JP4647363B2 - Automotive seat - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle seat for supplying warm or cold air to an occupant from an air outlet opening on the surface of a seat portion.

Conventionally, for the purpose of improving occupant comfort, etc., an automobile seat has been proposed and put into practical use by opening an air outlet in the skin of the seat portion and supplying warm or cold air to the occupant from the air outlet. ing. Such air conditioning control includes, for example, a blower fan that pressure-feeds air in the communication passage to the air outlet, and a communication passage that communicates with the air outlet, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. This can be realized by providing a Peltier element that selectively heats or cools the air fed under pressure.
JP-A-5-277020

  By the way, in this type of automobile seat, in order to further improve passenger comfort and the like, it is desirable to more functionally air-condition the air supplied to the passenger from the air outlet. On the other hand, in order to functionally realize air conditioning, adding a new additional configuration to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above causes factors such as complicated structure and high cost. It becomes.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automobile seat that can realize more comfortable air conditioning with respect to an occupant with a simple configuration.

The present invention provides a communication passage that communicates with an air outlet opening in the skin of the seat portion, a blower that pressure-feeds air in the communication passage to the air outlet, and circulates in the communication passage by the blower. A plurality of thermoelectric elements capable of selectively heating or cooling air, and arranged so as to be able to transfer heat to and from the thermoelectric elements, and releasing a perfume component in an amount corresponding to the heat transfer state with the thermoelectric elements into the communication path. And controlling the temperature of air blown out from the air outlet by controlling the thermoelectric body and controlling the heat transfer state from the thermoelectric body to the fragrance storage means to the communication passage. Air conditioning control means for variably controlling the amount of the fragrance component released , a plurality of divided passages are disposed upstream of the communication passage, and the thermoelectric bodies are respectively disposed in the plurality of divided passages, and A plurality of the divided passages, Downstream of the collector is characterized in that it consists and the divided passage communicating with the fragrance storage unit, and the divided passage not communicating with the fragrance storage unit.

  According to the automobile seat of the present invention, air conditioning that is more comfortable for passengers can be realized with a simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automobile seat, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an air conditioning unit, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main part of the air conditioning unit, and FIG. It is a flowchart of a routine.

  In FIG. 1, the code | symbol 1 shows the sheet | seat for motor vehicles. The seat 1 has a seat cushion 2 for an occupant to sit on and a seat back 3 that serves as a back of the occupant as seat portions, and a plurality of air is provided on the skins 5 and 6 of the seat cushion 2 and the seat back 3. The blower outlets 7 and 8 are each opened.

  In addition, an air conditioning unit 10 that blows air to the air outlets 7 and 8 is disposed below the seat cushion 2. An outside air intake 12 is opened at one end of the casing 11 constituting the air conditioning unit 10, and a duct 15 communicated with the air outlet 7 inside the seat cushion 2 at the other end of the casing 11. And a duct 16 communicating with the air outlet 8 inside the seat back 3 is communicated. That is, in the present embodiment, the housing 11 constitutes a communication path that communicates with the air outlets 7 and 8 together with the ducts 15 and 16.

  In addition, a blower fan 18 as a blower is disposed inside the casing 11, and the blower fan 18 introduces air into the casing 11 through the outside air inlet 12, and introduces the introduced air. The air is sent to the air outlets 7 and 8 through the ducts 15 and 16.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the interior of the housing 11 has a plurality of divided passages 20 (in the illustrated example, first to fourth divided passages) on the upstream side of the blower fan 18 by a partition wall 21. 20a to 20d), and each divided passage 20 has a thermoelectric element 22 (first to fourth thermoelectric elements 22a to 22d) capable of selectively heating or cooling the air flowing through each divided passage 20. ) Are arranged.

  Here, each thermoelectric body 22 is configured by, for example, a known Peltier element in which a plurality of n-type semiconductors and P-type semiconductors are joined. One surface of each thermoelectric body 22 faces each division passage 20, and the other surface is exposed to the outside of the housing 11. And the thermoelectric body 22 is the inside of the division | segmentation channel | path 20 because the surface which faced in the division | segmentation channel | path 20 acts as a heat radiating surface or a heat absorption surface by the electricity supply control through the air-conditioning control part 50 (air-conditioning control means) mentioned later. The circulating air is selectively heated or cooled. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 24 denotes a heat exchange fin fixed on each surface of the thermoelectric body 22.

  In addition, the first to third divided passages 20a to 20c are bypass passages 25 (first to third bypass passages 25a) defined by a partition wall 26 downstream of the first to third thermoelectric bodies 22a to 22c. And a damper 27 (first to third dampers 27a to 27c) for opening and closing the bypass passage 25 is disposed at the upstream end of each bypass passage 25.

  Further, each bypass passage 25 is provided with a perfume storage unit 30 (first to third perfume storage units 30a to 30c) as a perfume storage means for storing a predetermined perfume component. And each fragrance | flavor storage part 30a-30c discharge | releases the fragrance | flavor component of the quantity according to the heat transfer state with each thermoelectric body 22a-22c in the housing | casing 11. FIG. In the present embodiment, a predetermined fragrance component is stored as a fragrance component in the first fragrance storage unit 30a. The second fragrance storage unit 30b stores a predetermined fragrance component different from the fragrance component stored in the first fragrance storage unit 30a as a fragrance component. Further, the third fragrance storage unit 30c stores a deodorant component as a fragrance component.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the perfume storage units 30 is held by cartridges 31 (first to third cartridges 31 a to 31 c) that are detachable from the housing 11. Each fragrance | flavor storage part 30 can be replaced | exchanged suitably by insertion / removal of. In addition, each fragrance | flavor storage part 30 may be hold | maintained integrally in a single cartridge.

  The air-conditioning control unit 50 includes, for example, an operation input unit 55 for performing various settings of the air-conditioning unit 10, a wobbling determination unit 56 for determining wobbling during traveling of the host vehicle, the front / rear position of the seat 1, and the inclination of the seat back 3. Various switches and sensors such as a sheet position sensor 57 that detects a sheet position such as a corner, a temperature sensor 58 that detects a temperature in the housing 11, and an odor sensor 59 that detects a predetermined odor component in the housing 11 Is connected.

  Here, the operation input unit 55 is, for example, a temperature setting switch for setting the temperature of the air blown out from the air outlets 7 and 8 to a desired temperature, and an aroma switch for inputting whether or not to execute aroma control described later. And a scent setting switch (not shown) for setting the scent generated by the scent control to a desired scent.

  Further, the wobbling determination unit 56 performs a process such as stereo matching on a pair of stereo cameras that capture an image of the object in front of the vehicle from different viewpoints and images captured by the stereo camera. A well-known stereo image processing device for recognizing a car or the like (none of which is shown). Then, the wobbling determination unit 56 measures the wobbling of the vehicle on the driving lane based on the relationship between the driving state of the own vehicle and the white line, and is closely related to the driver's look-aside and doze from the frequency analysis. Judge wander.

  The air conditioning control unit 50 blows out from the air outlets 7 and 8 by controlling the blower fan 18, the thermoelectric bodies 22a to 22d, and the dampers 27a to 22c based on input information from various switches and sensors. While controlling the temperature of air, the amount of each fragrance component released into the housing 11 is variably controlled by individually controlling the heat transfer state from each thermoelectric body 22a to 22c to each fragrance storage unit 30a to 30c. .

  That is, in the present embodiment, the air conditioning control unit 50 individually controls the temperatures of the first to fourth thermoelectric bodies 22a to 22d, for example, when the fragrance switch of the operation input unit 55 is turned on, By individually controlling the opening degree of the first to third dampers 27a to 27c with respect to the first to third bypass passages 25a to 25c, and further controlling the amount of air blown by the blower fan 18, the first to third The heat transfer state from the 1st-3rd thermoelectric bodies 22a-22c with respect to the fragrance | flavor storage parts 30a-30c is controlled separately. Thereby, the ratio of each fragrance | flavor component discharge | released in the housing | casing 11 from each fragrance | flavor storage part 30a-30c is variably controlled, and desired fragrance control and deodorization control are implement | achieved. At that time, the air conditioning control unit 50 controls the amount of heat exchanged between the thermoelectric bodies 22a to 22d and the air as a whole, thereby setting the temperature of the air blown from the air outlets 7 and 8 to the set temperature. Control.

  Next, the air conditioning control executed by the air conditioning control unit 50 will be described according to the flowchart of the air conditioning control routine shown in FIG. This routine is repeatedly executed every predetermined time. When the routine starts, the air conditioning control unit 50 first checks in step S101 whether or not the fragrance switch of the operation input unit 55 is turned on.

  If it is determined in step S101 that the aroma switch is not turned on, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S102, performs normal air conditioning control, and then exits the routine. If demonstrating it concretely, the air-conditioning control part 50 will interrupt | block the heat transfer from each thermoelectric body 22a-22c to each fragrance | flavor storage part 30a-30c by controlling each damper 27a-27c to a fully closed position. The air-conditioning control unit 50 refers to a preset map or the like based on the set temperature input by the user through the temperature setting switch of the operation input unit 55 and the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 58, for example. The thermoelectric bodies 22a to 22d are controlled.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S101 that the fragrance switch is ON, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S103 and checks whether it is currently the deodorization determination execution timing. Here, for example, the air conditioning control unit 50 erases the timing immediately after the fragrance switch is turned on, or the timing after a predetermined time (for example, several tens of minutes) has elapsed since the previous deodorization determination execution timing was determined. It is determined as the odor determination execution timing.

  If it is determined in step S103 that it is the deodorization determination execution timing, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S104 and performs the deodorization determination. Specifically, the air-conditioning control unit 50 first reverses the rotation of the blower fan 18 to circulate air from the air outlets 7 and 8 side to the outside air inlet 12 side. The air-conditioning control unit 50 holds this state for a predetermined time, so that the air near the skins 5 and 6 of the seat 1 is taken into the housing 11 and then the odor sensor 59 detects a specific odor component. . And the air-conditioning control part 50 determines with it being necessary to perform deodorizing control, when a specific odor component is detected.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that it is not the deodorization determination execution timing, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S105 as it is.

  When the process proceeds from step S103 or step S104 to step S105, the air conditioning control unit 50 checks whether or not deodorization control is currently necessary based on the deodorization determination result of step S104.

  If it is determined in step S105 that deodorization control is necessary, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S106, performs air conditioning control with deodorization control, and then exits the routine. More specifically, the air conditioning control unit 50 first controls the first and second dampers 27a and 27b to the fully closed position, thereby controlling the first and second thermoelectric bodies 22a and 22b from the first and second thermoelectric bodies 22a and 22b. The heat transfer to the two fragrance storage units 30a and 30b is cut off. Then, the air conditioning control unit 50 refers to a preset map or the like based on the set temperature input by the user through the temperature switch of the operation input unit 55 and the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 58, for example, The thermoelectric bodies 22a to 22d and the third damper 27c are controlled. In that case, the air-conditioning control part 50 controls the quantity of the fragrance | flavor component (deodorant component) discharge | released from the 3rd fragrance | flavor storage part 30c especially by control of the 3rd thermoelectric body 22c and the 3rd damper 27c. However, by cooperatively controlling the blower fan 18, the first, second, and fourth thermoelectric bodies 22a, 22b, and 22d according to the control amounts of the third thermoelectric body 22c and the third damper 27c, the air The temperature of the air blown out from the blowout ports 7 and 8 is maintained at a set temperature.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that the deodorizing control is not necessary, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S107, and checks whether or not the wobbling of the host vehicle is currently detected by the wobbling determination unit 56.

  If it is determined in step S107 that wobbling has been detected, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S108, and controls a scent for a driver awakening (for example, a relatively strong scent) for aroma control. After setting as a fragrance for the use, the process proceeds to step S112.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S107 that no wandering has been detected, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S109, and checks whether there is input information through the scent setting switch of the operation input unit 55 by the user.

  If it is determined in step S109 that there is scent input information by the user, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S110, sets the scent according to the user input as the scent for scent control, and sets the set scent. Then, after storing in association with the sheet position currently detected by the sheet position sensor 57, the process proceeds to step S110.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S109 that there is no scent input information by the user, the air conditioning control unit 50 proceeds to step S111, and the scent corresponding to the current seat position is stored among the scents stored in association with the seat position. , And the fragrance is set as the fragrance for fragrance control, and then the process proceeds to step S112. In addition, when the scent associated with the current seat position is not stored, the air conditioning control unit 50 sets a predetermined scent set in advance as a scent for scent control.

  When the scent for aroma control is set in step S108, step S110, or step S111 and the process proceeds to step S112, the air conditioning control unit 50 exits the routine after performing the air conditioning control with the scent aroma control of the set scent. . Specifically, the air-conditioning control unit 50 first blocks the heat transfer from the third thermoelectric body 22c to the third fragrance storage unit 30c by controlling the third damper 27c to the fully closed position. . Then, the air conditioning control unit 50 displays, for example, a preset map based on the set temperature input by the user through the temperature switch of the operation input unit 55, the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 58, and the set fragrance for fragrance control. The blower fan 18, the thermoelectric bodies 22 a to 22 d, and the first and second dampers 27 a and 27 b are controlled with reference to the reference. In that case, the air-conditioning control part 50 discharge | releases from the 1st, 2nd fragrance | flavor storage parts 30a and 30b by control of the 1st, 2nd thermoelectric bodies 22a and 22b and the 1st and 2nd dampers 27a and 27b especially. The desired fragrance is generated by controlling the amount of the fragrance component (fragrance component) to be controlled, but the control amount of the first and second thermoelectric bodies 22a and 22b and the first and second dampers 27a and 27b Accordingly, the temperature of the air blown from the air outlets 7 and 8 is maintained at the set temperature by cooperatively controlling the blower fan 18 and the third and fourth thermoelectric bodies 22c and 22d.

  According to such an embodiment, the thermoelectric element 22 is provided in the casing 11 of the air conditioning unit 10 that selectively heats or cools air using the thermoelectric element 22 such as a Peltier element and blows air to the air outlets 7 and 8. A fragrance storage unit 30 that releases a fragrance component in an amount corresponding to the heat transfer state is provided, and the air conditioning control unit 50 controls the temperature of the air blown out from the air outlets 7 and 8 by controlling the thermoelectric body 22. In addition, by controlling the heat transfer state from the thermoelectric body 22 to the fragrance storage unit 30 and controlling the scent of the air blown out from the air outlets 7 and 8, air conditioning that is more comfortable for the occupant can be achieved with a simple configuration. Can be realized. That is, by controlling the amount of the fragrance component released from the fragrance storage unit 30 according to the heat transfer state from the thermoelectric body 22, the sheet 1 can be configured with a simple configuration that does not significantly add a new configuration. A scent control function can be added.

  In this case, in particular, a plurality of thermoelectric bodies 22 (for example, first to fourth thermoelectric bodies 22a to 22d) are provided in the casing 11 of the air conditioning unit 10, and each thermoelectric body 22a to 22d is individually controlled by the air conditioning control unit 50. By controlling to, temperature control and scent control can both be easily achieved.

  Further, two fragrance storage portions 30 (first and second fragrance storage portions 30a and 30b) that discharge different fragrance components as fragrance components are disposed in the casing 11, and the fragrance components that are released by these are stored. By variably controlling the amount (ratio), fragrance control rich in various variations can be realized.

  In that case, the fragrance control according to each passenger | crew's liking can be automatically implement | achieved by changing the ratio of each fragrance | flavor component according to the seat position changed suitably according to the passenger | crew who seats.

  Further, when detecting the wobbling of the vehicle during fragrance control, the safety during driving can be improved by switching to the scent for driver awakening.

  Moreover, the fragrance | flavor storage part 30 (3rd fragrance | flavor storage part 30c) which discharge | releases a deodorant component as a fragrance | flavor component is arrange | positioned in the housing | casing 11, and a deodorant component is needed from this fragrance | flavor storage part 30c as needed. By releasing the occupant comfort can be improved.

  In addition, by holding the fragrance storage unit 30 in the cartridge 31 that is detachable from the housing 11, replacement of the fragrance storage unit 30 can be easily realized.

  In the above embodiment, the first to third bypass passages 25a to 25c and the first to third dampers 27a to 27c for opening and closing these are provided in the first to third division passages 20a to 20c. Examples have been described, but these can be abolished. In this case, for example, by placing the fragrance in contact with the heat exchanging fin at a position that is appropriately spaced from the air flow in the divided passage, and vaporizing the fragrance by heating the thermoelectric body only when it is desired to fragrance, It is possible to release a fragrance component to the air in the dividing passage.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which two fragrance storage units (first and second fragrance storage units 30 a and 30 b) that release different fragrance components are disposed in the housing 11 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and may have a configuration in which a fragrance storage unit for releasing a single fragrance component is provided in the casing, and three or more fragrance components for releasing different fragrance components may be released. Of course, the structure which provided the fragrance | flavor storage part in the housing | casing may be sufficient. In this case, in particular, precise fragrance control can be realized by arranging three or more fragrance storage units that release different fragrance components.

  In the above-described embodiment, a dehumidifying agent or the like may be provided in the housing 11 in addition to each fragrance storage unit 30.

Schematic configuration diagram of automotive seat Cross section of the main part of the air conditioning unit The perspective view which shows the principal part of an air-conditioning unit Flow chart of air conditioning control routine

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Seat 2 ... Seat cushion (seat part)
3 ... Seat back (seat part)
5 ... Skin 6 ... Skin 7 ... Air outlet 8 ... Air outlet 10 ... Air conditioning unit 11 ... Housing (communication path)
12 ... Outside air intake 15 ... Duct (communication passage)
16 ... Duct (communication passage)
18 ... Blower fan
20 ... divisional passage (20a-20c ... 1st-4th divisional passage)
22 ... Thermoelectric (22a-22d ... 1st-4th thermoelectric)
25 ... Bypass passage (25a-25c ... 1st-3rd bypass passage)
27 ... damper (27a-27c ... 1st-3rd damper)
30 ... Fragrance storage part (fragrance storage means)
30a ... 1st fragrance | flavor storage part (fragrance | flavor storage means which discharge | releases a fragrance | flavor component)
30b ... 2nd fragrance | flavor storage part (fragrance | flavor storage means to discharge | release fragrance | flavor component)
30c ... 3rd fragrance | flavor storage part (fragrance | flavor storage means which discharge | releases deodorant component)
31 ... cartridge 50 ... air conditioning control unit (air conditioning control means)
55 ... Operation input unit 56 ... Stagger determination unit 57 ... Sheet position sensor (sheet position detection means)
58… Temperature sensor 59… Odor sensor
Agent Patent Attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (6)

A communication path communicating with the air outlet opening in the skin of the seat part;
Air blowing means for pumping the air in the communication path to the air outlet;
A plurality of thermoelectric bodies capable of selectively heating or cooling the air flowing through the communication passage by the blowing means;
A perfume storage means disposed so as to be capable of transferring heat with the thermoelectric body, and releasing a perfume component in an amount corresponding to a heat transfer state with the thermoelectric body into the communication path;
The temperature of the air blown out from the air outlet is controlled by controlling the thermoelectric body, and the heat transfer state from the thermoelectric body to the fragrance storing means is controlled to control the amount of the fragrance component released into the communication path. Air conditioning control means for variably controlling ,
A plurality of divided passages are disposed upstream of the communication passages, the thermoelectric bodies are disposed in the plurality of divided passages, respectively, and the plurality of divided passages are located on the downstream side of the thermoelectric body in the fragrance. An automobile seat comprising the divided passage communicating with the storage means and the divided passage not communicating with the fragrance storage means . Each other physician to be thermally transferable disposed in correspondence with the different the thermoelectric material by heat transfer with said corresponding thermoelectric material a plurality of said fragrance storage means for releasing each different perfume components within the communication passage Have
The air conditioning control means individually controls the heat transfer state from each thermoelectric body to each fragrance storage means and variably controls the ratio of each fragrance component released from each fragrance storage means. The automobile seat according to claim 1.   3. The automobile seat according to claim 2, wherein at least two of the fragrance storing means store different fragrance components as fragrance components.   4. The automobile seat according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the fragrance storing means stores a deodorant component as a fragrance component. A sheet position detecting means for detecting the sheet position of the sheet portion;
The air conditioning control means changes the ratio of each fragrance component released from each fragrance storage means in accordance with the seat position of the sheet portion. The automobile seat described in 1.   The automobile seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fragrance storing means is held in a cartridge that is detachable with respect to the communication path.

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