KR20200126184A - Seat comfort control system using MRE Valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seat comfort control device using an MR valve, which comprises: a seat frame mounted inside a vehicle; a seat cover for covering the outside and the upper portion of the seat frame; a body pressure sensor provided on a lower portion of the seat cover and sensing body pressure of an occupant seated on the seat cover; an MR filling portion which is embedded between the body pressure sensor and the seat frame, serves to support the body pressure of the occupant seated on the seat cover, and has characteristics changing according to a magnetic field load; a pump connected to the MR filling portion to supply an MR fluid; an MR valve connected between the MR filling portion and the pump to control a supply flow rate of the MR fluid according to the change in the magnetic field; and a control portion which controls the degree of opening and closing of the MR valve according to a signal from the body pressure sensor. Therefore, the present invention can minimize the vehicle vibration transmitted to the occupant according to a vehicle operation, and can maximize the comfort of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat by rapidly responding to changes in a physical condition and a posture of the occupant.

Description

Seat comfort control system using MRE Valve}

The present invention relates to a seat comfort control device using an MR valve, and more specifically, to minimize vehicle vibration transmitted to the occupant according to the vehicle operation, and to quickly respond to changes in the occupant's physical condition and posture to be seated in the vehicle seat. It relates to a seat comfort control device using an MR valve that can maximize comfort for one occupant.

In general, magnetic fluid is a liquid that has a property of sticking to magnets by mixing fine iron oxide (magnetite) powder with a diameter of 1/100th of a millimeter in an organic solvent (ester, ether), and is generally referred to as MR fluid. Also referred to.

In general chemistry, such MR fluids cannot make liquids with a specific gravity of 3 or more, but magnetic fluids can make liquids heavier than iron.

That is, when a magnetic field is created from the outside, each iron oxide particle becomes magnetized and attracts each other, so it is possible to make a liquid with various specific gravity by changing the strength of the magnetic field.

Patent Document 1 shows the characteristics of Newtonian fluid at no load, but when an electric field is applied, the yield stress and additive viscosity increase as the electric field increases, so that the characteristics of ER fluid having the characteristics to control the flow, or at no load. The particles show the same behavior as the Newtonian fluid in which the particles move freely, but when a magnetic field is applied, the particles are charged to form a chain structure, filling various ER fluids and MR fluid application devices at a constant composition ratio that utilizes the characteristics of MR fluids having yield stress. Proposed a base oil flow-type valve mechanism using ER fluid and MR fluid, which is configured to improve the composition ratio of fluid only around the electrode and magnetic pole by installing a fluid filter on the electrode and magnetic pole through which the fluid enters and exits. .

Meanwhile, the existing vehicle seat is composed of a seat frame mounted inside the vehicle, a cushion made of polyurethane foam provided on the upper portion of the seat frame, and a seat cover covering the seat frame and the cushion. When the occupant is seated, it only buffers according to the characteristics of the material of the cushion, but reduces the vibration of the vehicle while driving, or the cushion is not adjusted according to the change in posture, so that the occupant's posture is unstable and the comfort is deteriorated.

On the other hand, the lower part of the seat was previously divided into a plurality of cells, and a pump and a valve in each cell, and body pressure control that rapidly changed was made possible.

Body pressure control by static posture can be sufficiently controlled with a pump, but it was impossible to respond to changes in body pressure due to changes in road driving conditions or driver’s posture because it required very fast control response speed.

Accordingly, there is a need for an effort to optimize the comfort of the seat by implementing a quick control performance by adding resistance to flow with respect to the pump installed in the middle of the seat.

KR 10-1308545 B1

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is to control the comfort of the seat using an MR valve capable of maximizing the comfort performance of the seat according to various vibration transmission according to the operation of the vehicle and changes in the attitude of the occupant by grafting the MR valve into the vehicle seat. The purpose is to provide a device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a seat frame mounted inside a vehicle; A seat cover covering the outer and upper portions of the seat frame; A body pressure sensor provided under the seat cover and sensing body pressure of a passenger seated on the seat cover; An MR filling unit that is built between the body pressure sensor and the seat frame and serves to support the body pressure of an occupant seated on the seat cover, and whose characteristics change according to a magnetic field load; A pump connected to the MR filling unit to supply MR fluid; An MR valve connected between the MR filling unit and the pump to control a supply flow rate of the MR fluid according to a change in a magnetic field; It provides a seat comfort control device using the MR valve, characterized in that it comprises a control unit for controlling the degree of opening and closing of the MR valve according to a signal from the body pressure sensor.

Here, the body pressure sensor includes a first sensor unit for sensing body pressure on the hip of the occupant seated on the seat cover; A second sensor unit for sensing body pressure on the thigh of the occupant seated on the seat cover; It characterized in that it consists of a third sensor unit for sensing body pressure on both sides of the thigh and hip of the occupant seated on the seat cover.

In addition, the control unit includes a body pressure calculation unit that collects signals transmitted from the first sensor unit, the second sensor unit, and the third sensor unit of the body pressure sensor to calculate an average body pressure and an overall average body pressure for each region; A cushion determining unit determining an expected supply of MR fluid according to the pressure value calculated by the body pressure calculating unit; It characterized in that it comprises a magnetic force control unit for adjusting the magnetism of the MR valve to change the characteristics of the MR filling unit corresponding to the hip, thigh, and both sides of the occupant according to the signal of the cushion determining unit.

At this time, after the body pressure of the first sensor unit to the third sensor unit and the characteristics of the MR filling unit are modified according to the occupant's seating, a pressure difference between the body pressure of the first sensor unit to the third sensor unit is calculated to change the attitude of the occupant. Seat comfort control device using an MR valve, characterized in that it comprises a determination unit that feeds back to correct the optimal comfortable posture correspondingly.

Meanwhile, the MR valve includes: a housing having an inlet and an outlet through which the MR fluid enters and exits; A magnetic unit having a magnetic field according to a signal from the control unit; It characterized in that it comprises a tubular portion expanded or axially piped by the magnetic field of the magnetic portion.

By providing the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to minimize the vehicle vibration transmitted to the occupant according to the vehicle operation, and to maximize the comfort for the occupant seated in the vehicle seat by quickly responding to changes in the occupant's physical condition and posture. It works.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a seat comfort control device using an MR valve according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a seat structure and operation state applied to the seat comfort control device using the MR valve according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a configuration diagram of the MR valve in the comfort control device of the seat using the MR valve according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a flow chart of the configuration and control of the control unit in the seat comfort control device using the MR valve according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those of ordinary skill in the same technical field can easily implement the present invention.

Seat comfort control device 100 using the MR valve of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, is mounted on the caste mounted inside the vehicle to quickly change the body condition and posture for the seated occupants. It is to optimize the comfort by responding and by blocking the vibration of the vehicle as much as possible and changing the cushion and height.

Referring to FIG. 1, the seat comfort control device 100 using the MR valve is mounted inside the vehicle so that the occupant can sit, the seat frame 110, the MR filling part 140, the body pressure sensor 130, and the seat The cover 120 may be configured sequentially.

The seat frame 110 may be mounted inside a vehicle and provided as a frame capable of adjusting forward/reverse and height applied to a general car seat.

The seat cover 120 covers the outer and upper portions of the seat frame 110 and may be made of leather or fabric.

In this case, the body pressure sensor 130 may be provided under the seat cover 120 to detect the body pressure of a passenger seated on the seat cover 120.

The MR filling unit 140 is embedded between the body pressure sensor 130 and the seat frame 110 and is filled with MR fluid to support the body pressure of the occupant seated on the seat cover 120, and , The characteristics may change according to the magnetic field load.

The MR fluid (Magneto-Rheological Fluid) is a fluid in which a shear force or resistance to flow is generated when a magnetic field is loaded, and characteristics of fluidity may be changed according to a change in a magnetic field.

Meanwhile, a pump 150 is provided in any part of the vehicle and connected to the MR filling unit 140 to supply the MR fluid.

The pump 150 may collectively supply the MR fluid to the MR filling unit 140 to adjust the degree of cushioning of the car seat.

At this time, between the MR filling unit 140 and the pump 150, an MR valve 170 for controlling a supply flow rate of the MR fluid according to a change in a magnetic field may be connected.

Referring to FIG. 3, the MR valve 170 includes a housing 171 having an inlet 172 and an outlet 173 through which the MR fluid enters and exits; A magnetic unit 175 having a magnetic field according to a signal from the control unit 160; It may be configured to include a tube body portion 176 that is expanded or axially piped by the magnetic field of the magnetic portion 175.

And, in the case of the MR filling unit 140, it is preferable that the MR filling unit 140 is divided into unit zones in the interior of the car seat so that a plurality of them are arranged corresponding to the total area of the seat cover 120, so that the MR valve 170 also fills the MR. It is preferable that a plurality of units 140 are installed corresponding to the number.

On the other hand, it may include a control unit 160 for controlling the degree of opening and closing of the MR valve 170 according to the signal from the body pressure sensor 130.

That is, when the occupant is seated on the seat cover 120, the body pressure sensor 130 provided under the seat cover 120 senses the body pressure of the occupant and transmits a signal to the control unit 160, and the control unit ( 160) determines the degree of stiffness of the MR filling unit 140 according to the sensed body pressure, and sends a signal to the MR valve 170 to provide MR supplied from the pump 150 in response to a change in body shape or posture of the occupant. By adjusting the supply flow rate of the fluid, the degree of opening and closing of the MR valve 170 can be changed for each part according to the degree of close contact or pressurization of the passenger's hips, thighs, and both sides of the seat cover.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the body pressure sensor 130 includes a first sensor unit 131 for sensing body pressure at the hip of a passenger seated on the seat cover 120; A second sensor unit 133 for sensing body pressure on the thigh of a passenger seated on the seat cover 120; It may be divided into a third sensor unit 135 that senses body pressure on both sides of the thighs and buttocks of the occupant seated on the seat cover 120.

The body pressure sensor 130 is a general pressure sensor and is distributed evenly or in a grid corresponding to the entire area of the seat cover 120, so that the body pressure of all areas that are in close contact, such as hips and thighs of a seated occupant can be sensed for each area. .

A plurality of MR filling units 140 may also be distributed in the interior of the seat cover 120 corresponding to a corresponding position of each sensor for each area of the body pressure sensor 130.

In addition, the MR valve 170 may also be arranged in a grid at the bottom corresponding to the number of the MR filling parts 140.

Therefore, when the body pressure of the part where the part with very high body weight such as the passenger's hip is in close contact is high, the MR valve 170 connected to the corresponding part is opened in large quantities to increase the ductility and elasticity of the MR filling part 140. The MR valve is connected to the corresponding part when the body pressure of the part where the part with low body weight such as the occupant's thigh is adhered is low, and the MR valve 170 is opened in a small amount to fill the MR. The stiffness such as the stiffness of the part 140 is maintained high so that a portion of the seat cover 120 is in close contact with the thigh.

Accordingly, the seat cover 120 of the overall thigh part of the occupant is evenly adhered according to the change in the stiffness or elasticity of the MR filling part 140, and the comfort can be optimized by varying the depth of the cushion degree according to the body pressure. .

Meanwhile, the control unit 160 includes a body pressure calculation unit 161, a cushion determination unit 163, and a magnetic force control unit 165.

The body pressure calculation unit 161 collects the signals transmitted from the first sensor unit 131, the second sensor unit 133, and the third sensor unit 135 of the body pressure sensor 130 and averages each part. Body pressure and overall average body pressure are calculated.

The cushion determination unit 163 determines the expected cushioning degree of the MR filling unit 140 according to the pressure value calculated by the body pressure calculation unit 161.

The magnetic force control unit 165 supplies the MR fluid supplied to the MR filling unit 140 through the pump 150 corresponding to the hips, thighs, and both sides of the occupant according to the signal from the cushion determination unit 163 In order to adjust the flow rate by the MR valve 170, the magnetic force of the magnetic portion 175 is adjusted to the MR valve 170.

Here, the control unit 160 determines the body pressure of the first sensor unit 131 to the third sensor unit 135 and the height of the MR filling unit 140 according to the occupant's seating, so that the first sensor unit ( The determination unit 167 may further include a determination unit 167 that calculates a pressure difference between the body pressures of the body pressures 131) to the third sensor unit 135 and feeds back to correct a comfortable optimal posture in response to a change in the passenger's posture.

4 will be described in detail the operation relationship of the seat comfort control device 100 using the MRE of the present invention.

The body pressure sensor 130 is divided into a first sensor unit 131, a second sensor unit 133, and a third sensor unit 135, and is distributed in the hip, thigh, and both sides between the thigh and the buttocks. It senses body pressure in response to sitting.

Each detection signal of the first sensor unit 131, the second sensor unit 133, and the third sensor unit 135 is transmitted to the body pressure calculation unit 161 of the control unit 160.

The body pressure calculation unit 161 calculates the average body pressure for each portion, calculates the overall average body pressure, and transmits the result value to the cushion determination unit 163.

The cushion determination unit 163 determines the degree of cushioning in each MR filling unit 140 in correspondence with the position of each portion of the MR filling unit 140 distributed in a plurality of the inside of the seat cover 120 It is transmitted to the magnetic force control unit 165.

The magnetic force control unit 165 may adjust the magnetic force of the magnetic unit 175 to the MR valves 170 respectively connected to the MR filling unit 140 according to the degree of determination of the cushion determining unit 163.

The magnetic force control unit 165 individually adjusts the magnetic force of each magnetic unit 175 to change the degree of opening and closing of each MR valve 170 according to the magnetic field of the magnetic unit 175, And gives a sense of comfort in posture.

On the other hand, the determination unit 167 is the initial body pressure through the body pressure sensor 130, the body pressure calculation unit according to the pressure difference according to the change in the pressure difference due to the change in the body pressure after the height change of the MR filling unit 140 By feeding back to 161, the operation of the control unit 160 can be performed again, so that the optimum comfort can be found.

By providing the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to minimize the vehicle vibration transmitted to the occupant according to the vehicle operation, and to maximize the comfort for the occupant seated in the vehicle seat by quickly responding to changes in the occupant's physical condition and posture. It works.

The terms and words used in the present specification and claims described above should not be construed as being limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, and the present inventors appropriate the concept of terms to describe their own invention in the best way. It should be interpreted as a meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention on the basis of the principle that it can be defined.

Therefore, the configurations shown in the drawings and embodiments described in the present specification are only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not represent all the technical ideas of the present invention, and thus can be replaced at the time of application. It is to be understood that there may be a variety of equivalents and variations that may exist.

100: Seat comfort control device using MR valve
110: seat frame
120: seat cover
130: body pressure sensor
131: first sensor unit
133: second sensor unit
135: third sensor unit
140: MR filling part
150: pump
160: control unit
161: body pressure calculation unit
163: characteristic determination unit
165: magnetic force control unit
167: judgment unit
170: MR valve
171: housing
172: entrance
173: exit
175: magnetic part
176: tube body

Claims (5)

A seat frame 110 mounted inside the vehicle;
A seat cover 120 covering the outer and upper portions of the seat frame 110;
A body pressure sensor 130 provided under the seat cover 120 and sensing body pressure of a passenger seated on the seat cover 120;
MR filling unit 140, which is built between the body pressure sensor 130 and the seat frame 110 and serves to support the body pressure of the occupant seated on the seat cover 120, and whose characteristics change according to the magnetic field load. Wow;
A pump 150 connected to the MR filling unit 140 to supply MR fluid;
An MR valve 170 connected between the MR filling unit 140 and the pump 150 to control a supply flow rate of the MR fluid according to a change in a magnetic field;
And a control unit 160 for controlling the degree of opening/closing of the MR valve 170 according to a signal from the body pressure sensor 130. A seat comfort control apparatus using an MR valve.
The method according to claim 1,
The body pressure sensor 130,
A first sensor unit 131 for sensing body pressure on the hip of the occupant seated on the seat cover 120;
A second sensor unit 133 for sensing body pressure on the thigh of a passenger seated on the seat cover 120;
A seat comfort control device using an MR valve, comprising: a third sensor unit 135 for sensing body pressure on both sides of the thigh and hip of the occupant seated on the seat cover 120.
The method according to claim 2,
The control unit 160,
Collecting the signals transmitted from the first sensor unit 131, the second sensor unit 133, and the third sensor unit 135 of the body pressure sensor 130 to calculate the average body pressure and total average body pressure for each part A body pressure calculation unit 161;
A cushion determination unit 163 determining an expected supply of MR fluid according to the pressure value calculated by the body pressure calculation unit 161;
A magnetic force control unit 165 for adjusting the magnetism of the MR valve 170 to change the characteristics of the MR filling unit 140 corresponding to the hips, thighs, and both sides of the occupant according to the signal from the cushion determining unit 163 Seat comfort control device using an MR valve, characterized in that it comprises.
The method of claim 3,
After the body pressure of the first sensor unit 131 to the third sensor unit 135 according to the occupant's seating and the characteristics of the MR filling unit 140 are modified, the first sensor unit 131 to the third sensor unit A seat comfort control device using an MR valve, characterized in that it comprises a determination unit (167) that calculates the pressure difference of the body pressure of (135) and feeds it back to correct an optimal comfortable posture in response to a change in posture of the occupant.
The method according to claim 1,
The MR valve 170,
A housing 171 having an inlet 172 and an outlet 173 through which the MR fluid enters and exits;
A magnetic unit 175 having a magnetic field according to a signal from the control unit 160;
Seat comfort control device using an MR valve, characterized in that it comprises a tubular portion 176 that is expanded or axially piped by the magnetic field of the magnetic portion 175.

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