JP4389313B2 - Seating detection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seating detection device, and more particularly to a seating detection device that is disposed on a vehicle seat and used to detect a seating state of an occupant or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, it has been proposed to control the operation of an air bag and a seat belt according to the occupant's physique (adult or child), the presence / absence of an occupant on a seat, the presence / absence of a restraining device for children, and the like. In order to perform this control, it is necessary to detect the physique of the passenger. The detection of the occupant's physique etc. can be determined by the distribution of the load (hereinafter referred to as the seating load) that the occupant or child restraining device presses the seat, and this detection is generally performed using a seating detection device arranged on the seat. Processing is in progress.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 1, the seating detection device roughly detects a seat cushion pan 1, a seat cushion pad 2 held by the seat cushion pan 1, and a seating range of an occupant seated on the seat cushion pad 2. And a seating pattern sensor 3 having a plurality of detection units 4.
The seating pattern sensor 3 is generally in the form of a sheet disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-223087, and an elastic member is distributed between a pair of upper and lower sheet-like conductive members to bend the elastic member. When a load is applied, a current flows between the sheet-like conductive members and the seating range is detected.
[0004]
The conventional seating detection device has a configuration in which the seating pattern sensor 3 is arranged on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 2 or in the vicinity of the upper surface. The seating pattern sensor 3 and the seat cushion pad 2 opposed to the seating pattern sensor 3 are both flat, so that when the occupant sits on the seat cushion pad 2, a load is equally applied to the seating range. Was composed.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional configuration in which the seating pattern sensor 3 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 2, the detection value of the seating pattern sensor 3 varies depending on what is placed on the seat cushion pad 2. was there.
This problem will be described. The seat cushion pad 2 is often placed with a cushion or a seat cover by an occupant. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the occupant 6 is seated with the cushion 5 placed on the seat cushion pad 2. By the way, the cushion 5 includes a thick one, a thin one, a high hardness, and a soft one. In addition, there are knitted rattans in consideration of sweat divergence and combinations of small wooden rollers.
[0006]
Thus, there are various types of cushions, and when the occupant 6 is seated after the seat cushion 5 is placed on the seat cushion pad 2 disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface, the seat cushion is provided. 5 has a great influence on the detection of the seating range.
For example, in the case of a thick and soft cushion 5, the seating load of the occupant 6 is absorbed by the cushion 5 and applied to each detection unit 4 of the seating pattern sensor 3. Further, in the case of the cushion cushion 5 that is thin and has high hardness, the seating load of the occupant 6 is directly applied to each detection unit 4 of the seating pattern sensor 3 without being absorbed by the cushion cushion 5. Therefore, even if it is the same passenger | crew 9, the seating load applied to the detection part 4 will differ, and the output value from the seating pattern sensor 3 will also change in connection with this.
[0007]
Moreover, since the hardness of the seat cushion pad 2 is deformed by the room temperature of the vehicle, there may be a difference in the amount of bending when a load is applied. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), when a load S1 is generated in the seat cushion pad 2 when a load F is applied to the seat cushion pad 2 at room temperature (T1), FIG. When the load F is applied at a temperature (T2) lower than the normal temperature (T1), the seat cushion pad 2 has a flexure S2 (S2 <S1) smaller than that at the normal temperature (T1) due to an increase in hardness. appear. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the load F is applied at a temperature (T3) higher than the room temperature (T1), the seat cushion pad 2 is bent more largely than at the room temperature (T1) due to the lower hardness. S3 (S3> S1) occurs.
[0008]
In the configuration in which the seating pattern sensor 3 is arranged on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 2 or in the vicinity of the upper surface as in the prior art, the flexures S1 to S3 generated in the seat cushion pad 2 directly affect the seating pattern sensor 3. That is, stresses are applied to the detection unit 4 of the seating pattern sensor 3 due to the deflections S <b> 1 to S <b> 3, and this stress is also converted into an electrical signal in the detection unit 4. In addition, this stress increases as the amount of deflection increases. Therefore, in the conventional seating detection device, although the applied load F is the same, a difference occurs in the signal output from the detection unit 4 due to the temperature change, and the detection accuracy is lowered. There was a point.
[0009]
On the other hand, as described above, since the conventional seating pattern sensor 3 and the seat cushion pad 2 are both flat, when the occupant 6 is seated on the seat cushion pad 2, a uniform seating load is applied to the seating range. Applied. Here, when the detection accuracy of the detection unit 4 is considered to be improved, it is the detection unit 4 that actually detects the seating load in the seating pattern sensor 3, so that the seating load is intensively applied to the detection unit 4. Is desirable.
[0010]
However, when the seating pattern sensor 3 and the seat cushion pad 2 have a flat shape as described above, the seating load is dispersed, and the seating load applied to the detection unit 4 becomes a small value. Therefore, the conventional configuration has a problem that the seating load cannot be detected with high accuracy.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a seating detection device capable of performing detection corresponding to the seating load with high accuracy regardless of the object placed on the seat cushion pad.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a seating detection device capable of detecting a seating load with high accuracy regardless of a temperature change.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is characterized by the following measures.
The seating detection device according to claim 1 is provided.
Seat cushion bread,
A seat cushion pad held by the seat cushion pan;
Plurally detecting individual loads on the lower surface of the seat cushion pad on the seat-like main body having a width enough to cover the surface of the seat cushion pan in order to measure the load distribution on the entire lower surface of the seat cushion pad A seating pattern sensor installed with a predetermined distance apart
In a seating detection device comprising:
At least one of a position facing the detection portion of the seat cushion pan, a position facing the detection portion of the seat cushion pad, and a predetermined region where the detection portion of the seating pattern sensor is formed, A protrusion is provided for intensively applying a load applied when the passenger or the like is seated to each of the plurality of detection units .
The seating detection device of the invention according to claim 2 is:
Seat cushion bread,
A seat cushion pad held by the seat cushion pan;
Plurally detecting individual loads on the lower surface of the seat cushion pad on the seat-like main body having a width enough to cover the surface of the seat cushion pan in order to measure the load distribution on the entire lower surface of the seat cushion pad A seating pattern sensor installed with a predetermined distance apart
In a seating detection device comprising:
Protruding portions that intensively apply the load to each of the plurality of detection portions when a load acts on the seat are provided on any one of the surface portions where the seat cushion pan and the seat cushion pad are in contact with each other. It is characterized by.
The seating detection device of the invention according to claim 3 is:
Seat cushion bread,
A seat cushion pad held by the seat cushion pan;
Plurally detecting individual loads on the lower surface of the seat cushion pad on the seat-like main body having a width enough to cover the surface of the seat cushion pan in order to measure the load distribution on the entire lower surface of the seat cushion pad A seating pattern sensor installed with a predetermined distance apart
In a seating detection device comprising:
A protrusion that intensively applies the load to each of the plurality of detection units when a load is applied to the seat on any one of the surface portions where the seat cushion pan and the seat cushion pad are in contact;
A seating area detection device that performs a load distribution determination process based on signals output from the plurality of detection units is provided.
[0013]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the seating pattern sensor is disposed away from the upper surface of the seat cushion pad, the seating pattern sensor is placed on the seat cushion pad (for example, a cushion or the like). ). Therefore, the accuracy of the seating pattern sensor can be improved, and the seating state can be accurately detected.
[0014]
In addition, the hardness of the seat cushion pad changes as the passenger compartment temperature changes, and the amount of bending that occurs even when the same load is applied changes. However, by arranging the seating pattern sensor between the seat cushion pan and the seat cushion pad as described above, the bending generated on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad does not affect the seating pattern sensor. For this reason, the accuracy of the seating pattern sensor can be improved, and the seating state can be accurately detected.
[0016]
According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the load when the occupant or the like is seated on the seat is provided as a seating pattern by providing the projections for applying the load intensively for each of the plurality of detection units. Since it is applied intensively to the detection unit of the sensor, it is possible to reliably obtain an output at the detection unit when a passenger or the like is seated.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
4 to 7 are diagrams for explaining a seating detection apparatus 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the seating apparatus 10A, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which an occupant 21 is seated on the seating apparatus 10A. 6 is a perspective view showing the seat frame 15 of the seat 11 to which the seating device 10A is attached, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the deflection of the seat cushion pad 13A and the output of the seating pattern sensor 14A. It is.
[0018]
The seating detection device 10A is incorporated in the seat 11 of the vehicle, determines the physique of the occupant 21 seated on the seat 11, and detects the installation of a component other than the occupant 21 (for example, a restraint device for children). It is used to do. In the following description, when the occupant 21 includes a person other than a person such as a child restraint device, the occupant 21 is referred to as the occupant 21.
[0019]
The seating detection device 10A generally includes a seat cushion pan 12A, a seat cushion pad 13A, a seating pattern sensor 14A, and the like.
The seat cushion pan 12A is a plate-like member made of hard metal or resin, and is disposed on the seat frame 15 as shown in FIG. The seat frame 15 is a core material of the seat 11, and includes a seat cushion frame 16 and a seat back frame 17.
[0020]
The seat cushion frame 16 is positioned below the seat cushion pad 13A. The lower portion is fixed to the vehicle, and the seat cushion pan 12A is fixed to the upper portion. Further, the seat cushion pan 12A is configured to hold the seat cushion pad 13A on the top thereof. In addition, the seat back frame 17 is provided with a seat back pad 18 at an upper portion thereof.
[0021]
The seat cushion pad 13A is made of, for example, a pad material such as urethane, and a surface material (not shown) is disposed on the surface thereof. Thus, since the seat cushion pad 13A uses a pad material such as urethane which is a resin material, a change in hardness occurs with a change in temperature as will be described in detail later.
Although the occupant 21 sits on the seat cushion pad 13A when the vehicle is driven, generally, the occupant 21 rarely sits directly on the seat cushion pad 13A, and as shown in FIG. Sit on the cushion pad 13A. In the following description, an example in which the cushion 22 is placed on the seat cushion pad 13A will be described.
[0022]
The seating pattern sensor 14 </ b> A is configured by applying a so-called sheet-shaped membrane switch, and has a configuration in which a plurality of detection units 20 are arranged on the sheet-shaped main body 19. Specifically, in the seating pattern sensor 14A, a pair of electrodes constituting the detection unit 20 are arranged opposite to each other on the inner surface of a sheet-like main body 19 made of a pair of resin films, and a spacer is interposed between the pair of resin films. Thus, the pair of electrodes are configured to face each other.
[0023]
Therefore, when the seating load is applied to the detection unit 20, the pair of electrodes facing and separating from each other conducts, thereby detecting that the seating load is applied. Further, the seating pattern sensor 14A of the present embodiment is configured to detect the seating area as well as whether or not the passenger 21 is seated (mounted). For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, the detection units 20 are arranged in a lattice shape and can output the application of a seating load for each detection unit 20.
[0024]
The seating pattern sensor 14A is connected to a seating area detection control device (not shown). This seating area detection control device is based on various signals such as the presence / absence of the occupant 21, the physique of the occupant 21 (adult or child), and discrimination between the occupant 21 and the restraining device for children based on signals output from the seating pattern sensor 14A Perform processing.
Here, attention is paid to the arrangement position of the seating pattern sensor 14A and the shape of the seat cushion pan 12A.
[0025]
First, paying attention to the position of the seating pattern sensor 14A, the seating pattern sensor 3 is conventionally disposed on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 2 or in the vicinity thereof, as shown in FIGS. On the other hand, the seating detection apparatus 10A according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the seating pattern sensor 14A is disposed between the seat cushion pan 12A and the seat cushion pad 13A.
[0026]
By the way, as described above, there are various kinds of cushions 22 such as thick ones, thin ones, high hardness ones, and soft ones. As described above, when the cushion 22 is close to the seating pattern sensor 14A, the cushion 22 affects the detection result of the seating pattern sensor 14A.
However, in this embodiment, the seating pattern sensor 14A is disposed between the seat cushion pan 12A and the seat cushion pad 13A, so that the seating pattern sensor 14A and the seat cushion 22 are separated from each other. Thereby, even if the cushion cushion 22 is used, the influence of the cushion cushion 22 is reduced at the lower surface position of the seat cushion pad 13A, and the seating pattern sensor 14A has a load distribution pattern corresponding to the occupant 21 seated on the seat cushion pad 13A. A seating load is applied. Therefore, according to the seating detection device 10A of the present embodiment, the accuracy of the seating pattern sensor 14A can be improved, and an accurate seating state can be detected.
[0027]
On the other hand, as described above, the hardness of the seat cushion pad 13A changes with a change in the passenger compartment temperature. FIG. 7 shows a change in the amount of deflection generated in the seat cushion pad 13A with a change in temperature when the same load (F) is applied in the seating detection device 10 of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 7A, when a load S is applied to the seat cushion pad 13A when the load F is applied to the seat cushion pad 13A at the normal temperature (T1), as shown in FIG. When a load F is applied to the seat cushion pad 13A at a temperature (T2) lower than (T1), the hardness increases and the seat cushion pad 13A has a smaller deflection S2 (S2 <S1) than at normal temperature (T1). appear. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, when a load F is applied to the seat cushion pad 13A at a temperature (T3) higher than the normal temperature (T1), the hardness is lowered, so that the seat cushion pad 13A has a normal temperature (T1). A larger deflection S3 (S3> S1) than that occurs.
[0028]
In the conventional configuration in which the seating pattern sensor 3 is disposed on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 2 or in the vicinity thereof, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the deflection amounts S1 to S3 of the seat cushion pad 2 are the seating pattern sensors 3. This has a direct effect on the detection accuracy and decreases the detection accuracy.
However, by arranging the seating pattern sensor 14A between the seat cushion pan 12A and the seat cushion pad 13A as in the present embodiment, the deflection generated on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 13A affects the seating pattern sensor 14A. No more giving. Therefore, the accuracy of the seating pattern sensor 14A can be improved also by this, and the seating state can be detected accurately.
[0029]
Subsequently, attention is focused on the shape of the seat cushion pan 12A.
As shown in the drawings, in the seating detection device 10A of the present embodiment, a plurality of protrusions 23 are formed on the seat cushion pan 12A (illustration of the protrusions 23 in FIG. 7 is omitted). As shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 23 is formed integrally with the seat cushion pan 12A. Therefore, the protrusion 23 can be easily formed because it can be formed collectively when the seat cushion pan 12A is formed.
[0030]
Further, the seat cushion pan 12A is disposed so as to face the seating pattern sensor 14A, but the formation position of the protrusion 23 is selected to face the detection part 20 of the seating pattern sensor 14A. Furthermore, the area of the tip of each protrusion 23 is approximately the same as the area of the detector 20.
The protrusion 23 having the above-described configuration functions as a load application unit that causes the seating load applied when the occupant 21 sits on the seat cushion pad 13 </ b> A to the detection unit 20 in a concentrated manner. That is, by providing the projection 23 on the seat cushion pan 12A, the seating load when the occupant 21 sits on the seat cushion pad 13A is concentratedly applied to the detection unit 20.
[0031]
As a result, the seating load applied to each detection unit 20 when the occupant 21 is seated is the conventional configuration in which the projections 23 are not provided (the so-called configuration in which the seat cushion pad 2 touches the seating pattern sensor 3). ) Is larger than Accordingly, the reaction of each detection unit 20 is good and the detection accuracy is improved, so that the seating pattern sensor 14A can output a detection signal corresponding to the seating load distribution pattern with high accuracy.
[0032]
8 to 10 show seating detection devices 10B and 10C as the second and third embodiments of the present invention. 8 to 10, the same components as those of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
8 and 9 show a seating detection apparatus 10B that is a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows the seating detection device 10B in a state where no occupant is seated, and FIG. 9 shows the seating detection device 10B in a state where the occupant 21 is seated.
[0033]
In the first embodiment described above, the projection 23 serving as a load application unit is provided on the seat cushion pan 12A. On the other hand, the present embodiment is characterized in that the seating pattern sensor 14B itself is provided with a projection 24 for applying a seating load to the detection unit 20 in a concentrated manner.
Specifically, the seating pattern sensor 14 </ b> B used in the present embodiment has a configuration in which a predetermined area where the detection unit 20 is formed protrudes from the sheet-like main body 19. Since the sheet-like main body 19 is formed of a resin sheet, the protrusion 24 can be easily formed by performing hot pressing using a mold corresponding to the shape of the protrusion 24. .
[0034]
Further, in order to apply the seating load intensively to the detection unit 20, it is necessary to give the protrusion 24 a certain degree of mechanical strength. For this reason, the strength of the protrusion 24 is partially increased by providing a reinforcing member at the position where the protrusion 24 is formed, using ultraviolet curable resin or the like as the resin, and irradiating the position where the protrusion 24 is formed with ultraviolet rays. It is good also as a structure.
[0035]
In the second embodiment described above, in addition to the operations and effects described in the first embodiment, since it is not necessary to further process the seat cushion pan 12B and the seat cushion pad 13A constituting the seat 11, the seating detection device can be manufactured at low cost. 10B can be realized. In this embodiment, unlike the structure of the first embodiment, no protrusion is formed on the seat cushion pan 12B.
[0036]
FIG. 10 shows a seating detection apparatus 10C that is the third embodiment of the present invention.
The seating detection device 10 </ b> C according to the present embodiment is characterized in that a projection 25 is provided on the seat cushion pad 13 </ b> B for intensively applying a seating load to the detection unit 20. The formation position of the protrusion 25 is set to correspond to the formation position of the detection unit 20. Even if the protrusions 25 are formed on the seat cushion pad 13B as in the present embodiment, the same actions and effects as described in the first embodiment can be realized.
[0037]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the load application unit is realized by the projections 23 to 25. However, the load application unit is not limited to the projections 23 to 25, and the seating load is concentrated on the detection unit 20. Other configurations may be used as long as they can be applied.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the seating pattern sensor is less susceptible to the influence of the seat cushion pad placed on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad (for example, a cushion), and the deformation of the upper surface of the seat cushion pad due to the temperature change. Since it is not affected, the detection accuracy of the seating pattern sensor is improved, and the seating state can be accurately detected.
[0039]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the load application unit is provided, the load when the occupant is seated on the seat is intensively applied to the detection unit of the seating pattern sensor, so the occupant is seated. In this case, it is possible to reliably obtain an output at the detection unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a seating detection apparatus as an example of the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which an occupant is seated on the seating detection device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the deflection of a seat cushion pad and the output of a seating pattern sensor in the related art.
FIG. 4 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a seating detection apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a view showing a state in which an occupant is seated on the seating detection device shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a seat frame of a seat provided with a seating detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the relationship between the deflection of the seat cushion pad and the output of the seating pattern sensor in the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a seating detection apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a view showing a state in which an occupant is seated on the seating detection device shown in FIG. 8. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a seating detection apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
10A to 10C Seating detection device 11 Seat 12A, 12B Seat cushion pan 13A, 13B Seat cushion pad 14A, 14BA Seating pattern sensor 15 Seat frame 19 Seat-like main body 20 Detection unit 21 Crew 22 Seat cushions 23-25 Projection

Claims (3)

Seat cushion bread,
A seat cushion pad held by the seat cushion pan;
Plurally detecting individual loads on the lower surface of the seat cushion pad on the seat-like main body having a size enough to cover the surface of the seat cushion pan in order to measure the load distribution on the entire lower surface of the seat cushion pad A seating pattern sensor installed with a predetermined distance apart
In a seating detection device comprising:
At least one of a position facing the detection portion of the seat cushion pan, a position facing the detection portion of the seat cushion pad, and a predetermined region where the detection portion of the seating pattern sensor is formed, A seating detection apparatus , comprising: a projection that intensively applies a load applied when the occupant or the like is seated to each of the plurality of detection units. Seat cushion bread,
A seat cushion pad held by the seat cushion pan;
Plurally detecting individual loads on the lower surface of the seat cushion pad on the seat-like main body having a size enough to cover the surface of the seat cushion pan in order to measure the load distribution on the entire lower surface of the seat cushion pad A seating pattern sensor installed with a predetermined distance apart
In a seating detection device comprising:
Protruding portions that intensively apply the load to the plurality of detection portions when a load is applied to the seat are provided on any one of the surface portions where the seat cushion pan and the seat cushion pad are in contact with each other. A seating detection device. Seat cushion bread,
A seat cushion pad held by the seat cushion pan;
Plurally detecting individual loads on the lower surface of the seat cushion pad on the seat-like main body having a size enough to cover the surface of the seat cushion pan in order to measure the load distribution on the entire lower surface of the seat cushion pad A seating pattern sensor installed with a predetermined distance apart
In a seating detection device comprising:
A protrusion that intensively applies the load to each of the plurality of detection units when a load is applied to the seat on any one of the surface portions where the seat cushion pan and the seat cushion pad are in contact;
A seating detection apparatus comprising: a seating area detection device that performs a load distribution determination process based on signals output from the plurality of detection units.

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