an inner-body covering region 80. The inner-body covering region 80 is below the sheet 24 and overlaps with the sheet 24 in a plan view.

[0050] By adopting the laser light emission mode conversion member 70, the saddle-type vehicle 10 can make the plurality of light-emitting units 40 emit light in different types of light emission modes while sharing the driver circuit 56. That is, the saddle-type vehicle 10 includes one shared laser driver board 54, and the shared laser driver board 54 has one driver circuit 56 that commonly controls one laser light source element 52 so as to output laser light as one light source to the plurality of light-emitting units 40. Since the driver circuit 56 is shared, it is possible to reduce the size. In addition, the laser light source element 52 is also shared. It is possible to reduce the size of the laser light source unit 50. The laser light emission mode conversion member 70 is smaller than the laser light source unit 50. The laser light emission mode conversion member 70 can be installed, for example, on the light-emitting unit 40 or on a path leading to the light-emitting unit 40. There are few restrictions on the installation position of the light path, and the degree of freedom in installation is high. Therefore, there are relatively few restrictions on the installation position of the laser light emission mode conversion member 70.

[0051] As described above, it is possible to arrange the relatively small laser light emission mode conversion member 70 separately from the laser light source unit 50 while miniaturizing the laser light source unit 50. This eliminates the need to provide a relatively large space in the saddle-ride type vehicle 10 for installing the laser light source unit 50. This can suppress or prevent loss of installation space. This can suppress or prevent the influence of the surrounding configuration of the laser light source unit 50 on the layout. This increases the degree of freedom in arranging each configuration in the vehicle body 20 in the saddle-ride type vehicle 10, and allows efficient use of the equipment installation space. Therefore, the saddle-ride type vehicle 10 can employ the laser light source unit 50 so as to cause the multiple light-emitting units 40 to emit light in different light emission modes while preventing or suppressing an increase in size of the saddle-ride type vehicle 10.

[0052] [Modifications of the inner body covering area] For example, in the saddle riding type vehicle 10A shown in FIG. 2(a), the body interior covered area 80 may be below the footboard 26 and overlap the footboard 26 in a plan view.

[0053] 2(b), the body interior covered area 80 may be located below the fuel tank 28 and overlap the fuel tank 28 in a plan view. The fuel tank 28 may be a dummy tank.

[0054] [Modification of the arrangement of the laser emission mode conversion member] For example, as shown in FIG. 4(a), when the laser light path (optical fiber cable 60) includes a plurality of branching parts 90, at least a part of one or a plurality of laser emission mode conversion members 70 may be provided between the most upstream branching part 91 and one branching part 90 located downstream of the most upstream branching part 91, or at one branching part 90. In this case, the laser emission mode conversion member 70 can cause some of the light emitting parts 40B to 40E among the plurality of light emitting parts 40A to 40E to emit light in a different light emission mode from the remaining light emitting part 40A. That is, the laser emission mode conversion member 70 can convert the light emission modes of the light emitting parts 40B to 40E collectively. The light emitting parts 40B and 40C are, for example, a pair of left and right front flashers. The light emitting parts 40D and 40E are, for example, a pair of left and right rear flashers.

[0055] For example, as shown in FIG. 4(b), when the laser light path (optical fiber cable 60) includes a plurality of branching parts 90, the plurality of branching parts 90 may include a most upstream branching part 91 and a most downstream branching part 92 located at the most downstream of the plurality of branching parts 90 in the laser light transmission direction. In this case, at least a part of one or a plurality of laser emission mode conversion members 70 may be provided between the most downstream branching part 92 and the light emitting part 40 located downstream of the most downstream branching part 92, or at the most downstream branching part 92. In this case, the laser emission mode conversion member 70 can cause a part of the light emitting parts 40H among the plurality of light emitting parts 40F to 40I to emit light in a different light emission mode from the remaining light emitting parts 40F, 40G, and 40I. That is, the laser emission mode conversion member 70 can convert the light emission mode of the light emitting parts 40H collectively. The light emitting part 40H is, for example, a high beam lamp. The light emitting unit 40G located at the end of the path branching off from the laser light path heading toward the light emitting unit 40H at the most downstream branching portion 92 is, for example, a low beam lamp.

[0056] (Other embodiments) The embodiments and modifications described and / or illustrated in this specification are intended to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the spirit of the present disclosure. The above-mentioned embodiments and modifications may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The spirit of the present disclosure includes equivalent elements, modifications, deletions, combinations (e.g., combinations of features across the embodiments and modifications), improvements, and modifications that may be recognized by a person skilled in the art based on the embodiments disclosed in this specification. The limitations in the claims should be interpreted broadly based on the terms used in the claims and should not be limited to the embodiments and modifications described in the specification or prosecution of this application. Such embodiments and modifications should be interpreted as non-exclusive. For example, in this specification, the terms "preferably" and "good" are non-exclusive and mean "preferably but not limited to" and "good but not limited to". [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10 Saddle-type vehicles 20 Body 22 Bar handle 24 sheets 26 Footboard 28 Fuel Tank 30 wheels 40 Light emitting part 50 Laser light source unit 52 Laser light source element 54 Common laser driver board 56 Driver circuit 60 Fiber Optic Cable 70 Laser emission mode conversion member 80 Body interior covering area 90 Branch 91 Uppermost branch 92 The most downstream branch

Claims

1. A vehicle that is a lean vehicle or a saddle-type vehicle, The vehicle is A vehicle body supporting a plurality of wheels; A plurality of light emitting units provided so as to be visible from outside the vehicle; one or more laser light source elements configured to output laser light as a single light source common to the plurality of light emitting units; an optical fiber cable constituting at least a part of a laser light path that transmits the output laser light to each of the plurality of light emitting units via one or a plurality of branch units; a shared laser driver board having a driver circuit for commonly controlling the one or more laser light source elements so as to output laser light as the one light source to the plurality of light emitting units; one or more laser emission mode conversion members provided downstream of a most upstream branching portion located at the most upstream position among the one or more branching portions in a transmission direction of the laser light or at the most upstream branching portion so that some of the plurality of light-emitting portions emit light in a different emission mode from the remaining light-emitting portions; Equipped with At least one of the one or more laser emission mode conversion members and the one shared laser driver board is at least partially provided within a body interior covering region, and the body interior covering region is below any one of a fuel tank, a dummy tank having a shape simulating a fuel tank, a footboard, and a seat in a plan view and overlaps the one member. A vehicle characterized by:

2. 2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, The difference in the light emission mode is at least one of the difference in the color of the light emitting unit and the difference in the timing at which the brightness of the light emitting unit changes. A vehicle characterized by:

3. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, The one or more laser emission mode conversion members are not branching portions that cause the part of the light-emitting units to emit light in a different emission mode from the remaining light-emitting units. A vehicle characterized by:

4. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The one or more laser emission mode conversion members are color conversion members for changing the color of the light emitting unit and / or light quantity conversion members for changing the brightness of the light emitting unit. A vehicle characterized by:

5. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The one or more laser emission mode conversion members are provided in any one of the laser light path, the light emitting unit, or the external path, and the external path is a path along which the light emitted by the light emitting unit travels from the light emitting unit to the outside of the vehicle. A vehicle characterized by:

6. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the laser light path includes a plurality of the branching portions, At least a part of the one or more laser emission mode conversion members is provided between the most upstream branch portion and one branch portion located downstream of the most upstream branch portion, or at the one branch portion. A vehicle characterized by:

7. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the laser light path includes a plurality of the branching portions, the plurality of branching portions include the most upstream branching portion and a most downstream branching portion located most downstream among the plurality of branching portions in a transmission direction of the laser light, At least a part of the one or more laser emission mode conversion members is provided between the most downstream branch portion and a light emitting portion located downstream of the most downstream branch portion, or at the most downstream branch portion. A vehicle characterized by:

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