JPH06327534A - Seat device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a seat device capable of accurately reducing fatigue according to the softness of the surface tissue of a seated person to a seat. CONSTITUTION:A seat device is provided with a seat cushion CL1 supporting the buttocks of a seated person on a seat face, a seat back CL2 supporting the back of the seated person on a support face, an actuator CL3 changing the shape of at least one of the seat face and the support face, a detecting means CL4 detecting the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person in contact with the seat face or the support face, and a control means CL5 controlling a shape changing means according to the softness detected by the detecting means CL4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat device capable of variably controlling a seat surface shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional seat device of this type, for example, one shown in FIG. 10 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-257333.

This seat device 101 includes a plurality of air bags 10 embedded in a seat cushion 103 and a seat surface 105.
The seat surface shape is adjusted by increasing / decreasing the pressure of 7, 109, 111, and 113. The signals from the seat pressure sensor 115, the vehicle speed sensor 117 for detecting the seating of an occupant, and a timer (not shown) determine the operating time and the vehicle speed. Depending on the air bag 107,1
The pressure of 09, 111, 113 is adjusted.

In such a seat device 101, by adjusting the pressure of the air bladder according to the driving time and the vehicle speed, it is possible to reduce fatigue caused by long-time driving.

[0005]

However, the softness of the surface tissue of the human body that comes into contact with the seat cushion 103 and the seat surface 105 varies depending on the occupant, and the softness of the surface tissue and the seat cushion 103 and the seat surface are different. 105
Depending on the combination with the hardness of the seat cushion 10
3 and the seated person's 105 fit state also differ, and a seated person's fatigue also differs among individuals. But,
In the seat device shown in FIG. 10, since the air bag is adjusted without considering the softness of the surface tissue of the human body and the hardness of the seat cushion 103 or the seat surface 105, the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person, Seat cushion 103 or seat surface 1
It was not possible to alleviate fatigue according to the fit state of the seated person for 05.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a seat device capable of appropriately reducing fatigue according to the softness of the surface texture of the seated person with respect to the seat.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a seat cushion CL1 for supporting the buttocks of a seated person on a seat surface and a back of the seated person on a support surface. A seat back CL2 for supporting, an actuator CL3 for changing the shape of at least one of the seat surface or the support surface, a detection means CL4 for detecting the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person in contact with the seat surface or the support surface, A seat device comprising: a control unit CL5 that controls the shape changing unit according to the softness detected by the detection unit CL4.

The invention according to claim 2 is the seat apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing information regarding hardness of at least one of the seat surface CL1 and the support surface CL2, and the control means CL5. Is characterized in that the shape changing means CL3 is controlled by the output of the detecting means and the output of the storing means.

The invention according to claim 3 is the seat apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a seated person is seated on at least one of the seat surface CL1 and the support surface CL2 by the output of the detection means CL4 and the output of the storage means. Of the fit state, the control means CL5 is responsive to the fit state determined by the fit determining means.
It is characterized in that the shape changing means CL3 is controlled.

The invention according to claim 4 is the seat apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detecting means CL3 is the seat surface CL.
1 or a plurality of load sensors provided at a specific location on at least one of the support surfaces CL2 to detect a load from the occupant, and a softness determining unit that determines the softness of the surface tissue of the occupant from the change in the load. It consists of and.

The invention according to claim 5 is the seat apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detecting means CL3 is the seat surface CL.
1 or at least one of the support surfaces CL2, a load sensor for detecting a load from the occupant, a stroke sensor provided at the specific place for detecting a displacement amount of the seat, and a change in the load. And a softness judging means for judging the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person from the variation rate of the displacement amount with respect to.

[0012]

According to the seat apparatus of claim 1, the detecting means C is provided.
When L4 detects the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person in contact with the seat surface or the support surface, the control means CL5 causes the detection means CL4.
Since the shape changing means CL3 is controlled in accordance with the detected softness, at least one of the seat surface CL1 and the support surface CL2 is changed in shape according to the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person.

According to the seat apparatus of the second aspect, when the detecting means CL4 detects the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person in contact with the seat surface or the supporting surface, the control means CL5 causes the detecting means C to be detected.
The softness detected by L4 and the seat surface C stored in the storage means
Since the shape changing means CL3 is controlled based on the information regarding the hardness of at least one of the L1 and the support surface CL2, at least one of the seat surface CL1 and the support surface CL2 has the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person and the seat surface CL1 or the support. The shape is changed according to the hardness of at least one of the surfaces CL2.

According to the seat apparatus of claim 3, the detecting means CL4 detects the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person in contact with the seat surface or the supporting surface, and the softness of this surface tissue is stored in the storage means. Based on the information about the hardness of at least one of the seat surface CL1 and the support surface CL2, the fit determination means determines the fit state of the seated person with respect to at least one of the seat surface and the support surface, and the control means CL5 causes the fit of the seated person. Since the shape changing means CL3 is controlled according to the state, at least one of the seat surface CL1 and the support surface CL2 is
The shape is changed according to the fit state of the seated person.

According to the seat apparatus of the fourth aspect, the load sensor detects the load at a plurality of specific points on the seat surface CL1 or the support surface CL2, and the softness determining means determines the seated person from the change in the load. Judge the softness of the surface texture of
The softness of the surface texture and the seat surface C stored in the storage means
Based on the information on the hardness of at least one of L1 and the support surface CL2, the fit determination means determines the fit state of the seated person on at least one of the seat surface and the support surface,
Since the control means CL5 controls the shape changing means CL3 according to the fit state of the seated person, at least one of the seat surface CL1 and the support surface CL2 is changed in shape according to the fit state of the seated person.

According to the seat apparatus of the fifth aspect, the load sensor detects the load at a specific location on the seat surface CL1 or the support surface CL2, and the stroke sensor is located at the specific location on the seat surface CL1 or the support surface CL2. The softness determining means determines the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person from the variation rate of the displacement amount with respect to the change of the load, and the softness of the surface tissue and the seat memory stored by the storage means. Based on the information on the hardness of at least one of the surface CL1 and the support surface CL2, the fit determination means determines the fit state of the seated person on at least one of the seat surface and the support surface, and the control means C
L5 controls the shape changing means CL3 according to the fit state of the seated person, so that the seat surface CL1 or the support surface CL2
At least one of the shapes is changed according to the fit state of the seated person.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a vehicle seat device according to the present invention. The seat device 1 is a seat cushion 3 (C) for supporting the buttocks of a seated person who is a vehicle occupant on a seat surface 3a.
L1) and a seat back 5 (CL2) that supports the back of the seated person on the support surface 5a.

In the seat cushion 3, fourteen air bags 7 are arranged in the left-right direction and four in the front-back direction. Similarly, in the seat back 5, sixteen air bags 9 are arranged in the left-right direction and the vertical direction. Four of them are arranged in the direction.

A branch pipe line 13 is connected to each of the air bags 7, 9 and a discharge port of an air compressor 11 is connected to a main pipe line 15 where the branch pipe lines 13 join. Each branch line 13 is provided with a flow rate sensor 17 that detects the amount of air entering and exiting the air bags 7 and 9, and a solenoid valve 19 that adjusts the degree of opening in the branch line 13. When the solenoid valve 19 is opened and closed, the internal pressure of each air bladder 7, 9 changes, the air bladder 7, 9 expands or contracts, and the shapes of the seat surface 3a and the support surface 5a are changed.
That is, the air bags 7, 9 and the solenoid valve 19 constitute the shape changing means CL3 in this embodiment.

A load sensor 21 (detection means CL4) for detecting a load from the seated person crosses the seated person's thigh at a position corresponding to the seated person's thigh as a specific portion of the seat surface 3. A plurality (7 in this embodiment) are arranged along the vehicle width direction. At this position, the load fluctuates greatly when the seated person steps on the accelerator. These load sensors 2
1 are arranged linearly in close proximity to each other, whereby a change in the load applied from the thigh to the seat surface 3a is detected when the accelerator is depressed.

The load detected by each load sensor 21 is input to the controller 23 as a signal. The controller 23 includes an ignition switch 25 that is turned on when the vehicle is started, a timer 27 that counts a predetermined timing Δt, the air compressor 11 and the solenoid valve 19.
Are connected.

The controller 23 first detects each load sensor 2
From the change of the load input from 1, a value k representing the softness of the surface texture of the seated person in contact with the seat surface 3a is obtained, and this value k and the hardness H of the seat surface 3a stored in advance.
From the above, the fit state of the seated person to the seat surface 3a is determined, and the control timing Δt for changing the shapes of the seat surface 3a and the support surface 5a is determined. Then, air is sent to the air bags 7, 9 at the determined control timing Δt to change the shapes of the seat surface 3a and the support surface 5a. This changes the posture and sitting pressure of the seated person, stimulates the seated person, and relieves fatigue. That is, the controller 23 constitutes the control means CL5, the storage means, and the fit determination means in this embodiment.

Here, the correlation between the load applied from the thigh to the seat surface 3a and the softness of the surface tissue of the human body will be described.

When the seated person operates the pedal or the like, the thigh of the seated person is pressed against the seat surface 3a. At this time, when the surface tissue of the thigh of the seated person is hard, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3A, the cross-sectional shape of the thigh M pressed against the seat surface 3a does not change much. On the other hand, when the surface tissue of the thigh of the seated person is soft, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 (b), the thigh M changes to fit the shape of the seat surface 3 a, and the thigh is changed. The contact area between M and the seat surface 3a increases.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), when the thigh of the seated person is pressed against the seat surface 3a, the number of the load sensors 21 in contact with the person whose surface texture is hard does not increase so much. The peak load at the approximate center of the thigh M is concentrated and increases. On the other hand, if the person has a soft surface tissue, FIG.
As shown in (b), as the load increases, the number of load sensors 21 in contact increases, and the load of each part increases on average.

Therefore, when the load is increased due to pedal operation or the like, a change in the peak load F (peak change amount ΔF) detected by the load sensor 21a of the load sensor 21 corresponding to approximately the center of the thigh M is large. Load sensors 21b, 21c located at right and left sides apart from the substantial center of the thigh M by a predetermined distance.
Average value ΔW (ΔW = (ΔW ₁ + ΔW) of changes in the end loads W ₁ and W ₂ (end change amounts ΔW ₁ and ΔW ₂ ) detected from
_2/2)) and obtains a and calculates both the ratio k (k = [Delta] W / [Delta] F), the value of k has a softness and correlation of the surface of the human body tissue.

Thus, the ratio k (ΔW / ΔF) between the peak change amount ΔF and the average value ΔW of the end portion change amounts ΔW ₁ and ΔW _2.
Is a value representative of the softness of the surface texture, and when the value of k is small, it can be determined that the surface texture is hard,
On the contrary, when it is large, it can be judged that the surface texture is soft.

Next, the relationship between k, which represents the softness of the surface tissue of the human body, and the fit state of the seated person on the seat surface 3a, and the relationship between this fit state and the fatigue of the seated person will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the surface texture is soft and k
For a person with a small value of, the load concentrates on the ischium C on the seat surface 3a that is hard and has a large hardness H, whereas on the seat surface 3a that is soft and has a small hardness H, the load is partially concentrated. A good fit state can be obtained without the load being concentrated. For a person whose surface texture is hard and whose value of k is large, the seat surface 3a which is hard and whose value of H is large has a good fit state in which the load is not concentrated on a part, whereas the value of H is On the small seat surface 3a, the vicinity of the side of the buttocks D is pressed.

Therefore, the ratio X (X = k / H) of k representing the softness of the surface texture of the human body and the hardness H of the seat surface 3a is given by
By determining the fit state as a representative value, the fit state of the seated person on the seat surface 3a can be determined.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the fit state of the seated person on the seat surface 3a is X, which is the ratio of k and H.
Is an ideal value X _A (shown in A), the best fit state is obtained, and a value of X is smaller than X _A (shown in B) or larger, it means that the fit state is slightly inferior to that. Become.

The fit state and the fatigue of the seated person are
As shown in FIG. 7, when the fit state is slightly inferior (FIG.
In the case of B), there is a relationship that the progress of fatigue occurrence is slightly earlier than in the case where the fit state is good (the case of A in FIG. 6).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, when the value of X is small and the fitting state is slightly inferior, the control timing Δ
T is set short to recover fatigue from an early stage, and Δt is gradually set longer as the value of X increases. And
When the value of X is the best fit state with X _A ,
Δt is set to be the longest, and Δt is gradually set shorter as the value of X further increases.

Thus, by setting the control timing Δt based on the value of X, which is the ratio of k to H, fatigue can be alleviated at the optimum timing according to the fit state.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described according to the control flow shown in FIG.

First, when the ignition switch is turned on, this control is started in step S1. That is,
Compressor 11, load sensor 21, controller 23
Etc. are turned on and the timer 27 is started.

In step S2, a plurality of load sensors 21 arranged at the positions corresponding to the thighs detect the load when the pedal is operated, and the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, a value k representative of the softness of the surface tissue of the human body is obtained.

That is, the peak change amount ΔF and the average end change amount ΔW are obtained from the load detected in step S2, and Δ
The ratio between F and ΔW (ΔW / ΔF) is calculated, and this value is stored as a value k that represents the softness of the human body, and step S
Go to 4.

In step S4, the fit state of the seated person on the seat surface 3a is determined according to the softness of the human body, and the optimum control timing Δt is determined.

That is, first, k obtained in step S3
And the hardness H of the bearing surface 3a stored in advance (k
/ H) and calculate this as a value X that represents the fit state of the seated person. Then, the control timing Δt corresponding to this value X is determined based on FIG. As a result, the optimum control timing Δt according to the fit state of the seated person on the seat surface 3a is determined, and the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, it is determined whether the timer 27 has reached the control timing Δt. If the control timing Δt has been reached, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, the shapes of the air bladders 7 and 9 are variably controlled to give a stimulus to the seated person to reduce fatigue of the seated person, and then the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, the timer 27 is reset, the process returns to step S5, and this control is repeated. If the ignition switch 25 is turned off, the process proceeds to step S8 to end this control.

As described above, in this embodiment, the ratio (k / H) between the value k representing the softness of the human body and the hardness H of the seat surface 3a.
Is a value X representing a fit state, and as shown in FIG. 6, when the human body and the seat surface 3a are both soft (when X is large) and when both are hard (when X is small), the seat surface 3a is Since the seated person's fitted state with respect to is slightly inferior, it is determined that the progress of fatigue is rather early, and as shown in FIG. 8, the control timing Δt is set shorter than that in the best fitted state according to the value of X. It is set. As a result, fatigue can be alleviated at an optimal timing according to the seated person's fitted state on the seat surface 3a, and the seated person's fatigue can be alleviated more accurately.

Further, since a plurality of load sensors 21 may be arranged along the vehicle width direction at the position corresponding to the thigh of the seated person, it is necessary to provide a large number of load sensors 21 on the seat surface. It is possible to judge the fit state with a simple configuration.

The softness of the surface tissue of the human body is determined by a load sensor (detection means) for detecting the load at a position where the load from the seated person fluctuates on the seat surface 3a or the support surface 5a with which the body of the seated person contacts. ) And a stroke sensor (detection means) for detecting the displacement of the seat surface 3a or the support surface 5a are provided, and the variation rate ((V) of the displacement amount (ΔV) with respect to the change (ΔW) of the load) of the seat surface 3a. It can also be determined by calculating (ΔV / ΔW).

For example, when the load sensor and the stroke sensor are arranged at a position (specific location) corresponding to the thigh of the seated person, if the surface tissue of the human body is hard, the load is changed as shown in FIG. 4 (a). The cross-sectional shape of the thigh M does not change so much even if is increased, and the seat surface 3a greatly changes. On the other hand, when the surface tissue of the human body is soft, as shown in FIG. 4B, the thigh M changes to conform to the shape of the seat surface 3a as the load increases, and the seat surface 3a varies little.

Therefore, when the increase in displacement is large relative to the increase in load and the fluctuation rate (ΔV / ΔW) is high, it can be judged that the surface texture is hard, and on the contrary, the increase in displacement is small relative to the increase in load. When the variation rate (ΔV / ΔW) is low, it can be determined that the surface texture is soft.

Further, since the load sensor and the stroke sensor need not be provided in plural at positions corresponding to the thigh of the seated person, but only at one place, the fit state can be determined with a simpler configuration. can do.

[0052]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, the shape of at least one of the seat surface and the support surface is changed according to the softness of the surface texture of the seated person. The fatigue of the seated person can be relieved according to the individual difference in the softness of the seat, and the effect of reducing the fatigue can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, at least one of the seat surface and the support surface depends on the softness of the surface texture of the seated person and the hardness of at least one of the seat surface and the support surface in contact with the seated person. Since the shape of the seat is changed, it is possible to reduce the fatigue of the seated person depending on the individual difference in the softness of the seated person and the hardness of the seating surface or supporting surface that the seated person contacts, and improve the effect of reducing fatigue. Can be made.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the seat surface or the support is provided depending on the softness of the surface texture of the seated person and the fit state of the seated person with respect to at least one of the seat surface and the support surface in contact with the seated person. Since the shape of at least one of the faces is changed, fatigue of the seated person can be appropriately mitigated,
The effect of reducing fatigue can be further improved.

According to the invention of claim 4, the load sensor detects the load from the seated person at a specific position on at least one of the seat surface and the support surface, and the softness determining means detects the load of the seated person based on the change in the load. Since the softness of the surface structure is obtained, it is possible to determine the fit state of the seated person simply by providing a plurality of load sensors at specific locations, and it is possible to reduce fatigue according to the fit state with a simple configuration.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the load sensor and the stroke sensor detect the load and the displacement amount from the occupant at a specific position on at least one of the seat surface and the support surface, and the softness determining means loads the load. Since the softness of the surface texture of the seated person is obtained from the variation rate of the displacement amount with respect to the seated person, the fitted state of the seated person can be determined simply by providing a load sensor and a stroke sensor at a specific location. It is possible to relieve fatigue according to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to a claim of a seat device according to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a seat device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state of a thigh and a seat surface of a seated person when a pedal is operated, where (a) shows a case where the surface tissue of the seated person's thigh is hard, and (b) shows the seated person's thigh. The case where the surface tissue of the thigh is soft is shown.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a thigh of a seated person and a load applied to a seat surface when a pedal is operated, FIG. 4 (a) shows a case where the surface tissue of the thigh of the seated person is hard, and FIG. ) Shows the case where the surface tissue of the thigh of the seated person is soft.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a difference in a fitted state of a seated person due to a combination of k representing the softness of the surface tissue of the human body and hardness H of the seat surface.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the fit state and the ratio X of k representing the softness of the surface tissue of the human body and the hardness H of the seat surface.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a difference in fatigue occurrence progress of a seated person due to a difference in fit state.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a ratio X of k representing the softness of the surface tissue of the human body and the hardness H of the seat surface and the optimum control timing Δt.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control of this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an overall view of a conventional seat pressure device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 CL1 seat cushion CL2 seat back CL3 actuator CL4 detection means CL5 control means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A seat cushion for supporting a seated person's buttocks on a seat surface, a seat back for supporting a seated person's back on a support surface, and shape changing means for changing the shape of at least one of the seat surface and the support surface. And a detection means for detecting the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person in contact with the seat surface or the support surface, and a control means for controlling the shape changing means according to the softness detected by the detection means. Seat device characterized by. 2. The seat apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores information regarding hardness of at least one of the seat surface and the support surface, and the control unit includes the output of the detection unit and the output of the detection unit. A seat device characterized in that the shape changing means is controlled by the output of the storage means. 3. The seat device according to claim 2, wherein the fit determination means determines the fit state of a seated person on at least one of the seat surface and the support surface based on the output of the detection means and the output of the storage means. The seat apparatus, wherein the control unit controls the shape changing unit according to the fit state determined by the fit determining unit. 4. The seat apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detection means includes a plurality of load sensors that are provided at specific locations on at least one of the seat surface and the support surface and that detect a load from the seated person. And a softness judging means for judging the softness of the surface texture of the seated person from the change in the load. 5. The seat apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detection means is provided at a specific position on at least one of the seat surface and the support surface, and detects a load from the seated person. A stroke sensor which is provided at a specific location and detects a displacement amount of the specific location, and a softness determining means which determines the softness of the surface tissue of the seated person from the variation rate of the displacement amount with respect to the change of the load. Seat device characterized by.