JP4940638B2 - Vehicle seat - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle seat on which a passenger who has boarded a vehicle is seated.

In the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of vibrators and a plurality of pressure sensors are provided on the seat, and the contact state of the passenger with the vibrator is detected by the pressure sensor to contact the passenger. The selected vibrator is vibrated, and the selected vibrator is vibrated at a constant intensity to alert the passenger. In Patent Document 1, the vehicle seat configured as described above is used in particular to warn the passenger of the presence of an obstacle.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-44895

  However, in the above-described prior art, the vibration of the vibrator is not sufficiently transmitted to the occupant, and it may be difficult for the occupant to experience the vibration or the vibration of the vibrator is excessively transmitted to the occupant. There is a problem that the person may be excessively stimulated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that can transmit moderately strong vibration to a passenger.

  According to the inventor's investigation, it was found that the contact pressure between the passenger and the seat causes variations in the vibration intensity felt by the passenger. Therefore, in order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  A vehicle seat according to the present invention includes a vibration generating unit that is disposed in a seating portion of the seat and generates vibration, a pressure detection unit that is disposed in the seating portion of the seat and detects a pressure by a seated passenger, and a pressure Vibration control means for setting the vibration intensity of the vibration generating means based on the pressure detected by the detection means and controlling the vibration generating means so as to generate vibration of the set intensity. And

  According to this configuration, the vibration control means sets the intensity of vibration generated by the vibration generation means based on the pressure detected by the pressure detection means, and controls the vibration generation means. Therefore, the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating means can be appropriately adjusted according to the contact pressure between the passenger and the seat.

  In the vehicle seat described above, each of the vibration generating means and the pressure detecting means is provided at a plurality of positions of the seating portion of the seat, and the vibration control means is configured to adjust the pressure detected by the plurality of pressure detecting means. Based on this, it is preferable to set the vibration intensity of each of the plurality of vibration generating means and to control each vibration generating means so as to generate the vibration having the set intensity. According to this configuration, the intensity of vibration generated by each vibration generating means can be appropriately adjusted according to the contact pressure between the passenger and the seat.

  Further, in the vehicle seat described above, the vibration control means stores standard pressure data corresponding to the standard vibration intensity, and the pressure detected by the pressure detection means is the standard pressure data. In the case of lower than that, it is preferable to set the strength of vibration generated by the vibration generating means to be larger than the vibration strength set as standard. According to this configuration, when the pressure detected by the pressure detection unit is lower than the standard pressure data, the vibration intensity generated by the vibration generation unit is increased, so that the occupant has sufficient pressure on the seat. Even in situations where the driver's posture is not normal, such as when a part of the body is slightly lifted from the seat, the vibration generated by the vibration generating means can be reliably transmitted to the passenger. it can.

  Further, in the vehicle seat described above, the vibration control means stores standard pressure data corresponding to the standard vibration intensity, and the pressure detected by the pressure detection means is the standard pressure data. Is higher than the standard vibration strength, it is preferable to set the strength of the vibration generated by the vibration generating means. According to this configuration, when the pressure detected by the pressure detection unit is higher than the standard pressure data, the vibration intensity generated by the vibration generation unit is reduced, so that the occupant is excessive on the seat. Contact with pressure can prevent excessive vibrations from being transmitted to the passenger.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vehicle seat which can transmit a moderately strong vibration to a passenger can be provided.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to a vehicle seat of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat of the present embodiment is configured as a part of the vehicle control system 1.

  The white line recognition camera 10 is disposed, for example, at a position overlooking the outside of the vehicle from the upper part of the windshield in the vehicle interior, and images the road surface in front of the vehicle through the windshield to generate image data. An electronic control unit (Electrical Control Unit: hereinafter referred to as a white line recognition ECU) 12 for white line recognition captures image data generated by the white line recognition camera 10 and performs image processing for recognizing a white line on the road surface. .

  The vehicle speed sensor 14 is a sensor for detecting the speed of the vehicle by measuring the number of rotations of the wheels. The steering angle sensor 16 is a sensor for detecting the operation amount of the steering wheel by the driver. The yaw rate sensor 18 is a sensor for detecting the yaw rate acting on the vehicle. These sensors are generally used in vehicles.

  The rear side distance measuring sensor 20 is a sensor for measuring a distance from an object behind the host vehicle, particularly an object behind the host vehicle. The rear side ranging sensor 20 may measure the distance between the vehicle and the object using, for example, a laser radar that detects an object behind the vehicle. In addition, the rear side ranging sensor may measure the distance between the own vehicle and the other vehicle using inter-vehicle communication that transmits and receives various information including position information between the own vehicle and the other vehicle. .

  An electronic controller for departure determination (hereinafter referred to as a departure determination ECU) 22 captures white line recognition results by the white line recognition ECU 12, and detection values of the vehicle speed sensor 14, the steering angle sensor 16, the yaw rate sensor 18, and the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the departure determination ECU 22 determines whether or not the host vehicle C1 is in a situation of exceeding the white line W and deviating from the traveling lane L1. Further, the departure determination ECU 22 determines whether or not an obstacle (for example, another vehicle C2) that may collide with the host vehicle C1 exists behind the detection value of the rear side ranging sensor 20. To do.

  An electronic control device (hereinafter referred to as an alarm processing ECU) 24 for alarm processing takes in the determination result of the departure determination ECU 22 and, according to the determination result, a plurality of vibrators attached to the seat on which the driver is seated. (Vibration generating means) Control vibrations of V1R, V1L, V4R, and V4L. Specifically, when the departure determination ECU 22 determines that the host vehicle C1 is in a state of departing from the traveling lane L1, vibrations disposed at a position corresponding to the thigh of the driver. The children V1R and V1L are vibrated to notify the driver of the lane departure of the host vehicle C1. When the departure determination ECU 22 determines that another vehicle C2 that may collide with the host vehicle C1 exists behind the host vehicle C1, the departure determination ECU 22 is disposed at a position corresponding to the back of the driver. The vibrators V4R and V4L are vibrated to notify the driver of the presence of the other vehicle C2. Further, the alarm processing ECU 24 manages the output of the vibration sound by sounding the buzzer 26 in order to notify the driver of the danger of collision with another vehicle more reliably.

  Further, the seat includes a plurality of body pressure measuring pressure sensors (pressure detecting means) P1R, P1L, P1R, P1L, for measuring the pressure (hereinafter referred to as body pressure) applied to the seat when the driver is seated. P2R, P2L, P3R, P3L, P4R, and P4L are attached. The alarm processing ECU 24 captures the body pressure detection values of the body pressure measurement pressure sensors P1R to P4L, sets the vibration intensity for each of the vibrators V1R to V4L, and adjusts the vibration intensity to the set vibration intensity. The vibrators V1R to V4L are vibrated. In order to enable such processing, the alarm processing ECU 24 is configured to be able to individually adjust the vibration intensity of each of the vibrators V1R to V4L. The process for adjusting the vibration intensity will be described in detail later. Note that the alarm processing ECU 24 corresponds to the vibration control means in the claims.

  As the vibrators V1R to V4L described above, a piezoelectric element that generates a displacement according to an electric signal or a mechanical vibrator that converts an electric signal into a mechanical reciprocating motion by a solenoid can be used. In order to adjust the intensity of vibration generated by these vibrators, the voltage (or current) of the electrical signal applied to the vibrators V1R to V4L may be adjusted.

  An electronic control device for steering control (hereinafter referred to as a steering control ECU) 28 takes in the determination result of the departure determination ECU 22 and controls the electric power steering 30 based on the determination result. The electric power steering 30 is a mechanism that directly assists the steering system with an electric motor. For example, when the departure determination ECU 22 determines that there is another vehicle C2 that may collide with the host vehicle C1, the steering control ECU 28 controls the electric power so as to suppress the steering operation by the driver. The steering 30 is controlled.

  Each of the plurality of ECUs (white line recognition ECU 12, departure determination ECU 22, alarm processing ECU 2424, steering control ECU 28) includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and the CPU and the RAM execute a control program stored in the ROM. Then, process.

  Next, the structure of the vehicle seat 40 described above will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle seat 40 includes a seat cushion portion 42 that contacts the driver's buttocks, thighs, and the like, a seat back portion 44 that contacts the driver's back and lumbar portions, and the like. The headrest part 46 which contacts a person's head is provided. In the vehicle seat 40 configured as described above, pressure sensors P1R to P4L for measuring body pressure and vibrators V1R to V4L are disposed in a seating portion of the seat. Here, the seating portion of the seat refers to a position in direct contact with the driver when the driver is seated on the seat 40, or a position in the seat internal direction from the position. Further, in the following description, the position corresponding to a part of the body such as the driver's thigh, buttocks, lumbar vertebra, and back is a position that directly contacts a part of the body in the seating portion of the seat, Or it is a position in the sheet | seat internal direction from the position.

  A total of eight pressure sensors P <b> 1 </ b> R to P <b> 4 </ b> L are disposed on the vehicle seat 40. The seat cushion portion 42 includes a pressure sensor P1L provided at a position corresponding to the thigh of the driver's left foot, a pressure sensor P1R provided at a position corresponding to the thigh of the driver's right foot, A pressure sensor P2L provided at a position corresponding to the driver's starboard part and a pressure sensor P2R provided at a position corresponding to the driver's starboard part are provided. Further, the seat back portion 44 includes a pressure sensor P3L provided at a position corresponding to the left lumbar vertebra of the driver, a pressure sensor P3R provided at a position corresponding to the right lumbar vertebra of the driver, A pressure sensor P4L provided at a position corresponding to the left back and a pressure sensor P4R provided at a position corresponding to the right back of the driver are provided. Since the driver's body pressure is particularly high at these positions, the pressure sensors P1R to P4L are arranged at these positions to make it easier to detect the driver's body pressure.

  The vehicle seat 40 is provided with a total of four vibrators V1R to V4L. The seat cushion portion 42 is provided with a vibrator V1L provided at a position corresponding to the thigh of the driver's left foot and a vibrator V1R provided at a position corresponding to the thigh of the driver's right foot. It has been. The seat back portion is provided with a vibrator V4L provided at a position corresponding to the driver's left back and a vibrator V4R provided at a position corresponding to the driver's right back. In the present embodiment, the above-described four vibrators V1R to V4L are disposed, but the vibrators V1R to V4L are located at positions corresponding to the driver's left side of the seat cushion portion 42, and to the right of the driver. It may be provided at a position corresponding to the buttocks, may be provided at a position corresponding to the left lumbar vertebra of the driver of the seat back part 44, or at a position corresponding to the right lumbar vertebra of the driver. Since the pressure applied to the seat 40 by the driver is particularly high at the positions shown in FIG. 3, by disposing the vibrators V1R to V4L at these positions, the driver particularly perceives stimulation caused by vibration of the vibrators V1R to V4L. It is easy to do.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a process for controlling the vibrations of the vibrators V1R to V4L executed by the alarm process ECU 24 will be described. The process shown in FIG. 4 is repeatedly executed as necessary while the vehicle is traveling.

  First, the alarm processing ECU 24 takes in the body pressure detection values detected by the pressure sensors P1R to P4L (S301). Next, the alarm processing ECU 24 compares the body pressure detection values of the pressure sensors P1R to P4L with the body pressure standard level set corresponding to the pressure sensors P1R to P4L (S302). Here, the body pressure standard level is an average value of body pressure detection values detected by the pressure sensors P1R to P4L when subjects of various physiques and body types are seated on the seat in an appropriate posture. It is a standard pressure detected by P1R to P4L. The body pressure standard level is stored in the ROM of the alarm processing ECU 24 for each part of the body. An example of the standard body pressure level is shown in FIG. The body pressure standard level is set for each part of the body.

  Specifically, the alarm processing ECU 24 compares the body pressure detection value with the body pressure standard level so that the body pressure detection value is within a predetermined range centered on the body pressure standard level for each of the pressure sensors P1R to P4L. In a certain state, the body pressure detection value exceeds the upper limit of the predetermined range centered on the body pressure standard level, or the body pressure detection value falls below the lower limit of the predetermined range centered on the body pressure standard level. It is determined which one. Further, the alarm processing ECU 24 calculates the difference between the body pressure detection value and the body pressure standard level for each of the pressure sensors P1R to P4L.

  Next, the alarm processing ECU 24 vibrates the vibrators V1R to V4L while adjusting the vibration intensity of the vibrators V1R to V4L based on the comparison result between the body pressure detection value and the body pressure standard level (S303). . Specifically, the alarm processing ECU 24 performs the following processing. The alarm processing ECU 24 has a body pressure detection value within a predetermined range centered on a body pressure standard level for any one of the pressure sensors P1R, P1L, P4R, and P4L disposed at the same position as the vibrators V1R to V4L. Is determined, the pressure sensor P1R, P1L, P4R or P4L is controlled so as to generate a vibration having a standard set intensity.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that any of the pressure sensors P1R, P1L, P4R, and P4L has a body pressure detection value that exceeds the upper limit of a predetermined range centered on the body pressure standard level, the alarm processing ECU 24 For the pressure sensor P1R, P1L, P4R, or P4L, a value corresponding to the difference between the body pressure detection value of the pressure sensor and the body pressure standard level is set as a strength obtained by subtracting from the vibration strength set as a standard. Conversely, if it is determined that any of the pressure sensors P1R, P1L, P4R, and P4L has a body pressure detection value that is below the lower limit of a predetermined range centered on the body pressure standard level, the alarm processing ECU 24 For the pressure sensor P1R, P1L, P4R or P4L, a value corresponding to the difference between the body pressure detection value of the pressure sensor and the body pressure standard level is set to the strength obtained by adding the standard set vibration strength. . Here, the value added to or subtracted from the vibration intensity set as standard is a value that increases in proportion to the absolute value of the difference between the body pressure detection value and the body pressure standard level.

  The alarm processing ECU 24 sets the vibration intensity for each of the vibrators V1R to V4L as described above, and then controls each of the vibrators V1R to V4L so as to generate the vibration having the intensity. As described above, by adjusting the vibration intensity for each of the vibrators V1R to V4L and then vibrating the vibrators V1R to V4L, the vibration intensity generated by the vibrators V1R to V4L can be determined by the driver and the seat. Can be adjusted appropriately according to the contact pressure. As a result, even when the driver is not seated on the seat in an appropriate posture and the contact pressure between the driver and the seat is not a standard level, it is possible to transmit vibration with an appropriate strength to the driver. In the above-described control of the vibrators V1R to V4L, by providing a predetermined range centered on the body pressure standard level, the vibration intensity is frequently increased when the body pressure detection value changes slightly, for example, on a curved road. It also prevents changes.

  Next, a specific example of the control of the vibrators V1R to V4L will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first control example (CASE-1) shown in FIG. 6, the body pressure detection value of the pressure sensor P1L disposed at the position corresponding to the left thigh of the driver is 5, and the pressure sensor P1L It is 15 smaller than 20 which is the body pressure standard level set corresponding to Therefore, the alarm processing ECU 24 increases the vibration intensity of the vibrator V1L disposed at a position corresponding to the left thigh of the driver by 15 points, and then vibrates the vibrator V1L. In the first control example, the body pressure detection value of the other pressure sensor is substantially the same as the standard body pressure level set corresponding to the pressure sensor, and thus the other vibrators V1R, V4L, V4R. Vibrates at the standard vibration intensity. In the first control example, even when the driver's left thigh does not contact the seat with sufficient pressure, the vibration generated by the vibrator V1L can be reliably transmitted to the driver's left thigh.

  In the second control example (CASE-2) shown in FIG. 7, the body pressure detection value of the pressure sensor P4R disposed at the position corresponding to the right back portion of the driver is 50, and corresponds to the pressure sensor P4R. Thus, it is 20 larger than 30 which is the standard body pressure level set. Accordingly, the alarm processing ECU 24 reduces the vibration intensity of the vibrator V4R disposed at a position corresponding to the right back portion of the driver by 20 points, and then vibrates the vibrator V4R. In the second control example, the body pressure detection values of the other pressure sensors are substantially the same as the standard body pressure level set corresponding to the pressure sensor, and thus the other vibrators V1R, V1L, V4L. Vibrates at the standard vibration intensity. In the second control example, even when the driver's back is in contact with the seat with excessive pressure, it is possible to prevent vibrations that are too strong from being transmitted to the driver's back.

  In the third control example (CASE-3) shown in FIG. 8, the body pressure detection value of the pressure sensor P1R disposed at the position corresponding to the right thigh of the driver is 15, and the pressure sensor P1R Is smaller than 20 which is a body pressure standard level set corresponding to. Therefore, the alarm processing ECU 24 increases the vibration intensity of the vibrator V1R disposed at a position corresponding to the right thigh of the driver by 5 points and then vibrates the vibrator V1R. In the third control example, even when the driver's right thigh does not contact the seat with sufficient pressure, the vibration generated by the vibrator V1L can be reliably transmitted to the driver's right thigh.

  In the third control example, the body pressure detection value of the pressure sensor P3R disposed at the position corresponding to the right lumbar portion of the driver is 0, and the body pressure set corresponding to the pressure sensor P3R It is 10 less than the standard level of 10. However, since a case of a system configuration in which a vibrator is not disposed at a position corresponding to the driver's lumbar portion is considered, the alarm processing ECU 24 does not respond to excessive or insufficient contact pressure in the lumbar portion. Similarly, since no vibrator is disposed at a position corresponding to the driver's buttocks, the alarm processing ECU 24 does not respond to excessive or insufficient contact pressure at the buttocks.

  In the fourth control example (CASE-4) shown in FIG. 9, the body pressure detection values of the pressure sensors P1R to P4L vary, and the body pressure standard level set corresponding to the pressure sensors P1R to P4L. It is bigger or smaller than. In such a case, the alarm processing ECU 24 calculates the difference between each body pressure detection value and the body pressure standard level for each of the pressure sensors, and determines which of these differences has the maximum absolute value. Then, it is determined whether or not the absolute value determined to be the maximum exceeds a preset threshold value. When the absolute value exceeds the threshold value, the alarm processing ECU 24 determines that the driving posture of the driver is basically inappropriate for driving and lights an indicator provided in front of the driver. It has a function of notifying the driver that the sitting posture is inappropriate, for example, by making a buzzer or sounding a buzzer.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the vibrators V1R to V4L are only disposed on the thigh and the back, but the vibrator is disposed on the buttocks and the lumbar vertebrae according to the requirements of the system. The vibration intensity may be adjusted in the same manner as the back vibrator.

  In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of vibrators V1R to V4L disposed on the seat in a situation where the own vehicle deviates from the traveling lane or a situation where the own vehicle is predicted to collide with an obstacle. However, the vibrators V1R to V4L may be vibrated for alarming the driver in other situations.

  In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle seat 40 is a driver's seat for a driver to sit on, but may be a passenger seat or a rear seat on which another passenger sits depending on the purpose of the system.

1 is a block diagram of a vehicle control system including a vehicle seat. It is a figure which shows the condition where the own vehicle changes a lane. It is a perspective view which shows arrangement | positioning of the vibrator | oscillator and pressure sensor in a vehicle seat. It is a flowchart which shows the seat vibration process in a vehicle seat. It is a table | surface which shows a body pressure standard level. It is a table | surface for demonstrating the 1st control example. It is a table | surface for demonstrating the 2nd control example. It is a table | surface for demonstrating the 3rd example of control. It is a table | surface for demonstrating the 4th control example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... White line recognition camera, 12 ... White line recognition ECU, 14 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 16 ... Steering angle sensor, 18 ... Yaw rate sensor, 20 ... Rear side ranging sensor, 22 ... Deviation judgment ECU, 24 ... Alarm processing ECU, 26 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Buzzer, 28 ... Steering control ECU, 30 ... Electric power steering, 40 ... Vehicle seat, 42 ... Seat cushion part, 44 ... Seat back part, 46 ... Headrest part, P1R-P4L ... Pressure sensor, V1R-V1L ... Vibration Child.

Claims (3)

Vibration generating means disposed on a seating portion of the seat and generating vibration;
A pressure detecting means disposed on a seating portion of the seat for detecting pressure by a seated passenger;
Vibration control means for setting the vibration intensity of the vibration generation means based on the pressure detected by the pressure detection means, and controlling the vibration generation means to generate vibration of a set intensity;
Equipped with a,
The vibration control means includes
Standard pressure data corresponding to the standard vibration intensity is stored.
When the pressure detected by the pressure detecting means is lower than the standard pressure data, the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating means is set larger than the standard set vibration intensity. A vehicle seat. Each of the vibration generating means and the pressure detecting means is provided at a plurality of positions of the seating portion of the seat,
The vibration control means sets the vibration intensity of each of the plurality of vibration generation means based on the pressure detected by the plurality of pressure detection means, and generates the vibrations of the set intensity. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating means is controlled. The vibration control means includes
Standard pressure data corresponding to the standard vibration intensity is stored.
When the pressure detected by the pressure detecting means is higher than the standard pressure data, the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating means is set to be smaller than the standard set vibration intensity. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat is a vehicle seat.

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