JP2008018057A - Seat heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seat heater for providing a sitting person with warmth in a shorter time while avoiding unnecessary heating of a vehicle heat. <P>SOLUTION: The seat heater includes a sensor 28 for detecting the presence of the person on the vehicle seat, and heating elements 21, 26, 27 and 30 mounted on the vehicle seat. A controller 40 operates the heating elements when detecting switching of an ignition switch 41 from off to on state. When the sensor 28 detects presence of no person on the vehicle seat within a predetermined period of time after the heating elements start operating, operation of the heating elements is stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a seat heater for heating a vehicle seat.

Conventionally, as this type of seat heater, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. The seat heater determines whether or not a person is present in a vehicle seat related to heating, and activates a heating element (heater) to heat the seat when the presence of a person is determined. When the absence of a person is determined, the heating element is not operated. Thereby, it is avoided that the seat is heated unnecessarily despite the absence of a person in the vehicle seat.
Japanese Patent No. 2809922

  By the way, the seat heater of patent document 1 operates a heat generating body, and starts the heating of this seat, when a person actually exists in the vehicle seat concerning heating (sitting). Therefore, it takes time for the person who is seated on the seat to get warm.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a seat heater in which a person sitting on the seat can get warm in a shorter time while avoiding unnecessary heating of the vehicle seat.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to start detection means for detecting a change of an ignition switch from an off state to an on state, and seating detection for detecting the presence of a person on a vehicle seat. Means, a heating element installed in the vehicle seat, an operating means for operating the heating element when the start detection means detects that the ignition switch is switched from an OFF state to an ON state, and the operation Stop means for stopping the operation of the heating element when the presence of a person on the vehicle seat is not detected by the seating detection means within a predetermined time after the operation of the heating element is started by the means; The main point is that

  According to this configuration, for example, when the driver manually starts the engine, the vehicle seat other than the driver's seat on which the heating element is installed changes from the off state of the ignition switch accompanying the engine start to the on state. When the switching is detected by the start detection means, at least prior to the seating of the person on the vehicle seat delayed from the driver, the operation of the heating element is started by the operation means and heating is started. . As a result, the person sitting on the vehicle seat can be warmed in a shorter time.

  Further, even if the operation of the heating element is started by the operating means in the above-described aspect, the presence of a person on the vehicle seat is detected by the seating detection means within a predetermined time after the operation of the heating element is started. Is not detected, the stopping means stops the operation of the heating element. Therefore, it is avoided that the heating of the seat is continued even though there is no person on the vehicle seat.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the seat heater according to the first aspect of the present invention, within the first predetermined time after the presence of a person on the vehicle seat is detected by the seating detection means, The present invention includes a first operation stopping means for stopping the operation of the heating element when the absence of the person is not detected.

  Generally, in a state where a person is present on the vehicle seat, the seat is heated to a certain level (time), so that further heating, that is, the operation of the heating element is unnecessary. According to this configuration, when the absence of a person on the vehicle seat is not detected within a first predetermined time after the presence of the person on the vehicle seat is detected by the seating detection means, that is, When the presence of a person on the vehicle seat is detected continuously for a first predetermined time, the operation of the heating element is stopped by the first operation stop means. Thereby, useless heating of the vehicle seat exceeding the level described above is avoided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the seat heater according to the second aspect, the vehicle seat is within the first predetermined time period after the presence of a person on the vehicle seat is detected by the seating detection means. When the absence of an upper person is detected, the heating element is detected when the presence of the person on the vehicle seat is not detected by the seating detection means within a second predetermined time after the absence is detected. The gist of the present invention is that it is provided with a second operation stop means for stopping the operation.

  According to the configuration, when the absence of the person on the vehicle seat is detected within the first predetermined time after the presence of the person on the vehicle seat is detected by the seating detection means, the absence is detected. When the presence of a person on the vehicle seat is not detected by the seating detection means within the second predetermined time after the detection, the operation of the heating element is stopped by the second operation stop means. Therefore, it is avoided that the heating of the seat is continued even though there is no person on the vehicle seat.

  According to the first to third aspects of the invention, it is possible to provide a seat heater in which a person sitting on the seat can get warm in a shorter time while avoiding unnecessary heating of the vehicle seat.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As schematically shown in FIG. 1, for example, a vehicle such as an automobile is equipped with a plurality of vehicle seats 2 on which a person 1 can be seated (in FIG. 1, one vehicle seat 2 is representative). Shown). A flat heater body 10 is embedded in the seat cushion 3 forming the seating portion of the vehicle seat 2 in such a manner as to expand along the seating portion. As shown in FIG. 2, the heater body 10 includes a cushion body 4 made of a polyurethane material that forms the shape of the seat cushion 3, and a skin 5 made of a cloth material or leather material that covers the surface of the seat cushion 3. It is installed in between and fixed to a predetermined position on the upper surface of the cushion body 4 by an appropriate adhesive member (for example, a double-sided tape, an adhesive, etc.) so as not to be displaced with respect to the cushion body 4. The heater body 10 is integrally provided with a seating detection function for detecting a person 1 seated on the seat cushion 3 in addition to a heater function for heating the seat cushion 3 (vehicle seat 2).

  Next, the heater body 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Note that the vertical direction in FIG. 3 corresponds to the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat 2. As shown in the figure, the heater body 10 has a substantially symmetrical structure in the width direction (left-right direction). The ladder-shaped main body portion 11 forming the outer shape of the heater main body 10 is made of a flexible film member in which a plurality of resin films are laminated, and includes a first heating portion 12 and a vehicle seat 2 disposed in front of the vehicle seat 2. Are roughly divided into a second heating unit 13 disposed on both sides in the width direction and a seating detection unit 14 disposed on the rear side in the center in the width direction.

  The first heating unit 12 includes a plurality (one side in the width direction) extending inward in the width direction from the pair of frame portions 15 and 16 extending in the front-rear direction on both sides in the width direction of the main body 11 with a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction. And 7 on the other side), approximately U-shaped flexible portions 12c that connect the extending portions 12a, 12b adjacent in the width direction, and the positions of the flexible portions 12c. A substantially U-shaped flexible portion 12d that connects the extending portions 12a adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, and a substantially U-shaped connection portion that connects the extending portions 12b adjacent in the front-rear direction at the position of the flexible portion 12c. And a flexible portion 12e. And in each extension part 12a, 12b, the heat generating body 21 is formed along the longitudinal direction.

  More specifically, the first electrode 22 formed along the longitudinal direction of the one frame portion 15 is continuously provided with the extending portion 12a, the flexible portion 12c, and the electrode portion 23 extending along the extending portion 12b. Yes. Further, the second electrode 24 formed along the longitudinal direction of the other frame portion 16 is continuous with the extending portion 12b, the flexible portion 12c, and the electrode portion 25 extending along the extending portion 12a. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 4, these electrode portions 23 and 25 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction so as not to overlap each other. And these electrode parts 23 and 25 are electrically connected by the heat generating body 21 based on carbon in each extension part 12a and 12b, for example. The heating element 21 is made of a heating material having a so-called positive thermal control function (hereinafter referred to as a PTC material) that has a low electrical resistance at a low temperature and a high electrical resistance at a high temperature. Each heating element 21 generates heat when a voltage is supplied between the first and second electrodes 22 and 24 (between the electrode portions 23 and 25).

  Here, the heat generation temperature characteristic of the heat generating element 21 will be described based on the graph of FIG. Note that the horizontal axis in FIG. 5 indicates the elapsed time since the energization of the heating element 21 is started, and the horizontal axis indicates the temperature and power consumption of the heating element 21. As is clear from the figure, it is confirmed that the heating element 21 made of a PTC material gradually rises in temperature with the start of energization and then gradually changes so that it converges to a substantially constant temperature. . In addition, it is confirmed that the heating element 21 exhibits a characteristic in which the change gradually decreases after the power consumption is rapidly reduced due to the increase in electrical resistance accompanying the temperature rise. Therefore, the heating element 21 can be controlled to a constant temperature according to its own temperature characteristics without performing energization control (switching control).

  The first heating unit 12 includes a connecting part 12f that connects the frame parts 15 and 16 in the width direction at a boundary position between the second heating part 13 and the seating detection part 14, and the connection part 12f A similar heating element 26 is formed at both ends. These heating elements 21 and 26 disposed in the first heating unit 12 are mainly for warming the thighs of the person 1 seated on the vehicle seat 2.

  The second heating unit 13 is formed in a rectangular shape so as to extend inward in the width direction from the pair of frame portions 15 and 16 at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction and surround the seating detection unit 14. A plurality of (six on the one side and the other side in the width direction) extending portions 13a and 13b connected to the inner frame portion 17 are provided. And the same heat generating body 27 is formed in each extension part 13a, 13b. These heating elements 27 arranged in the second heating unit 13 are mainly for warming the lateral surface of the buttocks of the person 1 sitting on the vehicle seat 2. An extension portion 17a extending rearward from the front end of the inner frame portion 17 is formed at the central portion in the width direction, and the extension portion 17a is spaced at a predetermined interval in the width direction. A pair of similar heating elements 30 are formed. Both the heating elements 30 are for heating mainly the center of the buttocks of the person 1 who is seated on the vehicle seat 2.

The heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 that are supplied with voltage by the common first and second electrodes 22 and 24 are electrically connected in parallel.
The seating detection unit 14 is divided into a U-shape in the width direction at the front in a manner defined by the extension portion 17a to form the branch portions 14a and 14b, and the branch portions 14a and 14b include front and rear portions. A plurality (three) of sensors 28 are formed at predetermined intervals in the direction. These sensors 28 arranged in the seating detection unit 14 are arranged at a portion where the load of the person 1 who is normally seated on the vehicle seat 2 (seat cushion 3), that is, the body weight is most applied, and acts on the seat, for example. Configure a switch that turns on and off according to the load. These sensors 28 are electrically connected in parallel by common electrodes 31 and 32.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the heater body 10 and its peripheral structure will be described based on the block diagram of FIG. As shown in the figure, the heater body 10 including the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 electrically connected in parallel and the sensor 28 also electrically connected in parallel is electrically connected to the controller 40. It is connected. The controller 40 supplied with power from the in-vehicle battery operates (heats) all the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 by supplying a voltage between the first and second electrodes 22, 24 (see FIG. 3). Further, the controller 40 monitors the short-circuit / open-circuit of the circuit between the electrodes 31 and 32 (see FIG. 3) so that one of the sensors 28 is turned on or all the sensors 28 are turned off (hereinafter referred to as seating detection). On-state or off-state). The on / off state of the seating detection corresponds to the presence / absence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2. That is, the sensor 28 used for detecting the presence / absence of the person 1 constitutes a seating detection means.

  The controller 40 is electrically connected to the ignition switch 41, and detects the start of the engine by detecting the switching from the off state to the on state. The controller 40 is electrically connected to the operation switch 42 and activates / stops the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 according to the on / off state of the operation switch 42 based on manual operation ( Manual mode). Further, the controller 40 is electrically connected to the auto switch 43, and automatically activates / stops the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 when the auto switch 43 is on (auto mode).

  Here, the control mode of the heater body 10 (heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30) by the controller 40 in the auto mode will be described based on the time charts of FIGS. In each figure, (a), (b), and (c) show the on / off state of the ignition switch 41, the operating / non-operating state of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 and the on / off state of the seating detection, respectively. Show.

  As shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that at time t0, the controller 40 detects the switching of the ignition switch 41 from the off state to the on state (FIG. 7 (a)). At this time, the controller 40 starts the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27 and 30 at the same time, assuming that the engine has been started, and sets the upper limit of the predetermined time T from the time t0 by the built-in timer. The time count A is started (FIG. 7B). The predetermined time T is set to a suitable time at which it can be determined that there is little possibility of the person 1 sitting on the vehicle seat 2 at an elapsed time longer than that. When the seating detection ON state is detected at an arbitrary time t1 within the predetermined time T (A <T), the controller 40 determines that the presence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is detected. Then, another time count B starting from the time t1 and having the first predetermined time T1 as an upper limit is started (FIG. 7C). Then, the controller 40 determines that the absence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is not detected if the seating detection OFF state is not detected within the first predetermined time T1 (B <T). At time t2 when the count B reaches the first predetermined time T1, the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 is stopped (FIG. 7B). This first predetermined time T1 is heated to a level at which heating of the vehicle seat 2 is not required by the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 in the state where the person 1 is present on the vehicle seat 2. A suitable time is set. That is, in the state where the person 1 is present on the vehicle seat 2, the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 exceeding the first predetermined time T1 is stopped, so that the above level (time) is exceeded. In addition, useless heating of the vehicle seat 2 is avoided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, at time t0, the controller 40 detects that the ignition switch 41 is switched from the OFF state to the ON state (FIG. 8A), and similarly, the heating elements 21, 26, 27, It is assumed that the operation of 30 and the time count A with the predetermined time T as the upper limit are started (FIG. 8B). If the seating detection ON state is not detected within the predetermined time T, the controller 40 assumes that the presence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 has not been detected, and at time t3 when the predetermined time T is reached. The operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is stopped (FIG. 8B). Therefore, it is avoided that the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is continued, that is, the heating of the vehicle seat 2 is continued beyond the elapsed time when there is little possibility that the person 1 is seated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, at time t0, the controller 40 detects the switching of the ignition switch 41 from the off state to the on state (FIG. 9 (a)). Similarly, the heating elements 21, 26, 27, It is assumed that the operation of 30 and the time count A with the predetermined time T as an upper limit are started (FIG. 9B). Then, the seating detection ON state is detected at an arbitrary time t4 within the predetermined time T, and another time count B with the first predetermined time T1 as an upper limit is similarly started, and further, the first predetermined time T1 When the seating detection OFF state is detected at an arbitrary time t5 (FIG. 9C), the controller 40 assumes that the absence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is detected, and sets the time t5. A further time count C starting from the second predetermined time T2 as an upper limit is started. The second predetermined time T2 is a suitable time at which it is possible to determine that the possibility of seating (re-seating) of the person 1 is small at an elapsed time longer than that, and is the same as the predetermined time T in the present embodiment. Is set to Then, the controller 40 determines that the presence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is not detected unless the seating detection ON state is detected within the second predetermined time T2 (C <T). At time t6 when time T2 is reached, the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 is stopped (FIG. 9B). Therefore, it is avoided that the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30, that is, the heating of the vehicle seat 2 is continued beyond the elapsed time when the possibility of the seating (re-seat) of the person 1 is small. Yes.

  In FIG. 7, the processing by the controller 40 at time t2 when the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is stopped constitutes a part of the first operation stop means. In FIG. 8, the processing by the controller 40 at time t3 when the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is stopped constitutes a part of the stopping means. Furthermore, in FIG. 9, the process by the controller 40 at time t6 when the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is stopped constitutes a part of the second operation stop means.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In this embodiment, for example, in a vehicle equipped with a device that starts an engine with a remote controller, that is, a so-called remote controller engine starter, the vehicle seat 2 on which the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 are installed When the controller 40 detects that the ignition switch 41 is switched from the OFF state to the ON state accompanying the start, the controller 40 causes the heating elements 21, 26, 27 to be placed before the person 1 is seated on the vehicle seat 2. , 30 is started and heating is started. As a result, the person 1 sitting on the vehicle seat 2 can be warmed in a shorter time. Even if the driver manually starts the engine, the vehicle seat 2 other than the driver seat (passenger seat or the like) where the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 are installed is accompanied by the engine start. The controller 40 detects the switching of the ignition switch 41 from the off state to the on state, so that the controller 40 is at least prior to the seating of the person 1 (passenger) on the vehicle seat 2 delayed from the driver. Thus, the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 is started, and heating is started. As a result, the person 1 sitting on the vehicle seat 2 can be warmed in a shorter time.

  Further, even if the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is started by the controller 40 in the above-described manner, the sensor is operated within a predetermined time T after the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is started. When the presence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is not detected by 28, the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is stopped by the controller 40. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the seat from being continuously heated even if the person 1 is not present on the vehicle seat 2, and to save power.

  (2) In this embodiment, the absence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is not detected within the first predetermined time T1 after the presence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is detected by the sensor 28. When the presence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is detected continuously for the first predetermined time T1, the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is stopped by the controller 40. Thereby, useless heating of the vehicle seat 2 exceeding the level (time) at which the operation of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 is unnecessary can be avoided, and power saving can be achieved.

  (3) In the present embodiment, when the absence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is detected within the first predetermined time T1 after the sensor 28 detects the presence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2. When the presence of the person 1 on the vehicle seat 2 is not detected by the sensor 28 within the second predetermined time T2 after the absence is detected, the heating element 21, 26, 27, 30 is detected by the controller 40. Is stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the seat from being continuously heated even if the person 1 is not present on the vehicle seat 2, and to save power.

  (4) Even if the heater main body 10 is individually provided in any two or more of the driver's seat, the passenger seat, and the rear seat, if there is only one auto switch 43, heating / stopping of all seats is performed by setting the auto mode. Can be performed simultaneously.

  (5) In the present embodiment, the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 and the sensor 28 are integrally formed on the main body portion 11 made of a film member. For example, when these heating elements and sensors are provided separately. In comparison, the wiring structure can be simplified and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. In addition, by dividing the region where the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 are formed (first and second heating units 12, 13) and the region where the sensor 28 is formed (sitting detection unit 14), For example, the influence on the seating detection function of the sensor 28 due to the operation (heat) of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, 30 can be suppressed.

  (6) In the present embodiment, in the main body 11, a region where the heating element 21 is formed (extension portions 12 a, 12 b) and a region for absorbing deformation of the heater main body 10 (flexible portions 12 c, 12 d, 12e), the deformation of the heating element 21 can be suppressed and the disconnection failure can be reduced.

(7) In this embodiment, since the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 are formed of a PTC material, the electrical configuration for controlling the temperature can be simplified.
(8) In the present embodiment, the heating element 21, 26, 27, 30 is automatically operated in the auto mode, so that the seated person (person 1) can perform an operation for heating (operating switch every time the user is seated). 42).

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above-described embodiment, the sensor 28 may constitute a variable resistance that changes according to a load acting on the seat.

In the embodiment, the number, shape, material, and arrangement of the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 are examples. Similarly, the number, shape, and arrangement of the sensors 28 are examples.
In the above-described embodiment, the heating elements 21, 26, 27, and 30 and the sensor 28 do not have to be provided integrally with the heater body 10, and may be provided individually. In this case, for example, the heating element may be composed of a general-purpose heating wire.

  -In the said embodiment, it is preferable to perform the operation | movement of the heat generating bodies 21, 26, 27, 30 in an auto mode on the assumption that vehicle interior temperature becomes a fixed value or less, such as winter.

Schematic which shows the vehicle seat to which one Embodiment of this invention is applied. The perspective view which shows the installation aspect of the embodiment roughly. The top view which shows the same embodiment. The enlarged view which shows a part of FIG. The graph which shows the exothermic temperature characteristic of a heat generating body. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the same embodiment. (A) (b) (c) is a time chart which shows the control mode of the embodiment. (A) (b) (c) is a time chart which shows the control mode of the embodiment. (A) (b) (c) is a time chart which shows the control mode of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Vehicle seat, 3 ... Seat cushion, 10 ... Heater main body, 11 ... Main body part, 21, 26, 27, 30 ... Heat generating body, 28 ... Sensor which comprises seating detection means, 40 ... Start-up detection means, Actuation means , Stop means, controller constituting the first and second operation stop means, 41... Ignition switch, 42... Operation switch, 43.

Claims (3)

Start detection means for detecting the switching of the ignition switch from the OFF state to the ON state;
Seating detection means for detecting the presence of a person on the vehicle seat;
A heating element installed in the vehicle seat;
An operating means for operating the heating element when switching of the ignition switch from the OFF state to the ON state is detected by the start detection means;
A stop for stopping the operation of the heating element when the presence of a person on the vehicle seat is not detected by the seating detection means within a predetermined time after the operation unit starts the operation of the heating element. And a seat heater. The seat heater according to claim 1,
When the absence of a person on the vehicle seat is not detected within a first predetermined time after the presence of the person on the vehicle seat is detected by the seating detection means, the operation of the heating element is stopped. A seat heater comprising a first operation stop means for causing the operation to stop. The seat heater according to claim 2,
When the absence of a person on the vehicle seat is detected within the first predetermined time after the presence of the person on the vehicle seat is detected by the seating detection means, the first time after the absence is detected. (2) A seat comprising second operation stopping means for stopping the operation of the heating element when the presence of a person on the vehicle seat is not detected by the seating detection means within a predetermined time. heater.

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