JP2007196745A - Seat device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability when a seating occupant makes a shift operation for a transmission gear. <P>SOLUTION: This seat device 10 for a vehicle reduces a restraining degree relative to a seating occupant of a movable side support part 26 (step S4) when it is determined as a timing to change the speed of a transmission gear 14 (step S3: YES). Accordingly, if the seating occupant makes the shift operation for the transmission gear 14 at this timing, the seating occupant can change the gear relative to the transmission gear 14 without restraints of the movable side support part 26. This improves operability when the seating occupant makes the shift operation for the transmission gear 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle seat device, and more particularly, to a vehicle seat device that includes a movable side support portion that can increase or decrease the degree of restraint on a seated occupant on a side portion of a seat back provided in a vehicle seat.

  As this type of vehicle seat device, the following is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of an adjustment device for an automobile seat. The automobile seat described in Patent Document 1 includes a side support that supports the seating posture of the occupant, and the side support is configured to be able to adjust the amount of support for the seated occupant.

And in this vehicle seat adjusting device, when the shift position of the automatic transmission of the vehicle becomes the parking position or the reverse position, the amount of support of the side support seated occupant is reduced.
Japanese Utility Model Publication 4-33136 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-31318 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-229372

  However, in the example described in Patent Document 1, as described above, the amount of support to the seated occupant by the side support is reduced after the speed change operation is performed on the transmission. When operating, the support state for the seated occupant by the side support is maintained. Therefore, there is room for improvement in order to improve the operability when the seated occupant performs a shift operation on the transmission.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle seat device capable of improving the operability when a seated occupant performs a shift operation.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat device is configured to have a movable side support portion that can increase or decrease the degree of restraint on the seated occupant on the side portion of the seat back; Whether or not to shift the driving means for operating the movable side support portion so as to increase or decrease the degree of restraint on the seated occupant of the movable side support portion and the transmission provided in the vehicle based on vehicle information obtained from the vehicle And a control for operating the driving means so as to reduce the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant when the transmission timing determination means determines that the transmission should be shifted. Means.

  In the vehicle seat device according to claim 1, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the vehicle should be shifted based on the vehicle information obtained from the vehicle, and the transmission is shifted by the shift timing determination unit. When it is determined that it should be, the driving means is operated by the control means, and the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant is reduced.

  Thus, according to the vehicle seat device of the first aspect, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant is reduced at the timing at which the transmission is to be shifted, so that the seated occupant becomes the transmission at this timing. If the gear shifting operation is performed, the seated occupant can perform the gear shifting operation with respect to the transmission without being restricted by the movable side support portion. Thereby, the operability when the seated occupant performs a shift operation on the transmission is improved.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle seat device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the vehicle seat device further includes a shift operation completion determining unit that determines whether or not the shift operation for the transmission has been completed. When the shift operation completion determining means determines that the shift operation for the transmission is completed, the drive means is operated so that the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant increases.

  In the vehicle seat device according to claim 2, when the shift operation completion determining means determines that the shift operation for the transmission is completed, the drive means is activated by the control means and the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant Will increase.

  Thus, according to the vehicle seat device of the second aspect, when the shifting operation for the transmission is completed, the degree of restraint on the seated occupant of the movable side support portion increases, so the shifting operation for the transmission is performed. The seated occupant can be reliably restrained by the movable side support portion during normal operation when the vehicle is not being operated.

  At this time, as in the invention described in claim 3, in the vehicle seat device according to claim 1 or 2, the movable side support portion is closer to the speed change operation portion for shifting the transmission of the seat back. It is suitable if it is provided in the side part.

  That is, when the movable side support portion is provided on the side portion close to the shift operation portion for shifting the transmission of the seat back as described above, the seated occupant is at the timing when the transmission should be shifted. Since the degree of restraint is reduced on the side closer to the speed change operation part, the seated occupant can easily operate the speed change operation part without being restricted by the movable side support part.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle seat device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the shift timing determining means includes a vehicle speed, an engine speed, and a transmission. Any of the gear stages used in the above or a combination thereof is used as vehicle information obtained from the vehicle, and it is preferable to determine whether or not to shift the transmission based on the vehicle information. is there.

  In other words, in this configuration, the speed of the vehicle, the engine speed, and any one or a combination of gears used in the transmission are closely related to the timing at which the transmission should be shifted. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether or not the transmission should be shifted.

  Therefore, if the movable side support portion is operated so that the degree of restraint on the seated occupant is reduced at the timing when the transmission determined in this manner is to be shifted, the seated occupant attempts to perform a speed change operation. Sometimes it is possible to reliably reduce the degree of restraint of the movable side support part on the seated occupant, preventing the situation where the degree of restraint of the movable side support part on the seated occupant is not reduced despite the fact that the seated occupant intends to perform a shifting operation. be able to. This makes it possible to reliably improve the operability when the seated occupant performs a speed change operation on the transmission.

  Further, as in the invention according to claim 5, in the vehicle seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the shift timing determination means can obtain whether or not the clutch is operated from the vehicle. It is more preferable that the vehicle information is configured to determine whether or not the transmission should be shifted based on the vehicle information.

  That is, in a vehicle that is configured to be able to shift by interrupting the transmission of power from the transmission, it is generally necessary to cut off the transmission of power from the transmission by operating a clutch in order to shift up or down. . Therefore, if the vehicle information obtained from the vehicle is the presence / absence of operation of the clutch and it is determined whether or not the transmission should be shifted based on this vehicle information, the transmission is shifted based on the operation of the clutch. It is possible to determine more directly whether or not the timing is to be determined.

  Accordingly, if the movable side support portion is operated so that the degree of restraint on the seated occupant is reduced at the timing when the transmission determined directly based on the operation of the clutch is to be shifted in this way, When the occupant tries to perform a shift operation, that is, when the transmission of power of the transmission is interrupted by the operation of the clutch, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant can be reliably reduced. This makes it possible to reliably improve the operability when the seated occupant performs a speed change operation on the transmission.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant is reduced at the timing at which the transmission should be shifted. By doing so, the seated occupant can perform a shifting operation on the transmission without being restricted by the movable side support portion. Thereby, the operability when the seated occupant performs a shift operation on the transmission is improved.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle seat device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a vehicle seat device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is provided in the vehicle seat device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The front view of the obtained vehicle seat 12 is shown. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the vehicle seat 12 provided in the vehicle seat device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the vehicle seat apparatus 10 which concerns on one Embodiment is shown. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, an arrow Fr, an arrow Out, and an arrow Up indicate the vehicle front-rear direction front side, the vehicle width direction outer side, and the vehicle vertical direction upper side, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the vehicle seat device 10 according to the present embodiment, the vehicle seat 12 is provided in the driver seat of the vehicle 40. In the vehicle 40, a shift lever 16 (shift operation unit) for shifting the transmission 14 configured by, for example, a manual transmission is provided on the left side of the vehicle seat 12. In the present embodiment, the occupant can operate the shift lever 16 while sitting on the vehicle seat 12.

  The vehicle seat 12 is provided with a seat back 18, and side frames 20 formed along the vertical direction of the both side portions are built in both side portions of the seat back 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the side frames 20 have their upper and lower ends rotated around a virtual axis L extending substantially in the vehicle vertical direction at the upper and lower ends of the main frame 22 incorporated in the seat back 18. It is connected freely. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of drive motors 24 (drive means) is built in the seat back 18 of the vehicle seat 12, and each side frame 20 is rotated by the drive motor 24. It is the composition which becomes.

  Then, both side portions of the seat back 18 are movable side support portions 26 that open and close as shown in FIG. 3 as the side frame 20 rotates. The movable side support portion 26 restrains the seated occupant from the vehicle width direction outer side of the vehicle seat 12 and can increase or decrease the degree of restraint on the seated occupant by opening and closing as shown in FIG. Yes.

  In the present embodiment, the movable side support portion 26 is, for example, shown in a neutral state (NORMAL) as shown by a solid line in FIG. 3 and an imaginary line L1 (dashed line) as shown in FIG. The closed state (CLOSE) as described above and the open state (OPEN) as indicated by an imaginary line L2 (two-dot chain line) in FIG. 3 are operated. When the movable side support portion 26 is closed (CLOSE) as indicated by an imaginary line L1 (one-dot chain line) in FIG. 3, the degree of restraint on the seated occupant is highest, and an imaginary line L2 (two-dot chain line) in FIG. In the state where the movable side support portion 26 is opened (OPEN) as shown by the following, the degree of restraint on the seated occupant is the lowest.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the vehicle seat device 10 of the present embodiment, a control circuit 28 is provided at an appropriate position of the vehicle 40. The control circuit 28 includes an ignition switch 30 and a shift operation completion detection switch 32. The vehicle information output device 34 and the restraint degree adjustment switch 36 are connected.

  The ignition switch 30 outputs an engine start signal to the control circuit 28 in response to a start operation of an engine start operation unit (for example, an ignition key or an engine start button) provided in the vehicle 40, and a shift operation completion detection switch 32 indicates whether or not the shift lever 16 has entered any of the shift gates (for example, forward 1st to 6th gears), and when the shift lever 16 has entered any of the shift gates, a shift operation completion detection signal Is output to the control circuit 28.

  The vehicle information output device 34 detects, for example, each vehicle information of the speed of the vehicle 40, the engine speed, and the gear stage used in the transmission 14, and outputs the vehicle information to the control circuit 28. The power transmission interruption state of the transmission 14 according to the operation of the clutch 38 is detected, and when it is detected that the power transmission of the transmission 14 is interrupted with the operation of the clutch 38, the power transmission interruption detection signal is controlled. It is configured to output to the circuit 28.

  The restraint degree adjustment switch 36 is incorporated in a power seat operation switch (not shown) for operating each part of the vehicle seat 12 (seat slide, reclining, lift, etc.), for example, and the restraint degree by the movable side support part 26 in the seated occupant Increase or decrease can be selected. That is, in the present embodiment, the restriction degree adjustment switch 36 is configured to be able to select, for example, “NORMAL”, “CLOSE”, and “OPEN”, and a signal corresponding to the selection operation for increasing or decreasing the restriction degree. Can be output to the control circuit 28.

  The control circuit 28 is composed of an electric circuit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and is output from the ignition switch 30, the shift operation completion detection switch 32, the vehicle information output device 34, and the restraint degree adjustment switch 36 described above. The drive motor 24 is operated by inputting a signal. The operation of the control circuit 28 will be described in detail later.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle seat device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  When the seated occupant starts an engine start operation unit (for example, an ignition key or an engine start button) provided in the vehicle 40, the ignition switch 30 outputs an engine start start signal to the control circuit 28. The control circuit 28 starts the program process shown in FIG. 4 when the start signal output from the ignition switch 30 is input.

  When the program processing shown in FIG. 4 is started, the control circuit 28 first operates the drive motor 24 to bring the movable side support portion 26 into a neutral state (“NORMAL”) (step S1). Further, the vehicle information output device 34 indicates the power transmission interruption state of the transmission 14 according to the operation of the clutch 38 according to the speed of the vehicle 40, the engine speed, the gear stage used in the transmission 14, and the operation of the clutch 38 after the engine is started. The detection is sequentially performed, and the detection results are output to the control circuit 28 as vehicle information.

  When the vehicle information output from the vehicle information output device 34 is input (step S2), the control circuit 28 determines whether or not to shift the transmission 14 based on the vehicle information, that is, performs a shift operation. It is determined whether or not an optimal shift condition is satisfied (step S3; shift timing determination means). At this time, the control circuit 28 repeatedly performs the processing of step S2 to step S3 until it is determined that the above-described shift condition is satisfied.

  If the control circuit 28 determines that the shift condition described above is satisfied (step S3: YES) while repeatedly performing the processes of steps S2 to S3 as described above, the drive motor 24 is operated, and the movable side support portion 26 is rotated in the opening direction to be in an open state (OPEN) (step S4; control means).

  For example, the vehicle 40 is started with the gear stage of the transmission 14 set to the first speed, and the accelerator is continuously stepped on while the first speed is maintained. Eventually, the traveling speed of the vehicle 40 is 25 km / h and the engine speed is 3500 rpm. When the control circuit 28 determines that the optimum shift condition for the shift operation is satisfied, the control circuit 28 operates the drive motor 24 to rotate the movable side support portion 26 in the opening direction (open state ( OPEN). Thereby, the restraint degree with respect to the seated passenger | crew of the movable side support part 26 reduces.

  The seated occupant satisfies the optimum shift condition for the shift operation when the movable side support portion 26 is rotated and opened in the open direction (OPEN) as described above. Recognize (experience) the correct shift timing. Therefore, the seated occupant may shift up (for example, 1st speed → 2nd speed) at this timing. In addition, at this time, the seated occupant can shift up in a state where the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant is reduced.

  The shift condition described above may be changed according to the accelerator opening, for example. For example, the gear 40 of the transmission 14 is set to the first speed, the vehicle 40 is started, the accelerator is fully opened while the first speed is maintained, and the pedal is continuously stepped on. Then, the traveling speed of the vehicle 40 is 60 km / h and the engine speed is increased. When the speed reaches 7200 rpm, the control circuit 28 determines that the optimum shift condition for the shift operation is satisfied, operates the drive motor 24, and rotates the movable side support portion 26 in the opening direction to open it. You may make it be in the state (OPEN).

  In the above description, an example of shifting up when the optimum shift condition for shifting is satisfied has been described. However, shifting is also performed when the speed of the vehicle 40 needs to be lowered and the vehicle needs to be shifted down. When the optimum shift condition is satisfied, the movable side support portion 26 is rotated in the opening direction to be in an open state (OPEN).

  For example, when braking is performed while traveling at 80 km / h with the transmission 14 in the fourth speed, and the speed of the vehicle 40 is 30 km / h and the engine speed is reduced to 2500 rpm, the condition for shifting down is The movable side support portion 26 is determined to be satisfied, and is opened (OPEN) in the opening direction. Therefore, the seated occupant can shift down (for example, 4th speed → 2nd speed) in a state where the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant is reduced.

  Then, the control circuit 28 inputs an output signal from the shift operation completion detection switch 32 (step S5), and whether or not the shift operation has been completed by the seated occupant, that is, the shift lever 16 is moved to the shift gate (for example, forward 1). It is determined whether or not any of the first to sixth speeds has been entered (step S6; shift operation completion determining means).

  At this time, if the seated occupant has not completed the shift operation even though the above-described shift conditions are satisfied, the shift operation completion detection signal is not output from the shift operation completion detection switch 32 to the control circuit 28. Therefore, in this case, the control circuit 28 determines that the shift operation has not been completed (step S6: NO). Then, the control circuit 28 performs the following process until it is determined that the above-described shift operation has been completed (step S6: YES).

  That is, if the control circuit 28 determines that the shift operation has not been completed (step S6: NO), it again inputs the vehicle information output from the vehicle information output device 34 (step S7), and this vehicle Based on the information, it is determined whether or not the transmission 14 should be shifted, that is, it is determined again whether or not the optimum shift condition for the shift operation is satisfied (step S8).

  When the control circuit 28 determines that the shift condition is still satisfied based on the vehicle information input in the process of step S7 (step S8: YES), the shift operation is performed in the process of step S6 described above. The processes in steps S4 to S8 are repeated until it is determined that the process has been completed.

  In short, the shift condition is satisfied based on the vehicle information in step S2, but the seat occupant does not complete the shift operation, and the shift condition is determined based on the vehicle information in step S7 until the seat occupant completes the shift operation. If the condition is satisfied, the processes in steps S4 to S8 are repeated until the shift operation is completed by the occupant.

  When the seat occupant completes the shift operation while the control circuit 28 repeatedly performs the above-described steps S4 to S8, a shift operation completion detection signal is output from the shift operation completion detection switch 32 to the control circuit 28. . Thereby, the control circuit 28 determines that the shift operation is completed by inputting the shift operation completion detection signal output from the shift operation completion detection circuit (step S6: YES).

  When it is determined that the shift operation has been completed in this way, the control circuit 28 operates the drive motor 24 and rotates the movable side support portion 26 in the closing direction to return to the neutral state (“NORMAL”) (step). S9). Thereby, the restraint degree with respect to the seat occupant of the movable side support part 26 increases (recovers).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant is reduced while the seated occupant performs a shift operation, and the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant is increased (revival) after the shift operation is completed. To do. Then, for example, the above-described steps S1 to S9 are repeated until the engine of the vehicle 40 is stopped.

  That is, whenever the control circuit 28 determines that the shift condition is satisfied when the vehicle travels, the degree of restraint of the movable side support part 26 on the seated occupant is reduced, and the degree of restraint of the movable side support part 26 on the seated occupant is reduced. Each time the seated occupant completes the shift operation, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant is increased (revived).

  When the control circuit 28 determines that the shift condition is not satisfied based on the vehicle information input in the process of step S7 due to, for example, a decrease in the speed of the vehicle 40, a decrease in the engine speed, or the like (step S7). In S8: NO), the process returns to the above-described step S1 regardless of the completion of the shift operation by the passenger.

  That is, once the optimum shift condition for shifting is satisfied and the movable side support portion 26 is in the open state (OPEN), but it is no longer necessary to shift up or down, the drive motor 24 And the movable side support portion 26 is rotated in the closing direction to return to the neutral state (“NORMAL”) (step S1).

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, it is judged whether the shift conditions are satisfy | filled based on the speed of the vehicle 40, the engine speed, and the gear stage currently used in the transmission 14, and this shift condition is satisfy | filled. However, in addition to this, the vehicle seat device 10 according to the present embodiment operates as follows. I do.

  That is, the vehicle information output device 34 transmits the power of the transmission 14 according to the operation of the clutch 38 in addition to the speed of the vehicle 40, the engine speed, and the gear stage used in the transmission 14 after the engine is started. The shut-off state is detected, and this is output to the control circuit 28 as vehicle information.

  When the vehicle information output from the vehicle information output device 34 is input (step S2), the control circuit 28 determines whether or not the transmission 14 should be shifted based on the vehicle information, that is, the shift condition is satisfied. It is determined whether the clutch 38 is operated (power transmission of the transmission 14 is interrupted) (step S3; shift timing determination means).

  Then, the control circuit 28 satisfies the above-described shift condition, that is, the power transmission interruption output from the vehicle information output device 34 when the clutch 38 is operated and the power transmission of the transmission 14 is interrupted. When the detection signal is detected, the drive motor 24 is operated, and the movable side support part 26 is rotated in the opening direction to be in the open state (OPEN) (step S4; control means).

  For example, when a seated occupant steps on the clutch 38 to shift up or down while driving the vehicle to cut off the power transmission of the transmission 14, the control circuit 28 determines that the shift condition is satisfied. Then, the drive motor 24 is operated, and the movable side support portion 26 is rotated in the opening direction to be in an open state (OPEN). Thereby, the seated occupant can shift up (for example, 3rd speed → 4th speed) or shift down (for example, 4th speed → 2nd speed) in a state where the degree of restraint by the movable side support portion 26 is reduced.

  When the seated occupant completes the shift operation, a shift operation completion detection signal is output from the shift operation completion detection switch 32 to the control circuit 28 as described above. Thus, the control circuit 28 determines that the shift operation is completed (step S6: YES), operates the drive motor 24, rotates the movable side support portion 26 in the closing direction, and again becomes a neutral state (“NORMAL”). (Step S9). Thereby, the restraint degree with respect to the seat occupant of the movable side support part 26 increases (recovers).

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to set the movable side support portion 26 to the closed state (“CLOSE”) by operating the restriction adjustment switch 36 during the above-described processes. Accordingly, when the movable side support portion 26 is set to the closed state (“CLOSE”) by operating the restriction degree adjustment switch 36, the control circuit 28 operates the drive motor 24 in the process of step S9 to move the movable side support. The part 26 is rotated in the closing direction to be in a closed state (“CLOSE”) (step S9). It is also possible to set the movable side support unit 26 to be in a closed state (“CLOSE”) in the process of step S1 by operating the restriction adjustment switch 36.

  As described above in detail, according to the vehicle seat device 10 according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that it is time to shift the transmission 14, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant is increased. Therefore, if the seated occupant shifts the transmission 14 at this timing, the seated occupant can perform the shifting operation on the transmission 14 without being restricted by the movable side support portion 26. It becomes. Thereby, the operability when the seated occupant shifts the transmission 14 is improved.

  Further, according to the vehicle seat device 10 according to the present embodiment, when the shift operation with respect to the transmission 14 is completed, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 with respect to the seated occupant increases. The seated occupant can be reliably restrained by the movable side support portion 26 during normal operation when no operation is performed. In other words, according to the vehicle seat device 10 according to the present embodiment, for example, even when the vehicle seat 12 is of a sports type that emphasizes supportability, the support performance of the side portion of the seat back 18 is supported. Shift operability can be improved without lowering.

  Further, as in the vehicle seat device 10 of the present embodiment, the speed of the vehicle 40, the engine speed, and the gear stage used in the transmission 14 are used as vehicle information, and the transmission 14 is controlled based on these vehicle information. If it is configured to determine whether or not to shift, the vehicle information, such as the speed of the vehicle 40, the engine speed, and the gear stage used in the transmission 14, should shift the transmission 14. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the transmission 14 should be shifted.

  Therefore, if the movable side support portion 26 is operated so that the degree of restraint on the seated occupant is reduced at the timing when the transmission 14 thus accurately determined should be shifted, the seated occupant will perform the shift operation. When this is done, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant can be reliably reduced, and the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant is not reduced even though the seated occupant intends to perform a shift operation. This can be prevented. This makes it possible to reliably improve the operability when the seated occupant shifts the transmission 14.

  Further, as in this embodiment, in the vehicle 40 including the transmission 14 configured by a manual transmission, it is necessary to cut off the power transmission of the transmission 14 by operating the clutch 38 in order to shift up or down. There is. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, if it is configured so that whether or not the clutch 38 is operated is vehicle information obtained from the vehicle 40 and whether or not the transmission 14 should be shifted based on this vehicle information, the clutch Based on the operation of 38, it is possible to determine more directly whether or not it is time to shift the transmission 14.

  Accordingly, the movable side support portion 26 can be operated so that the degree of restraint on the seated occupant is reduced at the timing when the transmission 14 determined directly based on the operation of the clutch 38 should be shifted in this way. For example, when the seated occupant intends to perform a shift operation, that is, when the transmission of power to the transmission 14 is interrupted by operating the clutch 38, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant can be reliably reduced. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve the operability when the seated occupant shifts the transmission 14.

  Further, according to the vehicle seat device 10 according to the present embodiment, the timing at which the transmission 14 should be shifted based on the speed of the vehicle 40, the engine speed, and the gear stage used in the transmission 14 as described above. When it is determined whether or not it is time to shift the transmission 14, the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant is reduced. Therefore, through the decrease in the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant, it is possible to accurately notify the seated occupant that the vehicle 40 is at the timing at which the transmission 14 should be shifted. Thus, the seated occupant can perform a shift operation at an optimal shift timing according to the traveling state of the vehicle 40.

  Further, as in the present embodiment, when configured to notify the seated occupant that the vehicle 40 is to shift the transmission 14 through a reduction in the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion 26 on the seated occupant, for example, In addition, it is not necessary to move the line of sight with respect to the configuration in which the shift timing is notified by the alarm device in the meter panel, and for example, it is not necessary to pay attention to hearing with respect to the configuration in which the shift timing is notified by the notification sound. .

  Next, a modified example of the vehicle seat device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the embodiment described above, the degree of restraint on the seated occupant is increased or decreased by rotating the movable side support portion 26 so as to open and close, but the following may be used. That is, after the movable side support portion 26 is fixed to the seat back 18 so as not to be rotatable, a bag body is built in the movable side support portion 26, and the bag body is inflated and contracted to restrict the degree of restraint on the seated occupant. May be increased or decreased. In addition, the movable side support portion 26 is made rotatable to the seat back 18 as in the present embodiment, and a bag body is further built in the movable side support portion 26, and the expansion and contraction of the bag body and the movable side support are supported. You may make it increase / decrease the restraint degree with respect to a seated passenger | crew by rotation of the part 26. FIG.

  In the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the transmission 14 should be shifted based on the speed of the vehicle 40, the engine speed, and the gear stage used in the transmission 14. Whether or not the transmission 14 should be shifted may be determined based on any one of the speed, the engine speed, the gear stage used in the transmission 14, or a combination thereof. In addition, other vehicle information (for example, accelerator opening, amount of brake operation, longitudinal acceleration applied to the vehicle 40, applied to the vehicle 40, speed of the vehicle 40, engine speed, gear stage used in the transmission 14) It may be determined whether or not the transmission 14 should be shifted by applying a lateral acceleration or the like. Further, the vehicle information for determining whether or not the transmission 14 should be shifted is not limited to the vehicle information described in the present embodiment, and may be other information.

  In the above embodiment, the movable side support portions 26 on both side portions of the seat back 18 are rotated in the opening direction at the timing when the transmission 14 is to be shifted. Only the movable side support portion 26 on the left side portion (that is, the side close to the shift lever 16) of the seat back 18 may be configured to be rotated in the opening direction at the timing when the speed change is to be performed. Even in this case, at the timing when the transmission 14 should be shifted, the degree of restraint is reduced on the side close to the shift lever 16 of the seated occupant, so that the seated occupant is limited by the movable side support portion 26. It is possible to easily operate the shift lever 16 without any trouble.

  In the above embodiment, an output signal from the shift operation completion detection switch 32 is input (step S5), and it is determined whether or not the shift operation is completed by the seated occupant based on this output signal (step S6). However, a timer mechanism (not shown) may be provided, and when this timer mechanism reaches a predetermined count value, it may be determined whether or not the shift operation has been completed by the seated occupant (step S6). Even in this case, after the degree of restraint of the movable side support part 26 on the seated occupant is reduced, the degree of restraint of the movable side support part 26 on the seated occupant can be increased (revived).

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which applied the vehicle seat apparatus 10 to the vehicle 40 which mounts a manual transmission, in addition to this, the vehicle seat apparatus 10 is mounted in the vehicle which mounts an automatic transmission and a semi-automatic transmission. It may be applied.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which applied the vehicle seat apparatus 10 to the floor shift type vehicle 40 with which the shift lever 16 is arrange | positioned on the floor, in addition, it applies to a column shift type vehicle and a handle | steering-wheel. The vehicle seat device 10 may be applied to a vehicle of a type in which a shift operation unit (button) is arranged, a vehicle of a type having a paddle shift, or the like.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle seat device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the vehicle seat provided in the vehicle seat device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view explaining operation | movement of the vehicle seat provided in the vehicle seat apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the vehicle seat apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle seat apparatus 12 Vehicle seat 16 Shift lever 18 Seat back 24 Drive motor (drive means)
26 movable side support section 28 control circuit (shift timing determination means, control means, shift operation completion determination means)

Claims (5)

A vehicle seat configured to have a movable side support portion capable of increasing or decreasing the degree of restraint on a seated occupant on the side portion of the seat back;
Driving means for operating the movable side support portion such that the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant is increased or decreased;
Shift timing determination means for determining whether or not to shift a transmission provided in the vehicle based on vehicle information obtained from the vehicle;
Control means for operating the drive means so that the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant is reduced when the shift timing determination means determines that the transmission should be shifted;
A vehicle seat device comprising: A shift operation completion determining means for determining whether or not a shift operation for the transmission has been completed;
The control means operates the driving means so that the degree of restraint of the movable side support portion on the seated occupant increases when the shift operation completion determination unit determines that the shift operation for the transmission has been completed. The vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein   3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the movable side support portion is provided on a side portion of the seat back that is closer to a speed change operation portion for shifting the transmission. 4. apparatus.   The shift timing determining means determines whether to shift the transmission based on any one of a speed of the vehicle, an engine speed, a gear stage used in the transmission, or a combination thereof. The vehicular seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized by things.   The said shift timing determination means determines whether the said transmission should be shifted according to operation of the clutch provided in the said vehicle, The Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Vehicle seat device.

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