JP4126430B2 - Automotive power slide seat with position sensor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a power slide seat for an automobile which is installed so as to be movable with a slide rail driven by a motor in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and more specifically, a position sensor which detects the position of the power seat and generates a position signal of the seat. It is related with the power slide seat for motor vehicles provided with.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, when the airbag module is mounted on the steering wheel as an occupant restraint device, when the position of the slide seat S is ahead of the steering wheel H as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the operation of the airbag module is controlled so as to delay the deployment start timing of the airbag E when it is behind.
[0003]
Conventionally, since it is necessary to control the airbag module, it has been proposed to equip the slide rail R with a position sensor P that detects the relative position of the slide seat S with respect to the airbag module.
[0004]
As the position sensor P, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, a magnetic actuator 10a such as a magnet piece or an electromagnet and a magnetic detection sensor 10b such as a limit switch or Hall element that reacts with a magnetic field are made to face each other. A sensor unit 10 assembled therein and a magnetic shielding plate 11 that blocks the magnetic field generated from the magnetic actuator 10b from acting on the magnetic detection sensor 10b are provided.
[0005]
The sensor unit 10 is attached by a bracket plate 13 projecting to a side portion at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 12. On the other hand, the magnetic shielding plate 11 is attached so as to protrude from a predetermined position of the upper rail 14 to the side of the front region extending in the longitudinal direction (Reference Document 1).
[0006]
On the contrary, there is also proposed a magnetic sensor that protrudes from the side of the upper rail and is attached, and a magnetic shielding plate is attached to the side of a predetermined region extending in the longitudinal direction of the lower rail (Patent Document 2). ).
[0007]
The position sensor detects whether the magnetic detection element 10b is a slide sheet S with respect to the airbag module depending on whether the magnetic shielding plate 11 is positioned at a relative distance between the magnetic actuator 10a and the magnetic detection element 10b as the position of the sheet is moved. The circuit is designed to detect the relative position of the airbag and to generate a control signal for controlling the operation of the airbag module.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
US Pat. No. 6,053,529 [Patent Document 2]
US Pat. No. 5,967,549
All of the position sensors are attached to the outside on the side of the slide rail. For this reason, there is a risk of malfunction due to being easily affected by the adhesion of articles such as metal products and dust inserted between the seat cushion and the vehicle body floor. In addition, there is a risk of problems such as deformation and damage due to the insertion of an umbrella or a long object.
[0010]
To solve the problem, a cover, a wire frame, or the like that guards the position sensor may be attached to the side of the slide rail. However, this increases the number of parts and restricts the space around the slide rail, which is not preferable.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
While reducing the number of parts, the present invention prevents deterioration of sensor performance and damage due to external factors, improves the positional accuracy during mounting, enables stable mounting, and improves sensor performance due to reduced clearance. In addition, an object is to provide an automotive power slide seat with a position sensor that can be reduced in size and weight.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the power slide seat for a vehicle with a position sensor according to claim 1 of the present invention, the upper rail attached to the lower side of the seat cushion and the lower rail attached to the vehicle body floor are provided as slide rails, and the lead screw is provided by the bracket plate. Is mounted on the bottom surface of the lower rail with the shaft end held, and a gear that moves relative to the axis of the lead screw is attached to the upper rail by the drive motor, and the seat is driven by the motor with the seat facing in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. It is installed with a slide rail so that the position can be moved, and it has a position sensor that detects the position of the seat and emits a position signal of the seat.
A magnet piece that generates a magnetic field and a magnetic detection sensor that generates a sheet position signal that reacts or does not react with the magnetic field are provided as position sensors, and the magnetic detection sensor is attached to a top surface at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the upper rail, The magnet piece is mounted on the plate surface of the bracket plate located on the projecting end side of the lead screw and disposed on the bottom surface of the lower rail.
[0013]
In the automotive power slide seat with a position sensor according to claim 2 of the present invention, the magnet piece is provided on the upper surface of the magnet holder, and the magnet holder is mounted on the plate surface of the bracket plate so that the magnet piece is attached to the bottom surface of the lower rail. It is comprised by arrange | positioning.
[0014]
In the power slide seat for an automobile with a position sensor according to claim 3 of the present invention, the latching piece provided on the fixed plate portion of the bracket plate is inserted into the slit provided on the lower side of the magnet holder, and the magnet holder is attached to the bracket plate. It is configured by mounting and fixing on a plate surface with a latching piece.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 7, the illustrated embodiment is a power slide seat that is installed so as to be movable with respect to a front and rear direction of a vehicle by a slide rail 1 driven by a motor. A position sensor 2 that detects the position of the seat and generates a control signal for controlling the operation of the occupant restraint device based on the relative position of the seat to the occupant restraint device similar to that shown in FIG. Has been.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the slide rail 1 is assembled from an upper rail 1a attached to the lower side of the seat cushion and a lower rail 1b attached to the vehicle body floor side. The lower rail 1b is installed in the front-rear direction in the vehicle over the movement distance of the seat. The upper rail 1a is provided with rollers (not shown) on the lower side in the longitudinal direction and is supported by the lower rail 1b so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction.
[0017]
The upper rail 1a has a substantially U-shaped cross section from the top surface 100 and the left and right side surfaces 101, 102, and the outer bending flanges 103, 104 rise in an L shape from the lower ends of the side surfaces 101, 102. It is formed with a bend. The upper rail 1a is provided with an opening 105 on the top surface 100 for attaching a magnetic detection sensor to be described later.
[0018]
The lower rail 1b has a substantially upward U-shaped cross section that is relatively larger than the upper rail 1a from the bottom surface 110 and the left and right side surfaces 111, 112, and the outer bending flanges 103, 104 of the upper rail 1a are inward. The downwardly bent L-shaped inner bending flanges 113 and 114 are bent from the upper ends of the side surfaces 111 and 112, respectively.
[0019]
Inside the lower rail 1b, a lead screw 3 is attached in the longitudinal direction. The lead screw 3 is mounted so as to float above the bottom surface 110 of the lower rail 1b by holding the shaft end side in the longitudinal direction (only one side is shown) with a bracket plate 4 installed on the bottom surface 110 of the lower rail 1b. It has been. The bracket plate 4 includes a fixed plate portion 40 attached to the bottom surface 110 of the lower rail 1b and a bearing plate portion 41 of the lead screw 3 bent in an L shape.
[0020]
On the axis of the lead screw 4, a gear 5 is screwed so as to be relatively movable. Since the gear 5 meshes with a gear (not shown) attached to the operating shaft of the drive motor 6 (see arrow), the gear 5 is screwed and attached so as to be relatively movable on the axis of the lead screw 4. Further, the entire seat is assembled so that the entire seat can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the lead screw 3 by being housed in a gear box 7 attached to the top surface 100 of the upper rail 1a.
[0021]
The position sensor 2 includes a magnetic detection sensor 2a that generates a control signal that reacts or reacts with a magnetic field, and a magnet piece 2b having a substantially quadrilateral shape.
[0022]
The magnetic detection sensor 2a is configured to include a sensor housing portion 21 downward through an overhang bar 20 and a connector portion 22 connected to a signal cable upward. As the magnetic detection sensor 2a, it is preferable to provide a Hall element or a Hall IC in which the strength of the magnetic field is taken out by an electrical signal due to the Hall effect, in the sensor housing portion 21.
[0023]
The magnetic detection sensor 2a is located inside by fitting the sensor accommodating portion 21 into the receiving hole 105 of the upper rail 1a, covering the receiving hole 105 with a large overhanging flange 20, and the upper surface 100 from the outside of the upper rail 1a. It is fixed to the installation. The magnetic detection sensor 2a is disposed substantially in the middle in the longitudinal direction on the upper inner surface of the upper rail 1a.
[0024]
The magnet piece 2 b is provided on the upper surface of the magnet holder 8. The magnet holder 8 is attached to the fixed plate portion 40 of the bracket plate 4 located on the protruding end side of the lead screw 3. Thus, the magnet piece 2b is stably disposed on the bottom surface 110 of the lower rail 1b in close proximity to the magnetic detection sensor 2a attached to the top surface 100 of the upper rail 1a.
[0025]
Examples of the occupant restraint device include an airbag module installed inside the steering wheel and an airbag module installed inside the instrument panel. The control configuration is configured with a CPU so that the airbag deployment start time is advanced when the seat is in the front, while the airbag deployment start timing is delayed when the seat is in the rear.
[0026]
In the power slide seat with the position sensor configured as described above, the magnetic detection sensor 2a reacts to the magnetic field generated from the magnet piece 2b while the entire seat moves on the slide rail 1 in the region extending between the front and rear most. Since the magnet piece 2b is not provided, the magnetic detection sensor 2a is divided into regions that do not react with the magnetic field.
[0027]
Since either the reaction or non-reaction of the magnetic field by the magnetic detection sensor 2a is transmitted to the CPU as a control signal, the deployment start time of the airbag is advanced by assuming that the seat position is ahead in the reaction region, In the non-reactive region, the airbag of the airbag module can be controlled so as to delay the deployment start timing of the airbag assuming that the seat is behind.
[0028]
In the position sensor 2, the magnetic detection sensor 2a is mounted and fixed on the upper inner surface of the upper rail 1a, and the magnet piece 2b is disposed on the fixing plate portion 40 of the bracket plate 4 that is fixed and mounted on the lower inner surface of the lower rail 1b. The position accuracy at the time can be increased. Further, since the magnet piece 2b is attached close to the magnetic detection sensor 2a attached to the top surface 100 of the upper rail 1a by the magnet holder 8, the clearance can be kept small inside the slide rail 1 with a narrow relative interval. Sensor performance can also be improved.
[0029]
In particular, since the magnetic detection sensor 2a is mounted downward in the upper rail 1a, the sensor performance can be prevented from being deteriorated due to dust or the like adhering to the magnetic detection sensor 2a.
[0030]
In addition, since the magnetic detection sensor 2a is provided inside the slide rail 1 together with the magnet piece 2b, it is hardly affected by external factors such as a metal product inserted between the seat cushion and the vehicle body floor. In addition, it is possible to prevent deformation or damage caused by the insertion of an umbrella or a long object, and maintain a normal operating state. In addition, since the position sensor guard cover and wire frame are unnecessary, the number of parts can be reduced, and the size and weight can be reduced.
[0031]
In the above-described embodiments, the airbag module installed inside the steering wheel or the airbag module installed inside the instrument panel as the occupant restraint device is described, but it is installed inside the door or side body panel. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the positional relationship between the airbag module and the seat is determined. Further, the front of a tip-up seat or the like that moves the seat cushion up to the seat back in a standing posture and moves the rear seat to the back of the front seat can also be applied as a position sensor that detects a strike or a rear most.
[0032]
As a control form by the position sensor, the front most side is set as the magnetic field non-reactive region and the rear most side is set as the magnetic field reactive region. However, this can be set in reverse.
[0033]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the magnet holder 8 described above is provided with a concave portion 80 for fitting and bonding the substantially quadrilateral magnet piece 2 b on the upper surface, and the shaft end of the lead screw 3 is a nut for securing the shaft. 9 and a recess 81 that is received on the side surface. Further, the latch plate 42 is provided by being raised in an inverted L shape from the fixed plate portion 40 of the bracket plate 4, and a slit 82 extending in the front-rear direction of the lower rail 1 b is provided on the lower side of the magnet holder 8. Since the magnet holder 8 is inserted into the slit 82, the magnet holder 8 can be stably attached and fixed to the fixing plate portion 40 of the bracket plate 4 by the latching piece 42.
[0034]
In the configuration, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a latching piece 42 ′ standing upright from the fixing plate portion 40 of the bracket plate 4 is provided, and a slit 82 ′ extending upward from the bottom of the magnet holder 8 is provided. The design can be changed. Further, the concave portion 81 ′ provided on the side surface of the magnet holder 8 also has an arch-shaped concave portion 81 a ′ that receives the nut 9 for fixing the shaft in front, and a concave portion 81 b ′ that receives the shaft end portion of the lead screw 3 on the back side. The design can be changed to be provided.
[0035]
In the case of the recess 81 ′, as shown in FIG. 6, an overhang edge 81c′81d ′ for receiving the shaft end side of the lead screw 3 from the lower side is provided, and an arc portion 81e ′ corresponding to the shaft end diameter of the lead screw 3 is provided. A part of the lead screw 3 is provided with a fitting opening 81f ′ by cutting out a narrow width, and the shaft end portion of the lead screw 3 is fitted into the arc portion 81e from the edge 81c′81d ′. The fixed plate portion 40 is more stably attached.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 7, the magnet piece 2 b is provided with a frame edge-shaped stop ring 83 and is held down by the upper surface of the magnet holder 8. The retaining ring 83 is provided with snap legs 83b and 83c that are directed downward from the relative side of the frame edge 83a, and an inverted claw-shaped latching claw 83d (only one side is shown) on the surface of the snap legs 83b and 83c. And is attached to the upper side of the magnet holder 8. Corresponding to the retaining ring 83, the magnet holder 8 is provided with recesses 84 for fitting the snap legs 83b, 83c on both sides, and a retaining groove 85 for engaging the retaining claws 83c is provided on the surface of the recess 84. It is provided in the inside.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the power slide sheet for a vehicle with a position sensor according to claim 1 of the present invention, the magnet piece that generates a magnetic field and the magnetic detection sensor that generates a seat position signal that reacts or does not react with the magnetic field. As a position sensor, the magnetic detection sensor is attached to the top surface at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the upper rail, and the magnet piece is attached to the plate surface of the bracket plate located on the protruding end side of the lead screw to attach it to the bottom surface of the lower rail. Because it is installed, it is hardly affected by external factors such as metal products inserted between the seat cushion and the vehicle floor, prevents deformation and damage due to the insertion of umbrellas and long objects, and dust adheres. To prevent normal operation and maintain the normal operating condition, while improving the positional accuracy of each other and reducing the clearance. It is possible to improve the sensor performance from the fact that maintained clause. At the same time, the guard cover and wire frame of the position sensor are not required, so the number of parts can be reduced and the size and weight can be reduced.
[0038]
According to the power slide sheet for an automobile with a position sensor according to claim 2 of the present invention, the magnet piece is provided on the upper surface of the magnet holder, and the magnet holder is attached to the plate surface of the bracket plate to attach the magnet piece to the lower rail. Because it is installed on the bottom surface, the magnet piece is stably attached to the plate surface of the upper rail with the magnet holder, and it is attached close to the magnetic detection sensor, so the inside of the slide rail with a relatively small relative distance is installed. Sensor performance can be improved by keeping the clearance small.
[0039]
According to the power slide sheet for a vehicle with a position sensor according to claim 3 of the present invention, the retaining piece provided on the fixing plate portion of the bracket plate is inserted into the slit provided on the lower side of the magnet holder, and the magnet holder is attached to the bracket. By attaching and fixing on the plate surface of the plate with the retaining piece, the magnet piece can be more stably attached to the plate surface of the upper rail with the magnet holder.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram mainly showing a position sensor and a magnet holder together with a slide rail of a power slide seat for an automobile according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing fixing means according to an example when the magnet holder of FIG. 1 is attached to a bracket plate of a lead screw.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a magnet holder fixing means with respect to a bracket plate of the lead screw shown in FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing a fixing means according to another example when the magnet holder of FIG. 1 is attached to a bracket plate of a lead screw. FIG.
5 is an explanatory view showing the magnet holder fixing means with respect to the bracket plate of the lead screw shown in FIG.
6 is an explanatory view showing a recess for receiving a shaft end of a lead screw provided on a side surface of the magnet holder of FIG. 4; FIG.
7 is an explanatory view showing a retaining ring for holding the magnet piece of FIG. 1 on a magnet holder. FIG.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an automobile slide seat with a position sensor according to a general example.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view mainly showing a slide rail and a position sensor of an automobile slide seat according to a conventional example.
10 is a cross-sectional view showing the slide rail and the position sensor of FIG. 9;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slide rail 1a Upper rail 100 Upper rail top surface 1b Lower rail 110 Lower rail bottom surface 2 Position sensor 2a Magnetic detection sensor 2b Magnet piece 3 Lead screw 4 for power slide 4 Bracket plate 40 Bracket plate fixing plate 41 Bracket plate Bearing plate part 42 Bracket plate retaining piece 5 Power slide gear 6 Drive motor 7 Gear box 8 Magnet holder 82 Magnet holder slit

Claims (3)

The upper rail attached to the lower side of the seat cushion and the lower rail attached to the vehicle floor are provided as slide rails, and the lead screw is supported on the shaft end side by the bracket plate and installed on the bottom surface of the lower rail. A gear that moves relative to the axis of the lead screw by the drive motor is attached to the upper rail, and the seat is installed so that the seat can be moved by a motor-driven slide rail in the front-rear direction in the vehicle, and the position of the seat is detected. In a power slide seat for automobiles equipped with a position sensor that emits a position signal of the seat,
A magnet piece that generates a magnetic field and a magnetic detection sensor that generates a sheet position signal that reacts or does not react with the magnetic field are provided as position sensors, and the magnetic detection sensor is attached to a top surface at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the upper rail, A power slide seat for an automobile with a position sensor, wherein a magnet piece is mounted on a plate surface of a bracket plate located on a protruding end side of a lead screw and disposed on a bottom surface of a lower rail. 2. A vehicle with a position sensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnet piece is provided on the upper surface of the magnet holder, the magnet holder is mounted on the plate surface of the bracket plate, and the magnet piece is disposed on the bottom surface of the lower rail. Power slide seat. 3. A retaining piece provided on a fixing plate portion of the bracket plate is inserted into a slit provided on a lower side of the magnet holder, and the magnet holder is fixedly attached to the plate surface of the bracket plate with the retaining piece. Power slide seat for automobiles with position sensor as described in.

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