vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle which enables a driver to feel satisfied with the position of an instrument panel.SOLUTION: A vehicle 100 includes an actuator 13 for moving an instrument panel 10 in a front-rear direction, an actuator 24 for relatively moving a steering part 20 to the instrument panel 10, a control part for controlling the actuators 13 and 24, and a storage part for storing a target instrument panel position and a target steering position previously associated with a driver. When determining that driving operation is started by the driver, the control part controls the actuators 13 and 24 so that the position of the instrument panel 10 and the position of the steering position 20 become the target instrument panel position and the target steering position stored in the storage part, respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having a movable instrument panel. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a device in which an instrument panel disposed in front of a vehicle seat is movable in the fore-and-aft direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the device described in Patent Document 1, when the steering device is not in use, the instrument panel is moved forward to a stored state, and when the steering device is in use, the instrument panel is moved rearward to a track mode position or a sport mode position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-182141 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, the position of the instrument panel is set uniformly regardless of the driver's physique, etc., so the driver may not be fully satisfied with the position of the instrument panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention includes an instrument panel disposed in front of a vehicle seat so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction, a first actuator for moving the instrument panel in the fore-and-aft direction, a steering unit provided on the instrument panel so as to be movable relative to the instrument panel, a second actuator for moving the steering unit relative to the instrument panel, a control unit for controlling the first actuator and the second actuator, and a memory unit for storing a target instrument panel position and a target steering position previously associated with a driver. The control unit has a determination unit for determining whether or not the driver has started a driving operation, and when the determination unit determines that the driver has started a driving operation, controls the first actuator and the second actuator so that the position of the instrument panel and the position of the steering unit become the target instrument panel position and the target steering position stored in the memory, respectively. The vehicle is an autonomous vehicle having an autonomous driving system, and further includes a driving level switching unit that switches the driving level during autonomous driving between a first autonomous driving level that includes the driver's obligation to monitor their surroundings while driving, and a second autonomous driving level that does not include the obligation to monitor their surroundings.Furthermore, when the driving level switching unit switches to the first autonomous driving level, the control unit controls the first actuator and the second actuator so that the position of the instrument panel becomes the target instrument panel position and the position of the steering unit becomes the target steering position, and when the driving level switching unit switches to the second autonomous driving level, the control unit controls the first actuator and the second actuator so that the position of the instrument panel becomes the target instrument panel position and the position of the steering unit becomes a storage position in which the steering unit is stored in the instrument panel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, the driver can be fully satisfied with the position of the instrument panel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1A] 1 is a side view showing the configuration of a main part of a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with an instrument panel in a normal position. [Figure 1B] 1 is a side view showing a main configuration of a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with an instrument panel in a retracted position. [Figure 2A] 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a main part of a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with an instrument panel in a normal position. [Figure 2B] 1 is a plan view showing a main configuration of a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with an instrument panel in a retracted position. [Figure 3]1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main part of a control device mounted on a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 2B is a plan view of the vehicle showing an example of a normal position different from that shown in FIG. 2A. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the CPU of FIG. 3; [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main part of a control device mounted on a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the position of an instrument panel that is unique to a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] -First embodiment- A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1A to 5. A vehicle 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has an instrument panel that is disposed facing a driver seated in a vehicle seat and that is movable in the front-rear direction. The vehicle 100 has an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, or both an internal combustion engine and a traction motor as a driving source. In other words, the vehicle 100 is an engine vehicle, an electric vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle.

[0009] 1A and 1B are side views showing the main configuration of vehicle 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are plan views. Note that FIGS. 1A and 2A show the normal position of the instrument panel when the driver 200 operates the vehicle 100, and FIGS. 1B and 2B show the retracted position of the instrument panel when the driver 200 does not operate the vehicle 100. For convenience, the following definitions are used to define the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction as shown in the drawings, and the configuration of each part will be described according to these definitions.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A, a vehicle 100 has an instrument panel 10 disposed in front of a front seat 102. The instrument panel 10 is supported by a body frame 101 that forms the framework of the vehicle 100. More specifically, the instrument panel 10 has a movable frame 11 extending in the left-right direction, and both left and right ends of the movable frame 11 are slidably engaged with rails 12 that extend in the front-rear direction on the left and right side walls of the body frame 101. The instrument panel 10 moves in the front-rear direction along the rails 12 via a drive mechanism that includes an actuator 13 such as a motor. The drive mechanism is, for example, a rack-and-pinion drive mechanism that has a pinion gear that is rotationally driven by the actuator 13, and a rack gear that extends along the rails 12 and meshes with the pinion gear.

[0011] An openable and closable door 103 is provided behind the rail 12. When the driver 200 gets in and out of the vehicle 100 through the door 103, the position of the instrument panel 10 (instrument panel position) is set to a retracted position where the instrument panel 10 has moved as far forward as possible, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B. This allows the driver 200 to easily get in and out of the vehicle 100. When the driver 200 gets in the vehicle 100, the instrument panel 10 moves rearward, and the instrument panel position is set to the normal position, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A.

[0012] A display unit 15 is provided on the rear surface of the instrument panel 10. The display unit 15 displays vehicle information such as vehicle speed and remaining fuel, map information showing the current location of the vehicle 100 and the route from the current location to the destination, and setting information for the air conditioning, sound, etc. of the vehicle 100. The display unit 15 is configured, for example, with a touch panel. When the instrument panel is in the normal position, the driver 200 can input destination information, various setting information, etc. via the touch panel (display unit 15).

[0013] A steering unit 20 is movably supported on the instrument panel 10. The steering unit 20 extends in the front-to-rear direction and has a steering shaft 21 whose front end is rotatably supported on the instrument panel 10, and a steering wheel 22 fixed to the rear end of the steering shaft 21. The rotation operation (amount of rotation) of the steering wheel 22 is detected by a rotation sensor 23. A signal from the rotation sensor 23 is input to a driving control controller for controlling the driving operation of the vehicle 100. That is, a turning command corresponding to the amount of operation of the steering wheel 22 is input via a by-wire. The driving control controller drives a steering mechanism (not shown) based on the signal from the rotation sensor 23. As a result, the front wheels 104 are steered left and right in accordance with the operation of the steering wheel 22.

[0014] The steering wheel 22 is provided so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the instrument panel 10 along the steering shaft 21 or integrally with the steering shaft 21 by driving an actuator 24 such as a motor. This allows the position of the steering wheel 22 (steering wheel position) to be adjusted to an optimum position for the driver 200 when the instrument panel is in the normal position, facilitating driving operations for the driver 200. Note that the position of the steering wheel 22 relative to the instrument panel 10 as shown in Figures 1A and 2A, i.e., the position where the steering wheel 22 protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the instrument panel, is referred to as the protruding position.

[0015] The steering wheel 22 is provided with a steering operation unit for inputting predetermined commands to the vehicle 100. The steering operation unit is composed of switches and levers, and inputs commands related to driving assistance functions such as following driving and lane keeping driving, commands related to audio equipment, etc. A gear shift command for the transmission can also be input via the steering operation unit.

[0016] Although not shown, an accelerator input unit that issues commands to accelerate or decelerate the vehicle 100 and a brake input unit that issues commands to brake the vehicle 100 are provided near the steering wheel 22. These accelerator input unit and brake input unit can be configured, for example, by lever members that are movable in the front-rear direction. The amount of operation of the lever member is detected by a sensor such as a potentiometer, and a signal from the sensor is input to a cruise control controller. As a result, acceleration / deceleration commands and braking commands corresponding to the amount of operation of the lever member are input via a by-wire system. By providing the accelerator input unit and brake input unit near the steering wheel 22, an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal are omitted.

[0017] An airbag module 30 serving as an airbag device is built into the center of the steering wheel 22. The airbag module 30 has an inflator, and when a predetermined impact acts on the vehicle 100, a control signal is output from an airbag control controller to the inflator, causing the inflator to inflate and deploy the airbag. The impact acting on the vehicle 100 is detected by an acceleration sensor.

[0018] The instrument panel 10 is provided with a recess 16 in front of the steering wheel 22. As shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B, when the instrument panel is in the retracted position, the steering wheel 22 is moved forward by the drive of an actuator 24 and accommodated in the recess 16. The steering wheel is accommodated in the recess 16 via, for example, a link mechanism (not shown). The steering wheel position relative to the instrument panel 10 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B is called the storage position. When the steering wheel is in the storage position, the rear surface of the steering wheel 22 is positioned on approximately the same plane as the rear surface of the instrument panel 10. This prevents the steering wheel 22 from protruding rearward from the surface of the instrument panel 10, making it easy for the driver 200 to get in and out of the vehicle 100. The actuator for storing the steering wheel may be provided separately from the actuator 24 for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 22.

[0019] As described above, in the vehicle of this embodiment, the position of the instrument panel 10 relative to the seat 102 and the position of the steering wheel 22 can be changed. Therefore, the distance from the driver 200 to the instrument panel 10 and the distance from the driver 200 to the steering wheel 22 can be changed without changing the position of the seat 102. Therefore, a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the seat position is not required. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a footrest 106 is provided on a floor 105 inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle 100, corresponding to the position of the seat 102. The footrest 106 is provided with a downward slope toward the rear so that the soles of the driver 200's feet can be placed thereon. This stabilizes the riding posture of the driver 200. The footrest 106 may be provided so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction along the floor 105.

[0020] The vehicle 100 has a control device that controls the position of the instrument panel and the position of the steering wheel. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of the control device 50 mounted on the vehicle 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3, the control device 50 is configured around a controller 51 as a control unit, and has a power switch 52, a vehicle speed sensor 53, an acceleration sensor 54, an input unit 55, actuators 13 and 24, and an inflator 31, all of which are connected to the controller 51.

[0021] The power switch 52 is a switch, such as an ignition switch, that is turned on when the driver starts driving. The vehicle speed sensor 53 detects the speed of the vehicle 100. The acceleration sensor 54 detects the acceleration of the vehicle 100, particularly an impact acting on the vehicle 100 that activates the airbag device. The controller 51 has a CPU 51A and a storage unit 51B such as a ROM, a RAM, etc.

[0022] The input unit 55 has a movement command unit 551 and a setting command unit 552. The movement command unit 551 has an operating member operated by the driver, and the actuators 13 and 24 are driven in response to the operation of the operating member. That is, when the driver 200 gets into the vehicle 100 for the first time, the instrument panel position (referred to as a target instrument panel position) and the steering wheel position (referred to as a target steering wheel position) corresponding to the driver 200 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A have not been set, so it is necessary to set these target positions. At this time, the actuators 13 and 24 are driven by an input signal from the movement command unit 551, that is, by a manual command from the driver 200, and the instrument panel position and the steering wheel position are adjusted to the target positions according to the preferences of the driver 200.

[0023] The setting command unit 552 has an operating member that is operated by the driver. This operating member is operated when the instrument panel position and the steering wheel position are adjusted to the target positions via the movement command unit 551, and the target positions are thereby stored in the memory unit 51B. Once the target positions are stored in the memory unit 51B, the target positions are subsequently read from the memory unit 51B each time the driver 200 turns on the power switch 52. As a result, the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 move to the target positions.

[0024] When multiple drivers 200 drive the same vehicle 100, the storage unit 51B stores a target position (target instrument position and target steering wheel position) for each driver. For example, multiple setting command units 552 are provided corresponding to the drivers, thereby allowing the target position to be stored for each driver. In this case, after turning on the power switch 52, the driver 200 can read out the target position corresponding to the driver 200 from the storage unit 51B by operating the setting command unit 552 corresponding to the driver 200 among the multiple setting command units 552.

[0025] The configuration of the input unit 55 is not limited to that described above. The input unit 55 may be configured to allow input of the identification ID of the driver 200, and multiple target positions may be stored in the storage unit 51B in association with the identification ID of the driver 200. Then, the driver 200 may input the identification ID via the input unit 55 after getting in the vehicle, and the controller 51 may read the target position from the storage unit 51B. This makes it easy to set target positions corresponding to each driver 200 when multiple drivers 200 drive the same vehicle 100.

[0026] Assuming that the driver 200 carries a mobile terminal and gets into the vehicle 100, the input unit 55 may automatically acquire an identification ID from the mobile terminal, and the controller 51 may read out a target position corresponding to the identification ID from the storage unit 51B. In this case, the input unit 55 is configured by a communication unit capable of communicating with the mobile terminal. Information indicating the driver's physique (height, weight, etc.) may be stored in advance in the memory of the information terminal, and when the driver 200 gets into the vehicle, the controller 51 may read this information from the mobile terminal and automatically set a target position corresponding to the driver's physique.

[0027] CPU 51A outputs control signals to actuators 13, 24 in response to the on / off state of power switch 52. That is, when power switch 52 is turned off, CPU 51A outputs control signals to actuators 13, 24 so that the instrument panel is positioned at the retracted position and the steering wheel is positioned at the stored position, as shown in Figures 1B and 2B. This increases the space in front of driver 200, and driver 200 can easily exit the vehicle through door 103 after turning off power switch 52.

[0028] When the driver 200 gets into the vehicle 100 and turns on the power switch 52, the CPU 51A reads the target positions stored in the storage unit 51B and outputs control signals to the actuators 13 and 24 so that the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 are respectively at their target positions. As a result, as shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the instrument panel 10 moves rearward to its normal position (target instrument panel position), and the steering wheel 22 protrudes rearward to its protruded position (target steering wheel position).

[0029] The target position is a target position for driving operation by driver 200, is determined for each user, and is stored in memory unit 51B. For example, if driver 200 is small in stature, the instrument panel position (normal position) after power switch 52 is turned on will be further rearward than that shown in FIG. 2A, as shown in FIG. 4. In this way, instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22 move to target positions according to the physique of driver 200, so driver 200 can optimally grip steering wheel 22 without adjusting the seat position.

[0030] If the vehicle speed sensor 53 detects that the vehicle 100 has been stopped for a predetermined period of time or longer after the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 have moved to the target positions, it is assumed that the driver 200 has no intention of operating the vehicle. At this time, the CPU 51A outputs control signals to the actuators 13 and 24 to move the instrument panel 10 forward and move the steering wheel 22 to the retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B. This allows the instrument panel 10 to be automatically retracted forward even if the power switch 52 is not turned off. Note that the vehicle may be configured to monitor the surroundings of the vehicle 100 using an on-board camera to determine whether the vehicle is waiting at a traffic light or in a traffic jam, and to allow the instrument panel 10 to move forward only if the vehicle is not waiting at a traffic light or in a traffic jam.

[0031] The storage unit 51B stores in advance not only a target position for driving operation by the driver 200 but also a target position for airbag activation (target position for airbag). This target position for airbag may be the same as or different from the target position for driving operation. The target position for airbag may be set for each driver in consideration of the physique of the driver 200, or may be set to a uniform value instead of for each driver.

[0032] After the driver 200 gets into the vehicle 100, if the acceleration sensor 54 detects an impact to the vehicle 100 of a predetermined value or greater, the inflator inflates and deploys the airbag. At this time, the CPU 51A outputs a control signal to the actuators 13 and 24 to move the steering wheel 22, in which the airbag module 30 is built, to the target position for the airbag. This allows the airbag to deploy at an optimal position for the driver 200, thereby enabling the driver 200 to be well protected from impact.

[0033] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by CPU 51A of Fig. 3 in accordance with a pre-stored program. The processing shown in this flowchart is started in a state where a driving operation target position and an airbag target position corresponding to driver 200 are pre-stored in storage unit 51B, and is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

[0034] 5, first, in step S1, it is determined whether the power switch 52 is turned on. If the result in step S1 is negative, the process proceeds to step S2, where the target positions of the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 stored in advance in the storage unit 51B, i.e., the retracted position of the instrument panel 10 and the stored position of the steering wheel 22 shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B, are read, and the process proceeds to step S5. For convenience, the target positions in this case are referred to as initial target positions.

[0035] On the other hand, if the result of step S1 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S3, where the target positions for driving operation stored in advance in memory unit 51B, i.e., the target instrument panel position (normal position) and the target steering wheel position (protruding position) corresponding to driver 200 as shown in FIG. 1A, 2A, or 4, are read. Next, in step S3, it is determined based on the signal from vehicle speed sensor 53 whether vehicle 100 has been stopped for a predetermined time or more. If the result of step S4 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2, and if negative, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0036] In step S5, it is determined whether or not an impact of a predetermined value or greater has been detected on the vehicle 100, based on a signal from the acceleration sensor 54. If the result in step S5 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S6, and if the result is negative, the process skips step S6 and proceeds to step S7. In step S6, a target position for the airbag that has been stored in advance in the storage unit 51B is read.

[0037] Through steps S1 to S6, target positions of the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 are set. That is, if step S1 is answered affirmatively and then step S5 is answered negatively, a target position for driving operation is set; if step S1 is answered negatively and then step S5 is answered negatively, an initial target position is set; and if step S1 is answered affirmatively or negatively and then step S5 is answered positively, an airbag target position is set. In step S7, control signals are output to the actuators 13 and 24 so that the instrument position and the steering wheel position become the initial target position, the target position for driving operation, or the target position for airbag, respectively, and the process ends.

[0038] The operation of vehicle 100 according to the first embodiment can be summarized as follows: Power switch 52 is off before driver 200 gets into vehicle 100. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B, the instrument panel is in the retracted position and the steering wheel is in the stored position (step S2 → step S7), allowing driver 200 to easily get into vehicle 100.

[0039] When driver 200 gets into vehicle 100 and turns on power switch 52, instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22 move to target positions corresponding to driver 200 (step S3 → step S7), as shown in Fig. 1A, Fig. 2A, or Fig. 4. This makes it easier for driver 200 to operate instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22, improving driving operability. Driver 200 can also easily operate display unit 15 (touch panel) on the instrument panel.

[0040] When driver 200 gets out of vehicle 100, he turns off power switch 52. As a result, instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22 move again to the retracted position and stored position, respectively (step S2 → step S7). This allows driver 200 to easily get out of vehicle 100. If the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined time or longer, it is assumed that the driver intends to stop driving. In this case, even if power switch 52 is not turned off, instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22 move to the retracted position and stored position in the same way as when power switch 52 is turned off (step S4 → step S2).

[0041] When it is detected that the vehicle 100 has received an impact of a predetermined value or greater, a control signal is output to the inflator, causing the airbag to inflate and deploy. At this time, the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 each move to the airbag target position corresponding to the driver 200 (step S6 → step S7). This allows the airbag to inflate and deploy at an optimal position for the driver 200, thereby providing excellent protection for the driver 200. Note that when the driving operation target position and the airbag target position are set to the same position, if the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 are in the driving operation target position, the instrument panel position and the steering wheel position remain unchanged.

[0042] According to the first embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be achieved. (1) Vehicle 100 includes an instrument panel 10 arranged in front of seat 102 so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction, an actuator 13 that moves instrument panel 10 in the fore-and-aft direction, a steering unit 20 that is provided on instrument panel 10 so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction relative to instrument panel 10, an actuator 24 that moves steering unit 20 (steering wheel 22) in the fore-and-aft direction relative to instrument panel 10, a controller 51 that controls actuators 13 and 24, and a memory unit 51B that stores a target instrument panel position and a target steering wheel position that are previously associated with driver 200 (Figures 1A, 2A, and 3). Controller 51 determines whether driver 200 has started driving, specifically whether power switch 52 has been turned on, and if it is determined that power switch 52 has been turned on, controls actuators 13, 24 so that the positions of instrument panel 10 and steering unit 20 are respectively set to the driving operation target positions stored in memory unit 51B (FIG. 5). As a result, when power switch 52 is turned on, instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22 can be moved to target positions that take into account the physique of driver 200, thereby increasing driver 200's satisfaction with these positions.

[0043] (2) Power switch 52 is a switch that is turned on when driver 200 starts driving, and when power switch 52 is turned on, actuators 13, 24 are controlled so that the instrument panel position and the steering wheel position are respectively set to the target positions for driving operation. This allows instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22 to be moved to the target positions at the optimal timing when driver 200 starts driving operation.

[0044] (3) Vehicle 100 further includes a vehicle speed sensor 53 (FIG. 3). When controller 51 detects that power switch 52 is off, or when vehicle speed sensor 53 detects that the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time or more, controller 51 controls actuators 13, 24 so that instrument panel 10 is moved as far forward as possible to a retracted position, and steering wheel 22 is moved to a retracted position where steering wheel 22 is retracted into instrument panel 10 (FIG. 5). As a result, when driver 200 gets out of vehicle 100, instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22 are retracted forward of the vehicle, making it easy for driver 200 to get out of the vehicle.

[0045] (4) When the steering unit 20 is in the stowed position, it is housed in a recess 16 provided in the instrument panel 10 (FIG. 2B). This prevents the steering wheel 22 from protruding rearward, and maximizes the space in front of the seat 102.

[0046] (5) The vehicle 100 further includes an airbag module 30 (FIG. 2A) that is provided in the steering unit 20 and has an airbag that inflates and deploys rearward when a predetermined impact on the vehicle 100 is detected. In addition to the target positions for driving operation, the memory unit 51B further stores target positions for the airbag, which are target positions of the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 when the airbag module 30 is activated and are pre-associated with the driver 200. When the acceleration sensor 54 detects a predetermined impact, the controller 51 controls the actuators 13, 24 so that the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 move to the target positions for the airbag (FIG. 5). This allows the airbag to inflate and deploy at an optimal position for the driver 200.

[0047] -Second embodiment- A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as in Figures 1A to 5, and the following mainly describes the differences from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the vehicle 100 is a vehicle with an automatic driving function, i.e., an automatically driven vehicle, and this point is what makes it different from the first embodiment. In a vehicle 100 with such driving assistance technology, it is necessary to optimally set the steering position and steering wheel position in order to contribute to the development of a sustainable transportation system.

[0048] The vehicle 100 has an automatic driving system. The automatic driving system is equipped with sensors (collectively referred to as external sensors) that detect the external conditions of the vehicle 100, such as cameras, radar, and lidar. The automatic driving system detects the positions of obstacles around the vehicle 100 and the distances to the obstacles based on signals from the external sensors, generates a target trajectory to avoid contact with the obstacles, and controls the vehicle driving actuators so that the vehicle 100 drives along the target trajectory toward the target position.

[0049] Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device 50 mounted on a vehicle 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 6, the control device 50 further includes a driving level command switch 56 and a display unit 15, each connected to a controller 51, in addition to the configuration shown in Fig. 3.

[0050] The driving level command switch 56 is configured as a switch that is provided on, for example, the instrument panel 10 or the steering unit 20 and can be manually operated by the driver, and the autonomous driving level is commanded in response to switch operation. The autonomous driving level is an index of the degree to which driving is automated. Autonomous driving levels are classified into levels 0 to 5 based on, for example, SAEJ3016 defined by SAE International. Specifically, level 0 is a driving level with no automation, and at level 0, all driving operations are performed by a human (driver).

[0051] Level 1 is a driving level (driving assistance) in which the system performs any of the following operations: acceleration, steering, and braking. In other words, at Level 1, under certain conditions, the automated driving system controls the operation of the accelerator, brakes, or steering wheel depending on the surrounding situation, and all other driving operations are performed by the human. Level 2 is a driving level (partial driving automation) in which the system performs multiple operations of acceleration, steering, and braking at the same time. Up to Level 2, humans are responsible for monitoring the surroundings.

[0052] Level 3 is a driving level (conditional automation) in which the automated driving system performs all acceleration, steering, and braking, with the driver only responding when requested by the automated driving system. From level 3 onwards, the automated driving system monitors the surroundings, and the human is no longer required to monitor the surroundings. Level 4 is a driving level (high automation) in which the automated driving system performs all driving operations in certain situations, and the human does not have to take over even if the automated driving system is unable to continue driving. Therefore, from level 4 onwards, the automated driving system will respond even in an emergency. Level 5 is a driving level (fully automated driving) in which the automated driving system performs all driving operations in all situations.

[0053] Depending on its operation, the driving level command switch 56 commands one of the automatic driving levels from level 0 to 5. Alternatively, the automatic driving system can be configured to determine whether the conditions for automatic driving are met based on the driving status of the vehicle 100, the surrounding conditions, etc., and automatically switch the driving level command switch 56 depending on the determination result to command one of the levels from 0 to 5.

[0054] CPU 51A changes the instrument panel position and the steering wheel position according to the autonomous driving level commanded by driving level command switch 56. Specifically, when an autonomous driving level of Level 2 or lower is commanded, CPU 51A outputs control signals to actuators 13, 24 to move instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22 to a normal position and a protruding position, respectively, according to the physique of driver 200, as shown in Figures 2A and 4. That is, in this case, because driver 200 will operate, or is likely to operate, steering wheel 22, accelerator input unit, and brake input unit while driving, instrument panel 10 and steering wheel 22 are moved to positions that are easy for driver 200 to operate.

[0055] When the driving level command switch 56 commands an autonomous driving level of Level 4 or higher, the CPU 51A outputs control signals to the actuators 13 and 24 to move the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 to the retracted position and the stored position, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2B. That is, in this case, the driver 200 does not need to perform any driving operations, so the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 are moved to the frontmost position. This increases the space around the driver 200, improving comfort.

[0056] On the other hand, when the driving level command switch 56 commands Level 3 autonomous driving, the CPU 51A outputs control signals to the actuators 13, 24 to move the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 to the normal position and the retracted position, respectively, as shown in FIG. 7. That is, in this case, it is necessary for the driver 200 to be able to perform driving operations immediately when requested by the autonomous driving system. For this reason, the instrument panel is positioned in the normal position, but the steering wheel is positioned in the retracted position. Note that instead of the instrument panel being positioned in the normal position, it may be positioned further forward than the normal position and further rearward than the retracted position.

[0057] Furthermore, CPU 51A outputs a control signal to display unit 15 to change the display mode of display unit 15 (touch panel) depending on the instrument panel position and the steering wheel position. Specifically, when the instrument panel position is normal and the steering wheel position is extended, i.e., when the autonomous driving level is level 2 or lower, less information is displayed on display unit 15 than when the instrument panel position is normal and the steering wheel position is retracted, i.e., when the autonomous driving level is level 3.

[0058] This is because when the steering wheel is in the protruding position, the driver can input commands by operating the switches (steering switches) provided on the steering wheel 22 without operating the touch panel. Therefore, when the automatic operation level is level 2 or lower, information that can be input by the steering switch is not displayed on the display unit 15. Note that the display mode in FIG. 7 is a touch panel mode in which commands are input by the driver by operating the touch panel, and the display mode in FIG. 2A is a limited touch panel mode in which commands are input from the touch panel and the steering switch.

[0059] On the other hand, when the instrument panel is in the retracted position and the steering wheel is in the stored position, that is, when the autonomous driving level is level 4 or higher, the display unit 15 is away from the driver 200 (FIG. 2B), and therefore the touch panel is not operated. In this case, unlike when the autonomous driving level is level 3 or lower, the CPU controls the display unit 15 to display minimum vehicle driving information or to display information other than vehicle driving information. This type of display mode is called a viewing mode.

[0060] Note that an operation unit (such as a touch panel) connected to controller 51 may be provided on seat 102 so that the display content of display unit 15 in the viewing mode can be changed by a command from driver 200, and the display content can be changed by operating the operation unit. A portable terminal carried by driver 200 may be communicably connected to controller 51, and the display content may be changed by a command sent from the portable terminal. In the viewing mode, instrument panel 10 may not move to the retracted position, but may move to a position where driver 200 can easily view display unit 15 (for example, an intermediate position between FIG. 2B and FIG. 7).

[0061] According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects can be achieved. (1) Vehicle 100 according to the second embodiment is an autonomous vehicle having an autonomous driving system, and further includes a driving level command switch 56 that switches the autonomous driving level between Level 2 or lower, which requires the driver to monitor the surroundings while driving, and Level 3 or higher, which does not require the driver to monitor the surroundings (FIG. 6). When the driving level command switch 56 switches to an autonomous driving level of Level 2 or lower, CPU 51A controls actuators 13 and 24 so that the instrument panel position and the steering wheel position are respectively set to target positions for driving operation (FIGS. 2A and 4) that correspond to the physique of driver 200. On the other hand, when the driving level command switch 56 switches to an autonomous driving level of Level 3 or higher, CPU 51A controls actuators 13 and 24 so that the instrument panel position corresponds to the physique of driver 200 and the steering wheel position is set to a retracted position. In this way, when the autonomous driving level is Level 3 or higher, in which driver 200 does not need to operate steering wheel 22, moving steering wheel 22 to the retracted position increases the space in front of driver 200, thereby improving driver 200's comfort.

[0062] (2) The driving level command switch 56 can switch the autonomous driving level between level 3, where the autonomous driving system may request driving operations while the vehicle is traveling in autonomous driving mode, and level 4 or higher, where the autonomous driving system may not request driving operations. When the driving level command switch 56 switches the autonomous driving level to level 4 or higher, the CPU 51A controls the actuator 13 so that the instrument panel 10 is positioned further forward than when the autonomous driving level was switched to level 3 (FIGS. 2B and 7). This further expands the space in front of the driver 200 at levels 4 and higher, further increasing the comfort of the driver 200.

[0063] (3) The instrument panel 10 has a display unit 15 including a touch panel that can be operated by the driver (FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4, and 7). The CPU 51A further controls the display unit 15 so that the display content changes depending on the position of the instrument panel and the position of the steering wheel. This allows information to be displayed efficiently on the touch panel, taking into consideration the ease of operation of the touch panel by the driver 200 (the distance to the touch panel) and the need for information display on the touch panel.

[0064] The above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways. Some modifications will be described below. In the above-described embodiment, the rear surface of the instrument panel 10 is provided with a display unit 15 including a touch panel operable by the driver 200. However, the operation unit may be configured with something other than a touch panel, and the configuration of the instrument panel disposed in front of the vehicle seat is not limited to the above. In the above-described embodiment, the left and right ends of the movable frame 11 integral with the instrument panel 10 are slidably engaged along left and right rails 12 extending in the front-rear direction, and the instrument panel 10 is driven in the front-rear direction by an actuator 13 such as a motor. However, the configuration of the first actuator is not limited to the above. The first actuator may be a cylinder instead of a motor.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the steering unit 20 is constituted by the steering wheel 22 provided at the rear end of the steering shaft 21, but the configuration of the steering unit is not limited to that described above. In the above embodiment, the steering wheel 22 is configured to be movable along the steering shaft 21 or integrally with the steering shaft 21 by an actuator 24 such as a motor, but the second actuator may have any configuration as long as it moves the steering unit relative to the instrument panel. The steering unit may also be moved relative to the instrument panel in a direction other than the front-rear direction and stored in a recess in the instrument panel 10.

[0066] In the above embodiment, when the power switch 52 is turned on, the CPU 51A determines that a driving operation has been initiated. However, the configuration of the determination unit that determines whether a driving operation has been initiated by the driver is not limited to this. For example, a seat belt switch that is turned on when a seat belt is fastened may be provided, and when the seat belt switch is turned on, it may be determined that a driving operation has been initiated. In the above embodiment, when the steering unit 20 is in the stored position, the steering unit 20 is stored in the recess 16 of the instrument panel 10. However, the steering unit 20 may be stored in a location other than the recess when in the stored position. In the above embodiment, when the vehicle speed sensor 53 (vehicle stop detection unit) detects that the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time or more, the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 are moved to the retracted position and the stored position, respectively. However, these movements may not be performed until the power switch 52 is turned off.

[0067] In the above embodiment, when the power switch 52 is turned on, the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 are moved to a target instrument panel position (first target instrument panel position) and a target steering wheel position (first target steering position), respectively. Furthermore, when a predetermined impact is detected by the acceleration sensor 54, the instrument panel 10 and the steering wheel 22 are moved to a target instrument panel position (second target instrument panel position) and a target steering wheel position (second target steering position), respectively. Regarding the positional relationships between the first target instrument panel position and the second target instrument panel position, and between the first target steering position and the second target steering position, these may be in the same position, or one of them (e.g., the first target instrument panel position) may be located forward or rearward of the other (e.g., the second target instrument panel position).

[0068] In the above embodiment, the driving level command switch 56 switches the autonomous driving level between levels 0 and 5. However, the driving level switching unit may be configured to switch the driving level during autonomous driving between level 2 or lower (first autonomous driving level), which requires the driver to monitor the surroundings while driving, and level 3 or higher (second autonomous driving level), which does not require the driver to monitor the surroundings. Alternatively, the driving level switching unit may be configured to switch between level 3, in which the autonomous driving system may request driving operations, and level 4 or higher (non-conditional second autonomous driving level), in which the autonomous driving system may not request driving operations. In the above embodiment, when the autonomous driving level is switched to level 3, the CPU 51A moves the instrument panel 10 to the normal position (target instrument panel position). However, the instrument panel 10 may be moved forward from the normal position. In the above embodiment, when the autonomous driving level is switched to level 4 or higher, the CPU 51A moves the instrument panel 10 to the retracted position (foremost part), but it may also be moved further rearward than the retracted position.

[0069] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications as long as the features of the present invention are not impaired. One or more of the above-described embodiment and modifications can be arbitrarily combined, and modifications can also be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10 instrument panel, 13 actuator, 15 display unit, 16 recess, 20 steering unit, 22 steering wheel, 24 actuator, 30 airbag module, 51 controller, 51A CPU, 51B memory unit, 52 power switch, 53 vehicle speed sensor, 56 driving level command switch, 100 vehicle

Claims

1. an instrument panel disposed in front of a vehicle seat so as to be movable in a front-rear direction; a first actuator that moves the instrument panel in the front-rear direction; a steering unit provided on the instrument panel so as to be movable relative to the instrument panel; a second actuator that moves the steering unit relative to the instrument panel; a control unit that controls the first actuator and the second actuator; A vehicle including a storage unit that stores a target instrument panel position and a target steering position that are associated with a driver in advance, the control unit has a determination unit that determines whether or not a driving operation has been started by the driver, and when the determination unit determines that a driving operation has been started, controls the first actuator and the second actuator so that a position of the instrument panel and a position of the steering unit become the target instrument panel position and the target steering position stored in the memory unit, respectively; the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle having an autonomous driving system, The vehicle further includes a driving level switching unit that switches the driving level during autonomous driving between a first autonomous driving level that includes a driver's obligation to monitor their surroundings while driving or a second autonomous driving level that does not include the driver's obligation to monitor their surroundings, Furthermore, the control unit controls the first actuator and the second actuator so that, when the driving level switching unit switches to the first autonomous driving level, the position of the instrument panel becomes the target instrument panel position and the position of the steering unit becomes the target steering position, while, when the driving level switching unit switches to the second autonomous driving level, the control unit controls the first actuator and the second actuator so that the position of the instrument panel becomes the target instrument panel position and the position of the steering unit becomes a storage position in which the steering unit is stored in the instrument panel.

2. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, a power switch that is turned on when the driver starts driving the vehicle; The vehicle is characterized in that the determination unit determines that a driving operation has been started when the power switch is turned on.

3. 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, Further, a vehicle stop detection unit is provided to detect when the vehicle is stopped, When the control unit detects that the power switch is off or when the vehicle stop detection unit detects that the vehicle has been stopped continuously for a predetermined period of time or more, the control unit controls the first actuator and the second actuator so that the position of the instrument panel is moved to a retracted position where the instrument panel is moved as far forward as possible and the position of the steering unit is moved to a stored position where the steering unit is stored in the instrument panel.

4. 4. The vehicle according to claim 3, The vehicle, wherein the steering unit is accommodated in a recess provided in the instrument panel when in the stored position.

5. In the vehicle described in claim 1, The second autonomous driving level includes a conditional second autonomous driving level at which the autonomous driving system may request driving operations while the vehicle is traveling in an autonomous driving mode, and a non-conditional second autonomous driving level at which the autonomous driving system may not request driving operations; the driving level switching unit is further capable of switching the driving level during autonomous driving to the conditional second autonomous driving level or the non-conditional second autonomous driving level, A vehicle characterized in that, when the driving level switching unit switches to the non-conditional second autonomous driving level, the control unit controls the first actuator so that the instrument panel is positioned further forward than when the driving level switching unit switches to the conditional second autonomous driving level.

6. In the vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, an airbag device provided in the steering section and inflating and deploying rearward when a predetermined impact on the vehicle is detected; the target instrument panel position and the target steering position are a first target instrument panel position and a first target steering position, respectively; the storage unit further stores a second target instrument panel position, which is a target position of the instrument panel when the airbag device is activated, and a second target steering position, which is a target position of the steering unit, which are associated with the driver in advance; The vehicle is characterized in that, when the specified impact is detected, the control unit controls the first actuator and the second actuator so that the position of the instrument panel becomes the second target instrument panel position and the position of the steering unit becomes the second target steering position.

7. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the instrument panel has a display unit including an operation unit operable by the driver, The control unit further controls the display unit so that the display content is changed depending on the position of the instrument panel and the position of the steering unit.

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