Vehicle

Abstract

To enable easy adaptation to addition or modification of a wireless communication function.SOLUTION: A vehicle 10 is a vehicle that performs wireless communication with a terminal device, and comprises an electrical component 61 and a wireless communication unit 70, which is provided separately from the electrical component and connected to the electrical component via a signal line.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to vehicles equipped with wireless communication units. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that an engine ECU performs wireless communication with a terminal device via a communication circuit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-067919 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If a configuration is assumed in which a communication circuit is built into an electrical component such as an engine ECU, it becomes difficult to change the design of the electrical component or to add a wireless communication function.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to easily accommodate addition or modification of wireless communication functions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle is a vehicle that performs wireless communication with a terminal device, and comprises an electrical component and a wireless communication unit that is separate from the electrical component and connected to the electrical component via a signal line. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This vehicle can easily accommodate addition or modification of wireless communication functions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a motorcycle according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the motorcycle. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a joint connector. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a portion where the wireless communication unit and the electrical components are mounted. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the mounting portion of the wireless communication unit and the joint connector. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a motorcycle according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] {Embodiment} A vehicle according to an embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the vehicle is a saddle-ride type vehicle, more specifically, a motorcycle. A saddle-ride type vehicle is a vehicle that is driven by a driver sitting astride on a seat. Examples of saddle-ride type vehicles include motorcycles, tricycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and personal watercraft (PWCs). The vehicle does not have to be a saddle-ride type vehicle and may be a four-wheeled automobile or the like.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of motorcycle 10. In the following description, when referring to up / down, front / rear, and left / right, each direction is defined as follows: First, the side where the front wheel 20 and rear wheel 21 of motorcycle 10 come into contact with the road surface is the bottom, and the opposite side is the top. Furthermore, the traveling direction when motorcycle 10 is traveling is the front, and the opposite side is the rear. Furthermore, when a user is riding motorcycle 10 as a rider, the left and right sides of motorcycle 10 are based on the user. When referring to the width direction, this refers to the left and right vehicle width direction.

[0011] The motorcycle 10 includes a body frame 11, an engine 24, a seat 12, a fuel tank 13, a handlebar 30, a front wheel 20, and a rear wheel 22.

[0012] The body frame 11 is a skeleton that supports each part of the motorcycle 10.

[0013] The engine 24 is a power unit that drives the motorcycle 10. The engine 24 is, for example, an internal combustion engine. The engine 24 includes a crankcase 24a and a cylinder assembly 24b located on the crankcase 24a.

[0014] The cylinder assembly 24b includes a cylinder block and a cylinder head. A space in which the piston reciprocates is formed within the cylinder block. The cylinder head is fitted with a spark plug, intake and exhaust valves, etc. The cylinder head covers the cylinder block, forming a combustion chamber. The cylinder head is covered by a cylinder head cover.

[0015] A crankcase 24a is connected to the lower part of the cylinder assembly 24b, and a crankshaft is rotatably supported by the crankcase.

[0016] A flow path through which the cooling medium can pass is formed in the engine 24. For example, the flow path is formed in the cylinder block and the cylinder head.

[0017] An air cleaner box 26 is located above the engine 24. For example, the engine 24 is located below the fuel tank 13. A cylinder assembly 24b protrudes diagonally upward and forward from the front portion of the engine 24. The air cleaner box 26 is located above the cylinder assembly 24b. The air cleaner box 26 is located below the fuel tank 13.

[0018] A filter is housed in the air cleaner box 26. The filter removes foreign matter from the air taken into the engine 24.

[0019] An exhaust pipe 28 extends from the engine 24. The exhaust pipe 28 is a pipe that discharges burned gases from the engine 24. The exhaust pipe is connected to the cylinder assembly 24b of the engine 24 and is connected to an exhaust port formed in the cylinder head. The exhaust pipe 28 extends downward from the front of the cylinder assembly 24b and passes along the side of the lower part of the engine 24 toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0020] The engine 24 may be configured to be integrated with a primary reduction mechanism including a clutch, a speed change gear, and the like.

[0021] A radiator 29 is located in front of the engine 24. The radiator 29 is a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the cooling medium that cools the engine 24 and the outside air. The radiator 29 is located in front of the air cleaner box 26. The radiator 29 is located behind the front wheels 20. When the vehicle is running, air flowing around the front wheels 20 flows into the radiator 29 and cools the cooling medium circulating within the radiator 29.

[0022] The radiator 29 may include a fan 29f. For example, the fan 29f may be a fan that is rotationally driven by a fan motor 29fa so as to blow air rearward. In this case, air flowing in from the front while driving passes through the radiator 29 and flows smoothly rearward.

[0023] The power engine does not have to be an internal combustion engine, but may be, for example, an electric motor.

[0024] The seat 12 is supported by the body frame 11 at a central position in the front-rear direction of the body frame 11. The seat 12 is a seat on which a driver sits.

[0025] A fuel tank 13 is located in the middle of the body frame 11 in the longitudinal direction, in front of the seat 12. The seat 12 and the fuel tank 13 may be located at a higher position than the engine 24. A tandem seat 12t for a passenger may be provided behind the seat 12.

[0026] In the front-rear direction, the fuel tank 13 is disposed at a position overlapping with the engine 24. For example, 80% or more of the fuel tank 13 may be disposed at a position overlapping with the engine 24 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0027] The handlebars 30 are supported on the front portion of the body frame 11. For example, in this embodiment, a head pipe 32 is provided at the front portion of the body frame 11. A steering shaft 33 is rotatably inserted through the head pipe 32. A pair of upper and lower brackets 34 are supported on the steering shaft 33. The handlebars 30 are supported by the brackets 34. The handlebars 30 are located in front of the seat 12, in this embodiment, in front of the fuel tank 13. A driver seated in the seat 12 can operate the handlebars 30 while facing forward.

[0028] A headlight 38 may be supported in front of the handlebars 30 .

[0029] The meter unit 50 may be located in front of the seat 12. The meter unit 50 is a unit that displays the status of the motorcycle 10. For example, the meter unit 50 displays the vehicle speed, remaining fuel, mileage, engine 24 RPM, etc. The meter unit 50 may be supported, for example, at the center of the handlebars 30 in the width direction. The meter unit 50 may be supported on the frame via a bracket or the like at a position forward of the handlebars 30.

[0030] The fuel tank 13 is an example of an energy storage device that stores energy for driving the internal combustion engine. If the power engine is an electric motor, the energy storage device may be a battery.

[0031] The front forks 36 are supported by the brackets 34 so as to extend downward. The front wheel 20 is rotatably supported at the lower ends of the front forks 36. When the handlebars 30 are operated, the steering shaft 33, the brackets 34, and the front forks 36 rotate around the axis of the head pipe 32. Along with this rotation, the front wheel 20 also rotates around the axis of the head pipe 32, changing the direction of the front wheel 20.

[0032] A swing arm 18 is located at the rear of the body frame 11. For example, the swing arm 18 extends rearward from a pivot bracket on the rear side of an engine 24. A rear wheel 22 is rotatably supported on the rear end of the swing arm 18.

[0033] The rotational driving force of the engine 24 is transmitted to the rear wheel 22 via a transmission mechanism including gears and a chain, thereby driving the rear wheel 22 to rotate. As another example, the transmission mechanism may include a circular belt such as a toothed belt. Furthermore, the power transmission mechanism may include a shaft drive mechanism including a drive shaft, a bevel gear, or the like.

[0034] The motorcycle 10 includes side covers 40. The side covers 40 are covers formed from resin using a mold, for example. The side covers 40 are covers that cover both the left and right sides of the body frame 11 at a position rearward of the headlight 38.

[0035] The side cover 40 may be configured by combining a plurality of covers. For example, the side cover 40 may include a first side cover 40a, a second side cover 40b, a third side cover 40c, and a fourth side cover 40d.

[0036] The first side cover 40a covers the area from below the fuel tank 13 to below the front end of the seat 12. The second side cover 40b covers the area from below the midsection of the seat 12 in the fore-and-aft direction to below the tandem seat 12t. The second side cover 40b also covers the area below the rear end of the first side cover 40a. Therefore, the first side cover 40a and the second side cover 40b are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction below the area from the rear of the fuel tank 13 to the front of the seat 12. In this area, the first side cover 40a and the second side cover 40b are adjacent to each other via a boundary that extends in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0037] The third side cover 40c is configured to cover both sides of the front of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the third side cover 40c extends rearward from the headlight 38 and is configured to cover at least the cylinder assembly of the engine 24 from the sides. The third side cover 40c is disposed adjacent to the first side cover 40a in the vertical direction. The third side cover 40c is disposed adjacent to the second side cover 40b in the front-rear direction.

[0038] The fourth side cover 40d extends from the lower edge of the rear end of the third side cover 40c toward the lower side of the engine 24.

[0039] The above example of dividing the side cover 40 is merely an example, and the configuration of the side cover is not limited to the above example.

[0040] The motorcycle 10 may be provided with another cover. The other cover is, for example, a cover 41a called a front cover or a front cowl. It is not essential that the motorcycle be provided with a cover.

[0041] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the motorcycle 10. The motorcycle 10 is a vehicle capable of wireless communication with a terminal device 90, and includes an electrical component 61 and a wireless communication unit 70.

[0042] The electrical component 61 is an electrical component of the motorcycle 10, such as a control device, a sensor, or an actuator. For example, the electrical component 61 is a control device, more specifically, an electric control unit (ECU) including a processor, a memory, and the like. In this embodiment, the electrical component 61 may be an FI-ECU (Fuel Injection-Electric Control Unit). The FI-ECU is an example of a control unit that controls the engine 24.

[0043] Since the electrical component 61 and the wireless communication unit 70 are separate, the wireless communication unit 70 can be easily added without making major design changes to the electrical component 61.

[0044] The motorcycle 10 may further include electrical components 62 and 63 .

[0045] The electrical components 62 are internal combustion engine electrical components including various sensors incorporated in the engine 24, actuators that drive fuel injectors, etc. The electrical components may also be an inertial measurement unit (IMU) or a vehicle speed sensor.

[0046] The electrical component 63 is an external connection connector for wired connection to the outside. For example, by connecting a connector 93 of an external device 92 to the external connection connector 63, the external device 92 can be connected to the electrical components 62, 63, etc., inside the motorcycle 10. The external device 92 may be, for example, a diagnostic device for analyzing the state of the motorcycle 10.

[0047] The wireless communication unit 70 is a unit that performs wireless communication with a terminal device. For example, the wireless communication unit 70 is a wireless communication unit that has a wireless communication circuit 70b and an antenna 70c that perform communication in accordance with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication standard. The wireless communication unit 70 may also be a wireless communication unit that performs communication in accordance with other communication standards such as the Wi-Fi communication standard.

[0048] The terminal device 90 is, for example, a terminal device equipped with a wireless communication function, such as a smartphone or a tablet.

[0049] The electrical component 61 and the wireless communication unit 70 are connected via a wired signal line 80. In other words, the wireless communication unit 70 performs wireless communication with a terminal device 90 external to the motorcycle 10, but performs wired communication with the electrical component 61 incorporated in the motorcycle 10. The terminal device 90 is connected to the electrical component 61 via the wireless communication unit 70. As a result, information held by the electrical component 61 is acquired by the terminal device 90. For example, the operation history of the engine 24 held by the FI-ECU is acquired by the terminal device 90, and the status of the engine 24 can be ascertained via the terminal device 90.

[0050] The signal line 80 connecting the electric component 61 and the wireless communication unit 70 may be a common signal line such as a bus line connecting the electric component 61 and other electric components, or may be a signal line for one-to-one communication between the electric component 61 and the wireless communication unit 70. In this embodiment, an example is described in which the signal line 80 connecting the electric component 61 and the wireless communication unit 70 is a bus line shared as a signal line among multiple electric components. Therefore, in addition to the electric component 61 and the wireless communication unit 70, other electric components 62 and 63 are connected to the signal line.

[0051] In this case, for example, bus communication circuits 70a, 61a, 62a, 63a are incorporated into the wireless communication unit 70 and the electrical components 61, 62, 63, respectively, for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a signal line 80 serving as a bus line. The wireless communication unit 70 and the electrical components 61, 62, 63 can communicate with each other via a common signal line.

[0052] If a signal line 80 exists as an existing bus line, the wireless communication unit 70 can be simply added and connected to the signal line 80. This makes it easy to add a wireless communication function.

[0053] The signal line 80 as a bus line may be, for example, a signal line conforming to the CAN (Controller Area Network) standard. In this case, the signal line may be a twisted pair cable.

[0054] A joint connector 88 may be used to connect the signal lines connected to the wireless communication unit 70 and the electrical components 61, 62, and 63 as a common signal line.

[0055] 3, the joint connector 88 includes a connector 89a to which the respective signal lines 80 from the wireless communication unit 70, the FI-ECU 61, and the internal combustion engine electric components 62 are connected, and a relay circuit 89b that relays and connects the terminals of the connector 89a. By connecting the respective signal lines 80 from the wireless communication unit 70, the FI-ECU 61, and the internal combustion engine electric components 62 to the joint connector 88, the respective signal lines 80 are connected to form a common bus line via the relay circuit 89b.

[0056] The joint connector 88 is an example of a junction component that branches the signal line 80 into a second signal line 80b on the wireless communication unit 70 side and a first signal line 80a on the electrical component 61 side. The wireless communication unit 70 and the electrical component 61 may be connected directly without using the joint connector 88.

[0057] It is also possible that other electric wires, such as a power supply wire, a ground wire, other signal wires, etc., are connected to the wireless communication unit 70 and the electrical components 61, 62, 62. For example, the wireless communication unit 70 may be connected to a power supply wire, a ground wire, and an on / off signal wire of an ignition switch.

[0058] An example of mounting the wireless communication unit 70 and the electrical component 61 will be described in more detail.

[0059] Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the mounting portion of the wireless communication unit 70 and the electrical component 61. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the mounting portion of the wireless communication unit 70 and the joint connector 88.

[0060] 1, 4, and 5, the wireless communication unit 70 and the electrical component 61 may be disposed in a positional relationship in which they at least partially overlap in the front-to-rear direction. In this case, the wireless communication unit 70 and the electrical component 61 can be easily connected over a short distance. For example, the signal line 80 connected to the electrical component 61 can be branched near the electrical component 61 and easily connected to the wireless communication unit 70.

[0061] In this embodiment, the case 100 is disposed below the seat 12. More specifically, the case 100 is disposed in a region extending from a region below the rear of the fuel tank 13 to a region below the middle of the seat 12 in the front-rear direction. The case 100 is formed of, for example, resin. The case 100 includes a battery case 102 and an additional case 106. The case 100 is supported directly or indirectly by the body frame 11.

[0062] The battery case 102 has a bottom 102a, a rear wall 102b, and side walls 102c. The rear wall 102b rises from the rear edge of the bottom 102a. A pair of side walls 102c rise from at least the rearmost portions of both side edges of the bottom 102a. The pair of side walls 102c are also continuous with both side edges of the rear wall 102b. Therefore, a battery storage space surrounded by the rear wall 102b and the pair of side walls 102c is formed in the rearmost portion of the case 100.

[0063] The additional case 106 has a partition wall 106a arranged in front of the rear wall 102b with a gap therebetween, and a support plate 106b extending horizontally forward from the partition wall 106a. The additional case 106 may be a part that is fixed to the battery case 102 by a fitting structure or by screws, etc.

[0064] A battery 108 is supported on the bottom portion 102a within a section surrounded by the rear wall 102b, the pair of side walls 102c, and the partition wall 106a.

[0065] The support plate 106b is spaced upwardly relative to the bottom portion 102a.

[0066] The wireless communication unit 70 and the joint connector 88 are located on the support plate 106b. The FI-ECU 61 is located between the bottom portion 102a and the support plate 106b. The relay unit 66 may also be located between the bottom portion 102a and the support plate 106b.

[0067] The wireless communication unit 70, the joint connector 88, the FI-ECU 61, and the relay unit 66 are supported by the battery case 100 by being directly screwed to the battery case 100 or fixed with a bracket.

[0068] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a bracket 110 is fixed onto the support plate 106b with screws.

[0069] The bracket 110 is a member formed by pressing a metal plate, and has, for example, a bottom plate portion 110a and a pair of side plate portions 110b. The bottom plate portion 110a is formed in a plate shape that extends across the bottom surface of the wireless communication unit 70. One end of the bottom plate portion 110a is formed with a screw insertion hole for screw fastening. A screw S is inserted into the screw insertion hole and fixed to the support plate 106b.

[0070] A pair of side plates 110b rise from both side edges of the bottom plate 110a. A gap is provided between the pair of side plates 110b to allow placement of the wireless communication unit 70. It is preferable that at least a portion of an elastic intervening member 114 be interposed between the pair of side plates 110b and the wireless communication unit 70. The elastic intervening member 114 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and includes a pair of side portions 114a into which the pair of side plates 110b can be inserted, and connecting portions 114b, 114c that connect the pair of side portions 114a. In this embodiment, the elastic intervening member 114 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape that surrounds the wireless communication unit 70.

[0071] The elastic intervening member 114 surrounds the wireless communication unit 70 so that both sides, top, and bottom of the wireless communication unit 70 are covered by the pair of side portions 114a and the connecting portions 114b and 114c. In this state, the pair of side plate portions 110b are inserted into the pair of side portions 114a. In this way, the bracket 110 supports the wireless communication unit 70 via the elastic intervening member 114.

[0072] In the above-described supported state, the pair of side portions 114a can be partially interposed between the side plate portion 110b and the side surface of the wireless communication unit 70. For example, the side portion 114a may have a flat insertion hole formed therein into which the side plate portion 110b can be inserted. With the side plate portion 110b inserted into the side portion 114a, a portion of the side portion 114a positioned more inward than the side plate portion 110b can be interposed between the side plate portion 110b and the wireless communication unit 70. A slit-shaped opening may be formed in the side portion, and the side plate portion may be inserted into the slit-shaped opening. Even in this case, a portion of the periphery of the slit-shaped opening can be interposed between the side plate portion and the wireless communication unit.

[0073] Because the wireless communication unit 70 is supported by the case 100, vibrations of the vehicle body frame 11 are less likely to be transmitted to the wireless communication unit 70. In addition, because at least a portion of the elastic intervening member 114 is interposed between the bracket 110 and the wireless communication unit 70, vibrations of the vehicle body frame 11 are less likely to be transmitted to the wireless communication unit 70.

[0074] The bracket 110 may have an additional support piece 110d. The additional support piece 110d may, for example, protrude upward from one side portion of one end of the bottom plate portion 110a. The joint connector 88 may be supported by the additional support piece 110d. For example, the joint connector 88 may be fixed to the additional support piece 110d by a screw or a locking structure.

[0075] This allows one bracket 110 to support both the wireless communication unit 70 and the joint connector 88. The wireless communication unit 70 and the joint connector 88 may be supported by separate support components.

[0076] The positional relationship of each part will be explained.

[0077] The wireless communication unit 70 is located above the FI-ECU 61, which serves as a control unit. It is preferable, but not essential, that the wireless communication unit 70 overlap the FI-ECU 61 in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 70 overlaps the FI-ECU 61 in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, more than half of the wireless communication unit 70, and more preferably, more than two-thirds of the wireless communication unit 70 overlaps the FI-ECU 61 in the longitudinal direction.

[0078] If the wireless communication unit 70 is positioned above the FI-ECU 61, the wireless communication unit 70 may become an obstacle when accessing the FI-ECU 61 from above. This makes it difficult to access the FI-ECU 61. Furthermore, since the wireless communication unit 70 can be positioned closer to the driver seated in the seat 12 than the FI-ECU 61, communication is improved.

[0079] As described above, the case 100 is disposed in the area extending from the area below the rear of the fuel tank 13 to the area below the middle of the seat 12 in the front-rear direction.

[0080] The battery 108 is located toward the rear of the case 100 and is located below the seat 12. The wireless communication unit 70 is located in front of the battery 108 in the case 100 and is located below the fuel tank 13. In other words, it is sufficient that the wireless communication unit 70 is located below the fuel tank 13 while at least a portion of the wireless communication unit 70 overlaps with the fuel tank 13 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0081] Therefore, the battery 108 can be easily accessed by removing the seat 12, facilitating maintenance. The wireless communication unit 70, which is supported by the same case 100, is positioned below the fuel tank 13 by being supported further forward than the battery 108. This allows the wireless communication unit 70 to be protected by the fuel tank 13 and makes it difficult to access directly from the outside. Additionally, the fuel tank 13 makes it difficult for the wireless communication unit 70 to be exposed to sunlight.

[0082] The first signal line 80a drawn from the FI-ECU 61 and the second signal line 80b drawn from the wireless communication unit 70 extend in the same direction. In this embodiment, the first signal line 80a extends forward from the FI-ECU 61. The second signal line 80b extends forward from the wireless communication unit 70. If the signal lines extend in various directions, a long wiring space would be required in the direction in which each signal line extends, and wiring work may need to be done in various directions. In this embodiment, the first signal line 80a and the second signal line 80b can be easily arranged in the same position aligned in the front-to-rear direction, which makes it easy to reduce the arrangement space for the signal lines 80a and 80b. Furthermore, the arrangement work for the signal lines 80a and 80b can be easily done.

[0083] In this case, the joint connector 88 as a junction component may be disposed in a positional relationship in which it at least partially overlaps with at least one of the electrical component 61 and the wireless communication unit 70 in the front-rear direction.

[0084] In this embodiment, the joint connector 88 overlaps with the FI-ECU 61 in the front-rear direction, which allows the first signal line 80a connecting the joint connector 88 and the FI-ECU 61 to be shortened.

[0085] 4, when the joint connector 88 is disposed at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, the joint connector 88 can overlap with the wireless communication unit 70 in the front-to-rear direction. This allows the second signal line 80b connecting the joint connector 88 and the wireless communication unit 70 to be shortened.

[0086] The wireless communication unit 70 is disposed above the engine 24. Note that it is sufficient that at least a portion of the wireless communication unit 70 overlaps with the engine 24 in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, the wireless communication unit 70 is effectively protected between the engine 24 and the fuel tank 13.

[0087] The bottom portion 102a, the support plate 106b, and the bottom plate portion 110a are interposed as partitions between the engine 24 and the wireless communication unit 70. This makes it difficult for heat from the engine 24 to be transferred to the wireless communication unit 70, facilitating stable operation of the wireless communication unit 70. Note that other electrical components may also be considered to be a type of partition.

[0088] In a side view, the wireless communication unit 70 is located away from the seam 40Ba between the first side cover 40a and the second side cover 40b. More specifically, the wireless communication unit 70 is located inside the second side cover 40b. Therefore, even if water enters through the seam 40Ba, it is unlikely to get on the wireless communication unit 70.

[0089] The wireless communication unit 70 is preferably located away from noise sources. For example, the wireless communication unit 70 is preferably located away from the fan motor 29fa of the radiator 29 in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 70 and the fan motor 29fa are separated by a distance that allows the air cleaner box 26 to be placed therebetween. This sufficiently reduces the noise generated by the fan motor 29fa. The wireless communication unit 70 is also preferably located away from other noise sources such as motors and electromagnetic switches. The other motors may be regulator fans, magnetic switches, electric motors for driving, etc.

[0090] The wireless communication unit 70 may be located between the rear end of the front wheel 20 and the front end of the rear wheel 22. The wireless communication unit 70 may be located rearward of the center between the front wheel 20 and the rear wheel 22. This makes it easier to communicate with the terminal device 90 carried by the occupant.

[0091] The wireless communication unit 70 is preferably disposed between the left and right body frames 11 in the vehicle width direction. This makes it easier for the wireless communication unit 70 to be protected by the left and right body frames 11. When viewed along the vehicle width direction, the wireless communication unit 70 is preferably disposed at a position away from the body frame 11, for example, above the body frame 11. This makes it less likely that the body frame 11, which is made of metal or the like, will obstruct radio waves. Furthermore, the wireless communication unit 70 is preferably disposed at a position away from the side cover 40 on the inside in the vehicle width direction. This makes it less likely that water will get on the wireless communication unit 70, even if water gets in through a gap in the side cover 40.

[0092] In the motorcycle 10 configured as described above, the wireless communication unit 70, which is separate from the electrical component 61, is connected to the electrical component 61 via the signal line 80. This allows the wireless communication unit 70 to be easily added to the motorcycle 10 by utilizing the design of the existing electrical component 61. Also, design changes to the electrical component 61 can be easily implemented separately from the wireless communication unit 70. Furthermore, because the wireless communication unit 70 is separate from the electrical component 61, the wireless communication unit 70 can be positioned in any desired location. These points make it easy to accommodate additional installation or design changes to the wireless communication unit 70.

[0093] Furthermore, if the signal line 80 is a common signal line such as a bus line, the wireless communication unit 70 can be easily connected to the electrical component 61. For example, if there is an existing bus line, the wireless communication unit 70 can be easily added and connected to the bus line.

[0094] Furthermore, if the electrical component 61 is an FI-ECU 61 that controls the power engine, there is a high possibility that information regarding the behavior of the motorcycle 10 is collected in the FI-ECU 61. For example, the FI-ECU 61 may collect and store information regarding the ignition status, operating time, etc. of the internal combustion engine. This information from the FI-ECU 61 can be transmitted via the wireless communication unit 70 to a terminal device 90 outside the motorcycle 10, making it easy to grasp the behavior of the motorcycle 10 from outside.

[0095] Furthermore, if a wireless communication unit were to be incorporated into the meter ECU that controls the display of the meter unit 50, the meter ECU would become more complex and design changes would be difficult. By providing the wireless communication unit 70 as a separate entity from the control unit, the control unit such as the meter ECU can be simplified, improving versatility.

[0096] Furthermore, if the electrical component 61 and the wireless communication unit 70 are arranged in a positional relationship where they at least partially overlap in the front-to-rear direction, the first signal line 80a connected to the electrical component 61 can be easily branched near the electrical component 61 and connected to the wireless communication unit 70. This may enable the length of the signal line 80 to be shortened. If the signal line 80 is made longer, noise may be more likely to be carried, so shortening the signal line 80 improves communication performance.

[0097] Furthermore, since the wireless communication unit 70 is located above the FI-ECU 61, the wireless communication unit 70 can make it difficult to access the FI-ECU 61. This makes it possible to provide a measure against theft or vandalism.

[0098] Furthermore, because the first signal line 80a drawn from the electrical component 61 and the second signal line 80b drawn from the wireless communication unit 70 extend in the same direction, the first signal line 80a and the second signal line 80b can be aligned and arranged to reduce the space required for their arrangement. Furthermore, the signal lines 80a and 80b can also be arranged in the same direction, making the arrangement easier.

[0099] Furthermore, if the signal line 80a extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the wireless communication unit 70 can be easily mounted on the motorcycle 10, which has a limited size in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0100] Furthermore, the joint connector 88 as a junction component is disposed in a positional relationship in the front-rear direction so as to at least partially overlap with at least one of the electrical component 61 and the wireless communication unit 70. This allows the length of the first signal line 80a or the second signal line 80b to be shortened.

[0101] Furthermore, since the wireless communication unit 70 is located below the fuel tank 13, the wireless communication unit 70 can be protected by the fuel tank 13. Moreover, since the wireless communication unit 70 is located at a position lower than the bottom end of the fuel tank 13, radio waves for wireless communication can go around the fuel tank 13, allowing wireless communication with the terminal device 90 without any problems.

[0102] Furthermore, since the bottom portion 102a and the bottom plate portion 110a are interposed as a partition between the engine 24 and the wireless communication unit 70, the heat generated by the engine 24 is less likely to be transmitted to the wireless communication unit 70.

[0103] In addition, in a side view, the wireless communication unit 70 is located away from the seam 40Ba between the first side cover 40a and the second side cover 40b. Therefore, even if water enters through the seam between the first side cover 40a and the second side cover 40b, the wireless communication unit 70 is unlikely to be wet.

[0104] Furthermore, since the wireless communication unit 70 is positioned away from the radiator 29 in the front-rear direction, the wireless communication unit 70 is less susceptible to noise from the fan motor 29fa.

[0105] {Variation} The bus line may be connected to various electrical components other than those described in the above embodiment. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, an IMU (inertial measurement unit) 161, a meter ECU 162, an ABS-ECU 163, a brake device 164 including an actuator, and the like may be connected to the communication line serving as the bus line.

[0106] The meter ECU is a control unit that controls the display of the meter unit 50. The ABS-ECU is a control unit that controls the braking operation of an ABS (Anti-lock Brake System).

[0107] Furthermore, the position of the wireless communication unit 70 is not limited to the above example, and it may be located anywhere on the motorcycle 10. For example, it may be located below the tandem seat 12t, as in the wireless communication unit 170 shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1. If the motorcycle 10 has space for storing luggage, the wireless communication unit may be located in a position that avoids that storage space. This makes it easier to ensure the capacity of the storage space.

[0108] The configurations described in the above embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate as long as they are not mutually contradictory.

[0109] It should be noted that the functions of the elements disclosed herein can be performed using circuits or processing circuits, including general-purpose processors, special-purpose processors, integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, configured or programmed to perform the disclosed functions. A processor is considered a processing circuit or circuit because it includes transistors and other circuitry. In this disclosure, a circuit, unit, or means is hardware that performs the recited functions or hardware that is programmed to perform the recited functions. The hardware may be hardware disclosed herein or other known hardware that is programmed or configured to perform the recited functions. Where the hardware is a processor, which is considered a type of circuit, the circuit, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software, and the software is used to configure the hardware and / or processor.

[0110] The present specification and drawings disclose the following aspects.

[0111] The first aspect is a vehicle that performs wireless communication with a terminal device, and is equipped with an electrical component and a wireless communication unit that is separate from the electrical component and connected to the electrical component via a signal line.

[0112] According to the first aspect, the wireless communication unit, which is separate from the electrical components, is connected to the electrical components via a signal line, so that wireless communication functionality can be easily added. Furthermore, because the wireless communication unit is separate from the electrical components, it can be placed in any position, which also makes it easy to accommodate additional installations or design changes.

[0113] As in a second aspect, in the vehicle according to the first aspect, the signal line may be a common signal line connecting the electrical component with other electrical components.

[0114] This allows the wireless communication unit to be connected to the electrical component via the common signal line, making it easy to connect the wireless communication unit to the electrical component.

[0115] As in a third aspect, in the vehicle according to the first or second aspect, the electrical component may be a control unit that controls a power engine of the vehicle.

[0116] A control unit that controls a vehicle's power plant is likely to collect information about the behavior of the vehicle. According to the third aspect, the information from the control unit can be transmitted to an external device via a wireless communication unit, making it easy to grasp the behavior of the vehicle from outside.

[0117] As in the fourth aspect, in a vehicle according to any one of the first to third aspects, the electrical component and the wireless communication unit may be arranged in a positional relationship in which they overlap at least partially in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0118] This makes it easy to branch the wiring connected to the electrical component near the electrical component and connect it to the wireless communication unit.

[0119] As in a fifth aspect, in the vehicle according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the electrical component may be a control device, and the wireless communication unit may be located above the control device.

[0120] This makes it difficult to access the control device via the wireless communication unit, which makes it possible to prevent theft or vandalism.

[0121] As in a sixth aspect, in a vehicle according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the signal line may include a first signal line drawn out from the electrical component and a second signal line drawn out from the wireless communication unit, and the direction in which the first signal line extends from the electrical component may be the same as the direction in which the second signal line extends from the wireless communication unit.

[0122] This makes it easy to align the first and second signal lines, reducing the space required for arranging the signal lines and facilitating the work of arranging the signal lines.

[0123] As in the seventh aspect, the vehicle according to the sixth aspect may further include a junction component that branches the signal line into the first signal line and the second signal line, and the junction component may be positioned in a position in which it overlaps at least partially with at least one of the electrical component and the wireless communication unit in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0124] This allows the length of the first signal line or the second signal line to be shortened.

[0125] As in an eighth aspect, the vehicle according to any one of the first to seventh aspects may further comprise an energy storage device, and the wireless communication unit may be located below the energy storage device.

[0126] This allows the wireless communication unit to be protected by the energy storage device.

[0127] As in a ninth aspect, a vehicle according to any one of the first to eighth aspects may further include a power engine, the wireless communication unit being positioned on the power engine, and a partition being interposed between the power engine and the wireless communication unit.

[0128] In this case, since a partition is interposed between the power engine and the wireless communication unit, heat generated by the power engine is less likely to be transmitted to the wireless communication unit.

[0129] As in the tenth aspect, a vehicle according to any one of the first to ninth aspects may further include a first side cover and a second side cover adjacent to the first side cover, and in a side view, the wireless communication unit may be located away from the joint between the first side cover and the second side cover.

[0130] As a result, even if water seeps in through the joint between the first side cover and the second side cover, the wireless communication unit is less likely to become wet.

[0131] As in the 11th aspect, a vehicle according to any one of the first to tenth aspects may further include a radiator including a radiator fan motor, and the wireless communication unit may be positioned away from the radiator in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0132] This makes it difficult for noise from the radiator fan motor to affect the wireless communication unit.

[0133] The above description is illustrative in all respects and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It is understood that numerous variations not illustrated can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0134] 10 Motorcycles 13. Fuel tank 24 Engine 29 Radiator 40Ba joint 40a 1st side cover 40b Second side cover 61 Electrical components (FI-ECU) 61a Bus communication circuit 62, 63 Electrical parts 70 Wireless Communication Unit 80 signal line 80a First signal line 80b 2nd signal line 88 Joint Connector 90 Terminal Equipment 100 cases 102 Battery case 108 Battery

Claims

1. A vehicle that performs wireless communication with a terminal device, Electrical components and a wireless communication unit that is separate from the electrical component and connected to the electrical component via a signal line; A vehicle equipped with:

2. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, The signal line is a common signal line connecting the electrical component to other electrical components.

3. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, A vehicle, wherein the electrical component is a control unit that controls a power plant of the vehicle.

4. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, The electric component and the wireless communication unit are arranged in a positional relationship in which they at least partially overlap in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

5. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, the electrical component is a control device, The vehicle, wherein the wireless communication unit is located above the control device.

6. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, the signal lines include a first signal line extending from the electrical component and a second signal line extending from the wireless communication unit; A vehicle, wherein the first signal line extends from the electrical component in the same direction as the second signal line extends from the wireless communication unit.

7. 7. A vehicle according to claim 6, a junction component that branches the signal line into the first signal line and the second signal line, The junction component is disposed in a positional relationship in which it at least partially overlaps with at least one of the electrical component and the wireless communication unit in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

8. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an energy storage device; The vehicle, wherein the wireless communication unit is located below the energy storage device.

9. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, Further equipped with a power engine, the wireless communication unit is disposed on the power engine; A vehicle having a partition interposed between the power engine and the wireless communication unit.

10. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, A first side cover; a second side cover adjacent to the first side cover; Furthermore, In a side view of the vehicle, the wireless communication unit is located away from a joint between the first side cover and the second side cover.

11. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, a radiator including a radiator fan motor; A vehicle, wherein the wireless communication unit is positioned apart from the radiator in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

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