JP7583262B2 - Vehicle seat device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat device, and more specifically to a reclining vehicle seat device.

There are known seat devices used in vehicles such as automobiles that have a function of inducing the breathing of the seated person to a predetermined cycle suitable for improving relaxation by applying pressure or other stimulation at a predetermined cycle to the parts of the back of the seated person that correspond to the lumbar and thoracic vertebrae of the seated person using an airbag or the like attached to the seat back (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

A driving assistance device is known that prevents the driver's level of alertness from decreasing by applying vibration stimulation to the driver seated in the driver's seat using a vibration generating device provided in the seat cushion and seat back of the vehicle seat device (for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2005-296452 A JP 2012-65728 A JP 2019-8734 A

It is thought that motion sickness can be reduced by informing seated occupants of the vehicle's behavior through vibrations in the seat cushion or seat back, allowing the occupants to assume a position that corresponds to the vehicle's behavior.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to reduce motion sickness by informing the occupant in the seat of the vehicle's behavior through vibrations of the seat cushion and seat back, and in particular, in a reclining seat device having a seat back whose inclination angle relative to the seat cushion can be changed, the problem is to accurately inform the occupant of the vehicle's behavior regardless of the inclination angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.

A vehicle seat device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle seat device (10) including a seat body (20) having a seat cushion (22) and a seat back (26) connected to the rear of the seat cushion so that the inclination angle around a horizontal axis can be changed, the vehicle seat device (10) including the seat cushion and a plurality of vibration generating devices (30, 32) provided on the seat cushion for applying vibration stimulation to a seated occupant, an inclination angle detection device (66) for detecting the inclination angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion, a behavior detection device (60, 62) for detecting the behavior of the vehicle, and a vibration detection device (60, 62) for detecting the inclination angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion. and a control device (50) that inputs information about the tilt angle detected by the vehicle and the behavior of the vehicle detected by the behavior detection device, and controls the operation of the vibration generator so that, when the input behavior of the vehicle is a predetermined behavior, when the tilt angle is less than a predetermined value, the vibration generator of the seat cushion oscillates with a vibration intensity higher than that of the vibration generator of the seat back, and when the tilt angle is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the vibration generator of the seat back oscillates with a vibration intensity higher than that of the vibration generator of the seat cushion.

Predetermined behaviors include vehicle acceleration/deceleration, turning, and other behaviors that may cause motion sickness in the seated occupant.

With this configuration, the seat occupant is accurately notified of the vehicle's behavior through vibrations, regardless of the inclination angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.

In the vehicle seat device, preferably, the behavior detection device includes an acceleration detection device (60) that detects the acceleration of the vehicle, and the control device increases the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device when the acceleration is large compared to when the acceleration is small.

With this configuration, the intensity of the vibration can inform the seat occupant of the degree of acceleration of the vehicle.

In the vehicle seat device, preferably, the behavior detection device includes a steering angle detection device (62) that detects the steering angle of the vehicle, and the control device increases the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device when the steering angle is large compared to when the steering angle is small.

With this configuration, the intensity of the vibrations can inform the seat occupant of the degree of rotation of the vehicle.

In the vehicle seat device, preferably, the control device includes an input unit (52) that inputs navigation information including the current location information of the vehicle and travel route information on the map data of the vehicle from a navigation device (70) mounted on the vehicle, and when the curvature of the road of the travel route at the current location or a predetermined distance ahead of the current location is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device is increased compared to when the curvature is less than the predetermined value.

With this configuration, the intensity of the vibrations can inform the seat occupant of the degree of rotation of the vehicle.

The vehicle seat device preferably further includes a vehicle speed detection device that detects the traveling speed of the vehicle, and the control device increases the degree to which the intensity of the vibration is increased according to the traveling speed.

With this configuration, the intensity of the vibrations can inform the seated occupant of the degree of turning of the vehicle, etc., with the intensity of the vibrations corresponding to the traveling speed.

In the vehicle seat device described above, the vibration generating device preferably adjusts the intensity of the vibration by changing at least one of the amplitude and frequency.

This configuration allows the vibration strength to be adjusted over a wide range.

In the above vehicle seat device, preferably, the vibration generating devices are arranged in a plurality of rows in the left-right direction, the information on the behavior of the vehicle includes information on the turning direction of the vehicle, and the control device increases the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device on the turning direction side compared to the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device on the opposite left-right side.

This configuration allows the seat occupant to be informed of the vehicle's turning direction by vibration.

In the above vehicle seat device, the vibration generating device provided in the seat cushion preferably includes one that applies vibration stimulation to the lower back of the seated occupant.

This configuration induces deep breathing, which is effective in reducing motion sickness, improving the effect of reducing motion sickness.

In the above vehicle seat device, the vibration generating device preferably includes an airbag (30, 32) that is inflated by being supplied with compressed air.

With this configuration, vibrations can be generated by air pressure, causing vibrations to be transmitted to the seated person.

The vehicle seat device of the present invention can accurately inform the seat occupant of the vehicle's behavior, regardless of the inclination angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a vehicle seat device according to the present invention; 1 is a block diagram of a control system for a vehicle seat device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a flow chart of a control system of a vehicle seat device according to the present embodiment. 1 is a perspective view showing an airbag assembly process for an airbag seat device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Below, one embodiment of a vehicle seat device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the seat device 10 of this embodiment has a seat body 20 that is mounted on a floor panel (not shown) of an automobile by left and right slide rail devices 12 that extend in the front-rear direction.

The seat body 20 has a seat cushion 22 that forms a seat surface, and a seat back 26 that forms a backrest surface and is connected to the rear of the seat cushion 22 by an electric reclining device 24 so that the angle of inclination about a horizontal axis can be changed. A headrest 28 is attached to the upper part of the seat back 26.

The seat cushion 22 has a number of airbags (air cells) 30 arranged in a grid pattern at intervals in the front-rear and left-right directions as vibration generating devices. Each airbag 30 expands and contracts as compressed air is supplied to and discharged from a compressed air source (not shown), transmitting vibrations to the buttocks and thighs of the seated occupant.

The seat back 26 is provided with a number of airbags (air cells) 32 arranged in a grid pattern at intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions as vibration generating devices. Each airbag 32 expands and contracts as compressed air is supplied to and discharged from a compressed air source (not shown), providing vibration stimulation to the back and lower back of the seated occupant suitable for reducing motion sickness. The airbags 32 in the seat back 26 include those that provide vibration stimulation to the lower back of the seated occupant, particularly to the area corresponding to the lumbar vertebrae, in order to promote abdominal breathing.

The intensity of the vibrations imparted to the seated occupant can be adjusted by changing at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the airbags 30 and 32.

A control device 50 is provided under the seat cushion 22. The control system of the seat device 10, including the control device 50, will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The control device 50 is an electronic information processing device including a microcomputer, and has an input unit 52, a calculation processing unit 54, and an output unit 56.

The input unit 52 is connected to an on-board acceleration sensor (acceleration detection device) 60, a steering angle sensor (steering angle detection device) 62, and a vehicle speed sensor (vehicle speed detection device) 64 as behavior detection devices that detect the behavior of the automobile (vehicle).

The acceleration sensor 60 is a multi-axis type and outputs information related to the acceleration in the forward/rearward and left/right directions of the vehicle to the input unit 52. The steering angle sensor 62 outputs information related to the steering angle of the vehicle to the input unit 52. The vehicle speed sensor 64 outputs information related to the traveling speed of the vehicle to the input unit 52.

An inclination angle sensor (inclination angle detection device) 66 mounted on the vehicle is connected to the input unit 52. The inclination angle sensor 66 detects the inclination angle of the seat back 26 about the horizontal axis relative to the seat cushion 22 (hereinafter referred to as the reclining angle), and outputs information regarding the reclining angle to the input unit 52.

An in-vehicle navigation device 70 is connected to the input unit 52. The navigation device 70 detects the current location of the vehicle on the map data by receiving a GPS signal, and displays on a monitor the driving route on the map data of the vehicle from the current location to the destination set by the user, while outputting navigation information including the driving route information to the input unit 52. In other words, the input unit 52 inputs navigation information including the driving route information on the map data from the navigation device 70.

Based on the input information from the input unit 52, the calculation processing unit 54 generates an oscillation control command such that when the reclining angle is less than a predetermined value, that is, when the seat back 26 is in a nearly vertically upright position, the airbag 30 of the seat cushion 22 oscillates with a higher vibration intensity than the airbag 32 of the seat back 26 during driving behaviors that are likely to cause motion sickness, such as when the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating as determined from the acceleration in the forward/reverse direction, or when the vehicle is turning as determined from the acceleration in the left/right direction and the steering angle, and when the reclining angle is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, that is, when the seat back 26 is in a nearly horizontally reclined position, the airbag 32 of the seat back 26 oscillates with a higher vibration intensity than the airbag 32 of the seat cushion 22, and passes the oscillation control command to the output unit 56.

Furthermore, the calculation processing unit 54 corrects the oscillation control command so that the vibration intensity increases as the acceleration in the longitudinal and lateral directions and the change therein (differential value) increases, as the steering angle and the change therein (differential value) increases, and as the vehicle speed increases, and passes the oscillation control command to the output unit 56.

The calculation processing unit 54 generates an oscillation control command based on the navigation information input to the input unit 52 so that, when the current location of the vehicle and the road along which the vehicle is to travel from the current location have a curve, if the reclining angle is less than a predetermined value, the airbag 30 of the seat cushion 22 oscillates with a higher vibration intensity than the airbag 32 of the seat back 26, and if the reclining angle is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the airbag 32 of the seat back 26 oscillates with a higher vibration intensity than the airbag 32 of the seat cushion 22, and passes the oscillation control command to the output unit 56.

Furthermore, the calculation processing unit 54 corrects the oscillation control command based on the navigation information so that the vibration intensity is higher when the road on the driving route at the current location or a predetermined distance ahead from the current location has a sharp curve than when the road has a gentle curve, and passes the oscillation control command to the output unit 56. The predetermined distance from the current location may be a distance equivalent to a point in time about several tens of seconds before the automobile enters a curved road, and may be set relative to the vehicle speed.

An airbag control unit 58 is connected to the output unit 56. Each airbag 30 and 32 is connected to the airbag control unit 58. The airbag control unit 58 includes an electromagnetic intake and exhaust valve, and variably sets the compressed air supply and exhaust cycles for each airbag 30 and 32 and the compressed air supply and exhaust times in each cycle based on an oscillation operation command from the output unit 56.

As a result, each airbag 30 and 32 repeatedly inflates and deforms with a period (frequency) according to the compressed air supply and discharge cycle, and with a size determined by the compressed air supply and discharge time in each cycle. In other words, the airbags 30 and 32 vibrate with a variable frequency and variable amplitude determined by the oscillation operation command.

When the reclining angle is less than the predetermined value, the seat back 26 is in a nearly vertical position, so the body pressure acting on the seat cushion 22 is higher than the body pressure acting on the seat back 26. When the reclining angle is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the seat back 26 is in a nearly horizontal position, so the body pressure acting on the seat back 26 is greater than when the reclining angle is less than the predetermined value.

As a result, in the seat device 10 of this embodiment, when the reclining angle is less than a predetermined value, the airbag 30 of the seat cushion 22 oscillates with a higher vibration intensity than the airbag 32 of the seat back 26, and when the reclining angle is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the airbag 32 of the seat back 26 oscillates with a higher vibration intensity than the airbag 30 of the seat cushion 22, so that vibrations are transmitted accurately to the seated occupant regardless of the reclining angle.

This allows the vehicle to accurately notify the occupant through vibrations when the vehicle is behaving in a way that could cause motion sickness, such as when accelerating, decelerating, or turning, regardless of the reclining angle. The occupant can be reliably informed of the vehicle's behavior through vibrations, regardless of the reclining angle.

In the seat device 10 of this embodiment, the navigation information is used to detect curve driving in advance, so the vibration operation of the airbags 30, 32 can be started before the curve driving. This allows the seat occupant to know that the car will be turning before the curve driving.

When the reclining angle is less than a predetermined value, only the airbag 30 of the seat cushion 22 may vibrate, and when the reclining angle is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, only the airbag 32 of the seat back 26 may vibrate.

In the seat device 10 of this embodiment, the vibration intensity increases the greater the acceleration/deceleration in the forward/backward direction, the acceleration/deceleration in the left/right direction, the steering angle and the change therein, the sharper the curve, and the higher the vehicle speed. Therefore, the seated person can know the acceleration/deceleration in the forward/backward direction, the acceleration/deceleration in the left/right direction, the steering angle, and the degree of change therein from the strength of the vibration.

When navigation information is used, if the curvature of the road along the route to be traveled from the current location is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (sharp curve), the vibration intensity is higher than when the curvature is less than the predetermined value (gentle curve), so the seated occupant can know the degree of the curve to be traveled prior to making a turn. The curvature of the road can be replaced by the turning radius, and if the turning radius is less than the predetermined value, the vibration intensity is higher than when the turning radius is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.

The airbag 32 of the seat back 26 includes a device that applies vibration stimulation to the occupant's lower back, particularly the area corresponding to the lumbar vertebrae, and this vibration stimulation can encourage abdominal breathing in the occupant. This induces deep breathing, which is calming and effective in reducing motion sickness, improving the effect of reducing motion sickness.

The information related to the steering angle output by the steering angle sensor 62 and the navigation information output by the navigation device 70 include information related to the turning direction of the vehicle (turning left, turning right). In this case, the control device 50 generates an oscillation control command that increases the intensity of the vibration generated by the airbags 30, 32 on the turning direction side compared to the intensity of the vibration generated by the airbags 30, 32 on the opposite left and right sides, and passes the oscillation control command to the output unit 56.

As a result, when turning left, the airbags 30, 32 in the row on the left side of the seated occupant vibrate more strongly than the airbags 30, 32 in the row on the right side, and when turning right, the airbags 30, 32 in the row on the right side of the seated occupant vibrate more strongly than the airbags 30, 32 in the row on the left side.

The vibration of the airbags 30, 32 allows the seated occupant to recognize the direction in which the vehicle is turning, and this awareness (awareness) reduces motion sickness compared to when the occupant is unconscious.

Next, the operation of the seat device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3. The control routine shown in this flowchart is executed by the control device 50.

This control routine is executed during acceleration/deceleration, turning, and other times when motion sickness is likely to occur, and first determines whether the reclining angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S10). The predetermined value for the reclining angle may be 135 degrees when the reclining angle range is 90 degrees to 180 degrees.

If the reclining angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the airbag 32 of the seat back 26 is vibrated more strongly than the airbag 30 of the seat cushion 22 (step S11). On the other hand, if the reclining angle is less than the predetermined value, the airbag 30 of the seat cushion 22 is vibrated more strongly than the airbag 32 of the seat back 26 (step S12).

Next, it is determined whether the steering angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, for example, 35 degrees or greater (step S13). If the steering angle is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the vibration intensity is increased according to the vehicle speed (step S14).

If the steering angle is less than a predetermined value, it is then determined whether the acceleration is greater than or equal to the rearward and leftward accelerations (step S15). If at least one of the forward and leftward accelerations and the leftward and rightward accelerations is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the vibration intensity is increased according to the vehicle speed (step S14).

If both the longitudinal acceleration and the lateral acceleration are less than a predetermined value, it is next determined whether the curve radius (turning radius) is less than a predetermined value (step S16). The predetermined value of the curve radius is set according to the vehicle speed so that it decreases as the vehicle speed increases. For example, when the vehicle speed is 60 km/h, it is set to 60 m. If the curve radius is less than the predetermined value, the vibration intensity is increased according to the vehicle speed (step S14).

If the curve radius is equal to or greater than the specified value, the routine ends without increasing the vibration strength.

As shown in FIG. 1, the multiple airbags 30 provided in the seat cushion 22 may be formed and integrated on one rectangular resin sheet 34, and the multiple airbags 32 provided in the seat back 26 may be formed and integrated on another rectangular resin sheet 36.

The resin sheet 34 containing the multiple airbags 30 may be inserted into the sponge portion 22A of the seat cushion 22 through a slit 23 formed in the front part of the sponge portion 22A, as shown in FIG. 4.

Airbags 30 may also be provided in the bolster portions 25 (see FIG. 1) on both the left and right sides of the seat cushion 22. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular resin sheet 34 in the shape of a strip, on which multiple airbags 30 are arranged in a row, may be inserted into the bolster portion of the sponge portion 22A through a slit 27 formed in the front part of the sponge portion 25A of the bolster portion 25.

The present invention has been described above in terms of its preferred embodiments, but as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the number of airbags 30 and 32 is not limited to 2 x 3 = 6, but may be any other number. The vibration generator is not limited to airbags 30 and 32, but may be a mechanical type using electrostrictive elements that deform when power is supplied or a cam or the like. The vibration generator may be provided on an ottoman (not shown).

Furthermore, not all of the components shown in the above embodiment are necessarily essential, and they can be selected as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

10: Seat device 12: Slide rail device 20: Seat body 22: Seat cushion 22A: Sponge portion 23: Slit 24: Electric reclining device 25: Bolster portion 25A: Sponge portion 26: Seat back 27: Slit 28: Headrest 30: Airbag (vibration generating device)
32: Airbag (vibration generator)
34: Resin sheet 36: Resin sheet 50: Control device 52: Input section 54: Calculation processing section 56: Output section 58: Airbag control section 60: Acceleration sensor (behavior detection device)
62: Steering angle sensor (behavior detection device)
64: Vehicle speed sensor 66: Inclination angle sensor (inclination angle detection device)
70: Navigation device

Claims (9)

A vehicle seat device including a seat body having a seat cushion and a seat back connected to a rear part of the seat cushion so as to be capable of changing an inclination angle about a horizontal axis,
The seat cushion and a plurality of vibration generating devices provided on the seat cushion for applying vibration stimulation to a seated occupant;
an inclination angle detection device that detects the inclination angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion;
A behavior detection device for detecting a behavior of a vehicle;
and a control device that inputs information regarding the inclination angle detected by the inclination angle detection device and the behavior of the vehicle detected by the behavior detection device, and controls the operation of the vibration generating device so that, when the behavior of the vehicle is a predetermined specified behavior, when the inclination angle is less than a predetermined value, the vibration generating device of the seat cushion oscillates with a higher vibration intensity than the vibration generating device of the seat back, and when the inclination angle is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the vibration generating device of the seat back oscillates with a higher vibration intensity than the vibration generating device of the seat cushion. the behavior detection device includes an acceleration detection device that detects an acceleration of the vehicle;
2. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device increases the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device when the acceleration is large compared to when the acceleration is small. the behavior detection device includes a steering angle detection device that detects a steering angle of the vehicle,
3. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device increases the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device when the steering angle is large compared to when the steering angle is small. The vehicle seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device includes an input unit that inputs navigation information including current location information of the vehicle and travel route information on map data of the vehicle from a navigation device mounted on the vehicle, and when the curvature of the road of the travel route at the current location or a predetermined distance ahead of the current location is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device is increased compared to when the curvature is less than the predetermined value. Further, a vehicle speed detection device for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle is provided.
5. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control device increases a degree of increase in intensity of the vibration in accordance with the traveling speed. The vehicle seat device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the vibration generating device adjusts the intensity of the vibration by changing at least one of the amplitude and the frequency. The vibration generating device is arranged in a plurality of rows in the left-right direction,
The information regarding the behavior of the vehicle includes information regarding a turning direction of the vehicle;
The control device is configured to make the strength of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device on the turning direction side higher than the strength of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device on the opposite left and right sides. The vehicle seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the vibration generating device provided on the seat cushion includes one that applies vibration stimulation to the lower back of a seated person. The vehicle seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the vibration generating device includes an airbag that is inflated by being supplied with compressed air.

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