vehicle

Abstract

To inhibit a buckle from being hard to be operated at the time of a side-impact collision.SOLUTION: A vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body 14, a seat belt device 18, and a seat 16. The vehicle body 14 includes a cabin 12, and is formed, at a side part 14R in a vehicle width direction, with side door openings 20 to be opened / closed by a side door 22. The seat belt device 18 includes a seat belt 18A, a tongue plate 18B, and a buckle 18C. The seat 16 is mounted with the seat belt device 18 and fixed with the buckle 18C on one side in a seat width direction. In addition, the seat 16 is attached on a floor 30 of the cabin 12 rotatably about a vehicle vertical direction as an axial direction. In a state where the seat 16 is oriented toward a vehicle rear side, one side in the seat width direction is arranged on the side part 14R side in the vehicle width side of the vehicle body 14. In the state where the seat is oriented toward the vehicle rear side, the buckle 18C and the side door opening 20 do not overlap in the vehicle width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle in which a seat such as the driver's seat can be switched between facing the front of the vehicle and facing the rear of the vehicle by rotating the seat when viewed from above. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-039400 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, when a seat equipped with a seat belt device including a seat belt fastened by a seated occupant, a tongue plate through which the seat belt is inserted, and a buckle with which the tongue plate engages is rotated in a plan view of the vehicle, the buckle may be positioned on the side door side of the vehicle. In this case, if the vehicle experiences a side collision, the side door may be displaced toward the interior of the vehicle, reducing the clearance between the buckle and the side door. As a result, it may become difficult to operate the buckle. For example, it may become difficult to press the buckle button.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle that can prevent the buckle from becoming difficult to operate in the event of a side collision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle of the first aspect is equipped with: a vehicle body having a cabin for occupants, with a side door opening formed on a side portion in the vehicle width direction that is opened and closed by a side door; a seat belt device including a belt-shaped seat belt, a tongue plate through which the seat belt is inserted, and a buckle with which the tongue plate engages; and a seat on which the seat belt device is mounted, with the buckle fixed to one side in the seat width direction, the seat being rotatably attached to the floor of the cabin with the vehicle vertical direction as its axial direction, and with one side in the seat width direction being positioned on the side of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction when facing the rear side of the vehicle, and with the buckle facing the rear side of the vehicle being positioned so that the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the vehicle, the seat attached to the cabin floor can be rotated around the vertical direction of the vehicle as an axis, so that the seat faces the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, the occupant seated in the seat engages the tongue plate with the buckle, thereby fastening the seat belt to the occupant seated in the seat. When the seat faces the rear of the vehicle, one side of the seat in the seat width direction is positioned toward the side of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction (the side door side). That is, the buckle fixed to the seat is positioned toward the side of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, when the seat faces the rear of the vehicle, the seat is positioned so that the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction. This ensures clearance between the side door and the buckle, even if the side door is displaced toward the cabin during a side collision. As a result, it is possible to prevent the buckle from becoming difficult to operate during a side collision.

[0008] A vehicle of a second aspect is the vehicle of the first aspect, wherein the seat is attached to the floor of the cabin in a state where it cannot move in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle relative to the floor of the cabin.

[0009] According to the vehicle of the second aspect, it is possible to prevent the buckle and the side door opening from overlapping in the vehicle width direction as the seat moves in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0010] A third aspect of the vehicle is the vehicle of the first aspect, further comprising a front-rear slide support portion that supports the seat so that it can be moved in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, a front-rear slide actuator that moves the seat in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle when activated, and a seat control portion that controls the front-rear slide actuator, and when the seat control portion detects that the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle, the seat control portion activates the front-rear slide actuator to move the seat to a position where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction.

[0011] According to the third aspect of the vehicle, when the seat control unit detects that the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle, the seat control unit activates the front-rear slide actuator to move the seat to a position where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction, thereby preventing the buckle and the side door opening from overlapping in the vehicle width direction.

[0012] A fourth aspect of the vehicle is the vehicle of the first aspect, further comprising a front-to-rear slide support portion that supports the seat so that it can move in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and when the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle, the range of movement of the seat allowed by the front-to-rear slide support portion is limited to a range where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] According to the fourth aspect of the vehicle, when the seat is facing rearward, the range of seat movement permitted by the front-rear slide support member is limited to a range where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction, thereby preventing the buckle and the side door opening from overlapping in the vehicle width direction.

[0014] The vehicle of the fifth aspect is the vehicle of the first aspect, further comprising a front-to-rear slide support portion that supports the seat so that it can move in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and when the seat is facing toward the front of the vehicle, movement of the seat is permitted by the front-to-rear slide support portion, and when the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle, movement of the seat by the front-to-rear slide support portion is restricted.

[0015] According to the fifth aspect of the vehicle, when the seat is facing forward, the longitudinal slide support portion allows the seat to move. On the other hand, when the seat is facing backward, the longitudinal slide support portion restricts the seat from moving. This prevents the buckle and the side door opening from overlapping in the vehicle width direction as the seat moves forward or backward.

[0016] In the vehicle of the sixth aspect, in the vehicle of the first aspect, when the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle, the seat is positioned in a position where the buckle overlaps with the body frame portion that forms the frame of the side of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

[0017] According to the sixth aspect of the vehicle, when the seat is facing rearward, the seat is positioned so that the buckle overlaps the body frame, which is less likely to deform toward the cabin during a side collision, in the vehicle width direction. This ensures clearance between the body frame and the buckle during a side collision, making it possible to prevent the buckle from becoming difficult to operate during a side collision.

[0018] A seventh aspect of the vehicle includes a cabin for occupants, a vehicle body having a side door opening formed on one side in the vehicle width direction and opened and closed by a side door; a seat belt device including a belt-shaped seat belt, a tongue plate through which the seat belt is inserted, and a buckle with which the tongue plate engages; a seat on which the seat belt device is mounted and on which the buckle is fixed on one side in the seat width direction, the seat being rotatably attached to a floor of the cabin with the axial direction of the vehicle being the up-and-down direction of the vehicle, the one side in the seat width direction being positioned on a side of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction when facing the rear of the vehicle, and the seat being positionable in a position where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction when facing the rear of the vehicle; and a driving control unit that controls the driving of the vehicle, wherein when the driving control unit detects that the seat is positioned in a position where the buckle and the side door opening overlap in the vehicle width direction when facing the rear of the vehicle, the driving control unit performs at least one of outputting a warning signal, limiting the driving speed of the vehicle, and limiting the acceleration of the vehicle.

[0019] According to a seventh aspect of the vehicle, the seat attached to the cabin floor can be rotated around the vertical direction of the vehicle as an axis, so that the seat can face the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, an occupant seated in the seat engages the tongue plate with the buckle, thereby fastening the seat belt to the occupant seated in the seat. When the seat is facing the rear of the vehicle, one side of the seat in the seat width direction is positioned on a side of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction (side door side). That is, the buckle fixed to the seat is positioned on a side of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction. When the seat is facing the rear of the vehicle, the seat can be positioned so that the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction. When the driving control unit detects that the seat is positioned so that the buckle and the side door opening overlap in the vehicle width direction while the seat is facing the rear of the vehicle, the driving control unit performs at least one of outputting a warning signal, limiting the vehicle's driving speed, and limiting the vehicle's acceleration. This encourages the occupant to move the seat to a position where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction.

[0020] In an eighth aspect of the vehicle, in the seventh aspect, the driving control unit stops outputting the warning signal, limiting the vehicle's driving speed, and limiting the vehicle's acceleration when the vehicle is located on a road on which only autonomous vehicles can drive, or when the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle is located is below a specified speed.

[0021] According to an eighth aspect of the vehicle, the driving control unit stops the above control when the vehicle is located on a road where only autonomous vehicles are allowed to drive and when the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle is located is equal to or less than a specified speed. That is, the driving control unit stops the above control when the vehicle is not expected to collide or when the amount of displacement of the side door toward the cabin is expected to be small even if the vehicle is expected to collide sideways. This allows the seat to be positioned so that the buckle and the side door opening overlap in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, even if the vehicle is expected to collide sideways under these circumstances, clearance between the side door and the buckle is ensured, preventing the buckle from becoming difficult to operate in the event of a side collision.

[0022] A ninth aspect of the vehicle has a cabin for occupants, and comprises a vehicle body having a side door opening formed on a side of the vehicle width direction that is opened and closed by a side door; a seat belt device including a belt-shaped seat belt, a tongue plate through which the seat belt is inserted, and a buckle with which the tongue plate engages; a seat on which the seat belt device is mounted and to which the buckle is fixed on one side of the seat width direction and which is attached to the floor of the cabin; left and right slide support parts that support the seat so that it can move in the vehicle width direction; left and right slide actuators that operate to move the seat in the vehicle width direction; and a seat control unit that controls the left and right slide actuators.When the seat control unit detects that the distance between the buckle and the side door is less than a predetermined distance, the seat control unit activates the left and right slide actuators to move the seat to a position where the distance between the buckle and the side door is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance.

[0023] According to a ninth aspect of the vehicle, an occupant seated in the seat fastens the seat belt by engaging the tongue plate with the buckle. Furthermore, when the left-right slide actuator is activated, the seat moves in the vehicle width direction. Here, when the seat control unit detects that the distance between the buckle and the side door is less than a predetermined distance, the seat control unit activates the left-right slide actuator to move the seat to a position where the distance between the buckle and the side door is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance. This prevents the clearance between the buckle and the side door from becoming less than the predetermined distance, even if they overlap in the vehicle width direction. As a result, even if the vehicle experiences a side collision, clearance between the side door and the buckle is maintained, making it possible to prevent the buckle from becoming difficult to operate during a side collision. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] The vehicle according to the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to prevent the buckle from becoming difficult to operate in the event of a side collision. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a first embodiment, in which a right front seat and a left front seat are facing forward. [Figure 2] 1 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a first embodiment, in which a right front seat and a left front seat are facing rearward. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle showing a door opening. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the door opening and the side door taken along line 4-4 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a second embodiment, in which the right front seat is facing forward and the left front seat is facing backward. [Figure 6]6 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a second embodiment, illustrating a state in which the right front seat has moved forward from the position shown in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a seat control unit of a vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 11 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a second embodiment, illustrating a state when a positive determination is made in the process of step S22 shown in FIG. 10 by the seat control unit. FIG. [Figure 9] 11 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a second embodiment, illustrating a state when a positive determination is made in the process of step S24 shown in FIG. 10 by the seat control unit. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating control by a seat control unit of a vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a third embodiment, in which the right front seat is facing forward and the left front seat is facing backward. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a third embodiment, in which the right front seat and the left front seat are facing rearward. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing a travel control unit of a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart illustrating control by a vehicle travel control unit according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing a seat control unit of a vehicle according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 17] 16 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle according to a fifth embodiment, illustrating a state in which the seat on the rear side of the cabin is positioned to the right of the position shown in FIG. 15. FIG. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart illustrating control by a seat control unit of a vehicle according to a fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] (Vehicle 10 of the first embodiment) A vehicle 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Note that the arrow FR shown as appropriate in each figure indicates the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, the arrow RH indicates the right side in the vehicle width direction, and the arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction. In the following description, when the terms "front-rear," "left-right," and "up-down" are used simply, they refer to front-rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, left-right in the vehicle lateral direction (vehicle width direction), and up-down in the vehicle vertical direction, unless otherwise specified.

[0027] 1 and 2, a vehicle 10 of this embodiment is an autonomous vehicle that can travel without an occupant operating the vehicle. The vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body 14 having a cabin 12 in which an occupant rides, four seats 16 provided in the cabin 12, and four seat belt devices 18 provided in each of the four seats 16.

[0028] The vehicle body 14 is formed in a box shape so that four seats 16 can be arranged inside the cabin 12. Two side door openings 20 are formed in the left side 14L of the vehicle body 14. Two side door openings 20 are formed in the right side 14R of the vehicle body 14. These four side door openings 20 can be opened and closed by four side doors 22. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the side door openings 20 are generally rectangular openings formed in the sides 14L and 14R of the vehicle body 14 in a side view of the vehicle body 14. The upper and lower portions of the side door openings 20 are roof side rails 24 and rockers 26, which constitute the body frame of the vehicle body 14, respectively. The front and rear portions of the side door openings 20 are pillars 28, which also constitute the body frame of the vehicle body 14. Each pillar 28 connects the roof side rails 24 and rockers 26 in the vertical direction.

[0029] 1 and 2, the seat 16 includes a seat cushion 16A that supports the buttocks of the seated occupant from below, a seat back 16B that supports the back of the seated occupant from the rear side of the seat, and a headrest 16C that supports the head of the seated occupant from the rear side of the seat. Note that the front side of the seat, the rear side of the seat, the left side of the seat, and the right side of the seat respectively refer to the front side, rear side, right side, and left side of the seat as seen from the occupant seated in the seat 16. The left side and right side of the seat correspond to the seat width direction.

[0030] In this embodiment, two seats 16 are provided at the rear side of the cabin 12, and these two seats 16 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The two seats 16 provided at the rear side of the cabin 12 are attached to the floor 30 of the cabin 12 while facing forward. In this embodiment, two seats 16 are provided at the front side of the cabin 12, and these two seats 16 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. When the right front seat 16, the left front seat 16, the right rear seat 16, and the left rear seat 16 are described separately, S1 to S4 are added to the end of the reference numerals indicating the seats 16. That is, the seats 16 are referred to as the right front seat 16 (S1), the left front seat 16 (S2), the right rear seat 16 (S3), and the left rear seat 16 (S4), respectively. The two seats 16 (S1, S2) provided at the front side of the cabin 12 are attached to the floor 30 of the cabin 12. Here, a rotation support part 32 is provided between the seat 16 (S1) provided on the right front side of the cabin 12 and the floor 30 of the cabin 12, supporting the seat 16 (S1) rotatably about an axial direction that is the up-down direction. The provision of this rotation support part 32 allows the seat 16 (S1) provided on the right front side to be rotated between a state facing forward and a state facing rearward. The rotation support part 32 also has a locking mechanism that locks the rotation of the seat 16 (S1) provided on the right front side. This allows the seat 16 (S1) provided on the right front side to be maintained in either a state facing forward or a state facing rearward. A rotation support part 32 having a similar configuration to the rotation support part 32 provided between the seat 16 (S2) provided on the left front side of the cabin 12 and the floor 30 of the cabin 12 is also provided between the seat 16 (S1) provided on the right front side of the cabin 12 and the floor 30 of the cabin 12.

[0031] The seat belt device 18 of this embodiment is a so-called three-point seat belt device. The seat belt device 18 includes a belt-shaped seat belt 18A, a retractor (not shown) around which the seat belt 18A is wound, a tongue plate 18B through which the seat belt 18A is inserted, and a buckle 18C with which the tongue plate 18B engages. One side of the seat belt 18A is wound around the retractor fixed inside the seat back 16B. The other end of the seat belt 18A is fixed to an end of the seat cushion 16A in the seat width direction. Here, in the seat 16 (S1) located on the right front side and the seat 16 (S3) located on the right rear side, the other end of the seat belt 18A is fixed to an end of the seat cushion 16A on the right side, and the buckle 18C is fixed to an end of the seat cushion 16A on the left side. In addition, in the seat 16 (S2) located on the left front side and the seat 16 (S4) located on the left rear side, the other end of the seat belt 18A is fixed to the end of the seat cushion 16A on the left side of the seat, and the buckle 18C is fixed to the end of the seat cushion 16A on the right side of the seat.

[0032] 2, in the vehicle 10 of this embodiment, when the right front seat 16(S1) is facing rearward, the left side of the seat 16(S1) is disposed on the right side 14R side of the vehicle body 14. In addition, when the right front seat 16(S1) is facing rearward, the buckle 18C fixed to the seat 16(S1) is disposed in a position that does not overlap with the side door opening 20 formed in the right side 14R of the vehicle body 14 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, when the right front seat 16(S1) is facing rearward, the buckle 18C fixed to the seat 16(S1) is disposed in a position that overlaps with the pillar 28 in the vehicle width direction.

[0033] Furthermore, in the vehicle 10 of this embodiment, when the left front seat 16(S2) is facing rearward, the right side of the seat 16(S2) is disposed on the left side 14L side of the vehicle body 14. In addition, when the left front seat 16(S2) is facing rearward, the buckle 18C fixed to the seat 16(S2) is disposed at a position that does not overlap with the side door opening 20 formed in the left side 14L of the vehicle body 14 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, when the left front seat 16(S2) is facing rearward, the buckle 18C fixed to the seat 16(S2) is disposed at a position that overlaps with the pillar 28 in the vehicle width direction.

[0034] In the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment described above, the right front seat 16 (S1) and the left front seat 16 (S2) can be oriented rearward. Furthermore, when an occupant seated in the right front seat 16 (S1) or the left front seat 16 (S2) engages the tongue plate 18B with the buckle 18C, the seat belt 18A is fastened to the occupant seated in these seats 16 (S1, S2). Here, when the right front seat 16 (S1) or the left front seat 16 (S2) is oriented rearward, the ends of the seats 16 (S1, S2) to which the buckles 18C are fixed are disposed on the side portions 14L and 14R of the vehicle body 14 in the vehicle width direction. That is, the buckles 18C fixed to the right front seat 16 (S1) or the left front seat 16 (S2) are disposed on the side portions 14L and 14R of the vehicle body 14 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, when the right front seat 16 (S1) and the left front seat 16 (S2) are facing rearward, the buckles 18C and the side door opening 20 do not overlap in the vehicle width direction. This ensures clearance between the side doors 22 and the buckles 18C fixed to the right front seat 16 (S1) and the left front seat 16 (S2), even if the side doors 22 are displaced toward the cabin 12 during a side collision. As a result, it is possible to prevent the buckles 18C from becoming difficult to operate during a side collision.

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the right front seat 16 (S1) and the left front seat 16 (S2) are facing rearward, the pillar 28, which deforms less toward the cabin 12 during a side collision, and the buckle 18C overlap in the vehicle width direction. This ensures clearance between the pillar 28 and the buckles 18C fixed to the right front seat 16 (S1) and the left front seat 16 (S2) during a side collision, further reducing the difficulty in operating the buckle 18C during a side collision.

[0036] (Vehicle 34 of the second embodiment) Next, a vehicle 34 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 10. Note that, in the vehicle 34 according to the second embodiment, members and parts corresponding to those of the vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment described above will be assigned the same reference numerals as those corresponding to those of the vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0037] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the basic configuration of the vehicle 34 of this embodiment is similar to the configuration of the vehicle 10 of the first embodiment, except for the number of side door openings 20 formed in the left side portion 14L of the vehicle body 14 and the following differences.

[0038] Specifically, a front-rear slide support part 36 that supports the seat 16 (S1) so that the seat 16 (S1) can move in the front-rear direction is provided between the seat 16 (S1) provided on the right front side and the floor 30 of the cabin 12. The front-rear slide support part 36 is configured to include a lower rail 38 fixed to the floor 30 of the cabin 12 and an upper rail fixed to a lower part of the seat 16 (S1). The seat 16 (S1) moves in the front-rear direction as the upper rail moves along the lower rail 38. Although not shown, a front-rear slide support part 36 having a similar configuration to the front-rear slide support part 36 provided between the seat 16 (S1) provided on the right front side and the floor 30 of the cabin 12 is also provided between the seat 16 (S2) provided on the left front side and the floor 30 of the cabin 12.

[0039] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the seat 16 (S1) provided on the right front side is provided with a longitudinal slide actuator 40 that is actuated to move the seat 16 (S1) in the longitudinal direction. The seat 16 (S2) provided on the left front side is also provided with a longitudinal slide actuator 40. These longitudinal slide actuators 40 are controlled by a seat control unit 42. Furthermore, these longitudinal slide actuators 40 are provided with sensors that can detect the longitudinal positions of the seats 16 (S1, S2).

[0040] As shown in FIG. 7, the seat control unit 42 includes, as an example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit: processor) 44, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 46, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 48, a storage 50, and an input / output interface (I / F) 52 for communicating with external devices, all of which are connected to each other via a bus 54 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0041] The input / output interface 52 is electrically connected to the longitudinal slide actuator 40. The CPU 44 is a central processing unit that executes various programs to control the operation of the longitudinal slide actuator 40. More specifically, the CPU 44 reads control programs from the ROM 46 or the storage 50 based on signals from sensors provided in the longitudinal slide actuator 40, and executes the control programs using the RAM 48 as a work area to control the operation of the longitudinal slide actuator 40. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the seats 16 (S1, S2) are automatically moved to positions where the buckle 18C and the side door opening 20 do not overlap in the vehicle width direction.

[0042] Hereinafter, the control by the seat control unit 42 of the longitudinal slide actuator 40 provided on the right front seat 16 (S1) will be described.

[0043] When the vehicle 34 is in a standby state where it can travel or when it is traveling, the seat control unit 42 controls the longitudinal slide actuator 40 in accordance with the following control flow. Note that when the vehicle 34 is in a parked state where it is parked, the seat control unit 42 does not control the longitudinal slide actuator 40 in accordance with the following control flow.

[0044] 5 and 10, when the vehicle 34 is in a standby state where it can travel or in a traveling state where the vehicle 34 is traveling, the seat control unit 42 first determines whether the right front seat 16 (S1) is facing backward in step S21 shown in Fig. 10. If a negative determination is made in step S21, the seat control unit 42 ends the processing and repeats the processing of step S21.

[0045] 8 and 10, if a positive determination is made in step S21, the seat control unit 42 determines in step S22 whether the seat 16 (S1) on the right front side is positioned so that the buckle 18C fixed to the seat 16 (S1) overlaps with the side door opening 20 formed in the right side portion 14R of the vehicle body 14 in the vehicle width direction. If a negative determination is made in step S22, the seat control unit 42 ends the processing and repeats the processing from step S21 onwards.

[0046] On the other hand, if the determination in step S22 is affirmative, the seat control section 42 operates the front-rear slide actuator 40 in step S23 to move the right front seat 16 (S1) forward.

[0047] Next, in step S24, the seat control unit 42 determines whether the right front seat 16 (S1) is located at a predetermined position. Here, the predetermined position in step S24 refers to the position of the right front seat 16 (S1) when the buckle 18C fixed to the right front seat 16 (S1) is located at a position that does not overlap with the side door opening 20 formed in the right side portion 14R of the vehicle body 14 in the vehicle width direction, but overlaps with the pillar 28 in the vehicle width direction. If a negative determination is made in step S24, the seat control unit 42 repeats the processing from step S23 onwards.

[0048] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, if an affirmative determination is made in step S24, the seat control section 42 stops the operation of the longitudinal slide actuator 40 in step S25, and ends the process.

[0049] In the vehicle 34 of the present embodiment described above, even if the side door 22 is displaced toward the cabin 12 during a side collision, clearance is ensured between the side door 22 and the buckle 18C fixed to the right front seat 16 (S1). As a result, it is possible to prevent the buckle 18C from becoming difficult to operate during a side collision.

[0050] (Vehicle 56 of the third embodiment) Next, a vehicle 56 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. Note that, in the vehicle 56 according to the third embodiment, components and parts corresponding to the vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment, etc., already described, are given the same reference numerals as those corresponding to the vehicles 10, 34 according to the first and second embodiments, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0051] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the basic configuration of the vehicle 56 of this embodiment is similar to that of the vehicle 34 of the second embodiment, except that the occupant can manually move the right front seat 16 (S1) and the left front seat 16 (S2) in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0052] The longitudinal slide support portion 36 of this embodiment is provided with a limiting portion 58 that limits the longitudinal movement range of the seat 16 (S1, S2) when the seat 16 (S1, S2) is facing rearward. The operation of the limiting portion 58 when the right front seat 16 (S1) is moved longitudinally will be described below.

[0053] 11, when the right front seat 16 (S1) is facing forward, the limiting portion 58 does not operate. Therefore, when the right front seat 16 (S1) is facing forward, the right front seat 16 (S1) can be moved in the front-rear direction over the entire range L1 allowed by the front-rear slide support portion 36.

[0054] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12 , when the right front seat 16 (S1) is facing rearward, the limiting unit 58 is activated. As a result, when the right front seat 16 (S1) is facing rearward, the right front seat 16 (S1) can be moved in the front-rear direction within a range L2 of the range L1 allowed by the front-rear slide support unit 36, where the buckle 18C and the side door opening 20 do not overlap in the vehicle width direction. Note that in this embodiment, when the right front seat 16 (S1) is positioned outside the range L2, the right front seat 16 (S1) cannot be turned rearward. As a result, even in the vehicle 56 of this embodiment, even if the side door 22 is displaced toward the cabin 12 during a side collision, clearance is maintained between the side door 22 and the buckle 18C fixed to the right front seat 16 (S1). As a result, difficulty in operating the buckle 18C during a side collision can be reduced.

[0055] In the vehicle 56 of this embodiment, when the right front seat 16 (S1) is facing rearward, the right front seat 16 (S1) can be moved in the front-rear direction within a range L2 within the range L1 allowed by the front-rear slide support part 36, where the buckle 18C and the side door opening 20 do not overlap in the vehicle width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the right front seat 16 (S1) is facing rearward, the restricting part 58 may be activated to disable the right front seat 16 (S1) from moving in the front-rear direction.

[0056] (Vehicle of the fourth embodiment) Next, a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Note that members and parts of the vehicle according to the fourth embodiment that correspond to the vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment that has already been described will be assigned the same reference numerals as those corresponding to the vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0057] 13 shows a block diagram of a cruise control unit 60 that constitutes a part of the vehicle of the fourth embodiment. The basic configuration of the cruise control unit 60 is similar to that of the seat control unit 42 described above. Therefore, the elements that constitute the cruise control unit 60 are assigned reference numerals corresponding to the elements that constitute the seat control unit 42. The configuration of the vehicle of the fourth embodiment is similar to that of the vehicle 34 of the second embodiment described above, except that the cruise control unit 60 performs the following controls.

[0058] 13, the longitudinal slide actuator 40 is electrically connected to the input / output interface 52 of the driving control unit 60. A power unit 62, which is a power source of the vehicle, and a warning light 63 provided in the cabin 12 are also electrically connected to the input / output interface 52 of the driving control unit 60. A road information acquisition unit 64, which stores information about the road on which the vehicle is traveling, is also electrically connected to the input / output interface 52 of the driving control unit 60. The CPU 44 of the driving control unit 60 reads a control program from the ROM 46 or the storage 50 based on signals from sensors provided in the longitudinal slide actuator 40 and signals from the road information acquisition unit 64, and executes the control program using the RAM 48 as a working area to control the driving of the vehicle, etc.

[0059] Hereinafter, similarly to the description of the second embodiment, the control by the driving control unit 60 in relation to the right front seat 16 (S1) will be described.

[0060] When the vehicle is in a standby state where it can travel or in a traveling state where it is traveling, the travel control unit 60 controls the travel of the vehicle according to the following control flow. Note that when the vehicle is in a parked state where it is parked, the travel control unit 60 does not control the travel of the vehicle according to the following control flow.

[0061] 13 and 14, when the vehicle is in a standby state where it can travel or in a traveling state where it is traveling, the traveling control unit 60 first determines in step S41, based on a signal from the road information acquisition unit 64, whether the vehicle of this embodiment is located on a road where only autonomous vehicles can travel, or whether the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle is located is equal to or less than a predetermined speed. If a positive determination is made in step S41, the traveling control unit 60 ends the processing and repeats the processing of step S41. Note that the predetermined speed in step 41 is a speed at which it is predicted that even if the vehicle collides, there will be no or only a small amount of displacement of the side door 22 toward the cabin 12, and is, for example, a speed of approximately 30 km / h.

[0062] If a negative determination is made in step S41, the traveling control unit 60 determines in step S42 whether the right front seat 16 (S1) is facing backward. If a negative determination is made in step S42, the traveling control unit 60 ends the process and repeats the process from step S41 onwards.

[0063] If a positive determination is made in step S42, the traveling control unit 60 determines in step S43 whether the right front seat 16 (S1) is positioned in a position where the buckle 18C fixed to the seat 16 (S1) overlaps in the vehicle width direction with the side door opening 20 formed in the right side portion 14R of the vehicle body 14. If a negative determination is made in step S43, the traveling control unit 60 ends the processing and repeats the processing from step S41 onwards.

[0064] If a positive determination is made in step S43, the traveling control unit 60 outputs a warning signal in step S44, limits the speed of the vehicle in step S45, and limits the acceleration of the vehicle in step S46.

[0065] Next, in step S47, the traveling control unit 60 determines whether the right front seat 16 (S1) is positioned in a position where the buckle 18C fixed to the seat 16 (S1) does not overlap in the vehicle width direction with the side door opening 20 formed in the right side portion 14R of the vehicle body 14. If a negative determination is made in step S47, the traveling control unit 60 repeats the processing from step S44 onwards.

[0066] If a positive determination is made in step S47, the traveling control unit 60 stops outputting the warning signal in step S48, removes the limit on the vehicle speed in step S49, removes the limit on the vehicle acceleration in step S50, and then ends the process.

[0067] As described above, in the vehicle of this embodiment, when the driving control unit 60 detects that the right front seat 16 (S1) is positioned so that the buckle 18C and the side door opening 20 overlap in the vehicle width direction with the seat 16 (S1) facing toward the rear of the vehicle, the driving control unit 60 outputs a warning signal. Based on this warning signal, the warning light 63 is turned on to prompt the occupant to move the seat 16 (S1) to a position where the buckle 18C and the side door opening 20 do not overlap in the vehicle width direction. The driving control unit 60 can also prompt the occupant to move the seat 16 (S1) to a position where the buckle 18C and the side door opening 20 do not overlap in the vehicle width direction by limiting the vehicle traveling speed or the vehicle acceleration.

[0068] Furthermore, in the vehicle of this embodiment, the driving control unit 60 does not perform the processing of steps 44, 45, and 46 when the vehicle is located on a road on which only autonomous vehicles are permitted or when the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle is located is equal to or less than a predetermined speed. That is, under conditions in which the displacement of the side door 22 toward the cabin 12 is expected to be small even if the vehicle suffers a side collision, the driving control unit 60 does not perform the processing of steps 44, 45, and 46. This allows the seat 16 (S1) to be positioned so that the buckle 18C and the side door opening 20 overlap in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, even if the vehicle suffers a side collision under these conditions, clearance between the side door 22 and the buckle 18C is ensured, thereby preventing the buckle 18C from becoming difficult to operate during a side collision.

[0069] In this embodiment, an example in which the processing of step 41 is performed has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the processing of step 41 may be omitted and only the processing from step 42 onwards may be performed. In addition, in this embodiment, an example in which the processing of steps 44, 45, and 46 is performed has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the processing of any one of steps 44, 45, and 46 may be performed, or any two of steps 44, 45, and 46 may be performed.

[0070] (Vehicle 66 of the fifth embodiment) Next, a vehicle 66 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 18. Note that, in the vehicle 66 according to the fifth embodiment, members and parts corresponding to the vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment already described will be assigned the same reference numerals as those corresponding to the vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment, and description thereof may be omitted.

[0071] As shown in Figure 15, in the vehicle 66 of this embodiment, a single seat 16 is provided at the rear side of the cabin 12. The seat 16 provided at the rear side of the cabin 12 is attached to the floor 30 of the cabin 12 while facing forward. When describing the seat 16 provided at the rear side of the cabin 12 to distinguish it from the other seats 16, S5 will be added to the end of the reference numeral indicating the seat 16 provided at the rear side of the cabin 12. In other words, the seat 16 provided at the rear side of the cabin 12 will be referred to as seat 16 (S5).

[0072] In addition, in the seat 16 (S5) located at the rear side of the cabin 12, the other end of the seat belt 18A is fixed to the end of the seat cushion 16A on the left side of the seat, and the buckle 18C is fixed to the end of the seat cushion 16A on the right side of the seat.

[0073] Furthermore, left and right slide support parts 68 that support the seat 16 (S5) so that it can move in the vehicle width direction are provided between the seat 16 (S5) provided at the rear side of the cabin 12 and the floor 30 of the cabin 12. The left and right slide support parts 68 are configured to include lower rails 38 fixed to the floor 30 of the cabin 12 and upper rails fixed to the lower part of the seat 16 (S5). The seat 16 (S5) moves in the vehicle width direction as the upper rails move along the lower rails 38.

[0074] 15 and 16, the seat 16 (S5) provided at the rear side of the cabin 12 is provided with a left / right slide actuator 70 that is actuated to move the seat 16 (S5) in the vehicle width direction. The left / right slide actuator 70 is controlled by the seat control unit 42. The left / right slide actuator 70 is also provided with a sensor that can detect the left / right position of the seat 16 (S5).

[0075] 16 shows a block diagram of the seat control unit 42 of a vehicle 66 of the fifth embodiment. The configuration of this seat control unit 42 is similar to the configuration of the seat control unit 42 of the vehicle 34 of the second embodiment.

[0076] A left / right slide actuator 70 is electrically connected to the input / output interface 52 of the seat control unit 42 of a vehicle 66 of the fifth embodiment. The CPU 44 reads a control program from the ROM 46 or the storage 50 based on signals from sensors provided in the left / right slide actuator 70, and executes the control program using the RAM 48 as a work area to control the operation of the left / right slide actuator 70. As a result, as shown in Figures 15 and 17, the seat 16 (S5) automatically moves to a position where the distance between the buckle 18C and the side door 22 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance.

[0077] Hereinafter, the control by the seat control unit 42 of the left-right slide actuator 70 provided in the seat 16 (S5) on the rear side of the cabin 12 will be described.

[0078] When the vehicle 66 is in a standby state where it can travel or in a traveling state where it is traveling, the seat control unit 42 controls the left and right slide actuator 70 in accordance with the following control flow. Note that when the vehicle 66 is in a parked state where it is parked, the seat control unit 42 does not control the left and right slide actuator 70 in accordance with the following control flow.

[0079] 15, 16, and 18, when the vehicle 66 is in a standby state where it can travel or in a traveling state where the vehicle 66 is traveling, the seat control unit 42 first determines in step S51 whether the distance between the buckle 18C fixed to the rear seat 16 (S5) of the cabin 12 and the side door 22 is less than a predetermined distance. Note that the predetermined distance in step 51 refers to the distance between the buckle 18C fixed to the rear seat 16 (S5) and the side door 22 that has been confirmed to allow operation of the buckle 18C fixed to the rear seat 16 (S5) without any problems even if the side door 22 is displaced toward the cabin 12 due to a vehicle collision. This distance is, for example, approximately 30 cm. If a negative determination is made in step S51, the seat control unit 42 ends the processing and repeats the processing of step S51.

[0080] As shown in Figures 16, 17 and 18, if a positive judgment is made in step S51, the seat control unit 42 operates the left / right slide actuator 70 in step S52 to move the seat 16 (S5) on the rear side of the cabin 12 to the left.

[0081] Next, in step S53, the seat control unit 42 determines whether the distance between the buckle 18C fixed to the seat 16 (S5) on the rear side of the cabin 12 and the side door 22 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. If a negative determination is made in step S53, the seat control unit 42 repeats the processing from step S52 onwards.

[0082] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 18, if an affirmative determination is made in step S53, the seat control section 42 stops the operation of the left-right slide actuator 70 in step S54, and ends the process.

[0083] In the vehicle 34 of the present embodiment described above, even if the side door 22 is displaced toward the cabin 12 during a side collision, clearance is ensured between the side door 22 and the buckle 18C fixed to the seat 16 (S5) on the rear side of the cabin 12. As a result, it is possible to prevent the buckle 18C from becoming difficult to operate during a side collision.

[0084] The technical ideas of the inventions of the first to fifth embodiments explained above can also be combined with each other.

[0085] The above describes one embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that it can be implemented in various other modified forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 10 vehicles 12 Cabins 14 Body 14L Left side of the vehicle (side of the vehicle in the width direction) 14R Right side of the vehicle (side of the vehicle in the width direction) 16 sheets 18 Seatbelt device 18A Seat belt 18B tongue plate 18C buckle 20 Side door opening 22 Side door 28 Pillar (body frame) 30 floors 34 vehicles 36 Front and rear slide support 40 Front and rear slide actuator 42 Seat control unit 56 vehicles 60 Travel control unit 66 vehicles 68 Left and right slide support 70 Left and right slide actuator

Claims

1. a vehicle body having a cabin for occupants, the vehicle body having a side door opening formed on a side portion in a vehicle width direction, the side door opening being opened and closed by a side door; a seat belt device including a belt-shaped seat belt, a tongue plate through which the seat belt is inserted, and a buckle with which the tongue plate is engaged; a seat on which the seat belt device is mounted, the buckle is fixed to one side in a seat width direction, the seat is attached to a floor of the cabin so as to be rotatable about an axial direction that is the vehicle vertical direction, and the buckle is disposed on a side of the vehicle body in a vehicle width direction when the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle; a front-rear slide support portion that supports the seat so that the seat can move in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; a front-rear slide actuator that moves the seat supported by the front-rear slide support portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; a seat control unit that controls the longitudinal slide actuator; Equipped with When the seat control unit detects that the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle, the seat control unit activates the front-to-rear slide actuator to move the seat to a position where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction.

2. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, after the seat is moved to a position where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction, when the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle, the range of movement of the seat allowed by the front-rear slide support portion is limited to a range of positions where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction.

3. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein after the seat is moved to a position where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction, the seat supported by the front-rear slide support portion cannot move when the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, after the seat is moved to a position where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction, when the seat is facing toward the rear of the vehicle, the seat is positioned at a position where the buckle and a body frame portion that forms a frame of the side portion of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction overlap in the vehicle width direction.

5. A driving control unit that controls the driving of a vehicle, 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the driving control unit detects that the seat is not positioned in a position where the buckle and the side door opening do not overlap in the vehicle width direction, the driving control unit performs at least one of outputting a warning signal, limiting the driving speed of the vehicle, and limiting the acceleration of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle as described in claim 5, wherein the driving control unit stops outputting the warning signal, limiting the vehicle's driving speed, and limiting the vehicle's acceleration when the vehicle is located on a road on which only autonomous vehicles can drive, or when the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle is located is below a specified speed.

Images