JPH04224709A - Seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce fatigue due to load concentration, and at the same time, suppress and incongruous feeling due to collapse of the relationship between pelvis and lumber vertebrae. CONSTITUTION:A seat which consists of a seat cushion and a seat back, and is characterized in that a means, which interlock-controls the alteration of supporting surface angles of the seat cushion and the seat back by a specified timing, is equipped.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat in which the supporting surface angles of a seat cushion and a seat back can be changed at a predetermined timing.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional sheet of this type is the one shown in FIG. 7, which is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-257333. This seat S consists of a seat cushion 101 and a seat back 103, and inside each support part such as a front support part, a center support part, and a side support part, there is a front air mat 105, a center air mat 107, and cushion side air mats 109, 111, respectively. , backside air mats 113 and 115 are provided, and the shape of the seat support surface of the seat S is changed by inflating and deflating each air mat. Therefore, it is possible to reduce fatigue when driving for a long time.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with the conventional structure as described above, even when each air mattress inflates and deflates, there is almost no change in the posture of the occupant in the longitudinal direction, and it is not possible to reduce the concentration of load applied to the cushion. However, it has been difficult to reduce fatigue caused by load concentration.

On the other hand, if the seat back 103 is moved to recline by a predetermined amount at a predetermined timing, the upper body of the occupant will also fall backwards, so that the seat cushion 1
The load applied to 01 is also reduced, and fatigue due to load concentration can be alleviated.

[0005] However, simply reclining the seat back 103 may cause discomfort due to the collapse of the relationship between the pelvis and the lumbar vertebrae.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a seat that can reduce fatigue due to load concentration and also suppress discomfort caused by the collapse of the relationship between the pelvis and lumbar vertebrae.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides interlocking control of changes in the support surface angles of the seat cushion and seat back at predetermined timing in a seat consisting of a seat cushion and a seat back. The structure is equipped with means.

[0008]

[Operation] By controlling at a predetermined timing by the control means, changes in the supporting surface angles of the seat cushion and seat back are performed in conjunction with each other, thereby preventing load concentration on the seat cushion, etc., and also improving the relationship between the pelvis and lumbar vertebrae. can be maintained.

[0009]

[Embodiments] Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a structural diagram of a vehicle seat as a seat S according to an embodiment of the present invention. This vehicle seat S is composed of a seat cushion 1 and a seat back 3. Seat cushion 1 is
The seat slide mechanism 5 supports the vehicle floor 7 and is capable of sliding in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A slide position sensor 9 is attached to the seat slide mechanism 5 so as to be able to detect the longitudinal slide position of the seat cushion 1.

The seat cushion 1 also has a front lifter mechanism 11 and a rear lifter mechanism 1 with respect to the seat slide mechanism 5.
3, and is movable up and down with respect to the seat slide mechanism 5, that is, with respect to the vehicle body floor 7. The front lifter mechanism 11 and the rear lifter mechanism 13 are driven by a front drive motor 15 and a rear drive motor 17, respectively.

Further, inside the seat cushion 1, a front lift sensor 19 is attached to the front part corresponding to the front lifter mechanism 11, and a front lift sensor 19 is attached to the rear part corresponding to the rear lifter mechanism 13.
A rear lift sensor 21 is attached.

[0013] The seat back 3 is attached to the seat cushion 1 via a reclining mechanism 23 so that it can be raised and lowered. This reclining mechanism 23 is driven by a reclining drive motor 25. In addition, a back angle sensor 2 is located inside the seat back 3.
7 is attached so that the reclining angle of the seat back 3 can be detected.

The above-mentioned front drive motor 15, rear drive motor 17, front lift sensor 19, rear lift sensor 21,
The reclining drive motor 25 and the back angle sensor 27 are connected to a controller 29. Based on the detection signals of the front lift sensor 19, the rear lift sensor 21, and the back angle sensor 27, the controller 29
Each drive motor 15, 17, and 25 is controlled in conjunction with each other at a predetermined timing.

Therefore, including the controller 29, the front lifter mechanism 11, the rear lifter mechanism 13, the front drive motor 15, the rear drive motor 17, the front lift sensor 19, the rear lifter sensor 21, the reclining mechanism 23, the reclining drive motor 25, and the back angle. In this embodiment, the sensor 27 constitutes a means for interlockingly controlling changes in the support surface angles of the seat cushion 1 and the seat back 3 at predetermined timing.

Note that an ignition switch 31, a position memory 33, and a timer 35 are connected to the controller 29.

Next, the operation will be explained.

When the front drive motor 15 and the rear drive motor 17 are driven under the control of the controller 29, the front lifter mechanism 11 and the rear lifter mechanism 13 are driven, and the seat cushion 1 is moved relative to the seat slide mechanism 5. In other words, the angle of the vehicle body floor 7 is changed. Further, by driving the reclining drive motor 25, the angle of the support surface of the seat back 3 is changed via the reclining mechanism 23.

When changing the support surface angle of the seat cushion 1, the front lift position of the seat cushion 1 is detected by the front lift sensor 19, and the rear lift position of the seat cushion 1 is detected by the rear lift sensor 21. Further, when changing the support surface angle of the seat back 3, the back angle sensor 27 detects the inclination angle of the seat back 3.

In this manner, in this embodiment, under the control of the controller 29, changes in the support surface angles of the seat cushion 1 and the seat back 3 are controlled in conjunction with each other at predetermined timings.

An example of such an angle change is shown in FIG. 2, for example. In other words, the angle is changed at a predetermined timing in both the state shown in FIG. 2(a) and the state shown in FIG. By changing the angle as shown in Fig. 2(b),
When operating in the state shown in (b), the angle is changed as shown in (a) of the same figure after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and the operation is then continued in this state.

FIG. 3 shows changes in the occupant's posture due to changes in the angles of the seat cushion 1 and seat back 3 shown in FIG. 2. In this FIG. 3, the solid line A indicates the posture of the occupant when seated in the state shown in FIG. 2(a), and the dashed line B in FIG.
The figure shows the posture of the occupant when seated in the state shown in (b).

[0023] Here, α is the hip angle around the occupant's waist formed by the angle formed by the seat cushion 1 and the seat back 3, and β is the angle formed by the occupant's upper body with the vertical direction. It corresponds to the angle. γ is the angle that the thigh makes with the horizontal, and is centered at the knee point NP. When the angles of the seat cushion 1 and the seat back 3 are changed as described above, and the angle change is θ, the backward inclination angle of the occupant's body also becomes θ, as shown in FIG. 3, and the hip angle α is maintained as is. At this time, the position of the NP is maintained as it is.

[0024] In this way, by changing the angle of the seat cushion 1 and the seat back 3 in conjunction with each other, it is possible to prevent load concentration caused by sitting for a long time, promote blood circulation, and reduce fatigue. Further, due to the change in the posture of the occupant as shown in FIG. 3, the occupant's buttocks will not shift even during sudden deceleration. Since the hip angle α is maintained as it is, the relationship between the pelvis and lumbar vertebrae does not collapse, and there is no discomfort. Furthermore, since the position of the NP does not change, the positional relationship between the knees, ankles, and pedals does not change, so there is no change in the driving operation characteristics.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart under the control of the controller 29.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether the ignition switch 31 is ON. If it is ON, the timer 35 is turned ON in step S2. In stop S3, it is determined whether the time t exceeds the time t0 set by the timer, and if it is determined that the time t exceeds the time t0, the process moves to step S4. Therefore, the set time t0
The following processing is not performed until the time period has elapsed, and during this time, the occupant can manually adjust the driving position, such as the longitudinal position, vertical position, and inclination angle of the seat cushion 1, and the inclination angle of the seat back 3. .

The driving position thus adjusted is stored in the position memory by detection by the slide position sensor 9, front lift sensor 19, rear lift sensor 21, and back angle sensor 27.

Next, in step S5, the coordinates of the passenger's knee in the longitudinal direction and height direction, that is, NP, are determined as the center of rotation. This determination of NP can be estimated from a regression equation between the seat slide position and body dimensions. Alternatively, a predetermined distance forward from the front end of the seat cushion position can be simply set as NP.

Next, in step S6, the front lifter mechanism 11, the rear lifter mechanism 13, and the reclining mechanism 23 are operated by the front drive motor 15 so that the body rotates around NP.
, rear drive motor 17, and reclining drive motor 2
Driven by 5. This drive is performed by the front lift sensor 19
, the rear lift sensor 21, and the back angle sensor 27 perform feedback control.

That is, in step S7, it is determined once again whether the ignition switch is ON, and the ignition switch is turned ON.
If N, the process moves to step S8, and the seat cushion 1
Then, it is determined whether the amount of rotation of the seat back 3 is correct, and control is performed while correcting at stop S9.

If the ignition switch is OFF in step S7, the seat cushion 1 and seat back 3 are returned to the initial positions stored in the position memory 33, and the position memory 33 is reset in step S11.

Therefore, the seat cushion 1 and the seat back 3 can be controlled in conjunction with each other. However, if the lift position of the seat cushion 1 is adjusted, the angle of the seat back 3 also changes in unison or in conjunction with the seat cushion 1.
Only the angle change control is required.

FIG. 5 shows a pattern for such control.

In (a), the angles of the seat cushion 1 and seat back 3 are changed once after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and the vehicle continues to travel in that state. Here, B0 or C0 is the angle of the seat back 3 or the seat cushion 1 in the initial manual setting. t0 is a time for manual setting, and as described above, automatic control is not performed during this time t0. Further, the limit indicates the limit of the control angle of the seat back 3 or the seat cushion 1.

In (b), the angles of the seat cushion 1 and the seat back 3 are changed and restored repeatedly at predetermined time intervals using a sine wave. (c) is also changed using a triangular wave. Therefore, in the cases of (b) and (c), it is possible to further reduce the concentration of load on the lower back and the like, thereby improving the effect of reducing fatigue. Furthermore, in the case of (c), by setting the lower limit value of the amplitude lower than the set angle, the angle can be changed more greatly.

In case (d), control is performed using a trapezoidal wave. In this case, the angle may be controlled based on a predetermined time using such a trapezoidal wave, or the angle may be changed once after a predetermined time, and once the set angle is reached again, the operation may be continued. You can also do it.

FIG. 6 shows a principle diagram of another embodiment.

In this embodiment, the position of the knee rotates around the ankle Pd, and the angle of the seat cushion and seat back is changed so that the passenger's line of sight does not move in the height direction. By changing the angle, the solid line A
The line of sight changes to B shown by the chain line. In reality, even if the angle of the seat back 3 changes, the angle of the portion above the 10th thoracic vertebra does not change, so the height of the 10th thoracic vertebra remains unchanged.
In addition, it is sufficient that the knee lies on a circle centered on the ankle Pd. In this case, as can be seen from FIG. 6, movement in the front and back direction occurs, so it is necessary to control the seat slide mechanism in addition to the lifter mechanism and reclining mechanism.
In addition, the seat slide mechanism and its drive motor constitute interlock control means for changing the angles of the seat cushion and seat back.

Note that the seat of the present invention can also be configured as a seat for a passenger seat of an automobile or the like. It can also be configured as a seat for other aircraft, ships, or other aircraft.

[0040]

As is clear from the above, according to the configuration of the present invention, the angle changes of the seat cushion and the seat back are controlled in conjunction with each other at a predetermined timing. can reduce fatigue caused by Furthermore, it is possible to suppress the collapse of the relationship between the pelvis and the lumbar vertebrae, thereby suppressing discomfort and the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a sheet configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the action.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the action.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart.

FIG. 5 is a drive waveform diagram.

FIG. 6 is a principle diagram of another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Seat cushion 3 Seat back 5 Seat slide mechanism 9 Slide position sensor 11 Front lifter mechanism 13 Rear lifter mechanism 15 Front drive motor 17 Rear drive motor 19 Front lift sensor 21 Rear lift sensor 23　Reclining mechanism 25 Reclining drive motor 27 Back angle sensor 29 Controller

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A seat comprising a seat cushion and a seat back, characterized in that the seat comprises means for interlocking and controlling changes in the support surface angles of the seat cushion and the seat back at predetermined timing.