JP2003165368A - Seat weight measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the attractiveness and occupant posture holding function of a seat weight measuring device. <P>SOLUTION: This seat weight measuring device comprises a plurality of seat holding mechanisms having deflecting members 103a and 103b and load detection means 104a and 104b installed between a seat 101 allowing an occupant to seat thereon and a vehicle body 102 and a displacement arresting means 105a for arresting the displacement of the seat 101 relative to the vehicle body 102. The arresting of the displacement by the displacement arresting means 105a is released by a control means 106, and the weight of the seat including the weight of the seated occupant is measured based on the output of the load detection means 104a and 104b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the weight of a vehicle seat on which an occupant is seated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A seat weight measuring device including a seat holding mechanism and a displacement restricting mechanism is installed between a seat on which an occupant is seated and a vehicle body to measure the weight of the seat including the occupant. There is known a device (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-351952). In the seat holding mechanism of this device, a load sensor and a flexure member are connected in series, and the displacement of the seat rail when the weight of the occupant is applied to the seat is enlarged by the flexure member, and the load applied to the seat holding mechanism is applied. It is detected by the sensor. Further, the displacement regulation mechanism regulates the relative displacement between the seat and the vehicle body within a certain range, and bears an excessive load when the load sensor is overloaded.

[0003]

However, in the conventional seat weight measuring device, since the flexible member having the spring characteristic is arranged under the seat, the seat rolls due to the impact when the door of the vehicle is closed. Then, there is a problem that the vibration is hard to be suppressed and the commercial property is deteriorated.

Further, if the upper body of the occupant is pressed against the seat back side by the lateral G when the vehicle turns, there is a problem that the entire seat tilts due to the bending of the bending member, and the function of maintaining the occupant's posture deteriorates. is there.

An object of the present invention is to improve the merchandise characteristic and the occupant posture holding function of the seat weight measuring apparatus.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of seat holding mechanisms having a flexure member and a load detecting means are provided between a seat on which an occupant is seated and a vehicle body, and the vehicle body is mounted on the vehicle body. Displacement restraint means for restraining displacement of the seat is provided, and the control means releases the restraint by the displacement restraint means and measures the seat weight including the weight of the occupant seated based on the output of the load detection means. (2) In the seat weight measuring apparatus according to the second aspect, the seat holding mechanism is arranged at four front, rear, left and right positions below the seat as seen from an occupant seated on the seat, and the displacement restraint means is provided at two rear left and right positions under the seat. Are arranged. (3) In the seat weight measuring device according to the third aspect, when the output of the load detection means of the seat holding mechanism arranged at two front left and right under the seat is changed by the control means by a predetermined value or more, The restraint of the displacement restraint means disposed at the two right and left rear lower portions is released, and the seat weight is measured based on the outputs of all the load detection means. (4) In the seat weight measuring device according to the fourth aspect, the seat holding mechanisms are arranged at four front, rear, left and right positions below the seat when viewed from an occupant seated on the seat, and at least below the seat viewed from an occupant seated on the seat. The displacement restraint means is arranged at two places on the left and right sides of the rear part. (5) The seat weight measuring apparatus according to a fifth aspect includes a behavior detecting unit that detects a behavior of the vehicle, and the control unit controls the displacement restraining unit based on the behavior of the vehicle detected by the behavior detecting unit. And the release is controlled. (6) In the seat weight measuring apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the behavior detecting means detects the opening / closing of the vehicle door and the G applied to the vehicle, and the control means determines a predetermined G when the vehicle door is opened or the vehicle adds. When the value is not less than the value, the displacement restraint means restrains the displacement of the seat with respect to the vehicle body.

[0007]

According to the invention of claim 1, the seat displacement is restrained from the vehicle body before the seat weight is measured. Therefore, the displacement of the seat relative to the vehicle body is not measured except when the seat weight is measured. It is restrained and can prevent rolling of the seat when the vehicle door is closed,
Merchandise can be improved. Further, it is possible to prevent the seat from tilting when the vehicle turns, and it is possible to maintain the posture of the occupant in an appropriate state. (2) According to the second aspect of the present invention, the seat holding mechanism is arranged at four front, rear, left and right positions below the seat as viewed from the occupant seated on the seat, and the displacement restraint means is arranged at two rear left and right positions under the seat. Therefore, the seat can be stably fixed to the vehicle body, and the lateral rolling of the seat due to the closing of the door in the lateral direction of the vehicle and the inclination of the seat in the lateral direction of the vehicle during turning of the vehicle can be effectively suppressed. You can (3) According to the third aspect of the invention, when the output of the load detection means of the seat holding mechanism arranged at two positions on the left and right of the front part under the seat changes by a predetermined value or more, the left and right parts of the rear part on the bottom of the seat
Since the restraint of the displacement restraint means arranged at the location is released and the seat weight is measured based on the outputs of all the load detection means, in addition to the above effects of claim 1 and claim 2, the occupant gets on and off the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect a change of seat, and it is possible to release the restraint of the seat on the vehicle body only when seat weight measurement is required due to getting on or off the passenger or changing passengers. (4) According to the invention of claim 4, the seat holding mechanism is arranged at four positions in front, rear, left and right below the seat when viewed from the occupant seated on the seat, and at least the rear left and right under the seat viewed from the occupant seated on the seat. Since the displacement restraint means is arranged at two positions, the seat can be stably fixed to the vehicle body, and the seat laterally sways when the door is closed and the seat laterally rolls when the vehicle turns. Can be effectively suppressed. (5) According to the invention of claim 5, the restraint and release of the displacement restraint means is controlled based on the detected behavior of the vehicle. Therefore, the displacement of the seat with respect to the vehicle body is restrained only when there is behavior of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to extend the period during which the seat weight can be measured. (6) According to the invention of claim 6, the displacement of the seat relative to the vehicle body is restrained when the vehicle door is opened or when G applied to the vehicle is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. It is possible to prevent the rolling of the seat when the door is closed and the tilt of the seat when the large G occurs while enabling the seat weight measurement other than when the large G occurs.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION << First Embodiment of the Invention >> FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the seat weight measuring device according to the first embodiment. Vehicle body 10 under vehicle seat 101
A seat holding mechanism in which the spring members 103a to 103d and the load sensors 104a to 104d are connected in series is installed between the two and the front, rear, left, and right four positions as viewed from the seated occupant. In the figure, the spring members 103a and 103b on the left and right sides and the load sensors 104a and 104 are shown.
Although only b is shown, the spring members 103c and 103 on the front and rear sides on the right side are shown.
d and the load sensors 104c and 104d are hidden behind them on the left side.

The load sensors 104a to 104d are strain gauges or capacitance type sensors, and detect the seat weight including the weight of the occupant seated on the seat 101. The spring members 103a to 103d are members such as metal plates that deform when the weight of the occupant is applied to the seat 101. For example, a strain gauge may be attached to a metal plate to form a seat holding mechanism including spring members 103a to 103d and load sensors 104a to 104d.

Further, between the vehicle body 102 under the seat 101 and the two left and right rear portions of the seat viewed from the seated occupant, the spring members 103b and 103d and the load sensors 104b and 104d are connected in series. The displacement restraint members 105a and 105b are installed in parallel with the sheet holding mechanism. In FIG. 1, the displacement restraint member 105a on the left side is shown.
However, the displacement restraint member 105b on the right side is hidden behind it on the left side. Displacement restraint members 105a, 1
05b is, for example, a member that is provided on the vehicle body 102 so as to project from the seat 1
The seat 101 and the vehicle body 102 are connected and released by being sandwiched or released by an openable / closable chuck installed under 01 to restrain the displacement of the rear portion of the seat 101 with respect to the vehicle body 102 by the rear spring members 103b and 103d. It can be canceled. The displacement restraint member 105a,
105b is not limited to the above-mentioned mechanism, but the rear spring member 1
Any member or mechanism may be used as long as it can restrain or release the displacement of the rear portion of the seat 101 with respect to the vehicle body 102 due to the displacement of 03b and 103d.

The control device 106 is composed of a microcomputer and peripheral parts such as a memory, and measures the weight of the seat 101 including the weight of the occupant based on the outputs of the load sensors 104a to 104d at the four front, rear, left and right under the seat. , The restraint and the release of the displacement restraint members 105a and 105b arranged at two places on the left and right rear portions under the seat are controlled.

The correspondence between the constituent elements of the claims and the constituent elements of the first embodiment is as follows. The spring members 103a to 103d serve as the flexure member and the load sensor 1
Reference numerals 04a to 104d denote load detecting means and the displacement restraint member 10
Reference numerals 5a and 105b constitute displacement restraining means, and the control device 106 constitutes control means. Note that each component is not limited to the above configuration as long as the characteristic function of the present invention is not impaired.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a seat weight measuring program. According to this flowchart,
The operation of the embodiment will be described. The microcomputer of the control device 106 starts the execution of this measurement program when the ignition key switch (not shown) of the vehicle is turned on.

In step 201, the displacement restraint member 1
05a and 105b are driven to the release side to release the restraint of the rear seat displacement by the rear seat spring members 103b and 103d. In the following step 202, front, rear, left and right under the seat 4
The loads detected by the load sensors 104a to 104d at the locations are sampled. In step 203, it is determined whether the occupant is an adult, a child, or an empty seat based on the detected loads at four front, rear, left and right positions.

When the occupant determination based on the load detected at the four front, rear, left and right positions of the seat is completed, the routine proceeds to step 204, where the displacement restricting members 105a, 105b at the two rear left and right positions of the seat are driven to the restricting side by the seat rear spring members 103b, 103d. Restrain the rear displacement of the seat. Then step 205
So, while restraining the displacement of the rear part of the seat
The load detected by the load sensors 104a and 104c at the location is input and stored in the memory.

In step 206, it is confirmed whether or not the ignition key switch of the vehicle is still turned on, and when it is turned off, the displacement restraint members 105a, 105b.
The seat weight measuring program is terminated while the vehicle is being restrained and driven, that is, the displacement of the rear portion of the seat is restrained. As a result, even after the ignition is turned off, the rear portion of the seat 101 is connected to the vehicle body 102, and the displacement of the rear portion of the seat 101 remains restrained.
It is possible to prevent the rolling of the product, and it is possible to improve the marketability.

On the other hand, if the ignition key switch is still on, the routine proceeds to step 207, where the load detected by the load sensors 104a and 104c at the two left and right portions of the seat front portion is sampled while the displacement of the seat rear portion is restricted. In the following step 208, the detected loads at the two right and left portions of the seat front portion stored in the memory in step 205,
In step 207, the load detected at the two locations on the left and right of the seat front sampled is compared to determine whether or not the load change at the two locations on the left and right of the seat front is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

If the load change at the two right and left portions of the seat front portion is less than the predetermined value, it is determined that the occupant is not getting on or off, or the passenger is not changed, and the process returns to step 206. As long as the ignition switch is turned on, the front portion of the seat is as described above. The load change is monitored at two places on the left and right of the part.

On the other hand, if the load changes at the two positions on the left and right of the front part of the seat are equal to or greater than the predetermined values, it is possible that the occupant got on and off the train and the train was changed, and the process returns to step 201 and the occupant determination is redone as described above.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the timing of seat weight measurement and displacement restraint of the seat rear portion according to the first embodiment. As is clear from the figure, the displacement constraint of the seat rear part with respect to the vehicle body is released only when the seat weight is measured, and the displacement of the seat rear part with respect to the vehicle body is restricted except when the seat weight is measured. Also, while restraining the displacement of the rear part of the seat with respect to the vehicle body, the load on the front part of the seat is constantly monitored, and if there is a change in the load, the constraint of displacement of the rear part of the seat with respect to the vehicle body is released and the seat weight is measured again. The seat restraint on the vehicle body can be released only when seat weight measurement is required due to passengers getting on and off or changing trains, and seats are deflected under the seat when turning the vehicle. It is possible to prevent problems such as tilting.

<Second Embodiment of the Invention> A second embodiment will be described in which the seat is restrained to the vehicle body only when the vehicle door is closed or when the vehicle lateral G occurs. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the seat weight measuring device according to the second embodiment. It should be noted that devices similar to those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and differences will be mainly described.

The opening / closing sensor 107 detects opening / closing of the vehicle door, and the G sensor 108 detects lateral G generated in the vehicle. The detection results of these sensors 107 and 108 are sent to the control device 109. The control device 109 is composed of a microcomputer and peripheral parts such as a memory, and has four load sensors 104a to 104 under the seat.
The detected load is input from d, the opening and closing of the vehicle door is input from the opening and closing sensor 107, and the lateral G of the vehicle is input from the G sensor 108, and the restraint and release of the displacement restraint members 105a and 105b at the left and right rear lower portions of the seat are controlled. .

The correspondence between the constituent elements of the claims and the constituent elements of the second embodiment is as follows. The spring members 103a to 103d serve as the flexure member and the load sensor 1
Reference numerals 04a to 104d denote load detecting means and the displacement restraint member 10
5a and 105b are the displacement restraint means and the open / close sensor 107.
The G sensor 108 serves as the behavior detection means and the control device 1
09 respectively constitute the control means. Note that each component is not limited to the above configuration as long as the characteristic function of the present invention is not impaired.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a seat weight measuring program. The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart. The microcomputer of the control device 109 starts the execution of this measurement program when the ignition key switch (not shown) of the vehicle is turned on.

In step 301, it is confirmed whether or not the ignition switch is on, and if it is still on, the process proceeds to step 302. In step 302, the opening / closing information of the vehicle door is input from the opening / closing sensor 107, the information of the vehicle lateral G is obtained from the G sensor 108, and whether the vehicle door is still closed and the vehicle lateral G is equal to or less than a predetermined value. To judge.

When the vehicle door is still closed and the vehicle lateral G is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the routine proceeds to step 303, where the displacement restraint members 105a and 105b are driven to the releasing side and the seat rear portion by the seat rear spring members 103b and 103d. Release the displacement constraint. In the following step 304, the load detected by the load sensors 104a to 104d at the four front, rear, left and right positions of the seat is sampled. In step 305, whether the occupant is an adult or a child is detected based on the detected loads at the four front, rear, left and right positions of the seat.
Alternatively, it is determined whether the seat is empty. When the occupant determination based on the detected loads at the front, rear, left and right of the seat is completed, the process returns to step 301 and the above-described processing is repeated.

If it is determined in step 302 that the vehicle door is open, the process proceeds to step 306, in which the displacement restraining members 105a and 105b at the left and right rear portions of the seat are driven to the restraining side, and the seat rear spring members 103b and 103d are driven. The displacement of the rear part of the seat due to is restrained. Then step 30
The processing of steps 1 and 302 is repeated, and the restraint of the rear seat displacement by the rear seat spring members 103b and 103d is continued until the vehicle door is closed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the seat 101 from rolling laterally due to the impact when the vehicle door is closed, and it is possible to improve the commercial property.

On the other hand, when the vehicle lateral G larger than the predetermined value is detected in step 302, the process also proceeds to step 306, and the displacement restraint members 105a and 105b at the two left and right portions of the seat rear portion are detected.
The rear seat spring members 103b, 10
The displacement of the rear part of the seat due to 3d is restricted. After that, the processes of steps 301 and 302 are repeated until the vehicle lateral G falls below a predetermined value.
The restraint of the rear portion displacement of the seat by d is continued. As a result, it is possible to prevent the seat 101 from being tilted due to the large lateral G occurring when the vehicle turns, and the seat 101 can be kept in an appropriate posture.

If the ignition switch is turned off at step 301 during execution of this seat weight measuring program, the routine proceeds to step 307, where the seat rear rear left and right 2
The displacement restraint members 105a and 105b at the locations are driven to the restraint side to restrain the displacement of the seat rear portion by the seat rear spring members 103b and 103d, and the seat weight measurement is completed. Therefore, the displacement of the rear portion of the seat with respect to the vehicle body is restrained even when the ignition is off, and the rolling of the seat 101 when the vehicle door is opened and closed can be prevented.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the timing of seat weight measurement and displacement restraint of the seat rear portion according to the second embodiment. As is apparent from the figure, the displacement of the rear portion of the seat with respect to the vehicle body is restricted only when the vehicle door is opened, when the vehicle lateral G of a predetermined value or more is detected, and when the ignition switch is turned off. In other cases, the displacement constraint at the rear of the seat is released. Therefore, when the vehicle door is opened / closed, a large lateral G is generated, and the seat weight is measured except when the ignition is turned off, the seat 101 rolls when the door is closed,
It is possible to prevent the sheet 101 from being tilted when a large lateral G occurs, and it is possible to improve the merchantability.

In the above-described second embodiment, an example in which the displacement of the rear portion of the seat with respect to the vehicle body is restrained when the vehicle lateral G is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is shown. The displacement of the rear portion of the seat with respect to the vehicle body may be restrained when they exceed a predetermined value. By restraining the displacement of the rear portion of the seat with respect to the vehicle body when any of the lateral G, the front-rear G, and the vertical G of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value,
In addition to the effects of the second embodiment described above, it is possible to prevent excessive weight from being applied to the weight sensor.

In the second embodiment, an example of detecting the opening of the vehicle door and the G applied to the vehicle to restrain the seat displacement with respect to the vehicle body has been described. However, the door opening and closing and various behaviors of the vehicle other than G of the vehicle are shown. May be detected, and the seat displacement with respect to the vehicle body may be restrained when the behaviors thereof are equal to or more than a predetermined value.

Further, in the above-described second embodiment, an example in which the displacement of the rear portion of the seat with respect to the vehicle body is restrained is shown, but in the second embodiment, the seat is seated only when the vehicle door is opened and closed and when a large vehicle body G is generated. Since the displacement is restrained and the restraint of the seat displacement is released at all other times, the displacement restraint members are arranged at four positions in the front, rear, left and right under the seat to restrain the displacement of the entire seat with respect to the vehicle body. You may

Further, the vehicle seat 101 of the above-described first and second embodiments may be any of a driver seat, a passenger seat and a rear seat.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the example in which the displacement restraint members for restraining the displacement of the rear portion of the seat with respect to the vehicle body are installed at the two left and right rear portions under the seat has been shown. You may arrange in two places of the lower front part right and left. Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the example in which the seat holding mechanism including the bending members and the load sensors is arranged at four positions in the front, rear, left, and right under the seat is shown. The sheet holding mechanism may be arranged at three positions on the left and right, or five or more sheet holding mechanisms may be arranged at the front, rear, left and right under the seat.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a seat weight measuring program according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a timing of seat weight measurement and displacement restraint of a seat rear portion according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a seat weight measuring program according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the timing of seat weight measurement and displacement restraint of the seat rear portion according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 sheets 102 car body 103a-103d Spring member 104a to 104d Weight sensor 105a, 105b Displacement restraint member 106,109 control device 107 Open / close sensor 108 G sensor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of seat holding mechanisms having a flexure member and a load detecting means are provided between a seat on which an occupant is seated and a vehicle body, and displacement restraint means for restraining displacement of the seat with respect to the vehicle body are provided, and a control means. The seat weight measuring device measures the seat weight including the weight of the seated occupant based on the output of the load detecting means by releasing the restraint by the displacement restraining means. 2. The seat weight measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat holding mechanism is arranged at four front, rear, left and right positions below the seat as seen from an occupant seated on the seat, and at two rear left and right positions under the seat. A seat weight measuring apparatus comprising the displacement restraint means. 3. The seat weight measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means changes the output of a load detecting means of the seat holding mechanism arranged at two front left and right positions under the seat by a predetermined value or more. At this time, the seat weight measuring device is characterized in that the restraint of the displacement restraint means arranged at two places on the rear right and left under the seat is released, and the seat weight is measured based on the outputs of all the load detection means. 4. The seat weight measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat holding mechanism is arranged at four front, rear, left and right positions below the seat when viewed from an occupant seated on the seat, and when viewed from an occupant seated on the seat. At least two rear left and right under the seat
A seat weight measuring device, wherein the displacement restraint means is arranged at a location. 5. The seat weight measuring apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a behavior detecting means for detecting a behavior of the vehicle, wherein the control means performs the displacement based on the behavior of the vehicle detected by the behavior detecting means. A seat weight measuring device characterized by controlling restraint and restraint of restraint means. 6. The seat weight measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the behavior detecting means detects opening / closing of a vehicle door and G applied to the vehicle, and the control means detects when the vehicle door is opened or when the vehicle is opened. A seat weight measuring device, wherein displacement of a seat relative to a vehicle body is restrained by the displacement restraint means when the applied G is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.