Center console for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a center console for a vehicle which enables control units and a sound source to be disposed compactly.SOLUTION: A center console 20 for a vehicle includes a plurality of control units 21, 22 disposed inside the vehicle front side of the center console 20, and a sound source 23 disposed inside the vehicle rear of the center console 20. The sound source 23 is disposed facing toward lateral sides of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a center console of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the increasing development of electric vehicles, many proposals have been made regarding the arrangement of control units (ECUs). For example, Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle in which a power conversion device is arranged inside a center console.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When focusing on the acoustics inside the vehicle cabin, the number of vehicles with a large number of speakers arranged is increasing, but there are problems in the layout regarding the arrangement of the speakers.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a center console for a vehicle capable of compactly arranging a control unit and a sound source.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The center console of the vehicle according to the present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above problems. That is, the center console (e.g., center console 20 in the embodiment) of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle 100 in the embodiment) according to the present invention includes a plurality of control units (e.g., control units 21 and 22 in the embodiment) arranged inside the center console at the front of the vehicle, and a sound source (e.g., sound source 23 in the embodiment) arranged inside the center console at the rear of the vehicle, and the sound source is arranged to face the side of the vehicle.

[0007] With the above configuration, even if a large occupied area of the sound source is secured, it can be compactly arranged in the center console together with the control unit.

[0008] The center console may include a box (e.g., box 24 in the embodiment) for securing a space for the sound source, and the box may be arranged to extend below the front passenger seat (e.g., driver's seat 12 in the embodiment) of the vehicle. In this case, the dead space at the lower part of the front passenger seat can be effectively utilized to secure a space for arranging the box of the sound source.

[0009] An air-conditioning duct (e.g., air-conditioning duct 27 in the embodiment) may be provided from the lower surface of the control unit, passing between the control unit and the sound source, to the upper surface of the sound source. In this case, the air-conditioning duct can be compactly arranged in the center console together with the control unit and the sound source.

[0010] The center console may include a cover (e.g., cover 25 in the embodiment) for accommodating at least the control unit and the sound source, and the cover may have an opening (e.g., opening 28 in the embodiment) communicating with the control unit and the sound source. In this case, the exhaust heat of the control unit and the sound pressure of the sound source can be released to the outside of the center console.

[0011] The opening may be arranged at a position overlapping the seat surface (e.g., seat surface 15 in the embodiment) of the vehicle. In this case, the openings for discharging the exhaust heat of the control unit and the sound pressure of the sound source are arranged so as to be difficult for the occupant to see, and the appearance of the interior can be improved.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] The center console of the vehicle according to the present invention can compactly arrange the control unit and the sound source.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the interior of a vehicle cabin 10 including a center console 20 of a vehicle 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, an arrow FR indicating the front of the vehicle 100 and an arrow LH indicating the left side of the vehicle 100 are marked. The upper side of the vehicle 100 is the front side of the paper surface.

[0016] The vehicle 100 is equipped with an instrument panel 11, a driver's seat 12, a passenger seat 13, a steering wheel 14, etc. inside the passenger compartment 10.

[0017] The driver's seat 12 is arranged in the front of the vehicle 100 and is the seat used by the driver. The passenger seat 13 is arranged adjacent to the driver's seat 12 in the front of the vehicle 100 and is the seat used by passengers other than the driver. The driver's seat 12 and the passenger seat 13 are the front passenger seats arranged in the front of the vehicle 100.

[0018] Although not particularly shown, one or more rows of passenger seats may be provided behind the front passenger seats in the passenger compartment 10. Whether the passenger sitting on the passenger seat 13 assists the driver during the operation of the vehicle 100 or not is not a matter, and there may be no passengers on the passenger seat 13. In the illustrated vehicle 100, the driver's seat 12 is arranged on the left side of the passenger seat 13, but conversely to the illustrated example, the driver's seat 12 may be arranged on the right side of the passenger seat 13. The number of seats, the arrangement, etc. are not limited to the illustrated example and may be changed as appropriate.

[0019] Each seat such as the driver's seat 12 and the passenger seat 13 includes a seat surface 15 on which the passenger sits down and a backrest 16 against which the passenger leans. The position of the seat surface 15 in the front-rear direction may be adjustable and changeable, or may be fixed. The inclination of the backrest 16 with respect to the seat surface 15 may be changeable, or the inclination may be fixed.

[0020] The vehicle 100 of the present embodiment includes a center console 20 described later. The center console 20 in the passenger compartment 10 is arranged between the driver's seat 12 and the passenger seat 13. The center console 20 is provided linearly from the lower part of the instrument panel 11 toward the rear. The rear part of the center console 20 in the illustrated example is arranged between the backrests 16 of the front passenger seats.

[0021] Although not particularly shown, the rear part of the center console 20 may reach the rear passenger seats. For example, it is also possible to extend the center console 20 between the right rear seat and the left rear seat. If the rear part of the center console 20 is contained between the front passenger seats without reaching the rear passenger seats, it will facilitate the movement of passengers in the left - right direction in the rear passenger seats.

[0022] Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the center console 20. Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the positional relationship between the sound source 23 built into the center console 20 and the passenger seat 13. Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement of the control units 21, 22 and the sound source 23 built into the center console 20. In Figure 4, an arrow UP pointing upward of the vehicle 100 is shown together with the arrows FR and LH having the same meaning as in Figure 1. In Figures 3 and 4, the illustration of the cover 25 of the center console 20 shown in Figure 2 is omitted.

[0023] The center console 20 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of control units 21, 22 arranged inside the front of the vehicle 100 and a sound source 23 arranged inside the rear of the vehicle 100. Further, in the center console 20 of the present embodiment, the sound source 23 is arranged facing the side of the vehicle 100. The illustrated center console 20 includes a cover 25 that houses at least the control units 21, 22 and the sound source 23.

[0024] As the sound source 23, one or more can be appropriately selected from known speakers, etc. and used. In order to improve the reproduction sound quality in the low - frequency range, it is preferable that the sound source 23 includes a sub - woofer. In order to improve the volume and sound quality of the sound source 23, it is preferable to ensure a large area and diameter of the sound source 23.

[0025] When the sound source 23 is arranged to face the front, rear, or upper part of the vehicle 100, since the diameter of the sound source 23 is arranged in the left - right direction, it becomes difficult to incorporate it into the center console 20 arranged between the driver's seat 12 and the passenger seat 13. When the sound source 23 is arranged to face the side, since the diameter of the sound source 23 is arranged in the front - rear direction and the up - down direction along the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle 100, the sound source 23 can be compactly arranged within the center console 20.

[0026] When the control units 21, 22 are arranged at the rear of the vehicle 100, the distance from the instrument panel 11 becomes long, and the space occupied by wiring etc. within the center console 20 tends to increase. When the control units 21, 22 are arranged in front of the vehicle 100, by approaching the instrument panel 11, the layout design of wiring etc. becomes easy.

[0027] Furthermore, in the center console 20, since the position of the sound source 23 is arranged on the side of the backrest 16 of the front passenger seat, sound is outputted back and forth from near the center of the passenger compartment 10. Therefore, high - quality sound can be emitted toward each passenger sitting in the front passenger seat and the rear passenger seat.

[0028] The control units 21, 22 are used for controlling various functions such as controlling functions necessary for the running of the vehicle 100, controlling functions necessary for making the habitability in the passenger compartment 10 comfortable, and further controlling functions necessary for the use of the sound source 23. For this reason, by a plurality of control units 21, 22 sharing and cooperating to control each function, the functions necessary for the vehicle 100 can be ensured.

[0029] The vehicle 100 is preferably a vehicle equipped with a power source driven by electric energy. Examples of such vehicles include electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles (FCV), etc. Examples of electric vehicles include battery - type electric transport equipment (BEV), hybrid vehicles (HEV) equipped with an internal combustion engine that provides at least part of the power, or plug - in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), etc.

[0030] The center console 20 in the illustrated example includes a first control unit 21 on the upper side and a second control unit 22 on the lower side. These control units 21, 22 may be arranged, for example, with a lateral displacement in the left - right direction. Terminals, wiring, etc. connected to the control units 21, 22 can be arranged within the cover 25 of the center console 20 around the control units 21, 22.

[0031] The number of control units 21, 22 arranged in the center console 20 is not particularly limited. The center console 20 in the illustrated example includes two control units 21, 22, but the center console 20 may include three or more control units.

[0032] Information devices such as a recording medium playback device and an information display device may be arranged on the instrument panel 11. Examples of the recording medium include a music recording medium and a video recording medium. The information device may play only sound, or may display characters, symbols, video, etc. together with sound. The sound is not particularly limited and may include human voices, animal voices, musical instrument sounds, sounds generated in nature, artificially synthesized sounds, etc. The vehicle 100 in the illustrated example includes a display 17 on the instrument panel 11.

[0033] The center console 20 in the illustrated example includes an operating device 26 for operating information devices such as the display 17. The operating device 26 may include a switch, a display lamp, an icon, a touch panel, etc. as an operating part or a display part. The operating device 26 is preferably arranged on the side of the seat surface 15 to facilitate operation by a passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. The sound reproduced by the sound source 23 may be operated based on an electrical signal transmitted from the operating device 26. It is also possible to reproduce, with the sound source 23, sound received wirelessly from outside the vehicle, for example, sound obtained through a TV, radio, Internet, etc.

[0034] In the case of a sound source 23 used in a low frequency range such as a subwoofer, a box 24 is provided to secure a space for confining the sound energy emitted from the back side of the speaker unit inside the sound source 23. The box 24 is also called an enclosure. The box 24 does not have to be housed in the cover 25.

[0035] The box 24 is preferably arranged to extend below the seat surface 15 of the front passenger seat. Thereby, the dead space below the seat surface 15 can be effectively utilized to secure a space for arranging the box 24 of the sound source 23. The height of the box 24 is not particularly limited, but the box 24 may be in contact with the floor surface of the passenger compartment 10, or may be arranged above the floor surface of the passenger compartment 10.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the arrangement of the air conditioning duct 27 in the center console 20. The center console 20 preferably houses the air conditioning duct 27. Thereby, the air conditioning of the rear passenger seat can be smoothly performed. The air conditioning function in the passenger compartment 10 is not particularly limited, but examples include functions selected from cooling, heating, dehumidification, humidification, ventilation, etc.

[0037] The air conditioning duct 27 in the center console 20 is preferably arranged on the upper surface of the sound source 23 from the lower surfaces of the control units 21, 22, passing between the control units 21, 22 and the sound source 23. Thereby, the air conditioning duct 27, together with the control units 21, 22 and the sound source 23, can be compactly arranged in the center console 20.

[0038] The air conditioning duct 27 on the lower surface of the control units 21, 22 can be arranged along the lower surface of any one of the control units 21, 22. When a plurality of control units 21, 22 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, it is preferable to arrange the duct 27 along the lower surface of the lowermost control unit 22.

[0039] The air-conditioning duct 27 between the control units 21, 22 and the sound source 23 may be arranged along the back (rear side) of the control units 21, 22, or may be arranged along the front (front side) of the sound source 23. Although not particularly shown, the center console 20 may be provided with an air outlet that blows air from the air-conditioning duct 27 toward the rear passenger seat. When the air-conditioning duct 27 extends up to the backrest 16 of the front passenger seat or the like, the air outlet may be arranged above the front passenger seat or the like.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a rear view illustrating the arrangement of the control units 21, 22 and the sound source 23 built in the center console 20. When the center console 20 is viewed from the rear side of the vehicle 100, openings 28 are formed in the cover 25 of the center console 20 on both the left and right sides of the sound source 23.

[0041] The opening 28 in the cover 25 preferably communicates with the control units 21, 22 and the sound source 23. By making the opening 28 serve as both an opening for discharging the exhaust heat of the control units 21, 22 and an opening for discharging the sound pressure of the sound source 23, the design of the opening 28 on the outer surface of the center console 20 can be facilitated. Although not particularly shown, it is also possible to arrange the opening for the control units 21, 22 and the opening for the sound source 23 separately.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the arrangement of the opening 28 with respect to the seat surface 15. The opening 28 is preferably arranged at a position overlapping the seat surface 15 of the vehicle 100. Thereby, the opening 28 for discharging the exhaust heat of the control units 21, 22 and the sound pressure of the sound source 23 is in a position where it is difficult for the passengers to see, and the appearance of the interior can be improved.

[0043] The center console 20 in the illustrated example has a first opening 28 at a position overlapping the seat surface 15 of the driver's seat 12 and a second opening 28 at a position overlapping the seat surface 15 of the passenger seat 13. Although not particularly shown, the center console 20 may have the opening 28 only on the driver's seat 12 side, or may have the opening 28 only on the passenger seat 13 side.

[0044] The number of regions where the openings 28 are arranged on the cover 25 is not particularly limited and may be one or more. Each opening 28 is preferably an aggregate of a plurality of holes. Examples of the aggregate of a plurality of holes include a net, a lattice, and the like. A plurality of holes may be formed in the cover 25 itself, or a net-like member, a lattice member, or the like having a plurality of holes may be attached to the cover 25.

[0045] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes are possible without departing from the gist thereof. Examples of the vehicle include an automobile having a passenger compartment. The automobile is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include an automobile having four to eight wheels, and more specifically, a passenger car, a truck, and the like. The center console including the above-described control unit and sound source can also be applied to other moving bodies, transportation devices, and the like.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] 10... Passenger compartment, 11... Instrument panel, 12... Driver's seat, 13... Passenger seat, 14... Steering wheel, 15... Seat surface, 16... Backrest, 17... Display, 20... Center console, 21, 22... Control unit, 23... Sound source, 24... Box, 25... Cover, 26... Operating device, 27... Air-conditioning duct, 28... Opening, 100... Vehicle.

Claims

**Claim 1** A center console of a vehicle, comprising a plurality of control units arranged inside the center console at the front of the vehicle, and a sound source arranged inside the center console at the rear of the vehicle, The sound source is arranged toward the side of the vehicle. A center console of a vehicle. **Claim 2** The center console includes a box for securing a space for the sound source, and the box is arranged to extend below the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The center console of the vehicle according to claim 1. **Claim 3** An air-conditioning duct is provided on the upper surface of the sound source from the lower surface of the control unit through the space between the control unit and the sound source. The center console of the vehicle according to claim 1. **Claim 4** The center console includes a cover for accommodating at least the control unit and the sound source, and the cover has an opening communicating with the control unit and the sound source. The center console of the vehicle according to claim 1. **Claim 5** The opening is arranged at a position overlapping the seat surface of the vehicle. The center console of the vehicle according to claim 4.

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