JP2001315560A - Seating body identifying sensor and seating body identifying system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seating body identifying sensor and a seating body identifying system capable of identifying a seating body with high certainty with simple and inexpensive constitution. SOLUTION: This seating body identifying system 1 is provided with a pressure sensitive seating sensor 3 arranged on a seating seat 2, a pressure sensitive foot sensor 7 arranged in a floor part 5, a pressure sensitive arm sensor 11 arranged in an inside part 9 of a trimming part of a side wall part in a cabin, an acceleration-deceleration sensor 13 for detecting acceleration and deceleration of a vehicle, a seat belt sensor 15 for detecting the existence of pullout of a seat belt and an identifying unit 17 composed of a computer. The identifying unit 17 identifies whether the seating body is a person or an object or an adult or a child on the basis of a detecting result of the respective sensors 3, 7, 11, 13 and 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat identification sensor and a seat identification system for identifying whether a seat is a person or an object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in control of an airbag of a vehicle or an automatic optimal sound field (including a volume) in an audio cabin space, whether a seating body on a seating seat is a person or an object,
Alternatively, it is expected that a discrimination as to whether it is an adult or a child is performed, and control of an airbag, a sound field, or the like is performed based on the discrimination result.

As this kind of conventional seating body identification sensor, there are a sensor combining an infrared sensor and an ultrasonic sensor, and a sensor using image recognition based on an image picked up by an image pickup camera.

[0004]

However, such a conventional sitting body identification sensor requires expensive equipment such as an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor and an imaging camera, and has a problem in terms of cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a seating body identification sensor and a seating body identification system that can identify a seating body with high reliability with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

[0006]

A technical means for achieving the above object is a seating object identification sensor for identifying a seating object on a seating seat of a vehicle, wherein a person is seated on the seating seat. A seat sensor provided at a portion of the seat where any portion from the back to the thigh portion of the human body comes into contact, and a load sensor for detecting a load, wherein the plurality of seat sensors independently detect a load. Is divided into the sensor units.

[0007] Preferably, the seating body identification sensor is further provided with a foot sensor provided on a floor portion in a vehicle cabin where a foot of a human body contacts when a person sits on the seating seat, and detects a load. The sensor may be divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect a load independently of each other.

Preferably, the seating body identification sensor further includes an arm sensor provided at a portion in a vehicle compartment with which a human body arm contacts when a person sits on the seating seat, and detects a load. The arm sensor is preferably divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect a load independently of each other.

Further, preferably, the seating body identification sensor is provided on a floor in a vehicle cabin where a foot of a human body comes into contact when a person sits on the seating seat, and detects a load, and Is provided in a portion of the vehicle interior where the arm of the human body contacts when seated on the seat, and further includes an arm sensor for detecting a load, wherein the foot sensor and the arm sensor detect the load independently of each other. It is good to be divided into a plurality of sensor parts.

Further, a technical means for achieving the above object is a seating body identification sensor for identifying a seating body on a seating seat of a vehicle, wherein the sensor detects a human body when a person sits on the seating seat. A seating sensor that is provided at a portion of the seating seat where any portion from the back to the thigh contacts and detects a load, and a passenger compartment where a foot of a human body contacts when a person sits on the seating seat. At least one of a foot sensor provided on the floor and detecting a load, and an arm sensor provided on a portion of the vehicle interior where the arm of a human body comes into contact when a person sits on the seating seat and detects a load Or one of them.

[0011] Further, a technical means for achieving the above object is a seating body identification sensor for identifying a seating body on a seating seat of a vehicle, wherein the sensor detects a human body when the person sits on the seating seat. The back, the waist, the buttocks and the thighs are provided on the portion of the seat that comes into contact with at least one of the left and the right back, the left and the right hips, the left and the right hips, or the left and the right. A seat sensor having a left sensor unit and a right sensor unit arranged on the left and right so that loads from the thigh and the right thigh can be independently detected is provided.

[0012] Further, a technical means for achieving the above object is a seating body identification sensor for identifying a seating body on a seating seat of a vehicle. A seating sensor that is provided at a portion of the seating seat where any portion from the back to the thigh contacts and detects a load, and a passenger compartment where a foot of a human body contacts when a person sits on the seating seat. And a foot sensor having a left sensor unit and a right sensor unit arranged on the left and right sides so as to be able to independently detect loads from the left foot and the right foot.

Still preferably, the seating body identification sensor includes the seating sensor and at least the foot sensor, and the foot sensors are provided at positions different from each other from the seating seat, and are independent of each other. It is good to be divided into a plurality of sensor parts which detect a load.

[0014] Preferably, the left sensor section and the right sensor section of the foot sensor are provided at positions different from each other in distance from the seat, and a plurality of partial sensor sections detecting loads independently of each other. It is good that each is divided.

Further, preferably, the seating sensor comprises:
It is good to divide into a plurality of sensor parts which detect load independently of each other.

Preferably, the left sensor section and the right sensor section of the seating sensor are further divided into a plurality of partial sensor sections for detecting a load independently of each other.

More preferably, the seating body identification sensor includes the seating sensor and at least the foot sensor, and the foot sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units for detecting a load independently of each other. Is good.

Preferably, the seating body identification sensor includes the seating sensor and at least the arm sensor, and the arm sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor sections for detecting a load independently of each other. Is good.

Preferably, the arm sensor is provided on an armrest or a peripheral portion of the armrest.

[0020] Preferably, the arm sensor is provided on an inner side of an interior part of the door.

Further, preferably, the seating sensor comprises:
It is preferable that the seating seat is provided on a seat portion on which the buttocks are placed and on a backrest portion.

Preferably, the seating sensor is provided only on a seat of the seating seat on which the buttocks are placed.

Further, preferably, the seating sensor comprises:
It is preferable that the seating seat is provided only on the backrest portion.

[0024] Preferably, a seating body identification sensor for identifying a seating body on a seating seat of a vehicle, wherein a floor portion in a vehicle compartment to which a foot of a human body contacts when a person sits on the seating seat. And a foot sensor that detects a load, and the foot sensor is preferably divided into a plurality of sensor units that independently detect a load.

[0025] Further, preferably, a seating body identification sensor for identifying a seating body on a seating seat of a vehicle,
An arm sensor is provided in a part of the vehicle interior where the arm of the human body comes into contact when a person sits on the seat. The arm sensor detects a load. The arm sensors independently detect a load. It is good to be divided into.

Preferably, each of the sensor sections includes a tubular elastic tube in which at least a part of the section in the circumferential direction is a conductive section having conductivity, and an electrode member provided along the longitudinal direction. A long insertion member to be inserted into the elastic tube, and the insertion member is provided so as to surround the insertion member at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction, and is provided together with the insertion member. And an outer surrounding member inserted into the elastic tube to separate the insertion member from the elastic tube. The electrode member is disposed apart from the conductive portion of the elastic tube in a natural state of the elastic tube. On the other hand, when the elastic tube is elastically deformed by an external load, the elastic tube is preferably arranged so as to be electrically connectable to the conductive portion of the elastic tube.

Preferably, the electrode member of each of the sensor sections is formed of a flexible member, and the electrode member itself constitutes the insertion member.

Preferably, the electrode member is formed with a metal wire disposed in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, the electrode member includes an elongated flexible core material, and a metal wire wound in a coil shape around the core material.

Preferably, the core is an insulating member formed of resin, rubber, a fiber member, or a composite member formed by combining some of them.

[0031] More preferably, the core material is formed of an elastic member, and the metal wire is wound so as to sink into the outer peripheral surface of the core material.

Preferably, on the outer peripheral surface of the core material,
Preferably, a spiral groove into which the metal wire is fitted is provided, and the metal wire is wound around the core so as to fit into the groove.

[0033] Further preferably, as the metal wire,
It is preferable that a metal wire having corrosion resistance is used.

Preferably, the outer member is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the electrode member by molding using resin or rubber.

Preferably, the sensor sensitivity of each of the sensor units to the detection of the load is a distance between the outer members surrounding the electrode members, a width of the outer members in a longitudinal direction of the electrode members. It is adjusted by adjusting at least one of the distance between the metal wire wound in a coil shape and the elastic tube, the thickness of the elastic tube, and the outer diameter of the elastic tube. Is good.

[0036] Preferably, a signal take-out is provided to the conductive portion located at one or both ends of the elastic tube of each of the sensor portions and the electrode member located at one or both ends of the insertion member. Are preferably directly connected electrically or via a predetermined conductive member.

Further, preferably, the internal space of the elastic tube of each of the sensor sections is shielded from the outside by a predetermined shut-off means at both ends of the elastic tube.

Further, a technical means for achieving the above object is a seating body identification system using the seating body identification sensor according to claim 1, wherein the seating body identification sensor according to claim 1, An identification unit configured to identify the seat based on a detection result of each of the sensor units of the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor.

Preferably, the identification unit is an adult or a child based on a ratio of a sensor unit detecting a load among the plurality of sensor units of the seat sensor. It is better to estimate.

Further, preferably, the identification unit estimates whether the seated body is a person or an object based on a temporal change in the presence or absence of load detection of each of the sensor units of the seating sensor. Good to do.

Preferably, in the identification unit, one of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load, and the identification unit detects a load of the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor. When the ratio of the sensor unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined first occupancy level, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor has a temporal change equal to or more than a predetermined first change level, the seating body Is an adult, and any one of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load, and the ratio of the sensor unit that detects the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is If the level is less than the first occupancy level and the presence / absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor has a temporal change equal to or greater than the first change level, it is estimated that the seated body is a child. Is good.

Further, a technical means for achieving the above object is a seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 2, wherein the seat identification sensor according to claim 2, An identification unit that identifies the seat based on the detection result of each of the sensor units of the seat sensor and the foot sensor provided in the seat identification sensor, and wherein the identification unit is one of the seat sensors. The sensor unit detects a load, and a ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined first occupation level, and the seating is performed. The presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the sensor has a temporal change equal to or more than a predetermined first change level, and any one of the sensor units of the foot sensor has detected a load, and If there is a temporal change of a predetermined second change level or more in the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the sensor, it is estimated that the seating body is an adult, and any of the sensor units of the seating sensor Are detecting the load, and the ratio of the sensor unit that detects the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is less than the first occupation level, and the respective sensor units of the seating sensor are The presence or absence of load detection has a temporal change equal to or greater than the first change level, and any one of the sensor units of the foot sensor detects a load, and the load of each of the sensor units of the foot sensor When the presence or absence of the detection has a temporal change equal to or more than the second change level, it is estimated that the seated body is a child, and one of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load, and Said seat Wherein no change over time in the above said first level of change in the presence of the load detection of the sensor portion of the support, and, if any of the sensor portion of the foot sensor may not detect a load or,
One of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the seating sensor does not change with time over the first change level, and If any one of the sensor units of the sensor detects a load, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the foot sensor does not change with time over the second change level, the seating body Is characterized as being an object.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to the first aspect of the present invention. The seating sensor provided in the seating body identification sensor, an identification unit that identifies the seating body based on the detection results of the sensor units of the foot sensor and the arm sensor, the identification unit, Any one of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load, and a ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined first occupation level. And, the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor has a temporal change of a predetermined first change level or more,
And, any one of the sensor units of the foot sensor has detected a load, and there is a temporal change of a predetermined second change level or more in the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the foot sensor, and If any of the sensor units of the arm sensor is detecting a load, it is estimated that the seat body is an adult, and any of the sensor units of the seat sensor has detected a load. And a ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is less than the first occupation level, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the seating sensor First
There is a temporal change equal to or greater than a change level, and one of the sensor units of the foot sensor detects a load, and the presence or absence of load detection of each sensor unit of the foot sensor is the second change level. There is the above temporal change,
And, when any of the sensor units of the arm sensor is detecting a load, it is estimated that the seated body is a child, and any of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load. And the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the seating sensor does not have a temporal change equal to or greater than the first change level, and one of the sensor units of the foot sensor detects a load, And when there is no change with time of the second change level or more in the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the foot sensor, and if none of the sensor units of the arm sensor has detected a load, It is characterized in that the seating body is presumed to be an object.

Further, a technical means for achieving the object is a seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 5, wherein the seat identification body according to claim 5, The seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor, and an identification unit that identifies the seat based on a detection result of at least one of the foot sensor and the arm sensor. And

[0045] Preferably, in the state where the seating sensor is detecting a load, at least one of the foot sensor and the arm sensor detects the load. When it is estimated that the seated body is a person, and when neither the foot sensor nor the arm sensor detects a load, it is preferable to estimate that the seated body is an object.

Further, a technical means for achieving the object is a seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 6, wherein the seat identification system according to claim 6, An identification unit that identifies the seat based on the detection result of the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor, wherein the identification unit includes a left sensor unit and a right sensor unit of the seat sensor. When both of them detect a load, it is estimated that the seated body is a person.

The technical means for achieving the above object is a seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 7, wherein the seat identification sensor according to claim 7 comprises: An identification unit that identifies the seat based on the detection result of the seat sensor and the foot sensor included in the seat identification sensor, and the identification unit includes:
In a state where the seating sensor is detecting a load, when both the left sensor unit and the right sensor unit of the foot sensor are detecting a load, it is estimated that the seated body is a person. It is characterized by.

[0048] Further, preferably, the seat identification sensor includes the seat sensor and at least the foot sensor, and the foot sensors are provided at positions different from each other from the seat and are independent from each other. And the load is divided into a plurality of sensor units, and the identification unit, when it is estimated that the seated body is a person, is at least a predetermined distance from the seating seat of the plurality of sensor units. It is preferable to estimate whether or not the person is an adult based on whether or not the sensor unit provided at a position detects a load.

[0049] Preferably, the seating sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor sections for detecting a load independently of each other, and the identification section is configured to detect the load when the seating body is estimated to be a person. When the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units is equal to or higher than the predetermined first occupation level, while the person is estimated to be an adult,
When the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units is less than the first occupation level, it is preferable to estimate that the person is a child.

Further, preferably, the seating sensor is
It is divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect a load independently of each other, and the identification unit detects a load of the plurality of sensor units when it is estimated that the seated body is a person. If the ratio of the sensor unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined first occupation level and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor has a temporal change equal to or greater than a predetermined third change level, On the other hand, while the child sensor is estimated to be a child, the ratio of the sensor unit that detects a load among the plurality of sensor units is less than the first occupation level, and the presence or absence of load detection of the sensor units of the seating sensor If there is no change with time equal to or higher than the third change level, it is preferable to estimate that the person is an adult.

Preferably, the seat identification sensor includes the seat sensor and at least the foot sensor, and the foot sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units for detecting a load independently of each other. The identification unit,
When the seating body is estimated to be a person, the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units is equal to or higher than a predetermined second occupation level, and the sensor of the foot sensor is used. No. 4
When there is a temporal change equal to or greater than the change level, while it is estimated that the person is a child, the ratio of the sensor units detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units is less than the second occupation level. When there is no change with time of the fourth change level or more in the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the foot sensor, it is preferable to estimate that the person is an adult.

More preferably, the seat identification sensor includes the seat sensor and at least the arm sensor, and the arm sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units for detecting loads independently of each other. The identification unit is configured such that, when the seating body is estimated to be a person, a ratio of the sensor unit detecting a load among the plurality of sensor units is equal to or higher than a predetermined third occupation level, and the arm If the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the sensor has a temporal change equal to or greater than a predetermined fifth change level, while it is estimated that the person is a child, the load of the plurality of sensor units is reduced. In the case where the ratio of the detected sensor units is less than the third occupation level, and the presence or absence of load detection of each sensor unit of the foot sensor does not change with time over the fifth change level, Man It is to assume that an adult.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to the first aspect of the present invention. An identification unit that identifies the seat based on the detection result of each of the sensor units of the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor; and at least one of the plurality of sensor units of the seat sensor. One sensor unit is provided on a backrest portion of the seating seat, and constitutes a backrest sensor group; and the identification unit is any one or at least one of the sensor units of the backrest sensor group. Is detecting the load,
It is preferable that the seating body is identified based on the detection results of some or all of the plurality of sensor units constituting the seating sensor.

Further, preferably, at least one of the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is located in a rear region near the backrest on the seat on which the buttocks of the seating seat are placed. The identification unit is provided in the rear side region of the seat, wherein at least one of any or specific one of the backrest sensor groups detects a load. When the at least one sensor unit detects a load, identification of the seating body is performed based on a detection result of some or all of the plurality of sensor units constituting the seating sensor. It is better to do.

Preferably, a plurality of sensor units of the plurality of sensor units of the seat sensor are scattered on the seat of the seat to form a seat sensor group. The identification unit is configured such that at least one of the sensor units of the backrest sensor group detects a load, and the at least another sensor provided in the rear region of the seat. It is preferable that the seating body is identified based on the number or ratio of the sensor units detecting the load in the group of seat sensors when one sensor unit is detecting the load.

[0056] Further, preferably, a plurality of sensor units of the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor are scattered and arranged in a rear side area on the seat portion of the seating seat near the backrest portion. A seat sensor group is configured, and the identification unit is configured such that at least any one of the sensor units of the backrest sensor group detects a load, and the sensor unit of the seat unit. When the at least one other sensor unit provided in the rear side area is detecting a load, based on the number or ratio of the sensor units detecting the load in the rear seat sensor group. It is preferable to identify the seating body.

Preferably, the identification unit is configured such that at least one of the sensor units of the backrest sensor group detects a load, and that the rear side of the seat unit is located on the rear side. When the other at least one sensor unit provided in the area is detecting a load,
It is preferable that the seating body is identified based on an integrated value of the number or the ratio of the sensor units detecting the load in the group of the seating units over time.

[0058] Further, preferably, the discriminating unit is such that at least one of the arbitrary or specific one of the backrest sensor groups detects a load,
And the sensor unit detecting a load of the rear seat sensor group when the at least one other sensor unit provided in the rear area of the seat detects a load. It is preferable that the seating body is identified based on the integrated value of the number or the ratio of the elapsed time with respect to time.

<Description of Terms> The seating body identification system further includes an acceleration / deceleration sensor for detecting the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, and the identification unit does not detect the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle. In this state, identification is preferably performed based on a detection result detected by the seating body identification sensor.

In this specification, the term "person" refers to an adult or a child having a physique capable of sitting on a sitting seat in a predetermined sitting posture, and does not include an infant or the like who cannot take a sitting posture.

[0061] In this specification, the term "foot" means a portion of the human body ahead of the ankle.

Further, in the present specification, “arm” means
Refers to the part of the human body from the elbow to the wrist.

[0063]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment <Configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a seat identification system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This seating body identification system 1 is for identifying whether a seating body on a seating seat (here, a passenger seating seat) 2 provided in a vehicle interior is a person or an object, or an adult or a child. As components, as shown in FIG. 1, a pressure-sensitive seating sensor 3 provided on the seating seat 2 and a floor 5 in front of the seating seat 1 (in front of a person sitting on the seating seat 2). Pressure-sensitive foot sensor 7 and a side wall (in this case, a door) in the passenger compartment
Pressure-sensitive arm sensor 11 provided in the inner part 9 of the interior part
An acceleration / deceleration sensor 13 for detecting the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle;
A seat belt sensor 15 for detecting whether or not a seat belt (not shown) provided with the seat 2 is pulled out;
And an identification unit (identification unit) 17 constituted by a computer or the like. Among these components, the seat sensor 3, the foot sensor 7, and the arm sensor 11
Constitute the seating body identification sensor according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, a predetermined reference value is set based on the weight (or height, or both weight and height), and adults and children are classified based on the reference value.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat sensor 3 includes a first seat sensor 21 and a second seat sensor 23. The first seating sensor 21 is configured to contact at least one of the buttocks and the thighs of the seated human body in the buttocks and thighs seat (seat) 2a where the portion of the seat 2 from the buttocks to the thighs is in contact. It is provided at a portion where such a portion (here, the buttocks and the thigh) contacts. The second seating sensor 23 is configured to contact at least one portion (here, from the back to the waist) of the seated human body in the back / waist seat portion (backrest portion) 2b with which the portion of the seat 21 from the back to the waist contacts. (Mainly the waist).

As shown in FIG. 2, the foot sensor 7 is largely divided into two parts, front and rear.
The first foot sensor 25 provided in a region close to the seat 2 and the region of the floor 5 where the distance from the seat 2 is farther than the region where the first foot sensor 25 is provided (here, the floor 5 A second foot sensor 27 provided in an inclined area rising obliquely upward from the front end of the area where the first foot sensor 25 is provided.

Here, the distance between the first foot sensor 25 and the seat 2 on the floor (the position where the first foot sensor 25 is installed) is determined by the distance to the floor 5 of the child's foot when the seated body is a child. Are set in accordance with the contact positions of. The distance on the floor between the second foot sensor 27 and the seat 2 (the position where the second foot sensor 27 is installed) is determined by the contact position of the adult's foot on the floor 5 when the seated body is an adult. It is set correspondingly. As a result, the adult's foot sitting on the seat 2 can be moved from the first
Although not only the foot sensor 25 but also the second foot sensor 27 located at a long distance comes into contact with a relatively high probability, the foot of the child sitting on the seat 2 is higher than the second foot sensor 27. The first foot sensor 25 comes into contact with a much higher probability.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arm sensor 11 includes an armrest 9a (or an armrest 9a such as a mounting portion for the armrest 9a) provided on the inner side 9 of the interior part of the side wall in the vehicle cabin. Sensor part 29 provided on the periphery of the vehicle) and the inner part 9 of the interior part of the side wall part in the vehicle cabin.
And a second sensor section 31 provided in a peripheral portion (here, above the first sensor section 29) of a portion where the first sensor section 29 is provided. As described above, the first sensor unit 29 and the second sensor unit 31 are formed by a portion of the inner portion 9 of the interior portion of the side wall portion in the vehicle compartment with which the arm (particularly, the periphery of the elbow) of the human body sitting on the seat 2 is in contact. The load from the arm of the human body is detected independently of each other.

Here, the size (area) and the installation position (sensor section 2) of the first sensor section 29 and the second sensor section 31 are set.
Focusing on the point that the child's arm is smaller in size than the adult's arm and the contact area with the inner part 9 is small, when the seating body is an adult, In a case where the periphery of the elbow of the adult arm can simultaneously contact the two sensor portions 29 and 31 and, when the seated body is a child, the periphery of the elbow of the child's arm is connected to the two sensor portions 29 and 31. It is set so as to contact only one of them. More specifically, since the second sensor unit 31 is provided above the first sensor unit 29 corresponding to the position of the adult's arm, when the seated body is a child, the child's arm is 1st than 2 sensor unit 31
The sensor unit 29 comes into contact with a higher probability.

In the present embodiment, the arm sensor 11 is divided into two parts, the first sensor part 29 and the second sensor part 31, but may be divided more.

FIG. 3 shows the first seating sensor 2 of the seating sensor 3.
1 is a diagram showing a configuration of FIG. This first seating sensor 21
As shown in FIG. 3, it is largely divided into right and left, and includes a left sensor unit 33 and a right sensor unit 35. The left sensor unit 33 is provided at a position capable of detecting a load from the left buttocks and left thigh of a seated human body.
Reference numeral 5 is provided at a position where a load from a right hip and a right thigh of a seated human body can be detected.

The left sensor unit 33 and the right sensor unit 3
5 is divided into a plurality (here, five) of partial sensor portions 33a, 35a in the contact direction of the human body (here, the front-rear direction), and these partial sensor portions 33a, 35a separate loads from the human body from each other. And detect it.

FIG. 4 shows the second seating sensor 2 of the seating sensor 3.
3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of FIG. This second seating sensor 23
As shown in FIG. 4, it is largely divided right and left, and includes a left sensor unit 37 and a right sensor unit 39. The left sensor unit 37 is provided at a position where a load from at least any part (here, the left waist region) from the left back to the left waist of the seated human body can be detected, and the right sensor unit 39 is provided.
Is provided at a position where a load from at least any part (here, the right waist) of the seated human body from the right back to the right waist can be detected.

The left sensor section 37 and the right sensor section 3
9 is divided into a plurality (here, two) of partial sensor portions 37a, 39a in the contact direction of the human body (here, approximately the vertical direction), and these partial sensor portions 37a, 39a transfer loads from the human body to each other. It is designed to detect independently.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the first foot sensor 25 and the second foot sensor 27 of the foot sensor 7. As shown in FIG. 5, the first foot sensor 25 is largely divided into left and right, and includes a left sensor unit 41 and a right sensor unit 43. The left sensor unit 41 is provided at a position where a load from a left foot of a seated human body can be detected,
The right sensor unit 43 is provided at a position where a load from a right foot of a seated human body can be detected. Also, the left sensor unit 41
And the right sensor unit 43 includes a plurality (three in this case) of partial sensor units 41a,
43a, and each of the partial sensor sections 41a,
Reference numeral 43a detects the load from the foot of the human body independently of each other.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second foot sensor 27 is largely divided into right and left parts.
5 and a right sensor unit 47. Left sensor unit 45
Is provided at a position where the load from the left foot of the seated human body can be detected, and the right sensor unit 47 is provided at a position where the load from the right foot of the seated human body can be detected. In the present embodiment, each of the sensor units 45 and 47 is not divided into independent partial sensor units, but may be divided into a plurality of partial sensor units like the above-described sensor units 41 and 43.

Each of the sensors 3, 7, 1 thus configured
1 unit sensor elements (sensor units 29, 31, partial sensor units 33a, 35a, 37a, 39a, 41a, 43
a) is constituted by a predetermined pressure-sensitive sensor, and outputs a detection result such as the presence or absence of load detection to the identification unit 17 by a predetermined signal such as an electric signal. A specific configuration example of each unit sensor element will be described later with reference to FIG.

The acceleration / deceleration sensor 13 detects the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, and outputs the detection result to the identification unit 17. The seat belt sensor 15 detects whether or not a seat belt (not shown) provided with the seat 2 is pulled out, and the detection result is identified by the identification unit 17.
Output to The acceleration / deceleration sensor 13 and the seat belt sensor 15 are not essential and can be omitted.

The identification unit 17 is constituted by an arithmetic unit capable of performing a logical operation such as a computer, and the unit sensor elements of the sensors 3, 7, and 11 to be inputted,
Based on the detection results of the acceleration / deceleration sensor 13 and the seatbelt sensor 15, a process of identifying the presence or absence of a seating body on the seat 2, and whether the seating body is a person or an object when the seating body is present on the seating seat 2. , An adult or a child. The identification result of the identification unit 17 is output to the outside and used for airbag control, sound field control, and the like. The determination result output from the identification unit 17 indicates a case in which the determination result is definite (for example, the seated body is a person) and a case in which the determination is not possible (for example, the seated body is a person or a thing). Or unknown), or may indicate the possibility of judgment (for example, the possibility that the seated body is a person with a predetermined probability (eg, 70%) is high).

Here, each unit sensor element (sensor unit 29, 3) of each sensor 3, 7, 11 by the identification unit 17 is used.
1, 45, 47, partial sensor units 33a, 35a, 37
a, 39a, 41a, and 43a), it is preferable that the load detection is performed finely every minute time (for example, 200 ms).

<Specific Example 1 of Each Unit Sensor Element> Each unit sensor element (sensor unit 2
9, 31, 45, 47, partial sensor sections 33a, 35a,
37a, 39a, 41a, 43a) include, for example, FIG.
Alternatively, a pressure-sensitive sensor body 100 shown in FIG. 8 is used. Here, FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken at right angles to the axis of the sensor body 100, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the axis of the sensor body 100, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of 4 and an outer surrounding member 125. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along section line BB in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the sensor body 100 includes a hollow tubular elastic conductive tube 121,
The positive and negative first
And an elongated insertion member 124 having an elongated elasticity provided with the first and second electrode members 122 and 123;
24 provided with a plurality of outer surrounding members 125 having insulating properties provided on the outer peripheral portion of the outer peripheral member 24.

The elastic conductive tube 121 is a substantially cylindrical tube having a hollow portion 128 as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, and is entirely made of a conductive elastic material such as conductive rubber. In this case, the whole is a conductive portion.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the insertion member 124 has side end insulator portions 131,
132 and a central insulator portion 13 arranged at a central portion in a sectional view
3, one side end insulator portion 131 and the central insulator portion 133
And a second electrode member 123 formed between the other side end insulator 132 and the central insulator 133.

Each of the electrode members 122 and 123 is formed by using a conductive elastic material such as conductive rubber similar to that of the elastic conductive tube 121.
22 and 123 are arranged apart from each other by a central insulator portion 133. Further, in each of the electrode members 122 and 123, hollow portions 135 and 136 for ensuring elasticity of the respective electrode members 122 and 123 are formed. Thus, the insertion member 124 is easily deformed by an external pressure. In the examples of FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the electrode members 122 and 123 is
5, 136, the upper electrode members 122a, 123a and the lower electrode members 122b, 123b are divided.
3a and the lower electrode members 122b and 123b
5,136 may be connected vertically.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the height dimension (thickness dimension) H1 of the central insulator portion 133 in the vertical direction (the thickness direction of the insertion member 124) is determined by each electrode member 122,
The height dimension (outer diameter: thickness dimension) H2 of 123 is set smaller than H2. As a result, the portion of the central insulator portion 133 is formed in the insertion member 124 in a concave shape in a sectional view.

As the outer member 125, a heat-shrinkable tube which is insulative and shrinks by heating is used.
As shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 9, the insertion member 124 is externally inserted and fixed at a predetermined interval D in the longitudinal direction. To fix the outer surrounding member 125, the outer surrounding member 125 is externally inserted into a fixing position of the insertion member 124, and is heated to
Is performed by contracting so as to tighten. The outer surrounding member 125 is inserted into the elastic conductive tube 121 together with the insertion member 124 in a state of being mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the insertion member 124, and the two electrode members 122,
123 so that it does not contact the elastic conductive tube 121.
The insertion member 124 is appropriately separated from the elastic conductive tube 121. Here, the interval D between the outer surrounding members 125 and the thickness T
1 (see FIG. 6) and at least one of the width W along the longitudinal direction of the insertion member 124 are set according to the magnitude of the load to be detected by the sensor body 100, as described later. Have been.

With such a configuration, when a load is applied from above, which is the thickness direction of the insertion member 124 in FIGS. 6 and 7 (direction Dr1 in FIG. 10), the elastic conductive tube 121 and the insertion member 124 are applied. Are elastically deformed as shown in FIG. 10, and thus the first electrode members 122 (122a, 122a)
b), the elastic conductive tube 121 and the second electrode member 12
3 (123a, 123b) and the elastic conductive tube 121 come into contact with each other.
22 and the second electrode member 123 are formed of an elastic conductive tube 121.
, Electrical conduction is achieved. Of course, when the shape of the elastic conductive tube 121 returns to the natural tubular shape, the shape of the insertion member 124 is elastically restored to its original state.

Here, both electrode members 12 are elastically deformed.
2, 123, the magnitude of the load necessary for contacting the elastic conductive tube 121 (that is, the sensitivity of the sensor body 100)
Is largely related to the distance D between the outer surrounding members 125, the thickness T1 and the width W of the outer surrounding members 125. For example, as the distance D between the outer enclosing members 125 increases, the distance between the portions of the elastic conductive tube 121 located between the outer enclosing members 125 increases, and the elastically deformable portions are elastically deformed inward with a smaller pressing force. As a result, it comes into contact with both electrode members 122 and 123. Further, for example, the larger the thickness T1 of the outer surrounding member 125 is, the more the two electrode members 12 in the natural state are.
The distance between the elastic conductive tube 121 and the elastic conductive tube 121 is increased.
Are not elastically deformed inward, the two electrode members 122, 12
No longer comes into contact with 3. Also, for example, by applying a load,
When the elastic conductive tube 121 and the two electrode members 122 and 123 come into contact with each other, the outer surrounding member 125 is also compressed by the load. However, as the width W of the outer surrounding member 125 increases, the outer surrounding member 125 increases. A large pressing force is required to compress the 125, and the elastic conductive tube 121 and the two electrode members 122 and 123 are hardly in contact with each other.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the outer member 1
Focusing on the sensitivity adjusting function of the sensor body 1 by adjusting at least one of the distance D between the outer surrounding members 125, the thickness T1 and the width W of the outer surrounding member 125,
The sensitivity of 00 is set to a desired sensitivity.

Thus, the first electrode member 122 and the second electrode member 123 (for example, both electrode members 122, 12
3) through a signal extraction lead wire connected to the first electrode member 122 and the second electrode member 123 to detect the presence or absence of conduction between the first electrode member 122 and the second electrode member 123.
(I.e., whether or not a load is applied to each of the unit sensor elements) can be detected.

<Specific Example 2 of Each Unit Sensor Element> Each unit sensor element (sensor unit 2) of each of the sensors 3, 5, and 11 described above.
9, 31, 45, 47, partial sensor sections 33a, 35a,
As another specific example of 37a, 39a, 41a, 43a), for example, a pressure-sensitive sensor body 200 shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 is used. Here, FIG.
FIG. 12 is an axially parallel sectional view of FIG.
13 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 00, FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of the sensor body 200 of FIG. 11, and FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a main part of the sensor body 200 of FIG.

In the sensor body 200 according to this example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
Inside, an electrode member 278 is loosely inserted as an insertion member 276, and a plurality of surrounding members 277 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the electrode member 278. This surrounding member 277
Is for separating the electrode member 278 from the elastic conductive tube 221 in a non-load applied state where no load is applied. Although the insertion member 276 is constituted by the electrode member 278 itself, the insertion member 276 may be constituted by an insulating elastic member and a conductive electrode member. Further, here, the entire elastic conductive tube 221 is formed of the elastic conductive member, but only a part of the elastic conductive tube 221 in the circumferential direction is formed of the elastic conductive member, and that portion is used as a conductive portion. The portion may be made of an elastic member such as rubber having an insulating property.

The electrode member 278 includes an elongated flexible core material 281 and a metal wire 283 wound in a coil shape around the core material 281. The electrode member 278 constitutes one of the positive and negative electrodes, and the elastic conductive tube 221 constitutes the other positive or negative electrode.

The core member 281 is an insulating member formed of resin, rubber, a fiber member, or a composite member formed by combining some of these members.
An elastic insulating member such as a silicone rubber resin, a fluororesin, or EPDM is formed by extrusion coating on a fibrous center reinforcing line such as a carbon fiber.

As the metal wire 283, a metal wire having corrosion resistance, such as a nichrome wire, a stainless steel wire, or a tin-plated copper wire, is used. As shown in FIG. In this case, about half of the cross section of the metal wire 283 is wound (approx.). Or,
As a modified example, a metal wire 28
3 may be provided, and the metal wire 283 may be wound around the core 281 so as to be fitted into the groove.

Each of the outer surrounding members 277 has a ring shape, and is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the electrode member 278 at a predetermined interval D with respect to the longitudinal direction of the electrode member 278.
It is inserted into the elastic conductive tube 221 together with the electrode member 278. Here, the outer member 277 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the electrode member 277 by molding using resin or rubber. As another arrangement of the outer member 277, the outer member 277 may be replaced with an electrode member 278.
May be provided spirally on the outer circumference of the. Here, the surrounding member 277 is provided by molding, but the insulating heat-shrinkable tube is thermally shrunk to form the electrode member 2.
What is mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the outer peripheral member 78 may be the outer peripheral member 277.

The electrical connection between the signal line for taking out the signal and the elastic conductive tube 221 can be made by directly connecting the signal line to one or both ends of the elastic conductive tube 221 of the sensor body 200 or by a predetermined method. This is performed by electrically connecting via a conductive member. Electrode member 2
The electrical connection between the signal line 78 and the signal line is made by directly electrically connecting the signal line to one or both ends of the electrode member 278 or by electrically connecting the electrode member 278 via a predetermined conductive member.

Further, the internal space of the elastic conductive tube 221 is blocked from the outside by predetermined blocking means (sealant such as an adhesive) at both ends of the elastic conductive tube 221.

With such a configuration, this sensor body 20
0 when a load is applied to the elastic conductive tube 221.
As it is crushed and deformed elastically,
The electrode member 278 and the elastic conductive tube 221 come into contact with each other to establish electrical conduction. Therefore, by detecting the presence or absence of electrical conduction between the electrode member 278 and the elastic conductive tube 221, the presence or absence of the application of a load can be detected.

As described above, the sensor 2 according to this specific example
00, the electrode member 278 is connected to the elastic conductive tube 2.
When the elastic conductive tube 221 is elastically deformed by an external load, the elastic conductive tube 2
21 is arranged so as to be electrically connectable, the presence or absence of a load can be detected by detecting the presence or absence of an electrical connection between the electrode member 278 and the elastic conductive tube 221. As a result, The load from the seat can be easily and accurately detected with a relatively simple and inexpensive structure and circuit configuration.

An outer surrounding member 277 is provided so as to surround the electrode member 278 at a predetermined interval D in the longitudinal direction, and is inserted into the elastic conductive tube 221 together with the electrode member 278 to form 278 to the elastic conductive tube 22
1 so that the surrounding member 27
7 by adjusting at least one of the thickness T1, the width W, and the distance D between the surrounding members 277.
The sensitivity of the sensor body 200 can be easily adjusted.

Alternatively, the thickness T1, the width W, and the distance D between the outer surrounding members 277, the distance between the electrode member 278 and the elastic conductive tube 221, the thickness of the elastic conductive tube 221 and the elasticity are set. The sensitivity of the sensor body 200 can be easily adjusted by adjusting at least one of the outer diameters of the conductive tube 221.

Further, since the electrode member 278 is formed of a flexible member (elastic conductive member in this case) such as an elastic conductive member, the electrode member 278 is
21 can be flexibly deformed, and as a result,
The sensor body 200 can be deformed and provided so as to correspond to various arrangement forms, and the sensor body 200 that is resistant to deformation that does not break even when deformed can be provided.

Further, since the insertion member 276 is constituted by the electrode member 278 itself, even if a load is applied from any direction and the elastic conductive tube 221 is elastically deformed, the electrode member 278 is accurately attached to the elastic conductive tube 221. The electrical contact makes it possible to accurately detect the load applied from various directions, and the electrode member 278 is substantially provided.
It is possible to easily assemble and dispose the sensor body 200 without being aware of the direction around the axis. In particular, a metal wire 283 wound in a coil shape is provided around the outer periphery of the electrode member 278.
Is exposed over the entire circumference, so that even if a load is applied from any direction and the elastic conductive tube 221 is elastically deformed, the metal wire 283 can be accurately brought into electrical contact with the elastic conductive tube 221.

Furthermore, the metal wire 2 wound around the core material 281
A lead wire for signal extraction can be easily connected to 83 and a lead wire can be connected to the metal wire 283 with a small contact resistance.

Further, the electrode member 278 according to the present embodiment is described.
Since the metal wire 283 is wound around the outer periphery of the core material 281 in a coil shape, the metal wire 283 of the electrode member 273 made of a different material from the tube 221 comes into contact with the elastic conductive tube 221 when a load is applied. In addition, the electrode member 278 can be easily separated from the elastic conductive tube 221 when the load is released, and the reliability of the sensor body 200 can be improved.

Further, since the core member 281 is formed of an insulating member, the winding distance of the metal wire 283 per unit length of the electrode member 278 is adjusted by adjusting the outer diameter of the core member 281. The resistance value per unit length of the electrode member 278 can be easily adjusted.

Further, since the metal wire 283 is wound in a coil shape around the outer periphery of the core material 281, when the coil-shaped metal wire 283 and the elastic conductive tube 221 come into contact with each other and become conductive when a load is applied, the load is applied. A conductive point between the coil-shaped metal wire 283 and the elastic conductive tube 221 can be accurately formed at a location, and both can be more reliably made conductive.

Further, since the metal wire 283 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core 281,
The movement of the metal wire 283 on the outer peripheral surface of the metal wire 283 can be restricted, and the wound state of the metal wire 283 can be stably maintained.

Further, since the core member 281 is formed of an elastic member, the electrode member 278 can be more flexibly deformed. As a result, even if the electrode member 278 is folded at 180 ° or crumpled or broken. It is possible to provide the sensor body 200 that is resistant to deformation that returns to the above shape.

Furthermore, since a metal wire having corrosion resistance is used as the metal wire 283, a highly reliable sensor body 200 that is resistant to corrosion can be provided.

In this embodiment, the surrounding member 277 is used.
Is formed integrally with the outer peripheral surface of the electrode member 278 by molding using resin or rubber, so that the inner peripheral portion of the outer peripheral member 277 facing the electrode member 278 is wound in a coil shape. The metal wire 283 can be fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the electrode member 278 by being fitted between the metal wires 283, and the metal wire 283 is pressed by the external surrounding member 277. Deviation can be prevented.

Further, since the electrode member 278 is provided with the metal wire 283 provided in a coil shape along the longitudinal direction, the resistance value of the electrode member 278 can be reduced, and the electrode member 278 can be reduced. Can be configured as a low-noise conduction path, and as a result, all of the detection circuits can be configured as digital circuits.

<Embodiment 3 of Each Unit Sensor Element> The sensor body 300 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is a modified example of the sensor body 200 described above, and the insertion member 276 is
The electrode member 278 has a cylindrical shape having a hollow portion 285 communicating in the longitudinal direction or a solid cylindrical shape having no hollow portion 285. The electrode member 278 is formed of an elastic conductive member such as conductive rubber. However, in the case of the configuration of FIG. 15, the electrode member 278 may be formed of a metal conductor or a composite member of a metal conductor and an insulator. It may be constituted by a stranded wire obtained by twisting a plurality of metal wires. However, regardless of which material the electrode member 278 is formed, it is desirable to select a material that allows the formed electrode member 278 to have flexibility.

In this modification, the surrounding member 277
Is in close contact with the outer periphery of the electrode member 278,
A predetermined gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the elastic tube 77 and the inner peripheral surface of the elastic conductive tube 221. Outer surrounding member 277
May be formed on the outer periphery of the electrode member 278 by molding using a predetermined insulating resin.

<Seated body identification><First identification method> Each of the above-described sensors 3, 5, 11, and 1
There are various possible contents of the seating body identification performed by the identification unit 17 and the method of seating body identification performed by the identification unit 17 using the detection results of the third and the 15th. Here, the first and second identifications are performed. Describe the method.

In the first identification method, identification of a seat is performed by focusing on the following points.

When the seated body is a person as compared with the case where the seated body is an object, the seated seat of the buttocks and the periphery thereof, the legs, and the arms of the seated body due to a change in the posture of the person. Since the contact position and the contact area with the floor 5 and the inner part 9 change, each unit sensor element of each of the sensors 3, 5, 11 (the sensor units 29, 31, 45, 47, the partial sensor units 33a, 33
5a, 37a, 39a, 41a, 43a), the presence or absence of load detection often changes over time by a predetermined level or more.

When the sitting body is an adult, as compared with the case where the sitting body is a child, the buttocks of the person who is the sitting body and its periphery, legs, arms, the seat 2, the floor 5, and the inside. Since the contact area with the sensor 9 is large, the ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements included in each of the sensors 3, 5, 11 is large.

When the seated body is a person, the arm of the person often contacts the inner part 9, whereas when the seated body is a thing, the object contacts the inner part 9. Less is.
Alternatively, when the seated body is a person, the floor 5
In many cases, the object does not come into contact with the floor 5 when the object is placed on the seating seat 2, whereas the object often contacts the floor portion 5.

Therefore, in the first identification method, the seating body is identified using the following points as points.

First, the point is to identify whether the seated body is a person or an object based on the time-dependent change in the presence or absence of load detection of each unit sensor element of each of the sensors 3, 5, and 11. I do.

Secondly, it is necessary to identify whether the seated body is an adult or a child based on the ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements of each of the sensors 3, 5, and 11. Is the point.

Third, the point is to identify whether the seated body is a person or an object based on whether any unit sensor element of the arm sensor 11 detects a load. Alternatively, the point is to identify whether the seated body is a person or an object based on whether any unit sensor element of the foot sensor 5 detects a load.

That is, in the first identification method, identification is performed as follows. Here, in order to remove the influence of the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, the identification unit 17 does not perform the process for identifying the seated body when the acceleration / deceleration sensor 13 detects the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle. It has become.

(1-1) Any of the unit sensor elements of the seating sensor 3 (partial sensor units 33a, 35a, 37a,
39a) detects the load, and the ratio of the unit sensor element that detects the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements of the seating sensor 3 is equal to or higher than the predetermined first occupation level, and The presence or absence of load detection of each unit sensor element has a temporal change equal to or greater than a predetermined first change level, and
One of the unit sensor elements (sensor units 45 and 47, partial sensor units 41a and 43a) of the foot sensor 7 detects the load, and detects the load of the plurality of unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7. The percentage of the unit sensor elements present is greater than or equal to a predetermined second occupancy level, and the presence or absence of load detection of each unit sensor element of the foot sensor 7 has a temporal change greater than or equal to a predetermined second change level; 1
1 of the unit sensor elements (sensor units 29 and 31)
Are detecting the load, and the ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements of the arm sensor 11 is equal to or higher than a predetermined third occupation level, and each unit of the arm sensor 11 If the presence or absence of the load detection of the sensor element has a temporal change equal to or more than a predetermined third change level, it is estimated that the seated body is an adult, and an output indicating that there is a high possibility that the seated body is an adult is output. Will be

However, among the requirements included in the above (1-1), “the ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7 is equal to or higher than the predetermined second occupation level” ", The ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements of the arm sensor 11 is equal to or higher than a predetermined third occupation level", and "the unit sensor element of the arm sensor 11 There is a temporal change equal to or more than a predetermined third change level in the presence or absence of the load detection ".

(1-2) One of the unit sensor elements of the seating sensor 3 detects a load, and the
Is less than the first occupation level, and the presence or absence of load detection of each unit sensor element of the seating sensor 3 is equal to or greater than the first change level. Percentage of the unit sensor element that has changed with time, and any one of the unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7 detects the load, and of the plurality of unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7, the load is detected. Is less than the second occupation level, the presence or absence of load detection of each unit sensor element of the foot sensor 7 has a temporal change equal to or greater than a predetermined second change level, and any one of the unit sensor elements of the arm sensor 11 Detects the load, and the arm sensor 1
The ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements is less than the third occupation level, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each unit sensor element of the arm sensor 11 is equal to or higher than the third change level. If there is a change over time, it is estimated that the seated body is a child, and an output indicating that there is a high possibility that the seated body is a child is output.

However, among the requirements included in the above (1-2), “the ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7 is less than the predetermined second occupation level. "The ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements of the arm sensor 11 is less than the third predetermined occupation level", and "the unit sensor element of the arm sensor 11 There is a temporal change equal to or more than a predetermined third change level in the presence or absence of the load detection ".

(1-3) One of the unit sensor elements of the seating sensor 3 detects a load, and the
No change over time in the presence or absence of the load detection of each unit sensor element of the above-mentioned unit sensor element does not exceed the first change level, and any one of the unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7 detects the load, and each unit of the foot sensor 7 If there is no temporal change in the presence / absence of the load detection of the sensor element equal to or more than the second change level, and if no unit sensor element of the arm sensor 11 has detected the load, it is estimated that the seating body is an object. Then, an output indicating that there is a high possibility that the seating body is an object is output. Or,
One of the unit sensor elements of the seating sensor 3 detects the load, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each unit sensor element of the seating sensor 3 does not have a temporal change equal to or more than the first change level,
If none of the unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7 has detected a load, the seating body is estimated to be an object, and an output indicating that the possibility that the seating body is an object is high is output.

(1-4) If none of the unit sensor elements of the seat sensor 3 has detected a load and none of the unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7 have detected a load, Is not present, and an output indicating that there is a high possibility that the seating body does not exist is output.

(1-5) In other cases, an output indicating that identification is impossible is performed.

<Second Identification Method> In the second identification method, (1) a process of estimating the presence or absence of a sitting body on the seat 2 and (2) a case where a sitting body exists on the seat 2 In (3), when the seated body is a person, the process of estimating whether the person is an adult or a child is performed. Hereinafter, the identification method will be described for each of the processing contents (1) to (3).

Here, in order to remove the influence of the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, the identification unit 17 estimates the above (2) and (3) when the acceleration / deceleration sensor 13 detects the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle. Instead, the estimation processing of (2) and (3) is performed using the detection results of the sensors 3, 5, and 11 during the period when the acceleration / deceleration sensor 13 does not detect acceleration / deceleration. . In the estimation process (1), since the influence of the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle is small, the estimation process may be performed regardless of whether the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle occurs.

(1) The process of estimating the presence or absence of a seat will be described.

The presence or absence of a sitting body on the seat 2
It is estimated based on the presence / absence of load detection by the seat sensor 3.
More specifically, for example, a plurality of unit sensor elements (partial sensor units 33a, 35
a, 37a, 39a), when at least one of the unit sensor elements detects a load, it is estimated that there is a seating body on the seating seat 2 and any of the units provided on the seating sensor 3 If the sensor element has not detected the load, it is estimated that there is no seat on the seat.

(2) The process of estimating whether a seated body is a person or an object will be described.

First, when the seating body is a person or an object, what characteristics appear in the load detection status of each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11 will be examined.

First, when an object is placed on the seat 2, the object comes into contact with only the seat 2 and contacts the floor 5 and the inner side 9 of the interior part of the side wall in the passenger compartment. Often do not touch. On the other hand, when a person sits on the seat 2, the part of the human body such as the buttocks of the person is placed on the seat 2.
And its feet contact the floor 5, and its arms contact the inner part 9 of the interior such as the armrest 9a.

Second, when a person is seated on the seat 2, the left and right backs of the person, the left buttocks and the right buttocks, and the left and right thighs and the right and left thighs of the human body. Since the portions contact the seating seat 2 almost symmetrically, the left and right portions of the seating seat 2 have substantially the same contact with the human body. On the other hand, when an object is placed on the seat 2, the contact of the object with the seat 2 is biased to one of the right and left, depending on the size of the object, and the right and left of the seat 2 Often, only one of the parts will receive contact from an object.

Third, when a person sits on the seat 2, the left and right portions of the floor 5 in front of the seat 2 are in contact with their left and right feet, respectively. Therefore, when an object is placed on the floor 5, the contact of the object with the floor 5 is biased to one of the left and right, depending on the size of the object, and the left and right portions of the floor 5 Often, only one of them will be contacted by an object.

Fourth, when the seat belt is pulled out, there is a high possibility that the seated body is a person.

Based on the first to fourth examination contents, judgment contents for estimating that the seated body is a person are listed as follows. The following judgments (a) and (b) correspond to the first examination, and the judgments (c) and (d) correspond to the second examination. Thus, the judgment contents of (e) and (f) correspond to the third and fourth examination contents, respectively. Further, the following determinations (a) to (f) are performed in a state where it is estimated that the seating body is present on the seating seat 2 by the estimation processing of the above (1).

(A) Whether any of the unit sensor elements (partial sensor units 41a, 43a, sensor units 45, 47) of the foot sensor 7 detects a load.

(B) Whether any of the unit sensor elements (sensor units 29, 31) of the arm sensor 11 detects a load.

(C) Left sensor section 3 of first seating sensor 21
3. The unit sensor element (partial sensor unit 33)
a) detects the load and the first seating sensor 21
Whether any one of the unit sensor elements (partial sensor unit 35a) of the right sensor unit 35 detects a load.

(D) Left sensor section 3 of second seating sensor 23
7. The unit sensor element (partial sensor unit 37)
a) detects the load and the second seating sensor 23
Whether any of the unit sensor elements (partial sensor unit 39a) of the right sensor unit 39 has detected a load.

(E) Any one of the unit sensor elements (partial sensor portion 41a) of the left sensor portion 41 of the first foot sensor 25 of the foot sensor 7 or the second foot sensor 27
The left sensor unit 45, which is the unit sensor element, detects a load, and any one of the unit sensor elements (partial sensor unit 43a) of the right sensor unit 43 of the first foot sensor 25 of the foot sensor 7 or Second foot sensor 27
Whether the left sensor unit 47, which is the unit sensor element, detects a load.

(F) Whether the seat belt sensor 15 detects that the seat belt has been pulled out.

Various methods can be considered as a method of combining the judgment contents (a) to (f), some of which are listed.

First, when a positive judgment result is obtained in the judgment of (a), it is estimated that the seated body is a person, and when a negative judgment result is obtained, the seated body is estimated. There is a method of estimating that is an object. In a similar way,
There is a method of using any of the judgment contents (b) to (e) in place of the judgment contents of (a). In each case, if the judgment result is affirmative, a person is given; Presumed thing.

Secondly, if both of the judgments (a) and (e) yield positive judgment results, it is presumed that the seated body is a person, and the judgments (a) and (e) are made. There is a method in which when a negative judgment result is obtained in the content, the seated body is presumed to be an object, and otherwise, it is determined that the seated body cannot be identified. As a similar method, there is a method of using any of the judgment contents (b) to (d) instead of the judgment content (a).

Third, when any two or more of (a) to (e) are combined and a positive determination result is obtained in all of the two or more combined determinations It is assumed that the seated body is a person, and if a negative judgment result is obtained in all of the two or more judgments that have been combined, it is presumed that the seated body is an object, otherwise There is a method to make it indistinguishable.

Here, when an object is placed on the seat 2 and the floor 5, it may be difficult for the seat sensor 3 and the foot sensor 7 alone to recognize that the object is an object. For example, if (a) and (b) are combined and a positive determination result is obtained in both the determination contents (a) and (b), it is determined that the seated body is a person. It is presumed that if a negative judgment result is obtained in the judgment contents of (a) and (b), it is presumed that the seated body is an object, and otherwise, it cannot be identified. Accordingly, even in such a case, it is possible to identify with high certainty whether the seated body is a person or an object.

Fourth, any two or more of the judgments (a) to (e) are combined, and a positive judgment result is obtained in all of the two or more judgments, and When a positive judgment result is obtained in the judgment contents of (f), it is estimated that the seated body is a person,
If a negative judgment result is obtained in all of the two or more judgment contents of the combination, and a negative judgment result is obtained in the judgment contents of (f), it is estimated that the seated body is an object. Otherwise, there is a method of making it indistinguishable.

While a person is sitting on the seat 2, the contact of the human body with the seat sensor 3, the foot sensor 7, and the arm sensor 11 is continuous or intermittent. In the case where the object is placed on the seat 2, the object may not be in contact with the seating sensor 3 or the like for a long time due to a shift in the position of the object. It is preferable that the process of estimating whether the seated body is a person or an object using the content of the determination in ()) is performed by continuously observing the detection results of the sensors 3, 7, 11 for a predetermined time. For example,
The estimation of whether the seated body is a person or an object is performed a plurality of times every predetermined time, and a predetermined ratio (for example, 5
If the result of the determination that the seated body is a person is obtained above, a final estimation that the seated body is a person may be performed.

(3) The process of estimating whether the seated body is an adult or a child will be described.

First, what characteristics appear in the load detection situation of each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11 when the sitting body is an adult and a child is examined.

First, while sitting on the seat 2,
Since the adult's foot reaches the second foot sensor 27 located far from the seat 2, the seat is likely to be an adult when the second foot sensor 27 detects a load.

Second, adults have larger physiques than children,
Since the contact area with the seat 2 is large, when the seat body is an adult, a plurality of unit sensor elements (the partial sensor unit 33) of the first seat sensor 21 or the second seat sensor 23 are used.
a, 35a, 37a, and 39a), the ratio of the unit sensor element receiving the load increases.

Third, since an adult's foot is larger in size than a child's foot and has a larger contact area with the floor 5, a plurality of unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7 when the seated body is an adult. (Partial sensor units 41a and 43a, sensor unit 45,
47), the ratio of the unit sensor element receiving the load increases.

Fourth, as described above, the arm sensor 11
When the seating body is an adult, both the first sensor unit 29 and the second sensor unit 31 are provided so as to receive contact from the arm. When the seating body is a child, the first sensor unit 29 and the second sensor unit 29 are provided. And only one of the second sensor unit 31 is provided so as to receive the contact from the arm. Therefore, when both the first sensor unit 29 and the second sensor unit 31 detect the load, the sitting body Are likely to be adults. In addition,
The second sensor 31 is provided in accordance with the position of the adult's arm, and the child's arm hardly comes into contact with the second sensor 31. Therefore, the second sensor 31 is determined based on the presence or absence of contact with the second sensor 31. To distinguish between adults and children.

Fifth, since the child is not standing still compared to the adult and has a large movement (momentum) at the time of sitting, when the seated body is a child, each of the sensors 3, 7, 11 Unit sensor elements (sensor units 29, 31, 45, 47, partial sensor units 33a, 35a, 37a, 39a, 41a, 43
In many cases, the presence or absence of the load detection a) changes over time by a predetermined level or more.

Based on the first to fifth examination contents, the judgment contents for estimating that the seated body is an adult are listed as follows. The following judgments (a) to (d) correspond to the first to fourth examinations, respectively, and the judgments (e) to (g) correspond to the fifth examinations. It corresponds to. Further, the following determinations (a) to (g) are performed when it is estimated that the seating body on the seating seat 2 is a person by the estimation processing of (2).

(A) Whether any of the plurality of unit sensor elements (sensor units 45, 47) of the second foot sensor 27 of the foot sensor 7 detects a load.

(B) A plurality of unit sensor elements (partial sensor unit 3) of the first seat sensor 21 or the second seat sensor 23
3a, 35a, 37a, 39a) whether or not a predetermined percentage or more of the unit sensor elements detects a load.

(C) A plurality of unit sensor elements of the foot sensor 7 (partial sensor units 41a, 43a, sensor units 45, 4)
7) Whether or not a predetermined percentage or more of the unit sensor elements detects a load.

(D) Whether both the first sensor unit 29 and the second sensor unit 31 of the arm sensor 11 detect a load.
It should be noted that instead of this determination content, it may be determined whether or not the second sensor unit 31 detects a load, as the determination content (d).

(E) Observe the load detection status of each unit sensor element (partial sensor unit 33a, 35a, 37a, 39a) of the seating sensor 3 for a predetermined specified time, and within each specified time, observe the load detection status of each unit sensor element. Whether or not there is a temporal change equal to or greater than a predetermined level in the presence or absence of load detection.

(F) Each unit sensor element of the foot sensor 7 (partial sensor units 41a and 43a, sensor units 45 and 47)
The load detection status is monitored for a predetermined specified time, and whether or not the load detection of each unit sensor element has changed over time by a predetermined level or more does not exist within the specified time.

(G) Observe the load detection status of each unit sensor element (sensor unit 29, 31) of the arm sensor 11 for a predetermined specified time, and determine whether or not the load detection of each unit sensor element is detected within the specified time. Whether or not there is a change with time exceeding a predetermined level.

Various methods are conceivable as a method of combining the judgment contents (a) to (g), some of which are listed.

First, when a positive judgment result is obtained in the judgment contents of (a), the seated body is estimated to be an adult, and when a negative judgment result is obtained, the seated body is estimated. There is a way to presume a child. As a similar method, instead of the judgment content of (a), (b) to (f)
In any case, it is estimated that when the judgment result is positive, it is an adult, and when the judgment result is negative, it is a child.

Second, if both of the judgments (b) and (e) yield positive judgment results, it is assumed that the seated body is an adult, and the judgments (b) and (e) are made. There is a method of presuming that the seated body is a child when a negative judgment result is obtained for both of the contents, and making it impossible to discriminate otherwise. As a similar method, there is a method of using any of the judgment contents of (c) and (f) or the judgment contents of (d) and (g) instead of the judgment contents of (b) and (e).

Third, if all of the judgments (a), (b) and (e) yield positive judgment results, it is presumed that the seated body is an adult, and all negative judgments are made. If the result is obtained, it is assumed that the seated body is a child,
Otherwise, there is a method of making it impossible to identify. As a similar method, there is a method of using any of the judgment contents of (c) and (f) or the judgment contents of (d) and (g) instead of the judgment contents of (b) and (e).

Fourth, if all of the judgments (a) to (f) yield positive judgment results, it is assumed that the seated body is an adult, and all negative judgment results are obtained. In such a case, there is a method in which the seating body is presumed to be a child, and in other cases, the seating body cannot be identified.

In some cases, it may be difficult to identify whether a person is an adult or a child, depending on the posture, motion situation, and the like of the person who is the seated body. It is preferable that the estimation of whether the seated body is an adult or a child using is performed by continuously observing the detection results of the sensors 3, 7, 11 for a predetermined time. For example, an estimation of whether the seated body is an adult or a child is performed a plurality of times every predetermined time, and a determination result that the seated body is an adult is obtained at a predetermined ratio (for example, 50%) or more of the plurality of determination results. In such a case, a method of making a final estimation that the seated body is an adult is conceivable.

The load detection status of each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11 is greatly influenced by the seating position, the sitting posture, and the like of the seated body, and therefore the identification of the seated body (weight, physique, adult). It is preferable to perform the determination as to whether the person is a seated body or a child, etc., based on the load detection situation when the seated person is seated at an appropriate sitting position and sitting posture. For this reason, based on the load detection status of each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11, the identification unit 17 determines whether or not the person who is the seated body is sitting on the seat 2 at an appropriate sitting position and sitting posture. Based on the load detection status of each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11 in a state where the person is seated in an appropriate sitting posture and the sitting posture, the identification unit 17 identifies the person who is the seated body (weight, physique,
It is preferable to allow the user to distinguish between an adult and a child.

In this regard, for example, any part from the back to the waist of the human body is in contact with the back / waist sheet portion 2b of the seating seat 2, and the buttocks are the buttocks / thighs of the seating seat 2. A rear side area 2c (deep seating position) close to the back / lumbar seat 2b on the seat 2a.
When it is placed on the seat (see FIG. 1), it is highly likely that the person who is the seated body is sitting on the seat 2 at an appropriate sitting position and sitting posture. Here, in the rear side region 2c on the buttocks / thighs seat portion 2a, a plurality of (here, six) partial sensor portions 33A and 35A of the first seating sensor 21 are provided in a scattered manner. Have been.

Therefore, at least one partial sensor portion 37 provided at an arbitrary position or a specific position (for example, a position where the waist abuts) of the second seating sensor 23 is provided.
a, 39a detect the load, and at least one of the plurality of partial sensor portions 33A, 35A of the plurality of partial sensor portions 33A, 35A provided in the rear side area 2c of the buttocks / thigh seat portion 2a is provided. When detecting the load,
The identification unit 17 determines that the seating body identifiable condition is satisfied, and is a seating body based on the detection results of the sensors 3, 7, 11 when the seating body identifiable condition is satisfied. It is preferable to identify a person.
In this case, the identification unit 17 includes the sensors 3, 7, 11
The load detection status is monitored over time, and the detection results of the sensors 3, 7, 11 when the above-described seated body identification condition is satisfied are integrated over time (for example, averaged), and the integrated value is obtained. It is more preferable to identify the person who is the seated body based on

Next, referring to Tables 1 to 6 below,
A description will be given of how the seating body is identified by the estimation processes (2) and (3).

[0183]

[Table 1]

[0184]

[Table 2]

[0185]

[Table 3]

[0186]

[Table 4]

[0187]

[Table 5]

[0188]

[Table 6]

In Tables 1 to 6, “SS”, “F”
"S" and "AS" correspond to the seat sensor 3, the foot sensor 7, and the arm sensor 11, respectively. "SS
(H) ”and“ SS (B) ”correspond to the first seating sensor 21.
And the second seating sensor 23. "FS
(F) ”and“ FS (W) ”are the first foot sensor 2
5 and the second foot sensor 27. "AS
“(A)” and “AS (I)” correspond to the first sensor unit 29 and the second sensor unit 31.

In Tables 1 to 6, "SS
(H) "," SS (B) "," FS (F) "," FS
(W) "," AS (A) ", and" AS (I) "have respective micro columns arranged in a matrix.
1 unit sensor element (sensor units 29, 31, 45, 4
7, partial sensor units 33a, 35a, 37a, 39a, 4
1a, 43a), and indicates that the unit sensor element corresponding to the minute column marked with “○” detects a load.

Further, in Tables 1 to 3,
"A", "B" and "C" indicate objects, adults and children, respectively. "A1" weighs 40 kg
"A2" indicates an object weighing 15 kg, "B" indicates an adult weighing 60 kg, and "C1" indicates a child weighing 25 kg. Yes,
“C2” indicates a child weighing 15 kg.

Tables 1 to 3 show the load detection status of each unit sensor element of each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11 at the start of load detection, after 5 minutes from the start, and after 10 minutes from the start. Are indicated by the presence or absence of “○”, and Tables 4 to 6 show, at each corresponding time, the first seating sensor 21 (SS (H)), the second seating sensor 23 (SS (B)), First foot sensor 25 (FS
(F)), the ratio (1) of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements included in the second foot sensor 27 (FS (W)) and the arm sensor 11 (AS).
00% is set to 1). Further, the rightmost columns of Tables 4 to 6 show the unit sensor elements that detect the load among all the unit sensor elements included in the seat sensor 3, the foot sensor 7, and the arm sensor 11 at the corresponding time points. (100% is set to 1).

As shown in Tables 1 to 6, when the load detection status of each unit sensor element of each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11 is observed for a certain period of time, when the seated body is a person, the foot sensor 7 and the While there is contact with any one of the plurality of unit sensor elements provided on the arm sensor 11, when the seating body is an object, the foot sensor 7 and the arm sensor 1
Since there is no contact with 1, the seating body can be identified as a person based on this.

In the case where the sitting body is an adult, Table 1
As shown in Table 3, the ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load among the plurality of unit sensor elements of the seat sensor 3 and the foot sensor 7 is larger than when the seat body is a child. It is possible to distinguish between an adult and a child based on this.

Further, when the sitting body is an adult, as shown in Tables 1 and 3, both the first sensor section 29 and the second sensor section 31 of the arm sensor 11 (or the second sensor section 31) are used. ) While the seated body is a child, as shown in Tables 1 to 3, the second sensor unit 31 (or the first sensor unit 29 and the second sensor unit 31). Both), and it is possible to distinguish between adults and children based on this.

Further, since a child has a large amount of exercise on the seat 2, as shown in Tables 1 to 3, when the seated body is a child, compared to when the seated body is an adult. Of the unit sensor elements of the seat sensor 3 and the foot sensor 7, the percentage of those in which the load changes are not detected or the detection situation changes over time by a predetermined level or more is large. It can be identified.

<Effects> As described above, according to the present embodiment, whether the seat on the seat 2 is a person or an object, or an adult or a child can be determined by, for example, a sensor that detects the load. 3, 7, and 11 (whether the sensor is the seat sensor 3, the foot sensor 7, or the arm sensor 11), and a plurality of unit sensor elements of the sensors 3, 7, 11 (the sensor unit 29,
31, 45, 47, partial sensor units 33a, 35a, 37
a, 39a, 41a, 43a) The ratio of the unit sensor element detecting the load, the number of times of detection of the load of each sensor 3, 7, 11 and the change over time of the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor 3, 7, 11 Because it can be done based on the situation of
A simple and inexpensive pressure-sensitive sensor (for example, the sensor body 100) can be used for each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11, and as a result, the seat can be identified with high reliability by a simple and inexpensive configuration. A body identification system 1 can be provided.

Although the arm sensor 11 is not always an essential component, in the present embodiment, since the arm sensor 11 is provided, an object is placed on the seat 2 and the floor 5. Even when it is difficult to identify that the seated body is an object only with the seating sensor 3 and the foot sensor 7,
When the arm sensor 11 has not detected a load, it can be easily identified that the seated body is an object.

Further, since the seating body is identified based on the detection results detected by the sensors 3, 7, and 11 in a state where the acceleration / deceleration sensor 13 does not detect the acceleration / deceleration, the vehicle for identifying the seating body is used. And the effect of acceleration / deceleration can be eliminated, and the reliability of identification of the seated body can be improved.

The estimation process of whether the seated body is an object or a person is performed by adding the seat belt sensor 1 to the detection results of the sensors 3, 7, and 11.
The identification can be performed more accurately by combining the five detection results.

Further, at least one of the partial sensor portions 37a and 39a provided at an arbitrary position or a specific position of the second seating sensor 23 detects a load, and the buttock / thigh seat portion 2a The detection results of the sensors 3, 7, 11 when the load is detected by at least one of the partial sensor units 33A, 35A of the plurality of partial sensor units 33A, 35A provided in the rear side region 2c of the sensor 3 over time are shown. By integrating (for example, averaging) and identifying the person who is the seated body based on the integrated value, the person who is the seated body is seated at an appropriate sitting position and sitting posture. Since the identification can be performed based on the integrated value of the detection results of the sensors 3, 7, 11 at the time, the identification of the person who is the seated body (eg, weight, physique, identification of adult or child, etc.) can be accurately performed. Row It is possible.

In the present embodiment, when performing the estimation processing of whether the seated body is a person or an object, or an adult or a child,
If the estimation result does not have sufficient certainty, the identification unit 1 is continuously observed at the detection state of each of the sensors 3, 7, 11 and when the estimation result having sufficient certainty is obtained, the identification unit 1
7, it is preferable to output the estimation result.

As a modification of the present embodiment, the seating position of the seating body on the seating seat 2 (e.g., front, center, rear, etc. of the seating seat 2) based on the detection results of the sensors 3, 7, 11. ) Or the posture of the person who is the seated body (whether leaning forward, leaning backward, leaning right, leaning left, etc.) may be identified. In this case, a sensor capable of detecting the load application position is used for each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11, the load application position is detected over time by each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11, and based on the detection result, the seating body is used. You may make it detect the operation | movement situation, such as an attitude | position of a certain person.

In this embodiment, each of the sensors 3, 7,
As an example of the eleventh unit sensor element, the pressure-sensitive sensor body 100 shown in FIG. 6 for detecting the presence or absence of a load application is used, but the invention is not limited thereto. Each unit sensor element may be configured by using an analog pressure-sensitive sensor that performs a linear output according to the above. In this case, each of the sensors 3, 7, and 11 may be configured by using both the analog pressure sensor and the pressure sensor of the type shown in FIG.

Further, as a modified example of this embodiment, only one of the sensors 3, 7, 11 of the seat sensor 3, the foot sensor 7, and the arm sensor 11 may be provided. When only the seating sensor 3 is provided, only the first seating sensor 21 or the second seating sensor 23 may be provided.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 17 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of a seating object identification system concerning an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, the seating body identification system 401 according to the present embodiment includes a seating sensor 403 provided on the seating seat 2 provided in the vehicle interior, and an identification unit (identification unit) 405. I have.

The seating sensor 403 is the first seating sensor 41
1 and a second seating sensor 413. The first seating sensor 411 is a buttocks / thighs seat portion (seat portion) in which a portion from the buttocks to the thighs of the human body of the seating seat 2 contacts.
It is provided at a portion where at least any portion (here, the buttocks and the thighs) from the buttocks to the thighs of the seated human body in 2a contacts. The second seating sensor 413 is a back / waist seat portion (backrest portion) 2 in which a portion from the back to the waist of the human body of the seat 2 is in contact.
The portion b is provided at a portion where at least any portion (here, the portion from the back to the waist) of the seated human body from the back to the waist contacts.

The first seating sensor 411 is provided with a plurality (here, six) of sensor portions 411a which are scattered on the buttocks / thighs seat portion 2a. At least one (here, four) sensor portions 411A of the plurality of sensor portions 411a are scattered and arranged in the rear side area 2c of the buttocks / thigh sheet portion 2a. The two sensor parts 411a are the buttocks / thigh sheet parts 2a.
Are arranged in a front side area (not shown) located on the front side of the rear side area 2c. Further, the second seating sensor 413 includes one sensor portion 413a vertically extending on the back / lumbar seat portion 2b so that the portion from the back to the waist of the human body abuts.

The unit sensor elements (411a, 413a) constituting each of the sensors 411, 413 are constituted by the above-mentioned sensor bodies 100, 200, or 300, and detect the load independently. ing. Each unit sensor element is individually connected to the identification unit 405 via a predetermined signal line.

The identification unit 405 includes the second seating sensor 4
Thirteen sensor units 413a are detecting the load, and
When at least one of the plurality of sensors 411A provided in the buttocks / thighs seat 2a detects a load, it is determined that the seating body identifiable condition is satisfied, and that The identification of the person who is the seated body (weight, physique, identification of adult or child, etc.) is performed based on the load detection status of the first seating sensor 411 when the seated body identifiable condition is satisfied. I have.

In this case, the identification unit 405
The load detection status of each of the sensor units 411a and 413a is monitored over time, and the sensor unit 411A that detects the load among the plurality of sensor units 411A when the seating body identifiable condition is satisfied. The sensor unit 4 that integrates the ratio (number) over time (here, averages) and detects the load
The identification processing of the person who is the seated body is performed based on the average value of the ratio of 11A. That is, the detection result of the sensor unit 411A when the seating body identifiable condition is not satisfied is excluded, and the average value is calculated.

Here, as the weight of a person who is a seated body increases, the load and the contact area of the human body with the seat portion 2a increase, and the ratio (number) of the sensor portion 411A for detecting the load increases accordingly. Focusing on this point, in the identification processing by the identification unit 405, the weight of the person who is the seated body is detected based on the calculated average value, and it is determined whether the weight is equal to or more than a predetermined reference value. In addition, the seating body is identified as an adult or a child. In addition, as a modification of this identification processing, the number of the sensor units 411A detecting the load when the identifiable condition is satisfied,
Or, based on the integrated value (average value, etc.) of the area over time,
You may make it identify the weight etc. of the person who is a sitting body.

Here, Table 7 below shows a specific example of the process of calculating the average value. In the example shown in Table 7, in the case where the sitting body 1 (adult) and the sitting body 2 (child) are seated on the seat 2, the detection result of the seating sensor 403 by the identification unit 405 is captured at the time T. = 0 is performed 6 times every 5 seconds.

[0214]

[Table 7]

In Table 7, T = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20,
The numerical value in each column of 25 indicates the number of the sensor units 411A that are detecting the load at that time among the four sensor units 411A, and the “blank” indicates that the seated body identification condition is not satisfied. This indicates that the detection result at that time was not captured.

When the seated body is the seated body 1, a blank occurs when T = 20, and the detection results at other times T = 0, 10, 15, and 25 are averaged. The average is determined. Further, when the seating body is the seating body 2, "blanks" occur when T = 15, 20. Therefore, the detection results at other T = 0, 10, 25 are averaged to obtain the average value. Is required.

As shown in the rightmost column of Table 7, the average value of the number of the sensor units 411A detecting the load is 3.8 in the case of the seat 1 and 1. in the case of the seat 2. 5 and
In addition, the average value of the ratio of the sensor unit 411A that detects the load is 0.95 (1 is set to 100%; the same applies hereinafter) in the case of the seated body 1, and 0.38 in the case of the seated body 2.
It is. As a result, there is a large difference between each of the average values between the case of the seat 1 and the case of the seat 2, and based on the difference between the average values, the weight, physique, adult or child of the person who is the seat. It can be seen that the identification can be performed accurately.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the second
The sensor section 413A of the seating sensor 413 detects the load, and the rear side area 2 of the buttocks / thighs seat section 2a
c, when at least one of the plurality of sensor units 411A detects a load, the ratio (or number) of the sensor units 411A that detect the load among the plurality of sensor units 411A. ) Is averaged over time, and the person who is the seated body is identified based on the average value. Therefore, when the person who is the seated body is seated at an appropriate sitting position and sitting posture, Identification can be performed based on the average value of the detection results over time, and as a result, identification of a person who is a seated body (eg, weight, physique, identification of adult or child, etc.) can be performed accurately. .

Further, identification is performed based on the detection result of the sensor section 411a provided in the rear side area 2c of the buttocks / thighs seat section 2a on which the buttocks of the human body are placed at an appropriate sitting position and sitting posture. Therefore, the difference in weight, physique, and the like of the person who is the seated body can be accurately detected by the sensor unit 411A, and accurate identification can be performed.

In the present embodiment, the second seating sensor 4
Although only one sensor unit 413a is provided in the unit 13, a plurality of sensor units 413a may be provided. In this case, the identification unit 405 is configured such that at least one sensor unit 413a at an arbitrary position or a specific position of the plurality of sensor units 413a of the second seating sensor 413 detects a load, and the buttocks / thighs seat unit 2a When at least one of the plurality of sensor units 411A provided in the sensor detects a load, it is determined that the seating body identifiable condition is satisfied, and the seating body identifiable condition is satisfied. It is preferable to identify the person who is the seated body (weight, physique, identification of adult or child, etc.) based on the load detection status of the first seating sensor 411 when the vehicle is in the state.

[0221]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, whether the seat on the seat is a person or an object, an adult or a child, and the like is determined by the load detection status (load) of each sensor of the seat sensor. (The presence / absence of detection, the ratio of sensor units detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units, the state of the change in presence / absence of load detection of each sensor unit over time, the number of load detections, etc.) In addition, a pressure sensor having a simple and inexpensive configuration can be used as the seat sensor, and as a result, a seat identification sensor that can identify a seat with high reliability with a simple and inexpensive configuration can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the foot sensor is further provided in addition to the seating seat, the seating body can be identified more accurately.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since an arm sensor is further provided in addition to the seating seat, the seating body can be identified more accurately.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since a foot sensor and an arm sensor are further provided in addition to the seating seat, the seating body can be identified more accurately.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, whether the seat on the seat is a person or an object, or an adult or a child is determined by, for example, the type of the sensor that detects the load (seating sensor). , A foot sensor, or an arm sensor), the number of load detections of each sensor, and the state of the change over time in the presence or absence of load detection of each sensor. For example, a pressure-sensitive sensor having a simple and inexpensive configuration can be used, and as a result, a seating object identification sensor that can identify a seating object with high reliability with a simple and inexpensive configuration can be provided.

For example, when an object is placed on a seat, the object often comes into contact exclusively with the seat. On the other hand, when a person sits on the seat, the buttocks and the like are seated. In many cases, such as contact with the seat, foot contact with the floor in the cabin, and arm contact with any part of the cabin, the foot may be in a state where the seating sensor detects the load. When at least one of the sensor and the arm sensor detects the load,
While the seat on the seat can be identified as a person, when neither the foot sensor nor the arm sensor detects a load, the seat can be easily identified as an object.

In the case where an arm sensor is provided, an object is placed on the seat and on the floor in front of the seat, and the seat sensor and the foot sensor require that the object be an object. Is difficult to identify, if the arm sensor does not detect the load, the seated body can be identified as an object.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, whether the seated body on the seating seat is a person or an object is determined based on, for example, the load detection status of the left sensor unit and the right sensor unit of the seating sensor. Therefore, it is possible to use a pressure-sensitive sensor having a simple and inexpensive configuration as the seating sensor. As a result, it is possible to provide a seating body identification sensor that can identify a seating body with high reliability with a simple and inexpensive configuration. it can.

For example, when a person sits on the seat, the left and right back, the left and right hips, the left and right hips, or the left and right thighs of the human body Since both parts come into contact with the seat, and both the left sensor and the right sensor of the seat sensor often detect the load from the human body, both the left sensor and the right sensor of the seat sensor detect the load. When it is detected, the seated body can be easily identified as a person.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, whether the seated body on the seat is a person or an object can be identified based on the load detection status of the seat sensor and the foot sensor, for example. A simple and inexpensive pressure-sensitive sensor can be used for the seating sensor and the like, and as a result, a seating body identification sensor that can identify a seating body with a simple and inexpensive configuration and with high reliability can be provided.

For example, when a person sits on the seat, the left and right feet of the human body come into contact with the floor in the vehicle compartment,
Since both the left sensor unit and the right sensor unit of the foot sensor often detect the load from the left foot and the right foot, when both the left sensor unit and the right sensor unit of the foot sensor detect the load, The seated body can be easily identified as a person.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, due to the difference in the physique between the adult and the child, the feet of the human body are different when the adult sits on the seat and when the child sits on the seat. The distance from the seat to the contact position that contacts the part is different (the distance is larger for adults). Based on the load detection status of each sensor part of the foot sensor, the contact position of the human foot is detected. In addition, it is possible to easily identify whether the seat is an adult or a child.

[0233] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, due to the difference in physique between an adult and a child, the feet of the human body are different when the adult sits on the seat and when the child sits on the seat. Because the distance from the seat at the contact position that contacts the part is different (the distance is larger for adults), based on the load detection situation of each of the left sensor part and the right sensor part of the foot sensor, By detecting the contact position of the foot, whether the seated body is an adult or a child can be easily identified.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, an adult and a child have different contact areas with the seating seat (adults have a larger contact area) due to differences in their physical sizes. It is possible to easily identify whether the seated body is an adult or a child based on whether or not a predetermined percentage or more of the sensor units among the sensor units detect the load.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the contact area between the adult and the child is different (the contact area is larger in the adult) due to the difference in physique, the left sensor of the sitting sensor is different. It is possible to easily identify whether the seated body is an adult or a child based on whether or not a predetermined percentage or more of the partial sensor units among the plurality of partial sensor units of the unit and the right sensor unit detect a load.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, since the size of the adult foot and the size of the child foot are different from each other, the contact area with the floor is different (the adult has a larger contact area).
It is possible to easily identify whether the seated body is an adult or a child based on whether or not a predetermined percentage or more of the plurality of sensor units of the foot sensor detects a load.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, since the size of the arm of the adult and the size of the child's arm are different, the contact area with the portion in the vehicle compartment is different (the contact area is larger in the adult). It is possible to easily identify whether the seated body is an adult or a child based on whether or not a predetermined percentage or more of the plurality of sensor units of the arm sensor detects a load.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, since the arm sensor is provided in the armrest or the periphery of the armrest where the frequency of contact with the human body arm is high, the load from the human body arm can be reliably detected by the arm sensor. Can be detected.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, since the arm sensor is provided on the inner side of the interior of the door where the frequency of contact with the human body arm is high, the load from the human body arm is detected by the arm sensor. It can be detected reliably.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the identification of whether the seat on the seat is a person or an object, an adult or a child, etc. Presence / absence, percentage of sensor units detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units, status of change over time in the presence / absence of load detection of each sensor unit, number of load detections, etc.). A pressure-sensitive sensor having a simple and inexpensive configuration can be used as the sensor, and as a result, a seating object identification sensor that can identify a seating object with high reliability with a simple and inexpensive configuration can be provided.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, the identification of whether the seat on the seat is a person or an object, an adult or a child, etc. Presence / absence, percentage of sensor units detecting the load among a plurality of sensor units, status of change in presence / absence of load detection of each sensor unit over time, number of load detections, etc.). A pressure-sensitive sensor having a simple and inexpensive configuration can be used as the sensor, and as a result, a seating object identification sensor that can identify a seating object with high reliability with a simple and inexpensive configuration can be provided.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the electrode member of each sensor portion is arranged apart from the conductive portion of the elastic tube in a natural state of the elastic tube, while the elastic tube is loaded with an external load. Is electrically connected to the conductive portion of the elastic tube when elastically deformed, so that by detecting the presence or absence of the electrical connection between the electrode member and the conductive portion of the elastic tube, the load can be reduced. The presence or absence can be detected, and as a result, the load from the seating body can be easily and accurately detected with a relatively simple and inexpensive structure and circuit configuration.

Further, an outer surrounding member is provided so as to surround the insertion member at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction, and is inserted into the elastic tube together with the insertion member to separate the insertion member from the elastic tube. As such, by adjusting at least one of the thickness of the surrounding member, the width of the surrounding member along the longitudinal direction of the insertion member, and the interval between the surrounding members, the elasticity is improved. The magnitude of the load (that is, the sensitivity of each sensor unit) required for elastically deforming the tube and electrically connecting the conductive part and the electrode member can be easily adjusted.

According to the inventions described in claims 22 to 32, the electrode member of each sensor section is formed of a flexible member, and the electrode member itself constitutes the insertion member. The sensor section can be flexibly deformed together with the elastic tube. As a result, each sensor section can be deformed and arranged so as to correspond to various arrangement forms, and the sensor section is resistant to deformation which does not break even when deformed. Can be provided.

Further, since the insertion member is constituted by the electrode member itself, even if a load is applied from any direction and the elastic tube is elastically deformed, the electrode member makes accurate electrical contact with the conductive portion of the elastic tube, Loads applied from various directions can be accurately detected, and each sensor unit can be easily assembled and arranged without being aware of the direction around the axis of the electrode member serving as the insertion member.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, since the electrode member of each sensor section is formed with the metal wire disposed in the longitudinal direction, the resistance value of the electrode member can be reduced. Thus, the electrode member can be configured as a low-noise current path, and as a result, the detection circuit can be entirely a digital circuit configuration.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the metal wire wound in a coil shape is exposed over the entire circumference on the outer periphery of the electrode member of each sensor portion, so that the metal wire is exposed from any direction. Even if a load is applied and the elastic tube is elastically deformed, the metal wire can be accurately brought into electrical contact with the conductive portion of the elastic tube, and the load applied from various directions can be accurately detected, and the electrode member can be accurately detected. It is possible to easily assemble and dispose each sensor unit without being aware of the direction around the axis.

Further, the signal line can be easily connected to the metal wire wound around the core material, and the signal line can be connected to the metal wire with a small contact resistance.

Further, in the electrode member according to the present invention, the metal wire is wound in a coil shape around the outer periphery of the core material, and the metal wire of the electrode member made of a different material from the tube is applied to the elastic tube when a load is applied. Since the electrodes come into contact with each other, the electrode member can be easily separated from the elastic tube when the load is released, and the reliability of each sensor unit can be improved.

When an insulating member is used for the core,
By adjusting the outer diameter of the core member, the winding distance of the metal wire per unit length of the electrode member can be adjusted, and the resistance value per unit length of the electrode member can be easily adjusted.

Further, since the metal wire is wound in a coil shape around the outer periphery of the core material, when the coil-shaped metal wire and the elastic tube come into contact with each other and become conductive when a load is applied, the coil shape is formed at the load application location. The conductive point between the metal wire and the elastic conductive tube can be accurately formed, and both can be more reliably made conductive.

According to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the core material is formed of an elastic member, and the metal wire is wound so as to be cut into the outer peripheral surface of the core material. The movement of the metal wire can be regulated, and the wound state of the metal wire can be stably maintained.

Further, since the core member is formed of an elastic member, the electrode member can be deformed more flexibly, and as a result, the electrode member can be folded without being broken even if it is folded at 180 ° or crumpled. It is possible to provide a sensor unit that is resistant to deformation returning to a shape.

According to the twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, a helical groove for fitting a metal wire is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the core material, and the metal wire is wound around the core material so as to fit into the groove. Therefore, the movement of the metal wire on the outer peripheral surface of the core material can be regulated, and the wound state of the metal wire can be stably maintained.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, since a metal wire having corrosion resistance is used as the metal wire, it is possible to provide a highly reliable sensor unit which is resistant to corrosion.

According to the twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, since the outer peripheral member is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the electrode member by molding using resin or rubber, the outer peripheral member is formed on the electrode member of the outer peripheral member. Since the inner peripheral portion is fitted between the coiled metal wires, the outer peripheral member can be firmly fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the electrode member, and the outer peripheral member presses the metal wire. In addition, it is possible to prevent the metal wire from separating from the core material.

According to the thirtieth aspect of the present invention, the distance between the surrounding members, the width of the surrounding member in the longitudinal direction of the electrode member, and the distance between the metal wire wound in a coil shape and the elastic tube. By adjusting at least one of the thickness of the elastic tube and the outer diameter of the elastic tube, the sensor sensitivity of each sensor unit can be easily adjusted.

According to the thirty-second aspect, since the internal space of the elastic tube is shielded from the outside by the predetermined blocking means at both ends, foreign matters such as dust and liquid enter the elastic tube. Can be prevented.

According to the thirty-third aspect of the present invention, the identification of whether the seat on the seat is a person or an object, an adult or a child, etc. (The presence / absence, the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units, the state of the change in the presence / absence of the load detection of each sensor with time, the number of load detections, etc.). A simple and inexpensive pressure-sensitive sensor can be used for the sensor, and as a result, a seating object identification system that can identify a seating object with high reliability with a simple and inexpensive structure can be provided.

According to the thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, when the sitting body is an adult, as compared with the case where the sitting body is a child, the area of contact of the sitting body with the seat such as the buttocks of the person. And the proportion of the sensor unit that detects the load among the seating sensors increases, so that the identification method according to the present invention can identify with high certainty whether the sitting body is an adult or a child.

According to the thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, when the seated body is a person, as compared with the case where the seated body is an object, the human buttocks of the seated body are changed due to a change in the posture of the person. Since the contact position and contact area with the seating seat change, and the presence or absence of load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor often changes over time by a predetermined level or more, the seating body is identified by the identification method according to the present invention. Whether a person or an object can be identified with high certainty.

According to the thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, when the sitting body is a person, as compared with the case where the sitting body is an object, the contact position or contact of the sitting body with the seat due to a change in posture or the like. In many cases, there is a change in area, and when the seating body is an adult compared to the case where the seating body is a child, the contact area of the seating body to the seating seat is often large, With the identification method by the identification unit, it is possible to identify with high certainty whether the seated body is a person or an object, or an adult or a child.

According to the thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, when a person is sitting on a sitting seat, there is contact with the buttocks and feet of the human body on the seating seat and the floor, whereas an object is placed on the seat. If the object is placed on a seat, the object often contacts the floor in a small number of cases. Sex can be identified.

When the seating body is a person as compared with the case where the seating body is an object, the position and area of contact of the seating body with the floor due to a change in posture and the like often change. However, when the seated body is an adult compared to when the seated body is a child, the contact area of the seated body with the floor is often large. By doing so, it is possible to identify with high certainty whether the seated body is a person or an object, or an adult or a child.

According to the thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention, when the seating body is an object, the arm sensor often does not detect the load, and the load detection of the arm sensor depends on whether the seating body is an adult or a child. Since the same characteristics as those of the sitting sensor also appear in the situation, it is possible to identify with high certainty whether the seated body is a person or an object, or an adult or a child by performing identification while also considering the detection result of the arm sensor. .

According to the thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention, whether the seat on the seat is a person or an object, or an adult or a child can be identified, for example, by the type of sensor for detecting the load (seating sensor). , A foot sensor, or an arm sensor), the number of load detections of each sensor, and the state of the change over time in the presence or absence of load detection of each sensor. For example, a pressure-sensitive sensor having a simple and inexpensive configuration can be used. As a result, a seating object identification system that can identify a seating object with high reliability with a simple and inexpensive configuration can be provided.

According to the fortieth aspect of the invention, when an object is placed on the seat, the object often comes into contact exclusively with the seat, whereas a person sits on the seat. In this case, the buttocks and the like often come into contact with the seat, and the feet often touch the floor in the cabin or the arms touch any part of the cabin. Is detected, it is possible to easily identify whether the seated body is a person or an object based on whether at least one of the foot sensor and the arm sensor detects a load.

According to the invention described in claim 41, when a person sits on the seat, the left and right backs of the human body, the left and right hips, the left buttocks and the right buttocks, or the left thighs The left and right portions of the left and right thighs come into contact with the seat, and both the left sensor and the right sensor of the seat sensor often detect a load from the human body. When both the right sensor unit and the right sensor unit detect the load, it is possible to identify with high certainty that the seated body is a person.

According to the invention described in claim 42, when a person sits on the seat, the left and right feet of the human body contact the floor in the vehicle cabin, and the left and right sensors of the foot sensor In many cases, both parts detect the load from the left foot and the right foot. Therefore, when both the left sensor part and the right sensor part of the foot sensor detect the load, it is highly likely that the seated body is a person. Can be identified with certainty.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 43, due to the difference in physique between the adult and the child, the foot of the human body is different between the case where the adult sits on the seat and the case where the child sits on the seat. Because the distance from the seat at the contact position that contacts the part is different (the distance is larger for adults), based on the load detection situation of each of the left sensor part and the right sensor part of the foot sensor, By detecting the contact position of the foot, whether the seated body is an adult or a child can be easily identified.

According to the forty-fourth aspect of the present invention, since the contact area between the adult and the child is different (the adult has a larger contact area) due to the difference in physique, a plurality of seat sensors are required. It is possible to easily identify whether the seated body is an adult or a child based on the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the sensor units.

According to the forty-fifth aspect of the present invention, the child is smaller in size than the adult and has a smaller contact area with the seat, and the child is not still and moves more on the seat. When the body is estimated to be a person, the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor with time, Based on the change situation, whether the seated body is a child or an adult can be identified with high certainty.

According to the forty-sixth aspect, the size of the child's foot is smaller than that of the adult's foot and the area of contact with the floor is small, and the child is not stationary and has a large movement. When the seating body is estimated to be a person, the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units of the foot sensor and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the foot sensor with time are determined. It is possible to identify with high certainty whether the seated body is a child or an adult based on various change situations.

According to the forty-seventh aspect, the child's arm is smaller in size than the adult's arm and has a smaller contact area with a portion in the vehicle interior, and the child does not stay still and moves more. Therefore, when it is estimated that the seated body is a person, the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units of the arm sensor and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the arm sensor are determined. Based on the change over time, it is possible to identify with high certainty whether the seated body is a child or an adult.

According to the forty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the seating body is identified based on the detection result detected by the seating body identification sensor in a state where the acceleration / deceleration sensor has not detected the acceleration / deceleration. The effect of the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle on the identification of the vehicle can be eliminated, and the reliability of the identification of the seated body can be improved.

[0276] According to the forty-ninth aspect, a plurality of sensors constituting a seating sensor when at least one of an arbitrary or specific sensor unit of the backrest sensor group detects a load. Since the seating body is identified based on the detection results of some or all of the sensor units, the load detection state of the sensor unit when the person who is the seated body is seated in an appropriate sitting posture The seating body can be identified based on this, and accurate identification can be performed. For example,
In a situation where the sensor of the backrest does not detect the load and the back and waist of the human body are separated from the backrest, the buttocks are not placed at the appropriate positions of the seat of the seat, There is a possibility that an accurate detection result corresponding to the physique or the like of a person who is a seated body may not be obtained by each sensor unit, and it is possible to prevent erroneous identification from being performed in such a situation.

According to the fiftyth aspect of the present invention, at least one of an arbitrary or specific one of the backrest sensor groups detects a load and is provided in a rear area of the seat. When at least one of the sensor units detects a load, the seating body is identified based on the detection results of some or all of the plurality of sensor units constituting the seating sensor. The seating body can be identified based on the load detection state of the sensor unit when the person who is the seating body is sitting in a more appropriate sitting posture, and more accurate identification can be performed. For example, even if the back and the waist of the human body are in contact with the backrest, in a situation where at least one other sensor provided in the rear region of the seat does not detect a load, the buttocks may be seated. There is a strong possibility that the sensor is placed at a position that is greatly shifted forward from the appropriate position on the part, and there is a possibility that accurate detection results corresponding to the physique etc. of the person who is the seated body may not be obtained by each sensor part Yes,
In such a situation, erroneous identification can be prevented.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 51, a plurality of sensor units among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor are scattered on the seat of the seat and constitute a seat sensor group. Since the identification of the seating body is performed based on the number or ratio of the sensor units that detect the load in the group of seat sensors, the buttocks are determined based on the number or ratio of the sensor units that detect the load. To obtain information on the contact area, etc., where the body is in contact with the seat, and accurately identify the weight, physique, adult or child of the person who is the seated body based on the obtained information. Can be.

[0279] According to the invention of claim 52, a plurality of sensor units of the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor are scattered and arranged in a rear area near the backrest of the seat of the seating seat. It constitutes a seat sensor group, and the seat is identified based on the number or ratio of the sensor units detecting the load in the rear seat sensor group, so that the load is detected. Based on the number or percentage of sensor units,
Information on the contact area where the buttocks and the like are in contact with the seat can be obtained, and based on the obtained information, the weight, physique, and adult / child of the seated body can be accurately identified. be able to.

The rear seat sensor group is provided in the rear area of the seat where the buttocks are placed when the person who is the seated body is seated in an appropriate sitting posture. Since the area of contact with the seat best reflects the weight, physique, etc. of the seated person, identification should be made more accurately by performing identification based on the load detection status of the rear seat sensor group. Can be.

According to the invention of claim 53, at least one of an arbitrary or specific sensor unit of the backrest sensor group detects a load and is provided in a rear area of the seat. When the at least one other sensor unit detects the load, the number of the sensor units detecting the load in the group of seat sensors or the ratio of the number of the sensor units based on the time-lapse integrated value of the seat body is determined. Since the identification is performed, the identification can be performed more accurately.

According to the fifty-fourth aspect, at least one of an arbitrary or specific sensor unit of the backrest sensor group detects a load and is provided in a rear area of the seat. When the at least one other sensor unit detects a load, the seating body is based on an integrated value relating to the elapsed time of the number or ratio of the sensor units detecting the load in the rear seat sensor group when the load is detected. Is identified, the identification can be performed more accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a seat identification system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement position of each sensor provided in the seat identification system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a first seating sensor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second seating sensor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a foot sensor.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view at right angles to an axis of a sensor body used in the seat identification system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view at right angles to an axis of a sensor body used in the seat identification system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an axially parallel sectional view of the sensor body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an insertion member and an outer surrounding member provided in the sensor body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the sensor body of FIG. 6 in a state where a load is applied.

11 is an axially parallel sectional view of a sensor body used in the seat identification system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the sensor body of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line BB of the sensor body of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a main part of the sensor body of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the axis of a sensor body used in the seat identification system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view at right angles to the axis of a sensor body used in the seat identification system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a seating body identification system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seated body identification system 2 Seated seat 3 Seated sensor 5 Floor part 7 Foot sensor 11 Arm sensor 13 Acceleration / deceleration sensor 15 Seat belt sensor 17 Identification unit 21 First seat sensor 23 Second seat sensor 25 First foot sensor 27 Second foot Sensor 29 First sensor unit 31 Second sensor unit 33 Left sensor unit 33a Partial sensor unit 35 Right sensor unit 35a Partial sensor unit 41 Left sensor unit 41a Partial sensor unit 43 Right sensor unit 43a Partial sensor unit 100 Sensor unit 200 Sensor unit 221 Elastic conductive tube 276 Insertion member 277 Surrounding member 278 Electrode member 281 Core material 283 Metal wire 300 Sensor body 401 Seated body identification system 403 Seated sensor 411 First seated sensor 411a Sensor part 413 Second seated sensor 413a Sensor part

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Kume 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi F-term in Harness Research Institute, Inc. (reference) 2F051 AA01 AB06 AC07 BA07 BA08 3B084 JA03 JA06 JA08 JC01 3B087 DC01 DE08 3D054 EE10 FF16

Claims (54)

[Claims] 1. A seat identification sensor for identifying a seat on a seat of a vehicle, wherein when a person sits on the seat, any part from the back to the thigh of the human body is provided. A seating sensor is provided on a portion of the seating seat that comes into contact with the seating seat and detects a load. The seating sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect a load independently of each other. Sensor. 2. The foot sensor, further comprising: a foot sensor provided on a floor in a vehicle compartment where a foot of a human body comes into contact when a person sits on the seat, and detects a load. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect a load independently of each other. 3. The seat body identification sensor further includes an arm sensor provided at a portion in a vehicle interior where a human body arm contacts when a person sits on the seat, and the arm sensor detects a load. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 1, wherein the seating body identification sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect a load independently of each other. 4. The sitting body identification sensor is provided on a floor in a vehicle cabin where a foot of a human body comes into contact when a person sits on the seat, and a foot sensor for detecting a load; The vehicle further includes an arm sensor that is provided in a part of the vehicle interior where the arm of the human body contacts when seated on the seat, and detects a load, wherein the foot sensor and the arm sensor independently detect a load. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 1, wherein the seating body identification sensor is divided into parts. 5. A seat identification sensor for identifying a seat on a seat of a vehicle, wherein when a person sits on the seat, any part from the back to the thigh of the human body is provided. A seat sensor provided on a portion of the seat that comes into contact and detecting a load; and a foot sensor provided on a floor in a vehicle interior where a foot of a human body comes into contact when a person sits on the seat and detects the load. And at least one of an arm sensor that is provided in a portion of the vehicle interior where the arm of the human body contacts when the person sits on the seat and detects a load. Body identification sensor. 6. A seating body identification sensor for identifying a seating body on a seating seat of a vehicle, wherein when a person sits on the seating seat, the back, waist,
At least any part of the buttocks and thighs is provided on the portion of the seat that comes into contact, and the left and right back, the left and right hips, the left and right hips,
Alternatively, a seating body identification sensor including a seating sensor having a left sensor unit and a right sensor unit arranged on the left and right so that loads from the left thigh and the right thigh can be independently detected. 7. A seating body identification sensor for identifying a seating body on a seating seat of a vehicle, wherein when a person sits on the seating seat, any part from the back to the thigh of the human body is provided. A seating sensor that is provided at a portion of the seating seat that comes into contact and detects a load; and a seating sensor that is provided at a floor in a vehicle compartment where a human body's foot comes into contact when a person sits on the seating seat. And a foot sensor having a left sensor section and a right sensor section arranged on the left and right so as to be able to independently detect the seating body. 8. The seat identification sensor includes the seat sensor and at least the foot sensor, wherein the foot sensors are provided at positions different from each other from the seat and detect loads independently of each other. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units. 9. The left sensor section and the right sensor section of the foot sensor are provided at positions different from each other in a distance from the seating seat, and are divided into a plurality of partial sensor sections each independently detecting a load. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 7, wherein: 10. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 5, wherein the seating sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that independently detect a load. 11. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein the left sensor unit and the right sensor unit of the seating sensor are further divided into a plurality of partial sensor units that detect a load independently of each other. Seated body identification sensor. 12. The seating body identification sensor includes the seating sensor and at least the foot sensor, wherein the foot sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect a load independently of each other. The sitting body identification sensor according to claim 5, wherein 13. The seat body identification sensor includes the seat sensor and at least the arm sensor, wherein the arm sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect a load independently of each other. The sitting body identification sensor according to claim 5, wherein 14. The seat identification sensor according to claim 5, wherein the arm sensor is provided on an armrest or a peripheral portion of the armrest. 15. The seat identification sensor according to claim 5, wherein the arm sensor is provided inside a door interior. 16. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 1, wherein the seating sensor is provided on a seat portion and a backrest portion of the seating seat on which the buttocks are placed. . 17. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 1, wherein the seating sensor is provided only on a seat on the buttocks of the seating seat. 18. The seat identification sensor according to claim 1, wherein the seat sensor is provided only on a backrest of the seat. 19. A seating body identification sensor for identifying a seating body on a seating seat of a vehicle, wherein the sensor is provided on a floor in a vehicle compartment where a foot of a human body contacts when a person sits on the seating seat. And a foot sensor that detects a load, wherein the foot sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect the load independently of each other. 20. A seating body identification sensor for identifying a seating body on a seating seat of a vehicle, wherein the sensor is provided at a portion in a vehicle interior where an arm of a human body contacts when a person sits on the seating seat, A seat identification sensor comprising: an arm sensor that detects a load; wherein the arm sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that independently detect a load. 21. Each of the sensor sections has a tubular elastic tube in which at least a part of a section in a circumferential direction is a conductive section having conductivity, and an electrode member provided along a longitudinal direction, A long insertion member inserted into the elastic tube; and the insertion member is provided so as to surround the insertion member at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction, and the elastic tube together with the insertion member. And an outer surrounding member that is inserted into the elastic tube to separate the insertion member from the elastic tube. The electrode member is disposed apart from the conductive portion of the elastic tube in a natural state of the elastic tube. ,
3. The elastic tube according to claim 1, wherein the elastic tube is electrically connected to the conductive portion when the elastic tube is elastically deformed by an external load.
21. The seat identification sensor according to any one of 9 and 20. 22. The seating body according to claim 21, wherein the electrode member of each of the sensor portions is formed of a flexible member, and the insertion member is constituted by the electrode member itself. Identification sensor. 23. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 22, wherein the electrode member is formed with a metal wire disposed in a longitudinal direction thereof. 24. The electrode member according to claim 23, wherein the electrode member includes an elongated flexible core material, and a metal wire wound in a coil shape around an outer periphery of the core material. Seated body identification sensor. 25. The core material is made of resin, rubber, fiber member,
25. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 24, wherein the seating body identification sensor is an insulating member formed from a composite member formed by combining some of these. 26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the core is formed of an elastic member, and the metal wire is wound so as to dig into the outer peripheral surface of the core.
3. The seat identification sensor according to claim 1. 27. A helical groove into which the metal wire fits is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the core material, and the metal wire is wound around the core material so as to fit into the groove. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 24 or 25, wherein: 28. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 23, wherein a metal wire having corrosion resistance is used as the metal wire. 29. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 24, wherein the surrounding member is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the electrode member by molding using resin or rubber. 30. A sensor sensitivity of each of the sensor units to detection of the load, a distance between the outer members surrounding the electrode member, a width of the outer member in a longitudinal direction of the electrode member, and a coil shape. The distance between the metal wire wound around the elastic tube and the elastic tube, the thickness of the elastic tube, and adjusting at least one of the outer diameter of the elastic tube is adjusted. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 24, wherein: 31. A signal line for extracting a signal from the conductive portion located at one end or both ends of the elastic tube of each sensor portion and the electrode member located at one end or both ends of the insertion member. 31. The seating body identification sensor according to claim 21, wherein the sensor is electrically connected directly or via a predetermined conductive member. 32. The internal space of the elastic tube of each of the sensor sections is blocked from the outside by a predetermined blocking means at both ends of the elastic tube. 3. The seat identification sensor according to claim 1. 33. A seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 1, wherein the seat identification sensor according to claim 1, and the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor. An identification unit configured to identify the seat based on a detection result of each of the sensor units. 34. The identification section estimates whether the seated body is an adult or a child based on a ratio of a sensor section of the plurality of sensor sections of the seating sensor that detects a load. 34. The seating body identification system according to claim 33, wherein: 35. The identification unit estimates whether the seated body is a person or an object based on a temporal change in the presence or absence of load detection of each of the sensor units of the seating sensor. The seat identification system according to claim 33, characterized in that: 36. The sensor according to claim 36, wherein any one of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load, and the sensor unit detects a load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor. The first percentage
If the occupancy level is equal to or more than and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor has a temporal change equal to or more than a predetermined first change level, it is estimated that the seated body is an adult, Any of the sensor units of the seating sensor has detected a load, and the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is less than the first occupation level, The method according to claim 33, wherein when the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the seat sensor has a temporal change equal to or greater than the first change level, the seat body is estimated to be a child. The seating body identification system according to the above. 37. A seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 2, wherein the seat identification sensor according to claim 2, and the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor and An identification unit for identifying the seating body based on a detection result of each of the sensor units of the foot sensor, wherein the identification unit detects a load by any one of the sensor units of the seating sensor. The ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is a predetermined first.
The occupancy level or more, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor has a temporal change of a predetermined first change level or more, and one of the sensor units of the foot sensor applies a load. And a predetermined second is determined according to the presence or absence of load detection of each sensor section of the foot sensor.
If there is a change over time at or above the change level, it is estimated that the seated body is an adult, one of the sensor units of the seating sensor has detected a load, and the plurality of seating sensors of the seating sensor The ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the sensor units is less than the first occupation level, and the presence / absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor is changed over time by the first change level or more. And one of the sensor units of the foot sensor detects a load, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the foot sensor has a temporal change equal to or greater than the second change level. In this case, it is estimated that the seating body is a child, one of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the seating sensor indicates that the 1 change If there is no change over time, and none of the sensor units of the foot sensor has detected a load, or if any of the sensor units of the seating sensor has detected a load. ,
And the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the seating sensor does not change with time over the first change level, and
If any of the sensor units of the foot sensor has detected a load, and if there is no change over time of the second change level or more in the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the foot sensor, the A seat identification system for estimating that a seat is an object. 38. A seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 4, wherein the seat identification sensor according to claim 4, and the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor. An identification unit that identifies the seated body based on the detection results of the sensor units of the foot sensor and the arm sensor;
The identification unit may be configured such that any one of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load, and a ratio of the sensor unit that detects the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor. Predetermined first
The occupancy level or more, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor has a temporal change of a predetermined first change level or more, and one of the sensor units of the foot sensor applies a load. And a predetermined second is determined according to the presence or absence of load detection of each sensor section of the foot sensor.
If there is a temporal change equal to or greater than the change level, and if any of the sensor units of the arm sensor is detecting a load, it is estimated that the seated body is an adult, and any of the seating sensors The sensor unit is detecting a load, and the ratio of the sensor unit that detects the load among the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is less than the first occupation level, and The presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units has a temporal change equal to or greater than the first change level, and any one of the sensor units of the foot sensor has detected a load, and each of the foot sensors has If there is a temporal change in the presence or absence of the load detection of the sensor unit is equal to or more than the second change level, and if any of the sensor units of the arm sensor is detecting a load,
It is estimated that the seating body is a child, one of the sensor units of the seating sensor detects a load, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the seating sensor is equal to or greater than the first change level. Is not changed with time, and any one of the sensor units of the foot sensor detects a load, and the presence or absence of load detection of each sensor unit of the foot sensor is equal to or greater than the second change level. A seating body identification system that estimates that the seating body is an object when there is no target change and none of the sensor units of the arm sensor detects a load. 39. A seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 5, wherein the seat identification sensor according to claim 5, and the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor. ,
An identification unit configured to identify the seat based on a detection result of at least one of the foot sensor and the arm sensor. 40. The identification section, when at least one of the foot sensor and the arm sensor detects a load in a state where the seat sensor detects a load, 40. The method according to claim 39, further comprising: estimating that the seated body is an object when none of the foot sensor and the arm sensor detects a load while estimating that the body is a human. The seating body identification system according to the above. 41. A seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 6, wherein the seat identification sensor according to claim 6, and the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor. An identification unit that identifies the seating body based on a detection result, wherein the identification unit is configured such that when both the left sensor unit and the right sensor unit of the seating sensor detect a load,
A seat identification system for estimating that the seat is a person. 42. A seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 7, wherein the seat identification sensor according to claim 7, and the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor. An identification unit that identifies the seating body based on the detection result with the foot sensor, wherein the identification unit is configured to detect the load, and the left sensor unit of the foot sensor to detect a load. And when both the right sensor unit is detecting the load,
A seat identification system for estimating that the seat is a person. 43. The seating body identification sensor includes the seating sensor and at least the foot sensor, wherein the foot sensors are provided at positions different from each other in the distance from the seat, and the load sensors are independent of each other. The identification unit is provided at a position at least a predetermined distance from the seat of the plurality of sensor units when the seating body is estimated to be a person. 41. The seating body identification system according to claim 40, wherein it is estimated whether or not the person is an adult based on whether or not the detected sensor unit detects a load. 44. The seating sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units for detecting a load independently of each other, and the identification unit is configured to detect the plurality of sensors when the seating body is estimated to be a person. When the ratio of the sensor unit that detects the load of the unit is equal to or higher than the predetermined first occupation level, it is estimated that the person is an adult, while the load of the plurality of sensor units is detected. 41. The seating body identification system according to claim 40, wherein when the ratio of the sensor unit performing the operation is less than the first occupation level, the person is estimated to be a child. 45. The seating sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units for detecting a load independently of each other, and the identification unit is configured to detect the plurality of sensors when the seating body is estimated to be a person. The ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the units is equal to or higher than a predetermined first occupation level;
And when there is a temporal change of a predetermined third change level or more in the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the seating sensor, it is estimated that the person is a child, and among the plurality of sensor units, When the ratio of the sensor unit that detects the load of the sensor is less than the first occupancy level, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the seating sensor does not change with time over the third change level. The system of claim 40, wherein the system estimates that the person is an adult. 46. The seat identification sensor includes the seat sensor and at least the foot sensor, wherein the foot sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that detect a load independently of each other, and the identification unit In a case where the seating body is estimated to be a person, a ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load among the plurality of sensor units is equal to or higher than a predetermined second occupation level,
And when there is a temporal change of a predetermined fourth change level or more in the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the foot sensor, it is estimated that the person is a child, and among the plurality of sensor units, When the ratio of the sensor unit detecting the load of the foot sensor is less than the second occupation level, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the foot sensor does not change with time over the fourth change level. The system of claim 40, wherein the system estimates that the person is an adult. 47. The seat identification sensor includes the seat sensor and at least the arm sensor, wherein the arm sensor is divided into a plurality of sensor units that independently detect a load, and the identification unit includes: In a case where the seating body is estimated to be a person, a ratio of the sensor unit that detects a load among the plurality of sensor units is equal to or higher than a predetermined third occupation level,
And when there is a temporal change of a predetermined fifth change level or more in the presence or absence of the load detection of each of the sensor units of the arm sensor, it is estimated that the person is a child, and among the plurality of sensor units, When the ratio of the sensor unit that detects the load of the foot sensor is less than the third occupation level, and the presence or absence of the load detection of each sensor unit of the foot sensor does not change with time over the fifth change level. The system of claim 40, wherein the system estimates that the person is an adult. 48. The seating body identification system further includes an acceleration / deceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, wherein the identification unit is configured to detect the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle while the acceleration / deceleration sensor does not detect the acceleration / deceleration. 48. The seating body identification system according to claim 39, wherein the identification is performed based on a detection result detected by the identification sensor. 49. A seat identification system using the seat identification sensor according to claim 1, wherein the seat identification sensor according to claim 1, and the seat sensor provided in the seat identification sensor. An identification unit that identifies the seating body based on a detection result of each of the sensor units. At least one of the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is provided on a backrest of the seating seat. The backrest sensor group is provided, and the identification unit is configured such that the seating is performed when at least any one of the sensor units of the backrest sensor group detects a load. A seating object identification system, wherein the seating object is identified based on detection results of some or all of the plurality of sensor units constituting a sensor. 50. At least one of the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor is provided in a rear area near the backrest on a seat on which the buttocks of the seating seat are placed. The identification unit may be configured such that at least one of the sensor units of the backrest sensor group detects a load, and the identification unit is provided in the rear region of the seat. Performing identification of the seating body based on a detection result of a part or all of the plurality of sensor units constituting the seating sensor when at least one sensor unit is detecting a load; 50. The seating body identification system according to claim 49, wherein: 51. A plurality of sensor sections of the plurality of sensor sections of the seat sensor are scatteredly arranged on the seat section of the seat to form a seat section sensor group. An arbitrary or specific at least one of the sensor units of the backrest sensor group detects a load, and the at least one other sensor provided in the rear area of the seat. When the portion is detecting a load, the identification of the seating body is performed based on the number or ratio of the sensor portions detecting the load in the seat sensor group. 50. The seating body identification system according to 50. 52. A plurality of sensor units of the plurality of sensor units of the seating sensor are scattered in a rear area on the seat portion of the seating seat near the backrest portion, and a rear seating sensor is provided. A group, wherein the identification unit is configured such that at least any one of the sensor units of the backrest sensor group detects a load, and the rear side area of the seat unit. The seating is performed based on the number or ratio of the sensor units detecting the load in the rear seat sensor group when the at least one other sensor unit provided in the sensor unit detects a load. The seating body identification system according to claim 50, wherein the body is identified. 53. The identification section, wherein at least one of the sensor section of the backrest sensor group detects a load, and is provided in the rear area of the seat section. When the at least one other sensor unit detects a load, the number or ratio of the sensor units detecting the load in the seat sensor group is based on an integrated value relating to the passage of time. The seating body identification system according to claim 51, wherein the seating body is identified. 54. The discrimination section, wherein at least one of any or specific one of the backrest sensor groups detects a load, and is provided in the rear area of the seat. When the at least one other sensor unit detects a load, the number or ratio of the sensor units detecting the load in the rear seat sensor group is based on an integrated value relating to a lapse of time. 53. The seating body identification system according to claim 52, wherein the seating body is identified.