JP2010208450A - Device for adjusting position of headrest and method for adjusting position of headrest - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically and precisely adjust the position of a headrest while preventing any unnecessary motion of the headrest. <P>SOLUTION: A device for adjusting the position of a headrest is equipped with a detection electrode 1 and a detection circuit 2, which are built in the headrest 13 provided to a seat 10, an arithmetic circuit 5, a headrest drive motor 3, and a motor control circuit 4. The arithmetic circuit 5 calculates a distance between the head 22 of an occupant 21 and the headrest 13 and the variation of a capacitance on the basis of a capacitance value from the detection circuit 2, and the motor control circuit 4 controls the headrest drive motor 3 according to the calculation result, thereby adjusting the position of the headrest 13. The arithmetic circuit 5 determines the content of a vehicle signal, and starts position adjusting operation if a position adjusting operation starting condition is satisfied, and does not start the position adjusting operation if the condition is not satisfied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a headrest position adjusting device and a headrest position adjusting method for adjusting the position of a headrest for a vehicle such as an automobile, and in particular, can prevent unnecessary operations of the headrest and automatically adjust the position of the headrest automatically. The present invention relates to a headrest position adjusting device and a headrest position adjusting method.

  Conventionally, a headrest adjusting device (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (page 4-5, FIG. 2)) has been proposed to accurately match the position of the headrest with the position of the head of a vehicle occupant (seater). Are known. The headrest adjusting device includes a headrest installed on an upper portion of a seat back (back portion) of a seat so that the headrest can be moved up and down by driving a motor, a head detection sensor that detects a head position of a seated person, And a CPU that adjusts the height of the headrest according to the position of the head of the seated person based on a signal from the detection sensor.

  Then, when the CPU detects the ignition switch conduction, the seating sensor detects that the seating is present, and the seatbelt buckle switch detects that the vehicle seatbelt is mounted, the headrest is adjusted. It is supposed to start operation.

JP 11-180200 A

  However, in the headrest adjusting device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 described above, even when the seated person bends forward for the operation of the in-vehicle device (for example, an operation switch attached to the instrument panel, etc.) If the ignition switch is turned on, seated, and seat belts are detected, the position of the headrest is adjusted.

  Thus, if the position of the headrest is adjusted while the seated person's posture is not stable, the headrest will operate wastefully, and accurate headrest position adjustment (front-rear position adjustment, There is a problem that it is difficult to perform vertical position adjustment and horizontal position adjustment.

  The present invention provides a headrest position adjusting device and a headrest position adjusting method capable of accurately adjusting the position of the headrest automatically by preventing unnecessary operation of the headrest in order to eliminate the above-described problems caused by the prior art. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a headrest position adjusting device according to the present invention is provided in a headrest provided in a seat of a vehicle, and is configured to provide electrostatic force between a head of a human body to be seated and the headrest. At least one detection electrode for detecting capacitance; a detection circuit for detecting a capacitance value based on capacitance from the detection electrode; vehicle signal output means for outputting at least a vehicle speed signal of the vehicle as a vehicle signal; The vehicle signal output from the vehicle signal output means is input, and the distance between the head and the headrest and the amount of change in the capacitance are calculated based on the capacitance value detected by the detection circuit. And a position adjusting means for adjusting the position of the headrest by moving the headrest to an appropriate position according to the distance and the position of the head according to the calculation result, The position adjustment means starts the position adjustment operation by moving the headrest when the vehicle signal output from the vehicle signal output means indicates that the vehicle has advanced at least at a predetermined vehicle speed. Features.

  The vehicle signal output means outputs, for example, a signal indicating the presence / absence of sitting in the seat as a vehicle signal, and the position adjusting means further outputs the vehicle signal in a seat other than the driver's seat of the vehicle, for example. When the presence of seating on the seat is indicated, the position adjustment operation of the headrest in the seat is started.

  The vehicle signal output means outputs, for example, a signal relating to an ignition switch of the vehicle and a signal indicating attachment / detachment of a seat belt from a seat belt buckle of the seat as a vehicle signal, and the position adjustment means further includes, for example, the vehicle When the signal indicates that the ignition switch is ON and the seat belt is worn, the headrest position adjusting operation is started.

  The position adjusting unit does not start the position adjustment operation of the headrest, for example, when the change amount of the capacitance from the detection circuit per unit time is larger than a predetermined threshold value.

  The headrest position adjusting method according to the present invention includes a capacitance value based on a capacitance from at least one detection electrode provided on a headrest provided in a vehicle seat, and at least a vehicle speed signal of the vehicle. A headrest position adjustment method for adjusting the position of the headrest by moving the headrest to an appropriate position according to the distance between the head and the headrest and the position of the head based on a vehicle signal, A calculation step of calculating the distance between the headrest of the human body seated on the seat and the headrest based on a capacitance value and the amount of change in capacitance; a vehicle signal input step of inputting the vehicle signal; A control step of controlling the movement of the headrest based on the calculation result of the calculation step and the vehicle signal input in the vehicle signal input step, In the control process, when the vehicle signal input in the vehicle signal input process indicates that the vehicle has advanced at least at a predetermined speed, the headrest is moved to perform a position adjustment operation. It is characterized by that.

  In the vehicle signal input step, for example, a signal indicating the presence / absence of seating in the seat is input as a vehicle signal. In the control step, for example, in a seat other than the driver's seat of the vehicle, the vehicle signal is further sent to the seat. When the presence of seating is indicated, control for starting the position adjustment operation of the headrest in the seat is performed.

  In the vehicle signal input step, for example, a signal related to an ignition switch of the vehicle and a signal indicating attachment / detachment of the seat belt from the seat belt buckle of the seat are input as vehicle signals. In the control step, for example, the vehicle signal further includes When the ignition switch is ON and the seat belt is worn, control for starting the headrest position adjustment operation is performed.

  In the control step, for example, when the calculation result indicates that the amount of change in capacitance from the detection circuit per unit time is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the headrest position adjustment operation is performed. Control that does not start.

  According to the headrest position adjusting device and the headrest position adjusting method according to the present invention, unnecessary operation of the headrest can be prevented and the position of the headrest can be automatically adjusted accurately.

It is a mimetic diagram showing a vehicular seat to which a headrest position adjustment device concerning one embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the whole structure of the headrest position adjustment apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the position adjustment process sequence by the headrest position adjustment method concerning one Embodiment of this invention.

  Exemplary embodiments of a headrest position adjusting device and a headrest position adjusting method according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle seat to which a headrest position adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the headrest position adjusting device. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the position adjustment process sequence by the headrest position adjustment method concerning one Embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the seat 10 is a seat mounted on a vehicle (not shown), and a seat 11 on which a passenger 21 sits, and a passenger who stands up from the back side of the seat 11 is boarded. The seat back 12 that supports the back surface of the person 21 and the headrest 13 provided on the upper end side of the seat back 12 are configured.

  Further, a headrest drive motor 3 for moving, for example, the headrest 13 is built in the upper end portion of the seat back 12, and the headrest 13 approaches the head 22 of the passenger 21 by the headrest drive motor 3. (In the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 1 (a)) or driven away.

  Although illustration is omitted, the headrest 13 of the seat 10 is not only moved in the approaching and separation directions described above by the headrest driving motor 3, but also in the vertical and horizontal movements of the head 22 of the occupant 21. It may be configured to be movably driven in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction so as to follow.

  The headrest 13 includes a headrest body 14 made of a cushioning material (cushion material) such as urethane that can receive the head 22 of the occupant 21 with a head contact surface (front surface) 14 a, and a headrest of the headrest body 14. The detection electrode 1 and the detection circuit 2 mounted on the contact surface 14a side, the signal input unit 99 to which the vehicle signal from the vehicle signal output unit 6 as shown in FIG. 2 is input, and the output and signal from the detection circuit 2 Based on the signal from the input unit 6, it is configured to include an arithmetic circuit 5 that determines the content of the vehicle signal, calculates the distance between the head 22 and the headrest 13, and the amount of change in capacitance. ing.

  Information about the calculation result from the calculation circuit 5 is output to, for example, the motor control circuit 4 built in the seat back 12, and the motor control circuit 4 operates the headrest drive motor 3 based on the input information about the calculation result. To control. In this example, the arithmetic circuit 5, the motor control circuit 4, and the headrest drive motor 3 constitute a position adjusting means that moves and adjusts the position of the headrest 13 to an appropriate position.

  The detection electrode 1 and the detection circuit 2 are respectively formed on the same surface or different surfaces on the same substrate (not shown) such as a flexible printed circuit board, a membrane substrate, and a rigid printed circuit board. For example, the detection electrode 1 is formed by patterning copper, a copper alloy, or a pattern formed on a substrate made of an insulating member such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyamide (PA), polyimide (PI), or glass epoxy resin. It is made of a conductive material such as aluminum, and at least one is provided on the headrest 13.

  In this example, the arithmetic circuit 5 is configured separately from the detection electrode 1 and the detection circuit 2. However, the arithmetic circuit 5 is also provided on the same substrate as the detection electrode 1 and the detection circuit 2. The motor control circuit 4 may also be built in the headrest 13 and provided on the same substrate.

  In the headrest position adjusting apparatus configured as described above, the capacitance between the head 22 of the passenger 21 and the headrest 13 is detected by the detection electrode 1 built in the headrest 13 as shown in FIG. . A signal indicating the capacitance detected by the detection electrode 1 is input to the detection circuit 2, converted into a voltage value by the detection circuit 2, and output as a capacitance value.

  The arithmetic circuit 5 calculates the distance between the head 22 and the headrest 13 and the amount of change in the electrostatic capacity based on the electrostatic capacitance value output from the detection circuit 2. The calculation result is output to the motor control circuit 4 so that the distance between the headrest 13 is constant (that is, the capacitance value between the head 22 and the headrest 13 is constant). The motor control circuit 4 outputs a control signal for controlling the driving of the headrest drive motor 3 to the headrest drive motor 3 according to the calculation result.

  The arithmetic circuit 5 receives the vehicle signal input from the vehicle signal output unit 6 to the signal input unit 99 and determines the content of the vehicle signal. When the vehicle signal satisfies the position adjustment operation start condition, The position adjustment operation is started, and if not satisfied, a calculation result for stopping the headrest 13 is output to the motor control circuit 4. The vehicle signal output unit 6 outputs to the signal input unit 99 a vehicle signal output directly from the in-vehicle electrical component, via the ECU or via the communication unit. The signal input unit 99 receives the vehicle signal (electrical signal, frequency signal, etc.) from the vehicle signal output unit 6 and converts it into a form that can be used by the arithmetic circuit 5. Output.

  In this example, the detection circuit 2 includes a CV conversion circuit (capacitance-voltage conversion circuit) and an A / D conversion circuit, and the arithmetic circuit 5 and the motor control circuit 4 include a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. It is composed of The vehicle signal output unit 6 includes an ECU (electronic control unit), and outputs the following vehicle signals to the arithmetic circuit 5.

  That is, the vehicle signal is at least a vehicle speed signal from a vehicle speed sensor (not shown), and more specifically, a signal related to the ignition switch 7 of the vehicle, a seat belt from the buckle switch 8 of the seat belt buckle of the seat 10. And a signal indicating whether or not the seat 10 is seated from the seating sensor 9 built in the seating portion 11 of the seat 10. When the seat 10 is a driver seat side seat, the seating sensor 9 may not be provided. Since the ignition switch 7, the buckle switch 8, and the seating sensor 9 can be configured by a known mechanical switch, a membrane circuit, or the like, description thereof is omitted here.

  These vehicle signals are signals particularly required for determining the start of the position adjustment operation of the headrest 13, and the arithmetic circuit 5 calculates the position adjustment operation when the content of the vehicle signal satisfies the position adjustment operation start condition. If the result is not satisfied, the calculation result that does not start the position adjustment operation of the headrest 13 is output.

  Thus, the headrest position adjustment device can perform position adjustment so that the headrest 13 is in an appropriate position with respect to the head 22 when the position adjustment operation start condition is satisfied, and the position adjustment operation start condition is satisfied. If not, the position adjustment operation of the headrest 13 is not started, so that unnecessary operation of the headrest 13 can be prevented and the position of the headrest 13 can be automatically adjusted accurately.

  Specifically, the headrest position adjustment device adjusts the position of the headrest 13 if at least the vehicle does not advance at a predetermined speed (for example, 0 km / h) or more even when the passenger 21 sits on the seat 10 of the driver's seat. Does not start operation. Therefore, unnecessary operation of the headrest 13 can be prevented and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

  In addition to the vehicle signal relating to the speed, the headrest position adjusting device adjusts the position unless, for example, the ignition switch 7 is ON and the seat belt is attached from the buckle switch 8 of the seat belt buckle. Does not start operation. When the seat 10 is a seat other than the driver's seat (for example, a passenger seat), the position adjustment operation is not started unless the seating sensor 9 indicates the presence of seating.

  Furthermore, the headrest position adjusting device is such that, for example, the amount of change in capacitance from the detection circuit 2 per predetermined time is larger than a predetermined threshold value, and the head of the passenger 21 seated on the seat 10 When the movement of 22 indicates that it is large, the position adjustment operation may not be started.

  In this headrest position adjusting device, the vehicle signal output unit 6 is composed of an existing ECU or the like, the existing ignition switch 7 or the like can be used, and a static sensor from the capacitive sensor having the detection electrode 1 is used. Since the position adjustment operation can be started by obtaining the capacitance value, the structure is simple and the cost is reduced, while unnecessary operation of the headrest 13 is prevented to reduce unnecessary power consumption, and automatically In addition, the position of the headrest 13 can be adjusted.

  The position adjustment process when the headrest position adjustment method according to the present invention is executed by the headrest position adjustment apparatus configured as described above is performed, for example, as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, first, the headrest position adjusting device is configured such that, for example, the ignition switch 7 of the vehicle is in a standby state (a key is inserted into the ignition switch 7 or the like), an accessory, or turned on. It is then determined whether the ignition switch is ON (step S101).

  Wait until the ignition switch is turned on (No in step S101), and if it is determined that the ignition switch is on (Yes in step S101), a signal indicating attachment / detachment of the seat belt from the seat belt buckle switch 8 is received. Then, it is determined whether or not the seat belt is worn (step S102).

  If it is determined that the seat belt is worn (Yes in Step S102), it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed is moving forward at a predetermined threshold value or more (Step S103). When it is determined that the vehicle speed is moving forward at a predetermined threshold value or more (Yes in step S103), the detection circuit 2 detects the capacitance value (step S104), and based on this capacitance value, The arithmetic circuit 5 calculates the distance between the head 22 of the occupant 21 and the headrest 13 and the amount of change in capacitance, and performs the position adjustment operation of the headrest 13 based on the calculation result (step S105).

  In step S105, in order to reduce power consumption, calculation processing may not be performed when the capacitance value is not output from the detection circuit 2.

  Then, after performing the position adjustment operation of the headrest 13 (step S105), for example, it is determined whether or not there is a process end signal indicating that the headrest position adjustment process such as turning off the ignition switch is ended (step S106), for example, the process ends. If it is determined that there is a signal (Yes in step S106), the series of position adjustment processing according to this flowchart is terminated. If it is determined that there is no process end signal (No in step S106), the process proceeds to step S104 and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S102 that the seat belt is not worn (No in step S102) and if it is determined in step S103 that the vehicle speed is not higher than a predetermined threshold value ( In step S103 No), the process proceeds to step S101 and the position adjustment operation of the headrest 13 is not started.

  By performing the position adjustment process in this way, a headrest position adjustment device with a simple configuration prevents unnecessary operation of the headrest 13 in particular, suppresses unnecessary power consumption, and automatically adjusts the position of the headrest 13 accurately. By doing so, unnecessary operation of the headrest 13 can be prevented, and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed as much as possible. When the seat 10 is a seat other than the driver's seat, a process for determining whether or not there is further seating may be performed based on a signal from the seating sensor 9 regarding the presence or absence of seating.

  As described above, the headrest position adjusting device and the headrest position adjusting method according to the present invention are useful for adjusting the position of the headrest of the vehicle, and are particularly suitable for adjusting the position of the headrest of the seat of the automobile.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Detection electrode 2 Detection circuit 3 Headrest drive motor 4 Motor control circuit 5 Arithmetic circuit 6 Vehicle signal output part 7 Ignition switch 8 Buckle switch 9 Seating sensor 10 Seat 11 Seating part 12 Seat back (backrest part)
13 Headrest 14 Headrest body 14a Head contact surface (front)
21 Passenger 22 Head 99 Signal input section

Claims (8)

At least one detection electrode that is provided on a headrest provided in a seat of a vehicle and detects a capacitance between the head of the human body to be seated and the headrest;
A detection circuit for detecting a capacitance value based on a capacitance from the detection electrode;
Vehicle signal output means for outputting at least a vehicle speed signal of the vehicle as a vehicle signal;
The vehicle signal output from the vehicle signal output means is input, and the distance between the head and the headrest and the amount of change in the capacitance are calculated based on the capacitance value detected by the detection circuit. And a position adjusting means for adjusting the position of the headrest by moving the headrest to an appropriate position according to the distance and the position of the head according to the calculation result,
The position adjustment means starts the position adjustment operation by moving the headrest when the vehicle signal output from the vehicle signal output means indicates that the vehicle has advanced at least at a predetermined vehicle speed. A headrest position adjusting device characterized. The vehicle signal output means outputs a signal indicating the presence or absence of sitting on the seat as a vehicle signal,
In the seats other than the driver's seat of the vehicle, the position adjustment means starts the position adjustment operation of the headrest in the seat when the vehicle signal further indicates the presence of seating in the seat. The headrest position adjusting device according to claim 1. The vehicle signal output means outputs a signal relating to an ignition switch of the vehicle and a signal indicating attachment / detachment of a seat belt from a seat belt buckle of the seat as a vehicle signal,
The position adjustment means starts the position adjustment operation of the headrest when the vehicle signal further indicates that an ignition switch is ON and a seat belt is worn. Headrest position adjustment device.   The position adjustment means does not start the position adjustment operation of the headrest when the change amount per predetermined time of the capacitance from the detection circuit indicates that the change amount is larger than a predetermined threshold value. The headrest position adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The position of the headrest is determined based on a capacitance value based on a capacitance from at least one detection electrode provided on a headrest provided in a seat of the vehicle, and at least a vehicle speed signal as the vehicle signal. A headrest position adjustment method for adjusting by moving to an appropriate position according to the distance between the head and the headrest and the position of the head,
A calculation step of calculating a distance between the head of the human body seated on the seat and the headrest based on the capacitance value and a change amount of the capacitance;
A vehicle signal input step for inputting the vehicle signal;
A control step of controlling the movement of the headrest based on the calculation result of the calculation step and the vehicle signal input in the vehicle signal input step;
In the control step, when the vehicle signal input in the vehicle signal input step indicates that the vehicle has advanced at least at a vehicle speed equal to or higher than a predetermined speed, the headrest is moved to start the position adjustment operation. A headrest position adjusting method characterized in that: In the vehicle signal input step, a signal indicating the presence or absence of sitting on the seat is input as a vehicle signal,
In the control step, in a seat other than the driver's seat of the vehicle, when the vehicle signal further indicates the presence of seating in the seat, control for starting the position adjustment operation of the headrest in the seat is performed. The headrest position adjusting method according to claim 5. In the vehicle signal input step, a signal related to an ignition switch of the vehicle and a signal indicating attachment / detachment of a seat belt from a seat belt buckle of the seat are input as a vehicle signal,
7. The control process according to claim 5, further comprising a control for starting the position adjustment operation of the headrest when the vehicle signal indicates that an ignition switch is ON and a seat belt is worn. The headrest position adjustment method described.   In the control step, when the calculation result indicates that the amount of change per unit time in the capacitance from the detection circuit is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the headrest position adjustment operation is not started. 8. The headrest position adjusting method according to claim 5, wherein control is performed.

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