JP5471815B2 - Cloth material - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cloth material. Specifically, it is equipped with a plurality of conductive wires that can generate heat when energized, and by means of switching means connected to each conductive wire, each conductive wire generates heat and functions as a heater, and detection for detecting occupant seating The present invention relates to a cloth material that can be switched to a sensor mode that functions as an electrode.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle seat provided with a seat heater capable of generating heat when energized is known (see Patent Document 1). The seat heater is configured such that a conductive wire material that performs a heater function also functions as an electrode (sensor) that detects the seating of an occupant by switching a switch. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a plurality of conductive wire materials that perform the heater function as described above are woven into a cloth material. Specifically, each conductive wire is provided side by side in a specific in-plane direction inside the cloth material, and is electrically connected to form a parallel circuit.

JP 2008-24087 A JP 2007-227384 A

  However, when considering the configuration in which the cloth material described in Patent Document 2 is applied as the skin material constituting the seating surface of the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, the number of conductive wires is increased to improve the accuracy of seating detection. If increased, the total amount of current increases unnecessarily when used as a heater, leading to wasted power consumption. The present invention was devised as a solution to the above problem, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to increase the number of conductive wires provided on the cloth material and to improve the detection accuracy when used as a sensor. Even if it is increased, the power consumption when used as a heater can be suppressed as much as possible.

  The first invention includes a plurality of conductive wires capable of generating heat when energized, and a switching mode connected to each conductive wire detects a heater mode in which each conductive wire generates heat and functions as a heater, and occupant seating. The cloth material can be switched to a sensor mode that functions as a detection electrode. The plurality of conductive wires are provided side by side in a specific surface direction of the cloth material, and are electrically connected so as to form a parallel circuit. A second conductive wire having a higher resistance value than that of the first conductive wire was added in parallel to the first conductive wire having a predetermined resistance value that can function as a heater when energized and electrically connected.

  According to the first invention, by adding the second conductive wire material to the first conductive wire material, the number of conductive wire materials arranged on the cloth material is increased, and each conductive wire material is seated on the occupant. The detection accuracy when functioning as a detection electrode for detection is increased. Since the second conductive wire has a higher resistance value than the first conductive wire, the second conductive wire is electrically connected to form a parallel circuit with respect to the first conductive wire. Since current does not flow easily, power consumption can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the first conductive wire is added.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention described above, a plurality of first conductive wires having a predetermined resistance value are provided at predetermined intervals in a specific surface direction of the cloth material, and the predetermined intervals are provided. In this arrangement, a second conductive wire having a high resistance value is provided between the first conductive wires arranged side by side.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, the second conductive wire is provided between the first conductive wires arranged at a predetermined interval, so that even if the predetermined interval is widened, the seating is performed within the predetermined interval. Detection accuracy can be increased.

  According to a third invention, in the second invention described above, a plurality of second conductive wire materials having a high resistance value are provided between the first conductive wire materials arranged at a predetermined interval. It is.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, by providing a plurality of second conductive wire members between the first conductive wire members arranged at a predetermined interval, even if the predetermined interval is widened, The seating detection accuracy can be further increased.

It is a perspective view of the vehicle seat to which the cloth material of Example 1 was applied. It is a partially transparent top view of a cloth material. It is a circuit block diagram of an energization means.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using drawing.

  First, the structure of the fabric material 10 of Example 1 is demonstrated using FIGS. 1-3. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the fabric material 10 of the present embodiment is configured as a skin material that constitutes the seating surface of the seat cushion 2 of the vehicle seat 1. The cloth material 10 has embedded therein a plurality of conductive wire materials (first conductive wire material 11 and second conductive wire material 12) that can generate heat when energized, and each conductive wire material (first conductive wire material). 11, the second conductive wire 12) is energized to generate heat, thereby functioning as a heater. Each of the conductive wire materials (first conductive wire material 11 and second conductive wire material 12) is detected by a switching unit 20 described later in FIG. 3 in a heater mode that functions as a heater by the heat generation and detection of occupant seating. It is possible to switch to a sensor mode that functions as an electrode.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, each conductive wire (the first conductive wire 11 and the second conductive wire 12) extends straight in the sheet width direction LR inside the cloth material 10. Each of them is arranged in a row at a predetermined interval in the seat longitudinal direction FR. The first conductive wire 11 is formed by twisting a plurality of conductive yarns made of metal or alloy in a bundle, and a plurality of the first conductive wires 11 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval in the sheet front-rear direction FR. Yes.

  These first conductive wires 11 are configured to have a predetermined resistance value that can function as a heater when energized, and a predetermined interval that is opened in the seat front-rear direction FR is a seated person's buttocks, thighs, and the like The wide and narrow intervals are appropriately set so as to give a suitable thermal feeling for each body part. For example, by narrowing the interval in the front-rear direction FR of the seat where the first conductive wire 11 is disposed, the heat generation part becomes dense in the front-rear direction FR of the seat, and the thermal feeling given to the body part of the seated person can be enhanced. . Further, by widening the space in the front-rear direction FR of the seat on which the first conductive wire 11 is disposed, the heat generation part becomes sparse in the front-rear direction FR of the seat, and the thermal feeling given to the body part of the seated person can be reduced. it can.

  The second conductive wire 12 is formed by twisting a plurality of carbon fiber filaments (conductive yarns) into a bundle, and a plurality of second conductive wires 12 are arranged between the first conductive wires 11 (in the present embodiment). 2 each). Since the second conductive wire 12 is made of a material different from the first conductive wire 11 as described above, the resistance value is set to be about 10 times higher than that of the first conductive wire 11. As will be described later, a large amount of current flows mainly through the first conductive wire 11 by being electrically connected to form a parallel circuit together with the first conductive wire 11.

  The cloth material 10 is constituted by weaving false twisted yarn of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In addition to this, the fabric material 10 may be configured by a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a nonwoven fabric, or a braid (braid) made of a wire made of various insulating fibers. Examples of the insulating fiber include plant-based or animal-based natural fiber, chemical fiber made of thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin, or fiber made of these.

  When the conductive wire material (first conductive wire material 11 and second conductive wire material 12) is produced by weaving the cloth material 10, it is driven at every predetermined interval in which the wire material 10 is woven. 10 is embedded inside. The conductive wire (the first conductive wire 11 and the second conductive wire 12) may be provided by being attached to the back surface of the cloth material 10. A pad material and a back base fabric (not shown) are provided on the back surface of the cloth material 10. The cloth material 10 is electrically connected to each conductive wire (the first conductive wire 11 and the second conductive wire 12) by the energizing means 13 and electrically connected to each conductive wire (the first conductive wire 11 and the second conductive wire 12). The wire 12) functions as a heater by energizing it to generate heat, but in this embodiment, the switching means 20 connected to each conductive wire (first conductive wire 11, second conductive wire 12) is used. The conductive wires (first conductive wire 11 and second conductive wire 12) can be switched so as to function as detection electrodes for detecting the seating of the occupant.

  Hereinafter, a configuration for switching each of the conductive wires (first conductive wire 11 and second conductive wire 12) between the heater mode and the sensor mode will be described. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, each conductive wire (first conductive wire 11, second conductive wire 12) has both ends (both ends 11 </ b> A, 12 </ b> A) from each edge of the cloth material 10. Each is exposed to the outside of the seat, and the conductive power cable 13A is provided in an electrically connected state so as to straddle the exposed ends 11A and 12A on each side. Further, the strip-shaped connection tape 13C having conductivity is further applied to the exposed end portions 11A and 12A of the conductive wire materials (first conductive wire material 11 and second conductive wire material 12) on each side so as to straddle these connection portions. It is provided in a state of being welded and electrically connected to the partial portion. Thereby, the end portions 11A and 12A of the conductive wires on each side (the first conductive wire 11 and the second conductive wire 12) and the power cable 13A are well connected by the connecting tape 13C. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, the power cable 13A has an end on the high potential side connected to the positive terminal of the DC power source PS via the switch 13B1, and an end on the low potential side connected to the switch 13B2. To the negative electrode end of the DC power source PS. The switches 13B1 and 13B2 are switched by the switching means 20 so that the connection between the power cable 13A and the DC power supply PS is cut off or connected all at once. The switching means 20 is controlled to turn on / off each of the switches 13B1 and 13B2 in synchronization with data sampling of a microcomputer of the seating detection unit 30 described later.

  By connecting the power cable 13A and the DC power supply PS, as shown in FIG. 2, the first conductive wire 11 and the second conductive wire 12 are electrically connected to form a parallel circuit. Yes. Thereby, each conductive wire (the first conductive wire 11 and the second conductive wire 12) is energized with a relatively low voltage to generate heat. Specifically, the second conductive wire 12 has a resistance value that is about 10 times higher than that of the first conductive wire 11 and is difficult to flow current. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the first conductive wire 11 is disposed at a predetermined interval so that a suitable thermal feeling can be given to the seated person's buttocks and thighs. Even in the configuration in which a plurality of the second conductive wires 12 are further added, the current amount as a whole is less likely to increase and the power consumption is not wasted compared to the configuration in which the first conductive wires 11 are added.

  Each of the conductive wires (first conductive wire 11 and second conductive wire 12) is, as shown in FIG. 3, a detection electrode for detecting the seating of an occupant by a seating detection unit 30 connected to a power cable 13A. It is supposed to function as well. Specifically, each conductive wire (the first conductive wire 11 and the second conductive wire 12) is switched to the floating state by the switches 13B1 and 13B2 being turned off by the switching unit 20. The impedance change (electric potential change) due to the seating of the occupant is subjected to data sampling by the microcomputer of the seating detection unit 30, and the presence or absence of the seating is determined.

  The seating detection unit 30 includes a circuit having a capacitor, a band filter, a detection / smoothing circuit, an amplifier circuit, an A / D converter, and a microcomputer (not shown). The band-pass filter is configured as a resonance filter that passes a predetermined frequency value output from an AC power source (not shown), and the AC voltage component extracted from the band-pass filter is detected and smoothed by a detection / smoothing circuit, After the amplitude is increased, it is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter and read into a microcomputer. The microcomputer determines that the passenger is seated when the magnitude of the read digital signal becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value. The configuration of the seating detection unit 30 that detects the seating of an occupant using each of the conductive wires (first conductive wire 11 and second conductive wire 12) as a detection electrode is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-24087. Since it is a well-known thing disclosed in the literature, its detailed description will be omitted.

  Thus, according to the cloth material 10 of the present embodiment, the first conductive wire 11 having a predetermined resistance value that can function as a heater gives an appropriate thermal sensation to the seated person's buttocks and thighs. The necessary number of wires is provided at a predetermined interval, and a plurality of second conductive wires 12 are additionally provided while the predetermined interval is provided, so that the conductive wires disposed on the cloth material 10 are provided. By increasing the number, it is possible to increase the detection accuracy when each conductive wire functions as a detection electrode for detecting the seating of an occupant. Further, by electrically connecting the predetermined number of the first conductive wires 11 and the second conductive wires 12 having a resistance value about 10 times higher than the first conductive wires 11 so as to form a parallel circuit, Since current does not easily flow through the second conductive wire 12, power consumption can be reduced compared to the configuration in which the first conductive wire 11 is added. Therefore, even if the number of conductive wires arranged on the cloth material 10 is increased to increase the sensor accuracy, the power consumption when used as a heater can be suppressed as much as possible. Further, the arrangement of the first conductive wire rods 11 is made by providing a plurality of (two in this embodiment) second conductive wire rods 12 between the arrangements of the first conductive wire rods 11 arranged at a predetermined interval. Even if the interval is widened, the seating detection accuracy can be increased within the predetermined interval.

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment of the present invention has been described using one example, the present invention can be implemented in various forms in addition to the above example. In the above-described embodiment, the cloth material 10 is used as the skin material of the seat cushion 2 of the vehicle seat 1. However, it is assumed that the skin material of the portion that the seated person such as the seat back 3 contacts when seated It may be used. In addition, the conductive wire provided on the cloth material has a predetermined number (one or two or more) of first conductive wires capable of functioning as a heater when energized, and a second resistance value higher than that of the first conductive wire. It is sufficient that at least one conductive wire is provided in parallel, and the number of conductive wires is not particularly limited. In addition, the direction in which the conductive wire is arranged is only required to be arranged side by side in a specific surface direction of the cloth material. For example, in the above-described embodiment, each conductive wire is arranged so as to extend in the sheet front-rear direction of the cloth material. It may be. Moreover, in the said Example, although what attached the level of resistance value by changing a material with the 1st conductive wire material and the 2nd conductive wire material was illustrated, the resistance value level was changed by changing length and thickness. You may make it attach. Moreover, in the said Example, although the 2nd conductive wire 12 was arrange | positioned and electrically connected between the 1st conductive wires 11 arranged at a predetermined interval, it illustrated the 2nd conductive wire. It does not necessarily need to be provided between the first conductive wires, and may be provided at a location deviated from between the first conductive wires.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle seat 2 Seat cushion 3 Seat back 10 Cloth material 11 1st conductive wire 11A End part 12 2nd conductive wire 12A End part 13 Current supply means 13A Power supply cable 13B1, 13B2 Switch 13C Connection tape 20 Switching means 30 Seating detection Unit LR Seat width direction FR Seat longitudinal direction PS DC power supply

Claims (3)

A heater mode in which each conductive wire generates heat and functions as a heater by a switching means connected to each conductive wire, and a detection electrode that detects the seating of an occupant. A cloth material that can be switched to a sensor mode that functions as:
The plurality of conductive wires are arranged side by side in a specific surface direction of the cloth material and are electrically connected so as to form a parallel circuit, and have a predetermined resistance value that can function as a heater when energized. A cloth material, wherein a second conductive wire having a higher resistance value than that of the first conductive wire is added in parallel to the first conductive wire provided to be electrically connected. The cloth material according to claim 1,
A plurality of first conductive wire rods having the predetermined resistance value are provided at a predetermined interval in a specific surface direction of the cloth material, and the resistance value is provided between the first conductive wire rods arranged at a predetermined interval. A cloth material characterized in that the second conductive wire material having a high height is disposed. The cloth material according to claim 2,
A cloth material characterized in that a plurality of second conductive wire materials having a high resistance value are provided between the first conductive wire materials arranged at predetermined intervals.

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