JPS61141312A - Air pressure control type seat - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a vehicle seat of a type in which the feeling or body pressure distribution of an occupant is controlled by pneumatic pressure, and particularly relates to a pneumatic seat of the above type equipped with a suitable pressure control means. Regarding controlled seats.

Vehicle seats with various adjustment functions include those equipped with a refiner, tilter, lifter, etc. to adjust the position and posture of the occupant, thigh supports, side supports,
Some are equipped with lumbar support, etc., and can mainly adjust the occupant's feeling and body pressure distribution. These are further classified into those in which adjustment is performed manually and those in which adjustment is performed by external power.

The present invention is particularly applicable to a seat for a vehicle, etc., in which the distribution of body pressure feeling of an occupant can be adjusted by external power made of air pressure.

<Prior art> Most of the conventional vehicle seats of this type have a power element consisting of a motor, gears, etc. installed in each target area as an adjustment mechanism to operate a mechanical adjustment mechanism. Moreover, they were large, heavy, complex, and therefore expensive. A method using air pressure as a power element was also considered, but the structure was complicated because a pressure regulating valve was required to reduce the air pressure from the air pressure source to the desired pressure. However, there was a disadvantage that the manufacturing cost was high.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In view of these shortcomings of the prior art, the main object of the present invention is to provide a desired pressure to each of a plurality of airbags embedded in a seat without using a pressure regulating valve. An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatically controlled seat that can be filled with air.

<Means for Solving the Problems> According to the present invention, in a vehicle seat of the type in which the feeling or body pressure distribution of a sitting person is controlled by air pressure, a plurality of airbags, an air pressure source, a pipe line connecting each of the airbags and the air pressure source, and an on-off valve provided in the middle of each of the connection pipes for each of the airbags; an exhaust valve connected to a conduit upstream of the on-off valve; a pressure sensor connected to a conduit upstream of the on-off valve; the air pressure source, the on-off valve, the exhaust valve, and the pressure sensor. a control means connected to the airbag, and the control means stores a set value of the pressure to be filled in the airbag, and selectively opens and closes the on-off valve and the exhaust valve Ht'.
Means 8: This is achieved by providing a pneumatically controlled seat characterized by comprising means for stopping the operation of the quantity valve means based on the comparison result between the output signal of the FEj sensor and the set value. Ru.

In particular, it is preferable to store the upper limit of the air pressure to be filled in each airbag as one of the air pressure settings.

Effects> As described above, according to the present invention, each airbag can be filled with air at a desired pressure without using a special air pressure regulating valve. Moreover, the pressure sensor for controlling the air pressure of each airbag is provided upstream of the opening/opening valve of each airbag, and is common to all the airbags, so that only one pressure sensor is required. Additionally, by storing the upper limit of the air pressure that should be filled in each airbag as one of the set values, there is no need for a relief valve or safety valve that determines the upper limit of the air pressure that should be supplied to each airbag. .

<Embodiments> Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the entire pneumatically controlled seat according to the invention. Embedded in the vehicle seat 1 are side support bags 2.3 for left and right backs, lumbar support bags 4 to 6, side support bags 7.8゛ for left and right cushions, and thigh support bags 9, and each airbag is connected to a conduit. 12 is connected to the valve unit 11. A pressure sensor 1 is installed in the valve unit 11.
3 and an electric air pump 10 are attached, and these air pump 10, valve unit 11 and pressure sensor 1 are attached.
3 is adapted to be controlled by a control unit 14 having a keyboard 15.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The discharge side of the air pump 10 is connected to a pipe line 12, and each air bag 2-9 is connected to this pipe line 1 through a two-bottom, two-position magnetic valve 16-21 that is spring-biased in the closing direction.
Connected to 2.

Furthermore, this conduit 12 is also connected to an exhaust valve 22 consisting of a two-bottom, two-position valve which is also spring-biased in the closing direction.

Further, the output end of a pressure sensor 13 provided to detect the pressure in the pipe line 12 is connected to a control unit 14 .

The control unit 14 is a CPU consisting of a microprocessor.
30, and its data bus 26 and address bus 27 are connected to a RAM 28 and a ROM 29. The CPU 30 operates the air pump 10 and the solenoid valves 16 to 22 via the drive unit 25 based on the pressure signal digitized by the AD converter 23 and the instruction signal input from the keyboard 15 via the input/output board 24. It has become.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the main routine programmed into the CPU 30. This main routine is
This key is periodically repeated so that it can always be detected that any of the 16 keys (FIG. 9) provided on the keyboard 15 have been pressed, and is used to specify the airbag to be adjusted. Steps 35-40 for determining whether or not the corresponding key has been pressed, and steps 41-40 for generating a signal to open the corresponding solenoid valve if it is detected in these steps that the corresponding key has been pressed. 46. Therefore, for example, when the key "LUMI" is pressed, the solenoid valve 17 corresponding to the lumbar support bag 4 is opened.

Furthermore, if it is detected in step 47 that the "UP" key has been pressed, a subroutine UP is activated (step 48). The flowchart of this subroutine UP is shown in FIG. 4, and at the start of this subroutine (step 67), the motor of the pump 10 is started (step 68). Next, in step 70, the pressure value supplied to the airbag is measured by the pressure sensor 13, and in step 71, this measured value 71 is stored in the ROM.
The measured value is compared with the upper limit value stored in 29, that is, the safety pressure, and if the measured value is lower than this upper limit value, a check is made in step 72 to see if the "UP" key is still being pressed. is judged.

If the "UP" key continues to be pressed, the process returns to step 70, during which time the air pump 10 is in mode 1.
The airbag continues to operate and air is continuously supplied to the airbag. If the measured air pressure value reaches a safe pressure or the "UP" key is released, the air pump motor is stopped in step 73. Next, the steady pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 13 is again stored in the RAM 28 in step 75, and the process returns to the main routine from step 76.

Again in FIG. 3, in step 49, "DOWN"
If it is detected that a key has been pressed, subroutine DOWN is activated (step 50), which, upon its initiation (step 77) as shown in FIG. is opened and conduit 1
2 pressure, i.e. the solenoid valves 16-2 open at that moment.
The pressure of airbags 2 to 9 connected to airbag 1 is lowered.

As before, as long as the 'DOWN' key is pressed, steps 79 and 80 are repeated and the exhaust valve 22 continues to be open. Once the 'DOWN' key is released, step 8
At step 1, the exhaust valve is closed.

Next, the steady pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 13 is stored in the RAM 28 in step 83 (step 83
), the process returns to the main routine from step 84.

After manually adjusting the pressure value of each airbag to the desired value in this way, "MANl" to "MAN3"
After specifying the memory location in the RAM 28 by pressing one of the keys (steps 51 to 58), pressing the "MEMO" key (step 57) causes the subroutine MEM
O is activated (step 58) and the set pressure value is implemented in the designated area of RAM 28, as shown in FIG. When you press the “MEMO” key, subroutine M
EMO is activated (step 58) and the following procedure is performed for each airbag.

In this subroutine, its start (step 89)
At the same time, first, an index N that specifies the airbag is initialized (step 90).

For airbags whose pressures have already been adjusted, their pressure values are stored, but for airbags whose pressures have not been adjusted, their pressure set values are not stored in the RAM. Therefore, in step 91, it is determined whether there is temporary memory or not, and if there is no temporary memory, the solenoid valve corresponding to the airbag is turned on and the air in the airbag is guided to the pipe 12 (step 92). , measure its pressure value (
Step 93). Next, the turned-on solenoid valve is closed (step 94), and the measured pressure value is stored in the corresponding RAM (
Step 95). In this way, it is confirmed whether or not the pressure setting values for all the airbags have been memorized, and the pressure values of the unmemorized airbags are measured as described above, and the pressure values of all the airbags are stored in the RAM 28. (Steps 96.97). The process then returns to the main routine from step 98.

If you want to reproduce the pressure value stored in this way,
By pressing any of the "MAN1" to "MAN3" keys and then pressing the "RE-ME" key, the desired preset air pressure can be reproduced. That is, by pressing the "RE-ME" key (step 59), the subroutine RECALL is activated (step 60). Then, as shown in FIG. 8, in the subroutine RECALL started at step 100, N=1 is first set at step 101, and the solenoid valve of the corresponding air bag is turned on (step 102).

Step 103: Then, the pressure in the pipe line 12 is measured.
), the difference from the target pressure is determined (step 104), and if the measured value is higher than the target pressure value based on the judgment criteria in step 105, the exhaust valve is opened in step 106, and the procedure from step 103 is repeated. Repeated. If the measured value is lower than the target pressure, the pump motor is started in step 107 (and the exhaust valve is closed at the same time), the pressure is measured again (108), and the difference from the target value is determined (step 109). Depending on the level, the pump motor is continuously turned on or the exhaust valve is opened to obtain a desired pressure value, and in step 111, the corresponding solenoid valve is turned off and the motor is turned off.

This step is performed for all airbags.
It is determined in step 112 whether this is the case, and if there is an unexecuted airbag, in step 113 N=N+1 is set and the procedure from step 102 is repeated. If the target pressure and the measured pressure value match within a predetermined tolerance range difference for all airbags, step 114
Return to the main routine.

In this way, the pressure values set for each of the keys ``MAN1'' to ``MAN3'' are stored in the RAM 28, but it is better to store typical combinations of pressure values in the ROM in advance. .

For example, "L-8IZE", "M-8IZE" or "S
Typical combinations of airbag pressure values are stored in the ROM 29 to correspond to the ``S I Z E'' keys, and can be reproduced by pressing the corresponding keys. If it is detected that any of those keys has been pressed in any of the steps 61 to 63, the respective corresponding sub-7L/-chin S-8I ZESM-8I
ZEtG; tL-8IZE is started, and in step 86, based on the procedure shown in FIG. 6, the settings stored in the ROM 29 are output, and in step 87, the settings recalled in this way Subroutine RECA based on the value
Start LL. Once the predetermined pressure value is obtained in this way, the process returns to the main routine from step 88.

In this way, by operating each of the keys on the keyboard shown in FIG. 9, the pressure in each airbag can be adjusted to a desired value. That is, by pressing the key corresponding to each airbag and then pressing the ON or DOWN key, the pressure of the corresponding airbag can be adjusted to a desired value, and the setting state can be changed from 'MANI' to '
By pressing any of the ``M A N 3'' keys, a pattern of corresponding pressure values can be stored.

In addition, “L-8IZE” is a typical pressure cover turn for the device.
By providing a pattern corresponding to the "~"S-8IZE" keys, the effort required to set a desired pressure value is reduced.

Effects> As described above, according to the present invention, each airbag can be filled with air at a desired pressure based on a CPU program without using a special pressure regulating valve. Furthermore, since only one pressure sensor is required, not only the parts cost is reduced, but also the pressure control system can be simplified. This greatly simplifies the device, increases its reliability and reduces manufacturing costs. Furthermore, by setting the upper limit pressure value allowable for each airbag as part of the program, overfilling of each airbag can be effectively avoided without using a relief valve or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire pneumatically controlled seat according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the main routine in the CPU of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a 70-chart showing the procedure of subroutine UP in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the procedure of subroutine DOWN in FIG. FIG. 6 is the routine L-8IZE in FIG. 3. 70- showing M-8IZE or L-8IZE (7) procedure
It is a chart. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of subroutine MEMO in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of subroutine RECALL in FIG. 3. , FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the surface of the keyboard of FIG. 1 in detail. 1...Seat 2.3...Back side support bags 4-6...
・Lumbar support bag 7.8...Cushion side support bag 9...
・Thigh support bag 10...Air pump 11...Valve-knit
1□12... Conduit 13...
Pressure sensor 14... Control unit 15... Keyboard 16-22... Solenoid valve 23... AD converter 24... Input/output boat 25... Drive unit 2
6...Data bus 27...Address bus 28.
...RAM 29...ROM30...CP
U

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a vehicle seat of the type in which the feeling or body pressure distribution of a sitting person is controlled by air pressure, a plurality of airbags embedded in the seat, an air pressure source, each of the airbags and the air pressure an on-off valve provided in the middle of each of the connection pipes for each of the airbags; an exhaust valve connected to a pipe on the upstream side of the on-off valve; a pressure sensor connected to a pipeline on the upstream side of the valve; and a control means connected to the air pressure source, the on-off valve, the exhaust valve, and the pressure sensor, the control means comprising:
means for storing a set value of the pressure to be filled in the air bag; means for selectively opening and closing the on-off valve and the exhaust valve; and a comparison result between the output signal of the pressure sensor and the set value. and means for stopping the action of the valve opening means based on the valve opening means. (2) Claim 1, wherein the set value includes an upper limit value of the pressure with which each of the airbags should be filled.
Pneumatically controlled seats as described in section.