JP7132500B2 - Posture determination device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a posture determination device for determining the posture of a seated person, and more particularly to a posture determination device capable of determining the posture of a seated person in a sitting state and encouraging correct posture.

Techniques have been developed for actively correcting a person's posture and skeletal distortion by, for example, pressing various parts of the person's body while the person is performing daily actions. For example, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, when a person sits on a vehicle seat with an air cell installed inside, the physique of the person sitting on the seat is determined to adjust the inflation pressure of the air cell, and the seating posture of the seated person is actively adjusted. correct it. As a result, it is possible to reduce the physical and mental fatigue of the seated person while sitting on the seat.

JP 2014-104865 A

By the way, in many cases, the person himself or herself is not conscious of his or her own posture when seated, and for example, there is a possibility that the person sits in a stooped state. In order to correct the posture, it is preferable to measure the posture of the seated person and warn the seated person of the health condition based on the determination result of the posture so as to prompt the seated person to take a normal posture.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to determine the posture of a seated person and to encourage the seated person to assume a normal posture according to the determined posture. An object of the present invention is to provide a determination device.

According to the posture determination device of the present invention, the posture determination device having a sitting portion and a backrest includes a pressure sensor that is provided on the seat portion and the backrest and measures the pressure received from the seated person; a storage unit for storing posture information indicating a relationship between a measured value of pressure received from a person and the posture pattern of the seated person; and a measurement result measured by the pressure sensor and the posture information stored in the storage unit. and a controller that determines the posture pattern of the seated person by comparison, and detects the hardness of the hamstring muscles of the seated person based on the determined posture pattern.
The posture pattern of the seated person can be determined by comparing the measurement result of the pressure sensor and the posture information, and based on the result, it is possible to prompt the seated person to adopt an appropriate posture pattern. Further, by detecting the hardness of the hamstring muscles, it is possible to obtain information for determining, for example, the state of a stooped back and the risk of back pain.

Further, in the posture determination device described above, the seating portion and the backrest are provided with a pressing mechanism for pressing the back, buttocks and legs of the seated person, and the control portion controls the posture of the seated person based on the posture pattern. The pressing mechanism may be controlled to correct posture.
A pressing mechanism for pressing the back, buttocks, and legs of the seated person is provided, and the control unit controls the pressing mechanism based on the posture pattern, so that the posture of the seated person can be corrected according to the posture pattern. .

Further, in the posture determination device described above, when it is determined that the hamstring muscles of the seated person are hard, the hamstring muscles of the seated person may be kneaded by the pressing mechanism of the seat portion.
By kneading the hamstring muscles with the pressing mechanism, the amount of curvature of the lumbar spine is improved, and for example, a hunched posture pattern can be corrected to an optimum posture pattern.

Further, in the posture determination device described above, a display unit for displaying information is provided, and the control unit determines the risk of low back pain based on the posture pattern and the hardness of the hamstring muscles determined, and determines the risk of low back pain. A corresponding warning screen may be displayed on the display unit.
By judging the degree of risk of low back pain of the seated person and displaying a warning screen on the display unit, it is possible to inform the seated person of the risk of low back pain and prompt the seated person to adopt an appropriate posture pattern.

Further, in the posture determination device described above, a communication unit capable of communicating with the outside is provided, and when the control unit determines that the risk of low back pain is high, the determination result is sent to the contact information registered in advance in the storage unit. may be transmitted by the communication unit.
For example, by automatically informing a family medical institution or the like that there is a high risk of low back pain, it becomes possible to take appropriate measures before low back pain develops.

It is possible to determine the posture pattern of the seated person by comparing the result measured by the pressure sensor with the posture information, and eventually to prompt the seated person to adopt the posture pattern. Also, by detecting the hardness of the hamstring muscles, it is possible to obtain information such as the risk of low back pain.
Further, a pressing mechanism for pressing the back, buttocks, and legs of the seated person is provided, and the control unit controls the pressing mechanism based on the posture pattern, so that the posture of the seated person can be corrected according to the posture pattern. become.
By kneading the hamstring muscles with the pressing mechanism, the amount of curvature of the lumbar spine is improved, and for example, a hunched posture pattern can be corrected to an optimum posture pattern.
In addition, by judging the degree of risk of low back pain of the seated person and displaying a warning screen on the display unit, it is possible to inform the seated person of the risk of low back pain and prompt the seated person to adopt an appropriate posture pattern.
In addition, by automatically informing a family medical institution or the like that there is a high risk of low back pain, it becomes possible to take appropriate measures before low back pain develops.

1 is a diagram showing a vehicle seat equipped with a posture determination device of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a posture pattern that is an ideal spinal state; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a posture pattern that is a state of a hunched spine. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a posture pattern that is a state of a spine with a tendency to arch. 1 is a configuration diagram of a posture determination device; FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a seated person and a vehicle seat. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the posture determination device; FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing for determining a posture pattern; FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing for determining a low back pain risk level; 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of curvature of the lumbar spine in the sitting position and the angle of the pelvis in the sitting position; It is a figure which shows a warning screen. It is a figure which shows another example of a warning screen.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9B. In the following description, the front-rear direction is the front-rear direction of the vehicle, that is, the direction that coincides with the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the left-right direction is the direction that coincides with the width direction of the vehicle and the vehicle seat. be.

A posture determination device 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted on a seat (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle seat) S provided in a vehicle, as shown in FIG. The vehicle seat S on which the posture determination device 10 is mounted may be any of a driver's seat, a front passenger's seat, and a rear seat.
Then, the posture determination device 10 presses the back portion of the person seated on the vehicle seat S to actively determine the posture pattern of the person. Here, the posture pattern is an index relating to the posture of the seated person. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. The posture pattern is determined by the state of FIG. 2A shows a posture pattern that is an ideal spinal state, in which the arc shape BL is formed in a gentle S shape. FIG. 2B shows a posture pattern in which the spine is in a stooped posture, in which the arc shape BL is not formed in an S shape and the back is rounded. Also, FIG. 2C shows a posture pattern in which the spine tends to curve, and the arc shape BL is formed in an S shape with a large curve.

The basic configuration of the vehicle seat S on which the posture determination device 10 is mounted is the same as a known configuration. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat S includes a seat back S1 (an example of a backrest) that supports the back of the seated person, and a seat cushion S2 that supports the buttocks. (an example of a seating portion) and a headrest S3 for supporting the head. The headrest S3 is supported by a pair of headrest pillars HP (not shown) attached to the upper end of the seatback S1, and the headrest S3 is vertically movable even when fixed to the seatback S1. It may be

The seat back S1 has a back pad BP (not shown) that contacts the back of the seated person via a skin material. Furthermore, the seat back S1 includes a back-side pressing unit 11 of the posture determination device 10 between the back pad BP and the upholstery material.
The back-side pressing unit 11 is composed of a plurality of air cells 1, and includes a first back-side pressing mechanism 11a that presses the shoulders BN1 of the seated person, a second back-side pressing mechanism 11b that presses the waist BN2 and the sacrum BN3, and a side portion of the back. A third back-side pressing mechanism 11c for pressing is provided. A pressure sensor 4 is provided in each of the first back-side pressing mechanism 11a, the second back-side pressing mechanism 11b, and the third back-side pressing mechanism 11c. The back-side pressing unit 11 includes an actuator 3 that adjusts the inflated state of each air cell 1 . The first back-side pressing mechanism 11a, the second back-side pressing mechanism 11b, and the third back-side pressing mechanism 11d are held by a holding frame (not shown).

The seat cushion S2 has a cushion pad CP (not shown) that comes into contact with the buttocks and legs of the seated person via a skin material. Further, the seat cushion S2 includes a leg-side pressing unit 12 of the posture determination device 10 between the cushion pad CP and the upholstery material. The leg-side pressing unit 12 includes a first leg-side pressing mechanism 12a that presses the buttocks, a second leg-side pressing mechanism 12b that presses the legs, and a third leg-side pressing mechanism 12c that presses the sides of the buttocks. A pressure sensor 4 is provided in each of the first leg-side pressing mechanism 12a, the second leg-side pressing mechanism 12b, and the third leg-side pressing mechanism 12c. The leg-side pressing unit 12 also includes an actuator 3 that adjusts the inflated state of the air cell 1 of each pressing mechanism. The first leg-side pressing mechanism 12a to the third leg-side pressing mechanism 12c are held by a holding frame (not shown).

Each air cell 1 is filled with air and expands to push out the back pad BP positioned in front and press the back of the seated person. As a result, a pressing force acts on the back of the seated person.

In this embodiment, each of the air cells 1 is arranged on the front side of the back pad BP and on the upper side of the cushion pad CP. In this case, the air cell 1 presses against the back side of the seated person via the skin material, so that the response (response sensitivity) to the pressure of the air cell 1 is good. The air cell 1 may be arranged behind the back pad BP or below the cushion pad CP.

The actuator 3 adjusts the swelling state of each air cell 1 to switch the pressing states of the first back-side pressing mechanism 11a to third back-side pressing mechanism 11c and the first leg-side pressing mechanism 12a to third leg-side pressing mechanism 12c. It is. Specifically, the actuator 3 is connected to each air cell 1 via a tube (not shown), and performs air encapsulation in each air cell 1 and air extraction from each air cell 1 . As a result, the pressing state when the first back-side pressing mechanism to the third back-side pressing mechanism 11c and the first leg-side pressing mechanism 12a to the third leg-side pressing mechanism 12c press the back of the seated person is switched. . Here, the pressing state is a general term for the direction of pressing, the location of pressing, the magnitude of pressing force, and the like.

In this embodiment, the actuator 3 is attached to a predetermined position of the back frame, for example, to the back side of the seat back S1 as shown in FIG.

In addition, the actuator 3 according to the present embodiment includes the air cells 1 constituting the first back-side pressing mechanism 11a to the third back-side pressing mechanism 11c and the first leg-side pressing mechanism 12a to the third leg-side pressing mechanism 12c. It is possible to adjust the inflation state for each air cell 1 .

The air cells 1 constituting each of the first back-side pressing mechanism 11a to the third back-side pressing mechanism 11c may be fixed to the movable plate MP. When the air cell 1 is fixed to the movable plate MP, a movable rail MR extending along the height direction of the seatback S1 is attached to the rear surface of the movable plate MP. The movable rail MR is attached so as to be movable relative to a fixed rail FR fixed to the front surface of the support plate PL. Further, between the movable rail MR and the fixed rail FR, there is provided a driving portion Gm that operates to move the movable rail MR. The drive unit Gm is a drive roller controlled by the ECU described above, and when it rotates, the movable rail MR moves with respect to the fixed rail FR. All of the first back-side pressing mechanism 11a to third back-side pressing mechanism 11c may be fixed to one movable plate MP, and for each of the first back-side pressing mechanism 11a to third back-side pressing mechanism 11c The movable plate MP may be provided separately. With such a configuration, it is possible to independently move the first back-side pressing mechanism 11a to the third back-side pressing mechanism 11c.

The air cells 1 constituting each of the first leg-side pressing mechanism 12a to the third leg-side pressing mechanism 12c are similarly fixed to the movable plate MP (not shown). A movable rail MR extending along the horizontal direction of the seat cushion S2 is attached to the rear surface of the movable plate MP. The movable rail MR is attached so as to be movable relative to a fixed rail FR fixed to the front surface of the support plate PL. Further, between the movable rail MR and the fixed rail FR, there is provided a driving portion Gm that operates to move the movable rail MR. The drive unit Gm is a drive roller controlled by the ECU described above, and when it rotates, the movable rail MR moves with respect to the fixed rail FR.

With the configuration described above, the posture determination device 10 has the first back-side pressing mechanism 11a to the third back-side pressing mechanism 11c and the first leg-side pressing mechanism according to the physique of the seated person M seated on the vehicle seat S. It is possible to change the positions of the third leg side pressing mechanism 12a to the third leg side pressing mechanism 12c. As a result, it is possible to correct the posture pattern of the seated person regardless of their height.

As described above, in this embodiment, each air cell 1 can individually adjust the pressing state when each region on the back side of the seated person is pressed. In addition, the air cell 1 can be used to adjust the pressing state when pressing the leg and buttock areas of the seated person. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the hamstring muscles H and gluteal muscles D of the seated person M can be kneaded. The hamstring muscle is a muscle that forms the rear surface of the human lower leg, and is a combination of three muscles on the rear surface of the thigh: the biceps femoris muscle, the semimembranosus muscle, and the semitendinosus muscle.

By the way, in this embodiment, the sealing and extraction of air by the actuator 3 is automatically controlled by an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as an ECU), not shown. More specifically, the vehicle seat S is equipped with a measuring device that measures index values relating to the skeleton when the seated person M sits on the vehicle seat S. As shown in FIG. Here, the index value related to the skeleton is a value that changes according to the bending state of the skeleton of the seated person M, specifically, the curvature of each part of the spine. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, each air cell 1 is equipped with a pressure sensor 4 as a measuring instrument. This pressure sensor 4 measures the seat surface pressure balance, weight, sitting position pelvis angle, etc. as an example of the above index values. The measurement result of the pressure sensor 4 is transmitted to the ECU, and the ECU calculates the sitting lumbar curvature amount of the seated person M based on the measurement result of the pressure sensor 4 .

After calculating the amount of sitting lumbar curvature of the seated person, the ECU determines the posture pattern of the seated person. Specifically, the ECU determines whether or not the posture of the seated person corresponds to any one of the posture patterns shown in FIGS.

The ECU 50 includes a controller 51 (control section) that controls various devices and a memory 52 (storage section) that stores data, as shown in FIG. The memory 52 stores posture information 55 indicating the relationship between the measured value of the pressure received from the seated person M and the posture pattern of the seated person. The posture information 55 is the sitting posture pelvis angle α (see FIG. 4, the angle between the pelvis A and the vertical plane B with respect to the direction C in which the seat back S1 extends) according to the body weight, etc., in order to determine whether the posture information 55 is a stooped posture or a warped posture. ) are recorded. Moreover, the posture determination device 10 may include a display unit 53 that displays the determination result of the ECU 50 . Further, a communication unit 54 that transmits the determination result to the outside may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the controller 51 first measures the pressure received from the pressure sensor 4 to determine whether or not the seated person M, for example, the driver is seated (S101). The seat pressure and weight of the seated person M are acquired (S102), the sitting position pelvis angle α (see FIG. 4) is calculated, and the posture information 55 stored in the memory 52 is compared with the posture information 55 stored in the memory 52 to determine the posture pattern of the seated person M. is determined (S103). Also, based on the determined posture pattern of the seated person M, the hardness of the hamstring muscles of the seated person M is detected (S104).

The processing for determining the posture pattern will be described with reference to the flow shown in FIG. 6 and the graph of FIG. 8 showing the relationship between the sitting posture lumbar curvature amount and the sitting posture pelvis angle.

FIG. 8 will be described. The amount of curvature of the lumbar spine in the sitting position and the posture pattern are related, and when the amount of curvature of the lumbar spine in the sitting position is equal to or less than a predetermined value, for example, 5 mm or less, it can be determined that there is a hunchback tendency (range A). Furthermore, when the sitting lumbar spine curvature amount is 0 mm or less, it can be determined that the risk of low back pain is high (range D). Also, when the amount of curvature of the lumbar spine in the sitting position is 10 mm or more, it can be determined that there is a tendency to arch the back (range C). If the amount of sitting lumbar curvature is in the range of 5-10 mm, the posture pattern is determined to be ideal. Note that the threshold value for the lumbar curvature amount in the sitting position is an example, and varies depending on the weight, height, and the like of the sitting person.

The sitting lumbar curvature amount and the sitting pelvis angle are correlated as shown in FIG. 8, and the sitting lumbar curvature amount can be estimated from the sitting pelvis angle. The sitting pelvic angle can be measured from the pressure sensor 4 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the posture pattern is determined based on the sitting pelvis angle α.

When determining the posture pattern, the sitting pelvic angle α is compared with the threshold value T1 (approximately 10°) recorded in the posture information 55 (S201). If the sitting pelvic angle α is equal to or less than the threshold T1 (No in S201), it is determined that there is no arched back tendency, and then compared with the threshold T2 (approximately 5°) (S202). If the sitting pelvis angle α is higher than the threshold value T2, it is determined that the sitting pelvis angle α falls within the ideal posture range B and that the sitting lumbar curvature amount is a normal value.

If the sitting pelvis angle α is greater than the threshold value T1 (Yes in S201), it is determined that the posture pattern is the arched back tendency (S204). At this time, the ECU 50 drives the actuator 3 to press the back of the seated person M using the first back-side pressing mechanism 11a to the third back-side pressing mechanism 11c of the back-side pressing unit 11, thereby correcting the posture. .

If the sitting pelvis angle α is smaller than the threshold value T2 (Yes in S202), it is determined that the posture pattern is stooped (S206). It should be noted that there is a relationship between the stiffness of the hamstring muscles and the stooped posture. Therefore, it is easy to tend to stoop. Therefore, if the posture pattern is determined to be stooped in S206, the leg side pressing unit 12, especially the first leg side pressing mechanism 12a is used to knead the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles (S207). By kneading the hamstring muscles, the hamstring muscles become soft and stretchable, moving the pelvis forward. Therefore, the stooped posture of the seated person can be corrected. In S205 and S207, after correcting the posture by moving the pressing mechanism for a while, the process of determining the posture pattern may end. Alternatively, the sitting pelvis angle α and the posture information 55 may be compared again, and the comparison may be repeated until the posture pattern becomes ideal.

Next, the processing for low back pain risk determination will be described. If the posture pattern shows a hunched posture, or if the amount of curvature of low back pain in the sitting position is a considerably low value, it can be determined that the risk of low back pain is high. For example, if the amount of bending of the lower back in the sitting position is 0 mm or less (the pelvic angle in the sitting position is T3 or less), it can be estimated that the back is extremely stooped. In the posture determination device 10 of the present embodiment, when the posture pattern is determined to indicate a hunched posture, and when the sitting pelvic angle is lower than the threshold value T3 (Yes in S303), it is determined that the posture is extremely hunched and the risk of low back pain is high. Determine (S306). In this case, a warning screen is displayed on the display, which is the display unit 53 (S308). Furthermore, if the memory 52 has contact information when the back pain risk is high, for example, the e-mail address of the family hospital or server information, the determination result by the ECU 50 is sent to the contact information via the communication unit 54. You may send that the risk of low back pain is high (S309). Even if it is determined in S303 that the posture pattern is stooped but the risk of low back pain is low (S304) even if the posture pattern is stooped but the sitting pelvic angle is higher than the threshold value T3, the risk of low back pain is low. may be displayed (S305).

As described above, the posture determination device 10 includes the display section 53 that displays the determination result of the ECU 50 . The display unit 53 is, for example, a display attached to the vehicle or a smart phone used by the seated person. The ECU 50 and the display/smartphone may be directly connected by a cable or the like, or may be wirelessly connected by a wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the display unit 53 displays a warning screen 60 indicating the posture pattern determined by the ECU 50, the degree of risk of low back pain, and the like.

On the display unit 53, as a warning screen 60, an illustration 61 showing one of the posture patterns and character information (for example, "hunchback") are displayed as shown in FIG. displayed at the same time. Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, when it is determined that the person has a hunched posture, a message display section 62 on the screen indicates the future risk associated with the hunched posture. For example, the message display section 62 displays a warning message such as ``Beware of stiff shoulders, lower back pain, gastrointestinal disorders due to pressure on internal organs, etc.'' as future risks (degree of risk) due to stooping. In addition, the message display section 62 may display information about the cause of the stooped posture. For example, "the pelvis is tilted backward", "muscle imbalance", etc. are displayed. Also, a message prompting an ideal posture may be displayed in the message display section 62 on the screen. For example, the message "By raising your pelvis while paying attention to your back and pectoral muscles, you can train your muscles and maintain your ideal posture." is displayed. Also, an illustration of an ideal posture may be separately displayed together with the illustration of the stooped back.

FIG. 9B shows another example of the warning screen displayed on the display unit 53. As shown in FIG. On the warning screen 60a, an illustration 61a of the current posture pattern is shown in the "Before" column, and an illustration 61b of the ideal posture pattern after the posture is corrected is shown in the "After" column. Visualizing changes in posture encourages improvement in posture. At that time, a warning screen 60a displays that the waist is pressed by the pressing device and the hamstring muscles are softened by the pressing device on the seat surface, so that the lumbar spine curvature amount is corrected and the back and pelvis angle is normalized. good too. Also, in the message display section 62a of the screen, as a message to encourage an ideal posture, for example, "By raising your pelvis with awareness of your back and pectoralis major muscles, you can train your muscles and maintain your ideal posture." content is displayed.

When it is determined that the risk of low back pain is high, the ECU 50 automatically searches nearby hospitals, etc., and displays the results to the seated person when displaying the determination result of the low back pain risk on the display. You may make it display and introduce a hospital. In addition to saving the trouble of searching for a hospital, in case of emergency, for example, when a passenger develops back pain, the driver can immediately respond and take the passenger to the referred hospital.

After determining the posture pattern of the seated person M, the ECU 50 controls the actuator 3 and causes the actuator 3 to adjust the swelling state of the air cell 1 according to the posture pattern of the seated person. For example, if the posture pattern is determined to be a stooped back, the air cell 1 placed on the seat surface is adjusted to knead the hamstring muscles/gluteus muscles of the seated person and increase the amount of change in the amount of curvature of the lumbar spine. . When it is determined that the posture pattern has a tendency to warp back (anti-lumbar), the actuator 3 controls the air cells 1 arranged in the seat back S1 to press the shoulders, thereby lowering the amount of lumbar curvature.

Thus, by using the posture determination device 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to determine the posture of the seated person and encourage the seated person to adopt a normal posture according to the determined posture. Furthermore, the air cells 1 provided in the seat cushion S2 and the seat back S1 make it possible to encourage improvement of the posture of the seated person.

Note that the measuring device for measuring the index value for the posture pattern is not limited to the pressure sensor 4, and may be any other measuring device as long as it can measure the index value for the posture pattern. A shape sensor for measurement may be used.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a collision load is applied from the rear of the vehicle while the occupant is seated on the vehicle seat S, the actuator 3 extracts air from all the air cells 1 at once. More specifically, when the ECU detects that a collision load from the rear has been applied to the vehicle, the actuator 3 is controlled to extract the air from each air cell 1 . As a result, when a load is applied to the vehicle from behind, the occupant's body can slip behind the vehicle seat S, so that the safety of the occupant can be ensured in the event of a rear collision. Become.

In this embodiment, when the ECU 50 detects that a collision load is applied from the rear of the vehicle, the actuator 3 extracts air from each air cell 1 according to a command from the ECU 50. It may be configured such that the air in the air cell 1 is mechanically extracted when a load is applied.

In the above embodiment, the posture determination device 10 of the present invention has been mainly described. However, the above-described embodiments are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

The vehicle seat S may be interlocked with the vehicle body in which it is mounted. For example, when the vehicle starts suddenly or brakes suddenly, the hip displacement may be suppressed by moving the side supports or the thigh supports.

The pelvis of the seated person M may be fixed by the third leg-side pressing mechanism 12c and then kneaded to enhance the effect of improving the posture. At this time, the position and pressure of the pressing mechanism are automatically adjusted according to differences in physique and individual differences.

A frame that supports the pressing mechanism may be provided on the seat surface so that the first leg side pressing mechanism 12a exerts an optimum pressure for pressing the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles of the seated person M.

In addition, when the seated person M is seated, the posture determination device 10 inflates the first leg-side pressing mechanism 12a to the third leg-side pressing mechanism 12c of the leg-side pressing unit 12 so as to support the pelvis, thereby preventing the buttocks from shifting. and may hold the occupant in the correct position.

A heater may be provided in the actuator, and when the seated person M is kneaded, the air may be warmed by the heater and the warmed air may be sent to the air cell. Alternatively, the actuator may be provided with an air cooler, the air may be cooled by the air cooler, and the cold air may be sent to the air cell 1 . By adjusting the temperature of the air cell 1, the seated person can be comfortably kneaded.

Also, when inflating the air cell, not only air but also temperature-controlled gel or liquid may be sent. The use of gels or liquids increases the heat storage effect and allows the desired temperature to be maintained for a longer period of time.

The kneading effect may be enhanced by vibrating the air cells 1 provided in the back-side pressing unit 11 and the leg-side pressing unit 12 . Further, the vehicle seat S may be provided with a heater, and the body of the seated person M may be heated in advance by the heater to enhance the kneading effect.

Also, by kneading not only the back and hamstring muscles of the seated person M, but also the lumbar spine, the range of motion of the lumbar spine may be increased, and the effect of improving the posture may be enhanced. For example, by stretching the lumbar vertebrae, the range of motion of the intervertebral discs is increased due to the stretching effect, and the effect of improving posture is enhanced.

Further, the vehicle seat S may be interlocked with an automatic braking system mounted on the vehicle body. For example, the seated person's buttocks are prevented from slipping by moving the third back-side pressing mechanism 11c (side support) and the second leg-side pressing mechanism 12b (thigh support) at the time of sudden start or sudden braking. Further, for example, when the automatic brake is applied, the posture determination device 10 of the vehicle seat S, that is, the massage device and the posture correction device may be controlled to automatically stop.

Alternatively, the change in the posture of the seated person may be measured in real time, the state of fatigue of the seated person may be predicted based on the change in posture, and the kneading air cells (leg-side pressing unit 12) may be operated to massage. For example, even if the driver is in a normal posture at the beginning of driving, the driver may become stooped as the driver continues to drive. You can read the fluctuations and knead your gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles to soften them before you stoop so that you can have the correct posture.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the posture determination device mounted on the vehicle seat S has been described as an example. However, the posture determination device of the present invention can be applied to a seat other than the vehicle seat S, such as a medical bed, an office chair, a waiting room bench, an airplane seat, a train seat, a ship seat, a bus/taxi driver seat, It can also be mounted on chairs for dental treatment, sofas for home use, and seats (seats) installed in commercial facilities such as movie theaters and public facilities such as hospitals.

Further, by laying a seat cover-like mat with a built-in pressure sensor on the existing vehicle seat S as a retrofit, the flexibility of the hamstring muscles may be determined based on the posture detection.

M Seated person H Hamstring muscle D Gluteus maximus muscle BN1 Shoulder BN2 Waist BN3 Sacrum BL Arc shape S Vehicle seat S1 Seat back S2 Seat cushion S3 Headrest 1 Air cell 3 Actuator 4 Pressure sensor 10 Posture determination device 11 Back-side pressing unit 11a First Back-side pressing mechanism 11b Second back-side pressing mechanism 11c Third back-side pressing mechanism 12 Leg-side pressing unit 12a First leg-side pressing mechanism 12b Second leg-side pressing mechanism 12c Third leg-side pressing mechanism 50 ECU
51 control unit 52 storage unit 53 display unit 54 communication unit 55 posture information 60, 60a warning screens 61, 61a, 62b illustrations 62, 62a message display unit

Claims (5)

A posture determination device having a sitting portion and a backrest,
a pressure sensor provided on the seat portion and the backrest for measuring the pressure received from the seated person;
a storage unit for storing posture information indicating a relationship between a measured value of pressure received from a seated person and a posture pattern of the seated person;
A measurement result measured by the pressure sensor is compared with the posture information stored in the storage unit to determine a posture pattern of the seated person, and a hamstring muscle of the seated person is determined based on the determined posture pattern. and a control unit that detects the hardness of the posture determination device. The seating portion and the backrest are provided with a pressing mechanism for pressing the back, buttocks and legs of the seated person,
2. The posture determination device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the pressing mechanism so as to correct the posture of the seated person based on the posture pattern. 3. The posture determination device according to claim 2, wherein, when it is determined that the hamstring muscles of the seated person are hard, the pressing mechanism of the seat portion kneads the hamstring muscles of the seated person. Equipped with a display for displaying information,
3. The control unit determines a risk of low back pain based on the posture pattern and the hardness of the hamstring muscles determined, and displays a warning screen corresponding to the risk of low back pain on the display unit. 4. The posture determination device according to any one of 1 to 3. Equipped with a communication unit that can communicate with the outside,
5. The posture according to claim 4, wherein, when the control unit determines that the risk of back pain is high, the communication unit transmits the determination result to a contact registered in advance in the storage unit. judgment device.

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