Vehicle

Abstract

This vehicle (1) is provided with a steering device (40) at a position separated from a front wall (4) of a cabin (3), and a video surface (21) for projecting a video. At least a part of the video surface (21) is provided between the front part of the steering device (40) and the front wall (4).

Description

vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that an image is projected from a projector installed inside an instrument panel unit onto a projection surface installed on the top surface of the instrument panel. Patent Document 2 discloses that the steering of a steer-by-wire system is attached to a support arm that is cantilevered from the vehicle interior floor near the driver's feet.

[0003] JP 2018-75858 A JP 2009-35041 A

[0004] In the case of the structure of Patent Document 2, there is no need to connect a steering device to the instrument panel (dashboard), which increases the degree of freedom in designing the front of the vehicle. However, neither Patent Document 1 nor Patent Document 2 discloses an optimal instrument panel or image display method, and there is room for improvement.

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present application aims to provide a vehicle that can optimize image display.

[0006] To solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. (1) A vehicle according to an aspect of the present invention (e.g., vehicle 1 in the embodiment) includes a steering device (e.g., steering device 40 in the embodiment) and an image display screen (e.g., image display screen 21 in the embodiment) located at a position separated from a front wall (e.g., front wall 4 in the embodiment) of a passenger compartment (e.g., passenger compartment 3 in the embodiment), and at least a portion of the image display screen is provided between a front portion of the steering device and the front wall. With this configuration, the steering device is separated from the front wall, allowing the area between the steering device and the front wall to be used for displaying the image. Additionally, since at least a portion of the image display screen is provided between the front portion of the steering device and the front wall, the image display screen can be utilized in an area where a component previously connecting the front portion of the steering device to the front wall is located. Therefore, the image display can be optimized.

[0007] (2) In the vehicle described in (1) above, the steering device may include a steering wheel (e.g., steering wheel 41 in the embodiment), and at least a portion of the image plane may be provided at a position where an axis of the steering wheel (e.g., axis G in the embodiment) contacts the front wall. With this configuration, the image plane can be provided at a position where a steering shaft would conventionally be located.

[0008] (3) In the vehicle described in (1) or (2) above, at least a portion of the image screen may be located below a seat surface (e.g., seat surface TS in the embodiment) of a driver's seat (e.g., driver's seat 30 in the embodiment). According to this configuration, by positioning the image screen below the seat surface, a wider image screen can be provided.

[0009] (4) In the vehicle described in any one of (1) to (3) above, the image screen may extend in the vertical direction, and the front wall may have a recess (e.g., recess 47 in the embodiment) that is recessed forward below the image screen. For example, if the front wall is moved too close to bring the image screen closer, there is a high possibility that the clearance between the occupant's feet and the front wall will be shortened. In contrast, according to this configuration, the recess can be provided to increase the foot clearance, improving the occupant's freedom of foot position.

[0010] (5) The vehicle described in any one of (1) to (4) above may further include a canopy portion (e.g., canopy portion 10 in the embodiment) extending rearward from the front wall below the windshield (e.g., windshield 2 in the embodiment), and at least a portion of the image screen may be located below the canopy portion in a range that can be seen by the driver between the canopy portion and the steering device. With this configuration, the canopy portion can prevent light entering through the windshield from hitting the image screen, making it easier to see the image screen. In addition, the image screen can be seen between the canopy portion and the steering device.

[0011] (6) In the vehicle described in (5) above, the steering device includes a steering wheel (for example, steering wheel 41 in the embodiment), and the steering wheel is switchable between a usage state in which the driver can grip it and a storage state in which the driver cannot grip it, and the steering wheel may be stored lower in the storage state than in the usage state. According to this configuration, by storing the steering wheel lower in the storage state than in the usage state, a wider image screen can be viewed in the storage state.

[0012] (7) In the vehicle described in any one of (1) to (6) above, the image screen may be arranged across the area from the driver's seat (e.g., the driver's seat 30 in the embodiment) to the passenger seat (e.g., the passenger seat 31 in the embodiment). According to this configuration, the image screen is arranged across a wide area from the driver's seat to the passenger seat, making it possible to project more impactful images and more information.

[0013] (8) In the vehicle described in any one of (1) to (7) above, the steering device may be attached to a support portion (e.g., support portion 46 in the embodiment) extending upward from a floor of the passenger compartment (e.g., floor 45 in the embodiment), and at least a portion of the image screen may be provided closer to the center in the vehicle width direction than the support portion. This configuration can prevent the image screen from being hidden by the support portion.

[0014] (9) In the vehicle described in (8) above, the support portion may be provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the steering device (e.g., the imaginary line F1 in the embodiment). According to this configuration, by providing the support portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the steering device, it is possible to further widen the image surface.

[0015] (10) In the vehicle described in any one of (1) to (9) above, the steering device may be supported on a side wall of the vehicle compartment (for example, side wall 5L in the embodiment). By supporting the steering device on the side wall, it is not necessary to arrange a support portion below the steering device, and therefore the image screen can be widened.

[0016] (11) In the vehicle described in any one of (1) to (10) above, at least a portion of the image screen may be provided below the steering device and overlapping with the steering device in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, the steering device is separated from the front wall, so that the image screen can be viewed even if it is provided below the steering device, and the image screen can be widened.

[0017] According to the present invention, a vehicle capable of optimizing image display can be provided.

[0018] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the periphery of a front windshield of a vehicle according to an embodiment; Fig. 3 is a diagram including a cross section taken along line II-II of Fig. 1, illustrating an example of the arrangement of a projector according to an embodiment; Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the driver's line of sight movement in a vehicle according to an embodiment; Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a stored state of a steering wheel according to an embodiment; Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a support state of a steering device according to a modified example of an embodiment;

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that directions such as front-rear, up-down, left-right, etc. in the following description are the same as directions in a vehicle described below. That is, the front-rear direction corresponds to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the up-down direction corresponds to the vehicle up-down direction (vehicle height direction), and the left-right direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the "vehicle width direction"). The front-rear direction, the vehicle up-down direction, and the vehicle width direction are perpendicular to one another. When the vehicle is positioned on a horizontal plane, the front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction are horizontal, and the vehicle up-down direction is vertical. In the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the direction in which the vehicle moves forward is referred to as the "front," and the direction in which the vehicle moves backward is referred to as the "rear." In the vehicle width direction, the left side facing forward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is referred to as the "left side," and the right side facing forward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is referred to as the "right side." In the vehicle width direction, the direction away from the vehicle width center is referred to as the outward direction in the vehicle width direction, and the direction approaching the vehicle width center is referred to as the inward direction in the vehicle width direction. In the vehicle up-down direction, the upper side in the vertical direction is referred to as the "upper side," and the lower side in the vertical direction is referred to as the "lower side." In the drawings used in the following description, the arrow UP indicates the upward direction, the arrow FR indicates the forward direction, and the arrow LH indicates the leftward direction. In the drawings, the line C indicates the center line in the vehicle width direction (the center of the vehicle width).

[0020] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the periphery of a windshield 2 of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram including a cross section taken along line II-II of Fig. 1, showing an example of the arrangement of a projector 20 according to an embodiment. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 together, the vehicle 1 includes a canopy portion 10 extending rearward from a front wall 4 of a vehicle interior 3 below the windshield 2, and a projector 20 that projects an image forward and downward toward the front wall 4.

[0021] The front windshield 2 is a window glass (windshield) located at the front of the vehicle 1. The front windshield 2 constitutes the front surface of the vehicle 1. The front windshield 2 is disposed between a pair of left and right front pillars 7L, 7R. The front windshield 2 is configured to allow occupants of the vehicle 1 to see through to the view ahead. The occupants can see the outside scenery through the front windshield 2.

[0022] The front windshield 2 is inclined so that its lower end is positioned further forward than its upper end when viewed in the vehicle width direction. For example, the front windshield 2 may be inclined upward and rearward from the front end of the upper surface 13 of the eaves portion 10 when viewed in the vehicle width direction. For example, the manner in which the front windshield 2 is inclined is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0023] The eaves portion 10 is disposed below the windshield 2. The eaves portion 10 extends rearward from the front wall 4 of the vehicle interior 3. The eaves portion 10 is disposed between the windshield 2 and the front wall 4 in the up-down direction.

[0024] The canopy portion 10 includes an output unit 15 for outputting an image. For example, the output unit 15 is an opening provided on the underside 14 of the canopy portion 10. By outputting an image from the output unit 15 of the canopy portion 10, the image can be projected onto the front wall 4. Note that the output unit 15 is not limited to the above, and may also be a window panel or a lens. For example, the form of the output unit 15 can be changed according to design specifications.

[0025] The projector 20 projects an image. Specifically, the projector 20 projects projection light representing an image toward a projection surface, thereby displaying the image formed by the projection light on the projection surface. For example, the projector 20 may be configured to include a projector main body (e.g., a main body including a light source, a display panel, and a lens system) that emits the projection light, a reflector (e.g., a reflector system including an intermediate mirror, a final mirror, etc.) that reflects the projection light emitted from the main body toward the projection surface, and a housing (e.g., a box-shaped portion formed with an opening that serves as an optical path for the projection light projected toward the projection surface) that accommodates the main body and the reflector. Note that the configuration of the projector 20 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0026] For example, the projector 20 is provided inside the canopy portion 10. By outputting an image from the projector 20 inside the canopy portion 10 through the output unit 15, the image can be projected onto the front wall 4. Note that the projector 20 is not limited to the above, and may be provided outside the canopy portion 10. For example, an image may be sent from the projector 20 provided outside the canopy portion 10 to the output unit 15 provided in the canopy portion 10 through an optical circuit. For example, only the output unit 15 may be provided in the canopy portion 10, and the projector 20 may not be provided in the canopy portion 10. For example, the installation mode of the projector 20 can be changed according to the design specifications.

[0027] In this embodiment, the eaves portion 10 extends to both side walls 5L, 5R of the passenger compartment 3 in the vehicle width direction. The side walls 5L, 5R include side windows 6L, 6R. The side windows 6L, 6R form the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle 1. The side windows 6L, 6R are disposed behind the front pillars 7L, 7R. The side windows 6L, 6R are configured to allow occupants of the vehicle 1 to see scenery to the left and right. The occupants can see the outside scenery through the side windows 6L, 6R.

[0028] For example, the eaves portion 10 may extend in the vehicle width direction to both lower ends of a pair of left and right front pillars 7L, 7R. In the figure, the symbols SL and SR indicate imaginary lines (vertical lines) that pass through the centers of the lower ends of the front pillars 7L, 7R when viewed from the rear and extend in the up-down direction. For example, the eaves portion 10 may extend across the left and right imaginary lines SL and SR. Note that the manner in which the eaves portion 10 extends in the vehicle width direction is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0029] The image surface 21 onto which an image is projected on the front wall 4 is provided on the surface of the front wall 4 facing the interior of the vehicle compartment 3. The front wall 4 and the image surface 21 extend vertically (up and down). The image surface 21 is provided in a rectangular shape elongated in the vehicle width direction as viewed from the driver. The image surface 21 is disposed on the front wall 4 within a range visible from a predetermined driver's eye position EP (hereinafter also referred to as "eye point EP"). For example, the eye point EP is presumed to be located within the eye range of the vehicle 1 (e.g., the "automobile driver eye range" defined in the Japanese Industrial Standards). The eye range corresponds to the area in which the predetermined driver's viewpoint is located in the vehicle 1. For example, the eye range corresponds to the area that includes a predetermined percentage (e.g., 95%) of the driver's eye position when the driver is seated in the driver's seat 30. Note that the eye point EP need not be presumed based on the driver of the vehicle 1, but may also be presumed based on other occupants of the vehicle 1.

[0030] The image surface 21 on the front wall 4 onto which an image is projected is configured as a surface that does not transmit light. For example, the image surface 21 may form a diffusion or reflection type screen on the front wall 4. When projection light representing an image is incident from the projector 20 onto the image surface 21, the projection light is reflected toward the driver's eyes, allowing the driver to view the image represented by the projection light. For example, the portion of the front wall 4 that becomes the image surface 21 may be subjected to surface processing such as micromachining, surface painting, or a resin sheet. For example, the form of the portion of the front wall 4 that becomes the image surface 21 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0031] The vehicle 1 is provided with a driver's seat 30 and a passenger seat 31 in the passenger compartment 3. For example, the driver's seat 30 is disposed on the left side of the vehicle width center C. For example, the passenger seat 31 is disposed on the right side of the vehicle width center C. The driver's seat 30 is not limited to the above, and may be disposed on the right side of the vehicle width center C. For example, the driver's seat 30 and the passenger seat 31 may be disposed opposite to the above in the vehicle width direction. For example, the arrangement of the driver's seat 30 and the passenger seat 31 can be changed according to design specifications.

[0032] In the embodiment, the image surface 21 onto which the image is projected on the front wall 4 is disposed across the area from the driver's seat 30 to the passenger seat 31. For example, the image surface 21 is disposed across the area from the center of the driver's seat 30 to the center of the passenger seat 31. For example, the image surface 21 is disposed within the range of the left-right width of the lower edge of the front windshield 2. Note that the range of the arrangement of the image surface 21 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0033] In this embodiment, a second image screen 22 is provided on the rear surfaces 11, 12 of the canopy portion 10. The second image screen 22 is provided at a position closer to the driver than the image screen 21 on the front wall 4. The second image screen 22 is provided above and behind the image screen 21. The second image screen 22 is provided between the windshield 2 and the image screen 21 in the up-down direction.

[0034] In the embodiment, vehicle information is displayed on the second image screen 22. For example, the vehicle information includes information such as the speed of the vehicle 1, the cumulative mileage, the coolant temperature, the output speed of the driving power source, the remaining fuel level, the amount of charge in the battery, warning lights, a shift position indicator, and direction indicator symbols. Information necessary for the driver (information with a higher priority in terms of driving than the information displayed on the image screen 21) is displayed on the second image screen 22.

[0035] Navigation information or entertainment information is displayed on the image screen 21 on the front wall 4. Information that is auxiliary to the information displayed on the second image screen 22 (information that has a lower priority in terms of driving than the information displayed on the second image screen 22) is displayed on the image screen 21.

[0036] In this embodiment, vehicle information is projected onto the second image screen 22 by a light-emitting device 25. For example, the light-emitting device 25 is configured by a light-emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), or the like. Note that the configuration of the light-emitting device 25 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0037] In the embodiment, the image screen 21 is larger than the second image screen 22. As seen by the driver, the area of ​​the image screen 21 is larger than the area of ​​the second image screen 22. As seen by the driver, the vertical width of the image screen 21 is larger than the vertical width of the second image screen 22. For example, the image screen 21 may be disposed between the left and right virtual lines SL and SR. Note that the arrangement of the image screen 21 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0038] In this embodiment, the rear surfaces 11, 12 of the eaves portion 10 extend in the vehicle width direction to both side walls 5L, 5R of the passenger compartment 3 at a constant vertical width W. The vertical width W of the rear surfaces 11, 12 of the eaves portion 10 refers to the distance between the upper and lower edges of the rear surfaces 11, 12 of the eaves portion 10 in the vertical direction. The vertical width W of the rear surfaces 11, 12 of the eaves portion 10 corresponds to the thickness of the eaves portion 10 in the vertical direction. The rear surfaces 11, 12 of the eaves portion 10 are arranged to separate the front window 2 and the image surface 21 (front wall 4) in the vertical direction. For example, the rear surfaces 11, 12 of the eaves portion 10 may extend at a constant vertical width W between the left and right virtual lines SL, SR. Note that the manner in which the rear surfaces 11, 12 of the eaves portion 10 extend is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0039] In the embodiment, the rear surfaces 11, 12 of the canopy portion 10 include a first rear surface 11 on which the second image screen 22 is provided, and a second rear surface 12 provided below the first rear surface 11. The first rear surface 11 is inclined upward and forward. When viewed in the vehicle width direction, the first rear surface 11 is inclined upward and forward from the upper end of the second rear surface 12. When viewed in the vehicle width direction, the second rear surface 12 is inclined downward and forward from the lower end of the first rear surface 11.

[0040] The first rear surface 11 is wider than the second rear surface 12. As seen from the driver, the area of ​​the first rear surface 11 is larger than the area of ​​the second rear surface 12. As seen from the driver, the vertical width of the first rear surface 11 is larger than the vertical width of the second rear surface 12. Note that the sizes of the first rear surface 11 and the second rear surface 12 are not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0041] In the embodiment, the canopy portion 10 includes an upper surface 13 extending forward from the upper portions of the rear surfaces 11, 12. The upper surface 13 is adjacent to the front windshield 2. The upper surface 13 is provided along the front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction. The upper surface 13 extends forward from the upper end of the first rear surface 11 and is then connected to the lower end of the front windshield 2.

[0042] The vehicle 1 is equipped with a steering device 40 and an image screen 21 for projecting an image, located at a position separated from the front wall 4 of the passenger compartment 3. The steering device 40 refers to the entire device that rotatably supports a steering wheel 41. The entire steering device 40 (including the portion for mounting the steering device 40) is separated from the front wall 4. The separated position means that the entire steering device 40, including the mounting portion, is located at a position separated from the front wall 4. The steering device 40 is provided in the passenger compartment 3 at a position facing the driver's seat 30.

[0043] The steering device 40 includes a steering wheel 41 that can be gripped by the driver. For example, the steering wheel 41 is formed in a rectangular frame shape (specifically, a rectangular frame shape with rounded corners) as seen from the driver. Note that the steering wheel 41 may also be formed in a circular ring shape as seen from the driver. The shape of the steering wheel 41 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0044] The steering device 40 may include a display unit 42 that is visible to the driver. For example, the display unit 42 may be configured to include a light-emitting device such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). For example, the display unit 42 may be a touch panel that the driver can operate with their fingers. Note that the form of the display unit 42 is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0045] In the embodiment, the steering device 40 is attached to a support portion 46 that extends upward from a floor 45 of the passenger compartment 3. For example, the support portion 46 may extend upward from the floor 45 along the side wall 5L, then bend and extend inward in the vehicle width direction, and then be attached to the steering device 40. Note that the manner in which the support portion 46 extends is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0046] In the embodiment, at least a portion of the image screen 21 is provided closer to the center in the vehicle width direction than the support portion 46. Preferably, the entire image screen 21 is provided closer to the center in the vehicle width direction than the support portion 46. The entire image screen 21 is provided at a position that does not overlap with the support portion 46 when viewed from the driver.

[0047] In the embodiment, the support portion 46 is provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the outer end of the steering device 40. A portion of the support portion 46 that extends upward from the floor 45 along the side wall 5L is provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the outer end of the steering device 40. The symbol F1 in the drawing indicates an imaginary line (vertical line) that passes through the outer end of the steering device 40 (steering wheel 41) in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vertical direction when viewed from the rear. For example, the portion of the support portion 46 that extends in the vertical direction may be provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the imaginary line F1.

[0048] 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the driver's line of sight movement in the vehicle 1 according to the embodiment. In the drawing, the symbol L1 indicates the line of sight when the driver looks at the bottom edge of the windshield 22 (the front edge of the upper surface 13), the symbol L2 indicates the line of sight when the driver looks at the top edge of the first rear surface 11, the symbol L3 indicates the line of sight when the driver looks at the bottom edge of the first rear surface 11 (the top edge of the second rear surface 12), and the symbol L4 indicates the line of sight when the driver looks at the bottom edge of the second rear surface 12.

[0049] 3, the driver can view vehicle information on the rear surfaces 11, 12 of the canopy portion 10 in continuity with the actual scenery seen through the windshield 22. For example, when viewed from the vehicle width direction, the angle A formed by the line passing through the eye point EP and the front end of the upper surface 13 (corresponding to the line of sight indicated by symbol L1 in the figure) and the line passing through the eye point EP and the lower end of the second rear surface 12 (corresponding to the line of sight indicated by symbol L4 in the figure) is preferably set to 30 degrees or less. For example, angle A is more preferably set to 20 degrees or less, and even more preferably set to 10 degrees or less. This reduces the driver's line of sight movement, making driving easier.

[0050] In the embodiment, at least a portion of the image surface 21 is provided between the front of the steering device 40 and the front wall 4. When viewed from the driver, the portion of the image surface 21 to the left of the vehicle width center C is provided between the front of the steering device 40 and the front wall 4.

[0051] In this embodiment, at least a portion of the image surface 21 is provided at a position where the axis G of the steering wheel 41 and the front wall 4 meet. The axis G of the steering wheel 41 corresponds to the central axis of rotation of the steering wheel 41. As seen from the driver, the portion of the image surface 21 to the left of the vehicle width center C and on the side of the recess 47 of the front wall 4 is provided at a position where the axis G of the steering wheel 41 and the front wall 4 meet. The range of the image surface 21 is shown in Figure 3. The lower end of the image surface 21 is located at a position where it meets the upper end of the recess 47. The axis G of the steering wheel 41 is located at a position that passes through the image surface 21.

[0052] In this embodiment, at least a portion of the image surface 21 is located below the seat surface TS of the driver's seat 30. The seat surface TS of the driver's seat 30 corresponds to a plane that passes through the uppermost position of the top surface of the driver's seat 30 and extends along the front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction when the driver is seated in the driver's seat 30. The portion of the image surface 21 on the side of the recess 47 of the front wall 4 is located below the seat surface TS of the driver's seat 30.

[0053] In the embodiment, the image surface 21 extends in the vertical direction. The front wall 4 has a recess 47 that is recessed forward below the image surface 21. For example, the recess 47 is formed to a size that allows the driver's feet to be placed therein. The recess 47 is located below the seat surface TS of the driver's seat 30. The image surface 21 is located in a portion of the front wall 4 that is above the recess 47. When viewed from the vehicle width direction, the surface that forms the recess 47 on the front wall 4 is inclined forward and downward from the lower end of the surface on which the image surface 21 is located.

[0054] In the embodiment, at least a portion of the image plane 21 is provided below the overhanging portion 10 in a range that can be seen by the driver from between the overhanging portion 10 and the steering device 40. When viewed from the vehicle width direction, the image plane 21 is provided between a position where a straight line passing through the eye point EP and the lower end of the second rear surface 12 (corresponding to the straight line indicated by reference symbol L4 in the figure) touches the front wall 4, and a position where a straight line passing through the eye point EP and the vicinity of the upper end of the recess 47 (a position that is below the imaginary plane K and below the position where the axis G of the steering wheel 41 touches the front wall 4) (corresponding to the straight line indicated by reference symbol L5 in the figure) touches the front wall 4.

[0055] In this embodiment, at least a portion of the image plane 21 is provided below the steering device 40 and overlaps with the steering device 40 in the vehicle width direction. The symbol K in the drawing corresponds to an imaginary plane that passes through the lower end of the steering device 40 and extends along the front-rear and vehicle width directions when viewed from the vehicle width direction. The portion of the image plane 21 on the side of the recess 47 of the front wall 4 is located below the imaginary plane K.

[0056] In the drawing, symbol F2 denotes an imaginary line (vertical line) that passes through the inner end of the steering device 40 (steering wheel 41) in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vertical direction when viewed from the rear, and symbol F3 denotes an imaginary line (vertical line) that passes through the outer end of the image surface 21 in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vertical direction when viewed from the rear. When viewed from the rear, the inner end of the steering device 40 in the vehicle width direction (imaginary line F2) is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the outer end of the image surface 21 in the vehicle width direction (imaginary line F3). Note that in the drawing, the portion located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the steering wheel 41 corresponds to a part of the support portion 46.

[0057] 4 is a diagram showing a stored state of the steering wheel 41 according to the embodiment. Referring to both Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, in the embodiment, the steering wheel 41 can be switched between a use state in which the driver can grip it and a stored state in which the driver cannot grip it.

[0058] For example, the use state shown in Fig. 1 is a state in which the driver grips the steering wheel 41 while driving the vehicle 1, and the steering wheel 41 has a rectangular frame shape (specifically, a rectangular frame shape with rounded corners) as seen from the driver. For example, the storage state shown in Fig. 4 is a state in which the driver operates the display unit 42 of the steering device 40, and the steering wheel 41 is tilted forward along a horizontal plane as seen from the driver. The upper end of the steering wheel 41 in the storage state is positioned lower than in the use state. For example, the steering wheel 41 may be rotatable about an axis along the vehicle width direction when switching between the use state and the storage state.

[0059] As described above, the vehicle 1 in the above embodiment includes the steering device 40 and the image screen 21 for projecting an image at a position separated from the front wall 4 of the passenger compartment 3. At least a portion of the image screen 21 is provided between the front of the steering device 40 and the front wall 4. With this configuration, the steering device 40 is separated from the front wall 4, so that the area between the steering device 40 and the front wall 4 can be used to project an image. In addition, since at least a portion of the image screen 21 is provided between the front of the steering device 40 and the front wall 4, an area where a component that conventionally connects the front of the steering device 40 to the front wall 4 is located can be used to project an image. Therefore, the image display can be optimized.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the steering device 40 includes a steering wheel 41. At least a portion of the image screen 21 is provided at a position where the axis G of the steering wheel 41 contacts the front wall 4. With this configuration, the image screen 21 can be provided at the position where the steering shaft would conventionally be located.

[0061] In the above embodiment, at least a portion of the image surface 21 is located below the seat surface TS of the driver's seat 30. According to this configuration, by positioning the image surface 21 below the seat surface TS, a wider image surface 21 can be provided.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the image surface 21 extends in the vertical direction. The front wall 4 has a recess 47 that is recessed forward below the image surface 21. For example, if the front wall 4 is moved too close in order to bring the image surface 21 closer, there is a high possibility that the clearance between the occupant's feet and the front wall 4 will be shortened. In contrast, according to the present configuration, the provision of the recess 47 can increase the foot clearance, improving the occupant's freedom of foot position.

[0063] The above embodiment further includes a canopy portion 10 extending rearward from the front wall 4 below the windshield 2. At least a portion of the image screen 21 is provided below the canopy portion 10 in a range that can be seen by the driver between the canopy portion 10 and the steering device 40. With this configuration, the canopy portion 10 can prevent light entering through the windshield 2 from shining on the image screen 21, making the image screen 21 easier to see. In addition, the image screen 21 can be seen between the canopy portion 10 and the steering device 40.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the steering wheel 41 can be switched between a use state in which the driver can grip it and a stored state in which the driver cannot grip it. In the stored state, the steering wheel 41 is stored lower than in the use state. According to this configuration, by storing the steering wheel 41 lower in the stored state than in the use state, the image screen 21 can be viewed more widely in the stored state.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the image screen 21 is disposed across the area from the driver's seat 30 to the passenger seat 31. According to this configuration, the image screen 21 is disposed across a wide area from the driver's seat 30 to the passenger seat 31, so that more powerful images and more information can be displayed.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the steering device 40 is attached to a support portion 46 that extends upward from the floor 45 of the vehicle interior 3. At least a portion of the image surface 21 is provided closer to the center in the vehicle width direction than the support portion 46. This configuration can prevent the image surface 21 from being hidden by the support portion 46.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the support portion 46 is provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the outer end of the steering device 40. According to this configuration, by providing the support portion 46 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the outer end of the steering device 40, the image surface 21 can be made wider.

[0068] In the above embodiment, at least a portion of the image screen 21 is provided below the steering device 40 and at a position overlapping with the steering device 40 in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, the steering device 40 is separated from the front wall 4, so that the image screen 21 can be viewed even if it is provided below the steering device 40, and the image screen 21 can be made wider.

[0069] <Modifications> In the above embodiment, the steering device includes a steering wheel, and at least a portion of the image screen is provided at a position where the axis of the steering wheel contacts the front wall. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the entire image screen may be provided at a position away from the position where the axis of the steering wheel contacts the front wall. For example, the installation mode of the image screen relative to the position where the axis of the steering wheel contacts the front wall can be changed according to design specifications.

[0070] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which at least a portion of the image screen is located below the surface of the driver's seat, but this is not limited to this. For example, the entire image screen may be located above the surface of the driver's seat. For example, the installation mode of the image screen relative to the surface of the driver's seat can be changed according to design specifications.

[0071] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the image surface extends in the vertical direction and the front wall has a recess that is recessed forward below the image surface, but this is not limited to this. For example, the front wall may have a convex portion that protrudes rearward below the image surface. For example, the front wall may not have a recess below the image surface. For example, the installation mode of the recess in the front wall may be changed depending on the design specifications.

[0072] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a canopy portion extending rearward from the front wall below the windshield is further provided, and at least a portion of the video screen is provided below the canopy portion in a range that can be seen by the driver between the canopy portion and the steering device. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the entire video screen may be provided in a range that can be seen from the driver's vehicle in front of the steering device. For example, a canopy portion extending rearward from the front wall below the windshield may not be provided. For example, the installation manner of the canopy portion and the installation manner of the video screen relative to the steering device can be changed according to design specifications.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the steering wheel can be switched between a use state in which the driver can grip it and a stored state in which the driver cannot grip it, and the steering wheel is stored lower in the stored state than in the use state. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the steering wheel may be stored higher in the stored state than in the use state, or to the left or right side. For example, the steering wheel may not be able to be switched to the stored state. For example, the manner in which the steering wheel is switched and the manner in which the steering wheel is stored can be changed according to design specifications.

[0074] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the video screen is arranged across the area from the driver's seat to the passenger seat, but this is not limiting. For example, the video screen may be arranged between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. For example, the video screen may be arranged in a position facing the driver's seat. For example, the arrangement of the video screen may be changed according to design specifications.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the steering device is attached to a support portion extending upward from the floor of the vehicle compartment, and at least a portion of the image screen is provided closer to the center of the vehicle width direction than the support portion. However, this is not limiting. For example, at least a portion of the image screen may be provided closer to the outside of the support portion in the vehicle width direction. For example, the installation mode of the image screen relative to the support portion can be changed according to design specifications.

[0076] 5 is a diagram showing a supported state of a steering device according to a modified example of the embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the steering device 40 may be supported on a side wall 5L of the passenger compartment 3. The steering device 40 may be attached to a support portion 146 extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the side wall 5L of the passenger compartment 3. According to this configuration, by supporting the steering device 40 on the side wall 5L, it is not necessary to arrange a support portion below the steering device 40, and therefore the image screen 21 can be made wider.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the support portion is provided on the outer side of the outer end of the steering device in the vehicle width direction, but this is not limited to this. For example, at least a portion of the support portion may be provided closer to the center of the vehicle width direction than the outer end of the steering device in the vehicle width direction. For example, the installation mode of the support portion relative to the outer end of the steering device in the vehicle width direction can be changed depending on the design specifications.

[0078] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which at least a portion of the video screen is provided below the steering device and overlaps with the steering device in the vehicle width direction, but this is not limiting. For example, the entire video screen may be provided at a position above the steering device. For example, the entire video screen may be provided at a position that avoids the steering device in the vehicle width direction. For example, the installation mode of the video screen relative to the steering device can be changed according to design specifications.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the image surface is described as a surface projected onto the front wall by a projector, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the image surface may be a surface displayed by a light-emitting device such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). For example, the light-emitting device may be embedded in the front wall or may be attached separately from the front wall. Note that the form of the image surface is not limited to the above and can be changed according to design specifications.

[0080] Although the embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The configurations in the above-described embodiments are examples of the present invention, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiments with well-known components.

[0081] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 vehicle 2 windshield 3 vehicle interior 4 front wall 5L, 5R side wall 10 canopy portion 21 image surface 30 driver's seat 31 passenger seat 40 steering device 41 steering wheel 45 floor 46 support portion 47 recess G axis TS seat surface

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a steering device positioned separately from the front wall of the passenger compartment and an image display surface for displaying an image, wherein at least a part of the image display surface is provided between the front part of the steering device and the front wall.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the steering device includes a steering wheel, and at least a part of the image display surface is provided at a position where the axis of the steering wheel contacts the front wall.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the image display surface is located below the seat surface of the driver's seat.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the image display surface extends in the vertical direction, and the front wall includes a concave portion that is recessed forward below the image display surface.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an awning portion that extends rearward from the front wall below the front window, and at least a part of the image display surface is provided below the awning portion and within a range visible to the driver from between the awning portion and the steering device.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the steering device includes a steering wheel, the steering wheel is switchable between a use state in which the driver can grip it and a storage state in which the driver cannot grip it, and in the storage state, the steering wheel is stored below the use state.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the image display surface is arranged to straddle from the driver's seat to the passenger seat.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the steering device is attached to a support portion that extends upward from the floor of the passenger compartment, and at least a part of the image display surface is provided closer to the center in the vehicle width direction than the support portion.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the support portion is provided outside the vehicle width direction outer end of the steering device in the vehicle width direction.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the steering device is supported by the side wall of the passenger compartment.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the image display surface is provided at a position below the steering device and overlapping the steering device in the vehicle width direction.

Images