Vehicle starting mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11370450-B2
Application number	US-202016909274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2020
Priority date	Jun 28, 2019
Publication date	Jun 28, 2022
Grant date	Jun 28, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle starting mechanism includes a switch box and a power switch. The switch box is provided near an operation panel or a meter panel, and has a lid that can be opened and closed. The power switch is housed inside the switch box, and is capable of switching the vehicle between a state capable of traveling and a state incapable of traveling.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle starting mechanism provided in a vehicle having an automated driving function, wherein
inside a vehicle cabin, an operation panel for vehicle operation is provided, the operation panel is provided on an arm-shaped member extending from a front end part and a side end part of the vehicle cabin toward a rear of the vehicle; and
the vehicle starting mechanism comprises:
a switch box provided in a side wall of the arm-shaped member near the operation panel and having a lid that can be opened and closed, the side wall facing toward a center of the vehicle cabin; and
a vehicle starting switch housed inside the switch box and switching the vehicle between a traveling state and a non-traveling state.

2. The vehicle starting mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising a meter panel.

3. The vehicle starting mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein
the switch box is provided below the operation panel or the meter panel.

4. The vehicle starting mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein
the switch box includes a locking/unlocking unit for the lid.

5. The vehicle starting mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein
in the front end part of the vehicle cabin, an occupant seat is provided, which extends from the center in a vehicle width direction to the side end part of the vehicle cabin, and which has a backrest facing toward a middle of the vehicle cabin; and
the operation panel or the meter panel, and the switch box are arranged at the front end part of the vehicle cabin in an area toward a side, in the vehicle width direction, of the occupant seat.

6. The vehicle starting mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein
the meter panel and the switch box are arranged in a wall surface of the front end part of the vehicle cabin, at a location inward, in the vehicle width direction, from the arm-shaped member.

7. The vehicle starting mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein
a boarding/alighting door is provided on one side of two sides of the vehicle;
the occupant seat is arranged in the vehicle cabin toward the other side of the two sides of the vehicle; and
the operation panel or the meter panel, and the switch box are arranged between the boarding/alighting door and the occupant seat.

8. The vehicle starting mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein
a driver's seat is provided near the meter panel or the operation panel; and
the switch box is provided in front of the driver's seat.

9. The vehicle starting mechanism according to claim 8 , wherein
the driver's seat comprises a folding mechanism, and is switchable between an unfolded state in which the driver can be seated and a folded-away state in which a seating face is folded against a vehicle cabin side wall.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamanouchi Yuchi
• Shitara Masaki
• Hattori Ryo

Classifications

• B60K35/29 Primary

  Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions · CPC title

• B60K35/654

  the user being the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• G06F3/0412

  Digitisers structurally integrated in a display · CPC title

• B60W50/12 Primary

  Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation · CPC title