JP2007253809A - Driving posture adjusting device, automobile, and driving posture adjusting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the pedal operation feeling which is not affected by the physique of a driver. <P>SOLUTION: A driving posture adjusting device comprises: a floor level adjusting mechanism 10 for varying the distance in the height direction between pedals 31, 32 and a foot placement part 13; and a posture adjusting unit 80 for adjusting the distance by the floor level adjusting mechanism 10. Thus, the distance in the height direction between the pedals 31, 32 and the foot placement part 13 can be set to be a value corresponding to the physique of a driver, in other words, the size of the leg of the driver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a driving posture adjusting device, a vehicle, and a driving posture adjusting method for adjusting a driving posture of a driver.

In the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1, when the pedal position is movable in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the physique is small (height is low), the driver can change the pedal position to the driver side, so that the driver can operate even if the physique is small. This ensures that the driver's foot stays on the pedal so that the driver does not have to sit extremely on the front side of the vehicle. Thereby, even when a driver's physique (for example, height) differs, the ease of stepping on a pedal is improved.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-278017 (FIGS. 1 and 2)

In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if a small physique, the foot will reach the pedal. However, in the case of a small physique, the foot is usually small, so the position of the sole contacting the pedal surface is in the toe direction. It will shift. For this reason, the driver had to stand up with respect to the vehicle body floor by protruding the heel forward from the original position. As a result, there is a problem that the pedal operation feeling of a small physique differs from the pedal operation feeling of a large physique because the ankle angle becomes tight and the sole bends more than necessary.
The subject of this invention is making it the pedal operation feeling which is not influenced by a driver's physique.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A variable means for changing a distance in a height direction between a pedal installed in front and lower of the driver seat, a vehicle body floor portion between the driver seat and the pedal, and the distance is adjusted by the variable means. And adjusting means.
Moreover, according to the present invention,
Based on the change in the physique of the driver, the pedal installed in front of the driver's seat and the body floor portion between the driver's seat and the pedal are relatively moved to move the pedal on the pedal. The distance between the input position of the pedaling force by the driver and the position where the driver puts the heel on the vehicle body floor portion is set according to the physique of the driver.

According to the present invention, by adjusting the distance in the height direction between the pedal and the vehicle body floor portion, the distance can be made a distance corresponding to the physique of the driver, that is, the size of the driver's foot. Thereby, it can be set as the pedal operation feeling which is not influenced by a driver's physique.
Further, according to the present invention, the distance between the pedaling force input position by the driver on the pedal and the position where the driver puts the heel on the vehicle body floor portion corresponds to the physique of the driver, The pedal can be operated without being affected by the physique.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The present embodiment is a vehicle equipped with the driving posture adjusting apparatus according to the present invention.
(Constitution)
1 and 2 show the configuration of the driving posture adjusting device. FIG. 1 is a side view of an in-vehicle structure provided with a driving posture adjusting device, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the in-vehicle structure provided with the driving posture adjusting device.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the driving posture adjusting device is roughly divided into a floor height adjusting mechanism 10 that adjusts the height of the floor on which the driver puts the heel when operating the accelerator pedal 31 and the like, and the vehicle. A movable floor 33 that is configured separately from the floor (fixed side floor) 1 and to which the floor height adjusting mechanism 10, the accelerator pedal 31, and the brake pedal 32 are attached; and a movable floor displacement mechanism 40 that displaces the movable floor 33. The seat height adjusting mechanism 50 that adjusts the height of the driver seat 2, the steering position adjusting mechanism 70 that adjusts the position of the steering 71, and the attitude adjusting unit 80 are provided.

(Configuration of movable floor)
On the movable floor 33, the floor height adjusting mechanism 10, the accelerator pedal 31, and the brake pedal 32 are attached to an attachment portion 33a having a substantially square plate shape. The attachment portion 33a is arranged in parallel to the vehicle floor 1, and the support portion 33b is pushed up obliquely rearward from the rear end of the attachment portion 33a. The accelerator pedal 31 and the brake pedal 32 are attached to the front end portion of the attachment portion 33a, and the floor height adjusting mechanism 10 is attached to the approximate center on the attachment portion 33a.

(Configuration of floor height adjustment mechanism)
The floor height adjusting mechanism 10 has a structure in which a driver places a foot placement portion 13 (top plate) on which a driver puts his / her foot by using an X link constituted by a pair of link members 11 and 12. That is, the intermediate part of both link members 11 and 12 is rotatably connected by the connecting shaft 14, and both end parts of both link members 11 and 12 are respectively attached to the foot placement part 13 and the attachment part 33 a of the movable floor 33. It is connected.

Specifically, the upper end portion of one link member 11 is connected to a guide hole 16 formed in the vehicle front-rear direction on the front side of the foot placement portion 13 by a pin 15, and the pin 15 is The guide hole 16 is slidably connected to the guide hole 16, and a lower end portion of the guide hole 16 is rotatably connected to the vicinity of the rear end of the attachment portion 33 a by a pin 17.
Further, the other link member 12 has an upper end portion rotatably connected to the rear side of the foot placement portion 13 by a pin 18 and a lower end portion of the link member 12 near the front end of the attachment portion 33a by the pin 19 The pin 19 is slidably connected to the guide hole 20 while being connected to a guide hole 20 formed extending in the direction.

  And in the floor height adjustment mechanism 10, X link comprised by these pair of link members 11 and 12 becomes one set on either side, and is supporting the footrest part 13 with respect to the attaching part 33a. In addition, each pin 17 that rotatably supports the one link member 11 on the attachment portion 33a by the left and right X links is integrated with one shaft 21. That is, the pin 17 formed at both ends of the shaft 21 supports the link member 11 in the left and right X links so as to be rotatable with respect to the attachment portion 33a. In the floor height adjusting mechanism, the shaft (hereinafter referred to as a rotational drive shaft) 21 is rotationally driven by a drive means (for example, a motor, hereinafter referred to as a floor vertical movement drive motor) 23. Further, the driving of the floor vertical movement driving motor 23 is controlled by the attitude adjusting unit 80 as described later.

The floor height adjusting mechanism 10 configured as described above allows the footrest 13 to be moved up and down (contacted / separated) with respect to the movable floor 33 by the X link, and the floor vertical movement driving motor 23 is driven. When the rotary drive shaft 21 is rotated, the foot placement unit 13 is raised and lowered according to the rotation direction of the rotary drive shaft 21.
Further, the brake pedal 32 is attached to the attachment portion 33a so as to be located in front of the foot placement portion 13 and approximately in the center in the left-right direction of the foot placement portion 13, and further, the foot placement portion 13 The accelerator pedal 31 is attached to the attachment portion 33a so as to be located on the front left side of FIG.

  Similar to a general accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal 31 is rotatable about the lower end thereof and attached to the attachment portion 33a of the movable floor 33. The accelerator pedal 31 is an electronic throttle and is not mechanically connected to an engine (not shown). The accelerator pedal 31 can be moved freely because it is not mechanically connected to the engine.

The brake pedal 32 is attached to the attachment portion 33a of the movable floor 33 so as to be rotatable with the lower end as a fulcrum, like a general brake pedal. The brake pedal 32 is configured by adopting a so-called by-wire system, and is connected to the booster 35 and the master cylinder 36 by a flexible cable 34. The brake pedal 32 can be moved freely by being connected to the booster 35 and the master cylinder 36 by the flexible cable 34.
The driver can adjust the braking / driving force of the vehicle by depressing the accelerator pedal 31 and the brake pedal 32.

(Configuration of movable floor displacement mechanism)
As the movable floor displacement mechanism 40, a slide rail 41a is provided under the seat cushion 2a of the driver's seat 2 for the driver. The slide rails 41a are paired on the left and right sides, and are arranged obliquely so as to be parallel to the vehicle front-rear direction and the rear end side being higher. Here, substantially triangular frame members 41 are provided on the left and right sides of the seat cushion 2a so as to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. One side of the frame member 41 is attached to the back surface of the seat cushion 2 a, so that the other side 41 a is positioned so as to be inclined with respect to the vehicle floor 1. The other side 41a forms a slide rail 41a.

  The left and right end portions of the support portion 33b of the movable floor 33 are engaged with the pair of slide rails 41a. Then, driving means (for example, a motor, hereinafter referred to as a movable floor displacement driving motor) 42 for moving the support portion 33b on the slide rail 41a is provided. The movable floor displacement drive motor 42 is driven by the synchronization means 43 in synchronization with the floor vertical movement drive motor 23. An example of the synchronization means 43 is a timing belt. If the synchronization means 43 is configured with a timing belt, the synchronization means 43 can be realized with a simple configuration. Further, the driving of the movable floor displacement driving motor 42 is controlled by the attitude adjusting unit 80 as described later.

In the movable floor displacement mechanism 40 configured as described above, the support portion 33b of the movable floor 33 slides and moves on the slide rail 41a by the drive of the movable floor displacement driving motor 42. It moves in the vertical direction while moving in the front-rear direction. As a result, the accelerator pedal 31, the brake pedal 32, and the floor height adjustment mechanism 10 provided on the attachment portion 33 a of the movable floor 33 move together with the movable floor 33.
Then, the synchronization means 43 drives the floor vertical movement drive motor 23 in synchronization with the drive of the movable floor displacement drive motor 42, thereby synchronizing the foot placement portion in synchronization with the displacement of the movable floor 33. 13 goes up and down.

(Configuration of seat height adjustment mechanism)
The seat height adjusting mechanism 50 has a structure similar to that of the floor height adjusting mechanism 10 and is configured to raise and lower the driver's seat 2 by an X link formed by a pair of link members. That is, the intermediate part of both link members 51 and 52 is rotatably connected by the connecting shaft 53, and both end parts of both link members 51 and 52 are connected to the vehicle floor 1 and the seat cushion 2a, respectively.
Specifically, the upper end portion of one link member 51 is pivoted to a rear end portion of the back surface of the seat cushion 2a, specifically, the frame member 41 by a pin 58, and A lower end portion is rotatably connected to a vehicle floor 1, specifically, an attachment member 57 provided on the vehicle floor 1 by a pin 56.

  The other link member 52 has a guide hole 55 formed at its upper end extending in the vehicle front-rear direction on the front side of the back surface of the seat cushion 2 a by a pin 54, specifically, a guide hole provided in the frame member 41. 55, and the pin 54 is slidably connected to the guide hole 55. The lower end of the pin 54 is formed on the vehicle floor 1 by the pin 59 so as to extend in the vehicle front-rear direction. The guide hole 60 is connected to the guide hole 60 of the mounting member 57 provided on the vehicle floor 1, specifically, and the pin 59 is slidably connected to the guide hole 60.

  The seat height adjusting mechanism 50 supports the driver's seat 2 with respect to the vehicle floor 1 with a pair of left and right X links formed by the pair of link members 51 and 52. In the seat height adjusting mechanism 50, a pin 59 that rotatably supports the other link member 52 on the vehicle floor 1 is used as a rotation drive shaft 59, and is referred to as driving means (for example, a motor, hereinafter, a seat vertical movement driving motor). ) 61 is rotationally driven. That is, the seat vertical movement driving motor 61 is driven to move the pin 59 within the guide hole 60. The seat vertical movement driving motor 61 is driven in synchronization with the floor vertical movement driving motor 23 and the movable floor displacement driving motor 42. Further, the driving of the seat vertical movement driving motor 61 is controlled by the posture adjusting unit 80 as described later.

  In the seat height adjusting mechanism 50 configured as described above, the driver's seat 2 is moved in the diagonally up and down direction in the vehicle front-rear direction by the X link. That is, the driver's seat 2 moves in an upward oblique direction when moving in the front direction of the vehicle, and moves in an oblique downward direction when moving in the rear direction of the vehicle. Further, when the seat drive motor 61 is driven to rotate the rotation drive shaft 59, the rotation drive shaft 59 is rotated according to the rotation direction of the rotation drive shaft (the movement direction of the pin 59 in the guide hole 60) as described above. The driver's seat 2 moves in the upper diagonal direction while moving in the front direction of the vehicle, or the driver's seat 2 moves in the lower diagonal direction while moving in the rear direction of the vehicle. For example, the movement amount of the driver's seat 2 is increased with respect to the movement amount of the footrest 13 that is moved by the floor vertical movement drive motor 23.

(Configuration of steering position adjustment mechanism)
In the steering position adjusting mechanism 70, the steering 71 is cantilevered on the upper end of a substantially L-shaped steering post 72. The steering 71 is connected to a steered rod 76 that is connected to front wheels 74 and 75 that are steering wheels via a flexible cable 73. By being connected to the steering rod 76 via the flexible cable 73, the steering 71 can be moved freely. The driver can steer the front wheels 74 and 75 by operating the steering 71.

  The lower end of the steering post 72 is attached to the vehicle floor 1 so as to be rotatable below the seat cushion 2a. Specifically, a driving means (for example, a motor, hereinafter referred to as a steering back-and-forth drive motor) 77 is provided on an attachment member 57 provided on the vehicle floor 1 side as the seat height adjusting mechanism 50. The lower end of the steering post 72 is attached to the rotational drive shaft 78 of the dynamic drive motor 77. Further, the driving of the steering forward / backward drive motor 77 is controlled by an attitude adjustment unit 80 as will be described later.

  In the steering position adjusting mechanism 70 configured as described above, the steering post 72 rotates around the rotation drive shaft 78 of the steering longitudinal drive motor 77, and the steering 71 attached to the upper end of the steering post 72 is provided. When the steering drive motor 77 is driven to rotate the rotation drive shaft 78, the steering 71 is moved in the front-rear direction according to the rotation direction of the rotation drive shaft 78. Move to.

(Attitude adjustment unit)
The attitude adjustment unit 80 controls driving of the movable floor displacement driving motor 42, the seat vertical movement driving motor 61, and the steering longitudinal movement driving motor 77.
Various information such as personal information, own vehicle speed, brake operation state, steering angle, travel distance, and key position state is input to the attitude adjustment unit 80 from various sensors. The motors 42, 61 and 77 are driven and controlled. For example, the personal information is stored in a personal information storage unit 81 (see FIG. 1) provided on a key (not shown). The key position state is detected by the key position detection unit 82, and the detected value is input to the posture adjustment unit 80.

FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure of the posture adjustment unit 80.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the process is started, first, in step S <b> 1, the attitude adjustment unit 80 determines whether the key position is the engine start position based on the detection value of the key position detection unit 82. Here, when the key position is the engine start, the posture adjustment unit 80 proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, the posture adjustment unit 80 reads the height (height data) h, which is an element of the driver's physique, from the personal information storage unit 81 based on the key information. The personal information storage unit 81 stores a key and personal information in association with each other, and the posture adjustment unit 80 reads the height h from the personal information storage unit 81 as personal information corresponding to the key.
Subsequently, in step S3, the posture adjustment unit 80 determines whether or not the vehicle speed read in step S1 is zero. Here, if the host vehicle speed is zero, the posture adjusting unit 80 proceeds to step S4 assuming that the vehicle is stopped. If the host vehicle speed is not zero, the posture adjusting unit 80 proceeds to step S9 assuming that the vehicle is traveling. .
In step S4, the posture adjustment unit 80 calculates values Lsl, Lpl, and Lhh of the respective adjustment parts of the steering front / rear position Lsl, the pedal front / rear position Lpl, and the seat height Lhh based on the height h read in step S2. .

4 to 6 show tables (characteristic diagrams) for calculating the values Lsl, Lpl, and Lhh of each adjustment region based on the height h.
As shown in FIG. 4, the steering front / rear position Lsl is a constant small value in a region where the height h is small, and when the height h is larger than a certain value a (for example, 1450 mm), the steering front / rear position Lsl is proportional to the height h. When the height h is further increased and the height h becomes larger than a certain value b (for example, 1900 mm), a certain large value is obtained.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the pedal front-rear position Lpl has a constant small value in the region where the height h is small, and becomes proportional to the height h when the height h is larger than a certain value a (for example, 1450 mm). When the vehicle height increases to the front side of the vehicle and the height h becomes larger than a certain value b (for example, 1900 mm), it becomes a certain large value.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the seat height Lhh is a constant large value in the region where the height h is small, and becomes inversely proportional to the height h when the height h is greater than a certain value a (for example, 1450 mm). When the height h decreases further and the height h becomes larger than a certain value b (for example, 1900 mm), it becomes a certain small value.
4 to 6, the posture adjusting unit 80 calculates the steering front / rear position Lsl, the pedal front / rear position Lpl, and the seat height Lhh corresponding to the height h read in step S1.

  Subsequently, in step S5, the posture adjusting unit 80 controls driving of the steering longitudinal movement driving motor 77 so as to be the steering longitudinal position Lsl calculated in step S4. As the height h of the driver increases by the drive control of the steering longitudinal drive motor 77, the steering post 72 rotates toward the front side of the vehicle, and the steering 71 is positioned at the front side of the vehicle.

Subsequently, in step S6, the posture adjusting unit 80 controls driving of the movable floor displacement driving motor 42 so as to be the pedal front / rear position Lpl calculated in step S4. With the drive control of the movable floor displacement drive motor 42, the accelerator pedal 31, the brake pedal 32, and the floor height adjusting mechanism 10 move together with the movable floor 33 to the front side of the vehicle as the height h of the driver increases.
Subsequently, in step S7, the posture adjustment unit 80 controls the drive of the seat vertical movement drive motor 61 so that the seat height Lhh calculated in step S4 is obtained. As the driver's height h increases by the drive control of the seat vertical movement drive motor 61, the driver's seat 2 is positioned lower (lower diagonally rearward).

Subsequently, in step S8, as in step S1, the posture adjustment unit 80 determines whether or not the key position is the engine start position. Here, when the key position is the engine start position, the posture adjustment unit 80 proceeds to step S3. When the key position is not the engine start position, the posture adjustment unit 80 ends the processing shown in FIG. 3 (from step S1 again). Start processing).
On the other hand, in step S9, which proceeds when the host vehicle speed is not 0 in step S3, the posture adjustment unit 80 calculates a throttle opening gain TG (control target value) based on the height h read in step S2.

FIG. 7 shows a table (characteristic diagram) for calculating the throttle opening gain TG (control target value) based on the height h.
As shown in FIG. 7, the throttle opening gain TG is a constant large value in the region where the height h is small, and decreases in an inversely proportional relationship with the height h when the height h is greater than a certain value a (for example, 1450 mm). When the height h becomes larger than a certain value b (for example, 1900 mm), it becomes a certain small value.
Subsequently, in step S10, the posture adjustment unit 80 adjusts the throttle opening gain so as to be the throttle opening gain TG (control target value) calculated in step S9. Then, the posture adjustment unit 80 proceeds to step S8.

(Operation)
Next, the operation will be described.
When the key is at the start position (step S1) and the vehicle is stopped (“Yes” in the determination of step S3), based on the height h (step S2) read from the personal information storage unit 81. The steering front / rear position Lsl, the pedal front / rear position Lpl, and the seat height Lhh are calculated, and based on these values Lsl, Lpl, Lhh, the movable floor displacement driving motor 42, the seat vertical movement driving motor 61, and the steering front / rear position The dynamic drive motor 77 is driven (steps S4 to S7). Here, the steering 71 is moved in the front-rear direction by driving the steering longitudinal drive motor 77, and the movable floor 33 is moved in the front-rear direction while moving the movable floor 33 in the front-rear direction by driving the movable floor displacement driving motor 42. And the footrest 13 is moved up and down. At this time, the movable floor 33 moves in an oblique direction with the same gradient as the slide rail 41a. Further, the driver's seat 2 is moved up and down by driving the seat vertical drive motor 61.

  At this time, by controlling the driving motors 42, 61, 77 based on the tables shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the steering 71 moves forward as the height h of the driver increases. The steering 71 moves away from the driver seat 2. In addition, as the height h of the driver increases, the accelerator pedal 31, the brake pedal 32, and the floor height adjustment mechanism 10 (foot placement portion 13) are integrated with the movable floor 33, so that the driver's seat 2 (seat seat surface). ) And move away from the front diagonally downward. Further, as the height h of the driver increases, the driver's seat 2 moves diagonally downward and rearward. At this time, since the movable floor displacement driving motor 42 and the floor vertical movement driving motor 23 are driven in synchronism, the footrest 13 is also synchronized with the movement of the movable floor 33 and the height h of the driver. The higher the value, the lower it moves.

FIG. 8 shows a synchronization operation between the movable floor 33 and the footrest 13 on the movable floor 33 when the height h of the driver is lowered.
As shown in FIG. 8, the movable floor displacement driving motor 42 and the floor vertical movement driving motor 23 are driven in synchronization, so that the movable floor 33 moves upward and diagonally backward (same as the height h of the driver decreases). While moving in the direction of the arrow A1 shown in the figure, the footrest 13 is raised.

  On the other hand, if the key is at the starting position (step S1) and the vehicle is traveling (“No” in the determination of step S3), the adjustment operation as described above is already performed (the adjustment operation has already been performed). If it has started, the adjustment operation is stopped), and the throttle opening gain TG (control target value) is calculated based on the height h (step S2) read from the personal information storage unit 81, and the calculation is also performed. The throttle opening gain (actual throttle opening gain) is adjusted to the throttle opening gain TG (steps S9 and S10). Thereby, the engine output with respect to the operation amount of the accelerator pedal 31 increases as the driver's height h decreases.

(Function)
Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 9 shows a change in the driving posture of the driver when the driving posture adjusting device performs the above-described operation.
As shown in FIG. 9, the seat position P _SET (shown in FIG. 1) is _moved between the lowest position P _SETmin and the highest position P _SETmax by the movement of the driver's seat 2 by the drive of the seat vertical drive motor 61. Change. Specifically, by controlling the seat height Lhh as in the table shown in FIG. 6, the seat position P _SET becomes substantially obliquely forward from the lowest position P _SETmin as the height h of the driver decreases. Changes to the highest position P _SETmax . As a result, the seat position P _SET becomes the highest position P _SETmax at the minimum height h, and becomes the lowest position P _SETmin at the maximum height h.
The seat position P _SET is a point in the vicinity of the driver's hip point, for example, a joint position between the seat cushion 2a and the seat back.

As the driver seat 2 moves, the driver's hip position P _HP (shown in FIG. 1) changes between the lowest position P _HPmin and the highest position P _HPmax . Specifically, as the driver seat 2 moves as described above, the driver's hip position P _{HP increases} from the lowest position P _HPmin to the highest position as the driver's height h decreases. _Vary to P _HPmax . That is, the hip position P _HP becomes the highest position P _HPmax at the minimum height h, and becomes the lowest position P _HPmin at the maximum height h.

Here, generally, as the height h becomes lower, the thickness of the body (torso) becomes thinner. Therefore, as described above, as the height h of the driver becomes lower, the seat position P _SET moves diagonally upward. The hip position P _HP moves upward when the height h of the driver is lowered.
Furthermore, moving the driver's seat the seat 2, eyes the driver's position _(shown in FIG. 1) (eye point) P I is constant. That is, regardless of the height h of the driver, Looking position P _I of the driver is constant position.

Here, generally, as the height h becomes lower, the seat height becomes lower. Therefore, as the driver's height h becomes lower, the seat position P _SET or the hip position P _HP moves upward as described above. in, Looking at position P _I of the driver is in a fixed position regardless of the height h of the driver.
On the other hand, by driving the steering rearward movement drive motor 77, Suaringu 71 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle steering post 72 is rotated around the supporting position P _SP of the lower end, whereby the steering position P _{STL (Figure} 1 shown) is changed between the most forward position _{P STLmin} and rearwardmost position _{P STLmax.} Specifically, by controlling the steering front / rear position Lsl as in the table shown in FIG. 4, the steering position P _STL is approximately in front of the _rearmost position P _STLmax as the height h of the driver becomes lower. It changes to the _foremost position P _STLmin . As a result, the steering position P _STL becomes the _rearmost position P _STLmax with the minimum height h, and becomes the _foremost position P _STLmin with the maximum height h.

In addition, the movable floor displacement driving motor 23 and the floor vertical movement driving motor 42 are driven in synchronism, and the movable floor 33 and the footrest 13 are operated in synchronism, so that the driver's heel position is achieved. P _HL (shown in FIG. 1) varies between the _foremost and lowest position P _HLmin and the last and highest position P _HLmax . Specifically, by controlling the pedal longitudinal position Lpl as the table shown in FIG. 5, the heel position P _HL by the driver, as the height h of the driver becomes lower, the frontmost and lowest position P _HLmin, It changes to the _rearmost and highest position P _HLmax which is substantially obliquely rearward (in the direction of arrow A2 shown in FIG. 8). Thus, the heel position _{P HL} becomes the forwardmost and the lowest position _{P HLmin} at the rearmost and uppermost position _{P HLmax} next, the maximum height h at the minimum height h.

Further, since the movable floor 33 and the footrest 13 are operated in synchronism as described above, the driver's pedaling force input position P _T (shown in FIG. 1) in the accelerator pedal 31 is the foremost and the lowest position P. It changes between _Tmin and the rearmost and highest position _PTmax . The driver's stepping force input position _PT is, for example, the position of a pedal pad 31a provided as a convex portion on the surface of the accelerator pedal 31.

Specifically, as the driver's height h decreases, the driver's treading force input position _PT is substantially obliquely rearward (in the direction of arrow A3 shown in FIG. 8) from the foremost and lowest position _PTmin . It changes to the last and highest position _PTmax . Thus, pedal force input position _{P T} of the driver, the forwardmost and the lowest position _{P Tmin} at the rearmost and uppermost position _{P Tmax,} and the maximum height h at the minimum height h.

As described above, the accelerator pedal 31 and the footrest 13 are moved obliquely according to the height h of the driver, and the heel position P _HL and the pedaling force input position P _T , that is, the position of the foot is determined by the driver. It is easy to drive without being affected by the height h of the driver by setting the position according to the height h, specifically, the lower the height h of the driver, the closer the foot is to the driver seat 2. It can be in a driving posture.

At this time, since the footrest 13 moves up and down with respect to the movable floor 33 (attachment portion 33a), the driver's heel position _PHL and the driver's treading force input position P based on the driver's height h. The distance with _T changes, specifically, the shorter the height h of the driver, the shorter the distance. That is, the heel position P _HL moving locus (the arrow A2 direction shown in FIG. 8) and the movement locus of the pedal force input position P _T of the driver (direction of arrow A3 shown in FIG. 8) is non-parallel to each other, the vehicle rear As the distance h becomes smaller, the distance between the driver's heel position _PHL and the driver's stepping force input position _PT becomes shorter as the height h of the driver becomes lower. As a result, the distance becomes the maximum at the maximum height h, the minimum at the minimum height h, and the input position of the driver's treading force on the accelerator pedal 31 and the position where the driver places the heel on the footrest 13. The distance is a value according to the physique of the driver.

10, the distance between the pedal effort input position _{P T} of the driver's heel position _{P HL} and the driver (hereinafter, referred to as a first _{distance.) H TH} and hip position of the driver's heel position _{P HL} and the driver P A distance from _HP (hereinafter referred to as a second distance) H _HH is shown.
As shown in FIG. 10, the first distance H _TH increases from the minimum value H _THmin to the maximum value H _THmax as the height h of the driver increases. Here, each of the minimum value H _THmin and the maximum value H _THmax is a value as shown in FIG. Also, the second distance _{H HH,} similarly to the first distance _{H TH,} as height h of the driver increases, increases from a minimum value _{H HHmin} to a maximum value _{H HHmax.} Here, the minimum value H _HHmin and the maximum value H _HHmax are values as shown in FIG. Then, as described above, with respect to the amount of movement of the footrest 13, so that by increasing the amount of movement of the driver's seat 2, the change rate of the second distance H_ _HH to changes in height h of the driver The rate of change of the first distance _HTH is larger.

Here, FIG. 11 shows a state in which the driver steps on the accelerator pedal 31 with his / her foot.
As shown in FIG. 11, when the accelerator pedal 31 is depressed with a depression force F, a moment M is generated around the ankle. For example, if the height h of the driver is lowered, the foot becomes smaller. If the height of the vehicle body floor is constant as in the conventional case, if the accelerator pedal is depressed with a sufficient depressing force F, Had to be moved to the front side so that it would stand up against the vehicle floor. As a result, the ankle angle becomes tight.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the distance between the heel position _PHL and the driver's stepping force input position _PT is set to a value according to the driver's physique, that is, when the height h is lowered, the footrest is placed. Since the distance between the heel position _PHL and the driver's stepping force input position _PT is shortened by increasing the height of the portion 13, an ankle angle similar to that of a person having a small height h and a person having a high height h can be obtained. Thus, the accelerator pedal 31 can be depressed without the ankle angle becoming tight. That is, it is possible to make the posture easy to drive without being affected by the height h of the driver.

Further, as described above, since the operations of the floor height adjusting mechanism 10 and the movable floor displacement mechanism 40 are synchronized, at the same time, in the relationship between the position of the driver seat 2 and the position of the foot, It is possible to make the driving posture easy to drive without being affected by the height h.
As described above, the seat position P _SET , the driver's eye position P _I , the steering position P _STL , the driver's heel position P _HL , and the driver's treading force input position _PT are changed based on the driver's height h. By doing so, it is possible to make the posture easy to drive without being influenced by the physique of the driver (for example, the basic posture corresponding to each physique). In other words, the driving posture adjusting device has a floor height adjusting mechanism 10 and a movable floor displacement mechanism 40 so as to be in a driving posture (for example, a basic posture corresponding to each physique) that facilitates driving corresponding to the physique of the driver. The seat height adjusting mechanism 50 and the steering position adjusting mechanism 70 are operated.

  Thereby, the control of the foot placement unit 13 and the movable floor 33 based on the driver's physique is performed so that at least one of the ankle joint angle, the knee joint angle, and the hip joint angle is a constant value regardless of the physique of the driver. By doing so, it is possible to make the posture easy to drive without being influenced by the physique of the driver. In addition, by controlling the position of the driver seat 2 in the height direction based on the driver's physique so that the line-of-sight position is a constant position regardless of the physique, it is easy to drive without being influenced by the physique of the driver Can be.

  Also, a person with a small physique must apply the same pedaling force as a person with a large physique, as long as the pedal pad position is depressed, in order to achieve the same pedal operation amount (with the same engine output) as a person with a large physique. I must. However, a person with a small physique generally has little physical strength (muscle strength) and is weak, and even if the pedal operation can be performed with the same force (stepping force) as a large physique, it feels a heavy burden. That is, if the moment around the ankle when the pedal is depressed requires a constant value regardless of the physique, it is considered that a person with a small physique feels that the pedal depression operation is tight (heavy).

  In contrast, the throttle opening gain TG (control target value) is adjusted based on the driver's height h, and the engine output increases with respect to the operation amount of the accelerator pedal 31 as the driver's height h decreases. Therefore, even a driver with a short height (small physique) can achieve an engine output equivalent to that of a driver with a high height h with a small pedal operation amount. The engine output can be made similar to the operation feeling of the accelerator pedal 31 similar to that of a driver having a high h. That is, the driver can adjust the engine output with the sense of operation of the accelerator pedal 31 that is not affected by the height h.

The present invention can also be realized by the following configuration.
That is, in the above-described embodiment, the distance between the heel position _PHL and the driver's stepping force input position _PT is automatically controlled according to the driver's physique. By providing the height adjusting mechanism 10, the driver can manually adjust the distance between the heel position _PHL and the driver's stepping force input position _PT . As a result, the driver can manually adjust the distance between the heel position _PHL and the driver's stepping force input position _PT according to his / her physique and the like, so that a desired pedal operation feeling can be obtained. it can.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the synchronization means that synchronizes the driving of the floor vertical movement driving motor 23 and the driving of the movable floor displacement driving motor 42 is a timing belt. On the other hand, by connecting the other synchronizing means, for example, the floor vertical movement driving motor 23 and the movable floor displacement driving motor 42 with a shaft or a cable, the driving of these motors 23, 42 is synchronized, The synchronization means can be realized with a simple configuration.

  In addition, one of the floor height adjustment mechanism 10 and the movable floor displacement mechanism 40 is driven by a motor, and as a synchronization means, the floor height adjustment mechanism 10 and the movable floor displacement mechanism 40 driven by the motor are used. By operating one of the interlocking members, the other of the floor height adjusting mechanism 10 and the movable floor displacement mechanism 40 is operated via the interlocking member. For example, an interlocking structure is constructed in which the movable floor displacement mechanism 40 (movable floor 33) is driven by a motor while the X link of the floor height adjusting mechanism 10 is interlocked with the movement of the movable floor 33. In this case, since the floor height adjusting mechanism 10 and the movable floor displacement mechanism 40 can be operated by one motor, the mechanisms 10 and 40 can be realized with a simple configuration.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, the footrest part 13 is moved and the distance of the input position of the treading force by the driver | operator on the accelerator pedal 31 and the position where a driver | operator puts a heel on a floor is changed. On the other hand, the accelerator pedal 31 side is moved, and the distance between the input position of the pedaling force by the driver on the accelerator pedal 31 and the position on the floor where the driver puts the kite is changed.
In the embodiment, the physique is estimated using the height h as an index. However, the physique is estimated based on other body characteristics that the physique expresses, for example, the physique.

Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the effect | action and effect when a driver | operator operates the accelerator pedal 31, the same effect can be acquired also when a driver | operator operates the brake pedal 32. FIG. However, the stroke amount of the brake pedal 32 is smaller than the stroke amount of the accelerator pedal 31. For this reason, the operability of the accelerator pedal 31 is better than the operability of the brake pedal 32. It becomes easy to be affected. For this reason, if the distance between the heel position _PHL and the driver's stepping force input position _PT is set to a value corresponding to the driver's physique, focusing on the accelerator pedal 31 side, the influence of the physique. It is possible to make the effect of making the pedal operation sense that is not affected more effective.

  In the description of the embodiment, the floor height adjustment mechanism 10 is a distance in the height direction between the pedal installed in front of the driver's seat and the vehicle body floor portion between the driver's seat and the pedal. The posture adjusting unit 80 realizes adjusting means for adjusting the distance by the variable means based on the physique of the driver.

The movable floor 33 (particularly the attachment portion 33a) is disposed in front of and below the driver's seat, and is attached to the pedal, the vehicle body floor portion and the variable means, and is movably supported with respect to the vehicle body side fixing portion. The movable member realizes a movable member, the movable floor displacement mechanism 40 realizes a first moving unit that moves the movable member in an up and down oblique direction in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the synchronization unit 43 is based on the variable unit. Synchronizing means for moving the moved member in the diagonally up and down direction by the first moving means in synchronization with a change in the distance in the height direction between the pedal and the vehicle body floor portion is realized.
Further, the seat height adjusting mechanism 50 realizes a second moving unit that moves the driver's seat in the vertical direction and the movement is controlled by the adjusting unit.

(effect)
(1) A variable means for changing a distance in a height direction between a pedal installed in front and under the driver's seat and a vehicle body floor portion between the driver's seat and the pedal; and the distance by the variable means Adjusting means for adjusting. Thus, by adjusting the distance in the height direction between the pedal and the vehicle body floor portion, the distance can be made a distance corresponding to the physique of the driver, that is, the size of the driver's foot. Thereby, it can be set as the pedal operation feeling which is not influenced by a driver's physique.

(2) The adjusting means controls the distance based on a driver's physique. Thereby, the said distance can be automatically made into the value based on a driver | operator's physique.
(3) The adjustment means shortens the distance as the driver's physique becomes smaller. Accordingly, the driver with a small physique does not need to protrude the heel toward the front side and make the foot stand on the vehicle body floor, and can perform the pedal operation with a sense equivalent to that of the driver with a large physique.

(4) A movable member disposed below the front of the driver's seat, to which the pedal, the vehicle body floor portion, and the variable means are attached and supported movably with respect to the vehicle body side fixing portion; In synchronization with a change in the distance in the height direction between the pedal and the vehicle body floor portion by the variable means, the first moving means for moving the vehicle in the longitudinal direction in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the vertical movement by the first moving means. Synchronization means for moving the member to be moved in the direction. Thereby, according to a driver | operator's physique etc., the distance of the height direction of a pedal and a vehicle body floor part and the distance between a pedal and a driver | operator can be adjusted simultaneously.

(5) The synchronizing means shortens the distance as the driver's physique becomes smaller, and moves the moved member obliquely upward and backward. Thereby, while making it the pedal operation feeling which is not influenced by a driver's physique, it can be made the driving posture which is easy to drive without being influenced by a driver's physique.
(6) The variable means and the first moving means are each driven by a motor, and the synchronizing means synchronizes the driving of each motor using a belt, a rotating shaft or a cable. Thereby, a synchronization means is realizable with a simple structure.

(7) One of the variable means and the first moving means is driven by a motor, and the synchronizing means is an operation of one of the variable means and the first moving means driven by the motor. By operating the interlocking member, the other of the variable means and the first moving means is operated via the interlocking member. Thereby, a synchronization means is realizable with a simple structure.
(8) The adjusting means controls the distance and moves the member to be moved in the up and down diagonal direction so that the driving posture becomes easy to drive corresponding to the physique of the driver. Thereby, it is possible to make the driving posture easy to drive without being influenced by the physique of the driver.

(9) The adjusting means may adjust at least one of an ankle joint angle, a knee joint angle, and a hip joint angle by adjusting the distance and moving the moved member in the obliquely up and down direction. Regardless of the physique, keep the value constant. As a result, the posture is easy to drive without being affected by the physique of the driver.
(10) The driver seat is moved in the vertical direction, and includes a second moving unit whose movement is controlled by the adjusting unit, and the adjusting unit controls the second moving unit to adjust the physique of the driver. Regardless, the driver's eye position is kept constant. As a result, the posture is easy to drive without being affected by the physique of the driver.

(11) The vehicle is travel-controlled with a predetermined gain in response to the operation of the pedal, and the predetermined gain is changed based on the physique of the driver. Depending on the driver's physique, the pedaling force varies, which affects the driving characteristics. For this reason, by changing the predetermined gain based on the driver's physique, it is possible to achieve a driving characteristic (control response) that is not affected by the driver's physique.
(12) The predetermined gain is increased as the physique of the driver is reduced. Considering that the smaller the driver's physique is, the less powerful it is, the driving characteristics (control response) that are not affected by the physique of the driver can be achieved.

(13) The pedal is an accelerator pedal that adjusts the driving force of the vehicle. The stroke amount of the brake pedal is smaller than the stroke amount of the accelerator pedal. Therefore, the operability of the accelerator pedal is more susceptible to the physique of the driver than the operability of the brake pedal. Therefore, by adjusting the distance in the height direction between the accelerator pedal and the vehicle body floor portion, the operation feeling of the accelerator pedal can be made a pedal operation feeling that is not affected by the physique of the driver.

(14) Based on the change in the physique of the driver, the pedal installed in front of the driver's seat and the vehicle floor portion between the driver's seat and the pedal are relatively moved to move the pedal. The distance between the stepping force input position by the upper driver and the position where the driver puts the heel on the vehicle body floor portion is set according to the physique of the driver. Thereby, it can be set as the driving posture adjustment apparatus which can be made into the pedal operation feeling which is not influenced by a driver | operator's physique.

(15) A vehicle body floor, a driver seat disposed on the vehicle body floor, a pedal disposed on the vehicle body floor in front and under the driver seat, the pedal, and the pedal in the vehicle body floor Variable means for making the distance in the height direction between the driver's seat and the portion between the pedals variable, and adjusting means for adjusting the distance by the variable means. Thereby, it can be set as the motor vehicle which can be made into the pedal operation feeling which is not influenced by the physique of the driver | operator who seated on the driver's seat.
(16) The distance in the height direction between the pedal installed in front and under the driver seat and the vehicle body floor portion between the driver seat and the pedal is controlled based on the physique of the driver. Thereby, it can be set as the driving posture adjustment method which can be made into the pedal operation feeling which is not influenced by a driver | operator's physique.

It is a side view showing the composition of the driving posture adjusting device of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the driving posture adjustment apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the attitude | position adjustment part of the said driving attitude adjustment apparatus. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between the height h and the steering front-back position Lsl. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between the height h and the pedal front-back position Lpl. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between height h and seat height Lhh. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between the height h and the throttle opening gain TG. It is a side view which shows the structure of a floor height adjustment mechanism and a movable floor displacement mechanism. It is a figure which shows the driver | operator's driving posture used for description of an effect | action. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between height h and distance _HTH , _HHH . It is a figure which shows the driver | operator's foot | leg part used for description of an effect | action.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle floor, 2 Driver's seat, 10 Floor height adjustment mechanism, 13 Foot placement part, 23 Floor vertical drive motor, 31 Accelerator pedal, 32 Brake pedal, 33 Movable floor, 40 Movable floor displacement mechanism, 42 Movable Floor displacement drive motor, 50 seat height adjustment mechanism, 61 seat vertical movement drive motor, 70 steering position adjustment mechanism, 77 steering forward / backward movement drive motor, 80 attitude adjustment unit

Claims (16)

A variable means for varying a distance in a height direction between a pedal installed in front and lower of a driver seat and a vehicle body floor portion between the driver seat and the pedal;
Adjusting means for adjusting the distance by the variable means;
A driving posture adjusting device comprising:   The driving posture adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit controls the distance based on a driver's physique.   3. The driving posture adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit shortens the distance as the physique of the driver becomes smaller.   A movable member disposed in front of and below the driver's seat, to which the pedal, the vehicle body floor portion and the variable means are attached, and which is movably supported with respect to the vehicle body side fixing portion, and the movable member in the vehicle longitudinal direction In synchronization with the change of the distance in the height direction between the pedal and the vehicle body floor portion by the variable means, the first moving means for moving in the up and down diagonal direction by the first moving means to the diagonally up and down direction The driving posture adjusting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising synchronization means for moving the member to be moved.   5. The driving posture adjusting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the synchronization unit shortens the distance as the driver's physique becomes smaller, and moves the moved member obliquely upward and rearward.   6. The variable means and the first moving means are each driven by a motor, and the synchronizing means synchronizes the driving of each motor using a belt, a rotating shaft or a cable. The driving posture adjusting device according to 1.   One of the variable means and the first moving means is driven by a motor, and the synchronizing means is an interlocking member in one operation of the variable means and the first moving means driven by the motor. 6. The driving posture adjusting device according to claim 4, wherein the other of the variable means and the first moving means is operated via the interlocking member.   The adjusting means controls the distance and moves the member to be moved in the up and down diagonal direction so as to be in a driving posture that facilitates driving according to the physique of the driver. The driving posture adjusting device according to any one of 4 to 7.   The adjusting means relates to at least one of an ankle joint angle, a knee joint angle, and a hip joint angle with respect to a driver's physique by adjusting the distance and moving the moved member in the obliquely up and down direction. The driving posture adjusting device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the driving posture adjusting device is a constant value.   The driver seat is moved in the vertical direction, and includes second moving means whose movement is controlled by the adjusting means. The adjusting means controls the second moving means to drive regardless of the physique of the driver. The driving posture adjusting device according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein a person's eye-gaze position is set to a fixed position.   The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the vehicle is controlled to travel with a predetermined gain in response to the operation of the pedal, and the predetermined gain is changed based on a physique of the driver. The driving posture adjusting device described.   The driving posture adjusting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined gain is increased as the physique of the driver is reduced.   The driving posture adjusting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the pedal is an accelerator pedal that adjusts a driving force of a vehicle.   Based on the change in the physique of the driver, the pedal on the front of the driver's seat is moved relative to the vehicle floor between the driver's seat and the pedal, thereby driving on the pedal. A driving posture adjusting apparatus characterized in that a distance between an input position of a pedaling force by a driver and a position at which the driver places a heel on the vehicle body floor portion corresponds to the physique of the driver. Body floor,
A driver's seat seat disposed on the vehicle body floor;
A pedal on the vehicle body floor and installed in front of the driver seat;
Variable means for varying a distance in a height direction between the pedal and a portion of the vehicle body floor between the driver seat and the pedal;
Adjusting means for adjusting the distance by the variable means;
An automobile characterized by comprising:   Driving based on a driver's physique, controlling a distance in a height direction between a pedal installed in front and under the driver's seat and a vehicle body floor portion between the driver's seat and the pedal Posture adjustment method.

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