Instrument panel structure

Abstract

To provide an instrument panel structure that can protect the antenna of an emergency call system from deformation of the vehicle body caused by a collision. [Solution] An instrument panel structure comprising: an instrument panel 5 positioned behind the front panel 4 of the vehicle body of the vehicle 1, having a top surface 3 facing the windshield 2 of the vehicle 1 and a bottom surface 3a corresponding to the back surface of the top surface 3; a front defroster duct 11 with an outlet 10 facing the windshield 2 opening on the top surface 3; and an antenna 15 for an emergency call device positioned behind the front defroster duct 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an instrument panel structure.

Background Art

[0002] An emergency notification device that wirelessly reports information regarding an accident or the like to the outside when an accident or the like occurs in a vehicle is showing signs of widespread use.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an instrument panel structure in which an emergency notification device main body is attached behind an air passage in an air conditioning unit of a vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the instrument panel structure of Patent Document 1, even if the vehicle body is deformed due to a collision, damage to the emergency notification device main body is reduced by the buffering action due to deformation of the air passage of the air conditioning unit. By the way, in this type of emergency notification device, an antenna connected to the emergency notification device main body is attached. In the instrument panel structure of Patent Document 1, this antenna is installed on the top surface of the instrument panel.Therefore, the antenna cannot be protected from deformation of the vehicle body due to a collision.

[0006] The technology of the present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an instrument panel structure capable of protecting an antenna attached to an emergency notification device main body from deformation of a vehicle body due to a collision.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One instrument panel structure of the present disclosure comprises an instrument panel having a top surface facing the windshield of the vehicle and a bottom surface corresponding to the back surface of the top surface, and positioned behind the front panel of the vehicle body; a front defroster duct having an outlet opening on the top surface toward the windshield; and an antenna for an emergency call device positioned behind the front defroster duct. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The instrument panel structure of this disclosure protects the antenna attached to the emergency call device from deformation of the vehicle body due to a collision. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing the vehicle instrument panel structure of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a recess formed on the top surface of the vehicle instrument panel structure. [Figure 3] This is a conceptual diagram illustrating the various parts that make up the recess in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This figure shows how the antenna of the emergency call device is supported by a bracket in the vehicle instrument panel structure shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] This figure shows the mounting configurations of the antenna for the emergency call device and the antenna for the Global Positioning System (GSO) device. [Figure 6] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the legs supporting the bracket, seen from the underside of the top surface. [Figure 7] Figure 5 illustrates the relationship between the mounting position of the antenna for the emergency call device and the mounting position of the antenna for the Global Positioning System (GSO). [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates the area to be selected as the mounting location for the antenna of the emergency call device shown in Figure 5. [Figure 9] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the bracket. [Figure 10]This diagram illustrates the effect of the vehicle instrument panel structure shown in Figure 1 on the deformation of the vehicle body. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] In all drawings of this application, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is illustrated by arrows Fw (Forward) and Bw (Backward), the left-right direction in the vehicle width direction is illustrated by arrows Lw (Leftward) and Rw (Rightward), and the up-down direction of the vehicle is illustrated by arrows Uw (Upward) and Dw (Downward).

[0011] A vehicle instrument panel structure according to one aspect of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In Figures 1 to 10, which are referenced below, corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0012] In the notation in Figure 1, the bidirectional arrows Fw-Bw indicate the front-to-back direction of the vehicle, and the bidirectional arrows Uw-Dw indicate the up-to-down direction of the vehicle. Rw is the depth direction of the paper, which is not shown in Figure 1, and Lw is the direction towards the viewer. In Figure 1, the instrument panel 5 is positioned behind the front panel 4 of the vehicle body of the vehicle 1, having a top surface 3 facing the windshield 2 of the vehicle 1 and a bottom surface 3a corresponding to the back surface of the top surface 3.

[0013] The front body panel 4 comprises a dash panel 6, a cowl upper panel 7, and a cowl top panel 8. The dash panel 6 rises upward from a portion connected to a floor-side structural member (not shown) of the vehicle 1 and separates the engine compartment (not shown) from the passenger compartment.

[0014] The cowl upper panel 7 includes a vertical wall portion 7a, a stepped portion 7b, and a connecting portion 7c where both portions are connected. The vertical wall portion 7a extends upward from the connecting portion 7c, and the stepped portion 7b extends forward and upward in a two-step shape from the connecting portion 7c. The cowl upper panel overall has a U-shaped cross-section when viewed in the vehicle width direction, and the connecting portion 7c is the portion with the lowest height in the vehicle's vertical direction. The lower surface of the connecting portion 7c of the cowl upper panel 7 or its vicinity is joined to the upper end of the dash panel 6.

[0015] The cowl top panel 8 extends from the upper end side of the dash panel 6, specifically from the upper end of the vertical wall portion of the cowl upper panel 7a, to the top surface 3 up to the contact portion 9 between the top surface 3 and the windshield 2, and supports the front end portion of the top surface 3 from the bottom surface 3a. The cowl top panel includes an inclined panel portion 8a that extends forward and inclined from the upper end of the vertical wall portion 7a of the cowl upper panel 7 toward the contact portion 9.

[0016] Below the top surface 3 of the instrument panel is arranged a front defroster duct 11. The front defroster duct 11 has an outlet 10 that opens on the top surface 3 of the instrument panel 5 toward the windshield 2. The front defroster duct 11 includes an upper duct 13 that extends downward with a forward inclination from the outlet 10 and reaches a bent portion 12 where the downward extension direction turns from a forward inclination to a rearward inclination, and a lower duct 14 that extends downward with a rearward inclination from the bent portion 12 and reaches the lower end. The lower duct 14 is inclined rearward and extends downward as a whole, and the rearward inclined surface portion 14a of the lower duct 14 also extends with a rearward inclination.

[0017] Behind the front defroster duct 11, an antenna 15 of an emergency reporting device is arranged. The relative position in the vehicle's vertical direction between the lower duct 14 of the front defroster duct 11 and the antenna 15 of the emergency reporting device is in the following relationship. That is, the lower duct 14 is at the same vertical position in the vehicle 1 as the vertical position of the bottom 15a of the antenna 15 of the emergency reporting device.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, the form of the top surface 3 of the instrument panel 5 will be described. In the notation of FIG. 2, the bidirectional arrow Fw-Bw indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the bidirectional arrow Lw-Rw indicates the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the bidirectional arrow Uw-Dw indicates the up-down direction of the vehicle. The top surface 3 of the instrument panel 5 has a recess 17 for arranging a display device 16 (FIG. 3) at the central top in the vehicle width direction. The display device 16 is an electronic device arranged at the center in the vehicle width direction of the top surface 3, generally called a center meter for example, and can take a form including a display unit for performing various displays regarding speed, driving distance, and other vehicle states. Also, the display device 16 can be a car navigation system having a display unit. The back surface 16a of the display device 16 on the side opposite to the display unit side forms an inclined surface where the lower end is located behind the upper end.

[0019] In front of the recess 17 in FIG. 2 and behind the front defroster duct 11 in FIG. 1, an antenna 15 of an emergency notification device is arranged. Also, an antenna 18 of a global positioning system device is arranged so as to be aligned with the antenna 15 of the emergency notification device in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1. Hereinafter, the antenna 15 of the emergency notification device will be referred to as the first antenna 15 as appropriate, and the antenna 18 of the global positioning system device will be referred to as the second antenna 18.

[0020] The first antenna 15 is supported by a first bracket 19 fixed to the back surface on the side opposite to the surface for arranging the display device 16 of the recess 17, which is arranged inside the instrument panel 5. The second antenna 18 is supported by a second bracket 20 fixed to the recess 17, which is arranged inside the instrument panel 5. The first bracket 19 and the second bracket 20 are aligned in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1.

[0021] As a result, the first bracket 19 and the second bracket 20 are located near the top surface 3 of the instrument panel 5 and close to the windshield 2, which does not have an electromagnetic shielding effect. Therefore, both the first antenna 15 supported by the first bracket 19 and the second antenna 18 supported by the second bracket 20 are able to communicate well. Furthermore, since both the first antenna 15 and the second antenna 18 are located in the center of the top surface 3 in the vehicle width direction, the propagation of radio waves related to communication by the first antenna 15 and the second antenna 18 is not obstructed by the left and right front pillars of the vehicle 1. This also enables the first antenna 15 and the second antenna 18 to communicate well.

[0022] Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the various parts that make up the recess 17 in Figure 2. In the notation of Figure 3, the bidirectional arrows Fw-Bw indicate the front-to-back direction of the vehicle, the bidirectional arrows Lw-Rw indicate the left-to-right direction of the vehicle, and the bidirectional arrows Uw-Dw indicate the up-to-down direction of the vehicle.

[0023] The recess 17 has a left wall portion 21 and a right wall portion 22 that run along both sides of the vehicle width direction of the positioned display device 16, a front vertical wall portion 23 that faces the rear surface 16a of the display device which is the front side of the display device 16, and an intermediate bottom surface portion 24 that is located above the left wall portion 21, the right wall portion 22 and the front vertical wall portion 23 and below the top surface 3.

[0024] The intermediate bottom portion 24 has an inner intermediate bottom portion 24a that extends forward in connection with the upper end of the front vertical wall portion 23, and outer intermediate bottom portions 24b that extend outward in the vehicle width direction, connected to both ends of the inner intermediate bottom portion 24a in the vehicle width direction.

[0025] Next, the mounting configuration of the first antenna 15 by the first bracket 19 will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 1, 4, and 5. Figure 5 also shows how the second antenna 18 is supported by the second bracket 20. The first bracket 19 has a bottom portion 19a, a front wall portion 19b, and an inclined surface portion 19c.

[0026] The bottom portion 19a supports the bottom portion 15a of the first antenna 15. The front wall portion 19b is located in front of the first antenna 15. The inclined surface portion 19c is positioned within a vertically defined region from the lower end to the upper end of the lower duct 14, and extends inclined backward from the lower part of the front wall portion 19b toward the front part of the bottom portion 19a.

[0027] The first antenna 15 is surrounded by the first bracket 19, with its bottom portion 15a supported by the bottom portion 19a of the first bracket 19, while maintaining a certain distance from the front wall portion 19b and the inclined surface portion 19c.

[0028] Next, with reference to Figures 4 and 6, an embodiment in which the first bracket 19 is supported inside the instrument panel 5 will be described. The first bracket 19 is supported by legs 25 on the back side opposite to the surface on which the display device 16 is placed in the recess 17 of the top surface 3. The legs 25 extend from a base 25a connected to the bottom surface 3a of the instrument panel 5 toward the inclined panel portion 8a (Figure 1). The base 25a supports the first bracket 19 with its extending tip 25b.

[0029] More specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the leg portion 25 has, for example, a rod-shaped main body portion 25c and a so-called tapered tip portion 25b that protrudes from the main body portion 25c and tapers to a point. The pointed portion is passed through the corresponding hole of the first bracket 19 for positioning. After positioning, the first bracket 19 can be supported by fastening the tip of a fastening leg portion 25d, which is one part of the leg portion 25 provided adjacent to the pointed portion, to the leg portion 25.

[0030] Next, with reference to Figures 5 and 7, the relationship between the mounting position of the first antenna 15 and the mounting position of the second antenna 18 will be explained. The first bracket 19 supporting the first antenna 15 and the second bracket 20 supporting the second antenna 18 are arranged side by side when viewed in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the first antenna 15 and the second antenna 18 are positioned so that their positions partially overlap when viewed in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figure 5, the longitudinal positions of the first antenna 15 and the second antenna 18 are such that the entire shape of the second antenna 18 in the vehicle width direction is included within the area occupied by the first antenna 15 in the longitudinal direction.

[0031] Referring to Figure 7, the second antenna 18 is contained within the vertical region sandwiched between the height position h1 of the bottom 15a of the first antenna 15 and the height position h2 of the top surface of the first antenna 15. More specifically, with the height position of the top surface of the second antenna 18 approximately aligned with position h2, the entire front view of the second antenna 18 is contained within the vertical region from position h1 to position h2.

[0032] Figure 8 shows the area to be selected as the mounting position for the first antenna 15. Specifically, the mounting position of the first antenna 15 is selected so that it is located within the front-rear region sandwiched between the contact point 9 between the instrument panel 5 and the windshield 2 and a point at a distance d rearward from this contact point 9.

[0033] As explained with reference to Figure 5, the second antenna 18 is located within the area occupied by the first antenna 15 in the front-rear direction, with its entire shape included in the vehicle width direction view. Therefore, the second antenna 18, supported by the second bracket 20, is located within the front-rear region sandwiched between the contact area 9 between the instrument panel 5 and the windshield 2 in Figure 8 and a position at a distance d rearward from this contact area 9.

[0034] In other words, the first antenna 15 supported by the first bracket 19 and the second antenna 18 supported by the second bracket 20 are positioned within a front-to-back region sandwiched between the contact point 9 between the instrument panel 5 and the windshield 2 and a point at a distance d rearward from this contact point 9. The distance d can be, for example, 200 millimeters.

[0035] Referring to the partial cross-sectional perspective view in Figure 9, the configuration in which the first antenna 15 is supported by the first bracket 19 will be described. The first bracket 19 has a bracket recess 19d facing the bottom 15a of the first antenna 15. On the other hand, the first antenna 15 has a sheet metal member 26 at its bottom 15a that straddles the bracket recess 19d of the first bracket 19 and connects both sides of the bracket recess 19d in the vehicle width direction.

[0036] The sheet metal member 26 has fastening portions 26a that protrude equally from the bottom portion 15a of the first antenna 15, which has an outer shape that is roughly rectangular, toward one side and the other side along the vehicle width direction. The sheet metal member 26 is placed across the bracket recess 19d and fastened with screws at the fastening portions 26a to the parts on one side and the other side of the bracket recess 19d. By having a shape that includes the bracket recess 19d, the first bracket 19 can be made relatively thin and lightweight while obtaining the required rigidity.

[0037] Next, with reference to Figure 10, the effect of the vehicle instrument panel structure having the instrument panel 5 on the deformation of the vehicle body will be explained. When vehicle 1 is subjected to the impact force of a frontal collision, the vehicle body deforms so that the cowl top panel 8 moves backward as shown by the dashed line. Consequently, the front defroster duct 11 is crushed and its position moves backward.

[0038] The first antenna 15, supported by the first bracket 19 and positioned behind the front defroster duct 11, is less susceptible to damage due to the cushioning effect caused by the collapse of the front defroster duct 11. As the cowl top panel 8 deforms to move backward and the front defroster duct 11 collapses and displaces backward, the rearward inclined surface portion 14a of the lower duct 14 comes into contact with the lower front end of the first antenna 15 and the inclined surface portion 19c of the first bracket 19.

[0039] The first antenna 15 and the first bracket 19 are displaced such that their front ends rise and tilt backward due to contact between their rearward inclined surfaces 14a. This displacement of the first antenna 15 and the first bracket 19 allows them to absorb and mitigate the impact force caused by the crushed front defroster duct 11, thereby reducing damage to the first antenna 15.

[0040] Furthermore, since the first antenna 15 is positioned so as to at least partially overlap the region between the front and rear ends of the inclined panel portion 8a, the rearward deformation of the inclined panel portion 8a promotes the aforementioned deformation of the rearward inclined surface portion 14a of the lower duct 14. In other words, the inclined panel portion 8a promotes the displacement of the front end of the first antenna 15, causing it to rise and tilt backward, thereby contributing to the mitigation of the impact force on the first antenna 15.

[0041] Furthermore, the back surface 16a of the display device has an inclined surface where the lower end is located behind the upper end. As a result, when the deformation of the instrument panel 5 is large and the first antenna 15 comes into contact with the back surface 16a of the display device, the displacement of the front end of the first antenna 15 is promoted, causing it to rise and tilt backward. This allows the impact force acting on the first antenna 15 to be absorbed and mitigated, reducing damage to the first antenna 15.

[0042] Furthermore, the front wall portion 19b of the first bracket 19 protects the first antenna 15 by interposing it so that the upper duct 13 does not come into direct contact with the front end of the first antenna 15 when the front defroster duct 11 collapses and retracts.

[0043] As explained with reference to Figures 2, 5, and 7, the second antenna 18 is positioned behind the front defroster duct 11, alongside the first antenna 15 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, like the first antenna 15, the damage to the second antenna 18 is reduced by the cushioning effect caused by the collapse of the front defroster duct 11.

[0044] Furthermore, the leg portion 25, as described with reference to Figures 4 and 6, extends from its base portion 25a, which is connected to the bottom surface 3a of the instrument panel 5, toward the inclined panel portion 8a (Figure 1) of the cowl top panel 8. When the vehicle body deforms and the inclined panel portion 8a deforms so that it is recessed toward the rear and comes into contact with the first bracket 19, the stress caused by this contact acts in the longitudinal direction of the leg portion 25. As a result, the leg portion 25 resists the stress received from the deformed inclined panel portion 8a, preventing deformation of the first bracket 19 and thus preventing damage to the first antenna 15.

[0045] The configurations and their effects in each embodiment of the vehicle instrument panel structure of this disclosure are summarized below.

[0046] (1) The instrument panel structure of the present disclosure is such that an instrument panel 5 is positioned behind the front panel 4 of the vehicle body 1, a front defroster duct 11 with an outlet 10 facing the windshield 2 is provided on the top surface 3 of the instrument panel 5, and an antenna 15 for an emergency call device is positioned behind the front defroster duct 11.

[0047] In the instrument panel structure described in (1) above, if the body of the vehicle 1 is deformed due to a frontal collision, the first antenna 15, which is located behind the front defroster duct 11, will have its damage reduced by the cushioning effect caused by the collapse of the front defroster duct 11.

[0048] (2) In one embodiment of the instrument panel structure described in (1) above, the antenna 15 for the emergency call device and the antenna 18 for the global positioning system device are arranged in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1 behind the front defroster duct 11.

[0049] In the instrument panel structure described in (2) above, if the vehicle body of vehicle 1 is deformed due to a frontal collision, damage to both the emergency call device antenna 15 and the global positioning system device antenna 18 is mitigated by the cushioning effect caused by the crushing of the front defroster duct 11.

[0050] (3) In one embodiment of the instrument panel structure described in (1) above, the front defroster duct 11 has an upper duct 13 that extends downward from the discharge port 10, inclined forward, and reaches a bend 12 where the direction of downward extension changes from an inclination forward to an inclination backward, and a lower duct 14 that extends downward from the bend 12, inclined backward, and reaches its lower end, and the lower duct 14 is at a vertical position equivalent to the vertical position of the vehicle 1 at the bottom 15a of the antenna 15 of the emergency call device.

[0051] In the instrument panel structure described in (3) above, when the vehicle body of vehicle 1 is deformed by a frontal collision, the front defroster duct 11 is crushed and displaced rearward, causing the rear side of the lower duct 14 to come into contact with the lower front end of the emergency call device antenna 15. The emergency call device antenna 15 is displaced so that its front end stands up and tilts backward due to contact with the rearward-sloping lower duct 14. This displacement of the emergency call device antenna 15 allows it to absorb and mitigate the impact force caused by the crushed front defroster duct 11, thereby reducing damage to the emergency call device antenna 15.

[0052] (4) In one embodiment of the instrument panel structure described in (3) above, the instrument panel 5 is provided with a first bracket 19 that is located at the bottom 15a of the instrument panel 5 and supports the antenna 15 of the emergency call device, the first bracket 19 having a bottom surface portion 19a that supports the bottom 15a of the antenna 15 of the emergency call device, a front wall portion 19b located in front of the antenna 15 of the emergency call device, and an inclined surface portion 19c that is located within a vertically defined area from the lower end to the upper end of the lower duct 14 and extends inclined backward from the lower part of the front wall portion 19b toward the front part of the bottom surface portion 19a.

[0053] In the instrument panel structure described in (4) above, when the vehicle body of vehicle 1 is deformed by a frontal collision, the front defroster duct 11 is crushed and displaced rearward, causing the rear side of the lower duct 14 to come into contact with the lower front end of the emergency call device antenna 15 and the inclined surface portion 19c of the first bracket 19. The front end of the emergency call device antenna 15 and the first bracket 19 are displaced so that they stand up and tilt rearward due to the contact of the rear side of the lower duct 14. This displacement of the emergency call device antenna 15 and the first bracket 19 allows them to absorb and mitigate the impact force caused by the crushed front defroster duct 11, thereby reducing damage to the emergency call device antenna 15.

[0054] (5) In one embodiment of the instrument panel structure described in (1) above, the front panel 4 of the vehicle body includes a dash panel 6 that separates the engine compartment and the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1, and a cowl top panel 8 that extends to the top surface 3, including an inclined panel portion 8a that extends forward from the upper end of the dash panel 6 toward the contact area 9 between the top surface 3 and the windshield 2, and supports the front end of the top surface 3 from the back surface (bottom surface 3a), and the antenna 15 of the emergency call device is positioned to at least partially overlap the area between the front end position and the rear end position of the inclined panel portion 8a.

[0055] In the instrument panel structure described in (5) above, the antenna 15 of the emergency call device is positioned so as to at least partially overlap the area between the front and rear ends of the inclined panel portion 8a. Therefore, when the vehicle body of the vehicle 1 deforms due to a frontal collision and the inclined panel portion 8a is displaced rearward, the inclined panel portion 8a promotes the displacement of the front end of the antenna 15 of the emergency call device, causing it to rise and tilt backward, thereby contributing to the mitigation of the impact force on the antenna 15 of the emergency call device.

[0056] (6) In one embodiment of the instrument panel structure described in (5) above, the instrument panel 5 is provided with a bracket 19 on its bottom surface 3a that supports the antenna 15 of the emergency call device, and the top surface 3 of the instrument panel 5 is fixed to the cowl top panel 8 and has a base portion 25a connected to the bottom surface 3a of the instrument panel 5 and a tip portion 25b extending from 25a toward the inclined panel portion 8a, and is provided with a leg portion 25 that supports the bracket 19 with the tip portion 25b.

[0057] In the instrument panel structure described in (6) above, when the vehicle body of the vehicle 1 deforms due to a frontal impact, and the inclined panel portion 8a deforms so as to be concave toward the rear and comes into contact with the first bracket 19, the stress caused by this contact acts in the longitudinal direction of the leg portion 25. Therefore, the leg portion 25 resists the stress received from the deformed inclined panel portion 8a, preventing deformation of the first bracket 19 and preventing damage to the first antenna 15.

[0058] (7) In one embodiment of the instrument panel structure described in (6) above, a display device 16 is provided behind the antenna 15 of the emergency call device, and the back surface of the display device 16 opposite to the display surface is an inclined surface (back surface 16a of the display device) whose lower end is located behind the upper end.

[0059] In the instrument panel structure described in (7) above, if the deformation of the instrument panel 5 due to a frontal impact is significant and the antenna 15 of the emergency call device comes into contact with the back surface 16a of the display device, the inclination of the back surface 16a of the display device promotes a displacement in which the front end of the first antenna 15 rises and tilts backward. This allows the impact force acting on the first antenna 15 to be deflected and mitigated, thereby reducing damage to the first antenna 15.

[0060] (8) In one embodiment of the instrument panel structure described in (3) above, the antenna 15 of the emergency call device and the antenna 18 of the global positioning system device are arranged behind the front defroster duct 11, side by side in the vehicle width direction behind the front defroster duct 11, the upper surface of the antenna 15 of the emergency call device and the upper surface of the antenna 18 of the global positioning system device are at the same vertical position, and the antenna 15 of the emergency call device is positioned below the vertical position of the bent portion 12.

[0061] In the instrument panel structure described in (8) above, the antenna 18 of the Global Positioning System is positioned behind the front defroster duct 11, aligned with the antenna 15 of the emergency call device in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, in the event of a frontal collision, damage to the antenna 18 of the Global Positioning System is reduced due to the cushioning effect of the crushing of the front defroster duct 11, similar to the first antenna 15. Furthermore, both the antenna 15 of the emergency call device and the antenna 18 of the Global Positioning System are positioned below the vertical position of the bent portion 12, i.e., aligned with the vertical position of the lower duct 14. As a result, both the antenna 15 of the emergency call device and the antenna 18 of the Global Positioning System are located near the windshield 2, where radio wave propagation is not obstructed. Therefore, both the antenna 15 of the emergency call device and the antenna 18 of the Global Positioning System are able to communicate effectively. Moreover, in the event of a frontal collision, the antenna 15 of the emergency call device is displaced so that its front end rises and tilts backward due to contact with the rear side of the lower duct 14. The displacement of the emergency call device antenna 15 in this manner allows it to absorb and mitigate the impact force caused by the crushed front defroster duct 11 hitting it, thereby reducing damage to the emergency call device antenna 15. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 1…Vehicle 2…windshield 3…Top surface 3a…Bottom surface 4…Front panel of the vehicle 5…Instrument panel 6...Dash panel 7… Cowl upper panel 7a…Standing wall part 7b...Step-shaped section 7c…Connection part 8... Cowl top panel 8a... Inclined panel section 9…Contact site 10…Discharge port 11…Front defroster duct 12...Bend 13… Upper duct 14…Lower duct 14a...Rear side inclined surface part 15…Emergency call system antenna (first antenna) 15a...Bottom 16…Display device 16a... Rear of the display device 17…recess 18…Antenna of the Global Positioning System (2nd Antenna) 19…First bracket 19a…Bottom part 19b...Front wall part 19c...Slope section 19d…Bracket recess 20…Second bracket 21...Left side wall 22...Right side wall 23...Front standing wall part 24…Intermediate bottom part 24a...Inner middle bottom part 24b...Outer middle bottom part 25...legs 25a...Base 25b…Tip 25c…Body part 25d...Legs for fastening 26…Sheet metal components 26a... Fastening part

Claims

1. An instrument panel having a top surface facing the vehicle's windshield and a bottom surface corresponding to the underside of the top surface, and positioned behind the front panel of the vehicle body, A front defroster duct with an outlet opening toward the windshield on the top surface, An instrument panel structure comprising an antenna for an emergency call device located behind the front defroster duct.

2. Located behind the front defroster duct, it comprises the antenna of the emergency call device and the antenna of the Global Positioning System device aligned in the vehicle width direction. The instrument panel structure according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned front defroster duct is An upper duct extending downward from the aforementioned discharge port, sloping forward, and reaching a bend where the downward slope changes from a forward slope to a backward slope, It has a lower duct that slopes backward from the bent portion and extends downward to its lower end, The lower duct is located at a vertical position equivalent to the vertical position of the vehicle at the bottom of the antenna of the emergency call device. The instrument panel structure according to claim 1.

4. The instrument panel is provided with a bracket on its bottom surface that supports the antenna of the emergency call device, The aforementioned bracket is The bottom portion that supports the bottom of the antenna of the emergency call device, The front wall portion located in front of the antenna of the aforementioned emergency call device, It is positioned within a region defined in the vertical direction from the lower end to the upper end of the lower duct, and has an inclined surface portion that extends backward from the lower part of the front wall portion toward the front part of the bottom surface portion, The instrument panel structure according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned front panel of the vehicle body is A dashboard panel that separates the engine compartment and the passenger compartment of the aforementioned vehicle, The cowl top panel includes an inclined panel portion that extends forward from the upper end of the dash panel toward the contact area between the top surface and the windshield, and extends to the top surface, supporting the front end of the top surface from the rear surface, The antenna of the emergency call device is positioned so as to at least partially overlap the area between the front end and rear end of the inclined panel portion. The instrument panel structure according to claim 1.

6. The instrument panel is provided with a bracket on its bottom surface that supports the antenna of the emergency call device, The top surface of the instrument panel is fixed by the cowl top panel. The instrument panel has a base portion connected to the bottom surface and a tip portion extending from the base portion toward the inclined panel portion, and the tip portion supports the bracket. The instrument panel structure according to claim 5.

7. The emergency call device is provided with a display device behind the antenna, and the back surface of the display device opposite to the display surface is an inclined surface where the lower end is located behind the upper end. The instrument panel structure according to claim 6.

8. Located behind the front defroster duct, it comprises the antenna of the emergency call device and the antenna of the Global Positioning System device, which are aligned in the vehicle width direction. The upper surface of the antenna of the emergency call device and the upper surface of the antenna of the global positioning system device are located at the same vertical position. The antenna of the emergency call device is positioned below the vertical position of the bent portion. The instrument panel structure according to claim 3.

Images