JPS61113527A - Seating posture warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a driver to maintain a proper posture by providing a posture judging means which judges the seating posture of a rider by means of a signal from the pressure sensor of a seat, and a warning means which warns said rider according to said posture judging means. CONSTITUTION:If a driver is seated with a proper seating posture, the point of high pressure distribution of a seat cushion 1 exists near a pressure sensor 111, and the detected pressure of the pressure sensor 111 is higher than the detected pressure of a pressure sensor 112. However, when he assumes an easy posture with his waist shifted forward, the point of high pressure distribution is also shifted forward, causing the detected pressure of the pressure sensor 112 to be higher. Then, the detected pressures of the pressures sensors 111 and 112 are compared with each other by means of a microcomputer 6 and, when the detected pressure of the pressure sensor 112 is the larger of the two, a signal is fed to a warning device to give warning.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seating position warning device. The device according to the present invention is used, for example, when a driver is seated on a seat in an automobile, to detect the seated state and issue a warning if the driver is not in the correct posture, thereby prompting the driver to take the correct posture.

Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention In general, a sitting posture in which the hips are shifted forward or the seatback is reclined excessively poses a problem in terms of safe driving. could not fully demonstrate its effect. This is thought to be due to the fact that the driver is not aware of this because no device has conventionally been provided to warn of disturbances in the driver's posture. An object of the present invention is to enable safe driving by correct posture based on the idea of warning the driver of disturbances in seating position.

Means for Solving Problems and Function The present invention includes a pressure sensor attached to a seat, a posture determining means for determining the seating posture of an occupant based on a signal from the pressure sensor, and a posture determining means for determining the seating posture of the occupant by the posture determining means. A seating posture warning device is provided, characterized in that it is equipped with a warning means for giving a warning.

In the device according to the present invention, signals from a plurality of pressure sensors disposed on the seat are supplied to the microcomputer, the microcomputer determines the seating posture, and based on the result of the determination by the microcomputer, it is determined whether or not the occupant is seated incorrectly. A warning will be issued.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1(A) is a diagram schematically showing a seating posture warning device as a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1; (A)
A functional block diagram of the microcombination unit in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1(B) is shown in FIG.

On the seat cushion 1, pressure sensors 111 and 112 for detecting the seating state are sewn, for example, between the outer skin 101 and the cushioning material 103 via the fabric 102, as shown in FIG. 2, and are fixed so as not to shift. and embedded. On the other hand, a potentiometer 4 is attached to a rotary hinge portion 3 that connects the seat back 2 and the seat cushion 1 to detect the seat back inclination.

The potentiometer 4 is shown in FIG. 3(A), for example.

As shown in (B), the body part of the potentiometer 4 is fixed to the hinge part 32 on the seat cushion side at a position where the axis of the rotational hinge part 3 of the seat I~ and the rotation axis of the potentiometer 4 are line 11i. A joint 311 attached to the shaft 13b is fixed to a rotation hinge 'N531 on the seat back side.

Signals from pressure sensors 111 and 112, potentiometer 4, and ignition switch 1 next to the steering wheel 5 are taken into a microcomputer 6, and when the seating position is incorrect, a signal is sent to alarm devices 7 such as an alarm buzzer 71 and an alarm lamp 72. to issue an alarm.

The operation of the device shown in FIG. 1A will now be described. 1 First, an explanation will be given of the disordered seating that causes the hips to move forward. In general, the pressure distribution of the cyanid cushion while sitting is as shown in FIG. 4, and there are pressure points near the vertebrae where high pressure is applied, one on each side.

The number of these two pressure points does not change even if your weight or physique changes. Also, the position is not much different because you sit based on the seat back. Therefore, a pressure sensor 111 is installed near this high pressure as shown in □ in FIG. Since this pressure constantly fluctuates during operation, it is preferable that the microcomputer 6 calculates an average value within a predetermined period of time.

If the sitting posture is correct, the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 111 is greater than the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 112 because a point with a high pressure distribution exists near the pressure sensor 111. However, if the posture is disturbed and the hips shift forward, the point where the pressure distribution is high will shift forward, and the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 112 will become larger.

Therefore, the pressures detected by the sensors 111 and 112 are compared by a microcomputer, and when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 112 is greater, a signal is sent to the alarm 7 to issue an alarm.

This alarm 7 uses a lamp 72 or a buzzer 71, etc. When the pressure difference is small, that is, there is little disturbance in the sitting posture, the lamp is activated, and when the pressure difference is large, that is, when the seating posture is disturbed, the buzzer is activated. Although it is effective to use one or the other, it is also effective to issue a warning by using either one or another method, such as sound or tightening the seat belt.

If the seat back is extremely tilted, the seat back tilt angle sensor 4 installed on the rotating hinge part 3 of the seat detects the angle, and if the angle exceeds a preset angle inside the microcomputer, a signal is sent to the aforementioned alarm. to issue an alarm.

Note that when the vehicle is not seated, the pressure sensors 111 and 112 of the seat cushion detect that the vehicle is not seated, and no alarm is issued even if the seatback angle exceeds a predetermined angle. Additionally, this device is linked to the ignition switch and operates only when the engine is running.

The flow of operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1(A) is shown in FIG. When power is supplied to the microcomputer from the power supply shown in the figure, the operation of the microcomputer starts from step SO, and in step $1, the input of the ignition switch 5 is determined and the ignition switch 5 is turned on.
When the alarm 7 is off, the alarm 7 is turned off and waits for an input. When the ignition switch 5 is on, step S1
Subsequent operations begin.

In step S2, it is determined whether or not the driver is seated based on whether or not the pressure of the pressure sensors 111 and 112 provided in the seat cushion 1 exceeds a set value, and if the driver is not seated, the seat pack 2 Even if the angle is not appropriate, the alarm is turned off in step S5 and waits for input of seating.

When it is determined in step S2 that the person is seated, the detected pressures of pressure sensors 111 and 112 are compared in step S3, and when the detected pressure of pressure sensor 112 becomes a larger value, an alarm is activated. Then, in step S5, an alarm is issued until the correct seating state is achieved.

In step S4, the inclination angle of the seat back 2 is determined, and if the inclination angle is greater than the set value, an alarm is issued in step S5, and the alarm is issued until the inclination angle becomes appropriate. That is, if either the seating position or the seat pack angle is incorrect, the warning will continue until the seating position or seat pack angle becomes appropriate.

In implementing the present invention, modified embodiments other than the above-described embodiments may be employed. For example, a potentiometer serving as an inclination sensor for detecting the inclination of the seat back and inclination determining means can be omitted. Further, the ignition switch state determining means can also be omitted.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the pressure difference between the two sensors was used to determine if the seat was disturbed due to movement to the front of the waist.
Instead, the system memorizes the pressure for each person in advance when they assume a devilish sitting posture, and compares it with that to generate an alarm if a pressure difference exceeds a certain range. In addition, in order to improve measurement accuracy, it is also possible to arrange a plurality of sensors to make it even more effective.

In addition, if two pressure sensors 121 and 122 are added to the two pressure sensors 111 and 112 as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 5, the pressure difference between 111 (112> and 121 (122>) It is possible to detect the positional shift.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, an alarm can be used to issue a warning to the driver if the driver is not seated correctly, and the correct posture of the driver can be ensured.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(A) is a diagram showing a seating posture alarm device as a part of the tMrIA of the present invention, FIG. 1(B) is a functional block diagram of a microcomputer in the device shown in FIG. 1(A), and FIG. The figure shows the installation situation of the pressure sensor.
The figure shows the installation situation of the tilt angle sensor 1±, Figure 4 shows the pressure distribution while sitting on the seat cushion, Figure 5 shows the position of the pressure sensor installation, and Figure 6 shows the position of the pressure sensor. < FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the microcomputer at the position shown in <A). 1... Seat cushion, 2... Seat back, 1
11.112...Pressure sensor, 3...Rotating hinge part, 6...Microcomputer, 7...Alarm device, 3
2... Seat cushion side hinge, 31... Seat pack side hinge i # ÷ signature i, 101... Sea 1-
Outer skin, 103... Cushion material, 102... Fabric,
4...Potentiometer, 311...Joint. Fig. 1 (A) 1: Power switch +1 + j + 2: Pressure cassette/su2 needle pack 3: Rotating hinge part 4: Potentiometer ・ 5: Ignition switch 7P position I! Figure 1 (B) Figure 2 Figure 3 (A) Figure 3' (B), Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pressure sensor attached to the seat, a posture determining means for determining the seating posture of an occupant based on a signal from the pressure sensor, and an alarm means for warning the occupant using the posture determining means. A seating posture warning device characterized by: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the posture determining means is a posture determining means that determines the seating posture by comparing it with the pressure distribution when the occupant is in a normal posture. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the posture determining means is a posture determining means that determines the sitting posture by comparing the magnitudes of signals from a plurality of pressure sensors attached to the seat cushion. 4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an inclination sensor for detecting the inclination of the seat back. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alarm means includes an ignition switch state determination means and is an alarm means controlled by the ignition switch state determination means.