Two-wheeled motor vehicle

Abstract

Since a front antenna 33 performs road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication with oncoming vehicles, a nondirectional antenna enables effective communication in communication distances. Vehicle-to-vehicle communication with rearward vehicles by a rear antenna 37 needs long communication distances compared with road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication with oncoming vehicles. The rear antenna 37 can also perform communication effectively with rear vehicles since what is selected is a directional one that can provide longer communication distances than a nondirectional one and that has directionality rearward of the vehicle. The front antenna 33 is disposed forward of a seat 7, and the rear antenna 37 is disposed rearward of the seat 7, which can inhibit an attenuation of electromagnetic waves due to the rider and the like. Consequently, while being capable of performing road-to-vehicle communication effectively, vehicle-to-vehicle communication with rearward vehicles can also be performed effectively.

Claims

1. A two-wheeled motor vehicle configured to communicate with both forward and rearward vehicles, the two-wheeled motor vehicle comprising: a seat configured to accommodate a rider of the two-wheeled motor vehicle at a time of riding the two-wheeled motor vehicle; a front antenna disposed in front of the seat with respect to a riding direction of the two-wheeled motor vehicle, the front antenna being a non-directional antenna; and a rear antenna disposed behind the seat with respect to the riding direction of the two-wheeled motor vehicle, the rear antenna being a directional antenna, a direction of which being opposite to the riding direction of the two-wheeled motor vehicle.

2. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a taillight unit disposed at a rear end of the two-wheeled motor vehicle, wherein the rear antenna is attached to the two-wheeled motor vehicle to be lower than the taillight unit.

3. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising: a side cover covering areas around a lower part of the taillight unit, wherein the rear antenna is disposed within the side cover.

4. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the rear antenna is attached through an anchor to a lower surface of the taillight unit located within the side cover.

5. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising: a side cover covering areas around a lower part of the taillight unit, wherein the rear antenna is disposed outside of the side cover.

6. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising: a rear fender having a rear slope, wherein the rear antenna is attached to the rear slope of the rear fender through an anchor.

7. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the rear fender has a front slope opposite to the rear slope, and a reinforcing member attached along the front slope for supporting the rear antenna.

8. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the anchor has a base seating surface to which the rear slope of the rear fender is attachable, and an antenna attaching surface to which the rear antenna is attachable, the base seating surface and the antenna attaching surface having an angle formed therebetween to thereby cause the rear antenna to be in an upright posture as seen from a side of the two-wheeled motor vehicle.

9. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein: the rear fender has, formed integrally with the rear slope, an attaching portion for attaching the rear antenna; and the rear antenna is attachable to the attaching portion.

10. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rear antenna is attachable to the two-wheeled motor vehicle to be higher than a license plate thereof.

11. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising a license plate mounting bracket having, integrated thereto, a license plate attaching portion to which the license plate is attachable, and a rear antenna attaching portion to which the rear antenna is attachable.

12. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the license plate mounting bracket is so formed that an angle between the license plate attaching portion and the rear antenna attaching portion causes the rear antenna to be in an upright posture as seen from a side of the two-wheeled motor vehicle.

13. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising: a main frame; a seat frame that is continuous with and rearward of the main frame; and a rear fender having a rear slope, wherein the rear antenna is attached to the two-wheeled motor vehicle in a rearward region, which is a region behind a first plane that is perpendicular to the ground and in which a rear end of the seat frame is located, and above a second plane in which the rear slope of the rear fender is located.

14. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a main frame; a head tube for fixing a front cover; and a stay extending from the main frame, the stay being formed in front of the head tube, wherein the front antenna is attached through an anchor to the stay.

15. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a front fork, wherein the front antenna is attached to the front fork through an anchor.

16. The two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising: a headlight unit disposed at a front end of the two-wheeled motor vehicle, wherein the front antenna is attached to the two-wheeled motor vehicle in front of the headlight and below the headlight.

17. An antenna system for a two-wheeled motor vehicle to perform communication, the antenna system comprising: a non-directional antenna disposed at a front end of the motor vehicle; and a directional antenna disposed at a rear end of the motor vehicle, a direction of the directional antenna being opposite to a riding direction of the motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of a scooter according to Embodiment 1;

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the scooter according to Embodiment 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing emission patterns of electromagnetic waves in a plan view of the scooter of Embodiment 1;

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a scooter according to Embodiment 2;

(5) FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a scooter according to Embodiment 3;

(6) FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a scooter according to Embodiment 4;

(7) FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a scooter according to Embodiment 5;

(8) FIG. 8 shows a license plate mounting bracket, in which (a) is a side view, and (b) is a front view;

(9) FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a preferred region for attaching a rear antenna;

(10) FIG. 10 is a side view of a two-wheeled motor vehicle according to Embodiment 6; and

(11) FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a preferred region for attaching a rear antenna.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(12) Description will be made hereinafter with reference to embodiments concerning two types of two-wheeled motor vehicles for example.

Embodiment 1

(13) Embodiment 1 of this invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

(14) FIG. 1 is a side view of a scooter according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the scooter according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing emission patterns of electromagnetic waves in a plan view of the scooter of Embodiment 1.

(15) The scooter which corresponds to the two-wheeled motor vehicle in this invention includes a main frame 3 having a head tube 1, a seat frame 5, a seat 7, side covers 9, a grab bar 11, a taillight unit 13, a rear fender 15, a drive train 17, a rear wheel 19, a front fork 21, a front wheel 23, a front cover 25, a headlight 27 and a steering handle 29.

(16) The main frame 3 acts as a framework of the scooter. The seat frame 5 extends rearward from the main frame 3, and supports the seat 7 for seating the rider and a passenger seat 7a for seating a passenger. The taillight unit 13 is attached to the rear of the seat frame 5. The side covers 9 are attached to cover side and rear portions of the seat frame 5, and cover front and lower portions of the taillight unit 13. This taillight unit 13 has a taillight indicating a braking situation and turn signals in an integrated manner. The grab bar 11 is gripped by a passenger or is used when a load is carried.

(17) The drive train 17 is mounted rearward of the main frame 3. The drive train 17 includes an engine, a suspension and so on. The rear wheel 19 is attached rearward of the drive train 17. The rear fender 15 is spaced from the rear wheel 19 to cover an upper portion and an area obliquely upward thereof. The rear fender 15 is formed of resin, for example. A license plate 30 is attached in a tilted posture to the rear of the rear fender 15 and below the taillight unit 13.

(18) The steering handle 29 is tunably attached to an upper portion of the head tube 1. The front fork 21 is attached below the head tube 1, and is interlocked with turning of the steering handle 29. The front wheel 23 is rotatably attached to a lower portion of the front fork 21. The front cover 25 is attached to the front of the head tube 1 through a stay 31 extending from the main frame 3. The headlight 27 is provided on the front cover 25.

(19) A front antenna 33 is mounted in the front cover 25. The front antenna 33 has nondirectional characteristics with an emission pattern and reception sensitivity of electromagnetic waves uniform all around a horizontal plane. This front antenna 33 is erected on an anchor 35 extending toward a front center from the stay 31 serving to attach the front cover 25. The front antenna 33 is located substantially at the middle transversely of the vehicle when seen in plan view, and is located above and rearward of the headlight 27 when seen from a side.

(20) A rear antenna 37 is mounted inward of the side covers 9. The rear antenna 37 has directional characteristics with an emission pattern and reception sensitivity of electromagnetic waves biased to one direction. Specifically, this rear antenna 37 has directionality with the transmit and receive sensitivity directed rearward of the vehicle. The rear antenna 37, which is located inward of the side covers 9, is attached to a lower surface of the taillight unit 13 by an anchor 39. The anchor 39 presents an inverted L-shape when seen from a side, with an upper surface thereof fixed to the lower surface of the taillight unit 13, and the rear antenna 37 is attached to a rear side thereof. The rear antenna 37 is attached to the anchor 39 to assume an upright posture. The rear antenna 37 is located substantially at the middle transversely of the vehicle when seen in plan view, and is located below the taillight unit 13 and above the license plate 30 when seen from a side. Therefore, since no metal parts that would obstruct the emission of electromagnetic waves are arranged rearward of the rear antenna 37, rearwardly directed emission of electromagnetic waves is free from obstruction.

(21) The scooter including the nondirectional front antenna 33 and the rear antenna 37 having rearward directionality as described above forms emission patterns of electromagnetic waves as shown in two-dot chain lines in FIG. 3. When the electromagnetic emission patterns of the front antenna 33 and rear antenna 37 are combined, the resulting shape connects a forward circle and a rearward ellipse shown in the dashed line in FIG. 3.

(22) According to this embodiment, the front antenna 33 mainly performs road-to-vehicle communication with roadside units and vehicle-to-vehicle communication with preceding vehicles and oncoming vehicles at times of passing each other. It is therefore possible to perform communications effectively by employing a nondirectional antenna which has wide-angle transmit-receive characteristics. On the other hand, vehicle-to-vehicle communication with rearward vehicles by means of the rear antenna 37 needs a long communication distance compared with the road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication with oncoming vehicles at times of passing each other. In this invention, the rear antenna 37 has the directionality that enables a long communication distance compared with nondirectionality, and has the directionality rearward of the vehicle. It is therefore possible to also perform communications effectively with rearward vehicles. Since the front antenna 33 is disposed in front of the seat 7 and the rear antenna 37 behind the seat 7, the electromagnetic waves can be inhibited from being attenuated by the bodies of the rider and the passenger. The rear antenna having the rearward directionality can inhibit bad influences of the interference with the electromagnetic waves of the front antenna. As a result, the road-to-vehicle communication and the vehicle-to-vehicle communication with forward vehicles (preceding vehicles and oncoming vehicles) can be performed effectively, and at the same time the vehicle-to-vehicle communication with rearward vehicles can also be performed effectively.

(23) There are the grab bar and a load carrier above the taillight unit 13, and when a load is placed thereon, the rear antenna 37 may be blocked by the load, which may exert a bad influence on the emission of electromagnetic waves. In this embodiment, however, since the rear antenna 37 is located below the taillight unit 13, the rear antenna 37 is not blocked by the load, and no bad influence is exerted on the emission of electromagnetic waves. Therefore, communication is not obstructed by the influence of the load.

(24) By containing the rear antenna 37 inward of the side covers 9 formed of resin, a fine appearance can be maintained without a had influence on the emission of the electromagnetic waves. Since the rear antenna 37 is attached above the license plate 30, the license plate 30 can be prevented from exerting a bad influence on the emission of electromagnetic waves from the rear antenna 37.

(25) The front antenna 33 can be attached relatively easily by attaching the front antenna 33 through the anchor 35 to the stay 31 which fixes the front cover 25.

(26) In the above description, the anchor 39 which fixes the rear antenna 37 is attached to the lower surface of the taillight unit 13. Alternatively, the anchor 39 may be attached to the seat frame 5.

Embodiment 2

(27) Next, Embodiment 2 of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(28) FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a scooter according to Embodiment 2.

(29) Components identical to those of foregoing Embodiment 1 are shown with the same signs, and will not particularly be described. This applies to each of the embodiments described subsequently.

(30) The rear antenna 37 is disposed outward of the side covers 9. Specifically, the rear antenna 37 is attached by an anchor 41 having an inverted L-shape. The anchor 41 is fixed at an upper surface thereof to a lower surface of the taillight unit 13, and has the rear antenna 37 attached to a vertical surface thereof. The anchor 41 is attached such that its vertical surface to which the rear antenna 37 is attached protrudes rearward from the taillight unit 13. However, the rear antenna 37 is located above the license plate 30 and below the taillight unit 13 as seen from a side.

(31) According to this embodiment, besides the same effects as those of the foregoing Embodiment 1, the rear antenna 37 can be fixed stably since it is attached through the anchor 41 to the lower surface of the taillight unit 13 located inward of the side covers 9.

(32) The rear antenna 37, since it is disposed outward of the side covers 9, can assure a high degree of freedom of arrangement. Therefore, not only assuring a high degree of freedom of scooter design, this allows the rear antenna 37 to be installed afterward as an add-on.

(33) In the above description, the anchor 41 which fixes the rear antenna 37 is attached to the lower surface of the taillight unit 13. Alternatively, the anchor 41 may be attached to the seat frame 5.

Embodiment 3

(34) Next, Embodiment 3 of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(35) FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a scooter according to Embodiment 3.

(36) The rear antenna 37 is attached to a rear slope 43 of the rear fender 15 by an anchor 45. The anchor 45 has a base seating surface 47 attached to the rear slope 43 of the rear fender 15, and an antenna seating surface 49 to which the rear antenna 37 is attached. The anchor 45 is formed such that, as seen from a side, an angle between the base seating surface 47 and antenna seating surface 49 causes the rear antenna 37 attached to the antenna seating surface 49 to be in an upright posture.

(37) A reinforcing member 53 is disposed on a front slope 51 which corresponds to an opposite side of the rear slope 43 of the rear fender 15. The reinforcing member 53 is formed of sheet metal having higher rigidity than the rear fender 15 formed of resin. The rear fender 15 is placed between the reinforcing member 53 and the anchor 45, and the anchor 45 is supported stably. The reinforcing member 53 may have an upper end thereof extending upward to be fastened together with the rear fender 15 to the vehicle body.

(38) According to this embodiment, besides the same effects as those of the foregoing Embodiment 1, while being able to avoid interference with other components, a high degree of freedom can be afforded to an attaching method compared with a case of attachment to other portions. By providing the reinforcing member 53 along the front slope 51, the support for the rear antenna 37 can be strengthened. Further, the angle between the base seating surface 47 and antenna seating surface 49 of the anchor 45 is set to place the rear antenna 37 in an upright posture. The rear antenna 37 can therefore be attached in a posture well suited for vehicle-to-vehicle communication with rearward vehicles.

Embodiment 4

(39) Next, Embodiment 4 of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(40) FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a scooter according to Embodiment 4.

(41) The rear antenna 37 is attached to the fender 15 as in foregoing Embodiment 3. The rear fender 15 in this embodiment has, formed integrally with the rear slope 43, an attaching portion 55 for attaching the rear antenna 37. This attaching portion 55 has a recess 57 formed for attaching the rear antenna 37. The recess 57 receives a back surface opposite to the electromagnetic waves emitting plane of the rear antenna 37, and a bottom surface of the rear antennas 37, and holds the rear antenna 37 in an upright posture.

(42) According to this embodiment, besides the same effects as those of the foregoing Embodiment 1, since the rear fender 15 and attaching portion 55 are formed integrally, the rear antenna 37 can be attached rigidly to the rear fender 15. Further, the number of parts for attachment can be reduced, thereby to keep the cost low.

Embodiment 5

(43) Next, Embodiment 5 of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(44) FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a scooter according to Embodiment 5. FIG. 8 shows a license plate mounting bracket, in which (a) is a side view, and (b) is a front view.

(45) The rear antenna 37 is attached to the rear fender 15 through a license plate mounting bracket 59 which is formed of resin. The license plate mounting bracket 59 has a license plate attaching portion 61 and a rear antenna attaching portion 63 integrated together. The license plate attaching portion 61 has supporting projections 65 formed thereon which support an upper part and a lower part of the license plate 30. The license plate 30, in a state of being inserted inward of the upper and lower supporting projections 65 from a side (in a depth direction of the plane of FIG. 8 (a), and a sidewise direction in FIG. 8 (b)), is fixed to the license plate attaching portion 61 with screws 66.

(46) The rear antenna attaching portion 63 is formed to project from an upper middle position of the license plate attaching portion 61, and has a recess 67 formed therein for attaching the rear antenna 37. The rear antenna attaching portion 63 is formed to have an upper part thereof assuming a position tilting slightly downward and rearward of the vehicle (rightward in FIG. 8 (a) and to the near side with respect to the plane of FIG. 8 (b)) when the license plate attaching portion 61 is in an upright posture. With the license plate mounting bracket 59, since the license plate attaching portion 61 is attached in a forwardly tilted posture to the rear fender 15, the rear antenna attaching portion 63 tilting rearward assumes an upright posture.

(47) In this embodiment, the rear antenna 37 can be attached easily since the license plate 30 is attached to the license plate attaching portion 61 of the license plate mounting bracket 59, and the rear antenna 37 is attached to the rear antenna attaching portion 63. The rear antenna 37 can therefore be attached efficiently. An angle between the license plate attaching portion 59 and rear antenna attaching portion 63 of the license plate mounting bracket 59 is set to place the rear antenna 37 in an upright posture. The rear antenna 37 can therefore be attached in a posture well suited for vehicle-to-vehicle communication with rearward vehicles.

(48) A mounting position of the rear antenna 37 in each of Embodiments 1-5 described hereinbefore is, preferably, in a region rg1 (the hatched region) shown in FIG. 9. Specifically, it is preferable to position the rear antenna 37 in a rearward region rg1 marked by a vertical line L1 drawn from the rear end of the seat frame 5 and an extended line L2 along the rear slope 43 of the rear fender 15. What is still more desirable is a part of region rg1 below the taillight unit 13.

(49) With the rear antenna 37 positioned in the region rg1, stable communication can be performed since bad influences of the other components can be prevented while preventing the bad influence of a load placed on the grab bar 11.

Embodiment 6

(50) Next, Embodiment 6 of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(51) FIG. 10 is a side view of a two-wheeled motor vehicle according to Embodiment 6.

(52) Foregoing Embodiments 1-5 have been described taking a scooter as an example of two-wheeled motor vehicles, but this embodiment will be described taking what is called a naked type two-wheeled motor vehicle as the example of the two-wheeled motor vehicles. The naked type refers to a two-wheeled motor vehicle with an uncovered engine and frame.

(53) This naked type two-wheeled motor vehicle has an attachment form similar to foregoing Embodiment 3. Specifically, a directional rear antenna 37 is attached to a lower portion of a rear slope 43 of a rear fender 15 through an anchor 69. The anchor 69 is formed to have such a shape that the antenna 37 assumes an upright posture when attached to the rear fender 15.

(54) A nondirectional front antenna 33 is erected at the other end of an anchor 73 having one end thereof attached to a lower bracket 71 of a front fork 21. The anchor 73 places the front antenna 33 in front of and below a headlight 27. With the front antenna 33 attached to the lower bracket 71 through the anchor 73 in this way, the front antenna 33 can be attached easily as in Embodiment 1, even if this is the naked type motor vehicle without the front cover 25. Lighting by the headlight 27 is not obstructed, and in addition, forward emission of the electromagnetic waves from the front antenna 33 is not obstructed by the headlight 27.

(55) Also the case of the front antenna 33 and rear antenna 37 being attached as described above can obtain emission patterns of electromagnetic waves similar to those in foregoing Embodiment 1 (FIG. 3). Therefore, effects similar to those in foregoing Embodiment 1 are produced.

(56) Also with the naked type two-wheeled motor vehicle, the rear antenna 37 may be attached in the modes of foregoing Embodiments 3, 4 and 5. As in foregoing Embodiment 2, the rear antenna 37 may be disposed outward of the side covers 9.

(57) A mounting position of the rear antenna 37 in Embodiment 6 described above, preferably, is in a region rg2 (the hatched region) shown in FIG. 11. That is, a preferred mounting position of the rear antenna 37 is in a rearward region rg2 marked by a vertical line L1 drawn from the rear end of the seat frame 5 and an extended line L2 along the rear slope 43 of the rear fender 15. What is still more desirable is a part of region rg2 below the taillight unit 13. The rear antenna 37 is therefore not limited to the above-described mounting position in FIG. 10, but may be disposed in any appropriate position within the region rg2.

(58) Although the front antenna 33 is attached to the lower bracket 71 through the anchor 73 in foregoing Embodiment 6, the anchor 73 may be attached to an upper portion of an inner tube 75 (upper tube) of the front fork 21, for example.

(59) This invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, but may be modified as follows:

(60) (1) In Embodiments 1-6 described above, two-wheeled motor vehicles are exemplified by the scooter type and the naked type. However, this invention is not limited to these types of two-wheeled motor vehicles, but is applicable also to other types of two-wheeled motor vehicles.

(61) (2) In Embodiments 1-6 described above, the front antenna 33 and rear antenna 37 are attached using various types of anchors and mounting brackets. This invention does not provide these anchors or mounting brackets as indispensable. What is necessary is to provide the nondirectional front antenna 33 in a position forward of the seat 7, and the directional rear antenna 37 in a position rearward of the seat 7.

(62) (3) In Embodiments 1-6 described above, the front antenna 33 and the rear antenna 37 are arranged in substantially middle positions transversely of the vehicle. However, this invention may have the front antenna 33 and rear antenna 37 in positions shifted right or left from the middle transversely of the vehicle. For example, the front antenna 33 may be attached to a side surface of the front cover 25, and the rear antenna 37 may be attached to a side surface of a side cover 9.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(63) 1 . . . head tube 3 . . . main frame 5 . . . seat frame 7 . . . seat 9 . . . side covers 13 . . . taillight unit 15 . . . rear fender 21 . . . front fork 25 . . . front cover 27 . . . headlight 30 . . . license plate 33 . . . front antenna 35 . . . anchor 37 . . . rear antenna 39 . . . anchor