Patent Publication Number: US-2023136911-A1

Title: Slidable center console provided with selector switch

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a slidable center console provided with a selector switch. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Patent Literatures 1 and 2 listed below disclose a movable seat. Since the seat is movable, positional relationship with pedals and a steering wheel is adjustable to realize an optimal driving position. In addition, the Patent Literatures 1 and 2 listed below also discloses a system that enables of presetting plural seat positions (a slide position of a seat, a height level of a seat cushion and a recline angle of a seatback) of a driver’s seat. The preset seat positions can be selected by select buttons provided in the system. When a seat position is selected, the selected seat position is actually realized by electronically-controlled actuators (motors) built in the seat. Also realized is a system by which a steering position (tilt and telescopic positions) and positions of door/room mirrors are cooperatively adjustable in addition to the seat position. The above-mentioned select buttons of the system are disposed on a door or the like. Furthermore, there is also a system with which a driving position is automatically selected according to a smart key. 
     PRIOR ART LITERATURE 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. S62-91330 
         Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. S62-91331 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Problem to Be Solved by the Invention 
     A selector lever for selecting an operation mode (a park mode, a drive mode, a neutral mode, a reverse mode and so on) is also operated while driving. The selector lever was generally disposed on a center tunnel unmovably. Since a cable for mechanically operating a transmission was connected to the selector cable, the selector lever was provided unmovably. However, in an electric vehicle (EV) recently growing popular, an electronically-controlled switch (a selector switch) is equipped instead of a mechanical selector lever. Since exhaust pipes required for an internal combustion engine are not required to be provided in an EV, there is no need to provide a center tunnel. However, a selector switch that may be operated while driving was also provided unmovably with no relation to a driving position, especially to a seat position. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a movable center console provided with a selector switch that enables adjustment of a position of the selector switch to realize a more optimal driving position. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a slidable center console for a vehicle. The center console includes a console actuator for changing a slide position of the center console, a selector switch for changing an operation mode of the vehicle, and a console adjustment switch for adjusting the slide position by using the console actuator. Since the selector switch is provided on the center console, a position of the selector switch can be adjusted by the slide of the center console. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the aspect, it is possible to set the selector switch at an adequate slide position in accordance with the driving position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a center console according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view of the center console. 
         FIG.  3    is a system block diagram of the center console. 
         FIG.  4    is a side view showing the center console together with a seat and a steering unit (a preset driving position). 
         FIG.  5    is a side view similar to  FIG.  4    (an exit position). 
         FIG.  6    is a side view similar to  FIG.  4    (the center console is arbitrarily slid from the state of  FIG.  4   ). 
         FIG.  7    is a flowchart showing a control of the center console. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a charge port device according to a center console  1  according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the center console  1  according to the present embodiment includes a lower unit IL, an upper unit  1 U, and a drive unit ID. The lower unit  1 L is fixed on a floor of a cabin of a vehicle. The upper unit  1 U is slidable in a longitudinal direction on the lower unit  1 L. The drive unit ID is provided between the lower unit  1 L and the upper unit  1 U. The drive unit ID slides the upper unit  1 U with respect to the lower unit  1 L by electric power. Note that the vehicle of the present embodiment is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). 
     The lower unit  1 L is fixed on the flat floor on which no center tunnel is formed. A pocket  100  is provided at a lower front portion of the lower unit  1 L. Although not being shown in the drawings, harnesses and an air-conditioner duct are disposed within the lower unit  1 L. Note that the air-conditioner duct is connected to an after-explained blower grill  103  of the upper unit  1 U. Therefore, the air-conditioner duct is formed such that its length can change according to the slide of the upper unit  1 U. 
     Pockets are formed also within the upper unit  1 U, and a passenger such as a drive can access the pockets via an openable slide lid  101  and an openable swing lid  102 . The slide lid  101  is opened by sliding a front end of the slide lid  101  backwards. The swing lid  102  is opened by lifting up a front end of the swing lid  102  to swing the swing lid  102  vertically about its hinge at its rear end. The blower grill  103  of the air-conditioner and a rear panel  104  provided with USB connectors, various switches and so on are provided on a rear face of the upper unit  1 U. 
     A selector switch  105  for selecting an operation mode (a park mode, a drive mode, a neutral mode, a reverse mode and so on) is disposed on a driver’s side at a front portion on an upper face of the upper unit  1 U. The selector switch  105  is an electrical switch and is usually positioned at its default position. A P button is provided on an upper face of the selector switch  105 , and the park (P) mode is selected when the Y button is pressed. The driver operates the selector switch  105  horizontally when selecting a mode other than the park mode, but the selector switch  105  returns to its default position after the operation. 
     For example, the neutral (N) mode is selected when shifting the selector switch  105  leftward and then holding it for a while. The reverse (R) mode is selected when shifting the selector switch  105  leftward and then shifting it forward. The drive (D) mode is selected when shifting the selector switch  105  leftward and then shifting it backward. A brake (B) mode is selected when shifting the selector switch  105  leftward and then shifting it backward during the drive mode. The brake mode is a mode during which regenerative braking is exerted more than during the drive mode. The selected mode is displayed by an indicator provided in a meter on an instrument panel  8  (see  FIG.  4   ). The mode is returned to the drive mode when shifting the selector switch  105  leftward and then shifting it backward during the brake mode. 
     A console adjustment switch  106  for adjusting a slide position of the upper unit  1 U is provided on the driver’s side at a front portion on a side face of the upper unit  1 U. The console adjustment switch  106  in the present embodiment has two buttons aligned in the longitudinal direction, and these buttons are disposed inside a recess. Therefore, the buttons are prevented from being erroneously pressed by an elbow or the like. The upper unit  1 U slides forward while the front button is pressed. The upper unit  1 U slides rearward while the rear button is pressed. The slide of the center console  1 , i.e., the slide of the upper unit  1 U with respect to the lower unit  1 L is done by the drive unit  1 D. 
     The drive unit  1 D includes a bracket  107  fixed to the lower unit  1 L, and a slidable frame  108  slidably coupled with the bracket  107 . Both side portions of the bracket  107  and the slidable frame  108  are configured as linear guide rails. The upper unit  1 U is fixed onto upper faces of the linear guide rails of the slidable frame  108 . A drive motor  109  that serves as a console actuator is fixed to the bracket  107 . An output shaft of the drive motor  109  is coupled with a feed screw  111  extending in the longitudinal direction via a gear unit  110 . An inner-threaded tube  112  is threadedly coupled with the feed screw  111 , and a joint tab extended from the inner-threaded tube  112  is fixed with the upper unit  1 U. 
     The feed screw  111  is rotated forward via the gear unit  110  when the drive motor  109  is rotated forward (e.g., by pressing the front button of the console adjustment switch  106 ). As the result, the inner-threaded tube  112  threadedly coupled with the feed screw  111  is moved forward, and thereby the upper unit  1 U slides forward. On the other hand, the feed screw  111  is rotated reversely via the gear unit  110  when the drive motor  109  is rotated reversely (e.g., by pressing the rear button of the console adjustment switch  106 ). As the result, the inner-threaded tube  112  threadedly coupled with the feed screw  111  is moved rearward, and thereby the upper unit  1 U slides rearward 
     In this manner, the drive motor (the console actuator)  109  changes the slide position of the center console  1  (the upper unit  1 U). In other words, the slide position of the center console  1  (the upper unit  1 U) can be adjusted by the console adjustment switch  106 . In the present embodiment, the slide position of the center console  1  (the upper unit  1 U) can be adjusted not only arbitrarily by the driver by use of the console adjustment switch  106 , but it can be also adjusted automatically by a controller  2  (see  FIG.  3   ). In addition, the slide position of the center console  1  (the upper unit  1 U) can be controlled cooperatively with the seat position of the seat  3  and the steering wheel position of the steering unit  4  by the controller  2 . 
     The system of the center console  1  will be described with reference to a system block diagram shown in  FIG.  3   . The controller  2  is an electronic device configured of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, I/O devices and so on. The controller  2  is connected with the console adjustment switch  106  and the console actuator (the drive motor)  109  that are described above. The controller  2  is also connected with a seat actuator  30  such as motors for changing the seat position of the seat  3 . The seat position is determined by a seat slide position, a recline angle of its seatback, a height level of its seat cushion and so on. The seat position may include a setting of a lumber support and an angle of the seat cushion. The seat slide position, the recline angle of the seatback, and the seat height can be changed independently by actuators. The seat position can be adjusted by the driver by use of buttons of a seat adjustment switch  31 . In addition, the seat position of the seat  3  can be also adjusted automatically by the controller  2  similarly to the center console  1 . 
     The controller  2  is also connected with a steering actuator  40  such as motors for changing the steering wheel position of the steering unit  4 . The steering wheel position is determined by a telescopic stroke and a tilt angle of a steering column. The telescopic stroke and the tilt angle of the steering column can be changed independently by actuators. The steering wheel position can be adjusted by the driver by use of buttons of a steering adjustment switch  41 . In addition, the steering wheel position of the steering unit  4  can be also adjusted automatically by the controller  2  similarly to the center console  1  and the seat  3 . 
     An operation panel  7  is also connected with the controller  2 . The driver presets his/her driving position by use of the operation panel  7 . The driving position includes the seat position of the seat  3 , the steering wheel position of the steering unit  4 , and the slide position of the center console  1  (i.e., the position of the selector switch  105 ). The seat position, the steering wheel position and the slide position of the center console  1  that are preset are associated with each other. In addition, the operation panel  7  is also used for moving the seat  3 , the steering unit  4  and the center console  1  to achieve the preset driving position. Note that the operation panel  7  may be integrated with the other switches such as the seat adjustment switch  31 . The preset driving position is stored in the controller  2  as preset information. Three driving positions can be stored at maximum. 
     The operation panel  7  includes a memory button  70  for presetting the driving position, i.e., for storing it in the controller  2 . In addition, the operation panel  7  also includes a No. 1 button  71 , a No. 2 button  72  and a No. 3 button  73  that correspond to the three driving positions, respectively. In other words, the buttons  71  to  73  are selection buttons of the driving position. Furthermore, the operation panel  7  also includes an exit button  74  for moving the seat  3 , the steering unit  4  and the center console  1  to their positions that make an exit from the vehicle easy. When presetting the driving position, the memory button  70  and any one of the buttons  71  to  73  are used. When moving the seat  3 , the steering unit  4  and the center console  1  to the preset driving position by retrieving the stored preset information, only any one of the buttons  71  to  73  is used. 
     The controller  2  of the center console  1  is also connected with a door lock controller  5  for controlling a door lock system of the vehicle. The door lock controller  5  can communicate with the smart key  6  wirelessly, and thereby can detect the approach of the smart key  6  to the vehicle, and can retrieve preset information stored in the smart key  6 . Although the preset information stored in the smart key  6  is identical to the preset information stored in the controller  2 , the preset information stored in the smart key  6  will be described later. The controller  2  of the center console  1  can retrieve the preset information from the door lock controller  5 . The smart key  6  is provided with a set button  60 . 
       FIG.  4    shows the preset driving position. When the exit button  74  is pressed or when the controller  2  judges that the driver is going to exit the vehicle, the controller  2  moves the seat  3  rearward by a predetermined slide stroke (e.g., 40 mm) to make the driver’s exit from the vehicle easy as shown in  FIG.  5   . Concurrently, the controller  2  also moves the center console  1  rearward by a predetermined slide stroke (e.g., 40 mm) cooperatively with the backward slide of the seat  3 . Simultaneously, the controller  2  moves the steering wheel to an uppermost position with respect to its tilt position and to a foremost position with respect to its telescopic position. 
     On the other hand, when the rear button of the console adjustment switch  106  is pressed at the driving position, the center console  1  can be moved rearward according to the operation as shown in  FIG.  6   . A slidable stroke of the center console  1  in the present embodiment is 150 mm. No center tunnel is provided on the floor of the vehicle in the present embodiment as described above, so that the floor is made flat from the driver’s seat to the passenger’s seat beneath the instrument panel  8 . Therefore, when the center console  1  (the upper unit  1 U) is moved to its rearmost position as shown in  FIG.  6   , the driver can move easily between the driver’s seat and the passenger’s seat. 
     Next, an example of operations will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG.  7   . The controller  2  keeps communicating with the door lock controller  5  to monitor whether or not the door(s) of the vehicle is opened (step S 1 ). When the door is opened, it is monitored whether or not the console adjustment switch  106  is operated (step S 2 ) until a main switch (a main power switch) for activating the vehicle is powered on (step S 3 ). In a case where a user comes (not to run the vehicle but) to pick up his/her luggage and tries to slide the center console  1 , the step S 2  is affirmed. When the step S 2  is affirmed, the controller  2  slides the center console  1  according to the operation of the console adjustment switch  106  (step S 4 ). 
     When the step S 3  is affirmed by the power-on of the main switch, the controller  2  judges that the vehicle is going to be run and the controller  2  retrieves the preset information (step S 5 ). The preset information is retrieved through pressing of the buttons  71  to  73  of the operation panel  7  as described above (if no operation is done, the seat position and so on are left as they are). In a case of retrieving the preset information automatically, it retrieves the preset information from the smart key  6  via the door lock controller  5 . In a case where the preset information stored in the controller  2  is associated with the smart key  6 , it specifies the smart key  6  and then retrieves the preset information associated with the specified smart key  6 . 
     Subsequent to the step S 5 , the seat  3 , the steering unit  4  and the center console  1  are moved based on the retrieved preset information, and then an optimal driving position is realized (step S 6 ). After the step S 6 , it is monitored whether or not the console adjustment switch  106  is operated (step S 7 ) until the main switch is powered off (step S 8 ). There is also a case for moving the center console  1  for any reason after the optimal driving position is realized, the step S 7  is affirmed in such a case. When the step S 7  is affirmed, the controller  2  slides the center console  1   according to the operation of the console adjustment switch  106  (step S 9 ). 
     When the step S 8  is affirmed by the power-off of the main switch, the controller  2  judges that the use of the vehicle is going to be finished and moves the seat  3 , the steering unit  4  and the center console  1  to make the exit from the vehicle easy as shown in  FIG.  5    (step S 10 ). In contrast to the driving position shown in  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  5    shows the exit position. Note that it is also possible by a setting that the exit position is not realized after the power-off of the main switch. In such a case, the controller  2  realizes the exit position by moving the seat  3 , the steering unit  4  and the center console  1  when the exit button  74  on the operation panel  7  is pressed. 
     In the present embodiment, in order to make the driver known that the center console  1  and the seat  3  are cooperatively slid, the controller  2  controls their slide strokes and their slide speeds. If the slide strokes of the center console  1  and the seat  3  are identical to each other and the slide speeds of the center console  1  and the seat  3  are identical to each other, the center console  1  and the seat  3  start moving at the same time with their relative speed being zero, and then stops at the same time. In this case, it is difficult for the driver to recognize that the center console  1  is also moved together with the seat  3 . If he/she can recognize that the center console  1  also moves together with the seat  3 , he/she can pay attention to other passengers or a luggage in the passenger compartment. Specifically, the driver can pay attention to a contact of the center console  1  that is sliding with the other passengers, a contact of the center console  1  that is sliding with the luggage on the floor of the rear seats and so on. 
     Here, relationship between the slide of the center console  1  and the slide of the seat  3  is important. Therefore, we focus on the seat “slide” position included in the seat position. The height of the seat cushion and the recline angle of the seatback included in the seat position are not important here. The controller 2(1) makes the slide strokes of the seat  3  and the center console  1  different from each other, or (2) makes the slide speeds of the seat  3  and the center console  1  different from each other, when it cooperatively controls the seat actuator  30  and the console actuator  109 . 
     In the above case (1) of making the slide strokes of the seat  3  and the center console  1  different from each other, if their slide speeds are the same (their relative speed is zero), at least one of starts and stops of their slides are not coincident with each other requisitely. Therefore, the driver can recognize the cooperative slide easily. In order to make the driver known earlier, it is more preferable not to make their starts of the slides coincident than their stops of the slides coincident. On the other hand, the above case (2) is a case where the slide speeds of the seat  3  and the center console  1  are made different from each other, and thereby the relative speed of the seat  3  and the center console  1  are not zero requisitely even when their slide strokes are coincident or not coincident. Therefore, the driver can recognize the cooperative slide easily. 
     Alternatively, the controller  2  (3) makes their side strokes and their slide speeds coincident with each other and doesn’t make their starts of slides coincident with other when it cooperatively controls the seat actuator  30  and the console actuator  109 . Their stops of the slides are also not coincident with each other requisitely. In this case, the driver can recognize the cooperative sliding easily, because the starts of their slides are not coincident with each other. 
     According to the present embodiment, it is possible to slide the center console  1  by the console actuator  109  by use of the console adjustment switch  106 . Therefore, it is possible to adjust the position of the selector switch  105  provided on the center console  1 . As the result, the optimal driving position can be realized easily. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, the slide position of the center console  1  (the selector switch  105 ) and the seat position of the seat  3  can be controlled cooperatively with each other based on the above-described preset information. Therefore, the optimal driving position can be realized more easily. 
     Here, in the cooperative control of the seat  3  and the center console  1 , (1) the slide strokes of the seat  3  and the center console  1  are made different from each other, or (2) the slide speeds of the seat  3  and the center console  1  are made different from each other. In the case (2), the passenger(s) can recognize that the slide of the center console  1  is also controlled, because the relative speeds of the center console  1  to the seat  3  is not zero. In the case (1), the passenger(s) can recognize that the slide of the center console  1  is also controlled, because the starts or the stops of their slides are not coincident with each other even with their relative speed being zero. 
     Alternatively, in the cooperative control of the seat  3  and the center console  1 , it may be adopted that (3) the slide stroke and the slide speed of the seat  3  are made coincident with the slide stroke and the slide speed of the center console  1 , respectively, and the stats of their slides are not made coincident with each other. Since the stats of their slides are not coincident with each other, the stops of their slides are also not coincident with each other requisitely. Since the starts and the stops of their slides are not coincident with each other, the passenger(s) can easily recognize that the slide of the center console  1  is also controlled. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, the controller  2  is configured to be capable of receiving the preset information from the smart key  6 . In other words, in the cooperative control of the seat  3  and the center console  1 , since it is possible to retrieve the preset information in accordance with the owner of the smart key  6 , the optimal driving position can be realized more easily. For example, it becomes also possible to realize the optimal driving position automatically in the cooperative control of the seat  3  and the center console  1  just by having the smart key  6 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the controller  2  may be integrated with a controller of other equipment (e.g., the door lock controller  5 ). In addition, the controller  2  may be disposed inside the center console  1 , or outside it. In the above embodiment, the controller  2  receives the preset information, which is wirelessly received by the door lock controller  5  from the smart key  6 , from the door lock controller  5  through the wired communication. However, the controller  2  may wirelessly receive the preset information directly from the smart key  6 . 
     The vehicle in the above embodiment is a BEV, but is not limited to this. The vehicle may be a vehicle equipped only with an internal combustion engine, a hybrid electric vehicle (an HEV), or the like. In the above embodiment, the slide of the center console  1  is done by the slide of the upper unit  1 U with respect to the lower unit  1 L. It may be done by sliding a whole of the center console  1  with respect to the floor of the cabin. In addition, the center console  1 , the seat  3  and the steering unit  4  are controlled cooperatively, but other component (e.g., door/room mirrors) may be further controlled cooperatively. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
       
         
           
               
               
            
               
                 
                   1 
                 
                 center console 
               
               
                   1 L 
                 lower unit 
               
               
                   1 U 
                 upper unit 
               
               
                   1 D 
                 drive unit 
               
               
                 
                   105 
                 
                 selector switch 
               
               
                 
                   106 
                 
                 console adjustment switch 
               
               
                 
                   109 
                 
                 drive motor (console actuator) 
               
               
                 
                   2 
                 
                 controller 
               
               
                 
                   3 
                 
                 seat 
               
               
                 
                   30 
                 
                 seat actuator 
               
               
                 
                   6 
                 
                 smart key