WO2024088883A1

WO2024088883A1 - Vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2024088883A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/079198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sven Muenzinger
Original assignee: Mercedes-Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2022-10-24
Filing date: 2023-10-19
Publication date: 2024-05-02
Also published as: DE102022003940A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1), comprising a driver's seat (2) and a module (5) located in front of the driver's seat (1) in the direction of travel and having an airbag (3) and a display unit (4), which module can be moved in the direction of the driver's seat (2). According to the invention, an inclination of the module (5) can be adjusted about a pivot axis parallel to a vehicle transverse axis.

Description

Vehicle

The invention relates to a vehicle according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

A motor vehicle is known from the prior art, as described in DE 102019206 584 B3. The motor vehicle comprises at least one seat, a steering wheel arranged in front of the seat as viewed in the direction of travel, and an instrument panel arranged in front of the steering wheel as viewed in the direction of travel. The motor vehicle can be operated in an autonomous driving mode. The instrument panel has at least one movable upper panel section with at least one operating or display element and/or airbag, which can be moved relative to a lower, fixed-position panel section in the direction of the seat, over the steering wheel, at least in the autonomous driving mode.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a vehicle that is improved compared to the prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a vehicle having the features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

A vehicle has a driver's seat and a module arranged in front of the driver's seat in the direction of travel, which module has an airbag and a display unit and can be moved in the direction of the driver's seat.

According to the invention, an inclination of the module is adjustable about a pivot axis parallel to a vehicle transverse axis. The display unit is designed in particular as a combined display and input unit, in particular as a touch-sensitive screen, also called touchscreen or touch display.

The vehicle is particularly designed to carry out an automated, in particular highly automated or autonomous, ferry operation, in particular to switch between a ferry operation carried out by a driver of the vehicle and this automated ferry operation. In this automated ferry operation, the driver can advantageously adopt a different, in particular relaxing, sitting position, also referred to as an extended sitting position, in particular by adjusting a seat back of the vehicle seat backwards, i.e. tilting the seat back backwards and downwards. The driver is then in a reclined or, at least almost, lying position in the driver's seat.

The solution according to the invention enables the display unit, in particular the combined display and input unit described above, to be accessible even in such an extended seating position by moving the module with the display unit and the airbag in the direction of the driver's seat. Since the module not only has the display unit but also the airbag, unhindered deployment of the airbag is ensured at all times. If only the display unit were to be moved, there would be a risk that the display unit would move into an airbag deployment area, which would damage the display unit when the airbag was deployed and impair the effect of the airbag. This is avoided by the solution according to the invention because by installing the display unit and the airbag together in the movable module, the geometric position of the display unit and the airbag relative to one another always remains unchanged.

Furthermore, by adjusting the module with airbag and display unit, especially depending on the respective seating position of the driver's seat and thus of the driver, not only the ergonomics with regard to the display unit are improved, but also the effect of the deploying airbag and thus the passive safety are ensured even in the extended seating position.

This is further optimized by the inventive adjustability of the inclination of the module and thus of both the display unit and the airbag around the pivot axis parallel to the vehicle's transverse axis. With regard to the display unit, this enables an inclination setting corresponding to the driver's respective line of sight in the respective seating position. With regard to the airbag, this enables the direction of deployment of the airbag to be adapted to the respective seating position.

In addition to adjusting the module with airbag and display unit in the direction of travel, i.e. in the direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis, a height adjustment can also be provided. These adjustment movements can be carried out individually or in combination with one another, so that the module can be adjusted diagonally upwards and backwards.

The tilt adjustment of the module can, for example, be carried out from a neutral position by 3° in one swivel direction and 3° in the other swivel direction.

In one possible embodiment, an automatic activation of the movement of the module in the direction of the driver's seat and the adjustment of the inclination of the module is provided upon activation of the automated, in particular highly automated or autonomous, driving operation of the vehicle and the adjustment of the seat back of the driver's seat to the rear, i.e. in particular to the extended seating position.

In one possible embodiment, the module extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle in front of a passenger seat of the vehicle. It then advantageously has two airbags, i.e. an airbag assigned to the driver's seat, also referred to as a driver's airbag, and an airbag assigned to the passenger seat, also referred to as a passenger airbag. The display unit can then also extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle in front of the passenger seat of the vehicle, for example, or the module can have two display units, i.e. a display unit assigned to the driver's seat and a display unit assigned to the passenger seat. Both display units can be designed as described above, i.e. in particular as a combined display and input unit.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

Showing:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle with a driver in a normal seating position, Fig. 2 schematically shows the vehicle with the driver in an extended seating position,

Fig. 3 schematically shows a movable in the direction of a driver's seat of the vehicle

Module in a forward position, and

Fig. 4 schematically shows the module in a rear position.

Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

Figures 1 and 2 show a vehicle 1 which is capable of carrying out a ferry operation carried out by a driver F of the vehicle 1, as shown in Figure 1, and of carrying out an automated, in particular highly automated or autonomous, ferry operation, as shown in Figure 2. In this automated ferry operation, the driver F can assume a different, in particular relaxing, sitting position, also referred to as an extended sitting position, in particular by adjusting a seat back of a driver's seat 2 backwards, i.e. tilting the seat back backwards and downwards, as shown in Figure 2. The driver F is then in a reclined or, at least almost, lying sitting position in the driver's seat 2.

In front of the driver's seat 2, the vehicle 1 has an airbag 3, also referred to below as a driver's airbag 3, and a display unit 4, which is designed in particular as a combined display and input unit, also referred to as a touch-sensitive screen, touchscreen or touch display. If this display unit 4 is permanently installed in the vehicle 1, it is problematic for the driver F to use it in the extended seating position, since it is then no longer optimally aligned with his line of sight and he can no longer reach it with his hands and thus can no longer operate it. If this display unit 4 were designed to be adjustable alone, the problem would be that it could move into an deployment area of the driver's airbag 3, which could damage the display unit 4 when the airbag 3 is activated and deployed, and the airbag 3 could be hindered in its deployment by the display unit 4 and thus no longer achieve its full protective effect.

Therefore, in the solution described here, the display unit 4 and the airbag 3 are attached to a common module 5, for example to a structural frame, and this module 5 is adjustable. This module 5 with the driver airbag 3 and the display unit 4 is thus arranged in front of the driver's seat 2. In the example shown, this module 5 extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle up to a passenger seat (not shown) of the vehicle 1 and, in addition to the display unit 4 and the driver's airbag 3, which is assigned to the driver's seat 2, also has a further airbag 6, hereinafter also referred to as the passenger airbag 6, which is assigned to the passenger seat of the vehicle 1.

As a result of this arrangement on the common module 5, the geometric position of the driver airbag 3, the display unit 4 and, in the example shown, also the passenger airbag 6 relative to one another always remains the same, so that an obstruction of the deployment of the respective airbag 3, 6 by the display unit 4 and damage to the display unit 4 by deployment of the respective airbag 3, 6 are avoided.

As already mentioned, it is intended that this module 5 is adjustable together with the display unit 4 attached to it and, in the example shown, the two airbags 3, 6 attached to it. In particular, it is intended that it is adjustable in the direction of the driver's seat 2, i.e. in particular towards the rear, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In addition, it can be adjustable in the vertical direction of the vehicle, for example. These two adjustment directions can be carried out individually or in combination with one another, for example by appropriately aligning an adjustment device.

Furthermore, it is provided that an inclination of the module 5 together with the display unit 4 attached thereto and, in the example shown, the two airbags 3, 6 attached thereto can be adjusted about a pivot axis parallel to a vehicle transverse axis, for example from a neutral position by 3° in each pivot direction.

For example, it is provided that this adjustment of the module 5 takes place depending on the seating position of the driver F of the vehicle 1, in particular automatically. This achieves good ergonomics with regard to the display unit 4 and an optimal effect of the airbag 3, 6 or, in the example shown, the respective airbag 3, 6. Due to the possibility of changing the position of the display unit 4, the dimensioning of the display unit 4 is no longer restricted by a steering wheel height adjustment. In the case of fixed display units 4, these must be dimensioned in such a way that they are completely visible in all settings of a steering wheel 7 of the vehicle 1. In the solution described here, this can be ensured by a corresponding adjustment of the module 5. This allows the For example, the display unit 4 can be dimensioned differently, particularly with regard to its height, so that a larger display area is possible.

Figure 1 shows the driver F in a normal sitting position while he is driving the vehicle 1. The module 5 with the display unit 4 and the two airbags 3, 6 in this example is arranged in a front basic position adapted to the driving task of the driver F.

Figure 2 shows the driver F in the extended seat position tilted backwards during the automated ferry operation of the vehicle 1. The module 5 with the display unit 4 and the two airbags 3, 6 in this example is arranged adjusted to the rear, i.e. in the direction of the driver's seat 2 and thus the driver F, i.e. positioned in a backwards shifted position, and can also be tilted, in particular tilted downwards. As a result, the display unit 4 is still in the line of sight of the driver F and also within the driver F's reach in order to be able to operate it, and the respective airbag 3, 6 is also in an optimal position and orientation in order to be able to fully deploy and provide a protective effect. The steering wheel 7 of the vehicle 1 is retracted here, for example, since it is not needed during the automated ferry operation. Therefore, only a steering column 8 is shown in Figure 2 and the steering wheel 7 is not shown here.

For example, one or more intermediate positions are possible between these two positions of module 5. In particular, a continuous adjustment of module 5 is provided in order to be able to optimally adapt it to the respective driver F and his respective seating position.

Figures 3 and 4 show a design of the module 5 and a possible adjustment device. The airbags 3, 6 are not shown here for reasons of clarity. Figure 3 shows the module 5 in the front basic position and Figure 2 in the rearward shifted position.

As described, the display unit 4 and the two airbags 3, 6 in this example are attached to the module 5, which in the example shown is designed as a structural frame. The adjustment device has, for example, at least one telescopic unit 9, in the example shown two such telescopic units 9, as also shown in Figures 1 and 2. The respective telescopic unit 9 has a base part 10 attached to a cross member of a body shell of the vehicle 1 and at least one telescopic It has a drive rod 11 which can be extended linearly from it and retracted into it again, to which the module 5 is attached. The extension and retraction of the respective drive rod 11 is carried out, for example, by an electric motor. The respective drive rod 11 can be extended by 200 mm, for example, which enables the module 5 to be adjusted accordingly in the direction of the driver's seat 2 and back.

In addition, an angle adjustment is provided on the respective telescoping unit 9 in order to enable the inclination adjustment of the module 5. For this purpose, for example, the module 5 is attached to the respective drive rod 11 in a correspondingly pivotable manner or the base part 10 of the respective telescoping unit 9 is attached to the cross member of the shell in a correspondingly pivotable manner.

The respective telescoping unit 9 can, for example, be a unit provided for a steering wheel adjustment or be designed similarly thereto.

List of reference symbols

1 vehicle

2 Driver seat

3 Airbag, driver airbag

4 Display unit

5 Module

6 Airbag, passenger airbag

7 Steering wheel

8 Steering column

9 Telescopic unit

10 Base part

11 Drive rod

F Driver

Claims

Vehicle (1) having a driver's seat (2) and a module (5) arranged in front of the driver's seat (1) in the direction of travel, with an airbag (3) and a display unit (4), which can be moved in the direction of the driver's seat (2), characterized in that an inclination of the module (5) can be adjusted about a pivot axis parallel to a vehicle transverse axis and the display unit (4) is designed as a combined display and input unit and an automatic activation of the movement of the module (5) in the direction of the driver's seat (2) and the adjustment of the inclination of the module (5) is provided when activating an automated, in particular highly automated or autonomous, driving operation of the vehicle (1) and an adjustment of a seat back of the driver's seat (2) to the rear. Vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inclination of the module (5) can be adjusted from a neutral position by 3° in each pivot direction. Vehicle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the module (5) extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle in front of a passenger seat and has an airbag (3) assigned to the driver's seat (2) and an airbag (6) assigned to the passenger seat.