Module supporting structure

Abstract

To provide a novel occupant comfort for a person in a moving object.SOLUTION: A module supporting structure 10 is loaded on a vehicle 20. A plurality of pillars 11 extends in a first direction from a dash panel 21 that divides a compartment 22 in the vehicle 20 towards the interior of the compartment 22, and is arranged side by side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. An operation control module 12 is supported by the plurality of pillars 11, and includes at least one device that controls the operation of a controlled device loaded on the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a modular support structure mounted on a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a support structure for a steering column mounted on a vehicle as a moving body. A reinforcement extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle is disposed in a space covered by a dash panel, which serves as a wall material dividing the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The steering column is supported by the reinforcement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-274433 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a demand for providing new comfort to passengers in vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One example embodiment provided by the present disclosure is a modular support structure mounted on a moving body, comprising: a plurality of pillars extending in a first direction from a wall material that partitions a room of the movable body into the room and arranged so as to be aligned in a second direction that intersects with the first direction; an operation control module supported by the plurality of pillars and including at least one device for controlling the operation of a controlled device mounted on the moving body; It is equipped with:

[0006] In general, an operation control module including equipment for controlling the operation of a controlled device mounted on a mobile body is supported by a reinforcement that is covered by a wall material that divides the vehicle's interior and extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle. On the other hand, in the configuration according to the above embodiment, the operation control module is supported by a plurality of pillars that extend from the wall material into the interior and are visible to occupants of the mobile body.

[0007] This allows the motion control module to be cantilevered on a plurality of pillars extending in the first direction and aligned in the second direction, giving the interior a surprising appearance and providing a new level of comfort to the occupants of the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an external view of a module support structure according to an example embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 illustrates an example of the external appearance of the module support structure of FIG. 1 as seen from above. [Figure 3] 3 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the module support structure of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 2 illustrates an example of the external appearance of the module support structure of FIG. 1 as seen from below. [Figure 5] 2 illustrates an example of a vehicle cabin equipped with the modular support structure of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009]

[0013] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which arrow F indicates the forward direction of the illustrated structure, arrow B indicates the rearward direction of the illustrated structure, arrow U indicates the upward direction of the illustrated structure, arrow D indicates the downward direction of the illustrated structure, arrow R indicates the rightward direction of the illustrated structure, and arrow L indicates the leftward direction of the illustrated structure.

[0010] The term "front-rear direction" used in this specification means a direction along the aforementioned front and rear directions. The term "up-down direction" used in this specification means a direction along the aforementioned top and bottom directions. The term "left-right direction" used in this specification means a direction along the aforementioned left and right directions.

[0011] The expression "extending in the front-to-rear direction" used in this specification includes extending at an angle relative to the front-to-rear direction, and means extending at an angle closer to the front-to-rear direction than the up-down and left-to-right directions.

[0012] The expression "extending in the left-right direction" used in this specification includes extending at an angle relative to the left-right direction, and means extending at an angle closer to the left-right direction than the front-rear and up-down directions.

[0013] Fig. 1 illustrates an external view of a module support structure 10 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 illustrates an external view of the module support structure 10 as seen from above. The module support structure 10 is mounted on a vehicle 20. The vehicle 20 is an example of a moving body.

[0014] The module support structure 10 includes a plurality of pillars 11. Each of the pillars 11 extends from a dash panel 21 of the vehicle 20 into a passenger compartment 22. The dash panel 21 is an example of a wall material that partitions the passenger compartment 22.

[0015] Each of the multiple pillars 11 extends in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 20. The multiple pillars 11 are arranged so as to line up in the left-to-right direction of the vehicle 20. The front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 20 is an example of a first direction. The left-to-right direction of the vehicle 20 is an example of a second direction.

[0016] The module support structure 10 includes a motion control module 12. The motion control module 12 is supported by a plurality of columns 11. The motion control module 12 includes a steering device 121.

[0017] The steering device 121 is configured to control the operation of a steering mechanism that changes the traveling direction of the vehicle 20. The steering mechanism is an example of a controlled device. The steering device 121 is an example of a device that controls the operation of the controlled device.

[0018] In general, a motion control module including a device such as a steering device is supported by a reinforcement that extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle and is covered by a wall material that divides the vehicle's interior. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the motion control module 12 is supported by a plurality of pillars 11 that extend from the dash panel 21 into the interior 22 and are visible to the occupants of the vehicle 20.

[0019] This makes it possible to support the motion control module 12 in a cantilevered manner on a plurality of pillars 11 that extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 20 and are arranged in a line in the lateral direction of the vehicle 20. By imparting such an unexpected appearance to the interior 22, a new sense of comfort can be provided to the occupants of the vehicle 20.

[0020] The steering device 121 is preferably configured to change the traveling direction of the vehicle 20 based on an electric signal (so-called steer-by-wire system). In this case, a signal line for transmitting the electric signal can be routed along the pillar 11, so that the appearance of the motion control module 12 being supported in a cantilevered manner by a plurality of pillars 11 does not create an awkward feeling.

[0021] The operation control module 12 includes a display device 122. The display device 122 is configured to provide a GUI for controlling the operation of various controlled devices mounted on the vehicle 20. Examples of the controlled devices include audiovisual equipment, air conditioning equipment, lighting equipment, and navigation equipment. The display device 122 is an example of equipment that controls the operation of the controlled devices.

[0022] The motion control module 12 includes a housing 123, a first drive mechanism 124, and a second drive mechanism 125. The first drive mechanism 124 and the second drive mechanism 125 are housed within the housing 123.

[0023] The first drive mechanism 124 includes an actuator 124b that displaces the steering device 121 along a guide rail 124a. The guide rail 124a extends in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 20. The steering device 121 is displaceable between a position where it protrudes rearward from the housing 123 and a position where it is housed within the housing 123.

[0024] With this configuration, the structure for allowing the steering device 121 to be displaced along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 20 can be arranged along the pillar 11, so that the appearance of the motion control module 12 being supported in a cantilevered manner by multiple pillars 11 does not appear unnatural.

[0025] The second drive mechanism 125 includes an actuator 125b that displaces the display device 122 along a guide rail 125a. The guide rail 125a extends in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 20. The display device 122 is displaceable between a position where it protrudes rearward from the housing 123 and a position where it is housed within the housing 123.

[0026] With this configuration, a structure for allowing displacement of the display device 122 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 20 can be arranged along the pillar 11, so that the appearance of the operation control module 12 being supported in a cantilevered manner by multiple pillars 11 does not appear unnatural.

[0027] In this embodiment, a single housing 123 is configured so as to be able to cover at least a part of each of the steering device 121 and the display device 122.

[0028] With this configuration, it is possible to provide the appearance of a single housing 123 being supported in a cantilevered manner on a plurality of pillars 11 that extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle 20 and are arranged in a line in the left-and-right direction of the vehicle 20, thereby further enhancing the unexpected appearance that can be imparted to the living space 22.

[0029] 3, the plurality of pillars 11 can be configured to define a passage 13 for an airflow A generated by an air conditioning device (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 20. The passage 13 may be defined between adjacent pillars 11, or may be defined by a hollow portion formed inside the pillars 11.

[0030] With this configuration, the appearance of the operation control module 12 being supported in a cantilevered manner by multiple pillars 11 does not appear unnatural, while a passage for the airflow A generated by the air conditioning equipment can be secured.

[0031] Fig. 4 illustrates an example of the external appearance of the module support structure 10 as seen from below. A space 14 defined between adjacent pillars 11 communicates the upper and lower parts of the module support structure 10. Therefore, as illustrated in Fig. 5, light that passes through a window body 23 that defines a passenger compartment 22 of a vehicle 20 located above the module support structure 10 reaches a space 24 below the module support structure 10 through the space 14. In other words, the multiple pillars 11 define a path for light that has passed through the window body 23.

[0032] According to this configuration, light passing through the window body 23 reaches the feet of the occupants, thereby providing a new sense of openness to the interior 22. This makes it possible to provide a new sense of comfort to the occupants of the vehicle 20.

[0033] 4, the module support structure 10 may include a plurality of light sources 15. The plurality of light sources 15 may be mounted on a plurality of pillars 11 and configured to emit light downward.

[0034] With this configuration, the light emitted from the light source 15 can recreate a situation similar to that in which the space 24 below the module support structure 10 is illuminated by light that has passed through the space 14. This allows the aforementioned open feeling to be imparted to the living room 22 even at night or in bad weather.

[0035] The configurations described above are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure. Each configuration example can be appropriately modified and combined with other configuration examples without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the multiple pillars 11 extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 20 from the dash panel 21 into the passenger compartment 22. However, as long as the multiple pillars 11 are arranged in a direction that intersects with the direction in which they extend, the direction in which the multiple pillars 11 extend can be determined appropriately depending on the specifications of the motion control modules 12 to be supported. In addition, the multiple pillars 11 may extend from other wall materials, such as door trims, that partition the passenger compartment 22.

[0037] The modular support structure 10 may be applied to moving bodies other than the vehicle 20. Examples of other moving bodies include trains, airplanes, flying bodies, ships, etc. The moving bodies may not require a driver.

[0038] Each of the configurations listed below also constitutes part of this disclosure. Item 1: A module support structure mounted on a moving body, a plurality of pillars extending in a first direction from a wall material that partitions a room of the movable body into the room and arranged so as to be aligned in a second direction that intersects with the first direction; an operation control module supported by the plurality of pillars and including at least one device for controlling the operation of a controlled device mounted on the moving body; Equipped with Modular support structure. Item 2: the motion control module includes a drive mechanism for displacing the device along the first direction; Item 1. The module support structure according to item 1. Item 3: the at least one device includes a plurality of devices; the motion control module includes a single housing that encloses at least a portion of each of the plurality of devices; 3. The module support structure according to item 1 or 2. Item 4: The device includes a steering device that changes the direction of travel of the moving body based on an electrical signal. 4. The module support structure according to any one of items 1 to 3. Item 5: The plurality of pillars define a passage for an airflow generated by an air conditioning device mounted on the moving body. 5. The module support structure according to any one of items 1 to 4. Item 6: The plurality of pillars define a passage for light passing through a window body that defines the living room. 6. The module support structure according to any one of items 1 to 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10: module support structure, 11: column body, 12: motion control module, 121: steering device, 122: display device, 123: housing, 124: first drive mechanism, 125: second drive mechanism, 13: aisle, 14: space, 20: vehicle, 21: dash panel, 22: living room, 23: window body

Claims

1. A module support structure mounted on a moving body, a plurality of pillars extending in a first direction from a wall material that partitions a room of the movable body into the room and arranged so as to be aligned in a second direction that intersects with the first direction; an operation control module supported by the plurality of pillars and including at least one device for controlling the operation of a controlled device mounted on the moving body; Equipped with Modular support structure.

2. the motion control module includes a drive mechanism for displacing the device along the first direction; The module support structure of claim 1 .

3. the at least one device includes a plurality of devices; the motion control module includes a single housing that encloses at least a portion of each of the plurality of devices; The module support structure of claim 1 .

4. The device includes a steering device that changes the direction of travel of the moving body based on an electrical signal. The module support structure of claim 1 .

5. The plurality of pillars define a passage for an airflow generated by an air conditioning device mounted on the moving body. The module support structure of claim 1 .

6. The plurality of pillars define a passage for light passing through a window body that defines the living room. The module support structure of claim 1 .

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