JPH05124464A - Seat for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make insuring of an optimum sitting posture suitable for a running condition compatible with recovery of fatigue due to a fixed posture in a long time. CONSTITUTION:The reference position of a seat for obtaining an optimum sitting posture corresponding to a running condition by a seat position memory 17 is set, the running condition of a vehicle is detected by means of a vehicle speed sensor 15 and a timer 16, and a seat slide device 4 and a seat front end lifter 7 are periodically moved by a fixed changing quantity range so as to adjust the seat position, centering around the reference position corresponding to a fixed running condition.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle seat provided with electric seating posture adjusting means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional vehicle seat, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-257333,
Air bags are embedded in the front end of the seat cushion and on both sides and the center of the seat back, and the signals from the pressure switch and vehicle speed sensor that detect the occupant's seat and the timer are input to the controller to determine the operating time. It is known that the occupant's seating posture is changed by controlling the amount of air injected into the air bladder according to the vehicle speed to reduce the fatigue of the occupant.

[0003]

In a vehicle such as an automobile, if the same riding posture is continuously maintained for a long time, the joints cannot move and a load is applied to the same part of the occupant's body, leading to fatigue. Fatigue occurs in the contact area due to the obstruction of blood circulation. Therefore, it is possible to reduce these fatigues by changing the sitting posture of the occupant over time, but since an unnatural sitting posture causes another fatigue, the optimal sitting posture according to the running situation is also Also required.

On the other hand, in the conventional vehicle seat, the pressure of the air bladder is adjusted to increase or decrease at predetermined intervals, so that fatigue caused by irregular blood flow due to the same sitting posture for a long time can be reduced. Although it is possible to move, even the leg joints cannot be moved to change the sitting posture, so it is not possible to release the load applied to the same part of the occupant, and also the compression of the lower surface of the thigh that causes fatigue. Cannot be fully released, and the fatigue reduction effect cannot be expected so much.

Moreover, since it is not possible to expect an optimal seating posture change in accordance with the running condition of the vehicle, there remains a problem that new fatigue is caused by the change in running condition.

Therefore, according to the present invention, an optimal sitting posture can be ensured in accordance with changes in running conditions, and even the leg joints can be moved periodically to change the sitting posture. It is intended to provide a vehicle seat that can reduce fatigue of an occupant.

[0007]

In a vehicle seat provided with an electric seating posture adjusting means, a reference position of the seat that provides an optimal sitting posture is set according to running conditions, and the running state of the vehicle is detected. Then, a means is provided for periodically adjusting the seat position with a predetermined change amount width around a corresponding reference position under a predetermined traveling condition.

[0008]

Before the engine is started and the vehicle travels, a reference seat position is set in advance so that an optimum seating posture can be obtained for each predetermined traveling condition. When the vehicle starts running and a predetermined traveling state is detected by the traveling state detecting means, the seat position is adjusted to a reference seat position corresponding to the traveling condition, and a predetermined change is centered on the reference seat position. The seat position is adjusted periodically by the amount range.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle seat used in the method of the present invention, in which 2 is a seat cushion and 3 is a seat cushion.
Is a seat back, and 4 is a seat slide device which is driven by a motor 5 to adjust the position of the seat 1 forward and backward, and includes a slide position sensor 6 which detects the front and rear slide positions of the seat 1. Reference numeral 7 denotes a seat front end lifter which is driven by a motor 8 to vertically adjust the front end of the seat cushion 2, and 10 denotes a seat rear end lifter which is driven by a motor 11 to vertically adjust the rear end of the seat cushion 1. Is also equipped with lift amount sensors 9 and 12,
The vertical movement position can be detected. Reference numeral 13 is a pressure sensor attached to the front end portion of the seat cushion 2, 14 is an ignition key switch, 15 is a vehicle speed sensor, 16 is a timer, 17 is a seat position memory, and the motors 5, 8, 11 and the slide position sensor 6 are all provided. ,
The pressure sensor 13 and the lift amount sensors 9 and 12 are connected to the controller 18.

The seat position memory 17 stores in advance a reference position of the seat 1 in which an optimum seating posture can be obtained according to a running condition. Specifically, this is a seat position that serves as a reference for each situation in the urban driving mode and the high-speed driving mode. For example, when driving in the urban area, there are many driving operations. The operability and comfort of the occupant, such as the leaning position, are determined according to the user's liking. The memory switch is turned on, and the seat slide device 4, the seat front end lifter 7, and the seat rear end lifter 10 are used to remove the seat 1. By adjusting the front and rear slide position and the seat surface angle of the seat cushion 2, the seat position is stored in the seat position memory 17 as a reference position. After that, the seat position is controlled based on this reference position after the vehicle has traveled. Of course, this reference position can be changed so that the occupant can obtain the most comfortable posture during traveling.

The controller 18 (adjusting means) monitors the traveling condition by the vehicle speed sensor 15 and the timer 16, and when traveling under the same condition for a certain time or longer, the seat position memory 17 is set to the seat position mode which meets the condition.
A control signal is output to the seat slide device 4 and the seat front end lifter 7 or the seat rear end lifter 10 in order to periodically adjust the seat position with a predetermined change width centered on the selected reference position. Examples of seat position control by the controller 18 are shown in FIGS.
And basic control patterns are shown in FIGS.

This is based on the reference position set by the occupant as the optimum posture, and the front and rear drive of the seat slide device 4 and the upper and lower parts of the seat front end lifter 7 or the seat rear end lifter 10 are cyclical around this position. The seat surface angle of the seat cushion 2 is changed by driving, the angles of the occupant's ankles, knees and hips are changed and the pressure applied to the thighs is released without maintaining an unnatural posture, and a constant posture is maintained for a long time. These periodic control modes are stored in the controller 18 in advance in order to prevent or reduce the resulting fatigue.

Here, for example, the control modes shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 are the cases where the pressure release of the thigh of the occupant H is prioritized.
In both city driving and high speed driving, the seat 1 moved backward with a predetermined change amount from the reference position where the sliding position of the seat 1 was the center position (in the case of city driving, toward the front and in the case of high speed driving toward the rear). At the same time, the front end of the seat cushion 2 is lifted up, and conversely, when the slide position of the seat 1 is moved forward by a predetermined variation from the center position, the front end of the seat cushion 2 is lowered, so that the thigh pressure can be effectively reduced. It is to release it.

In the control modes shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the angle of the joint of the occupant is changed and priority is given to the control, and the sliding position of the seat 1 is the reference position (center position) in both city driving and high speed driving. By lowering the front end of the seat cushion 2 when the seat cushion 2 moves rearward by a predetermined change amount, and by raising the front end of the seat cushion 2 when the slide position of the seat 1 moves forward by a predetermined change amount from the center position, The angle of the knee, ankle, and hip joint is further increased to further prevent the load on the same part of the occupant's body.

In the control modes shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the pressure release of the thigh of the occupant and the control of the angle change of the joint are simultaneously performed.
By lowering the front end of the seat cushion 2 when the sliding position of the seat cushion 2 moves rearward and forward with a predetermined change amount from the reference position and setting the front end of the seat cushion 2 to the reference position when the sliding position is near the reference position, Both the pressure release of the thigh and the angle change of the leg joint are effectively performed.

The above-described periodic control mode is stored in the controller 20 in advance as described above, and is arbitrarily selected according to the passenger's request.

FIG. 8 shows drive waveforms of the seat slide device 4 and the seat front end lifter 7 in each of the above-described periodic control modes of the seat 1. The position movement is linear in a predetermined change amount width around the reference position. (A, B in FIG. 8) or the position movement can be performed intermittently (C in FIG. 8). Of course, since it is not necessary to make the drive waveforms of the seat slide device 4 and the seat front end lifter 7 the same, various combinations can be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the running condition of the vehicle is monitored by the vehicle speed sensor 15 and the timer 16, and the periodical mode control described above is performed. The pressure P at the front end of No. 2 is monitored, and as shown as a control pattern in FIG. 9, when the pressure becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure P _U , it is determined that the leg is fully extended, and Prevents the foot from leaving the pedal without sliding back and operating the lifter upward. On the contrary, when the pressure becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure P _L , the sliding movement to the front of the position and the lifter operation downward are not performed.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of the control program for adjusting the seat position as described above.
00 to determine if the ignition switch is on,
When the engine is started, the timer 16 is started in step 101.
However, in step 102, the slide position sensor 6, the lift amount sensors 9 and 12, the pressure sensor 13, and the vehicle speed sensor 15 are
Each of them is turned on and becomes ready for measurement.

In step 103, it is judged whether or not the memory switch is turned on. If the memory switch is not turned on, it is judged that the seat 1 is set at the reference position corresponding to the traveling condition, and the routine proceeds to step 104. In the affirmative case, when the seat position is adjusted to the reference position, this seat position is stored in the seat position memory 17 as the reference position in step 104.

At step 105, it is judged under the supervision of the vehicle speed sensor 15 whether or not the traveling is started, and if negative, step 1
Return to 03. In the affirmative case, the process proceeds to step 106, and it is determined whether or not the reference position is changed while traveling by monitoring the on-state of the memory switch. In the affirmative case, the process returns to step 104 and the adjusted position is memorized, and the negative condition is determined. If so, go to step 107.

At step 107, it is judged under the supervision of the vehicle speed sensor 15 and the timer 16 whether or not the same traveling condition is kept for a predetermined time, that is, whether the vehicle is traveling in the city area or at a high speed. In the affirmative, in step 108, the reference seat position in the urban driving mode or the high-speed driving mode is selected and determined, and the following step 1
At 09, a control signal is output from the controller 18 to the seat slide device 4, the seat front end lifter 7, and the seat rear end lifter 10 in accordance with the reference position mode, and the seat position is moved to the reference position corresponding to the predetermined traveling condition. 2, 5 or the seat slide device 4 and the seat front end lifter 7 are driven in accordance with the control modes shown in FIGS. 3, 6 or 4 and 7, and the seat position is cycled with a predetermined variation width around the reference position. Adjust accordingly.

In the following step 110, the on-state of the memory switch is monitored again to judge whether or not the reference position has been changed during traveling. If the result is affirmative, the process returns to step 104 and the changed seat position is the seat position. It is stored in the memory 17, and if negative, the process proceeds to step 111.

At step 111, it is judged if the pressure at the front end of the seat cushion 2 detected by the pressure sensor 13 is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure P _U. In the affirmative case, it is judged that the legs are fully extended, and in step 116, the slide retreat of the seat slide device 4 and the lifter lift of the seat front end lifter 7 are restricted, and in the negative case, the routine proceeds to step 112, where the pressure of the front end part of the seat cushion 2 is increased. It is determined whether the pressure is equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure P _L. In the affirmative case in step 112, the slide forward movement of the seat slide device 4 and the lifter lowering of the seat front end lifter 7 are restricted (step 117), and in the negative case, the routine proceeds to step 113.

At step 113, it is judged whether or not the traveling condition is changed under the supervision of the sensor 15 and the timer 16 described above, and if negative, the routine proceeds to step 114. In the affirmative case, in step 118, it is determined whether or not the changed traveling state is continued for a predetermined time. In the affirmative case, the process returns to step 108 to determine the mode, while in the negative case, the process proceeds to step 114.

At step 114, it is judged if the ignition key switch is off or not. If not, step 1
Returning to step 10, the control operation is continued. If the result is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 115, where the seat position is returned to the reference memory position and the control operation is ended.

Incidentally, in the case of the seat in which the seat back 3 also integrally changes in angle as the seat surface angle of the seat cushion 2 changes, the reclining mechanism (not shown) is added as a control target. be able to.

FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, only the seat slide device is controlled, that is, the seat slide device is centered around the reference position corresponding to the running condition. The sliding position of the seat 1 is cyclically changed forward and backward by a predetermined change width by front and rear driving. Even in this case, the angle of the leg joint of the occupant H is changed by the forward and backward movement of the seat slide device. ,
Since the contact pressure of the thigh on the seat cushion 2 changes, the fatigue reducing effect can be obtained. Moreover, according to this method, only the seat slide device is controlled, which simplifies the mechanism and control and is advantageous in cost.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment in which the seat slide device, the seat front end lifter, and the reclining device are controlled.

In this embodiment, first, the shoulder position (shoulder point SP) of the reference posture is determined. This may be simply determined in advance by the distance from the seat cushion to the upper side, or the position of the shoulder may be measured and determined by a body pressure sensor embedded in the backrest. Next, the seat slide device, the seat front end lifter, and the reclining device are controlled so that the locus of the hip points HP is a circle centered on the shoulder points SP. The movement of the hip points HP is also a periodic reciprocating movement. At the same time, change the seat cushion seat angle. This control operation can be carried out by a control program substantially similar to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, since rotational movement is performed around the shoulder points SP, the steering wheel, shift lever, etc. With the distance L between the operating system and the occupant H's hand-arm system and the eyepoints E and P of the occupant H being kept constant, the angle changes of the ankle a, knee b, and hip joint c,
Also, the pressure applied to the thigh can be released.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, an optimal seating posture can be obtained according to running conditions, and a seat position where this seating posture can be obtained is used as a reference position, and a predetermined position is centered on the reference position. Since the seat position is adjusted and changed periodically with the amount of change, it is possible to move the occupant's joints, which causes fatigue on the same part of the body for a long time and the thighs are pressed by the seat cushion front end. There is an advantage that the fatigue caused by this can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seat of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a first example of a control mode of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing a second example of the control mode.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing a third example of the control mode.

FIG. 5 is a control pattern diagram corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a control pattern diagram corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a control pattern diagram corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a drive waveform diagram of the seat slide device and the seat front end lifter in the embodiment.

9A and 9B are detection waveforms of a pressure sensor and drive waveforms of a seat slide device and a seat front end lifter in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a control program of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory view of a control mode in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory view of a control mode in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 ... Seat, 2 ... Seat cushion, 3 ... Seat back, 4 ... Seat slide device, 7 ... Seat front end lifter, 13 ... Pressure sensor, 15 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 16 ... Timer, 17 ... Seat position memory , 18 ... Controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle seat provided with an electric seating posture adjusting means, sets a reference position of a seat that provides an optimal sitting posture according to running conditions, detects a running state of the vehicle, and determines a predetermined position. A vehicle seat comprising means for periodically adjusting a seat position with a predetermined variation width around a corresponding reference position under a running condition.