JPH11351808A - Antenna electrode fitting structure of seat for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and accurately position an antenna electrode by providing a special mark when the antenna electrode is fixed onto the surface of the pad of the seat across wadding. SOLUTION: To decide that a passenger sitting on a next-to-driver passenger seat is leaning to the door side, the sheet type antenna electrode 45 is adhered and fixed to the surface of the wadding 52 adhered to the left-side part of the pad 41 of the seat back 27. Outlines (a) and (b) of the antenna electrode 45 formed by uniting electrode cloth 29g with base cloth 52 are put in conformity with the outline of the pad 41 of the seat back 27 and then the antenna electrode 45 is easily and accurately positioned on the pad 41 without providing any special mark, thereby increasing the detection precision of the sitting attitude of the passenger.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mounting structure of an antenna electrode of an occupant detection device for detecting a sitting posture and a physique of an occupant seated on an automobile seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a child sitting in a passenger seat falls asleep and his body leans toward a door, the head of a child with a low sitting height covers the front of a side airbag device housed in a side portion of a seat back. There is a problem that the side airbag cannot be deployed effectively. Therefore, a seat-like antenna electrode is embedded between the seat back pad and the trim cover that covers the surface to detect the sitting posture and physique of the occupant sitting in the passenger seat, and the child rests on the door side. Has been already proposed by the applicant of the present invention (Japanese Patent Application No.
-3938).

[0003]

When the antenna electrode is directly mounted on the surface of the pad of the seat back, irregularities serving as marks indicating the mounting position of the antenna electrode are formed in advance when the pad is formed. This allows the antenna electrode to be mounted at the correct position, thereby avoiding a decrease in detection accuracy. However, actually, in order to improve the feel of the seat when sitting, a sheet-like wadding is adhered to the surface of the pad, and the antenna electrode is overlapped and adhered to the surface of the padding,
In addition, since the wadding is obtained by cutting a large-sized ready-made sheet into a predetermined size, it is not desirable to provide irregularities serving as a mark indicating a mounting position of the antenna electrode at the time of manufacturing the wadding, since this increases cost. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when an antenna electrode is fixed to a surface of a pad of a sheet via wadding, the antenna electrode is easily and accurately positioned without providing a special mark. The purpose is to be able to.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a seat is provided on a pad surface of a seat back through wadding to detect a sitting posture and a physique of an occupant. In a vehicle seat having a fixed antenna electrode, at least a part of the contour of the antenna electrode is matched with the contour of the pad, whereby the antenna electrode is positioned on the pad.

According to the above configuration, when the sheet-like antenna electrode is fixed to the surface of the pad of the seat back via wadding, at least a part of the contour of the antenna electrode is made to coincide with the contour of the pad, thereby providing a special structure. It is possible to easily and accurately position the antenna electrode without providing the mark, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the occupant's sitting posture and physique.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a passenger seat provided with a side airbag device, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the passenger seat. 3 is a perspective view of a passenger seat, FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system, FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an electric field output unit,
FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the distance of the human body and the sensor output,
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the occupant physique detection method, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a sleeping state of a child sitting on a passenger seat.

As shown in FIG. 1, the side airbag device 2 for side collision accommodated in the side of the seat back 27 of the passenger seat 4 on the side of the door 1 at the time of side collision of the vehicle is seated on the passenger seat 4. The side airbag 3 is deployed between the occupant and the inner surface of the door 1. The side airbag device 2 does not operate when the occupant sitting on the passenger seat 4 is a child with a small sitting height and the child is leaning against the door 1 (see FIG. 9). For this purpose, the passenger seat 4 is provided with an occupant detection unit 5 (see FIG. 5) for detecting a state in which a child sitting on the passenger seat 4 is leaning on the door 1 side.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the passenger seat 4 includes a seat cushion 26, a seat back 27 and a headrest 28.
7 includes a pad 41 made of an elastic material and a trim cover 42 covering the surface thereof. Between the inner surface of the trim cover 42 that covers the front surface of the seat back 27 against which the back of the seated occupant hits, and the front surface of the pad 41, a sheet-like first antenna electrode 43 and a second antenna electrode that constitute the sensor unit 16 described below. 44 and a third antenna electrode 45 are arranged.

The first antenna electrode 43 includes a non-conductive base cloth 46 and two conductive electrode cloths 2 adhered to the surface thereof.
9a and 29b, which are arranged at the upper center of the seat back 27 in a state of being sandwiched between two wadings 47 and 48 for improving the feel of the occupant. The second antenna electrode 44 includes a non-conductive base cloth 49 and four conductive electrode cloths 29c to 29f attached to the surface thereof, and is sandwiched between two waddings 50 and 51. It is arranged at the center of the seat back 27. The third antenna electrode 45
It is composed of a non-conductive base cloth 52 and one conductive electrode cloth 29g stuck on the surface thereof.
The seat back 27 is disposed on the left side of the seat back 27 in a state of being sandwiched between the seat backs 3 and 54. One wadding 55 is arranged on the right side of the seat back 27 where no antenna electrode is provided.

First to third antenna electrodes 43, 44, 45
Wading 47, 48, 5
Of the pads 0, 51, 53, and 54, those on the inner side (the pad 41 side) are formed to be thicker and fixed in advance to the outer surface of the pad 41 by bonding, and the outer side (the trim cover 42 side).
Are formed thin and fixed in advance to the inner surface of the trim cover 42 by adhesion. One wadding 55 not in contact with the antenna electrode is formed to be the thickest, and is fixed to the outer surface of the pad 41 in advance by bonding.

First to third antenna electrodes 43, 44, 45
Are wadings 47, 50, 53 bonded to pads 41
Is fixed to the surface of each by adhesion. The first and second antenna electrodes 43 and 44 are for determining whether the occupant is an adult or a child, and the accuracy of the mounting position may be relatively low. On the other hand, the third antenna electrode 45 is for determining whether or not the occupant is leaning on the door 1 side, and relatively high accuracy is required for the mounting position.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the contours a and b of the third antenna electrode 45 (that is, the contours a and b of the base cloth 52 of the third antenna electrode 45) match the contour of the pad 41, so that the third antenna The electrode 45 is easily and accurately positioned at a predetermined position on the pad 41. Thus, the third antenna electrode 45 is fixed on the wading 53 previously bonded to the pad 41 by bonding.

As described above, since the positioning is performed by making the contours a and b of the third antenna electrode 45 coincide with the contour of the pad 41, the third antenna electrode 45 is provided without any positioning mark on the pad 41 or wading 53. Can be positioned, which can contribute to cost reduction. Also, by forming the outer waddings 49, 51, 54 thinner, the first to third antenna electrodes 4 can be formed.
The detection accuracy can be enhanced by bringing 3, 44, 45 as close as possible to the human body.

As shown in FIG. 5, the occupant detection unit 5 includes an occupant detection block 11, a failure diagnosis block 12, a recording block 13, a communication block 14, and a warning light control block 15. Occupant detection block 11
Is composed of a sensor unit 16, an electric field output unit 17, and an occupant detection determination unit 18, which will be described in detail later. The occupant detection determination unit 18 includes the failure diagnosis block 12 that detects an abnormal state such as a failure, The recording block 13 for storing various thresholds and the like serving as references for performing occupant detection is connected. The occupant detection determination unit 18 includes a first determination unit 18a that determines whether the occupant is an adult or a child based on the sitting height of the occupant seated on the passenger seat 4, and an occupant seated on the passenger seat 4. A second determining means 18b for determining whether or not the player is leaning on the door 1 side; a first determining means 18a;
A signal output means 18c for outputting a side airbag deployment prohibition command signal and an alarm command signal based on the output of the determination means 18b. First and second antenna electrodes 4
3 and 44 are connected to the first judging means 18a, and the third antenna electrode 45 is connected to the second judging means 18b.

The communication block 1 of the occupant detection unit 5
4 side airbag device control unit 19
Is composed of a collision acceleration detection section 20, an inflator drive circuit section 21, a side airbag device control block 22, and a communication block 23. Collision acceleration detector 2
When 0 detects the acceleration generated by the collision of the vehicle, the inflator drive circuit section 21 ignites the inflator and activates the side airbag apparatus 2 according to a command from the side airbag apparatus control block 22. At this time, if the occupant detection determination unit 18 determines that the child is sitting on the passenger seat 4 and the child is leaning on the door 1 side and is sleeping, the side airbag deployment prohibition command signal is transmitted to the communication block 14. 23, is output to the side airbag device control block 22, and is output to the side airbag device control block 2.
2 prohibits the operation of the side airbag device 2 by the inflator drive circuit 21.

The warning light control block 15 of the occupant detection unit 5 is connected to a passenger seat occupant warning light 25 of a meter unit 24 provided on the instrument panel.
When the occupant detection determination unit 18 determines that the child is sitting on the passenger seat 4 and leaning on the door 1 side and sleeping (see FIG. 9).
A warning command signal is output to turn on the passenger seat occupant warning light 25, and a warning is issued to move the child to the rear seat.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the electric field output unit 17. The output current I of the electric field generation unit 32 is connected to the other end of the electric field generation unit 32 composed of a high frequency oscillation circuit whose one end is grounded to the grounding unit 31. One end of a current monitor resistor 33 for converting to a voltage and an amplifier 34 are connected. Current monitor resistor 3
The other end of 3 is connected to the amplifier 34 and is connected to the seven electrode cloths 29a to 29g in order at predetermined time intervals.

The passenger is not seated on the passenger seat 4,
Therefore, when the human body 35 as a dielectric is not approaching the electrode cloths 29a to 29g (for example, the electrode cloth 29a) connected to the other end of the current monitor resistor 33, the output generated by the electric field emitted from the electrode cloth 29a. The value of the current I depends on the distance between the electrode cloth 29a and the ground part 31 and the dielectric constant of air (ε ≒).
It becomes extremely small according to 1). As a result, the voltage generated across the current monitor resistor 33, that is, the amplifier 3
4 also becomes smaller. On the other hand, when the human body 35 having a dielectric constant (ε ≒ 80) larger than that of air is seated on the passenger seat 4, the electrode cloth 29a and the human body 3 as shown in FIG.
5, a large output current I according to the area of the human body 35 facing the electrode cloth 29a flows through the current monitor resistor 33, and the voltage generated across the current monitor resistor 33, that is, the output of the amplifier 34 also increases. .

Therefore, by analyzing the output pattern of the amplifier 34 corresponding to the six electrode cloths 29a to 29f, the physique of the occupant sitting on the passenger seat 4 can be detected.

Next, an example of occupant physique detection performed by the occupant detection determination unit 18 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a case where an occupant with a high sitting height is seated on the passenger seat 4 (a), an occupant with an intermediate sitting height is seated (b), and an occupant with a low sitting height is seated (c). The pattern of the sensor output is shown corresponding to each.
In the case of (a), the occupant's sitting height is high, so the neck faces the second uppermost electrode cloth 29b, and the shoulders face the fifth and sixth uppermost electrode cloths 29e, 29f. ing. In the case of (b), the head is the first to third electrode cloths 29a to 29c from the top because the occupant's sitting height is intermediate.
And the neck is the fourth electrode cloth 29 from the top.
d. In the case of (c), the head is the fourth to sixth electrode cloths 29d to 29d from the top because the occupant's sitting height is low.
f. Note that the sensor output in FIG. 6 indicates a current value (nA) flowing through the current monitor resistor 33, and the value is proportional to the output of the amplifier 34.

Since the shoulder has a large width and abuts the seat back 27, the sensor output corresponding to the shoulder becomes equal to or more than a first threshold value (for example, 400 nA) (see FIG. 8A). Since the neck is the narrowest and is farthest from the seat back 27, the sensor output corresponding to the neck is almost zero (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). Since the head is slightly wider in width and abuts the seat back 27, the sensor output corresponding to the head is less than the first threshold and equal to or more than the second threshold (for example, 150 nA) (FIGS. 8B and 8C). )reference).

[0024] As shown in (a), when a sensor output equal to or more than the first threshold value is present, a shoulder is detected, and the occupant is determined to be an occupant with a high sitting height. Further, as shown in (b), when there are two sensor outputs that are less than the first threshold value and equal to or greater than the second threshold value, it is a case where a part of the head and shoulders is detected, and the occupant has an intermediate sitting height. Is determined. Also, as shown in FIG. 3C, when there is one sensor output that is less than the first threshold value and equal to or greater than the second threshold value, the head is detected, and the occupant is a occupant with a low sitting height (standard under six years old). Child).

As described above, the first determining means 18a determines the physique of the occupant based on the approach of the human body 35 to the electrode cloths 29d to 29f embedded in the seat back 27. Accurate determination can be made without being affected by a change in the sitting posture of the vehicle, a change in the reclining angle of the seat back 27, or the like.

On the other hand, when the body of the occupant seated in the passenger seat 4 approaches the electrode cloth 29g embedded in the side of the seat back 27, the current monitor resistor 33 according to the principle described above.
The current value flowing through increases. As a result, the second determination means 1
8b determines that the occupant seated on the passenger seat 4 is in a posture leaning on the door 1 side.

When the first determining means 18a determines that the occupant is a child and the second determining means 18b determines that the occupant is leaning against the door 1, the signal output means 18c. Outputs a side airbag deployment prohibition command signal to prohibit the operation of the side airbag device 2, and outputs a warning command signal to output a passenger seat occupant warning light 25.
To warn the child to move to the rear seat.
This prohibits the operation of the side airbag device 2 when the child lies on the passenger seat 4 in a posture leaning on the door 1 side, and reliably prevents the deployed airbag 3 from interfering with the child. can do.

The operation of the side airbag device 2 is also prohibited when the first determining means 18a determines that the occupant is not seated on the passenger seat 4. As a result, the side airbag device 2 for the passenger seat 4 does not needlessly operate at the time of a vehicle collision, and the user's economic burden for replacing the uselessly operated side airbag device 2 is reduced. .

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, various design changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, in the above embodiment, the electrode cloth 29g of the third antenna electrode 45 is formed smaller than the base cloth 52, and the outline of the base cloth 52 forms the outlines a and b of the third antenna electrode 45. However, as shown in FIG. 10A, the base cloth 52 and the electrode cloth 29g can be configured to have the same dimensions. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10B, the electrode cloth 29g may be formed smaller than the base cloth 52, and only the outline a of the base cloth 52 may match the outline of the pad 41. Further, as shown in FIG. 10C, the base cloth 52 and the electrode cloth 29g may be configured to have the same dimensions, and only the contour a may be made to coincide with the contour of the pad 41.

In the embodiment, the first to third antenna electrodes 4
Although the present invention is applied only to the third antenna electrode 45 among the third, third and fourth antenna electrodes 45 and 45, the present invention can be applied to the first and second antenna electrodes 43 and 44 as needed.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least one of the contours of the antenna electrode is fixed when the sheet-like antenna electrode is fixed to the surface of the pad of the seat back via wadding. By making the portion coincide with the contour of the pad, the antenna electrode can be easily and accurately positioned without providing a special mark, and the detection accuracy of the occupant's sitting posture and physique can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a passenger seat provided with a side airbag device.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a passenger seat.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a passenger seat.

FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrows in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an electric field output unit.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between a human body distance and a sensor output.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an occupant physique detection method.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a sleeping state of a child sitting on a passenger seat;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 27 Seat back 41 Pad 45 Third antenna electrode (antenna electrode) 53 Wadding

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Ino 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama Pref.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automobile comprising a seat-shaped antenna electrode (45) fixed to the surface of a pad (41) of a seat back (27) via a wading (53) in order to detect a sitting posture and a physique of an occupant. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the contour of the antenna electrode (45) matches the contour of the pad (41), thereby positioning the antenna electrode (45) on the pad (41). Antenna electrode mounting structure on the vehicle seat.