JPH0538307A - Variable pressure type seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always provide a body pressure characteristic for a suitable seating posture, irrespective of differences among individuals, variations in a driving condition or the like. CONSTITUTION:Air mats 3, 4, 5 are embedded in a seat cushion 1 and a seat back 2. The air mats 3, 4, 5 are communicated with a compressor 10 by a hose 6 through the intermediary of a pressure sensor 7 and a solenoid valve 8. The compressor 10, the pressure sensor 7 and the solenoid valve 8 are connected to a controller 10 which receives signals from an electromyograph 11 attached to a shoulder part of the seat back, for measuring an electromyographic potential of a passenger, an electromyograph 12 for the waist of the passenger, an electromyograph 13 for the lower leg part of the passenger, a steering manipulation detecting sensor 14 and a clutch manipulation detecting sensor 15. When the amplitude of a peak value of the electromyographic potential generated during driving operation becomes lower than a predetermined value, it is determined that the passenger is tired, and accordingly, the air pressures in the air mats 3, 4, 5 are changed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressure variable seat which comprises a seat cushion and a seat back and which can change body pressure characteristics when the seat is seated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As such a conventional pressure variable sheet, for example, there is one as shown in FIG. 5 (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-257333).

That is, a plurality of air mats 103 are installed on the seat cushion 101 and the seat back 102, and signals from a switch for detecting seating of an occupant, a vehicle speed sensor, and a timer (not shown) are input to a controller 104, and an air pump 105 is provided. By controlling the amount of air injected into the air mat 103 according to the driving time and the vehicle speed, the body pressure characteristics of the occupant when the seat is seated are changed.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional pressure variable sheet, the amount of injected air is uniquely determined by the predetermined parameters of vehicle speed and time.

For this reason, there has been a problem that it is difficult for the occupant to always obtain an appropriate body pressure characteristic for sitting, which corresponds to individual differences and changes in driving conditions.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a conventional problem, and provides a pressure variable sheet which can always obtain a proper body pressure characteristic regardless of individual differences and changes in driving conditions. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, in a pressure-variable seat which comprises a seat cushion and a seat back and which can change the body pressure characteristic when the seat is seated, the myoelectric potential signal associated with the driving operation of the vehicle is suppressed. The amplitude is detected, and the body pressure characteristic of the seating surface is changed when the peak value of the amplitude decreases by a predetermined value or more.

[0008]

When the user gets tired with the repeated operation of driving, the muscle activity decreases, and the amplitude of the myoelectric potential signal generated by the driving decreases.

When the decrease value exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the tire is fatigued and the body pressure on the seat seating surface is changed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the configuration will be described. Seat cushion 1
Air mat 3 at the front end and air mats 4 and 4 at the lower buttocks
However, the air mat 5 is embedded in the lumbar portion of the seat back 2. The air mats 4 and 5 are composed of a plurality of small air mats 4a to 4c and 5a to 5e. A hose 6 is connected to each of the air mats 3, 4, and 5, and the hose 6 communicates with a compressor 9 via a pressure sensor 7 and a solenoid valve 8.

The pressure sensor 7, the solenoid valve 8 and the compressor 9 are connected to a controller 10. Further, the controller 10 measures the myoelectric potential of an occupant, and is equipped with a shoulder electromyography device 11 and a waist muscle. Electrometer 12, EMG 1 for lower limbs
3 and a steering operation detection sensor 1
4. The signal from the clutch operation detection sensor 15 is input.

Next, the operation will be described. When the occupant 16 operates the steering wheel 17 as shown in FIG. 2, a steering operation signal is output from the steering operation detection sensor 14. At the same time, a signal is generated in the shoulder electromyogram representing the shoulder myoelectric potential in response to the operation of the steering wheel 17.

Similarly for the operation of the clutch 18, a signal is generated on the waist electromyogram and the lower limb electromyogram at the same time as the clutch operation signal.

The peak value of this signal is decreased because the muscles become less fatigued due to fatigue due to repeated operation of the steering wheel 17 or the clutch 18. For example, as illustrated in the waist electromyogram, the peak value Pa at the start of driving becomes Pn as time passes. The present invention focuses on the decrease of the myoelectric potential peak value, and changes the pressure on the seating surface when the peak value of the myoelectric potential signal linked to the driving operation decreases by a predetermined value or more.

The control operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS.

Simultaneously with starting the operation of the vehicle (step 21), in step 22, the input of myoelectric potential from the electromyographic meters 11, 12, 13 is started.

In step 23, a driving operation signal is input from the steering operation detection sensor 14 and the clutch operation detection sensor 15.

In step 24, the peak value of the amplitude is read and stored from the shoulder myoelectric potential signal, the waist (lumbar spine) myoelectric potential signal, and the lower limb myoelectric potential signal when the signal of step 23 is input.

The amplitude reading and storage of the peak signal are repeated a plurality of times (t) times (steps 23 to 26).

In step 27, the average value of a plurality (t) of peak signal amplitudes immediately after the start of operation is calculated.

At step 28, the average value of the peak amplitudes calculated at step 27 is stored as the reference peak amplitude Pa. Note that the average value of the plurality of peak signal amplitudes immediately after the start of operation is taken as the reference value in order to eliminate individual differences.

Next, at step 29, the electromyographic instruments 11, 1 are
The input of myoelectric potential is started from 2 and 13. In addition, step 2
The input of the myoelectric potential 9 is not limited to the continuous input in step 28, but may be performed every predetermined time or when the device is restarted.

In step 30, driving operation signals are input from the steering operation detection sensor 14 and the clutch operation detection sensor 15.

At step 31, the amplitudes of the peak signals of the shoulder myoelectric potential, the lumbar myoelectric potential, and the lower limb myoelectric potential input at that time are read and stored.

In step 32, the difference ΔPn = Pa-Pn between the reference peak amplitude Pa stored in step 28 and the peak amplitude Pn stored in step 31 is calculated.

In step 33, it is judged whether or not ΔPn calculated in step 32 is larger than a preset value α. If it is larger, the process proceeds to step 34, and if it is not larger, the process returns to step 29 to repeat the control operation.

Repeated operation of the steering wheel 17 and the clutch 18 causes fatigue, resulting in a decrease in muscle activity and a decrease in peak signal amplitude. When the difference ΔPn is larger than the predetermined value α, it is determined that the person is tired.

In step 34, the compressor 9 is operated to send out compressed air.

In step 35, the solenoid valve 8 is opened so that compressed air can be sent from the compressor 9 to the air mats 3, 4, 5.

In step 36, a signal is transmitted to and received from the pressure sensor 7 and the air pressure of the air mats 3, 4, 5 is controlled to a predetermined body pressure.

In step 37, it is judged whether or not the driving of the vehicle is stopped, and if the driving is continued, the process proceeds to step 38 to check the waist variable signal, and if the waist is moved more than a predetermined amount, the fatigue is recovered by itself. Will be reset as.
If it is less than the predetermined value, the process returns to step 29 and the control operation is repeated. If the operation is stopped, the control operation is ended.

In this way, the amplitude of the myoelectric potential is measured by the electromyographic meters 11, 12, and 13, and when the peak value of the amplitude decreases by a predetermined value or more, it is judged that the person is tired, and the air mats 3, 4 are used. , 5 are controlled so as to have a predetermined body pressure, so that proper body pressure characteristics can always be obtained and fatigue can be recovered.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to always obtain a proper body pressure characteristic during sitting regardless of individual differences and changes in driving conditions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the passage of time of each signal in the same example.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing steps 21 to 30 of the control operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing steps 31 to 38 of the control operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional pressure variable sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Seat cushion, 2 ... Seat back, 3, 4, 5
... Air mat, 11, 12, 13 ... Electromyography, 14 ... Steering operation detection sensor, 15 ... Clutch operation detection sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pressure variable seat, comprising a seat cushion and a seat back, capable of changing the body pressure characteristic when the seat is seated. The amplitude of the myoelectric potential signal associated with the driving operation of the vehicle is detected, and the peak value of the amplitude is detected. A pressure-variable seat, characterized in that the body pressure characteristic of a seating surface is changed when the pressure decreases by a predetermined value or more.