JP2009292230A - Seat information acquisition apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seat information acquisition apparatus, reliably transmitting and receiving electrical power and information by radio to acquire seat information without limiting the range of movement of a seat, and implemented in a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The seat information acquisition apparatus uses a switch unit 43 to annularly connect a plurality of seat information transmitters 20 each containing an IC tag 21 and an antenna 22 connected in series, switches the switch unit 43 between connection and disconnection according to a seat belt latching state of the seat, and acquires a seat status depending on whether an ECU 6 has received information from the seat information transmitters 20 by radio via an antenna 7. The seat information acquisition apparatus is also configured to enable the ECU 6 to receive information from only one of the seat information transmitters 20 via the antenna 7, wherein each seat information transmitter 20 transmits information including a different ID and the ECU 6 acquires the position of the seat as seat information from the ID included in the received information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a seat information acquisition device that acquires seat information such as whether a passenger is wearing a seat belt or a passenger is seated on a vehicle seat, for example.

  Conventionally, vehicle seats have been provided with seat belts for the purpose of protecting passengers. In particular, for the driver's seat and passenger's seat, since seat belts are required, the seat status such as whether the passenger is seated and whether the seat belt is seated is acquired. A vehicle is often equipped with a system for notifying the driver of the result by lighting a lamp arranged on the instrument panel of the vehicle. In the future, it is desired that the rear seat also obtains a seat state such as whether or not an occupant is seated and whether or not a seat belt is worn and notifies the driver.

  On the other hand, in recent years, for the purpose of improving the comfort and comfort of the rear seats, a mechanism that allows the rear seats to be moved or removed in the vehicle and allows the occupant to change the seat arrangement has been especially developed for wagon cars. Etc. are realized in large vehicles. In a vehicle that can change the arrangement of the rear seats, mounting a system for acquiring and notifying the seat state as described above means that each seat and a lamp for notification are connected to electric wires such as a power supply line and a signal line. It is not easy because it is necessary to connect using The movable range of the seat is limited to the routable range of the electric wire, or it is necessary to use an extra long electric wire in order to widen the movable range of the seat.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a wireless transmission device that can reliably transmit a signal and electric power from the vehicle side to the seat side even when the vehicle seat is removed and attached again. . This wireless transmission device includes a vehicle-side transmission module provided on the vehicle side, and a seat-side transmission module connected to an electric device installed in the seat, and an RF (Radio Frequency) antenna included in both transmission modules. A wireless transmission path is formed, and signals and electric power are transmitted from the vehicle-side transmission module to the electrical device in the seat connected to the seat-side transmission module.

Patent Document 2 proposes a seat belt wearing detection device that accurately detects a wearing state of a seat belt attached to each seat inside a vehicle. This attachment detection device forms a resonance circuit by connecting buckles of seat belts, and transmits a detection signal to the resonance circuit while sweeping the frequency from the inside of the vehicle. By detecting a change in the received signal that occurs when the detection signal becomes the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit, the mounting detection device can detect the mounting state of the seat belt.
JP 11-165576 A JP 2002-212356 A

  When a system for acquiring and notifying a seat state is installed in a vehicle that can change the arrangement of seats, information and power are transmitted and received wirelessly as in the wireless transmission device of Patent Literature 1 or the mounting detection device of Patent Literature 2. The configuration is desirable in order to solve the problem related to wiring to the seat. However, in the wireless transmission device described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide the RF antenna of the vehicle-side transmission module and the RF antenna of the seat-side transmission module facing each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. I can't. In addition, the wearing detection device described in Patent Document 2 needs to sweep the frequency of the detection signal, but since the circuit that performs detection by sweeping the frequency is an advanced circuit, the cost and size of the device are increased. Etc. may be caused.

  For example, devices that transmit and receive wireless power and information, such as IC (Integrated Circuit) tags using RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology, have already been put into practical use. However, as a result of testing these devices by the inventor of the present application, when wireless power transmission is performed within a range that can be used in the vehicle (for example, within a range where application to a radio station is unnecessary), the transmission side to the reception side Power transmission was very difficult when the distance up to 50 cm or more. Therefore, in a configuration in which these devices are simply mounted on a seat to transmit and receive power and information, the moving range of the seat is limited to about 50 cm.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide wireless power without limiting the range of movement of the seat, even if the seat can be moved or removed. It is another object of the present invention to provide a seat information acquisition apparatus that can acquire seat information by reliably transmitting and receiving information and can be realized with a simple configuration.

  The seat information acquisition device according to the present invention is a seat information acquisition device that acquires information related to a state of a seat on which an occupant is seated, and is provided in the seat, and receives wireless power and wirelessly transmits information based on the received power. A communication control unit to perform, a plurality of seat information transmission units each having an antenna unit connected in series to the communication control unit, a switch unit to conduct / shut off according to the state of the seat, wireless power transmission and the A seat information receiving unit that receives information wirelessly transmitted from the seat information transmitting unit, and the plurality of seat information transmitting units are connected in series and connected in a ring shape via the switch unit. The plurality of antenna units included in the plurality of seat information transmission units are electrically connected in a ring shape by the conduction of the switch unit, and the antenna units by the communication control unit of each seat information transmission unit are The Yes as receiving wireless power is possible, characterized in that the presence or absence of the reception of information by the seat information reception unit are configured to acquire a state of the seat.

In the present invention, a plurality of seat information transmission units each having a communication control unit for receiving power and transmitting information by radio and an antenna unit connected in series to the communication control unit are connected to the seat in series. As the seat information transmission unit, for example, an RFID IC tag with an antenna connected can be used (an IC tag with a built-in antenna may be used). Since only the seat information transmission units are connected in series, the configuration is simple, and an increase in cost can be suppressed by using an inexpensive IC tag.
Furthermore, both ends of a plurality of seat information transmission units connected in series are connected in a ring shape via a switch unit that conducts / cuts off according to the state of the seat. When the switch unit is turned on, a plurality of antenna units respectively included in a plurality of seat information transmission units connected in a ring shape are electrically connected in a ring shape, thereby enabling wireless power reception using the antenna unit. The seat information transmission unit is configured as described above. Depending on the state of the seat, wireless reception of power using the antenna unit is possible, and wireless information transmission is performed from the seat information transmission unit, so depending on whether or not this is received by the seat information reception unit The seat status can be acquired.
The seat information receiving unit may receive information from at least one of the plurality of seat information transmitting units. For this reason, even if the transmission range of the information by one seat information transmission part is limited, a transmission range can be expanded by arrange | positioning several seat information transmission parts to a seat appropriately.

  The seat information acquiring apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the switch unit conducts / cuts off according to the seat belt on / off of the seat.

  In the present invention, the conduction / cut-off of the switch unit is controlled in accordance with the attachment / detachment of the seat belt of the seat. For example, the switch unit is operated in conjunction with the seat belt being attached to conduct electricity. When the seat belt is worn, wireless power reception is performed, and wireless information transmission is performed from each seat information transmission unit. As a result, the seat information receiving unit can receive wireless information, acquire that the seat belt is worn as seat information, and can notify the driver.

  The seat information acquiring apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the switch unit conducts / cuts off according to whether an occupant is seated in the seat.

  In the present invention, the conduction / cutoff of the switch unit is controlled according to whether or not an occupant is seated on the seat. For example, the switch portion is operated by a pressing force associated with the seating of an occupant to conduct electricity. When the occupant is seated in the seat, wireless power reception is performed, and wireless information transmission is performed from each seat information transmission unit. As a result, the seat information receiving unit can receive wireless information, acquire that the occupant is seated in the seat as seat information, and notify the driver.

  Further, in the seat information acquisition device according to the present invention, the seat is movable in position with respect to the seat information receiving unit, and each communication control unit of the plurality of seat information transmitting units receives different information. The seat information receiving unit receives information transmitted from one or a part of the seat information transmitting units among the plurality of seat information transmitting units, and the seat information receiving unit receives the information according to the received information. The seat position is obtained.

In the present invention, a seat provided with a plurality of seat information transmission units is movable, and the seat is moved with respect to the seat information reception unit. The plurality of seat information transmitting units transmit different information by radio. Among the information transmitted by each of the plurality of seat information transmitting units, so that the seat information receiving unit can receive the information transmitted by the seat information transmitting unit of the closest distance or a part of the seat information transmitting unit in the vicinity thereof, The arrangement of a plurality of seat information transmitting units or the receivable range of the seat information receiving unit is set. Even when the seat moves, the seat information receiving unit receives one or a part of the information transmitted by the plurality of seat information transmitting units.
The seat information receiving unit stores the contents of information transmitted by each seat information transmitting unit and the arrangement of each seat information transmitting unit, so that the received information is transmitted from any seat information transmitting unit. The seat position can be acquired from the arrangement of the seat information transmission unit. By making it possible to acquire the position of the seat, for example, it is possible to perform control such as adjusting the inflation speed of the airbag according to the position of the seat.

  In the case of the present invention, the plurality of antenna units included in the plurality of seat information transmission units provided in the seat connected in series are electrically connected in a ring shape by the switch unit according to the state of the seat, and the seat information transmission unit Even if the seat can be moved or removed, the seat information receiving unit receives the information wirelessly transmitted from the seat information receiving unit, so that the range of seat movement is not limited. Seat information can be acquired by reliably transmitting and receiving wireless power and information with a simple configuration. By applying this seat information acquisition device to the rear seat of the vehicle, seat information such as the seating state of the rear seat or the seat belt wearing state can be applied even to a vehicle that can change the rear seat arrangement with a high degree of freedom. Can be obtained and notified to the driver.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle equipped with a seat information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle, and a plurality of seats 2 for a passenger to sit on are arranged side by side in the interior of the vehicle 1. Each seat 2 is configured such that an occupant can move its position within a predetermined range. Each seat 2 is provided with a seat belt 4 for protecting a seated occupant. The seat belt 4 can be attached by fitting a fitting member 41 at the front end of the belt provided on the vehicle 1 side and a buckle 42 provided on the seat 2, and an occupant seated on the seat 2 can be attached. Can be protected.

  In addition, an information output device 51 that outputs various types of information to the driver using a liquid crystal panel or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp is disposed on the dashboard 5 provided in the front part of the vehicle 1. Yes. In the present embodiment, the information output device 51 outputs the seat belt 4 wearing state of each seat 2 as seat information. The seat information output by the information output device 51 is given from an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 6 disposed at an appropriate position in the vehicle 1.

  The ECU 6 receives information wirelessly transmitted from the seat information transmission unit 20 (see FIG. 2) provided in each seat 2 by the antenna 7, and seat information such as the state of each seat 2 obtained from the received information. The information is output to the information output device 51. That is, the ECU 6 is a seat information receiving unit that receives information transmitted from the seat information transmitting unit 20. The antenna 7 is provided below each seat 2 in the floor portion of the vehicle 1, and the ECU 6 and each antenna 7 are connected by wire.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the seat information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, the configuration is illustrated focusing on one seat 2 provided in the vehicle 1, but the other seats 2 have the same configuration. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the seat information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention, and shows the configuration of FIG. 2 as a circuit diagram. That is, the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the configuration shown in FIG. 3 are equivalent.

  In the seat 2, a plurality (six in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) of seat information transmitting units 20 are arranged side by side substantially parallel to the floor surface of the vehicle 1. For example, when the occupant can move the seat 2 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 (the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2), the plurality of seat information transmission units 20 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The plurality of seat information transmission units 20 are connected in series by electric wires or the like, and the seat information transmission units 20 at both ends are respectively connected to a switch unit 43 provided on the buckle 42 of the seat belt 4. That is, the plurality of seat information transmission units 20 are connected in a ring shape via the switch unit 43.

  The switch unit 43 is a one-circuit / one-contact switch, and can conduct / cut off both ends of a plurality of seat information transmission units 20 connected in series. The switch unit 43 blocks both ends of the seat information transmission unit 20 connected in series when the fitting member 41 of the seat belt 4 is removed from the buckle 42, that is, when the seat belt 4 is attached. . In addition, when the fitting member 41 of the seat belt 4 is fitted to the buckle 42, that is, when the seat belt 4 is in the mounted state, the switch unit 43 conducts both ends of the seat information transmission unit 20 connected in series. Then, the plurality of seat information transmission units 20 are electrically connected in a ring shape.

  The seat information transmission unit 20 has a configuration in which an IC tag 21 that performs wireless power transmission and wireless communication by RFID technology and an antenna 22 that wirelessly transmits and receives information and receives power is connected in series. The IC tag 21 is provided with two connection terminals for connecting the antenna 22. When the IC tag 21 is used alone, both ends of the antenna 22 may be connected to the two connection terminals. Since the seat information acquisition apparatus of the present embodiment uses a plurality of IC tags 21, each seat information transmission unit 20 connects one end of the antenna 22 to one of the two connection terminals of the IC tag 21, The antenna 22 or the IC tag 21 of the other seat information transmission unit 20 is connected to the other connection terminal. Thereby, when several seat information transmission parts 20 are connected in series, several IC tag 21 and the antenna 22 are connected in series. Further, the plurality of IC tags 21 and the antennas 22 connected in series are connected in a ring shape via the switch unit 43, and when the fitting member 41 of the seat belt 4 is fitted to the buckle 42, the plurality of IC tags 21 and the antennas 22 are connected. The IC tag 21 and the antenna 22 are electrically connected in a ring shape.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the IC tag 21. As described above, the IC tag 21 has the two connection terminals 23 and 24 for connecting the antenna 22. The two connection terminals 23 and 24 are connected to the power supply circuit 25, the demodulation circuit 26, and the modulation circuit 27 of the IC tag 21, respectively. The power supply circuit 25 acquires electric power generated in the antenna 22 of the seat information transmission unit 20 in accordance with the electromagnetic wave output from the antenna 7 by the ECU 6, and supplies this electric power to each circuit in the IC tag 21 (to each circuit). The power supply path is not shown). The demodulation circuit 26 acquires and demodulates the modulation signal superimposed on the electromagnetic wave output from the antenna 7 by the ECU 6, and gives the demodulated information to the control circuit 29.

  The control circuit 29 examines the information demodulated by the demodulation circuit 26, and if this information relates to an information transmission request from the ECU 6, for example, an ID (IDentifier) stored in the storage unit 28 or the like. This is read to generate transmission information, which is given to the modulation circuit 27. For example, when the demodulated information relates to the update of the information stored in the storage unit 28, the control circuit 29 rewrites the information in the storage unit 28 and transmits a notification that the information update is completed. Information is given to the modulation circuit 27. The storage unit 28 is a non-volatile memory element such as a mask ROM (Read Only Memory) or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), and may be a memory element capable of rewriting information, and a memory that cannot be rewritten. It may be an element.

  The modulation circuit 27 modulates the transmission information given from the control circuit 29 to generate a modulation signal, and wirelessly outputs the modulation signal from the antenna 22. The ECU 6 can acquire the information from the seat information transmission unit 20 by receiving the modulation signal from the seat information transmission unit 20 by the antenna 7 and demodulating the modulation signal.

  Note that the two connection terminals 23 and 24 of the IC tag 21 are connected to the power supply circuit 25, the demodulation circuit 26, and the modulation circuit 27 by wiring, but the wirings leading to the connection terminals 23 and 24 are in each circuit. The two connection terminals 23 and 24 are electrically connected in the IC tag 21 because they are electrically connected via a coil or a capacitor. Therefore, when a plurality of IC tags 21 and antennas 22 are connected in series as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of antennas 22 are electrically connected in series.

  That is, when the switch unit 43 is turned on, the plurality of antennas 22 are electrically connected in a ring shape and the plurality of antennas 22 function as one antenna, but when the switch unit 43 is cut off, Since the antenna 22 is interrupted and cannot form one antenna, it does not function as an antenna. As a result, when the seat belt 4 is not attached and the switch unit 43 is disconnected, each IC tag 21 cannot perform power reception and information transmission / reception by the antenna 22, and the seat belt 4 is attached. Only when the switch unit 43 is connected, each IC tag 21 can operate by receiving power from the antenna 22 and wirelessly transmit and receive information to and from the ECU 6.

  Further, different IDs are stored in the storage unit 28 of each IC tag 21. Therefore, when the ECU 6 transmits information to any one of the IC tags 21, information transmission may be performed by designating the ID attached to the destination IC tag 21. In this case, the information transmitted from the ECU 6 is received by all the IC tags 21, but the IC tag 21 does not match the ID specified by the received information and the ID stored in the storage unit 28. In this case, the received information may be discarded.

  Each IC tag 21 transmits information through a request from the ECU 6 via the antenna 22. The time (timing) from the request reception from the ECU 6 to the information transmission to the ECU 6 is set differently for each IC tag 21. is there. As a result, even when a plurality of IC tags 21 perform information transmission at the same time, the transmission timing of each IC tag 21 can be shifted, so that information transmission is performed by a plurality of antennas 22 that are electrically connected in a ring shape. Can be avoided.

  However, the collision avoidance method of information transmission is not limited to the method of shifting the transmission timing of each IC tag 21, and for example, a method of avoiding a collision by the ECU 6 specifying an ID and sequentially giving a transmission request to a plurality of IC tags 21 It is also possible to use other methods. Such collision avoidance of information transmission is an anti-collision function of RFID technology, and since it is a known technology, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  For example, a transponder (RI-I11-112A) manufactured by Texas Instruments can be used as the seat information transmitter 20. The inventor of the present application processed the antenna portion of the transponder and configured a circuit as shown in FIG. 3 and confirmed the operation of the present invention. At this time, a reader / writer module (ARW13T-RS01) manufactured by Akita Electronic Systems is used as a seat information receiving unit instead of the ECU 6 and the antenna 7. The transponder has a configuration in which an antenna is wound around an IC tag in a square shape, and the outer dimensions of the antenna are about 45.0 mm × 45.0 mm. In addition, a plurality of transponders are arranged in series at an interval of about 50.8 mm (thus, the distance between the antennas 22 of each transponder is about 5.8 mm), and the distance between the transponder and the reader / writer module is set. The operation is confirmed as about 25 mm to 30 mm. By performing the processing described later in this configuration, the position of the seat can be determined with an accuracy of the transponder arrangement interval of 50.8 mm (the accuracy can be improved by devising the arrangement such as arranging the transponders in an overlapping manner). Is also possible).

  Since the wireless information transmission of each IC tag 21 is performed using weak power received wirelessly, the reception range of the transmitted wireless signal is limited to a range of several centimeters to several tens of centimeters. Each IC tag 21 transmits information via a plurality of antennas 22 that are electrically connected in a ring shape, but a high-intensity radio signal is output from the antenna 22 close to the IC tag 21 and is far from the IC tag 21. A low-intensity radio signal is output from the antenna 22. Therefore, the reception range of the radio signal from each IC tag 21 is defined by the distance from each IC tag 21.

  As described above, the seat 2 can be moved by the occupant in the vehicle, and the antenna 7 connected to the ECU 6 is fixed to the floor of the vehicle. In the seat information acquisition apparatus according to the present embodiment, the ECU 6 sets the antennas by appropriately setting the arrangement of the plurality of IC tags 21 in the moving direction of the seat 2 and the distance between the IC tags 21 and the antenna 7 of the ECU 6. 7, only the radio signal transmitted by any one IC tag 21 is received.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a change of a radio reception target via the antenna 7 by the ECU 6 when the seat 2 is moved. In the illustrated example, when the seat 2 is configured to be able to move in the front-rear direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 5), six seat information transmission units 20 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. The transmission unit 20 and the switch unit 43 are connected in a ring shape. For example, at the position of the seat 2 shown in FIG. 5A, the ECU 6 can receive only the radio signal transmitted by the second seat information transmission unit 20 from the front side via the antenna 7. When the seat 2 is moved forward from this position, for example, the position of the seat 2 shown in FIG. 5B, the ECU 6 uses only the radio signal transmitted by the fourth seat information transmission unit 20 from the front side to transmit the antenna 7. Can be received via.

  Since the wireless signal transmitted by each seat information transmitting unit 20 includes an individual ID as information, the ECU 6 that has received the wireless signal via the antenna 7 is the seat information transmitting unit 20 that is the transmission source. Can be determined based on the ID. Further, the ECU 6 stores in advance the correspondence between the ID of each seat information transmission unit 20 and the position of the seat 2, and can determine the position of the seat 2 from the ID of the seat information transmission unit 20 related to the received radio signal. it can.

  Thereby, for example, the ECU 6 gives a transmission request of information to the seat information transmission unit 20 after the engine of the vehicle is started, and whether the seat belt 4 is attached depending on whether or not a radio signal from the seat information transmission unit 20 can be received. If the seat belt 4 is not attached, a message or the like for warning that the seat belt 4 is not attached is output to the information output device 51. When it is determined that the radio signal from the seat information transmission unit 20 can be received and the seat belt 4 is worn, the ECU 6 acquires the ID of the seat information transmission unit 20 from the received radio signal and determines the position of the seat 2 For example, control such as adjusting the inflation speed of the airbag according to the position of the seat is performed.

  In this example, among the plurality of radio signals transmitted by the plurality of seat information transmitting units 20, only one radio signal transmitted by the seat information transmitting unit 20 closest to the antenna 7 is received by the ECU 6, This is not a limitation. For example, it is good also as a structure which receives the three radio signals which the seat information transmission part 20 nearest to the antenna 7 and the two seat information transmission parts 20 of the both sides transmitted. Even in this case, the ECU 6 can determine the position of the seat 2 from the combination of the plurality of received radio signals.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of seat information acquisition processing performed by the ECU 6. First, the ECU 6 performs power transmission by emitting electromagnetic waves from the antenna 7 toward the seat information transmission unit 20 provided in the seat 2, and modulates information such as a transmission request and superimposes the information on the electromagnetic waves. Transmission is performed (step S1). Thus, when the seat belt 4 is mounted and the switch unit 43 is in the connected state, all seat information transmission units 20 provided in the seat 2 receive power and receive information, and each seat information transmission unit 20 Transmits information including IDs at different timings. However, the ECU 6 can receive only a transmission signal from the seat information transmission unit 20 closest to the antenna 7.

  After performing wireless power transmission and information transmission, the ECU 6 checks whether information transmitted wirelessly from the seat information transmission unit 20 is received by the antenna 7 (step S2). When the information from the seat information transmission unit 20 has not been received (S2: NO), the ECU 6 determines a timeout by checking whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the completion of the power transmission and the information transmission (step S3). ). If the predetermined time has not elapsed and the timeout has not occurred (S3: NO), the ECU 6 returns to step S2 and waits until the information from the seat information transmission unit 20 is received or a timeout occurs. . When a predetermined time has elapsed and a timeout has occurred (S3: YES), the ECU 6 outputs a warning indicating that the seat belt 4 is not attached to the information output device 1 (step S4), and ends the process.

  When the information from the seat information transmission unit 20 is received (S2: YES), the ECU 6 acquires the ID of the seat information transmission unit 20 included in the received information (step S5), and the seat 2 is based on this ID. Is acquired (step S6). Next, the ECU 6 updates the control value for controlling the inflation speed of the airbag based on the acquired position of the seat 2 (step S7), and ends the process.

  In the seat information acquisition apparatus having the above-described configuration, a plurality of seat information transmission units 20 each having an IC tag 21 and an antenna 22 connected in series are connected to each other in a ring shape by a switch unit 43 and provided in the seat 2. Accordingly, the switch unit 43 is switched between conduction / cut-off and the seat state is acquired depending on whether the ECU 6 has received information from the seat information transmission unit 20 via the antenna 7 provided on the vehicle side. Thus, even if the seat 2 is configured to be movable, it is possible to acquire information related to the state of the seat 2 by reliably transmitting and receiving wireless power and information without limiting the range of movement of the seat. .

  Further, when the fitting member 41 of the seat belt 4 and the buckle 42 provided on the seat 2 are fitted, the switch unit 43 is connected and the plurality of seat information transmitting units 20 are connected in a ring shape, and the ECU 6 and the seat information are connected. Since the transmission unit 20 can transmit and receive power and information, the ECU 6 can acquire the seating state of the seatbelt 4 of the seat 2 as seating information. A warning can be given to the driver.

  Among the information wirelessly transmitted by each of the plurality of seat information transmitting units 20 connected in a ring shape, the ECU 6 can receive only one via the antenna 7, and each seat information transmitting unit 20 transmits information including a different ID. With this configuration, the ECU 6 can determine the transmission source seat information transmission unit 20 from the ID included in the received information, and by storing the position of the seat 2 for each ID in advance, The position can be acquired as seat information. Therefore, when the seat 2 is configured to be movable, the ECU 6 can acquire the position of the seat 2 and control the inflation speed of the airbag according to the position of each seat 2.

  In the present embodiment, the seat information is acquired for all the seats 2 of the vehicle 1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the seat information is only for a part of the seats 2 such as the rear seats of the vehicle 1. It may be the structure which acquires. In addition, the seat information transmission unit 20 has a configuration in which the individual IC tag 21 and the antenna 22 are connected. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the antenna 22 may be built in the IC tag 21. Moreover, although ECU6 was set as the structure which acquires the position of the seat 2 from ID contained in the received information, the position acquisition of the seat 2 does not necessarily need to be performed, and the seatbelt 4 according to the presence or absence of information reception by the ECU6 wirelessly. It is also possible to only acquire the wearing state. Moreover, although it was set as the structure which ECU6 acquires the mounting | wearing state of the seatbelt 4 and the position of the seat 2 as information regarding the state of the seat 2, as shown in the following modifications, it is not limited to this. It is good also as a structure which acquires the other information which concerns.

(Modification)
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a seat information acquisition apparatus according to a modified example of the present invention. As described above, the seat information acquisition apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is configured to acquire the wearing state of the seat belt 4 as seat information. On the other hand, the seat information acquisition apparatus according to the modification is configured to acquire a seating state indicating whether or not an occupant is seated on the seat 102 as seat information.

  The seat information acquisition apparatus according to the modification includes a switch unit 143 that is operated by, for example, pressing force when an occupant is seated on the seat 102. The switch unit 143 is in a conductive state when the occupant is seated on the seat 102, and is in a cut-off state when the occupant is not seated. A plurality of seat information transmission units 20 are connected in series to the seat 102, and the seat information transmission units 20 at both ends are connected to the switch unit 143. As a result, the plurality of seat information transmitting units 20 are electrically connected in a ring shape when an occupant is seated on the seat 102 and the switch unit 143 enters a conductive state, and are wirelessly connected to the ECU 6 via the antenna 7. Power and information can be transmitted and received.

  Therefore, in the seat information acquisition apparatus according to the modified example, when an occupant is seated on the seat 102, the switch unit 143 is turned on and the plurality of seat information transmission units 20 are electrically connected in a ring shape, and the ECU 6 and the seat information transmission unit 20 are connected. Since the ECU 6 can acquire the seating state indicating whether or not an occupant is seated on the seat 102 as the seat information, the seats 102 of the vehicle 1 can be obtained. Can be output from the information output device 51 to notify the driver.

  The seat information acquisition device may be configured to include both the switch part 43 of the buckle 42 of the seat belt 4 shown in FIG. 2 and the switch part 143 for seating detection shown in FIG. The information transmission unit 20 and the switch units 43 and 143 may be connected in a ring shape. In this configuration, for example, the switch portion 43 provided on the buckle 42 of the seat belt 4 is connected when the seat belt 4 is not worn, and is cut off when the seat belt 4 is worn. When the occupant is seated and the seat belt 4 is not worn, the plurality of seat information transmission units 20 are connected in a ring shape, and the ECU 6 can output a warning message or the like by the information output device 51.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle carrying the seat information acquisition apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the seat information acquisition apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows the structure of the seat information acquisition apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an IC tag. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the change of the radio | wireless reception object via the antenna by ECU at the time of moving a seat. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the seat information acquisition process which ECU performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the seat information acquisition apparatus which concerns on the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 vehicle 2 seat 4 seat belt 5 dashboard 6 ECU (seat information receiver)
7 Antenna 20 Seat information transmission unit 21 IC tag (communication control unit)
22 Antenna (antenna part)
23, 24 connection terminals (first connection terminal part, second connection terminal part)
25 Power supply circuit (power receiving means)
26 Demodulator 27 Modulator (Transmitter)
28 Storage Unit 29 Control Circuit 41 Fitting Member 42 Buckle 43 Switch Unit 51 Information Output Device 102 Seat 143 Switch Unit

Claims (4)

In the seat information acquisition device that acquires information related to the state of the seat on which the occupant is seated,
A plurality of seat information transmission units each provided with a communication control unit that is provided in the seat and performs wireless transmission of information based on reception of wireless power and information received, and an antenna unit connected in series to the communication control unit;
A switch part that conducts / cuts off according to the state of the seat;
A seat information receiving unit that transmits wireless power and receives information wirelessly transmitted from the seat information transmitting unit, and
The plurality of seat information transmission units are connected in series and connected in a ring shape via the switch unit,
The plurality of antenna units included in the plurality of seat information transmission units are electrically connected in a ring shape by the conduction of the switch unit, and wireless power can be received via the antenna units by the communication control unit of each seat information transmission unit. And
The seat information acquisition apparatus, wherein the seat state is acquired based on whether or not information is received by the seat information receiving unit. The seat information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit conducts / cuts off according to attachment / detachment of a seat belt of the seat. The seat information acquisition device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switch unit conducts / cuts off according to whether an occupant is seated in the seat. The seat is movable in position with respect to the seat information receiving unit,
Each communication control unit of the plurality of seat information transmission units is configured to transmit different information,
The seat information receiving unit receives information transmitted from one or a part of the plurality of seat information transmitting units, and acquires the position of the seat according to the received information. The seat information acquisition device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the seat information acquisition device is configured as described above.

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