JP2001124655A - Evaluation device for seat holdability - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a measuring device for seat holdability capable of precisely evaluating seat holdability by quantitatively measuring it. SOLUTION: A seat holdability measuring device 10 comprises a cabin 14, and an evaluation seat 16 or the like for seating an occupant 38 is provided within the cabin 14. A shaker 12 driven by a drive unit 36 is mounted on the cabin 14. The shaker 12 consists of a shaker having a freedom of 6, which can take motions in a maximum combination of 6 unit motions such as turning, extension contraction, rotation and the like. Therefore, a pseudo rocking of driving state such as meandering can be imparted to the cabin 14. A body pressure distribution measuring sensor mat is mounted on each of the seat surface and back surface of the evaluation seat 16. The seat holdability is evaluated on the basis of the body pressure distribution obtained from the body pressure distribution measuring sensor mat when the pseudo rocking is imparted to the cabin 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating seat hold performance, and more particularly, to an apparatus for measuring and evaluating the hold performance of a seat of an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to improve the holdability of a seat of an automobile or the like, the movement of the occupant's body is reduced with respect to the lateral acceleration generated when the automobile turns left and right. This is effective, but restraining the occupant's body too much can be rather cramped.

[0003] Therefore, in order to design a seat that satisfies holdability for occupants having different body shapes and sitting postures,
Techniques are needed to evaluate the relationship between the seat and the occupant.

Heretofore, the evaluation of the seat hold performance has been performed based on an evaluation physical quantity such as a subjectivity and a lateral acceleration of a vehicle body when a skilled driver travels on an actual vehicle.

Further, a marker is attached to the shoulder portion of the seat or the occupant, and the relative change between the marker attached to the seat and the marker attached to the occupant is observed with a video camera or the like. The seat holdability was evaluated from the difference between the acceleration data detected by each acceleration sensor attached to the seat and the occupant.

[0006]

However, in the evaluation based on actual vehicle running, there are variations in road surface conditions and driver steering, and individual differences such as the occupant's body shape and seating posture that contribute to the seat holding performance are evaluated by the evaluation physical quantity. Cannot be evaluated in association with

Further, the movement of the occupant's body is determined by the figure and the sitting state, and cannot be evaluated by the movement of a part of the body. Movement is important, but depending on the driver's subjectivity, it is not possible to accurately evaluate the seat hold.

In the evaluation based on the relative change in the posture of the occupant with respect to the seat, only the movement of the occupant sitting on the seat is measured, and the movement of the contact portion between the seat and the body is measured. Therefore, the seat hold property cannot be accurately evaluated.

That is, in the above-mentioned prior art, there is a problem that the sheet holdability cannot be quantitatively evaluated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a seat hold evaluation apparatus capable of quantitatively evaluating the seat hold.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a swaying means for swaying a seat mounted on a moving body and on which an occupant of the moving body sits. A body pressure distribution measuring unit attached to the seat and measuring the pressure of a plurality of portions of the seat caused by the seating of the occupant as a body pressure distribution, and a plurality of measurement results of the body pressure distribution measuring unit during the sway. A calculating means for calculating an amount of change in the body pressure distribution for a predetermined part of the plurality of parts, and an evaluating means for evaluating a seat hold property based on the obtained amount of change. .

The swinging means swings a seat mounted on the moving body and on which an occupant of the moving body sits. This shaking means can arbitrarily specify the position and posture of the moving body in a three-dimensional space, and has a so-called degree of freedom of 6 that allows the moving body to perform an operation combining unit operations such as turning, vibration, and rotation. Vibration means can be used. As a result, the seat can be given a sway corresponding to almost all driving states such as a meandering operation of a car.

The body pressure distribution measuring means is attached to, for example, a seat surface, a back surface, or the like of the seat. Then, the body pressure distribution measuring means measures the pressure at a plurality of portions of the seat caused by the occupant's seating as the body pressure distribution. From this body pressure distribution, it is possible to grasp how much pressure is applied to which part of the seat surface or back surface, that is, which part of the occupant's body is applying pressure to which part of the seat. be able to.

The calculating means includes a plurality of measurement results of the body pressure distribution measuring means when the seat is shaken by the shaking means,
That is, from a plurality of body pressure distributions measured in a time series, an amount of change in the body pressure distribution is determined for a predetermined part of the plurality of parts, for example, a part where the occupant's thigh and buttocks contact the seat. Note that a plurality of regions may be determined in advance, and the amount of change in the body pressure distribution in the determined region may be obtained. Further, storage means for storing the obtained change amount may be provided.

The evaluation means evaluates the sheet holdability based on the obtained change amount. For example, when the amount of change in the predetermined portion is large, it can be evaluated that the seat hold property is low, and when the amount of change is small, it can be evaluated that the seat hold property is high. As described above, since the seat hold performance is evaluated from the body pressure distribution of the seat caused by the seating of the occupant, a quantitative and accurate evaluation can be performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the arithmetic means includes:
The rate of change of each of the plurality of portions is further obtained, and the evaluation means evaluates a seat hold property based on the rate of change.

The calculating means further obtains the rate of change at a plurality of sites from the plurality of body pressure distributions measured by the body pressure distribution measuring means. Then, the evaluation means evaluates the sheet holdability based on the rate of change.

The rate of change can be the ratio of each pressure to the sum of the pressures at a plurality of locations, as described in claim 3.

That is, in the arithmetic means, the ratio of the pressure to the sum of all the pressures at the plurality of parts is obtained. The evaluation means evaluates the sheet holdability by the evaluation means based on the obtained ratio. For example, when the change in the ratio of the predetermined portions is large, it can be evaluated that the seat hold property is low, and when the change in the ratio is small, it can be evaluated that the seat hold property is high.

The time ratio may be obtained by differentiating the obtained ratio, and the sheet holdability may be evaluated based on the obtained time change ratio.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the seat hold evaluation apparatus 10, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the seat hold evaluation apparatus 10. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the seat hold measuring device 10 includes a cabin 14, in which a simulated driving device 20 having an evaluation seat 16, a steering wheel 18, etc., a projector 22, and a mirror 24. , A screen 26 and the like.

The cabin 14 is driven by the vibrator 12 as a swinging means. The vibrator 12 is provided with a link 30
A, 30B, 30C, power motors 32A, 32B, 3
2C and a driving device 36.

One end of each of the links 30A, 30B and 30C is
The other ends of the links 30A, 30B, and 30C are fixed to three different points on the bottom surface of the cabin 14, respectively.
It is movably attached to

The links 30A, 30B and 30C are
Driven by power motors 32A, 32B, 32C, respectively. Thus, the links 30A, 30B, and 30C are
It can expand and contract in the vertical direction and can move on the floor surface. The power motors 32A, 32B,
32C is driven by the driving device 36.

At this time, since the bottom surface of the cabin 14 is supported by the links 30A, 30B and 30C at three different points, the cabin 14 can be moved to any position in any posture. That is, the vibration exciter 12 is capable of causing the cabin 14 to perform an operation combining unit operations such as, for example, turning, expansion and contraction, and rotation, and has a so-called degree of freedom of six. Thereby, simulated fluctuations in various driving states such as turning and vibration of the automobile can be given to the cabin 14.

The driving device 36 drives the power motors 32A to 32C so that an operating state corresponding to an input signal from the control device 40, which will be described later, for example, a simulated vibration corresponding to a meandering operation state is given to the cabin 14.

The projector 22 can output a simulated driving image according to the driving state, for example. This simulated driving image is turned back toward the screen 26 by the mirror 24 installed above the projector 22 and projected on the screen 26.

The occupant 3 sitting on the evaluation seat 16
The driving device 36 may drive the vibration exciter 12 so that the cabin 14 fluctuates according to the simulated driving operation when the simulated driving is performed while watching the simulated driving video.

As shown in FIG. 2, the seat hold evaluating apparatus 10 includes body pressure distribution measuring sensor mats 42 and 44 as body pressure distribution measuring means, and a memory 46.
The body pressure distribution measurement sensor mats 42 and 44 are respectively attached to the seat surface and the back surface of the evaluation sheet 16.

The body pressure distribution sensor mats 42 and 44 are composed of a number of body pressure sensors (not shown) and the like. This body pressure sensor can detect, for example, a plurality of stages of body pressure, and each body pressure sensor detects a body pressure (load) applied to the part and outputs the detected body pressure to the control device 40. From the output values of these body pressure sensors, for example, an evaluation sheet 16 as shown in FIG.
The body pressure distribution on the seat surface can be obtained.

A memory 46 is connected to the control device 40. The memory 46 stores a control program, measurement data, and the like, which will be described later.

Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, a control program executed in the control device 40 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

In step 100 shown in FIG. 4, vibration is started. That is, for example, the driving device 36 is provided so that the simulation sheet corresponding to the meandering operation is given to the evaluation sheet 16.
To instruct. As a result, the driving device 36 drives the power motors 32A to 32C, and gives the cabin 14 a simulated swing equivalent to a meandering operation.

In the next step 102, pressure detection values (load detection values) output from the body pressure sensors of the body pressure distribution measurement sensor mats 42 and 44 are fetched. Then, all the load detection values captured in step 104 are stored in the memory 46 as body pressure distribution data.

In step 105, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the result in step 105 is negative, and the processing in steps 102 to 104 is repeated until the predetermined time elapses, and is output from each of the body pressure sensors of the body pressure distribution measurement sensor mats 42 and 44. The detected load values are sequentially stored in the memory 46 as body pressure distribution data.

On the other hand, if the predetermined time has elapsed, the result is affirmative in step 105, and the excitation is stopped in the next step 106. That is, the driving device 36 is instructed to stop the vibration. Thereby, the driving device 36 is connected to the power motor 32A.
The drive of ~ 32C is stopped, and the operation of the cabin 14 is stopped.

In the next step 108, based on each body pressure distribution data stored in the memory 46, a predetermined area, for example, as shown in FIG. Areas CR1 to CR4, CL1 to C
L4, the load sum is calculated for each of the regions BR1 to BR4 and BL1 to BL4 obtained by dividing the back surface of the evaluation sheet 16 into two parts left and right and four parts up and down.

In the next step 110, the load transfer rate is calculated from the calculated load sum of each area. This load transfer rate is the ratio of the sum of the loads in each region to the total load applied to the sensor mat 42 or 44 for measuring body pressure distribution. That is, when the sum of the loads in each area is A and the total load is B, the load transfer rate C is represented by (A / B) × 100 (%).

Then, in the next step 112, the load moving speed ratio for each region is calculated from the load moving ratio C calculated in step 110. This load moving speed ratio is obtained by differentiating the load moving ratio C with respect to time t. That is, the load moving speed ratio D is represented by dC / dt (% / s).

Then, the respective load moving speed ratios calculated in the next step 114 are stored in the memory 46.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an example of the load moving speed ratio calculated as described above. FIG. 6 shows an example of the body pressure distribution obtained from the output values from the respective body pressure sensors of the sensor mat 42 for measuring body pressure distribution. Point E shown in FIG.
The right thigh of the occupant 38 is shown and belongs to the region CR2. In addition, a point F shown in FIG. 6 indicates a lower right portion of the occupant 38 on the right side and belongs to the region CR4.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the thigh of the right foot of the occupant 38, that is, the region CR2 of the seating surface of the evaluation seat 16. FIG.
And the measurement results of the load moving speed rate of the lower right buttocks of the occupant 38, that is, the load moving speed rate of the region CR4 on the seating surface of the evaluation seat 16. 5A shows a case where a sheet having a low hold property is used as the evaluation sheet 16, and FIG. 5B shows a case where a sheet with a high hold property is used as the evaluation sheet 16. The load moving speed ratio of CR4 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 5A, first, the cabin 1
When the occupant 38 leans to the left while the heel of the occupant 38 leans to the left, the load in the area CR4 becomes lighter, and the load moving speed ratio increases with a negative value. Thereafter, when the load applied to the area CL4 becomes maximum (the load applied to CR4 is minimum), the load moving speed ratio becomes zero.

When the cabin 14 is tilted to the right and the butt portion of the occupant 38 is tilted to the right, the load in the region CR4 becomes heavy, so that the load moving speed ratio increases from a negative value to a positive value.

Thereafter, the load moving speed ratio in the region CR4 decreases, and when the load applied to the region CR4 becomes maximum, the load moving speed ratio becomes zero. Then, when the cabin 14 leans to the left again and the butt portion of the occupant 38 leans to the left, the load in the region CR4 becomes lighter, so that the load moving speed ratio changes from a positive value to a negative value and decreases.

The same applies to the load moving speed rate in the region CR2 where the thigh of the occupant 38 is located.

Here, the time point when the load moving speed rate of the right lower part of the occupant 38 first becomes zero and the time point when the load moving speed rate of the right thigh of the occupant 38 first becomes 0 are as follows. There is a time difference of about 0.2 seconds between them.

That is, there is a time difference between when the load applied by the lower part of the occupant 38 reverses from left to right and when the load applied by the thigh of the occupant 38 reverses from left to right.

Also, between the time when the load moving speed rate of the lower right part of the occupant 38 becomes 0 next time and the time when the load moving speed rate of the right thigh of the occupant 38 next becomes 0. Also has a time difference of about 0.3 seconds.

That is, there is a time lag between when the load applied by the lower part of the occupant 38 reverses from right to left and when the load applied by the thigh of the occupant 38 reverses from right to left.

This indicates that the body of the occupant 38 swings greatly, and it can be said that the seat holdability is low.

On the other hand, in FIG. 5B, the time when the load moving speed rate of the right lower part of the occupant 38 becomes 0, the time when the load moving speed rate of the right thigh becomes 0, and FIG. It can be seen that no time difference has occurred. This indicates that the body of the occupant 38 is less swayed, which means that the seat holdability is high.

In view of the above, in step 116, the seat holdability is evaluated from the calculated load moving speed rates. Specifically, for example, a time difference at a time when the load moving speed rate of a plurality of predetermined regions (the regions CR2 and CR4 in the above example) becomes 0 is determined, and when the time difference is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the sheet holding property is determined. Is evaluated to be low, and the case where it is less than a predetermined value is evaluated to be high in the sheet holding property. In addition, the evaluation of the seat hold performance is not a two-stage evaluation,
For example, the evaluation may be performed more finely, for example, in five steps or ten steps.

Then, in the next step 118, the evaluation result is displayed on the screen 26. This display may include the calculated load moving speed ratio and the like.

As described above, the seat is subjected to the simulated shaking corresponding to the actual driving state, and the load moving speed ratio of each area of the seat at this time is measured, and the time delay and the magnitude of the load moving speed ratio of each area are measured. Thus, it is possible to quantitatively evaluate the sheet holdability.

It is needless to say that the same processing as described above can be performed on the back surface of the evaluation sheet 16 to quantitatively evaluate the sheet holdability.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention,
From a plurality of measurement results of the body pressure distribution measuring means at the time of movement of the seat, a change amount of the body pressure distribution for a predetermined part of the plurality of parts is obtained by the calculation means, and based on the obtained change amount, the evaluation means Since the seat hold property is evaluated, there is an effect that the seat hold property can be quantitatively evaluated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a seat hold evaluation apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a seat hold evaluation apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a sensor mat for measuring body pressure distribution.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control routine executed by the control device 40.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a load moving speed ratio.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a body pressure distribution.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 seat hold evaluation device 12 shaker 14 cabin 16 evaluation seat 18 handle 20 simulated driving device 22 projector 24 mirror 26 screen 30A, 30B, 30C link 32A, 32B, 32C power motor 34 floor surface 36 drive device 38 occupant 40 Controller 42, 44 Body pressure distribution sensor mat 46 Memory

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Dai Inagaki 41-cho, Yokomichi, Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi F-1 term in Toyota Central R & D Laboratories Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An oscillating means mounted on a moving body and configured to oscillate a seat on which an occupant of the moving body sits, and a pressure applied to a plurality of portions of the seat caused by the seating of the occupant attached to the seat. A body pressure distribution measuring means for measuring the body pressure distribution as a body pressure distribution, and calculating a change amount of the body pressure distribution for a predetermined part of the plurality of parts from a plurality of measurement results of the body pressure distribution measuring means at the time of shaking. A seat hold evaluation apparatus, comprising: an arithmetic unit; and an evaluation unit that evaluates a seat hold based on the obtained change amount. 2. The seat according to claim 1, wherein said calculating means further obtains a change rate of each of said plurality of portions, and said evaluating means evaluates a seat hold property based on said change rate. Holdability evaluation device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the change rate is a ratio of each pressure to a sum of pressures of the plurality of portions.