JPH09127258A - Seating detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate the seating definitely between an article and a person by processing output signals from a vibration detecting means mounted on the back of seat and making a decision whether a person is seating based on the processed signals. SOLUTION: When no person is seated, output from a signal processing means 2 is 0. When a person is seated, a voltage is generated from a piezoelectric element 1 by a pressure acting on the back 4-b of a seat 4 and the means 2 produces an output. When a signal larger than a seating signal threshold value V1 endures longer than a seating time threshold value T1 in the output data from the means 2, a decision 3 is made that a person is seated. When a person takes a rest after seating, minor movement of body causes to generate a small signal from the element 1 and a small output is produced from the means 2. A leaving seat signal threshold V2 and a leaving seat time threshold T2 are previously calculated from the data at the time of rest and a decision is made that a person has left the seat when the output signal from the means 2 endures lower than the threshold value V2 for longer than the threshold time T2 . When an article is placed on the seat face 4-a a high vibration is applied instantaneously and transmitted to the back 4 b while being damped and the means 2 produces a small output having short duration. Consequently, the seating of person can be discriminate definitely from an article.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an occupancy detection device, and more particularly to an occupancy detection device for detecting the presence or absence of a human body on a seat, and provides services such as information communication only when a person is in the seat. It can be used for a system, control of sound and air conditioning in a room, grasping an occupant in transportation, etc., and controlling an airbag device for restraining the occupant to prevent the occupant from being damaged when an automobile accident occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of occupancy detection device has a structure as shown in FIG. 7, for example. That is, 1 is a flexible piezoelectric element, 2 is a signal processing means, 3 is a determination means, and the signal processing means 2 is an amplification means 2-a for amplifying the output signal of the piezoelectric element 1 and an amplification means 2-a. Of the output of the filter 2-b for filtering a specific frequency component, and smoothing means 2-c for smoothing the output signal from the filter 2-b.

Here, when a human body is seated on the seat 4, the piezoelectric element 1 arranged below the seating surface 4-a of the seat 4 is deformed, and a voltage is generated by the piezoelectric effect. In this generated signal, a large signal temporarily appears due to the vibration of the sitting person while sitting, but when the human body is at rest, small body movement vibrations due to the vibration of the heartbeat and respiration of the human body appear. If there is no human body, the output signal will be zero. When an object is placed on the seat 4, a large signal appears momentarily at the moment it is placed, but since the object does not have minute movements due to heartbeat or breathing like the human body, the output signal is zero. become. The output signal from such a piezoelectric element 1 is amplified by the amplification means 2-a of the signal processing means 2.
Is amplified by the filter 2-b, filtered by the filter 2-b to a required frequency component, and further smoothed by the smoothing means 2-c. The judging means 3 judges the presence or absence of a person.

[0004]

However, in the conventional seat detection device, a large vibration is generated even when an object is placed on the seat surface, and the vibration detection device temporarily outputs a large signal. It becomes difficult to clearly distinguish from a signal when a person is sitting.

Further, in the conventional presence detecting apparatus, when the child auxiliary seat is used when the child is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is hard to be obtained, and the determination becomes difficult.

Further, in the conventional seat detection device, when it is used in a vehicle equipped with an airbag device as an auxiliary occupant restraint device, for example, an unnatural sitting posture such as a person leaning forward may occur. Even if he / she is still present, there is a problem that the air bag device is operated because it is determined to be present.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide an occupant detection apparatus which can make a distinction even when an object is placed on the seat and can be distinguished from seated by a person.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an occupancy detection device capable of reliably detecting the presence of a person on the seat even when there is a child auxiliary seat on the seat.

A third object of the present invention is to detect, when used in a vehicle equipped with an auxiliary occupant restraint system, when a person is sitting in an abnormal seating position. It is another object of the present invention to provide an occupant detection device that can control the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint system. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an occupancy detection device that can immediately determine that an occupancy is present when a person sits on the seat.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above first and second objects, the seating detection apparatus of the present invention is provided with a vibration detecting means provided on the back of a seat and an output of the vibration detecting means. A signal processing means for processing a signal and a determination means for determining the presence or absence of a person on the seat from the output of the signal processing means are provided.

Further, in order to achieve the above first and second objects, in the seating detection apparatus of the present invention, the time when the output of the signal processing means by the determination means exceeds a predetermined seating signal threshold value, If you continue for more than a predetermined sitting time threshold,
It is determined that a person is present in the seat.

Further, in order to achieve the above first and second objects, in the presence detecting apparatus of the present invention, the time when the output of the signal processing means is below the predetermined departure signal threshold value by the determination means. The person is determined to be absent from the seat if the person has continued for a predetermined separation time threshold or longer.

Further, in order to achieve the third object, the seating detection apparatus of the present invention outputs a signal for permitting the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint system when it is determined that the seat is present.

Further, in order to achieve the third object,
The occupant detection apparatus of the present invention outputs a signal for disabling the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus when it is determined that the vehicle is absent.

In order to achieve the first object,
The seating detection apparatus of the present invention includes a seat surface vibration detecting means provided on a seat surface of a seat, a seat surface signal processing means for processing an output signal of the seat surface vibration detecting means, and a seat surface rear surface provided on the back surface of the seat surface. Presence or absence of a person on the seat from the rear surface vibration detecting means, the rear surface signal processing means for processing the output signal of the rear surface vibration detecting means, the output of the seat surface signal processing means and the output of the rear surface signal processing means. And a determination unit for determining.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned first, second and fourth objects, in the seating detection apparatus of the present invention, the determination section is such that the output of the seating surface signal processing means is seated on the seating surface in advance. When the signal threshold value is exceeded and the output of the back surface signal processing means exceeds a predetermined back seating signal threshold value, it is immediately determined that a person is present in the seat regardless of the duration of the signal. is there.

In order to achieve the above first and second objects, in the presence detection apparatus of the present invention, the determination section determines the presence or absence of a person on the seat from the output signal of the seat surface vibration detection means. It is provided with a seat surface determination means and a back surface determination means for determining the presence or absence of a person on the seat from the output signal of the back surface vibration detection means.

Further, in order to achieve the above first and second objects, in the presence detection apparatus of the present invention, the determination unit determines that the seat surface determination means determines that a person is present in the seat, Further, when the back surface determination means determines that the person is present in the seat, it is determined that the person is present in the seat.

Further, in order to achieve the above first and second objects, in the seating detection apparatus of the present invention, the seating surface determination means determines that the person is seated in the seat, In addition, when the back surface determination means determines that the person is absent in the seat, the determination made one time before is continued as it is.

In order to achieve the above first object,
In the presence detection device of the present invention, the determination unit determines that the seat surface determination unit determines that the person is not present in the seat, and the back surface determination unit determines that the person is present in the seat. When it continues for a predetermined abnormal time threshold or more, either or both of the seat surface vibration detecting means and the seat surface signal processing means are determined to be abnormal.

Further, in order to achieve the above first and second objects, in the presence detection apparatus of the present invention, the determination unit determines that the seat surface determination means determines that a person is present in the seat, and When the back surface determination means determines that the person is absent in the seat, it is configured to determine that the person is absent in the seat.

In order to achieve the second object,
In the presence detection device of the present invention, when the determination unit determines that the seat surface determination unit is not present in the seat, and the rear surface determination unit determines that the person is present in the seat, It is configured to determine that a person is present by using a child auxiliary seat on the seat.

Further, in order to achieve the above first and second objects, in the seating detection apparatus of the present invention, the determination section determines that the seat surface determination means determines that a person is present in the seat, In addition, when the back surface determination means determines that the person is absent in the seat, the back surface determination means is configured to determine that the person is sitting in the seat in an abnormal seating manner.

Further, in order to achieve the third object, the seat detection apparatus of the present invention is configured to output a signal permitting the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint system when it is determined that the seat is present. It is a thing.

Further, in order to achieve the above third object, the seating detection apparatus of the present invention is configured to output a signal for disabling the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint system when it is determined that the vehicle is absent. It is a thing.

Further, in order to achieve the third object,
The seat detection device of the present invention, when it is determined that a person is seated in an abnormal seating manner, the auxiliary passenger restraint device is seated by a person seating in an unauthorized seating manner. It is configured to output a signal indicating that it is doing.

The presence detecting apparatus of the present invention operates as follows with the configuration of claim 1.

That is, when the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided on the back surface of the seat, and the vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. This signal is output to the signal processing means, the signal processing means processes the output of the vibration detecting means and outputs it to the judging means, and the judging means, based on the output of the signal processing means, on the seat. The presence or absence of the human body is determined.

Further, the presence detecting device of the present invention (claim 2)
When a human body sits on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided on the back surface of the seat, and the vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. At times, a large signal is continuously transmitted to the vibration detecting means during the sitting operation time due to the seating operation on the seat, and accordingly, a large signal is output correspondingly for a relatively long time. This signal is output to the signal processing means,
The signal processing means processes the output of the vibration detecting means and outputs it to the determining means, and the determining means continuously outputs the signal processing means for a larger amount of time than the seating signal threshold value longer than the sitting time threshold value. In this case, it is determined that a person is present in the seat.

The presence detection device of the present invention (claim 3)
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided on the back surface of the seat, and the vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Then, there is a slight vibration due to the heartbeat or respiration of the human body, and the vibration detecting means generates a small output corresponding to the slight vibration as long as the human body leans on the back surface. However, when a person leaves, a large signal is generated temporarily,
After that, since there is no vibration source of the seat, the vibration detecting means does not generate a signal. Such a signal is output to the signal processing means, the signal processing means processes the output of the vibration detecting means and outputs it to the judging means, and the judging means determines that the magnitude of the output of the signal processing means is a separation signal. When the time period that is smaller than the threshold value continues for longer than the sitting time threshold value, it is determined that the person is absent in the seat.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 4).
When a human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided on the back surface of the seat, and the vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. This signal is output to the signal processing means, the signal processing means processes the output of the vibration detecting means and outputs it to the judging means, and the judging means, based on the output of the signal processing means, on the seat. The presence or absence of the human body is determined, and when it is determined that the person is present, a signal permitting the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint system is output.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 5).
When a human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided on the back surface of the seat, and the vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. This signal is output to the signal processing means, the signal processing means processes the output of the vibration detecting means and outputs it to the judging means, and the judging means determines the human body on the seat based on the output of the signal processing means. When the presence or absence is determined and it is determined that the person is absent, a signal for disabling the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint system is output.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attendance detecting device.
The described structure operates as follows.

That is, when a human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detecting means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detecting means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detecting means is provided. The backside vibration detection means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit, while the back surface vibration is generated. The output of the detection unit is output to the back surface signal processing unit, and the back surface signal processing unit processes the output of the back surface vibration detection unit and outputs the processed output to the determination unit. The determination unit determines the presence / absence of a human body on the seat based on the outputs of the seat surface signal processing means and the back surface signal processing means.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 7).
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detection means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detection means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detection means and the The backside vibration detecting means generates a signal in accordance with the magnitude of the transmitted vibrations, and when seated, a large vibration is continuously generated during the seating operation time by the seating operation on the seat. Since it is transmitted to both the backside vibration detecting means, a large signal is output corresponding to the output signals of both for a relatively long time. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detection means is output to the backside signal processing means, and the backside signal processing means processes the output of the backside vibration detection means and outputs the output to the determination unit. The determination unit, the output signal of the seat surface signal processing means is larger than the seat surface seating signal threshold value,
And when the output signal of the back signal processing means is larger than the back seating signal threshold value, a person on the seat immediately irrespective of the duration of the output signals of the seat surface signal processing means and the back signal processing means. Is determined to be seated and present.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 8)
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detection means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detection means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detection means and the The backside vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Of these signals,
The output of the seat surface vibration detecting means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detecting means and outputs it to the judging section, while the back surface vibration detecting means is provided. Is output to the back surface signal processing means, and the back surface signal processing means processes the output of the back surface vibration detection means and outputs the processed output to the determination section. In the determination unit, the seat surface determination unit determines the presence or absence of a person on the seat by using only the output of the seat surface signal processing unit, and the back surface determination unit uses only the output of the back surface signal processing unit. Determine if there is a person on the seat.

The presence detection device of the present invention (claim 9)
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detection means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detection means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detection means and the The backside vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detecting means processes the output of the backside signal processing means and outputs the processed output to the judging section. In the determination unit, the seat surface determination unit determines that a person is present on the seat by using only the output of the seat surface signal processing unit, and the back surface determination unit includes the back surface signal processing unit. When it is determined that a person is present on the seat using only the output of the above, it is determined that a person is present on the seat.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 1)
0), when a human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detecting means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detecting means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detecting means is provided. The backside vibration detecting means and the backside vibration detecting means generate signals according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibrations. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detection means is output to the backside signal processing means, and the backside signal processing means processes the output of the backside vibration detection means and outputs the output to the determination unit. In the determination unit, the seat surface determination unit determines that a person is present on the seat by using only the output of the seat surface signal processing unit, and the back surface determination unit includes the back surface signal processing unit. If it is determined that the person is absent on the seat by using only the output of, the determination of the determination unit one time before is continued as it is.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 1)
1), when a human body is seated on a seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to a seat surface vibration detecting means provided on a seat surface of the seat and a back surface vibration detecting means provided on a back surface thereof, and the seat surface vibration detecting means is provided. The backside vibration detecting means and the backside vibration detecting means generate signals according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibrations. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detection means is output to the backside signal processing means, and the backside signal processing means processes the output of the backside vibration detection means and outputs the output to the determination unit. In the determination unit, the seat surface determination unit uses only the output of the seat surface signal processing unit to determine that there is no person on the seat, and the back surface determination unit outputs the output of the back surface signal processing unit. If the state in which it is determined that a person is seated on the seat using only the above continues for a predetermined abnormal time threshold or more, either the seat surface vibration detection means or the seat surface signal processing means is used. , Or both are judged to be abnormal.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 1)
2), when a human body is seated on a seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to a seat surface vibration detecting means provided on a seat surface of the seat and a back surface vibration detecting means provided on a back surface thereof, and the seat surface vibration detecting means is provided. The backside vibration detecting means and the backside vibration detecting means generate signals according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibrations. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detection means is output to the backside signal processing means, and the backside signal processing means processes the output of the backside vibration detection means and outputs the output to the determination unit. In the determination unit, the seat surface determination unit uses only the output of the seat surface signal processing unit to determine that there is no person on the seat, and the back surface determination unit outputs the output of the back surface signal processing unit. When it is determined that the person is absent on the seat by using only, it is determined that the person is absent on the seat.

The presence detection device of the present invention (claim 13)
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detection means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detection means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detection means and the The backside vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detection means is output to the backside signal processing means, and the backside signal processing means processes the output of the backside vibration detection means and outputs the output to the determination unit. In the determination unit, the seat surface determination unit uses only the output of the seat surface signal processing unit to determine that there is no person on the seat, and the back surface determination unit outputs the output of the back surface signal processing unit. If it is determined that the person is present on the seat using only the above, it is determined that the person is present using the child auxiliary seat on the seat.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 14).
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detection means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detection means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detection means and the The backside vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detection means is output to the backside signal processing means,
The back surface signal processing means processes the output of the back surface vibration detection means and outputs the processed output to the determination section. In the determination unit, the seat surface determination unit determines that a person is present on the seat by using only the output of the seat surface signal processing unit, and the back surface determination unit includes the back surface signal processing unit. If it is determined that the person is absent on the seat by using only the output of, the person is determined to be seated on the seat in an abnormal seating manner.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 15).
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detection means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detection means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detection means and the The backside vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detecting means is output to the backside signal processing means, and the backside signal processing means processes the output of the backside vibration detecting means and outputs the output to the judging section. The determination unit determines the presence or absence of a human body on the seat based on the output of the seat surface signal processing means and the output of the back surface signal processing means, and when it is determined that a person is present, an auxiliary When the operation of the occupant restraint device is permitted and it is determined that the occupant restraint device is absent, a signal that prohibits the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint device is output.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 16)
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detection means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detection means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detection means and the The backside vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detection means is output to the backside signal processing means, and the backside signal processing means processes the output of the backside vibration detection means and outputs the output to the determination unit. The determination unit determines the presence or absence of a human body on the seat based on the output of the seat surface signal processing means and the output of the back surface signal processing means, and when it is determined that a person is present, an auxiliary It outputs a signal that permits the operation of the occupant restraint system.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 17)
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detection means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detection means fixed to the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detection means and the The backside vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detection means is output to the backside signal processing means, and the backside signal processing means processes the output of the backside vibration detection means and outputs the output to the determination unit. The determination unit determines the presence or absence of a human body on the seat based on the output of the seat surface signal processing unit and the output of the back surface signal processing unit, and when it is determined that a person is absent, an auxiliary occupant restraint is performed. Outputs a signal that disallows device operation.

Further, the presence detection device of the present invention (claim 18)
When the human body is seated on the seat, the vibration of the human body is transmitted to the seat surface vibration detection means provided on the seat surface of the seat and the back surface vibration detection means provided on the back surface, and the seat surface vibration detection means and the The backside vibration detecting means generates a signal according to the magnitude of the transmitted vibration. Of these signals, the output of the seat surface vibration detection means is output to the seat surface signal processing means, and the seat surface signal processing means processes the output of the seat surface vibration detection means and outputs it to the determination unit. The output of the backside vibration detection means is output to the backside signal processing means, and the backside signal processing means processes the output of the backside vibration detection means and outputs the output to the determination unit. The determination unit determines the presence or absence of a human body on the seat based on the output of the seat surface signal processing unit and the output of the back surface signal processing unit, and a person is sitting on the seat in an unauthorized manner. When it is determined that the person is seated, a signal is output to the auxiliary occupant restraint device, which indicates that the person is seated in an abnormal seating manner on the seat.

[0047]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an output diagram of the signal processing means. Where 1
Is vibration detection means, 2 is signal processing means, and 3 is determination means. The vibration detecting means 1 uses a flexible piezoelectric element and is arranged inside the front cloth of the back surface 4-b of the seat 4.

Further, the signal processing means 1 is an amplification means 2-a for amplifying the output signal of the piezoelectric element, a filter 2-b for filtering a specific frequency component of the output of the amplification means 2-a, and a filter 2-b. Smoothing means for smoothing the output signal from
It consists of c.

First, when there is no human body on the seat, only the vibration transmitted from below the seat 4 is applied to the piezoelectric element 1, but since there is no vibration in a normal room, the piezoelectric element 1 outputs a signal. There is no occurrence, and the output of the signal processing means 1 is almost zero as in the portion A of FIG. Here the human body is seat 4
When seated on, the back surface of the person applies pressure to the back surface 4-b of the seat 4, and the vibration detecting means 1 arranged under the surface cloth of the back surface 4-b of the seat 4 is deformed by the pressure, and the piezoelectric Voltage is generated by the effect. At the time of sitting, since a large vibration is applied by the sitting motion, a large signal from the piezoelectric element 1 continuously appears for the time during which the back during the sitting motion contacts the back surface 4-b, and the output of the signal processing unit 2 is also B in FIG. It becomes like a section.

Therefore, in the seat detection apparatus of the present invention, the seating signal threshold value V1 for determining the magnitude of the signal from the output data of the signal processing means 2 when a person is seated and the seating signal threshold value V1 and a large signal equal to or larger than the seating signal threshold value V1 are the seating time threshold values. It is determined that a person is seated when the time continues for T1 or more, and the determination is changed to seated.
In FIG. 2, since signals of the seating signal threshold value V1 or more are continuous for T1 or more and t1> T1, the seating signal threshold value V
The output is 1 or more, and the determination is changed from absent to present after T1.

Next, when the person rests after sitting down, the generated voltage of the piezoelectric element 1 decreases, but since the human body has minute movements due to heartbeat and respiration, this signal is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 1. And a small signal is generated, and the output signal of the signal processing means 2 becomes as shown in the part C of FIG. If there is no human body, there is no vibration source on the seat 4, and the output signal becomes zero. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether there is a person based on the presence or absence of this small signal.

In the seat detection apparatus of the present invention, the separation signal threshold value V2 and the separation time threshold value T2 for determining the duration of a signal equal to or less than the separation signal threshold value V2 are calculated in advance from the data of the person at rest. In the determining means 3, the time when the output signal of the signal processing means 2 becomes equal to or less than the separation signal threshold V2 is the separation time threshold T2.
When the above continues, it is determined that a person has left, and the determination is changed to absent. In FIG. 2, the determination is changed from being seated to being absent when a signal equal to or less than the separation signal threshold V2 continues for T2 or more.

On the other hand, when an object is placed on the seat, a large vibration is applied to the seat surface 4-a at the moment it is placed,
Since the rear surface 4-b attenuates and is transmitted, the output of the piezoelectric element 1 also decreases, and the output of the signal processing unit 2 decreases accordingly. Further, even if a large signal is generated, its duration is small. Therefore, by setting the sitting signal threshold value V1 and the sitting time threshold value T1, it is extremely possible to mistakenly determine that a person is present even though there is no person. Can be made very small.

Further, in the seating detection apparatus of the present embodiment, when the child is seated on the seat 4 at a barber shop or the like, in order to make the position of the head about the same as that of an adult, above the seat surface 4-a, the position is set. Even when the child auxiliary seat for seating the child is used, since the back of the child is in contact with the back surface 4-b of the seat 4, the piezoelectric element 1 can obtain an output by the vibration of the human body.

Further, FIG. 3 shows the presence detection apparatus of this embodiment,
A configuration diagram in the case of being installed in a vehicle equipped with an airbag device 8 as an auxiliary occupant restraint device and controlling the airbag device by the output of the seat detection device is shown. Where 9
Is an acceleration sensor, and 5 is a controller. This controller 5 is equipped with the signal processing means 2 and the judging means 3 of the seating detection apparatus of this embodiment, and outputs the output of the judging means 3 to the airbag device 8. doing.

In the presence detection apparatus of this embodiment, the piezoelectric element 1 is arranged on the back surface 4-b of the seat 4 to check the presence / absence of a person on the seat 4, so that the person may bend forward. When sitting in an abnormal state such as leaning out from the window, the vibration of the human body is not transmitted to the back surface 4-b of the seat 4, and the state is the same as when there is no seat. A system that does not operate is possible.

Further, since the operation of the airbag device 8 is not permitted even when there is no person, the airbag device for seats other than the driver's seat does not require an unnecessary airbag device if there is no passenger in the seat. It is also possible to eliminate the operation.

Further, even when a booster seat that allows the seatbelt to be placed at an appropriate position on the seat surface 4-a is used for wearing the seatbelt when the child sits on the seat 4, the child's seatbelt is used. Since the back is in contact with the back surface 4-b of the seat 4, the vibration detecting means can output the vibration due to the vibration of the human body, and therefore the judging means 3
Is determined to be seated, it is possible to realize a system that permits the operation of the airbag device in the event of an accident.

Here, when the determination means determines that the seat is present, the operation of the airbag device 8 is permitted, and when it is determined that the seat is absent, a signal is output to prohibit the operation of the airbag device 8. However, it may be configured such that a signal is output only in one of the cases, and the airbag device controls to permit or disallow only when receiving the signal.

Therefore, the seating detection apparatus of the present embodiment can accurately control the airbag apparatus 8 in such various situations.

As described above, the presence detection device of the present invention is
Since the vibration detecting means for detecting the vibration of the human body is arranged on the back surface of the seat, the vibration when an object is placed is difficult to be transmitted to the vibration detecting means, so that the vibration temporarily erroneously determines that the person is seated. There is nothing to do.

Furthermore, the presence of a person can be detected even when a child auxiliary sheet is used. Further, the seating detection device of the present invention, when used in a vehicle with an airbag device, determines that the seating is present when a human body contacts the back of the seat, and therefore the seating is performed in an irregular seating manner. The operation of the airbag device can be prohibited when the vehicle is present or when the person is absent. Furthermore, even when a booster seat is used, the presence of a person can be detected with certainty, so that the operation of the airbag device during a collision can be performed properly.

Next, a second embodiment of the device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows output diagrams of the seat surface signal processing means 11 and the back surface signal processing means 13. The difference of the present embodiment from the first embodiment is that the piezoelectric elements 10 and 1 as the vibration detecting means.
2 is installed not only on the back surface 4-b but also on the seat surface 4-a,
A seat surface signal processing means 11 for processing only the output of the piezoelectric element 10 on the seat surface arranged on the seat surface 4-a, and a rear surface for processing only the output of the piezoelectric element 12 on the rear surface installed on the rear surface 4-b. The determination unit 14 that has the signal processing unit 13 and determines whether or not there is a person on the seat 4 includes the seat surface determination unit 14-a that performs the determination based on the output of the seat surface signal processing unit 11 and the rear surface signal processing unit 13. It has a back surface judging means 14-b for judging from the output, and further has an output of the seat surface signal processing means 11, an output of the back surface signal processing means 13, an output of the seat surface judging means 14-a and a back surface judging means 14-b. Is that it has a determination determination means 14-c for determining the presence or absence of a person on the seat.

In the presence detection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, since the piezoelectric element is installed on the back surface, when the person bends forward and the back is separated from the back surface, the person's signal is directly transmitted. Since this is not done and the output of the piezoelectric element becomes small, there is a problem that it is difficult to distinguish when a person is sitting down.

Therefore, in the seating detection apparatus of this embodiment, the piezoelectric elements 12 are provided not only on the back surface 4-b but also on the seat surface 4-a, and the outputs of the respective piezoelectric elements 10 and 12 are processed. Having a seat surface signal processing means 11 and a back surface signal processing means 13,
The determination unit 14 uses these signals to determine the presence or absence of a person on the seat, so that accurate presence detection can be performed even when the user bends forward.

First, when there is no human body on the seat 4, only the vibration transmitted from below the seat 4 is applied to the piezoelectric element 10 on the seat surface and the piezoelectric element 12 on the back surface, but in a normal room. Since there is no vibration, no signal is generated from the two piezoelectric elements, and the output of the signal processing means is almost zero, as in the area A of FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).

Here, when a human body is seated on the seat 4, vibration is applied to the seating surface 4-a and the back surface 4-b of the seat 4 at the same time, so that the seating surface 4-a of the seat 4 is exposed under the cover cloth. The seated piezoelectric element 10 and the back surface piezoelectric element 12 arranged under the surface of the back surface 4-b are deformed by the vibration,
Voltage is generated by the piezoelectric effect.

At the time of sitting, a very large vibration is applied by the sitting motion, so that a large signal is generated from both of the two piezoelectric elements 10 and 12, and further, this signal causes the waist and the back of the seat 4 to move during the sitting motion. It appears continuously only for the time of hitting the seat surface 4-a and the back surface 4-b, and the outputs of the seat surface signal processing means 11 and the back surface signal processing means 13 are also shown in FIG.
It becomes like the part B of (b). In the seating detection apparatus of the present invention, a first seating surface sitting signal threshold value Va11 for determining the magnitude of the signal from the output data of the seating surface signal processing means 11 using such a signal at the time of sitting, First to judge the magnitude of the signal from the output data of the back surface signal processing means 13
And the rear surface seating signal threshold value Vb11 is calculated, and in the determination determining means 14-c, the output of the seat surface signal processing means 11 is equal to or larger than the first seat surface seating signal threshold value Va11 and the output of the rear surface signal processing means 13 is calculated. Is equal to or greater than the first back seating signal threshold Vb11, it is determined that a person is seated regardless of the duration of each output signal, and the determination is immediately changed to seated.

As a result, the time required for the determination can be shortened by the sitting time threshold value, and the determination can be changed immediately. At this time, the seat surface determination means 14-a determines the magnitude of the signal calculated in advance from the output data of the seat surface signal processing means 11 when a person is sitting on the second seat surface sitting signal threshold Va12. And the seat surface sitting time threshold value Ta1 are used to determine that a person is seated when the duration of a signal larger than the second seat surface sitting signal threshold value Va12 continues for the seat surface sitting time threshold value Ta1 or more, and the back surface determination is performed. Means 14-b
Also, a second rear seating signal threshold value Vb12 and a rear seating time threshold value Tb for judging the magnitude of the signal calculated in advance from the output data of the rear surface signal processing means 13 when a person is seated.
1 is used to determine that a person is seated when the duration of the signal larger than the second rear seating signal threshold value Vb12 continues for the rear seating time threshold value Tb1 or more, and the determination determining means 1 is set for each person.
It is output to 4-c.

Therefore, if the user sits extremely slowly, the outputs of the seat surface signal processing means 11 and the back surface signal processing means 13 are simultaneously the first seat surface seating signal threshold value Va11.
Even when the first rear seating signal threshold value Vb11 is not exceeded, the seating can be detected by the seat surface determining means 14-a and the rear surface determining means 14-b. The presence or absence of can be detected. Here, the determination determining means 14-c determines that the determination is made when both the determination by the seat surface determination means 14-a and the determination by the rear surface determination means 14-b are presence.

In the seating detection apparatus of this embodiment, the first seating surface sitting signal threshold value Va11, the second seating surface seating signal threshold value Va12, and the first back surface sitting signal threshold value Vb11.
And the second rear seating signal threshold Vb12 have the same value. Of course, these may be different values.

Next, when the person rests after sitting down, the generated voltage between the piezoelectric element 10 on the seat surface and the piezoelectric element 12 on the back surface becomes small, but since the human body has minute body movements due to heartbeat and respiration, This signal causes the piezoelectric element 10 on the seat surface and the piezoelectric element 1 on the back surface.
2 and a small signal is generated, and the output signals of the two signal processing means are as shown by C in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).

If there is no human body, there is no vibration source on the seat 4, and the output signal becomes zero. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a person based on the presence or absence of this small signal.

In the seating detection apparatus of the present invention, the sitting surface separation signal threshold value Va2 for judging the signal state with no human body is used for the seat surface judging means 14-a from the data at the time of rest of the person.
The seat surface separation time threshold value Ta2 for determining the duration of a signal equal to or less than the seat surface separation signal threshold value Va2, and the back surface determination unit 1
Also for 4-b, a backside separation signal threshold Vb2 for determining a signal state with no human body and a backside separation time threshold Tb2 for determining a duration of a signal equal to or less than the backside separation signal threshold Vb2 are calculated in advance. In the seat surface determination means 14-a, the output signal of the seat surface signal processing means 11 is the seat surface separation signal threshold value V.
When the time during which the time becomes a2 or less continues for the sitting surface separation time threshold value Ta2 or more, it is determined that the person is absent and absent, and the back surface determination means 14-b determines that the output signal of the back surface signal processing means 13 is the back surface separation. When the time when the signal threshold value is equal to or less than Vb2 continues for the rear surface separation time threshold value Tb2 or more, it is determined that the person is absent and absent, and each is output to the determination determination unit 14-c, and the determination determination unit 14-c. Then, when both of the two determination means determine that the person is absent, it is determined that the person is absent.

On the other hand, when an object is placed on the seat 4, a large vibration is applied to the seat surface 4-a at the moment when the object is placed on the seat surface 4-a, but on the back surface 4-b, according to the data of a person resting. Since the output is attenuated and transmitted, the output of the piezoelectric element 10 on the rear seating surface arranged on the seating surface 4-a is large, but the output of the piezoelectric element 12 on the rear surface arranged on the rear surface 4-b is The output of the seat surface signal processing means 11 and the back surface signal processing means 13 does not exceed the seating time threshold values Tb1 and Tb2 at the same time as the second seating signal threshold values Va12 and Vb12 or more at the same time, and the seat surface piezoelectricity is reduced. Seat surface determination means 14 using only the output of the element 10
Even if -a is determined to be seated, the rear surface determination unit 14-b that uses only the signal of the piezoelectric element 12 on the rear surface determines that it is absent. It is possible to determine that the person is absent without making a false determination.

In some cases, the judgments of the seat surface determination means 14-a and the back surface determination means 14-b are different. First, when the seat surface determination unit 14-a determines that the seat is present and the back surface determination unit 14-b determines that the seat is absent, if a person is present, the piezoelectric element 10 on the seat surface is vibrated. It is considered that the user is sitting in a place where the vibration is not transmitted, or the output signal cannot be obtained even if the vibration is transmitted due to an abnormality in the piezoelectric element 10 or the cushion signal processing means 11 on the seat.

In the former case, there is a problem of the arrangement of the piezoelectric element 10 on the seat surface, and since it can be dealt with by the optimization thereof, it will not be dealt with here. Therefore, the above situation is only in the latter case, which continues as long as the person is still present. On the other hand, when the person is absent, it is possible that a person not sitting on the seat touches the back surface 4-b or the seat 4 is moved, and both of them are temporary states. , It is unlikely that this will continue for a long time. Therefore, the abnormal time threshold value T3, which is considered not to be continuous in the latter state, is calculated in advance, and when this determination state continues for the abnormal time threshold value T3 or more, the determination determining means 14-c causes the seat surface to move. Piezoelectric element 10
It is determined that either the seat surface signal processing means 11 is abnormal.

When a child is seated on a seat at a barber shop or the like, in order to make the position of the head the same as that of an adult, the seat surface 4-
In the case of using the child auxiliary seat on which the child is seated, the vibration is not transmitted to the seat surface 4-a, but the child's back is in contact with the back surface 4-b of the seat 4. Therefore, the piezoelectric element 12 on the back surface can obtain an output by the vibration of the human body. However, in this case, in the above configuration, the seat surface determination means 14-a determines that the person is absent and the back surface determination means 14-b determines that the person is seated.
Since 4-c determines that either the piezoelectric element 10 on the seat surface or the signal processing means 11 on the seat surface is abnormal, it cannot be applied as it is.

Therefore, in order to cope with such a situation, when the seat surface determination means 14-a determines that the person is absent and the back surface determination means 14-b determines that the person is seated, the determination determination means 1
4-c needs to determine that a person is present using the child auxiliary seat. The processing in this case may be changed according to the purpose of use of the seat using the presence detection device of the present embodiment.

Further, in FIG. 6, the seat detection device of this embodiment is installed as an auxiliary occupant restraint device in a vehicle to which the air bag device 8 is attached, and the airbag device 8 is output by the output of the seat detection device. The block diagram when performing the control of FIG.

Similar to the case where the seating detection apparatus of the first embodiment is installed in the seat of the automobile equipped with the air bag apparatus, the operation of the air bag apparatus 8 is disabled when the determination determining means 14-c determines that the vehicle is absent. We are controlling to permit. However, in the presence detection apparatus of the present embodiment, when a person is present on the seat in an abnormal seating manner such as leaning forward or leaning forward from the window, the seat surface determination means 1
4-a determines that the person is seated and the rear surface determination unit 14-b determines that the person is absent. However, if such a determination continues, it is considered that a person is sitting in an abnormal seating mode. The determination unit 14-c determines that a person is sitting in an abnormal seating state and outputs this state to the airbag device 8, whereby fine control can be performed.

Specifically, when a person is seated in a non-regular seating manner, the operation of the airbag device 8 is not simply prohibited, but according to the seated state of the person, It also becomes possible to control the amount of gas filled in the airbag.

Further, in the other determination states, when the determination determining means 14-c determines that the seat is present, the operation of the airbag device 8 is permitted, and when the determination determining means 14-c determines that the seat is absent. , A signal for disabling the operation of the airbag device 8 is output. As a result, when the person is absent, the operation of the airbag device 8 is not permitted. Therefore, in the airbag device 8 for seats other than the driver's seat, when there is no passenger in the seat, unnecessary airbag device 8 It is possible to eliminate the operation.

Further, even if a booster seat is used that allows the seat belt to be placed at an appropriate position above the seat surface 4-a so that the seat belt can be worn when the child sits on the seat 4, the child can use the seat belt. Since its back is in contact with the back surface 4-b of the seat 4, the piezoelectric element 12 on the back surface can obtain an output by vibration of the human body, can be determined to be seated, and allows the operation of the air bag device in the event of an accident. The system can be easily realized.

However, when the seating surface determining means 14-a determines that the person is absent and the back surface determining means 14-b determines that the person is seated, the determination determining means 14-c is configured to continue the previous determination. Although it is possible, it cannot be applied as it is in the above case.
Therefore, in order to deal with such a situation, here, the seat surface determination means 14-a determines that the seat surface is absent, and the back surface determination means 14-a is absent.
When it is determined that -b is present, the determination determining unit 14-c can be configured to determine that a person is present using the child auxiliary seat and satisfy the specifications required for the system.

Therefore, the seating detection apparatus of the present embodiment can accurately control the airbag apparatus in various situations as described above.

As described above, the presence detection device of the present invention is
Vibration detection means for detecting vibrations of the human body are provided on the seat surface and the back surface of the seat, and the signals are processed separately to determine the presence / absence of a person on the seat. There is no erroneous determination that the person is seated, and the state can be determined even when a person sits forward.

Further, in the presence detection apparatus of the present invention, when the determination determining means outputs the two signal processing means at the same time to be equal to or more than the respective seating signal thresholds, it is determined that the person is seated regardless of the signal continuation time. Since the determination is made, the presence of a person can be immediately determined without waiting for the duration of the signal.

In the presence detecting apparatus of the present invention, when the determination determining means determines that both the determination results of the seat surface determining means and the rear surface determining means are seated, it is determined that a person is seated and seated. Therefore, even when an object is placed, it is possible to reduce the number of temporary misjudgments as being present.

Further, in the presence detection apparatus of the present invention, when the determination determining means determines that both the determination results of the seat surface determining means and the rear surface determining means are absent, it is determined that the person is absent and is absent. The presence of a person can be surely determined even when the person is sitting in an abnormal seating position.

Further, in the presence detecting apparatus of the present invention, when the determination determining means determines that the determination result of the seat surface determining means is seated and the determination result of the rear surface determining means is absent, the previous determination is made. So, if something is placed when the person is absent,
Even if a person is seated in a non-regular manner temporarily, an accurate determination without erroneous determination can be made.

Further, in the presence detection apparatus of the present invention, the state in which the determination result of the seat surface determination means is absent and the determination result of the back surface determination means determines that the person is seated is continuously for a predetermined abnormality determination time threshold value or more. In this case, the determination determining means determines that either the seat vibration detection means or the seat surface signal processing means or both are abnormal, so that when such an abnormality occurs, the abnormality can be detected.

Further, in the presence detecting apparatus of the present invention, when the determination determining means determines that the determination result of the seat surface determining means is absent and the determination result of the rear surface determining means determines that the child is present, the child auxiliary seat is selected. Since it is determined that a person is present by using it, the presence of a person can be detected even when the child auxiliary sheet is used.

Further, when the seating detection apparatus of the present invention is used in a vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus, when a person is seated in an abnormal seating state, the state is output to the airbag apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to realize a system that controls the operation of the airbag in accordance with the seated state.

Further, when the seating detection apparatus of the present invention is used in a vehicle equipped with an air bag device, the operation of the air bag can be prohibited when there is no person, so that there is no occupant to protect. It is possible to eliminate unnecessary operation of.

As described above, according to the presence detection apparatus of the present invention, the presence / absence of a human body on the seat can be accurately determined. As a result, vacant seats can be accurately grasped in theaters and automobiles, which can be used for air conditioning and sound field control, and also for occupant grasping of automobiles, etc., especially ideal control of auxiliary occupant restraint devices such as airbag devices. Can be realized.

[0097]

As described above, according to the presence detection apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since the vibration detecting means for detecting the vibration of the human body is arranged on the back surface of the seat, the vibration when the object is placed is difficult to be transmitted to the vibration detecting means, so that the object is placed. In this case, a presence detection device that does not cause a temporary misjudgment can be provided. Further, even if a child auxiliary seat is used, the vibration of a person can be detected, so that a presence detection device that can reliably detect the presence is available. Can be provided.

(2) When used as a seat of a moving device such as an automobile with an auxiliary occupant restraint system, when the person is seated in an abnormal seating manner or when there is no person, the auxiliary occupant The operation of the restraint device can be disallowed.

Further, even when a child is sitting on the booster seat, the vibration of the person can be detected, so that it is possible to provide a seating detection device which realizes a reliable operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint system.

(3) Vibration detecting means for detecting vibrations of the human body are provided on the seat surface and the back surface of the seat, and the signals are separately processed to determine the presence / absence of a person on the seat. Even if you are seated, there is no temporary misjudgment that you are seated, and even if you are seated in an abnormal seating style,
It is possible to provide a presence detection device that can reliably determine the presence of a person.

(4) If the outputs of the two signal processing means are equal to or more than the respective seating signal thresholds,
Since it is determined that the person is seated regardless of the signal continuation time, it is possible to provide the presence detection apparatus that can immediately determine the presence of the person without waiting for the duration of the signal.

(5) Since the judging section judges that a person is seated when both the judgment results of the seating surface judging means and the back surface judging means are seated, even if an object is placed, the judgment is made temporarily. It is possible to provide an occupancy detection device that does not erroneously determine an occupancy.

(6) Since the judging section judges that a person has left the seat when both the judgment results of the seating surface judging means and the back surface judging means are absent, the person is not seated in a normal seating manner. Even if the user is present, it is possible to provide the presence detection device that can reliably determine the presence of a person.

(7) When the determination result of the seat surface determination means is seated and the determination result of the back surface determination means is absent, the determination section continues the determination one time before, so that the person is absent. It is possible to provide a seating detection apparatus that can make an accurate judgment without an erroneous judgment even when an object is sometimes placed or when a person is seated and the seating style is temporarily irregular.

(8) When the determination result of the seating surface determination means is absent and the determination result of the back surface determination means determines that the person is seated, the determination section continues for a predetermined abnormality determination time threshold value or more, Since it is determined that either the seat vibration detection means or the seat signal processing means or both are abnormal, it is possible to provide an occupant detection device capable of detecting an abnormality.

(9) When the determination result of the seat surface determination means is absent and the determination result of the back surface determination means is present, the determination section determines that a person is present using the child auxiliary seat. Therefore, it is possible to provide the presence detection device that can detect the presence of a person even when the child auxiliary seat is used.

(10) When used as a seat of a moving device such as an automobile having an auxiliary occupant restraint system, an occupant detection apparatus capable of disabling the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint system when there is no person is used. Can be provided, and even when a child sits on the booster seat, it can detect human vibration,
It is possible to provide an occupant detection device that realizes reliable operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint device.

(11) When used as a seat of a moving device such as an automobile with an auxiliary occupant restraint system, when a person is seated in an abnormal seating manner, the state is changed to the auxiliary occupant restraint system. Is output, it is possible to provide a seating detection device that realizes a system capable of controlling according to the sitting state of a person.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an occupancy detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an output diagram of a signal processing unit of the device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an automobile using the device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an occupancy detection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an output diagram of the signal processing means of the device, FIG.
Shows the case of the signal processing means on the seat surface and (b) shows the case of the back surface.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an automobile using the device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional presence detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Piezoelectric element (vibration detection means) 2 Signal processing means 2-a Amplification means 2-b Filter 2-c Smoothing means 3 Judgment means 4 Seat 4-a Seat surface 4-b Rear surface 5 Controller 8 Airbag device (auxiliary Occupant restraint device 9 Accelerometer 10 Piezoelectric element (vibration detecting means) on seat surface 11 Seat surface signal processing means 11-a Amplifying means 11-b Filter 11-c Smoothing means 12 Piezoelectric element on rear surface (vibration detecting means) 13 Seating surface signal processing means 13-a Amplifying means 13-b Filter 14 Judging section 14-a Seating surface judging means 14-b Rear surface judging means 14-c Judgment determining means

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Masaatsu Inoue 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Iwasa 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mamoru Morota 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako City, Saitama Prefecture

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A vibration detecting means provided on the back surface of a seat, a signal processing means for processing an output signal of the vibration detecting means, and a determination for judging the presence or absence of a person on the seat from the output of the signal processing means. An occupancy detection apparatus comprising: 2. The determination means is such that a person is present in the seat when the output of the signal processing means continues for a predetermined sitting time threshold value or more for a time exceeding the predetermined seating signal threshold value. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured to determine that. 3. The determination means determines that a person is absent in the seat when the time when the output of the signal processing means is below a predetermined separation signal threshold continues for a predetermined separation time threshold or more. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured to make a determination. 4. The seat is installed on a moving device such as an automobile or an airplane having an auxiliary occupant restraint device that operates in the event of an accident and restrains and protects the occupant of the seat, and the determining means is a person present. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the presence detection apparatus is configured to output a signal permitting the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus when it is determined that the vehicle is restrained. 5. The seat is installed on a moving device such as an automobile or an airplane with an auxiliary occupant restraint device which operates when an accident occurs to restrain and protect the occupant of the seat, and the judging means is absent of a person. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the presence detection apparatus is configured to output a signal that prohibits the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus when the determination is made. 6. A seat surface vibration detection means provided on a seat surface of a seat, a seat surface signal processing means for processing an output signal of the seat surface vibration detection means, and a back surface vibration detection provided on a back surface of the seat. Means, a rear surface signal processing means for processing an output signal of the rear surface vibration detecting means, and a judging portion for judging the presence or absence of a person on the seat from the outputs of the seat surface signal processing means and the rear surface signal processing means. A seat detection device comprising: 7. The determination unit, when the output of the seat surface signal processing means exceeds a predetermined seat surface seating signal threshold and the output of the back surface signal processing means exceeds a predetermined back seating signal threshold value. 7. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the presence detection apparatus is configured to immediately determine that a person is present in the seat regardless of the duration of the signal. 8. The determination unit determines the presence or absence of a person on the seat from the output signal of the seat surface signal processing unit, and determines the presence or absence of a person on the seat from the output signal of the back surface signal processing unit. 7. The seating detection apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a rear surface determination unit that operates. 9. The determination unit determines that if the seat surface determination unit determines that a person is present in the seat and the back surface determination unit determines that the person is present in the seat, the person is The presence detection apparatus according to claim 8, which is configured to determine that the user is present in the seat. 10. The determination unit determines that the seat surface determination means determines that a person is present in the seat, and the rear surface determination means determines that the person is absent in the seat, the previous one The presence detection apparatus according to claim 8, which is configured to continue the determination as it is. 11. The determination unit determines in advance a state in which the seat surface determination means determines that a person is not present in the seat and the back surface determination means determines that a person is present in the seat. 9. The seating detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, when it continues for a predetermined abnormal time threshold or more, either or both of the seat surface vibration detection means and the seat surface signal processing means are determined to be abnormal. 12. The determination unit determines that the person is absent in the seat when the seat surface determination unit determines that the person is absent in the seat and the back surface determination unit determines that the person is absent in the seat. 9. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 8, which is configured to determine that 13. The determination unit determines that if the seat surface determination unit determines that the person is not present in the seat and the back surface determination unit determines that the person is present in the seat, the person is The presence detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the presence detection apparatus is configured to determine that the child is seated by using a child auxiliary seat. 14. The determination unit determines that when the seat surface determination unit determines that a person is present in the seat and the back surface determination unit determines that the person is not present in the seat, the person is The presence detection apparatus according to claim 8, which is configured to determine that the user is seated in a non-regular seating manner. 15. The seat is installed on a moving device such as an automobile or an airplane having an auxiliary occupant restraint device which operates when an accident occurs and restrains and protects an occupant of the seat, and a determination means is set on the seat by a person. When it is determined that the passenger is present, the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint device is permitted, and when the determination means determines that the person is not present in the seat, the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint device is not permitted. 7. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the presence detection apparatus is configured to output a signal indicating that 16. The seat is installed on a moving device such as an automobile or an airplane having an auxiliary occupant restraint device that operates when an accident occurs and restrains and protects an occupant of the seat, and a determination means is set on the seat by a person. 7. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the presence detection apparatus is configured to output a signal permitting the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus when it is determined that the person is seated. 17. The seat is installed on a moving device such as an automobile or an airplane with an auxiliary occupant restraint device that operates when an accident occurs and restrains and protects an occupant of the seat, and the determination means is set on the seat by a person. 7. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 6, which is configured to output a signal that prohibits the operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint system when it is determined that the vehicle is absent. 18. The seat is installed on a moving device such as an automobile or an airplane having an auxiliary occupant restraint device which operates when an accident occurs and restrains and protects an occupant of the seat, and a person for determining the seat is installed on the seat. When it is determined that the person is seated in a non-regular manner, the auxiliary occupant restraint device is configured to output a signal to inform that the person is seated in a non-regular manner in the seat. The presence detection apparatus according to claim 6, which is configured.