Patent ID: 12233773

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In each of the embodiments which will be described below, the same reference signs are applied to common parts, and some of duplicate description will be omitted. In addition, an arrow UP indicating a side above a vehicle, an arrow FR indicating a side in front of the vehicle, and an arrow LH indicating the left side of the vehicle are marked at suitable locations in the drawings.

FIG.1is a perspective view of a vehicle1of the present embodiment.

InFIG.1, the reference sign10indicates front fenders (fender members) of the vehicle1, and the reference sign11indicates a front hood (hood member) covering a motor compartment in front of a cabin of the vehicle1from above such that it can be opened and closed. The front fenders10are exterior panels disposed around respective outward sides of left and right front wheels Wf of the vehicle1and are disposed in side parts of a vehicle body on a front side. For example, the front hood11is turnably supported in a rear wall part of the motor compartment with a rear end side as a hinge fulcrum. Side edge parts of the front hood11are disposed adjacent to upper parts of the front fenders10on the same left and right sides. A grille12is disposed on a front surface in front of the motor compartment of the vehicle1, and headlights13are disposed on both the left and right sides of the grille12.

The vehicle1of the present embodiment is an electric vehicle having an electric motor as a drive source, but the drive source of the vehicle1is not limited to this. The drive source of the vehicle1may also be an internal-combustion engine or a hybrid drive source using both an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor.

The vehicle1of the present embodiment has a function of detecting positions of pedestrians outside the vehicle and other vehicles and notifying the pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles of the recognition situation of the driver with respect to the pedestrians and other vehicles at this time. The vehicle1can notify pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles of the recognition situation of the driver by lighting exterior lights20(which will be described below) in various forms.

Specifically, for example, the vehicle1includes a position detection means for detecting positions of pedestrians outside the vehicle and other vehicles, a visual line detection means for detecting a visual line direction of a driver, and a controller controlling lighting of the exterior lights20(which will be described below) based on detection results of the position detection means and the visual line detection means.

Regarding the position detection means, for example, it is possible to employ a detection means for directly detecting pedestrians and other vehicles using an in-vehicle instrument such as a LIDAR, a millimeter wave radar, or a camera, or a detection means for acquiring positional information of pedestrians outside the vehicle and other vehicles through satellite communication or terrestrial communication. In addition, regarding the visual line detection means, for example, it is possible to employ a detection means for detecting the visual line direction of a driver by reflecting infrared rays on the cornea of the driver, or a detection means for detecting the visual line direction of a driver through image analysis of an in-vehicle camera.

FIG.2is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle1along line II-II inFIG.1.

As shown inFIG.2, the front fenders10each have a fender main body part10awhich has substantially a U-shaped opening (refer toFIG.1) substantially along an outer contour of the front wheel Wf, an inclined wall10bwhich is inclined obliquely upward to the inward side in a vehicle width direction from an upper end part of the fender main body part10a, and an end part wall10cwhich is bent and extends vertically upward from an extension end of the inclined wall10b.

In addition, as shown inFIG.2, the front hood11has a hood panel outer110which is positioned on the outward side of the vehicle, and a hood panel inner11iwhich faces the inside of the motor compartment. A hemming bent part11ohis provided at an outer circumferential edge part of the hood panel outer11. The hood panel outer11and the hood panel inner11iare fixed to each other by the hemming bent part11oh. Left and right side edge parts11sof the front hood11are inclined downward at a predetermined angle toward the outward side in the vehicle width direction. Parts of the side edge parts11sinclined downward overlap the inclined walls10bof the front fenders10in the vehicle width direction at the upper parts of the front fenders10. The side edge parts11sof the front hood11are inclined substantially parallel to the inclined walls10bof the front fenders10.

Gaps d are secured between the upper parts of the front fenders10(the inclined walls10band the end part walls10c) and the side edge parts11son the same left and right sides of the closed front hood11. The gaps d extend substantially in a vehicle body forward-rearward direction along the upper end shapes of the fender main body parts10a. The exterior lights20of the present embodiment are disposed on the inward sides of the gaps d. Specifically, the exterior lights20are attached to outer side surfaces of the end part walls10cin the upper parts of the front fenders10in the vehicle width direction.

As shown inFIG.2, in each of the exterior lights20, a plurality of lamp bodies22such as LED light emitting elements are mounted on a substrate21extending substantially in the vehicle body forward-rearward direction. The substrate21is attached to the end part wall10cof the front fender10. The plurality of lamp bodies22are arrayed in a longitudinal direction (vehicle body forward-rearward direction) of the substrate21. The lamp bodies22are not limited to LED light emitting elements, and any one may be adopted as long as light can be radiated through control of the controller.

The plurality of lamp bodies22constituting the exterior lights20are disposed such that a radiation direction of light is directed to rear surfaces of the side edge parts11sof the front hood11. For example, as indicated by the arrow inFIG.2, light of the plurality of lamp bodies22is reflected by the rear surface of the side edge part11sof the front hood11, is then reflected by the upper surface of the inclined wall10bof the front fender10, and is radiated to the outward side in the vehicle width direction.

However, light emitted from the lamp bodies22of the exterior light20need only be reflected once or more by at least one of the front hood11and the front fender10.

Subsequently, an example of operation of the exterior light20will be described with reference toFIGS.3A,3B and3C.FIGS.3A,3B and3Csequentially shows a way of lighting the exterior light20when the vehicle1enters an intersection in a state of turning to the right and a pedestrian is walking on a crosswalk toward the front side of the vehicle1obliquely from the right side behind the vehicle1.

If the vehicle1enters the intersection in a state of turning to the right, the position detection means detects the pedestrian walking on a crosswalk. At this time, the visual line detection means detects the visual line of the driver, and when the visual line of the driver is directed in the direction of the pedestrian, the exterior light20in its entirety is lit in a certain color (for example, green) through control of the controller. However, the lamp bodies22matching the visual line of the driver are lit in a color (for example, white) different from the lighting color of the entirety. The reference sign50in each ofFIGS.3A,3B, and3Cindicates a different color lighting region lit in a color different from the lighting color of the entirety. Rays of the light are radiated to the side part of the vehicle through the gap d between the front hood11and the front fender10, and the pedestrian can visually recognize the radiated light.

At this time, as the visual line of the driver moves toward the front side from a lateral side of the vehicle in pursuit of the walking pedestrian, the different color lighting region50moves to the front side of the vehicle in response thereto along the gap d between the front fender10and the front hood11as sequentially shown inFIGS.3A,3B, and3C. As a result, the pedestrian can ascertain that the driver of the vehicle1recognizes (looks after) the behavior of the pedestrian based on the lighting situation of the exterior light20.

As above, in the exterior light structure for a vehicle of the present embodiment, a plurality of lamp bodies22are disposed between the upper parts of the front fenders10and the side edge parts of the front hood11substantially in the vehicle body forward-rearward direction, and light is radiated to the outside of the vehicle through the gaps d between the front fenders10and the front hood11. For this reason, the boundary parts between the front fenders10and the front hood11shine and come into sight when the lamp bodies22are lit.

Therefore, when the exterior light structure for a vehicle of the present embodiment is employed, a viewer such as a pedestrian can clearly visually recognize light of the lamp bodies22even in a situation in which the visual line of the viewer is directed toward the exterior side surface of the vehicle body. As a result, it is possible to further improve traffic safety and contribute to development of sustainable transportation systems.

In addition, in the exterior light structure for a vehicle of the present embodiment, since the boundary parts between the front fenders10and the front hood11shine and come into sight when the lamp bodies22are lit, it is possible to curb deterioration in the design of the exterior appearance due to the lamp bodies22viewed from the outside. Moreover, in this constitution, since the lamp bodies22do not protrude from the side parts of the vehicle body to the outward sides in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to curb extension of the vehicle width due to the lamp bodies22.

Moreover, in the exterior light structure for a vehicle of the present embodiment, the lamp bodies22of the exterior lights20are disposed such that emitted light is reflected by at least one of the front hood11and the front fenders10and light is radiated to the outside of the vehicle. For this reason, light emitted by the lamp bodies22comes into sight of a viewer who visually recognizes the side part of the vehicle body as light that is gently diffused around the viewer. Therefore, when this constitution is employed, it is possible to have a favorable appearance when the exterior light20is lit.

Other Embodiments

FIG.4is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle101of the present embodiment similar toFIG.2.

In the exterior light structure for a vehicle of the present embodiment, similar to the foregoing embodiment, the gaps d are secured between the upper parts of the front fenders10(the inclined walls10band the end part walls10c) and the side edge parts11son the same left and right sides of the closed front hood11. A long hole25extending in the vehicle body forward-rearward direction is formed in the inclined wall10bof the front fender10. Further, a support bracket30forming a lamp body disposition recessed part30atogether with the long hole25is formed on a lower surface of the inclined wall10b. The exterior light20extending substantially in the vehicle body forward-rearward direction is installed inside the lamp body disposition recessed part30a. Similar to the foregoing embodiment, the exterior light20includes the substrate21and a plurality of lamp bodies22. A light emitting direction of each of the lamp bodies22is directed upward.

An elastic member40having substantially a semicircular cross section orthogonal to the vehicle body forward-rearward direction is attached to an upper surface side of the inclined wall10bof the front fender10. The elastic member40is constituted using an elastomer such as light-transmitting silicon or rubber. The elastic member40is formed to be elongated in the vehicle body forward-rearward direction such that the flat lower surface covers the entire region of the long hole25of the inclined wall10b. The lamp body disposition recessed part30afor disposing the lamp bodies22is disposed below the elastic member40.

In addition, the lower surface of the side edge part11sof the front hood11abuts the elastic member40attached to the inclined wall10bof the front fender10when the front hood11is closed. At this time, the elastic member40absorbs an impact by elastic deformation when the front hood11is closed, and seals the gap d between the front fender10and the front hood11.

In the case of the present embodiment, in a state in which the front hood11is closed, a part of the elastic member40on the arc-shaped outer side surface is positioned on the outward side in the vehicle width direction from the side edge part11sof the front hood11.

Since the exterior light structure for a vehicle of the present embodiment has a basic constitution similar to that of the foregoing embodiment, it is possible to achieve basic effects similar to those of the foregoing embodiment described above.

In addition, in the exterior light structure for a vehicle of the present embodiment, the elastic member40allowing light of the lamp bodies22to be transmitted therethrough and coming into tight contact with the front fender10and the front hood11is disposed in the gap d between the front fender10and the front hood11. For this reason, the elastic member40can curb entry of water droplets and dust into a space (motor compartment) below the front hood11through the gap d.

In addition, in this constitution, since the elastic member40has properties of allowing light of the lamp bodies22to be transmitted therethrough, light emitted by the exterior light20can be gently diffused and radiated to the outside of the vehicle. Therefore, when this constitution is employed, it is possible to have a favorable appearance when the exterior light20is lit.

Moreover, in the exterior light structure for a vehicle of the present embodiment, the lamp body disposition recessed parts30afor disposing the lamp bodies22below the elastic members40are provided in the upper parts (inclined walls10b) of the front fenders10. For this reason, the lamp bodies22do not restrict disposition spaces for the elastic members40in the vehicle width direction, and therefore the elastic members can have a sufficient volume. Therefore, when this constitution is employed, a cushioning performance at the time of a closing operation of the front hood11can be enhanced.

Moreover, in this constitution, since the lamp body disposition recessed parts30a, which are recessed downward, are provided in the upper parts (inclined walls10b) of the front fenders10, electric wiring with respect to the lamp bodies22(substrate21) can be easily performed from the inward sides of the front fenders10through the lamp body disposition recessed parts30a.

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, and various design changes can be made within a range not departing from the gist thereof. For example, control of lighting the lamp bodies22of the exterior lights20is not limited to the example described above. The situation of lighting the lamp bodies22and the way of lighting may be other than those described above. In addition, the gaps d between the front fenders10and the front hood11for radiating light of the lamp bodies22to the outside may also extend to a part on the front side of the vehicle.

In addition, in the foregoing embodiments, a plurality of lamp bodies22of the exterior lights20are installed between the front fenders10in the front part of the vehicle and the side edge parts of the front hood11. However, disposition of the exterior lights20is not limited to this. For example, in the case of a vehicle having rear fenders and a rear hood in a rear part of the vehicle, a plurality of lamp bodies of exterior lights may be disposed between the rear fenders and side edge parts of the rear hood. In addition, regarding the lamp bodies, one light guide body extending substantially in the vehicle body forward-rearward direction may be disposed between the upper parts of the fender members and the side edge parts of the hood member.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

1,101Vehicle10Front fender (fender member)11Front hood (hood member)20Exterior light22Lamp body30aLamp body disposition recessed part40Elastic memberd Gap