WO2014050206A1

WO2014050206A1 - Seat heater

Info

Publication number: WO2014050206A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/064657
Authority: WO
Inventors: 知範早川; 均鵜飼; 村松　篤
Original assignee: 東海ゴム工業株式会社
Priority date: 2012-09-28
Filing date: 2013-05-27
Publication date: 2014-04-03
Also published as: JP2014069660A; JP5568613B2

Abstract

The present invention address the issue of providing a comfortable seat heater capable of heating a seat in accordance with whether or not a person is seated thereupon and capable of suppressing overheating of the seat. The seat heater (1) comprises: an elastomer base material (2); heat generating units (3A, 3B) having heat-generating layers (30A, 30B) including elastomer and a conductive material, and a pair of heat generating-unit wirings (31A, 31B) including the elastomer and the conductive material and connected to the heat-generating layers (30A, 30B); electrostatic capacitance-type seating detection units (4A, 4B) having a pair of electrode layers (41A, 41B) including elastomer and the conductive material, elastomer dielectric layers (40A, 40B) interposed between the pair of electrode layers (41A, 41B), and a pair of seating wirings (42A, 42B) including the elastomer and the conductive material and connected to the a pair of electrode layers (41A, 41B); and a control unit (7) that controls the heat generating units (3A, 3B) on the basis of signals from the seating detection units (4A, 4B).

Description

Seat heater

The present invention relates to a seat heater used for, for example, an automobile seat.

Patent Document 1 discloses a seat heater that can stop heating of a seat when there is no seated person on the seat. The main body part of the heater body of the sheet heater described in the document is composed of a flexible film member in which a plurality of resin films are laminated. The main body is divided into a first heating unit, a second heating unit, and a seating detection unit.

JP 2008-18057 A JP 2002-270343 A

However, according to the seat heater described in Patent Document 1, the main body of the heater body is made of a laminate of resin films. For this reason, the sitting comfort when seated on the seat (that is, the main body) is poor.

In this regard, Patent Document 2 discloses a planar heating element including a base material, an electrode, and a resistor. Each of the base material, the electrode, and the resistor contains a rubber-based resin. For this reason, according to the planar heating element described in the document, the electrode and the resistor can follow the expansion and contraction of the base material. If the planar heating element of Patent Document 2 is used as the heating element of the seat heater of Patent Document 1, it is possible to obtain a seat heater with good seating comfort and a seating sensor.

However, the seat heater seating sensor disclosed in Patent Document 1 is made of a resin film laminate. For this reason, if a seated person exists in the upper part of the seating sensor in the seat, the seated person still feels poor seating comfort.

The seat heater of the present invention has been completed in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a seat heater that has good sitting comfort, can heat a seat according to the presence or absence of a seated person, and can suppress overheating of the seat.

(1) In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a seat heater of the present invention includes an elastomer base material, a heat generating layer that is disposed on the base material and includes an elastomer and a conductive material, and an elastomer and a conductive material. A heat generating portion having a pair of heat generating portion wirings connected to the heat generating layer, a pair of electrode layers disposed on the substrate and including an elastomer and a conductive material, and interposed between the pair of electrode layers A capacitance-type seating detection unit comprising: an elastomeric dielectric layer; a pair of seating wirings including an elastomer and a conductive material and connected to the pair of electrode layers; and And a control unit that controls the heat generating unit based on the signal.

According to the seat heater of the present invention, the base material, the heat generation part, and the seating detection part are all formed of a material containing an elastomer. For this reason, the seat heater is flexible. Therefore, the sitting comfort is good. According to the seat heater of the present invention, the control unit controls the heat generating unit based on a signal from the seating detection unit. For this reason, a sheet | seat can be heated according to the presence or absence of a seated person.

Further, according to the seat heater of the present invention, the heat generating layer includes an elastomer and a conductive material. When the temperature of the heat generating layer rises, the heat generating layer expands. For this reason, the electrical resistance of the heat generating layer (specifically, the electrical resistance between the pair of heat generating portion wirings) increases. Therefore, it is possible to suppress overheating of the heat generating layer, and hence overheating of the sheet.

(1-1) Preferably, in the configuration of (1) above, the heat generating portion and the seating detection portion are preferably screen-printed on the base material. According to this configuration, the positional accuracy of the heat generating part and the seating detection part with respect to the base material is increased. Further, according to this configuration, the shape accuracy of the heat generating part and the seating detecting part is increased.

(1-2) Preferably, in the configuration of the above (1), the base material is provided with an electric resistance layer disposed with a gap next to the heat generating layer, and the temperature of the heat generating layer increases as the temperature increases. It is preferable that the heat generating layer expands and consumes the gap so that the heat generating layer contacts the electric resistance layer. According to this configuration, when the temperature of the heat generating layer rises, the heat generating layer comes into contact with the electric resistance layer. For this reason, it is possible to suppress overheating of the heat generating layer, and overheating of the sheet. When the heat generating part has a plurality of heat generating layers, any heat generating layer may be used as the electric resistance layer.

(2) Preferably, in the configuration of (1) above, the base material has a non-sitting area where a seated person does not sit, and a temperature detection unit disposed in the non-sitting area. According to this structure, the temperature detection part is arrange | positioned at the non-seating area | region. For this reason, a temperature detection part is hard to receive to the influence of a seated person's body temperature.

(2-1) Preferably, in the configuration of (2) above, the control unit is preferably configured to control the heat generating unit based on a signal from the temperature detection unit. According to this configuration, heating of the sheet can be controlled according to the temperature of the sheet.

(3) Preferably, in the above configuration (1) or (2), a plurality of the heat generating units are arranged and a plurality of the seating detecting units are arranged. According to this configuration, the plurality of heat generating units can be selectively heated according to the signal from the seating detection unit. For this reason, the heat generating part used as the heat generating object can be selected according to the physique of the seated person (adult, child, male, female, etc.). Further, according to this configuration, when an object other than the seated person is placed on the seat, the heat generation of the heat generating portion can be prohibited.

(4) Preferably, in any one of the configurations (1) to (3), at least one of the heat generating layer, the heat generating portion wiring, the electrode layer, the dielectric layer, and the seating wiring is It is better to have a configuration that is arranged on the substrate by screen printing.

According to this configuration, among the heat generating layer, the heat generating portion wiring, the electrode layer, the dielectric layer, and the seating wiring, the position accuracy of the screen-printed member with respect to the base material is increased. In addition, the shape accuracy of the screen-printed member is increased.

Further, when the screen printing method is used, the heat generating layer, the heat generating portion wiring, the electrode layer, the dielectric layer, and the seating wiring having various patterns can be easily formed at low cost. Further, when the screen printing method is used, it is possible to divide the heat generating layer in a complicated manner to perform fine heat control according to the physique and posture of the seated person. Therefore, the degree of freedom in structural design is increased.

(5) Preferably, in any one of the configurations (1) to (4), the heat generating unit and the seating detection unit are both disposed on one surface of the base material, and the heat generation unit and the seating detection unit It is better to have an elastomer protective layer covering the entire surface.

According to this configuration, in addition to the base material, the heat generating portion, and the seating detecting portion, the protective layer is also formed of a material containing an elastomer. For this reason, the seat heater is flexible. Therefore, the sitting comfort is good. Moreover, according to this structure, the insulation of a heat-emitting part and a seating detection part is securable.

(6) Preferably, in the configuration according to any one of (1) to (5), the direction in which the one surface of the base material is developed is a surface direction, and the direction orthogonal to the surface direction is a stacking direction. Of the plurality of pairs of members adjacent to each other in the direction, it is preferable that at least a pair of the members is arranged to be shifted from each other in the stacking direction.

Here, the “member” means, for example, a heat generation layer, a heat generation portion wiring, an electrode layer, a dielectric layer, a seating wiring, etc. The member arrange | positioned to at least one side. According to this configuration, a pair of members that are adjacent to each other in the plane direction and are displaced from each other in the stacking direction are unlikely to contact each other in the plane direction. For this reason, it is easy to ensure insulation between a pair of said members.

(7) Preferably, in any one of the above configurations (1) to (6), a direction in which one surface of the base material is developed is a surface direction, and at least a pair of members adjacent to each other in the surface direction. It is better to have an elastomer partition between the members.

Here, the “member” means, for example, a heat generation layer, a heat generation portion wiring, an electrode layer, a dielectric layer, a seating wiring, etc. The member arrange | positioned to at least one side. According to this configuration, a pair of members adjacent in the surface direction are unlikely to contact each other in the surface direction. For this reason, it is easy to ensure insulation between a pair of said members.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a seat heater that has good sitting comfort, can heat a seat according to the presence or absence of a seated person, and can suppress overheating of the seat.

FIG. 1 is a transparent top view of a sheet on which the seat heater according to the first embodiment is arranged. FIG. 2 is a transparent top view of the seat heater. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the III-III direction of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in the frame IV of FIG. FIG. 5 is a transparent top view of a sheet on which the seat heater according to the second embodiment is arranged. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the left-right direction of the seat heater according to the third embodiment. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in the frame VII of FIG.

1: Seat heater.
2: base material, 20: through hole, 21: stepped portion.
3A: Heat generation portion, 30A: Heat generation layer, 30AL: Heat generation layer, 30AR: Heat generation layer, 31A: Heat generation portion wiring, 3B: Heat generation portion, 30B: Heat generation layer, 30BL: Heat generation layer, 30BR: Heat generation layer, 31B: Heat generation Wiring for parts.
4A: Seating detection unit, 40A: Dielectric layer, 41A: Electrode layer, 42A: Seating wiring, 4B: Seating detection unit, 40B: Dielectric layer, 41B: Electrode layer, 42B: Seating wiring.
5: Temperature detector, 50: Sensor element, 52: Temperature wiring.
60: Connector, 61: Protective layer, 610: Partition part.
7: control unit, 70: input / output interface, 71: calculation unit, 72: storage unit.
9: Seat, 90: Seat cushion, 91: Seat back.
C1: gap, R1: seating region, R2: non-sitting region.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the seat heater of the present invention will be described. In the embodiments described below, the vertical direction corresponds to the “lamination direction” of the present invention, and the horizontal direction corresponds to the “plane direction” of the present invention.

<First embodiment>
[Arrangement of seat heater]
First, the arrangement of the seat heater according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1, the permeation | transmission top view of the sheet | seat in which the seat heater of this embodiment is arrange | positioned is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 9 includes a seat cushion 90 and a seat back 91. The seat heater 1 is disposed on the seat cushion 90. Specifically, the seat cushion 90 includes an outer skin (not shown) exposed in the vehicle interior and a cushion material (not shown) disposed below the outer skin. The seat heater 1 is interposed between the lower surface of the skin and the upper surface of the cushion material.

[Configuration of seat heater]
Next, the structure of the seat heater 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated. In FIG. 2, the permeation | transmission top view of the seat heater of this embodiment is shown. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view in the III-III direction of FIG. FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view in the frame IV of FIG. In FIG. 2, the

heat generating layers

30A and 30B are hatched. Further, the protective layer 61 is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the seat heater 1 includes a base material 2, heat generating units 3A and 3B, four seating detection units 4A, two seating detection units 4B, a temperature detection unit 5, Two connectors 60, a protective layer 61, and a control unit 7 are provided.

(Base material 2, connector 60)
The substrate 2 is made of silicone rubber (elastomer) and has a rectangular sheet shape. The base material 2 is being fixed to the upper surface of the cushion material of the seat cushion 90 shown in FIG. The base material 2 includes three through holes 20. The three through-holes 20 are arranged in a C shape that opens forward. That is, of the three through holes 20, the two through holes 20 are arranged to face each other in the left-right direction. Each of these two through holes 20 extends in the front-rear direction. Among the three through holes 20, the remaining one through hole 20 is arranged between the rear ends of the two through holes 20. The single through hole 20 extends in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base material 2 includes a seating region R1 and two non-sitting regions R2. The two non-sitting regions R2 are defined at the left rear corner and the right rear corner of the base material 2. The seating region R1 is divided into portions of the base material 2 other than the two non-sitting regions R2. The two connectors 60 are disposed in the two non-sitting regions R 2 of the base material 2.

(Heat generation part 3A, 3B)
The heat generating portion 3 A is screen-printed on the upper surface of the seating region R 1 of the base material 2. The upper surface of the substrate 2 is included in the concept of “one surface” of the present invention. The heat generating portion 3A includes a heat generating layer 30A and two heat generating portion wirings 31A.

The heat generating layer 30A contains silicone rubber, highly conductive carbon black, and carbon nanotubes (all of which are conductive materials). The heating layer 30A has a rectangular thin film shape. The rear edge of the heat generating layer 30A has a partial arc shape that swells backward. The heat generating layer 30 A is disposed in front of the center of the base material 2 in the left-right direction. The two heat generating portion wirings 31A each contain silicone rubber and silver particles (conductive material). The two heat generating portion wirings 31 A electrically connect the left front corner and the right front corner of the heat generating layer 30 A and the two connectors 60. A direct current voltage is applied to the heat generating layer 30A via the two heat generating portion wirings 31A.

The heat generating portion 3B is screen-printed on the upper surface of the seating region R1 of the base material 2. The heat generating portion 3B includes a heat generating layer 30B and two heat generating portion wirings 31B. The material of the heat generating layer 30B is the same as the material of the heat generating layer 30A. The material of the heating part wiring 31B is the same as the material of the heating part wiring 31A.

The heat generating layer 30B has a C-shaped thin film that opens forward. The rear edge of the heat generating layer 30B has a partial arc shape that swells backward. The heat generating layer 30B is disposed outside the heat generating layer 30A in the horizontal direction. Three through holes 20 are disposed between the heat generating layer 30A and the heat generating layer 30B. The two heat generating portion wirings 31B electrically connect the left front corner and the right front corner of the heat generating layer 30B and the two connectors 60. A direct current voltage is applied to the heat generating layer 30B via the two heat generating portion wirings 31B.

(Temperature detector 5)
As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature detection unit 5 is disposed in the non-sitting region R 2 at the left rear corner of the upper surface of the base material 2. The temperature detection unit 5 includes a sensor element 50 and two temperature wirings 52. The material of the temperature wiring 52 is the same as the material of the heating portion wiring 31A. The two temperature wirings 52 are screen-printed on the upper surface of the substrate 2. The two temperature wirings 52 electrically connect the sensor element 50 and the connector 60 at the left rear corner.

(Sitting detection unit 4A, 4B)
Each of the four seating detection units 4 A is screen-printed in the seating region R 1 on the upper surface of the base material 2. The four seating detection units 4A are arranged on the outer sides in the left-right direction of the front and rear edges of the heat generating layer 30A. That is, the four seating detection units 4A are interposed between the heat generating layer 30A and the heat generating layer 30B. The seating detection unit 4A is a capacitive load sensor. The seating detection unit 4A includes a dielectric layer 40A, two electrode layers 41A, and two seating wirings 42A. The material of the seating wiring 42A is the same as the material of the heating part wiring 31A. The material of the electrode layer 41A is the same as the material of the heat generating layer 30A.

The dielectric layer 40A is made of silicone rubber and has a circular thin film shape. Each of the two electrode layers 41A has a circular thin film shape. The two electrode layers 41A are arranged on both sides of the dielectric layer 40A in the vertical direction. The electrode layer 41A has a smaller diameter than the dielectric layer 40A. For this reason, the lower electrode layer 41A is covered with the dielectric layer 40A from the upper side and the outer side in the horizontal direction. That is, insulation of the lower electrode layer 41A is ensured by the dielectric layer 40A. The two seating wirings 42A electrically connect the seating detection unit 4A and the connector 60.

Each of the two seating detection units 4B is screen-printed in the seating region R1 on the upper surface of the substrate 2. The two seating detection units 4B are disposed on the outer side in the left-right direction of the front edge of the heat generating layer 30B. The seating detection unit 4B includes a dielectric layer 40B, two electrode layers 41B, and two seating wirings 42B. The material and configuration of the seating detection unit 4B are the same as the material and configuration of the seating detection unit 4A.

(Protective layer 61)
The protective layer 61 is made of silicone rubber and has a rectangular sheet shape. The protective layer 61 is screen-printed on the upper surface of the substrate 2. The protective layer 61 covers each member (heat generating units 3A and 3B, temperature detecting unit 5, four seating detecting units 4A, and two seating detecting units 4B) disposed on the upper surface of the base material 2 from above. The protective layer 61 ensures insulation between each member arranged on the upper surface of the substrate 2 and the outside (specifically, the seat cushion 90 shown in FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 4, the protective layer 61 includes a plurality of partition portions 610. The partition portion 610 is formed between members adjacent in the horizontal direction (for example, between the heat generating portion wiring 31A and the seating wiring 42A, between the heat generating layer 30B and the seating wiring 42A, and between the heat generating layer 30A and the seating wiring 42A. Etc.). As described above, the plurality of partition portions 610 ensure insulation between the respective members disposed on the upper surface of the base material 2.

(Control unit 7)
The control part 7 is arrange | positioned in the position where a seated person does not sit down. The controller 7 is disposed away from the base material 2. The control unit 7 is electrically connected to the two connectors 60. The control unit 7 includes an input / output interface 70, a calculation unit 71, a storage unit 72, a DC power supply unit (not shown), and an AC power supply unit (not shown). The DC power supply unit applies a DC voltage to the heat generating units 3A and 3B. The AC power supply unit applies AC voltage to the four seating detection units 4 A, the two seating detection units 4 B, and the temperature detection unit 5. The storage unit 72 stores a seating threshold value th1, a correlation table between the temperature of the seat 9 and the DC voltage applied to the heat generating units 3A and 3B, and the like.

[Seat heater movement]
Next, the movement of the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment will be described. When a seated person sits on the seat 9 shown in FIG. 1, one of the four seating detection units 4 A and the two seating detection units 4 B is pressed by the weight of the seated person according to the area of the buttocks of the seated person.

For example, when a seated person sits on the seating detection unit 4B, the dielectric layer 40A of the seating detection unit 4A is compressed in the vertical direction. For this reason, the distance between the two electrode layers 41A becomes small. Further, the base material 2 extends in the horizontal direction, and the area of the electrode layer 41A increases. Therefore, the capacitance between the two electrode layers 41A is increased. A signal based on the change in the capacitance is transmitted to the control unit 7 via the two seating wirings 42A. The computing unit 71 compares the signal with the threshold value th1 for sitting in the storage unit 72. As a result of the comparison, when the signal exceeds the seating threshold th1, the calculation unit 71 determines that a seated person is seated on the seating detection unit 4B. On the other hand, as a result of the comparison, when the signal is equal to or less than the seating threshold th1, the calculation unit 71 determines that no seated person is seated on the seating detection unit 4B. The same applies when a seated person sits on the seating detection unit 4A.

For example, when the signals of all the seating detection units 4A and 4B among the four seating detection units 4A and the two seating detection units 4B are equal to or less than the seating threshold th1, the calculation unit 71 sits on the seat 9. It is determined that there is no person. In this case, the calculation unit 71 does not apply a DC voltage to the heat generating units 3A and 3B.

When the signals of the seating detection units 4A and 4B within any three of the four seating detection units 4A and the two seating detection units 4B exceed the seating threshold th1, the calculation unit 71 It is determined that an object is placed on the seat 9 (there is no seated person). In this case, the calculation unit 71 does not apply a DC voltage to the heat generating units 3A and 3B.

In addition, when the signals of the four seating detection units 4A out of the four seating detection units 4A and the two seating detection units 4B exceed the seating threshold value th1, the calculation unit 71 places a small seat on the seat 9. It is determined that there are persons (for example, children, women, etc.). In this case, the computing unit 71 applies a DC voltage to the heat generating unit 3A.

In addition, when the signals of all the seating detection units 4A and 4B among the four seating detection units 4A and the two seating detection units 4B exceed the seating threshold value th1, the calculation unit 71 is large on the seat 9. It is determined that there is a seated person (for example, an adult male). In this case, the calculation unit 71 applies a DC voltage to the heat generating units 3A and 3B.

Thus, the control unit 7 determines the presence / absence of the seated person and the physique of the seated person based on the signals transmitted from the four seating detecting parts 4A and the two seating detecting parts 4B. And heat generating part 3A, 3B is made to generate heat corresponding to the part where the seated person sits among seats 9.

The temperature of the heat generation amount of the heat generating parts 3A and 3B during heat generation is controlled. That is, a signal based on the temperature of the seat cushion 90 is transmitted from the temperature detection unit 5 to the control unit 7 via the two temperature wirings 52. The calculation unit 71 inquires of the correlation signal in the storage unit 72 (correlation table between the temperature of the sheet 9 and the DC voltage applied to the heating units 3A and 3B). Based on the inquiry result, the value of the DC voltage applied to the heat generating parts 3A and 3B is controlled.

[Function and effect]
Next, the effect of the seat heater 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated. According to the seat heater 1 of this embodiment, the base material 2, the heat generating parts 3A and 3B, the seating detection parts 4A and 4B, and the protective layer 61 are all formed of a material containing an elastomer. For this reason, the seat heater 1 is flexible. Therefore, the sitting comfort is good. Further, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 7 controls the heat generating units 3A and 3B based on signals from the seating detection units 4A and 4B. For this reason, the seat 9 can be heated according to the presence or absence of a seated person.

Further, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, the

heat generating layers

30A and 30B include an elastomer and a conductive material. When the temperature of the

heat generating layers

30A and 30B rises, the

heat generating layers

30A and 30B expand. For this reason, the electrical resistance of the

heat generating layers

30A and 30B (specifically, the electrical resistance between the pair of heat generating portion wirings 31A and the electric resistance between the pair of heat generating portion wirings 31B) increases. Therefore, it is possible to suppress overheating of the heat generating layers 30 A and 30 B and thus overheating of the sheet 9.

Further, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, the heat generating portions 3A and 3B and the seating detecting portions 4A and 4B are screen-printed on the base material 2. For this reason, the positional accuracy with respect to the base material 2 of heat-generating part 3A, 3B and seating detection part 4A, 4B becomes high. Further, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, the shape accuracy of the heat generating parts 3A, 3B and the seating detection parts 4A, 4B is increased.

Further, according to the sheet heater 1 of the present embodiment, the protective layer 61 is screen-printed on the base material 2. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of partition portions 610 can be easily formed simultaneously with the printing of the protective layer 61.

Further, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, the sensor element 50 of the temperature detection unit 5 is arranged in the non-sitting region R2. For this reason, the sensor element 50 is not easily affected by the body temperature of the seated person.

Further, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 7 controls the heat generating units 3A and 3B based on the signal from the temperature detecting unit 5. For this reason, the heating of the sheet 9 can be controlled according to the temperature of the sheet 9.

Further, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, the plurality of heat generating units 3A, 3B can be selectively heated in response to signals from the plurality of seating detection units 4A, 4B. Therefore, it is possible to select the heat generating portions 3A and 3B to be heated according to the presence or absence of a seated person and the physique (adult, child, male, female, etc.).

Further, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, the protective layer 61 covers the base material 2 from above. For this reason, the insulation between each member arrange | positioned on the upper surface of the base material 2 and the exterior is securable. Moreover, the partition part 610 of the protective layer 61 is interposed between members adjacent in the horizontal direction. For this reason, the insulation between each member arrange | positioned on the upper surface of the base material 2 is securable. Moreover, according to the seat heater 1 of this embodiment, the three through-holes 20 are opened in the base material 2. For this reason, the air permeability of the base material 2 can be ensured.

<Second embodiment>
The difference between the seat heater of the present embodiment and the seat heater of the first embodiment is that the heat generating portion includes a plurality of heat generating layers. Here, only differences will be described. In FIG. 5, the permeation | transmission top view of the sheet | seat in which the seat heater of this embodiment is arrange | positioned is shown. In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 1, it shows with the same code | symbol.

As shown in FIG. 5, the heat generating portion 3A includes two left and right heat generating layers 30AL and 30AR. Moreover, the heat generating part 3B includes two heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR on the left and right. The heat generating layers 30AL and 30AR are electrically connected in parallel to the DC power supply unit of the control unit. Similarly, the heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR are electrically connected in parallel to the DC power supply unit.

If the heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR are electrically connected in series, in other words, when the heat generating layer 30B shown in FIG. 1 is disposed instead of the heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR, the distance between wirings (specifically, The length of the conduction path between the heat generating portion wiring connecting the connector 60 and the heat generating layer 30BL and the heat generating portion wiring connecting the other connector 60 and the heat generating layer 30BR is increased. For this reason, electric resistance becomes large.

Here, each of the heat generation layers 30BL and 30BR contains silicone rubber, highly conductive carbon black, and carbon nanotubes. Carbon-based conductive materials (for example, highly conductive carbon black and carbon nanotubes) generally have a higher electrical resistance than metal-based conductive materials. For this reason, it is disadvantageous in application to a seat heater that the distance between wirings becomes long.

Therefore, if the heat generating layer 30B shown in FIG. 1 is divided into a plurality of heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR shown in FIG. 5 and electrically connected in parallel so that the distance between wirings is shortened, the combined resistance becomes smaller and the current increases. To do. For this reason, the calorific value (proportional to electric power) increases. Therefore, the performance as a seat heater is improved.

Thus, when an elastomer / carbon-based flexible material is used as the material of the heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR, a plurality of heat generating layers 30BL are used as compared with the case where a single heat generating layer 30B (FIG. 1) is arranged. , 30BR (FIG. 5) is arranged and connected in parallel, so that the performance as a seat heater can be improved.

If a plurality of heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR are arranged and connected in parallel, the remaining heat generating layers (for example, the heat generating layer 30BR) will be disconnected even if disconnection occurs at any part and the conduction of any heat generating layer (for example, the heat generating layer 30BL) is interrupted. ) Is ensured. For this reason, it is better to connect a plurality of heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR in series from the viewpoint of disconnection detection. However, even when the plurality of heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR are connected in parallel, the disconnection can be detected from the current change due to the disconnection.

The seat heater 1 according to the present embodiment and the seat heater according to the first embodiment have the same functions and effects with respect to parts having the same configuration. Further, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, the electric resistance of the heat generating portion 3A is smaller than that in the case where a single heat generating layer having the same area as the total area of the two heat generating layers 30AL and 30AR is disposed in the heat generating portion. Get smaller. For this reason, compared with the case where a single heat generating layer having the same area as the total area of the two heat generating layers 30AL and 30AR is disposed in the heat generating portion 3A, the amount of heat generated when the same voltage is applied is increased. The same applies to the two heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR.

<Third embodiment>
The difference between the seat heater of this embodiment and the seat heater of the first embodiment is that the base material includes a plurality of steps. Here, only differences will be described. In FIG. 6, the left-right direction sectional drawing of the seat heater of this embodiment is shown. In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 3, it shows with the same code | symbol. FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view in the frame VII of FIG. In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 4, it shows with the same code | symbol.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of step portions 21 are formed on the upper surface of the base material 2. The members adjacent in the left-right direction (for example, the heating portion wiring 31A and the seating wiring 42A, the seating wiring 42B and the seating wiring 42A, the heating layer 30A and the seating wiring 42A, etc.) are In the (stacking direction), they are displaced.

The seat heater 1 according to the present embodiment and the seat heater according to the first embodiment have the same functions and effects with respect to parts having the same configuration. In addition, according to the seat heater 1 of the present embodiment, a pair of members that are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction (plane direction) and are displaced from each other in the up-down direction are difficult to contact in the left-right direction. For this reason, it is easy to ensure insulation between a pair of said members.

<Others>
The embodiment of the seat heater according to the present invention has been described above. However, the embodiment is not particularly limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications and improvements that can be made by those skilled in the art are also possible.

The position of the seat heater 1 is not particularly limited. For example, you may arrange | position to the seat back 91, a headrest, an ottoman, a lumbar support, etc. Further, the seat heater 1 may not be interposed between the skin and the cushion material. For example, the seat heater 1 may be disposed on the upper side of the skin. Further, the skin of the seat cushion 90 may also be used as the base material 2. In this case, the heat generating portions 3A and 3B and the seating detecting portions 4A and 4B may be screen-printed on the lower surface of the base material 2.

Further, the seat heater 1 may be disposed inside the cushion material. When the seat heater 1 is disposed inside the cushion material, the amount of compression of the cushion material changes according to the weight of the seated person. That is, the heat transfer distance between the seated person and the heat generating parts 3A, 3B changes. For this reason, the control part 7 may control the voltage applied to heat-emitting part 3A, 3B according to the load obtained from seating detection part 4A, 4B. Further, the seat heater 1 may be disposed on the seat cushion 90 and the seat back 91, and the control unit 7 may control the voltage applied to the heat generating units 3A and 3B according to the angle of the seat back 91 with respect to the seat cushion 90. .

The number of heat generating units 3A and 3B, the

heat generating layers

30A and 30B, the seating detecting units 4A and 4B, and the temperature detecting unit 5 are not particularly limited. Further, the number of repeated layers of “electrode layer 41A−dielectric layer 40A−electrode layer 41A” in the seating detection unit 4A is not particularly limited. The same applies to the seating detection unit 4B. The kind of temperature detection part 5 is not specifically limited. For example, a thermocouple may be used. Further, the sensor element 50 of the temperature detection unit 5 may not be covered with the protective layer 61. Moreover, the temperature detection part 5 does not need to be arrange | positioned.

Further, the control unit 7 may perform temperature compensation of the heat generating units 3A and 3B. That is, as the temperature of the sheet 9 increases, the electrical resistance of the

heat generating layers

30A and 30B increases. Therefore, the voltage applied to the heat generating portions 3A and 3B may be controlled based on the signal from the temperature detecting unit 5 in consideration of the change in the electrical resistance of the

heat generating layers

30A and 30B due to the temperature change.

Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the protective layer 61 and the partition portion 610 are integrally arranged. However, you may arrange | position the protective layer 61 and the partition part 610 separately. For example, you may arrange | position the partition part 610 on the upper surface of the base material 2 by screen printing.

Further, as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 5, the gap C 1 may be set so that the heat generating layers 30 AL and 30 AR come into contact with the temperature rise of the adjacent heat generating layers 30 AL and 30 AR. Note that the right edge of the heat generating layer 30AL and the left edge of the heat generating layer 30AR have the same potential. Further, the right edge of the heat generating layer 30AL (the end on the side of the adjacent heat generating layer 30AR) and the left edge of the heat generating layer 30AR (the end on the side of the adjacent heat generating layer 30AL) are arranged without being fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 2. May be. If it carries out like this, overheating of exothermic layer 30AL, 30AR and also overheating of sheet 9 can be controlled. The same applies to the heat generating layers 30BL and 30BR.

The material of the base material 2 is not particularly limited. What is necessary is just to select suitably from elastomers. From the viewpoint of increasing durability against repeated expansion and contraction and insulating properties, an elastomer having a large elongation, strength, and relative dielectric constant is preferred. Examples thereof include silicone rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber, acrylic rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, urethane rubber, natural rubber, isoprene rubber, and foams thereof. The elastomer may contain additives such as a plasticizer, a processing aid, a crosslinking agent, a crosslinking accelerator, a crosslinking aid, an antiaging agent, a softening agent, and a coloring agent.

As the elastomer for the heat generating layers 30A, 30B, 30AL, 30AR, 30BL, 30BR, the electrode layers 41A, 41B, the

heat generating wirings

31A, 31B, the sitting wirings 42A, 42B, and the temperature wiring 52, silicone rubber, acrylic rubber , Ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, urethane rubber, fluorine rubber, chloroprene rubber, isobutylene isoprene Examples thereof include crosslinked rubber such as rubber, and thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene, olefin, vinyl chloride, polyester, polyurethane, and polyamide.

As the conductive material for the heat generating layers 30A, 30B, 30AL, 30AR, 30BL, 30BR, the electrode layers 41A, 41B, the heat generating

portion wirings

31A, 31B, the seating wirings 42A, 42B, and the temperature wiring 52, various conductive materials are used. Can be used. When metal particles are used as the conductive material, it is desirable that the elastomer does not contain any of sulfur, sulfur compounds, and organic peroxides from the viewpoint of suppressing oxidation and sulfurization of the metal particles. In this case, as the elastomer, it is desirable to use one or more selected from sulfur, a sulfur compound, a crosslinked rubber crosslinked without using an organic peroxide, and a thermoplastic elastomer.

The former crosslinked rubber may be a rubber that is crosslinked without using a sulfur-containing vulcanizing agent, vulcanization accelerator, or peroxide-based crosslinking agent. Examples of such a crosslinked rubber include silicone rubber, hydrosilyl crosslinked ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), amine crosslinked acrylic rubber, isocyanate crosslinked urethane rubber, and isocyanate crosslinked liquid butadiene rubber. Examples of the latter thermoplastic elastomer include polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPEE), polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPU), polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPO), polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomer, styrene-based block copolymer-based thermoplastic elastomer ( SIS, SBS, etc.).

The type of conductive material is not particularly limited. One kind or two or more kinds of metal particles such as gold, silver, copper, nickel, rhodium, palladium, chromium, titanium, platinum, iron, and alloys thereof can be used. Carbon materials such as carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and graphite may be used. Moreover, you may use the covering particle | grains which coat | covered the surface of particle | grains other than a metal with the metal. In this case, it is possible to reduce the specific gravity of the conductive material as compared with the case where the conductive material is only made of metal. Therefore, when it is made into a paint, sedimentation of the conductive material is suppressed and dispersibility is improved. Also, by processing the particles, various shapes of conductive materials can be easily manufactured. In addition, the cost of the conductive material can be reduced. As the metal to be coated, metal materials such as gold listed above may be used. Further, as particles other than metal, carbon materials such as carbon black, metal oxides such as calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, and barium titanate, inorganic substances such as silica, resins such as acrylic and urethane, and the like may be used. .

The content of the conductive material may be determined as appropriate so that both conductivity and flexibility can be achieved. For example, from the viewpoint of ensuring conductivity, the content of the conductive material is determined from the members (heat generating layers 30A, 30B, 30AL, 30AR, 30BL, 30BR, electrode layers 41A, 41B, heat generating

part wirings

31A, 31B, and seating It is desirable that the volume of the wirings 42A and 42B and the temperature wiring 52) is 10 vol% or more when the volume is 100 vol%. It is more preferable that it is 15 vol% or more. On the other hand, when the content of the conductive material increases, the flexibility decreases. For this reason, as for content of an electrically conductive material, it is desirable that it is 40 vol% or less when the volume of a member is 100 vol%. It is more preferable that it is 25 vol% or less.

In the above embodiment, the heat generating parts 3A and 3B and the seating detecting parts 4A and 4B are arranged on the base material 2 by screen printing. However, these members may be disposed on the substrate 2 by ink jet printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, pad printing, lithography, or the like. Moreover, you may arrange | position these members to the base material 2 by the dip method, the spray method, the bar coat method, etc.

Claims

An elastomeric substrate;
A heat generating part disposed on the base material and including a heat generating layer including an elastomer and a conductive material; and a pair of heat generating part wirings including the elastomer and a conductive material and connected to the heat generating layer;
A pair of electrode layers disposed on the substrate and including an elastomer and a conductive material, an elastomeric dielectric layer interposed between the pair of electrode layers, and a pair of the electrodes including an elastomer and a conductive material A capacitance-type seating detection unit having a pair of seating wirings connected to the layers;
A control unit for controlling the heat generating unit based on a signal from the seating detection unit;
Seat heater with.
The base material has a non-sitting area where a seated person does not sit,
The seat heater according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature detection unit disposed in the non-sitting region.
The seat heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the heat generating units are arranged and a plurality of the seating detecting units are arranged.
4. At least one of the heat generating layer, the heat generating portion wiring, the electrode layer, the dielectric layer, and the seating wiring is disposed on the base material by screen printing. The described seat heater.
The heat generating part and the seating detection part are both arranged on one surface of the base material,
The seat heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an elastomer protective layer covering the one surface together with the heat generating portion and the seating detection portion.
A direction in which one surface of the base material is developed is a surface direction, and a direction perpendicular to the surface direction is a lamination direction.
The seat heater according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least a pair of the members among a plurality of pairs adjacent to each other in the plane direction is arranged to be shifted from each other in the stacking direction.
The direction in which one surface of the base material develops is a surface direction,
The seat heater according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an elastomer partition between at least a pair of the members adjacent to each other in the surface direction.