vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle which enables an occupant to have a relaxed attitude when placing foot parts on an interior member.SOLUTION: A vehicle includes: a front wall surface forming a front inner wall surface of a passenger compartment; a first interior member disposed on the front wall surface in a liftable manner; and an interior member adjustment mechanism which adjusts a height of an upper surface part of the first interior member relative to a seating surface of a seat.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle instrument panel equipped with a footrest that is stored in a glove compartment while the vehicle is running and is pulled out from the glove compartment for the occupant to rest their feet on when they are resting. In this vehicle instrument panel, the lid of the glove compartment is configured to move toward the windshield when the footrest is pulled out, thereby isolating the area near the footrest from the outside of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-264694 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in a vehicle, when an occupant places their feet on an interior member such as an instrument panel, the height of the interior member may not match the occupant's physique or posture, making it difficult for them to assume a relaxed posture.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle in which an occupant can take a relaxed posture when resting their feet on an interior member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention includes a front wall surface that forms the front interior wall surface of the passenger compartment, a first interior member that is arranged on the front wall surface so as to be able to rise and fall, and an interior member adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of an upper surface of the first interior member relative to the seat surface of the seat. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a vehicle can be provided in which an occupant can take a relaxed posture when resting their feet on an interior member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a vehicle according to an embodiment, and is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the positions of a seat in a drive position, a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the positions of a seat in a relaxed position, a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section in a vehicle according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view showing the positions of a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section in a drive position of a vehicle according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view showing the positions of a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section in a vehicle according to an embodiment when the vehicle is in a relaxed position. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view showing the positions of a first interior member, a second interior member, a pedal section, and a steering section in a vehicle according to an embodiment when the vehicle is in a relaxed position. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic partial perspective view showing the arrangement positions of one-side interior member, the other-side interior member, the second interior member, the pedal section, and the steering section in a vehicle according to a modified embodiment in a relaxed position. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view for explaining an interior member adjustment mechanism of the vehicle according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic partial perspective view for explaining a pedal adjustment mechanism of a vehicle according to an embodiment; [Figure 9] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 10]10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when the interior of the vehicle according to the embodiment is set from a drive position to a relax position. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when the interior of the vehicle according to the embodiment is set from a relax position to a drive position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A vehicle according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, FR and RR indicate the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, LH and RH indicate the left and right in the width direction of the vehicle, and UP and DN indicate the upper and lower in the vertical direction of the vehicle. In the following description, the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the left and right in the width direction of the vehicle, and the upper and lower in the vertical direction of the vehicle will be simply referred to as "front of the vehicle," "rear of the vehicle," "left of the vehicle," "right of the vehicle," "upper," and "lower," respectively. Elements having the same function will be assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

[0010] A vehicle according to the embodiment is, for example, a vehicle V equipped with an automatic driving control function. The automatic driving control function is a function that automatically controls the traveling of the vehicle based on the circumstances around the vehicle and the state of the vehicle, without relying on driving operations such as steering or pedal operation by the occupant. Since the vehicle V is equipped with the automatic driving control function, the vehicle V is capable of automatic driving, in which acceleration / deceleration and steering are automatically performed without any operation by the occupant. Note that this automatic driving also includes cases in which the vehicle V automatically accelerates / decelerates and steers without any operation by the occupant under a predetermined driving environment, such as when traveling on a highway. Also, the state in which the vehicle V is traveling in an automatic driving mode is simply referred to as "in automatic driving." Note that the vehicle V may be an electric vehicle that is powered by an electric motor (not shown) and is powered by a vehicle drive battery (not shown).

[0011] As shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle V is equipped with a controller 60 that performs processing necessary for controlling the vehicle V. The controller 60 is a general-purpose microcomputer that includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, input / output units, etc. A computer program for controlling the automatic driving of the vehicle V may be installed in the microcomputer. By executing the computer program, the microcomputer can control the automatic driving of the vehicle V.

[0012] The controller 60 may include an autonomous driving determination unit 61 and a vehicle control unit 62. The autonomous driving determination unit 61 determines whether the vehicle V is autonomously driving or not. This determination may be made in response to input of a first trigger signal, which is a signal indicating that the changeover switch 63 has been pressed. When the autonomous driving determination unit 61 determines that the vehicle V is autonomously driving, it may output a second trigger signal, which is a signal indicating that the vehicle is autonomously driving, to the vehicle control unit 62. The vehicle control unit 62 has a function of controlling a seat drive unit 71, a steering drive unit 72, a pedal drive unit 73, an interior member drive unit 74, etc. This control may be made in response to input of the first trigger signal or the second trigger signal.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, a seat 5 is disposed above a floor portion 2 constituting the bottom of a passenger compartment 1 of a vehicle V, at the front side of the vehicle. The seat 5 illustrated in the figure is a driver's seat in which a driver, who accelerates, decelerates, or steers the vehicle V, is seated. To the left of the driver's seat is a passenger seat (not shown) serving as a seat 5 in which a passenger other than the driver is seated. The seat 5 may include a seat cushion 6, a seat back 7, and a headrest 8. In the illustrated example, the front-to-rear direction of the seat 5 corresponds to the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle. The width direction of the seat 5 corresponds to the vehicle width direction.

[0014] The seat 5 is supported by a seat adjustment mechanism 9 provided on the floor 3 of the passenger compartment 1. The seat adjustment mechanism 9 adjusts the position of the seat 5 in the fore-and-aft direction of the seat 5. The seat adjustment mechanism 9 is, for example, a slide mechanism provided with a pair of rails spaced a predetermined distance apart in the vehicle width direction on the floor 3. The seat 5 is configured to be movable on the pair of rails in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0015] For example, a pair of engaging portions (not shown) that can engage with the pair of rail portions may be provided at each of the left and right ends of the bottom of the seat cushion 6, and the pair of engaging portions may be slidably engaged with the pair of rail portions. This allows the seat 5 to be slidably disposed on the pair of rail portions within a predetermined range in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. For example, the seat 5 can be slid toward the rear of the vehicle as indicated by arrow A in the figure. The seat 5 may also be configured to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the up-down direction. For example, a pedestal (not shown) that rotatably supports the seat cushion 6 may be interposed between the seat cushion 6 and the seat adjustment mechanism 9.

[0016] The seat adjustment mechanism 9 may include a seat drive unit 71 such as an electric motor that is driven and controlled by the vehicle control unit 62 and adjusts the position of at least the seat 5 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This allows the seat adjustment mechanism 9 to adjust the position of the seat 5 in accordance with a control signal output by the vehicle control unit 62.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 or 3, an instrument panel 10 is disposed on a front wall surface 4 of a vehicle interior 1. The instrument panel 10 may include a first interior member 11 and a second interior member 30.

[0018] The instrument panel 10 is disposed on the front wall surface 4 on the vehicle front side, i.e., in front of the seat 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and constitutes the interior of the vehicle front side of the passenger compartment 1 of the vehicle V. The front wall surface 4 is a wall surface that forms the front inner wall surface of the passenger compartment 1 in front of the seat 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In the illustrated example, the front wall surface 4 is a wall surface that extends in the vertical direction between the windshield W and the floor surface 3 and has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0019] A display 32 may be provided on the instrument panel 10. In the illustrated example, the display 32 is provided on the rear end of the second interior member 30, with the display surface facing the seat 5. The instrument panel 10 may also be provided with a glove compartment 16, an air conditioner vent (not shown), and the like.

[0020] The display 32 is a device configured, for example, with a capacitive liquid crystal touch panel, and can display various types of information. The information displayed on the display 32 may be, for example, information about the vehicle V, such as the speed, or information about the environment around the vehicle V, such as the route the vehicle V is traveling. In addition, switches that can be operated by the occupant, such as a selector switch 63 for switching between a drive position and a relax position (described later), may be provided on the display surface of the display 32.

[0021] The first interior member 11 is a member that protrudes from the front wall surface 4. In the illustrated example, the first interior member 11 extends in the vehicle width direction in front of the driver's seat and passenger seat as seats 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The first interior member 11 has a hollow box-like structure that is approximately rectangular in plan view, and may be made of resin, for example. Note that the top surface 11a of the first interior member 11 may be covered with a fabric made of woven fibers such as cotton, or a cushion made of a core material such as urethane foam covered with an exterior material such as woven fabric may be disposed thereon.

[0022] In the illustrated example, the vehicle front side of the first interior member 11 is supported by the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 via the connection part 14. The interior member adjustment mechanism 20 is a mechanism that adjusts the height of the upper surface part 11a of the first interior member 11 relative to the seating surface 6a of the seat 5 by raising and lowering the first interior member 11.

[0023] In the example shown in FIG. 7 , the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 includes a pair of guide rails 21 disposed on the left and right sides of the front wall 4 in the vehicle width direction, and an interior member drive unit 74. The pair of guide rails 21 may be disposed on the opposite side from the first interior member 11, across the front wall portion, which is a wall portion of the passenger compartment 1 that constitutes the front wall 4. A slider 22 is disposed on each of the pair of guide rails 21 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and a connecting portion 14 is joined to the slider 22. The connecting portion 14 connects the first interior member 11 and the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 through a pair of openings 23 formed in the front wall portion and extending in the vertical direction. Therefore, the first interior member 11 is supported by the pair of guide rails 21 so as to be able to move up and down. That is, the first interior member 11 is disposed on the front wall 4 so as to be able to move up and down.

[0024] The interior member drive unit 74 may include, for example, an electric motor 24 whose drive is controlled by the vehicle control unit 62, and a ball screw 25 that extends in the vertical direction and is rotated about its axis by the electric motor 24. In the illustrated example, the interior member drive unit 74 is disposed approximately in the center in the vehicle width direction. A protrusion 15 protruding from the vehicle front end of the first interior member 11 is threadedly engaged with the ball screw 25 through an opening 26 that extends in the vertical direction in a portion of the front wall. Therefore, by controlling the rotation direction and rotation amount of the electric motor 24 with the vehicle control unit 62, the elevation of the first interior member 11 can be controlled. For example, the first interior member 11, which is located at the upper limit elevation position as shown in FIG. 1, can be moved downward as indicated by arrow E in the figure. In other words, the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 can adjust the elevation of the first interior member 11 in response to a control signal output by the vehicle control unit 62.

[0025] 5, a glove compartment 16 may be disposed below the first interior member 11. The glove compartment 16 has a box-like shape with an open top and a closed bottom, and may be configured to be movable in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle within a predetermined range, for example, as indicated by arrow H in the figure. This allows the glove compartment 16 to be easily opened and closed without the need to lower the passenger's feet, even when the passenger in the front passenger seat is in a relaxed position (described later) and has their feet resting on the first interior member 11.

[0026] 3, the first interior member 11 may include a one-side interior member 12 that forms one side of the first interior member 11 in the vehicle width direction, and an other-side interior member 13 that forms the other side. In other words, the first interior member 11 may be divided into the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13. In the illustrated example, the first interior member 11 is divided at approximately the center in the vehicle width direction.

[0027] The one-side interior member 12 forms the vehicle right side of the first interior member 11 and is disposed in front of the driver's seat in the vehicle front-rear direction. The other-side interior member 13 forms the vehicle left side of the first interior member 11 and is disposed in front of the passenger seat in the vehicle front-rear direction. Each of the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13 may have a hollow box-like structure that is substantially rectangular in plan view.

[0028] Furthermore, the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 may include a one-side interior member adjustment mechanism that supports the one-side interior member 12 so that it can be raised and lowered, and an other-side interior member adjustment mechanism that supports the other-side interior member 13 so that it can be raised and lowered. Each of the one-side interior member adjustment mechanism and the other-side interior member adjustment mechanism includes an interior member drive unit 74 and can be individually controlled by the vehicle control unit 62. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 , the position of the one-side interior member 12 and the position of the other-side interior member 13 can be individually set. In this way, the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 may be configured to raise and lower each of the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13, and individually adjust the height of the upper surface portion 12a of the one-side interior member 12 and the upper surface portion 13a of the other-side interior member 13 relative to the seat surface 6a of the seat 5.

[0029] 1 or 3, the second interior member 30 is disposed on the front wall surface 4 above the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 that is at the uppermost lift position. Therefore, when the first interior member 11 is set to its uppermost position, it is possible to prevent the first interior member 11 and the second interior member 30 from interfering with each other. In the example shown in the figures, the second interior member 30 is a member with a hollow box-like structure that is approximately rectangular in plan view and extends in the vehicle width direction in front of the driver's seat and passenger seat in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction, and may be made of resin, for example.

[0030] The second interior member 30 may house airbags (not shown). For example, a folded driver's airbag and a folded passenger's airbag are housed in a portion of the second interior member 30 facing the driver's seat and a portion facing the passenger's seat in the vehicle longitudinal direction, respectively. Note that the upper surface 30a of the second interior member 30 may be provided with openable and closable lids 31a and 31b made of, for example, resin and having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The lid 31a covers the driver's airbag from above, and the lid 31b covers the passenger's airbag from above.

[0031] For example, when a collision load is input to the front of the vehicle V, a sensor (not shown) detects the impact, and the airbag is inflated by gas generated from an inflator (not shown). Note that the airbag may inflate from the upper surface portion 30a of the second interior member 30 toward the seat 5 below the windshield W.

[0032] A pedal unit 40 may be disposed in front of the seat 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and below the first interior member 11. In the illustrated example, the pedal unit 40 is disposed in an inclined portion formed by inclining the front region of the floor unit 2 toward the upper front of the vehicle. The pedal unit 40 may also be disposed toward the rear of the vehicle so that at least a portion of it protrudes from the floor surface 3 of the passenger compartment 1.

[0033] The pedal section 40 may be a pedal unit including a pedal 41 having a tread surface 41a for the occupant to step on, and an opening sensor (not shown) that detects the opening of the pedal 41. The opening sensor may be electrically connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (not shown) that adjusts the speed of the vehicle V in response to a signal output from the opening sensor. The pedal section 40 may also include an accelerator pedal section 40a and a brake pedal section 40b.

[0034] The amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 from the floor surface 3 can be adjusted by the pedal unit adjustment mechanism 45. For example, the amount of protrusion can be adjusted by moving the pedal 41 toward the floor surface 3 of the inclined portion as shown by arrow D in FIG. 1. The amount of protrusion refers to the maximum distance between the floor surface 3 and the tread surface 41a of the pedal unit 40 in the protruding direction of the pedal unit 40.

[0035] As shown in the example in FIG. 8 , the pedal adjustment mechanism 45 may include a pedal support unit 46 and a pedal drive unit 73. The pedal support unit 46 supports the pedal 41 so that it can slide in the protruding direction. The pedal drive unit 73 is, for example, an electromagnetic linear actuator that can expand and contract in the direction in which the pedal unit 40 protrudes, and is drive-controlled by the vehicle control unit 62. One end of the pedal drive unit 73 is fixed to the pedal support unit 46 by, for example, a fastener, and the other end is fixed by threading into a screw hole provided in a part of the pedal 41. Therefore, the pedal adjustment mechanism 45 can adjust the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 in response to a control signal output by the vehicle control unit 62.

[0036] The pedal adjustment mechanism 45 may include a stop block 47. The stop block 47 is movable through an opening provided on the side of the pedal support portion 46 and is configured to be able to abut against an end portion 41b of the pedal 41 opposite to the tread surface 41a. The movement of the stop block 47 through the opening may be adjusted by an air cylinder 48 fixed to the pedal support portion 46, for example.

[0037] In the maximum extension state illustrated in FIG. 8 , where the pedal section 40 is in the maximum extension state, the end 41 b of the pedal 41 comes into contact with the stop block 47, restricting the pedal 41 from sliding relative to the pedal support section 46. To reduce the extension of the pedal section 40 from the maximum extension state, the air cylinder 48 moves the stop block 47 outward from the pedal support section 46 as indicated by the arrow F, thereby creating an unlocked state in which the end 41 b is no longer in contact with the stop block 47. In the unlocked state, the vehicle control section 62 controls the pedal drive section 73 to allow the pedal 41 to slide relative to the pedal support section 46. For example, the pedal 41 can be slid toward the pedal support section 46 as indicated by the arrow G, thereby reducing the extension of the pedal section 40.

[0038] Note that when interior member adjustment mechanism 20 adjusts the elevation of first interior member 11, pedal adjustment mechanism 45 may adjust the amount of protrusion of pedal portion 40, depending on the position at which first interior member 11 is set, so that the pedal portion 40 does not interfere with at least first interior member 11. In other words, the vehicle according to the embodiment may be configured to adjust the amount of protrusion of pedal portion 40 so that the first interior member 11 and the pedal portion 40 do not interfere with each other when adjusting the height of upper surface portion 11a of first interior member 11.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1 or 3, a steering unit 50 may be disposed in the first interior member 11. The steering unit 50 includes, for example, a steering wheel 51 and a steering shaft 52. The steering shaft 52 forms the central axis of rotation of the steering wheel 51. The vehicle V may also include a steering unit adjustment mechanism 55 that adjusts the position of the steering unit 50 between a first position P1 and a second position P2. In the illustrated example, the steering unit adjustment mechanism 55 includes a hinge portion 56, a steering support portion 57, and a rail portion 58.

[0040] The hinge portion 56 is disposed on the steering shaft 52. Therefore, the steering shaft 52 is rotatable around the support axis of the hinge portion 56. The rotation of the steering shaft 52 may be controlled by an electric motor (not shown) that is driven and controlled by the vehicle control unit 62.

[0041] The steering support portion 57 supports the steering shaft 52 rotatably around an axis parallel to the direction in which the steering shaft 52 extends, for example, via a bearing (not shown).

[0042] The rail portion 58 extends from the upper rear of the vehicle toward the lower front of the vehicle below the first interior member 11. The steering support portion 57 slidably engages with the rail portion 58. The steering portion adjustment mechanism 55 may include a steering drive portion 72 that adjusts the sliding of the steering support portion 57 relative to the rail portion 58. The steering drive portion 72 is, for example, an electromagnetic linear actuator whose driving is controlled by the vehicle control portion 62. This allows the steering portion adjustment mechanism 55 to adjust the position of the steering portion 50 in accordance with a control signal output by the vehicle control portion 62.

[0043] The steering unit 50 is disposed so that it can move between a first position P1 on the seat 5 side of the first interior member 11 and a second position P2 below the first interior member 11, using a steering unit adjustment mechanism 55. In the example shown, to move the steering unit 50 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the seat 5 side of the steering shaft 52 is rotated downward, as indicated by arrow B in the figure, with the hinge unit 56 as the pivot, and further, the steering support unit 57 is slid on the rail unit 58 toward the front and bottom of the vehicle, as indicated by arrow C in the figure.

[0044] The steering unit 50 may have electronic components (not shown), such as a steering angle sensor, a torque sensor, and a steering reaction force actuator. These electronic components may be disposed inside the steering support unit 57, for example. The steering angle sensor and the torque sensor detect the rotation of the steering shaft 52, thereby detecting the operation of the steering wheel 51 by the driver. The steering reaction force actuator applies a steering reaction force to the steering shaft 52 according to the driving conditions of the vehicle V and road conditions. The electronic components may be electrically connected to a steering control ECU disposed outside the passenger compartment 1 via a wire harness. The wire harness may be disposed so as to pass through an opening formed in the connection portion 14, which penetrates from the passenger compartment to the outside.

[0045] The adjustment of the protrusion amount of the pedal section by the pedal section adjustment mechanism 45 and the movement of the steering section 50 by the steering section adjustment mechanism 55 may be performed after the seat adjustment mechanism 9 has moved the seat 5 rearward of the vehicle. In other words, the vehicle according to the embodiment may be configured so that the adjustment of the protrusion amount of the pedal section 40 and the adjustment of the position of the steering section 50 are performed in a state in which the position of the seat 5 has been moved rearward.

[0046] Next, the effects of the vehicle according to the embodiment will be described.

[0047] 1 or 3 shows the relative arrangement of the seat 5, first interior member 11, pedal unit 40, and steering unit 50 of the vehicle V in a state other than autonomous driving. In the illustrated example, the vehicle interior 1 is set in a state in which the seat 5 is adjusted to the front of the vehicle, the first interior member 11 is at its upper limit of its height adjustment, the pedal unit 40 is in its maximum protruding state, and the steering unit 50 is disposed at the first position P1. This state is simply referred to as the drive position. In the drive position, an occupant seated in the seat 5 can steer the steering wheel 51 and operate the pedal unit 40.

[0048] 2 or 4 shows the relative arrangement of the seat 5, first interior member 11, pedal unit 40, and steering unit 50 in, for example, an autonomously driven vehicle V. Inside the vehicle interior 1, the seat 5 is adjusted toward the rear of the vehicle, the first interior member 11 is positioned lower than the upper limit of its elevation range, the pedal unit 40 protrudes less than in its maximum protrusion state, and the steering unit 50 is located at the second position P2. This state is simply referred to as the "relaxed position." In the relaxed position, an occupant seated in the seat 5 can place their feet on the first interior member 11 and assume a relaxed posture.

[0049] Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10, an example of the operation of the vehicle according to this embodiment when the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 of the vehicle V while traveling is set from the drive position to the relax position will be described.

[0050] For example, when a passenger in a traveling vehicle V that is set to the drive position presses the selector switch 63 set on the display 32, the automatic driving determination unit 61 determines in step S100 whether the vehicle V is automatically driven. If the vehicle V is automatically driven (Yes in step S100), the process proceeds to step S101. If the vehicle V is not automatically driven (No in step S100), the process ends without setting the passenger compartment 1 to the relax position.

[0051] In step S101, the vehicle control unit 62 controls the seat drive unit 71 to adjust the position of the seat 5 toward the rear of the vehicle. The process proceeds to step S102, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the steering drive unit 72 to move the position of the steering unit from first position P1 to second position P2. The process proceeds to step S103, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the pedal drive unit 73 to reduce the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40. The process proceeds to step S104, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the interior member drive unit 74 to lower the first interior member 11 and set it to a predetermined position. This sets the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 to a relaxed position.

[0052] In the illustrated example, step S103 is performed after step S102, but this is not limiting. Steps S102 and S103 may be performed in the reverse order, or simultaneously. That is, the amount of projection of the pedal unit 40 may be adjusted before adjusting the position of the steering unit 50, or the adjustment of the amount of projection of the pedal unit 40 and the adjustment of the position of the steering unit 50 may be performed simultaneously.

[0053] In step S103, the vehicle control unit 62 may adjust the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 so that the pedal unit 40 does not interfere with at least the first interior member 11. For example, the amount of protrusion may be adjusted so that, in the relaxed position, the upper end of the pedal unit 40 is positioned lower than a portion of the bottom of the first interior member 11 that faces the pedal 41 in the up-down direction. This upper end is the uppermost part of the pedal unit 40. The amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 may be adjusted taking into consideration other members included in the first interior member 11. In the example shown in FIG. 2 , a steering support member 57 is disposed between the facing portion of the first interior member 11 and the upper end of the pedal unit 40. Therefore, the amount of protrusion is adjusted so that the upper end is positioned lower than the lower end of the steering support member 57. In another embodiment, in step S103, the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 may be adjusted so that the pedal unit 40 does not protrude from the floor surface 3. This makes it possible to prevent the occupant from accidentally operating the pedal unit 40 in the relaxed position.

[0054] The predetermined position at which the first interior member 11 is placed in step S104 is a position that is stored in advance in the controller 60. The predetermined position may be determined taking into consideration how easily the occupant can place their feet in the relaxed position. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the predetermined position is the lift limit position of the first interior member 11. The predetermined position is not limited to the example shown in the figure, and may be, for example, a position between the upper limit and upper limit positions of the lift limit of the first interior member 11. The predetermined position may also be a position that is stored in advance in the controller 60 by an input operation by the occupant.

[0055] Furthermore, when the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 is set to the relaxed position, the occupant may further operate a switch or the like to adjust the elevation of the first interior member 11. This allows the height of the upper surface portion 11a of the first interior member 11 within the vehicle compartment 1 according to the posture the occupant wishes to assume. In this case, the amount of protrusion of the pedal portion 40 may be adjusted according to the elevation of the first interior member 11.

[0056] 10, the position of the one-side interior member 12 may be adjusted to a position preset by an occupant sitting in the driver's seat, and the position of the other-side interior member 13 may be adjusted to a position preset by an occupant sitting in the passenger seat. In this way, the height of the upper surface portions 12a, 13a of the one-side interior member 12 or the other-side interior member 13 can be set according to the physique of the occupant sitting in the driver's seat or the passenger seat, the posture they want to assume, etc.

[0057] Next, an example of the operation of the vehicle according to this embodiment when the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 is set from the relax position to the drive position will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0058] For example, when the occupant presses the selector switch 63 on the display 32 in the vehicle V set to the relaxation position, in step S200, the vehicle control unit 62 controls the interior member driving unit 74 to raise the first interior member 11. At this time, the first interior member 11 may be positioned at the upper limit of the lift range. The process proceeds to step S201, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the pedal driving unit 73 to increase the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40, for example, to the maximum protrusion state. The process proceeds to step S202, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the steering driving unit 72 to move the position of the steering unit from the second position P2 to the first position P1. The process proceeds to step S203, where the vehicle control unit 62 controls the seat driving unit 71 to adjust the position of the seat 5 toward the front of the vehicle. As a result, the interior of the vehicle 1 is set to the drive position.

[0059] In the illustrated example, step S202 is performed after step S201, but this is not limiting. Steps S201 and S202 may be performed in the reverse order, or simultaneously. That is, the position of the steering unit 50 may be adjusted before the amount of projection of the pedal unit 40 is adjusted, or the adjustment of the amount of projection of the pedal unit 40 and the adjustment of the position of the steering unit 50 may be performed simultaneously.

[0060] In the above description, an example has been described in which the drive position and the relax position are switched in response to the occupant's operation of the selector switch 63, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the vehicle V is in autonomous driving with the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 set to the drive position, if a predetermined condition is satisfied, the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 may be set to the relax position without the occupant's operation. The predetermined condition may be, for example, a condition related to the driving state of the vehicle V or the environment around the vehicle V, such as the driving route of the vehicle V.

[0061] The situation in which the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 can be set to the relaxation position is not limited to when the vehicle is autonomously driven. For example, the vehicle V may be configured so that the interior of the vehicle compartment 1 can be set to the relaxation position in response to an occupant pressing the selector switch 63 while the vehicle V is parked in a parking lot or the like.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the vehicle V has been described as having an automatic driving function, but this is not limiting. The vehicle according to the embodiment may also be a vehicle without an automatic driving function. For example, when the vehicle is parked, in response to an occupant pressing the selector switch 63, the vehicle control unit 62 may control the seat drive unit 71 to adjust the position of the seat 5 toward the rear of the vehicle, then control the steering drive unit 72 to move the position of the steering unit from the first position P1 to the second position P2, then control the pedal drive unit 73 to reduce the protrusion amount of the pedal unit 40, and further control the interior member drive unit 74 to lower the first interior member 11 to a predetermined position. This allows the interior of the vehicle cabin 1 to be set to a relaxed position in a parked vehicle.

[0063] (1) The vehicle according to the embodiment includes a front wall surface 4 that forms the front inner wall surface of the passenger compartment 1 in front of the seat 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a first interior member 11 that protrudes from the front wall surface 4 toward the seat 5 and is arranged on the front wall surface 4 so as to be able to be raised and lowered, and an interior member adjustment mechanism 20 that adjusts the height of an upper surface portion 11a of the first interior member 11 relative to the seating surface 6a of the seat 5 by raising and lowering the first interior member 11.

[0064] In the vehicle according to this embodiment, the height of the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 relative to the seat surface 6a of the seat 5 can be adjusted. Therefore, for example, in a situation where the vehicle V does not require operation by the occupant, such as during autonomous driving or when parked, the occupant can lower the first interior member 11, place their feet on the upper surface 11a, and assume a relaxed position. Consequently, it is possible to ensure a larger space in the vehicle interior where the occupant can move around, while preventing the vehicle V from becoming too large.

[0065] (2) The vehicle according to the embodiment includes a pedal section 40 disposed below the first interior member 11, in front of the seat 5 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a pedal section adjustment mechanism 45 that adjusts the amount of protrusion of the pedal section 40 from the floor surface 3 of the passenger compartment 1. When adjusting the height of the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11, the amount of protrusion of the pedal section 40 is adjusted so that the first interior member 11 and the pedal section 40 do not interfere with each other.

[0066] According to the vehicle according to this embodiment, for example, when moving the position of first interior member 11 downward, it is possible to reduce the amount by which pedal section 40 protrudes from floor surface 3. As a result, when lowering the position of first interior member 11, interference between first interior member 11 and pedal section 40 is suppressed, and the position of first interior member 11 can be positioned further downward.

[0067] (3) The vehicle according to the embodiment includes a steering unit 50 that is arranged to be movable between a first position P1 on the seat 5 side of the first interior member 11 and a second position P2 below the first interior member 11, a steering unit adjustment mechanism 55 that adjusts the position of the steering unit 50 between the first position P1 and the second position P2, and a seat adjustment mechanism 9 that adjusts the position of the seat 5 in the fore-and-aft direction of the seat 5, and the adjustment of the amount of protrusion of the pedal unit 40 and the adjustment of the position of the steering unit 50 are performed with the position of the seat 5 moved rearward.

[0068] In the vehicle according to this embodiment, the protrusion amount of the pedal unit 40 and the position of the steering unit 50 are adjusted with the seat 5 moved rearward. Therefore, when adjusting the steering unit 50 or the pedal unit 40, it is possible to prevent the steering unit 50 or the pedal unit 40 from coming into contact with the lower legs of an occupant seated in the seat 5.

[0069] (4) In the vehicle according to the embodiment, the first interior member 11 includes a one-side interior member 12 that forms one side of the first interior member 11 in the vehicle width direction, and an other-side interior member 13 that forms the other side, and the interior member adjustment mechanism 20 raises and lowers each of the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13, and individually adjusts the height of each of the upper surface portion 12a of the one-side interior member 12 and the upper surface portion 13a of the other-side interior member 13 relative to the seating surface 6a of the seat 5.

[0070] According to the vehicle of this embodiment, the one-side interior member 12 and the other-side interior member 13 can be raised and lowered independently. Therefore, for example, the height of the upper surface portion 12a of the one-side interior member 12 can be adjusted relative to the seat surface of the driver's seat, and the height of the upper surface portion 13a of the other-side interior member 13 can be adjusted relative to the seat surface of the passenger seat. As a result, even while the driver is driving, the passenger sitting in the passenger seat can lower the other-side interior member 13, place their feet on the upper surface portion 13a, and assume a relaxed posture. In addition, the heights of the upper surface portions 12a, 13a can be adjusted to suit the physiques of the passenger sitting in the driver's seat and the passenger sitting in the passenger seat.

[0071] (5) The vehicle according to the embodiment includes a second interior member 30 that is disposed on the front wall surface 4 above the upper surface 11a of the first interior member 11 that is in the upper limit position of the lift, and the second interior member 30 houses an airbag.

[0072] In the vehicle according to this embodiment, even when the first interior member 11 is lowered and the occupant is in a relaxed position, the position of the second interior member 30 that houses the airbag does not change. Therefore, for example, when a collision load is input to the vehicle V from the front, the airbag can more reliably protect the occupant from the collision load.

[0073] In the above description, the configuration of the vehicle according to the embodiment has been described using an electric vehicle as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may be used in a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine such as an internal combustion engine. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] V vehicle P1 1st position P2 2nd position 1 Cabin 3 Floor 4 Front wall 5 seats 6a Seat 9 Seat adjustment mechanism 11 First interior component 11a Top part 12 One side interior member 12a Top part 13 Other side interior member 13a Top part 20 Interior component adjustment mechanism 30 Second interior material 40 Pedal section 45 Pedal adjustment mechanism 50 Steering section 55 Steering adjustment mechanism

Claims

1. A vehicle equipped with an automatic driving function, a front wall surface that forms a front inner wall surface of the vehicle compartment in front of the seat in the vehicle front-rear direction; a first interior member that protrudes from the front wall surface toward the seat and is disposed on the front wall surface so as to be able to rise and fall; an interior member adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of an upper surface of the first interior member relative to a seat surface of the seat by raising and lowering the first interior member; a steering section that is disposed so as to be movable between a first position on the seat side of the first interior member and a second position below the first interior member by a steering shaft that constitutes a rotation center axis of the steering wheel and is rotatable around a support shaft of a hinge section; a steering section adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the steering section between the first position and the second position; A vehicle equipped with:

2. A front wall surface forming a front inner wall surface of a vehicle compartment in front of the seat in the vehicle longitudinal direction; a first interior member that protrudes from the front wall surface toward the seat and is disposed on the front wall surface so as to be able to rise and fall; an interior member adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of an upper surface of the first interior member relative to a seat surface of the seat by raising and lowering the first interior member; a pedal portion disposed in front of the seat in the vehicle front-rear direction and below the first interior member; a pedal adjustment mechanism for adjusting a protrusion amount of the pedal from a floor surface of the vehicle compartment; Equipped with When adjusting the height of the upper surface portion of the first interior member, the amount of protrusion of the pedal portion is adjusted so that the first interior member and the pedal portion do not interfere with each other.

3. a steering unit disposed so as to be movable between a first position on the seat side of the first interior member and a second position below the first interior member; a steering section adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the steering section between the first position and the second position; a seat adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the seat in the front-to-rear direction of the seat; Equipped with 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment of the projection amount of the pedal portion and the adjustment of the position of the steering portion are performed with the position of the seat moved rearward.

4. A front wall surface forming a front inner wall surface of the vehicle compartment in front of the seat in the vehicle longitudinal direction; a first interior member that protrudes from the front wall surface toward the seat and is disposed on the front wall surface so as to be able to rise and fall; an interior member adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of an upper surface of the first interior member relative to a seat surface of the seat by raising and lowering the first interior member; the first interior member includes a one-side interior member that forms one side of the first interior member in the vehicle width direction, and an other-side interior member that forms the other side of the first interior member, the interior member adjustment mechanism raises and lowers each of the one-side interior member and the other-side interior member, and individually adjusts the height of each of the upper surface portions of the one-side interior member and the other-side interior member relative to a seat surface of the seat.

5. a second interior member disposed on the front wall surface above an upper surface portion of the first interior member that is at an upper limit lift position; The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second interior member houses an airbag.

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