JP7663288B2 - Seat air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a seat air conditioning device that blows air to a person sitting in a seat.

Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional vehicle seat air conditioning device. The vehicle seat air conditioning device is provided in a vehicle seat and includes a distribution duct that distributes the air to a seat ventilation passage in the seat back and a seat ventilation passage in the seat cushion, and a blower that draws in conditioned air from an interior air conditioning unit that conditions the interior of the vehicle through an air intake port, blows it out through an air outlet, and guides it to the distribution duct.

JP 2015-89682 A

For example, in many conventional seat air conditioners used as vehicle seat air conditioners, a blower installed in the seat draws in some of the air discharged by an interior air conditioning unit for conditioning the interior of the vehicle. However, some of the cool air that the interior air conditioning unit would normally use to condition the interior of the vehicle is consumed by the heat capacity of the seat heated by the hot sun, and this can result in the entire interior of the vehicle not being adequately air conditioned. In other words, a decrease in the air conditioning efficiency, such as the cooling efficiency and heating efficiency of the entire interior of the vehicle, can make it difficult to properly regulate the temperature of the entire interior of the vehicle. For example, in the summer when the temperature of the vehicle is high, heat tends to build up inside the vehicle, so the air drawn into the seat is also hot when the interior air conditioning unit is started, making it difficult to supply cool air to the seat.

Therefore, this disclosure provides a seat air conditioning system that can suppress the decline in air conditioning efficiency.

A seat air conditioning device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a seat air conditioning device used in a seat, comprising: a blower; a first ventilation passage that guides air sucked in by the blower from a first air intake port provided in a seat portion where a person sits on the seat; a second ventilation passage that discharges the air guided to the first ventilation passage by the blower from a first exhaust port provided in the seat; and a ventilation passage different from the second ventilation passage, the air guided to the first ventilation passage by the blower being provided in the seat. a third ventilation passage for discharging air from the second outlet, and an outlet ventilation passage selection switcher that is provided on the first outlet and second outlet side of the blower and selects and switches at least one of the second ventilation passage and the third ventilation passage for the air guided to the first ventilation passage, the first intake port, the first ventilation passage, the blower, the outlet ventilation passage selection switcher, the second ventilation passage, the first outlet, the third ventilation passage, and the second outlet are built into the sheet, and the first intake port is The seat is disposed vertically below the first outlet and the second outlet, and takes in air from a seat surface on which a person sits. The first ventilation passage is provided in the seat and extends from the first intake port to the outlet ventilation passage selection switching unit via the blower. The seat is provided with a control unit that controls the blower and the outlet ventilation passage selection switching unit. The outlet ventilation passage selection switching unit discharges air from the first outlet by directing air introduced into the first ventilation passage only to the second ventilation passage. The air conditioner has a first mode, a second mode in which air led into the first ventilation passage is led only to the third ventilation passage, thereby discharging air from the second outlet port, and a third mode in which air led into the first ventilation passage is led simultaneously to the second ventilation passage and the third ventilation passage, thereby discharging air simultaneously from the first outlet port and the second outlet port, and the control unit switches the mode of the outlet ventilation passage selection switching unit by selecting one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode .

Note that this comprehensive or specific aspect may be realized by any combination of systems, methods, integrated circuits, etc.

The seat air conditioning system disclosed herein can prevent a decrease in air conditioning efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a seat equipped with a seat air-conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a seat equipped with a seat air-conditioning device taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and a cross-sectional view of the seat. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the seat air-conditioning device according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the seat air-conditioning device when the seat back is seen from the front, and a top view showing the seat air-conditioning device when the seat portion is seen from above. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the process of the seat air conditioning system according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing the air flow path in the seat back when the first mode is executed, a schematic top view of the seat portion, and a schematic side view of the seat. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing the air flow path in the seat back when the second mode is executed, a schematic top view of the seat portion, and a schematic side view of the seat. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing the air flow path in the seat back when the third mode is executed, a schematic top view of the seat portion, and a schematic side view of the seat. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a seat provided with a seat air-conditioning device according to the first modification of the embodiment, and a cross-sectional view of the seat. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a seat provided with a seat air-conditioning device according to the second modification of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a seat provided with a seat air-conditioning device according to the third modification of the embodiment, and a cross-sectional view of the seat. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the process of the seat air conditioning device in the fourth modified embodiment.

A seat air conditioning device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a seat air conditioning device used in a seat, comprising: a blower; a first ventilation duct that guides air sucked in by the blower from a first intake port provided in a seat portion of the seat where a person sits; a second ventilation duct that discharges the air guided to the first ventilation duct by the blower from a first outlet port provided in the seat; a third ventilation duct that is different from the second ventilation duct and is provided on the first outlet port and second outlet port side of the blower and is provided in the first ventilation duct. and an exhaust ventilation path selection switch that selects and switches at least one of the second ventilation path and the third ventilation path for the guided air. The first air intake, the first ventilation path, the blower, the exhaust ventilation path selection switch, the second ventilation path, the first exhaust port, the third ventilation path, and the second exhaust port are built into the seat, the first air intake is disposed vertically below the first exhaust port and the second exhaust port, and air is taken in from the seat surface, which is the surface of the seat on which a person sits, and the first ventilation path is provided in the seat and extends from the first air intake to the exhaust ventilation path selection switch via the blower.

This allows the blower to suck in air from the first intake port provided in the seat, that is, to suck in air that is convecting around the seat. For example, compared to a conventional seat air-conditioning system applied to a vehicle in which a portion of the conditioned cold or warm air is directly supplied to the seat, in the present disclosure, the cold or warm air directly discharged by the seat air-conditioning system is less likely to be consumed by the seat. Therefore, air that has been conditioned throughout the vehicle interior by the air-conditioning system is sucked in from the first intake port, and the sucked air is discharged from at least the first or second outlet port and blown onto the person sitting in the seat, thereby cooling or warming the person's body.

Therefore, this seat air conditioning system can prevent a decrease in air conditioning efficiency.

In particular, since the first intake port is disposed vertically below the first and second exhaust ports, for example, the first intake port can be provided at a location corresponding to the person's lower limbs, and the first and second exhaust ports can be provided at a location corresponding to the person's upper body. In this case, air is sucked in from the first intake port provided on the seat surface near the person's body to generate an airflow near the body, and the sucked air is discharged from at least the first or second exhaust port to blow air to the person. This makes it possible to generate an airflow that envelops the person's body, so that the conditioned air can be kept around the person sitting on the seat, and a comfortable air-conditioned environment can be provided with minimal air-conditioning energy. More specifically, since air can be sucked in from the first intake port formed on the seat surface of the seat, it is possible to suppress stuffiness due to sweating of the buttocks and thighs of the person in contact with the seat surface. In addition, since the first and second exhaust ports are disposed vertically above the first intake port, air can be blown toward the upper body of the person. In other words, it is possible to generate an airflow that flows from the upper body toward the areas corresponding to the buttocks and thighs, allowing the conditioned air to be kept around the person seated in the seat, providing a more comfortable conditioned environment with minimal air conditioning energy.

Furthermore, in the summer, when a person gets into the vehicle while sweating, air is not discharged from the buttocks, especially in the buttocks, because the first air intake is located vertically below the first and second outlets of the seat. As a result, the discomfort felt by the person due to unnecessary cooling of the sweaty buttocks can be suppressed.

In addition, conventional vehicle seat air conditioners draw in air discharged by the vehicle interior air conditioning unit. However, in the summer, immediately after a person gets into the vehicle, the vehicle interior air conditioning unit has not yet fully started up and is not discharging cold air, so the unit draws in warm air, which means that hot air is discharged toward the person, which can make the person feel uncomfortable. In contrast, the seat air conditioner according to one aspect of the present disclosure is not configured to directly draw in air discharged by the air conditioner (vehicle interior air conditioning unit), so it is possible to reduce the discomfort felt by people caused by discharging hot air.

Furthermore, the seat has built-in components that make up the seat air conditioning system, including the first air intake, the first ventilation duct, the blower, the exhaust ventilation duct selection switch, the second ventilation duct, the first exhaust outlet, the third ventilation duct, and the second exhaust outlet, making it possible to simplify the configuration.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first outlet is disposed vertically below the second outlet.

According to this, for example, by providing a first outlet and a second outlet at a location corresponding to a person's upper body, it is possible to blow air onto the lower side of the person's upper body with the first outlet, and to blow air onto the upper side of the person's upper body with the second outlet. As a result, air can be blown onto a specific part of the person's body, cooling or warming it in part, and the conditioned air can be kept around the person sitting in the seat, providing a more comfortable conditioned environment with minimal air conditioning energy.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the discharge ventilation passage selection switch has a first mode in which air is discharged from the first discharge port by directing the air guided to the first ventilation passage only to the second ventilation passage.

This makes it possible to blow air onto the lower side of the upper body, such as the buttocks and waist, for example, or in other words to prevent air from being blown onto the upper side of the upper body, such as the head and neck. The air blown onto the lower side of the upper body by being discharged from the first outlet is drawn in through the first intake port in the seat, that is, the air is drawn into the first intake port from the first outlet via the lower side of the upper body of the person sitting in the seat. This makes it possible to create an airflow that envelops the lower side of the upper body of the person, from the buttocks to the thighs.

As a specific example, when a person has been seated in the seat for a long time, when the seat heater is turned on while the air conditioner is heating the area around the seat, etc., the first mode can be executed to prevent the part of the person in contact with the seat from becoming steamy. As another example, immediately after a person sits in the seat when the seat is warm, or immediately after the air conditioner is started when the person is sweating, the first mode, which does not discharge air from the second outlet, can be executed to prevent air from being blown onto the head, neck, etc. of a warm person, thereby suppressing discomfort caused by excessive cooling. As a result, the conditioned air can be kept around the person in the seat, and a more comfortable conditioned environment can be provided with minimal air conditioning energy.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the discharge ventilation passage selection switch has a second mode in which air is discharged from the second discharge port by directing the air guided to the first ventilation passage only to the third ventilation passage.

This allows air to be blown toward the upper side of the upper body, such as the person's head and neck, for example; in other words, it is possible to prevent air from being blown toward the lower side of the upper body, such as the person's buttocks and waist. The air blown toward the upper side of the person's upper body by being discharged from the second outlet is drawn in through the first intake port in the seat, that is, the air is drawn into the first intake port from the second outlet via the upper side of the upper body of the person sitting in the seat. This makes it possible to create an airflow that envelops the upper side of the person's upper body, as well as the buttocks and thighs.

As a specific example, even if the heat remaining in the seat is cooled by lowering the temperature around the seat using an air conditioner, a person's back and lower back may still be wet with sweat. In this case, by executing the second mode, it is possible to cool the acromion, neck, head, etc. without excessively cooling the person's back and lower back. This makes it possible to keep the conditioned air around the person sitting in the seat, providing a more comfortable conditioned environment with minimal air conditioning energy.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the discharge ventilation path selection switch has a third mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path is guided to the second ventilation path and the third ventilation path simultaneously, thereby discharging air from the first discharge port and the second discharge port simultaneously.

According to this, the air that is discharged from the first and second outlets and blown onto the person is drawn in through the first intake port in the seat, that is, the air is drawn into the first intake port from the first and second outlets through the person sitting in the seat. This makes it possible to generate an airflow that essentially envelops the person's entire body, including the entire upper body, buttocks, and thighs.

As a specific example, even if the air conditioner lowers the temperature around the seat and expels the heat remaining in the seat, heat may remain in the person's body when there is a lot of sunlight or when the person has been seated for a long time. In this case, the person's entire body can be cooled by operating the third mode. Also, if it is desired to reduce the energy consumption of the air conditioner, the person's entire body can also be cooled by operating the third mode. This makes it possible to keep the conditioned air around the person sitting in the seat, providing a more comfortable conditioned environment and reducing the energy consumption of the system, including the air conditioner.

In addition, in a seat air conditioner according to another aspect of the present disclosure, a control unit is provided that controls the blower and the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit, and the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit has a first mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path is guided only to the second ventilation path, thereby discharging air from the first discharge port, a second mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path is guided only to the third ventilation path, thereby discharging air from the second discharge port, and a third mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path is guided simultaneously to the second ventilation path and the third ventilation path, thereby discharging air simultaneously from the first discharge port and the second discharge port, and the control unit switches the mode of the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit by selecting one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.

The control unit can select one of the first, second, and third modes, allowing the device to cool or heat appropriately according to the person's condition and needs.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor is provided, and the control unit switches the mode of the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit based on information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and information indicating the humidity detected by the humidity sensor.

This makes it possible to detect the temperature and humidity near the seat, and therefore to switch the mode of the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit so as to generate an air flow that is comfortable for people. In addition, the results of the detected temperature and humidity can be output to an air conditioner, for example. This allows the air conditioner to condition the air based on the results of the detected temperature and humidity.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor is disposed in the first ventilation passage or the discharge ventilation passage selection switch section.

This makes it possible to accurately detect the temperature and humidity on the seat surface, specifically the temperature corresponding to the buttocks and thighs of a person sitting on the seat, and the humidity corresponding to the space between the buttocks and thighs and the seat surface. Therefore, the mode of the discharge ventilation path selection switch unit can be switched to generate an air flow that is even more comfortable for people.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first ventilation passage communicates with a second air intake that is different from the first air intake, and the second air intake is formed on a surface of the seat other than the seat surface.

With this, since the first ventilation passage is connected not only to the first intake port but also to the second intake port, it is possible to mix the air sucked in from the first intake port between the seat and the person with the air sucked in from the second intake port formed outside the seat. In this way, it is possible to actively take in the air around the seat, providing a more comfortable air-conditioned environment for the person sitting in the seat.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first outlet is disposed at a position corresponding to at least one of the person's back and lumbar region, and the second outlet is disposed at a position corresponding to at least one of the person's head, neck, and acromion.

Accordingly, when air is discharged from the first outlet, it can be blown onto at least one or more of the person's back and lumbar region, and when air is discharged from the second outlet, it can be blown onto at least one or more of the person's head, neck, and acromion. This makes it possible to partially cool or warm the person's body, and it is also possible to substantially cool or warm the entire person's body. This makes it possible to keep the conditioned air around the person sitting in the seat, and to provide a more comfortable conditioned environment with minimal air conditioning energy.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, when driving the blower, the control unit first switches the discharge ventilation path selection switch unit to the first mode, then to the second mode, and then to the third mode.

With this, especially in the summer, from the moment a person gets into the vehicle until the air conditioner starts cooling, seat air conditioning is performed in a mode that adapts to the ever-changing interior environment, so that conditioned air can be kept around the person seated in the seat, providing a more comfortable air-conditioned environment with minimal air-conditioning energy.

In addition, in a seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the control unit switches the discharge ventilation path selection switch unit to the first mode when at least one of the temperature and the humidity is stabilized within a predetermined range based on at least one of information indicating the temperature detected by a temperature sensor and information indicating the humidity detected by a humidity sensor.

With this, when the air conditioner is providing stable cooling, air is discharged from the back and lower back, but not onto the head, neck, and acromion, preventing the head, neck, and acromion from becoming too cold, while maintaining an air flow that envelops the back and lower back to the legs, maintaining a comfortable air-conditioned environment.

In addition, in a vehicle seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first air intake is formed in the center and outer edge of the seat surface.

According to this, by drawing in air from the first air intake port formed in the center of the seat between the buttocks and thighs and the seat, it is possible to prevent the buttocks and thighs from becoming stuffy. In addition, the first air intake port formed in the outer edge of the seat is formed in a position that is unlikely to be covered by the buttocks and thighs, so it is possible to draw in air around the seat. For example, even if air cannot be drawn in from the first air intake port formed in the center of the seat, air can be drawn in from the first air intake port formed in the outer edge of the seat, and therefore air can be discharged from the first and second exhaust ports.

In addition, in a vehicle seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the outer edge portion is at least one of the rear portion and the front end portion of the seat surface.

This makes it even less likely that the outer edge of the seat, especially the back part and front end of the seat, will be covered by the person's buttocks and thighs. This further increases the likelihood that air can be drawn in through the first air intake port.

In addition, in a vehicle seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the device includes a second air intake located at a position different from the first air intake, a fourth ventilation passage connected to the second air intake, and an intake ventilation passage selection switch unit connected to the first ventilation passage and the fourth ventilation passage, the intake ventilation passage selection switch unit is connected to the control unit, the blower is connected between the intake ventilation passage selection switch unit and the discharge ventilation passage selection switch unit, the intake ventilation passage selection switch unit has a fourth mode in which the first ventilation passage is connected to the blower, a fifth mode in which the fourth ventilation passage is connected to the blower, and a sixth mode in which the first ventilation passage and the fourth ventilation passage are connected to the blower, and the control unit switches the mode of the intake ventilation passage selection switch unit by selecting one of the fourth mode, the fifth mode, and the sixth mode.

This allows the air drawn in from the first air intake between the seat and the person to be selected and mixed with the air drawn in from the second air intake formed outside the seat. If the temperature of the air drawn in from the second air intake is different from the temperature of the air drawn in from the first air intake, selecting and mixing them allows for more precise temperature adjustment, and therefore provides a more comfortable air-conditioned environment for the person sitting in the seat.

In addition, in a vehicle seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the control unit has an operation procedure of (1) switching the intake ventilation path selection switch unit to the fourth mode and the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit to the first mode, (2) switching the intake ventilation path selection switch unit to the fifth mode and the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit to the second mode, (3) switching the intake ventilation path selection switch unit to the sixth mode, (4) switching the intake ventilation path selection switch unit to the fourth mode, and (5) switching the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit to the third mode.

According to this, for example, when a person gets into a car in midsummer, even if the air conditioner cannot blow cold air, first, by operation (1), air is blown only to the person's waist and back, and the evaporative heat of sweat can be used to give a feeling of coolness. At this time, the air is not blown to the neck and shoulders so that the lukewarm air does not hit the person. Next, by operation (2), when cold air starts to come out of the air conditioner, the cold air is actively taken in from the second air intake, and the air is stopped from being blown to the sweaty waist and back (to prevent excessive cooling), and is blown out from the neck and shoulders to cool them. Next, by operation (3), air is also taken in from the first air intake of the seat, and the generation of an air flow that envelops the person is started, improving comfort. Next, by operation (4), only the air flow that envelops the person is generated, and the intake of cold air from the air conditioner is stopped to prevent the person from getting too cold. Next, by operation (5), air is blown not only to the neck and shoulders but also to the waist and back, preventing heat build-up in the waist and back during long rides. By having such an operating procedure in the control of the control unit, it is possible to improve comfort, especially when riding in the middle of summer.

In addition, in a vehicle seat air conditioning device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, when the intake ventilation path selection switch unit continues the fourth mode or the sixth mode for a first predetermined period, the control unit switches the intake ventilation path selection switch unit to the fifth mode and alternately switches the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit between the first mode and the second mode for a second predetermined period.

With this system, when the airflow that envelops the person continues to be generated and the driver is particularly relaxed, air from the air conditioner, which has a different temperature than the seat surface (first air intake), is drawn in only from the second air intake, and the air is alternately blown onto the driver's waist, back, neck, and shoulders to alert the driver.

In this embodiment, the terms "human neck" and "acromion" are used to refer to the area near the neck and the upper back near the acromion.

The embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component placement and connection forms, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in an independent claim are described as optional components.

The figures are schematic diagrams and are not necessarily drawn precisely. In each figure, the same components are given the same reference numerals. In the following embodiments, expressions such as "approximately rectangular" are used. For example, "approximately rectangular" does not only mean that the shape is completely rectangular, but also means that the shape is substantially rectangular, that is, includes an error of, for example, about a few percent. Furthermore, "approximately rectangular" means that the shape is rectangular within the range in which the effects of the present disclosure can be achieved. The same applies to other expressions using "approximately."

In the following description, the front-to-back direction of the seat is referred to as the X-axis direction, and the up-down direction of the seat is referred to as the Z-axis direction. Furthermore, the left-to-right direction of the seat, i.e., the direction perpendicular to each of the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, is referred to as the Y-axis direction. Furthermore, in the X-axis direction, the front side of the seat is referred to as the positive direction side, and the rear side of the seat is referred to as the negative direction side. Furthermore, in the Y-axis direction, the left side of the seat (the right front side when looking at FIG. 1) is referred to as the positive direction side, and the opposite side is referred to as the negative direction side. Furthermore, the right side is the right side of the person when seated in the seat with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle, and is in the negative direction of the Y-axis. Furthermore, the left side is the left side of the person when seated in the seat with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle, and is in the positive direction of the Y-axis. Furthermore, in the Z-axis direction, the upper side of the seat is referred to as the positive direction side, and the lower side of the seat is referred to as the negative direction side. The same applies to FIG. 2 and subsequent figures.

The following describes the embodiment in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
<Configuration: Sheet 1>
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a seat 1 equipped with a seat air-conditioning device 3 in an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the seat 1 equipped with the seat air-conditioning device 3 along line II-II in Fig. 1, and a cross-sectional view of the seat. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the seat air-conditioning device 3 in an embodiment.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a seat 1 installed in, for example, a vehicle or the like, cools or warms a person sitting in the seat 1 by blowing air onto the upper body of the person. Specifically, the seat 1 can cool or warm the body of the person sitting in the seat 1 by blowing air onto the head, neck, acromion, back, and lower back of the person. It is also possible to generate an airflow by drawing air from areas corresponding to the buttocks and thighs, thereby suppressing stuffiness between the buttocks and thighs and the seat 1. Such a seat 1 includes a seat portion 10 for a person to sit on, a seat back 13, a headrest 15, a seat air conditioner 3, and a power supply unit 70.

[Seat portion 10]
1 and 2, the seat portion 10 is a seat cushion that supports the buttocks, thighs, etc. of a person seated on the seat 1. The seat portion 10 has a first seat pad 11a that corresponds to a cushioning material, and a first seat cover 11b that covers the first seat pad 11a.

The first seat pad 11a is made of, for example, urethane foam and constitutes the seat body. The first seat pad 11a is a thick, roughly rectangular plate that is positioned roughly parallel to the XY plane. The first seat pad 11a supports the buttocks, thighs, etc. of the person sitting on it.

The first seat pad 11a is provided with a first ventilation passage 31 for guiding the air taken in from the first ventilation port 12a of the seat surface 11c, which is the surface on the Z-axis positive side of the first seat cover 11b. In addition, directly below the first seat pad 11a, the first ventilation passage 31, a part of the second ventilation passage 32, a part of the third ventilation passage 33, the blower 34, and the discharge ventilation passage selection switch unit 35, which are components of the seat air conditioning device 3, are provided. Specifically, these are fixed to springs directly below the first seat pad 11a, but the springs are omitted in FIG. 2. Note that the components of the seat air conditioning device 3 are not limited to being fixed to the springs, and may be fixed to a seat frame in front of the first seat pad 11a. Air flows into the first ventilation passage 31 in the first seat pad 11a by driving the blower 34. The first ventilation passage 31 formed in the first seat pad 11a may be a simple through hole formed in the first seat pad 11a, or may be configured as a ventilation duct.

The first seat cover 11b is a cover that covers the first seat pad 11a. The first seat cover 11b is, for example, a leather cover, a fabric cover, etc.

The first seat cover 11b is formed with a first ventilation opening 12a for drawing in air. The first ventilation opening 12a is formed on the seat surface 11c, which is the surface on the side of the seat 10 on which a person sits (the surface on the positive side of the Z axis), at a position corresponding to the first intake opening 31a of the seat air conditioning unit 3. In this embodiment, the first ventilation openings 12a are formed in multiple rows along the X axis direction on the first seat cover 11b, and multiple rows are formed aligned in the Y axis direction. In FIG. 1, the solid arrows correspond to the first ventilation openings 12a.

The air sucked in from the first air vent 12a is guided to the first air intake 31a of the seat air conditioning unit 3, and is sucked in from the first air intake 31a and guided to the first ventilation passage 31. Therefore, the first air vent 12a also serves as an intake port that sucks in air convecting over the seat surface 11c by the suction force from the first air intake 31a caused by the drive of the seat air conditioning unit 3. The first air vent 12a may be part of the first ventilation passage 31. In this case, the first air vent 12a is an example of a first air intake.

[Seat back 13]
The seat back 13 is a backrest portion that supports the acromion, back, and lumbar region of a person seated in the seat 1. The seat back 13 is long along the Z-axis direction and is disposed so as to rise up relative to the seat portion 10. The seat back 13 has a second seat pad 13a equivalent to a cushioning material, and a second seat cover 13b that covers the second seat pad 13a.

The second seat pad 13a is made of, for example, urethane foam, and is located at the bottom of the seat back 13, and has a structure that allows the backrest angle to be adjusted around the Y axis depending on the posture. The second seat pad 13a supports the acromion, back, lumbar region, etc. of the seated person.

The second seat pad 13a is provided with a part of the second ventilation passage 32 and a part of the third ventilation passage 33 for discharging the air taken in from the first ventilation port 12a. In the second seat pad 13a, the air that flows into the first ventilation passage 31 in the first seat pad 11a by driving the blower 34 is discharged from at least one of the first outlet port 32a of the second ventilation passage 32 and the second outlet port 33a of the third ventilation passage 33. The second ventilation passage 32 and the third ventilation passage 33 formed in the second seat pad 13a may be simple through holes formed in the first seat pad 11a, or may be formed as ventilation ducts.

The second seat cover 13b is a cover that covers the second seat pad 13a. The second seat cover 13b is, for example, a leather cover, a fabric cover, etc.

The second seat cover 13b is formed with a second ventilation opening 12b and a third ventilation opening 12c for discharging the intake air. The second ventilation opening 12b is formed on the surface facing the person seated on the seat 10 (the surface on the positive side of the X-axis) and is located at a position corresponding to the first outlet 32a of the second ventilation passage 32. The third ventilation opening 12c is formed on the surface facing the person seated on the seat 10 and is located at a position corresponding to the second outlet 33a of the third ventilation passage 33. The third ventilation opening 12c is disposed vertically above the second ventilation opening 12b, that is, on the positive side of the Z-axis. In this embodiment, the second ventilation opening 12b and the third ventilation opening 12c are formed in multiple numbers on the second seat cover 13b. In FIG. 1, the dashed arrow corresponds to the second ventilation passage 32, and the dashed arrow corresponds to the third ventilation passage 33.

Specifically, the multiple second ventilation holes 12b are divided into three groups, and the first of the three groups is formed in the central portion of the second seat cover 13b in the Y-axis direction, and the remaining two groups, the second and third groups, are formed in the second seat cover 13b so as to be positioned on both sides of the central portion in the positive and negative Y-axis directions. In other words, the first group is formed in a portion of the second seat cover 13b that corresponds to at least one or more parts of the person's back and waist, and the second and third groups are formed in positions that correspond to both arms or both armpits.

The third ventilation holes 12c are also divided into three groups, and the fourth group of the three groups is formed in the central portion of the second seat cover 13b in the Y-axis direction, and the remaining two groups, the fifth group and the sixth group, are formed in the second seat cover 13b so as to be disposed on both sides of the central portion in the positive and negative Y-axis directions. For example, the fourth group is formed in a portion of the second seat cover 13b corresponding to at least one or more parts of the person's head, neck, and acromion, and the fifth and sixth groups are formed in positions corresponding to both ears or the acromion.

The second ventilation openings 12b are passed by air that is guided to the first ventilation passage 31 and the second ventilation passage 32 and discharged from the first discharge port 32a. In other words, when the seat air conditioner 3 is driven to drive the air guided to the first ventilation passage 31 and the second ventilation passage 32 and discharged from the first discharge port 32a, the air is guided to the second ventilation openings 12b. Therefore, the second ventilation openings 12b also serve as discharge ports that discharge air to the outside of the seat 1. The second ventilation openings 12b may be part of the second ventilation passage 32. In this case, the second ventilation openings 12b are an example of a first discharge port.

The air guided to the first ventilation passage 31 and the third ventilation passage 33 and discharged from the second discharge port 33a also passes through the third ventilation openings 12c. In other words, when the air guided to the first ventilation passage 31 and the third ventilation passage 33 is discharged from the second discharge port 33a by driving the seat air conditioner 3, the air is guided to the third ventilation opening 12c. Therefore, the third ventilation opening 12c also serves as a discharge port that discharges air to the outside of the seat 1. The third ventilation opening 12c may be part of the third ventilation passage 33. In this case, the third ventilation opening 12c is an example of a second discharge port.

[Headrest 15]
The headrest 15 is a headrest that supports the head of a person seated in the seat 1. The headrest 15 is fixed to the end of the seat back 13 on the positive side of the Z axis.

The third ventilation opening 12c may be formed in the headrest 15. In other words, a portion of the third ventilation passage 33 may be provided in the headrest 15.

[Seat air conditioning device 3]
The seat air-conditioning unit 3 is an air-conditioning unit that is used in the seat 1 and can blow air toward the person sitting in the seat 1 from behind the person. The seat air-conditioning unit 3 blows air by sucking in air convecting around the seat 1 and blowing the sucked in air. Therefore, if the temperature around the seat 1 is higher than room temperature, hot air is blown, and if it is lower than room temperature, cold air is blown. The seat air-conditioning unit 3 may be equipped with an air conditioner that can perform both heating and cooling.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing the seat air conditioning unit 3 when the seat back 13 is viewed from the front, and a top view showing the seat air conditioning unit 3 when the seat portion 10 is viewed from above.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the seat air conditioning device 3 includes a blower 34, a first ventilation passage 31, a second ventilation passage 32, a third ventilation passage 33, an exhaust ventilation passage selection switch 35, a sensor 50, and a control unit 60.

The blower 34 can draw air from the first ventilation port 12a formed in the first seat cover 11b of the seat 1 and discharge the drawn air from the second ventilation port 12b and the third ventilation port 12c formed in the second seat pad 13a. Specifically, the blower 34 is electrically connected to the control unit 60 and is driven and controlled by the control unit 60 to draw air from the first intake port 31a via the first ventilation port 12a and discharge the drawn air from the first discharge port 32a via the first ventilation path 31, the discharge ventilation path selection switch unit 35, and the second ventilation path 32, or discharge the drawn air from the second discharge port 33a via the first ventilation path 31, the discharge ventilation path selection switch unit 35, and the third ventilation path 33.

The blower 34 is disposed inside the first seat pad 11a (directly below the first seat pad 11a in this embodiment) to draw in air from the first intake port 31a of the first seat cover 11b. In this embodiment, the blower 34 is disposed on the first ventilation passage 31, but may be disposed outside the first ventilation passage 31 as long as a flow path can be formed through which air flows from the first intake port 31a of the first ventilation passage 31 to the discharge ventilation passage selection switch unit 35. The blower 34 may be disposed outside the first seat pad 11a, and the position of the blower 34 is not particularly limited.

The first ventilation passage 31 guides the air sucked in from the first intake port 31a provided in the seat portion 10 of the seat 1 by the blower 34. That is, air flows in the first ventilation passage 31. The first ventilation passage 31 is, for example, configured as an air duct. One end of the first ventilation passage 31 forms the first intake port 31a, and the other end is connected to the discharge ventilation passage selection switching unit 35 via the blower 34. That is, the first ventilation passage 31 extends from the first intake port 31a to the discharge ventilation passage selection switching unit 35 via the blower 34. The first intake port 31a can suck in air from the surface (seat surface 11c) on the side where a person sits on the seat portion 10, and corresponds to the first ventilation port 12a of the first seat cover 11b. When viewed along the Z-axis direction, the first intake port 31a overlaps with the first ventilation port 12a. In this embodiment, the first air intake 31a draws in air through the first air vent 12a, but it may also be configured to draw in air directly.

In the second ventilation passage 32, air guided to the first ventilation passage 31 by the blower 34 flows through the second ventilation passage 32 and is discharged from the first outlet 32a provided in the seat back 13 of the seat 1. The second ventilation passage 32 is configured, for example, as an air duct. One end of the second ventilation passage 32 forms the first outlet 32a, and the other end is connected to the outlet ventilation passage selection switch unit 35. The first outlet 32a corresponds to the second ventilation port 12b of the second seat cover 13b. When viewed along the X-axis direction, the first outlet 32a overlaps with the second ventilation port 12b. In this embodiment, the first outlet 32a discharges air through the second ventilation port 12b, but it may be configured to discharge air directly.

The second ventilation passage 32 extends from the exhaust ventilation passage selection switching section 35 to the first exhaust port 32a. In this embodiment, the second ventilation passage 32 extends from the exhaust ventilation passage selection switching section 35 in the first seat pad 11a to the second seat pad 13a. In this embodiment, the second ventilation passage 32 extends to the vicinity of the second ventilation port 12b (first group) formed in the center part of the Y axis direction of the second seat cover 13b, and is a substantially Y-shaped structure extending from the vicinity of the first group to both sides in the Y axis positive direction and the Y axis negative direction. The first exhaust port 32a is formed in the part of the second ventilation passage 32 corresponding to the first group and at the tip of each of the second ventilation passages 32 extending on both sides. In other words, the first exhaust port 32a is arranged at a position corresponding to at least one or more parts of the person's back and waist.

The third ventilation passage 33 is a ventilation passage different from the second ventilation passage 32, and the air guided to the first ventilation passage 31 by the blower 34 flows through the third ventilation passage 33 and is discharged from the second outlet 33a provided in the seat back 13 of the seat 1. The third ventilation passage 33 is, for example, configured as a ventilation duct. One end of the third ventilation passage 33 forms the second outlet 33a, and the other end is connected to the outlet ventilation passage selection switch unit 35. The second outlet 33a corresponds to the third ventilation port 12c of the second seat cover 13b. When viewed along the X-axis direction, the second outlet 33a overlaps with the third ventilation port 12c. In this embodiment, the second outlet 33a discharges air through the third ventilation port 12c, but it may be configured to discharge air directly.

The third ventilation passage 33 extends from the discharge ventilation passage selection switching unit 35 to the second discharge port 33a. In this embodiment, the third ventilation passage 33 extends from the discharge ventilation passage selection switching unit 35 in the first seat pad 11a to the second seat pad 13a. In this embodiment, the third ventilation passage 33 extends to the vicinity of the third ventilation port 12c (fourth group) formed in the center part of the Y axis direction of the second seat cover 13b, and is a substantially Y-shaped structure extending from the vicinity of the fourth group to both sides in the Y axis positive direction and the Y axis negative direction. The second discharge port 33a is formed in the part of the third ventilation passage 33 corresponding to the fourth group and at the tip of each of the third ventilation passages 33 extending on both sides. In other words, the second discharge port 33a is arranged at a position corresponding to at least one or more parts of the person's head, neck, and acromion.

Due to the configuration of the first ventilation passage 31, the second ventilation passage 32, and the third ventilation passage 33, the first intake port 31a, the first exhaust port 32a, and the second exhaust port 33a have the following relationship. The first intake port 31a is disposed vertically below the first exhaust port 32a and the second exhaust port 33a. The first exhaust port 32a is disposed vertically below the second exhaust port 33a. As a result, air is sucked in from areas corresponding to the person's buttocks and thighs, and exhausted from areas corresponding to the person's head, neck, acromion, back, and waist, creating an airflow that envelops the person seated in the seat 1.

The discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 is provided on the first discharge port 32a and second discharge port 33a side of the blower 34, and selects and switches at least one of the second ventilation path 32 and the third ventilation path 33 for the air guided to the first ventilation path 31. The discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 is composed of a damper or the like, and can switch the air flow path, i.e., the ventilation path. For the air guided to the first ventilation path 31, the discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 is disposed downstream of the blower 34. The discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 can selectively guide the air guided to the first ventilation path 31 to either the second ventilation path 32 only, the third ventilation path 33 only, or both the second ventilation path 32 and the third ventilation path 33 simultaneously.

Specifically, the discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 has a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode. In the first mode, the air guided to the first ventilation path 31 is guided only to the second ventilation path 32, thereby discharging the air from the first discharge port 32a. In the second mode, the air guided to the first ventilation path 31 is guided only to the third ventilation path 33, thereby discharging the air from the second discharge port 33a. In the third mode, the air guided to the first ventilation path 31 is simultaneously guided to the second ventilation path 32 and the third ventilation path 33, thereby discharging the air from the first discharge port 32a and the second discharge port 33a at the same time. The discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 is electrically connected to the control unit 60, and is driven and controlled by the control unit 60 to select one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.

[Sensor 50]
The sensor 50 detects the state of the seat 1 and the state of the person sitting in the seat 1 .

Specifically, the sensor 50 detects at least one of the temperature and humidity of the air guided to the first ventilation passage 31 as a condition related to the seat 1. The sensor 50 is a temperature sensor 51 and a humidity sensor 52. In the seat air conditioning device 3 of this embodiment, both the temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52 are used as the sensor 50. In this embodiment, it is sufficient for the seat air conditioning device 3 to be equipped with at least one of the temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52. Here, the humidity sensor 52 is configured to measure and output the relative humidity.

The temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52 are disposed in the first ventilation passage 31 or the exhaust ventilation passage selection switch 35. This allows the temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52 to accurately detect the temperature corresponding to the buttocks and thighs of a person seated on the seat 1, and the humidity corresponding to the space between the buttocks and thighs and the seat surface 11c. The temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52 output information indicating the temperature and information indicating the humidity as the detection results to the control unit 60.

The sensor 50 also detects the state of the person. The state of the person is the person's sweating state, sitting period, etc. For example, the sensor 50 may include a sensor that detects the sitting period of the person seated on the seat 1, or may include an imaging device that images the person. The sensor 50 that detects the sitting period may detect the sitting period based on the startup period of the vehicle, for example, or may detect the sitting period, which is a period during which the presence of a person is continuously detected. The sensor 50 may output information indicating the sitting period as a detection result to the control unit 60. The sensor 50 may also detect the person's sweating state by imaging the person. The sensor 50 may output information indicating the person's sweating state as a detection result to the control unit 60.

[Control unit 60]
The control unit 60 controls the blower 34 and the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35. The control unit 60 is a microcomputer that controls the output of the blower 34 by turning on and off the current flowing to the blower 34 and the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 and by changing the current value.

The control unit 60 switches the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35 by selecting one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode. The control unit 60 may also switch the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35 based on at least one of information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 51 and information indicating the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 52.

For example, the control unit 60 may switch the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35 in response to the detection result detected by the sensor 50. Specifically, the control unit 60 may execute control to switch the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35 based on the sweating state of a person detected by capturing an image of the person's state using a sensor 50 such as an imaging device. In addition, the control unit 60 may execute control to switch the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35 based on the temperature around the seat 1 when a person is seated on the seat 1.

The control unit 60 may also have a function of communicating with a control unit of an air conditioner (hereinafter, air conditioner control unit 61) mounted on the vehicle. In this case, the control unit 60 can transmit the detection results of the sensor 50 to the air conditioner control unit 61 and receive the operating status of the air conditioner. In this embodiment, the control unit 60 is described as being electrically connected to the air conditioner control unit 61 as shown in FIG. 3.

[Power supply unit 70]
The power supply unit 70 is a power supply circuit that supplies power to the blower 34 and the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 via the control unit 60 etc. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 70 is a DC power supply supplied from a battery (not shown). The power supply unit 70 is controlled by the control unit 60 to adjust the current supplied to the blower 34 and the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35.

<Processing>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the process of the seat air conditioning device 3 in the embodiment.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the sensor 50 detects the state of the seat 1 and the state of the person seated in the seat 1 (S11). Specifically, the sensor 50 outputs to the control unit 60 information indicating the temperature of the seat 1, information indicating the humidity of the seat 1, etc. as the state of the seat 1, and outputs to the control unit 60 information indicating the person's sweating state, information indicating the period of sitting, etc. as the state of the person seated in the seat 1. The following mainly describes the information indicating temperature.

The control unit 60 determines whether the first condition is met based on the state of the seat 1 and the state of the person seated in the seat 1 obtained from the sensor 50 (S12).

For example, if the temperature of the seat 1 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, 20°C or higher) based on the information indicating the temperature of the seat 1, it is considered that the temperature inside the seat 1 is high and heat remains in the seat 1. In this case, if air is blown out from the second outlet 33a, the warm air will be blown onto the person's head, neck, acromion, etc., which may make the person feel uncomfortable. In addition, even if cold air is blown onto the person's head, neck, acromion, etc. after the surrounding temperature has stabilized, the person may feel uncomfortable. Therefore, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the first condition is met as a judgment item. Examples of cases in which the first condition is met include immediately after a person sits on the seat 1 (specifically, immediately after a person gets into the vehicle), when the person is in a sweating state, when the person sits on the seat 1 for a long time, and immediately after the air conditioner is started when the seat heater is turned on during heating of the air conditioner for air conditioning the area around the seat 1. The control unit 60 receives information indicating the state immediately after the air conditioner is started by communicating with the air conditioner control unit 61. At this time, the control unit 60 may receive information indicating whether the air conditioner is operating in cooling or heating mode. The same applies to the second and third conditions below. The control unit 60 may determine whether the first condition is met as a determination item based on information indicating humidity. For example, when the first condition is a first humidity or higher (humidity is 90% or higher), it may be determined that the first condition is met, as described above.

If the control unit 60 determines that the first condition is satisfied (YES in S12), it selects the first mode, switches the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35, and causes the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35 to execute the first mode (S13).

6a is a schematic plan view showing the air flow path in the seat back 13 when the first mode is executed, and a schematic top view of the seat portion 10, and FIG. 6b is a schematic side view of the seat 1. As shown in FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b, when the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 executes the first mode, the air taken in from the first ventilation port 12a of the seat surface 11c of the seat 1 is guided to the first intake port 31a, taken in from the first intake port 31a and guided to the first ventilation path 31, reaches the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35, is guided to the second ventilation path 32, is discharged from the first discharge port 32a, passes through the second ventilation port 12b, and is blown out of the seat 1. As a result, for example, by blowing air onto the back and waist of a person, rather than blowing warm air onto the person's head, neck, acromion, etc., it is possible to generate an airflow that envelops the lower part of the person's upper body to the buttocks and thighs. In addition, even if cold air is not discharged from the first outlet 32a when the person's head, neck, acromion, etc. are sweating, it is expected that the person's head, neck, acromion, etc. can be cooled by the heat of vaporization of sweat. In addition, when a person sits on the seat 1 for a long time, or when the seat heater is installed in the seat 1 and the seat heater is turned on during heating by the air conditioner, the first mode can be executed to prevent the part of the person in contact with the seat 1 from becoming steamy. The control unit 60 ends the process. Then, the control unit 60 repeats the process from step S11.

If the control unit 60 determines that the first condition is not met (NO in S12), it determines whether or not the second condition is met based on the results obtained from the sensor 50, that is, the state of the seat 1 and the state of the person seated in the seat 1 (S14).

For example, if the temperature of the sheet 1 is less than a predetermined temperature (for example, less than 20°C) based on the information indicating the temperature of the sheet 1, the temperature inside the sheet 1 is considered to be low. For example, if the back and waist of a person are wet with sweat, if air is blown out from the first outlet 32a, cold air will be blown onto the back and waist of the person, which may cool the back and waist excessively. Therefore, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the second condition is satisfied as a determination item. An example of a case where the second condition is satisfied is when the temperature around the sheet 1 is lowered by an air conditioner for conditioning the area around the sheet 1 and the back and waist are wet with sweat. The control unit 60 may determine whether or not the second condition is satisfied as a determination item based on the information indicating humidity. For example, when the humidity is less than the first humidity and equal to or less than the second humidity (humidity is less than 90% and equal to or more than 70%), it may be determined that the second condition is satisfied in the same manner as described above.

If the control unit 60 determines that the second condition is satisfied (YES in S14), it selects the second mode, switches the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35, and causes the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35 to execute the second mode (S15).

7a is a schematic plan view showing the air flow path in the seat back 13 when the second mode is executed, and a schematic top view of the seat portion 10, and FIG. 7b is a schematic side view of the seat 1. As shown in FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b, when the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 executes the second mode, the air taken in from the first ventilation port 12a of the seat surface 11c of the seat 1 is guided to the first intake port 31a, taken in from the first intake port 31a and guided to the first ventilation path 31, reaches the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35, is guided to the third ventilation path 33, is discharged from the second discharge port 33a, passes through the third ventilation port 12c, and is blown out of the seat 1. This allows for the creation of an airflow that envelops the upper side of the person's upper body, buttocks, and thighs by blowing air onto the person's head, neck, acromion, etc., rather than blowing cold air onto the back and lower back, for example. In addition, blowing air onto the person's head, neck, acromion, etc. is expected to suppress the sympathetic nervous system and activate the parasympathetic nervous system in the autonomic nervous activity of the person seated in the seat 1, allowing the person to relax. The control unit 60 ends the process. Then, the control unit 60 repeats the process from step S11.

If the control unit 60 determines that the second condition is not met (NO in S14), it determines that the third condition is met based on the results obtained from the sensor 50, that is, the state of the seat 1 and the state of the person seated in the seat 1.

For example, if the temperature of the seat 1 is less than a predetermined temperature (for example, less than 20°C) based on the information indicating the temperature of the seat 1, the temperature inside the seat 1 is considered to be low. For example, when the amount of sunlight is high or when the person sits for a long time, the back and waist become stuffy due to heat buildup in the person's body, and the person may want to cool down the whole body. There may also be cases where the energy consumption of the air conditioner is to be reduced. The control unit 60 may determine whether or not the third condition is satisfied as a determination item. When the first condition and the second condition are not satisfied, that is, when the third condition is satisfied, for example, when the temperature around the seat 1 is lowered by the air conditioner, when the back becomes stuffy due to heat buildup in the person's body, or when the energy consumption of the air conditioner is to be reduced. The control unit 60 may determine whether or not the third condition is satisfied as a determination item based on the information indicating humidity. For example, when the third condition is less than the second humidity (humidity less than 70%), the control unit 60 may determine that the third condition is satisfied.

When the control unit 60 determines that the third condition is satisfied, it selects the third mode, switches the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35, and causes the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35 to execute the third mode (S16).

8a is a schematic plan view showing the air flow path in the seat back 13 when the third mode is executed, and a schematic top view of the seat portion 10, and FIG. 8b is a schematic side view of the seat 1. As shown in FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b, when the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 executes the third mode, the air taken in from the first ventilation port 12a of the seat surface 11c of the seat 1 is guided to the first intake port 31a, taken in from the first intake port 31a and guided to the first ventilation path 31, and after reaching the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35, is guided to the second ventilation path 32 and the third ventilation path 33, and is discharged from the first discharge port 32a and the second discharge port 33a, and is blown out of the seat 1 through the second ventilation port 12b and the third ventilation port 12c. This allows for the creation of an airflow that envelops the person's entire upper body, buttocks, and thighs, for example, by blowing air onto the person's head, neck, acromion, back, and waist. Also, by blowing air onto the person's entire upper body, it is possible to cool the entire body, prevent stuffiness in the back and waist, and reduce energy consumption by the air conditioner. The control unit 60 ends the process. The control unit 60 then repeats the process from step S11.

In this processing example, the temperature of the sheet 1 may be prioritized over the humidity.

By repeating the above-described process, the control unit 60 can freely switch between the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode when the state of the seat 1 or the state of the person changes.

Here, an example is described in which the control unit 60 first switches the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit 35 to the first mode, then to the second mode, and then to the third mode when driving the blower 34.

When the control unit 60 determines from information from the air conditioner control unit 61 that a person has just entered the vehicle in summer, it first determines that the first condition is met and switches the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit 35 to the first mode. The information from the air conditioner control unit 61 is, for example, information indicating the start of the air conditioner control unit 61, information indicating an input operation to the air conditioner operation unit, etc. As a result, air is first exhausted from the first exhaust port 32a to the person's back and waist, so that the heat of evaporation of sweat can cool the sweating back and waist.

Next, when the control unit 60 determines from information from the air conditioner control unit 61 that the air conditioner has started to cool, it determines that the second condition is met and switches the discharge ventilation path selection switch unit 35 to the second mode. The information from the air conditioner control unit 61 is, for example, information indicating the temperature near the air conditioner's air outlet, information indicating the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, etc. As a result, air is discharged from the second discharge port 33a to the person's head, neck, and acromion, but since the air conditioner has started to cool, the discharged air is also cooled. By discharging this air to the head, neck, and acromion, efficient cooling is achieved and excessive cooling of the back and lower back is suppressed.

Next, when the control unit 60 determines from information from the air conditioner control unit 61 that the cooling effect of the air conditioner has progressed, it determines that the third condition is satisfied and switches the discharge ventilation path selection switch unit 35 to the third mode. The information from the air conditioner control unit 61 is, for example, information indicating the temperature near the air conditioner's air outlet, information indicating the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, etc. As a result, by discharging air from both the first discharge port 32a and the second discharge port 33a, the air inside the vehicle cabin can be discharged so as to envelop the entire body of the person, providing a more comfortable air-conditioned environment for the person sitting in the seat.

Furthermore, the control unit 60 may switch the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 to the first mode when at least one of the temperature and humidity is stabilized within a predetermined range based on at least one of the information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 51 and the information indicating the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 52. Specifically, when at least one of the first conditions, that is, the temperature is within a predetermined range of 25°C ± 1°C and the humidity (relative humidity) is within a predetermined range of 70% ± 5%, is satisfied, the control unit 60 switches the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 to the first mode and executes it. In other words, being stable within a predetermined range means that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 51 remains within an error range of ± several degrees Celsius within a predetermined period, and the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 52 remains within an error range of ± several percent.

As a result, when at least one of the temperature and humidity is stable within a predetermined range, the air conditioner is in a stable cooling state, and when the discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 is switched to the first mode at this time, air is discharged from the back and lumbar region, and not onto the head, neck, and acromion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the head, neck, and acromion from becoming too cold, and to maintain an air flow that envelops the back and lumbar region to the legs, thereby maintaining a comfortable air-conditioned environment.

<Action and effect>
Next, the operation and effect of the seat air-conditioning device 3 in this embodiment will be described.

As described above, the seat air conditioning unit 3 of this embodiment is a seat air conditioning unit 3 used in a seat 1, and includes a blower 34, a first ventilation passage 31 that guides air sucked in by the blower 34 from a first air intake port 31a provided in the seat portion 10 where a person sits on the seat 1, a second ventilation passage 32 that discharges the air guided to the first ventilation passage 31 by the blower 34 from a first outlet port 32a provided in the seat 1, a third ventilation passage 33 that is a ventilation passage different from the second ventilation passage 32 and that discharges the air guided to the first ventilation passage 31 by the blower 34 from a second outlet port 33a provided in the seat 1, and an outlet ventilation passage selection switch 35 that is provided on the first outlet port 32a and second outlet port 33a side of the blower 34 and selects and switches at least one of the second ventilation passage 32 and the third ventilation passage 33 for the air guided to the first ventilation passage 31. The first intake port 31a, the first ventilation passage 31, the blower 34, the exhaust ventilation passage selection switch 35, the second ventilation passage 32, the first exhaust port 32a, the third ventilation passage 33, and the second exhaust port 33a are built into the seat 1. The first intake port 31a is disposed vertically below the first exhaust port 32a and the second exhaust port 33a, and draws in air from the seat surface 11c, which is the surface of the seat 10 on which a person sits. The first ventilation passage 31 is provided in the seat 10, and extends from the first intake port 31a to the exhaust ventilation passage selection switch 35 via the blower 34.

This allows the blower 34 to suck in air from the first intake port 31a provided in the seat 1, that is, to suck in air convecting around the seat 1. For example, compared to a conventional seat air-conditioning system applied to a vehicle in which a portion of the conditioned cold or warm air is directly supplied to the seat, in this embodiment, the cold or warm air directly discharged by the seat air-conditioning system 3 is less likely to be consumed by the seat 1. Therefore, air conditioned throughout the vehicle interior by the air-conditioning system is sucked in from the first intake port 31a, and the sucked air is discharged from at least the first discharge port 32a or the second discharge port 33a and blown against the person sitting in the seat 1, thereby cooling or warming the person's body.

Therefore, this seat air conditioning system 3 can suppress a decrease in air conditioning efficiency.

In particular, since the first intake port 31a is disposed vertically below the first and second exhaust ports 32a and 33a, for example, the first intake port 31a can be provided at a location corresponding to the person's lower limbs, and the first and second exhaust ports 32a and 33a can be provided at a location corresponding to the person's upper body. In this case, air is sucked in from the first intake port 31a provided on the seat surface 11c near the person's body to generate an airflow near the body, and the sucked air is discharged from at least the first and second exhaust ports 32a and 33a to blow air onto the person. This creates an airflow that envelops the person's body, so that the conditioned air can be kept around the person sitting on the seat 1, providing a comfortable air-conditioned environment with minimal air-conditioning energy. More specifically, air can be drawn in through the first air intake 31a formed in the seat surface 11c of the seat 1, which can prevent sweating and stuffiness in the buttocks and thighs of a person in contact with the seat surface 11c. In addition, the first air outlet 32a and the second air outlet 33a are positioned vertically above the first air intake 31a, so air can be blown toward the upper body of the person. In other words, an air flow can be generated that flows from the upper body toward the areas corresponding to the buttocks and thighs, so that the conditioned air can be kept around the person sitting on the seat 1, and a more comfortable conditioned environment can be provided with minimal air conditioning energy.

Furthermore, in the summer, when a person gets into the vehicle while sweating, air is not discharged from the buttocks, especially in the buttocks, because the first air intake 31a is positioned vertically below the first and second outlets 32a and 33a of the seat 1. As a result, the discomfort felt by the person due to unnecessary cooling of the sweaty buttocks can be suppressed.

In addition, conventional vehicle seat air conditioners draw in air discharged by the vehicle interior air conditioning unit. However, in the summer, immediately after a person gets into the vehicle, the vehicle interior air conditioning unit has not yet fully started up and is not discharging cool air, so the unit draws in warm air, which means that hot air is essentially discharged toward the person. This can make the person feel uncomfortable. In contrast, the seat air conditioner 3 of this embodiment is not configured to directly draw in air discharged by the air conditioner, so it is possible to reduce the discomfort felt by people caused by discharging hot air.

Furthermore, the seat 1 incorporates the first air intake 31a, the first ventilation passage 31, the blower 34, the exhaust ventilation passage selection switch 35, the second ventilation passage 32, the first exhaust port 32a, the third ventilation passage 33, and the second exhaust port 33a, which constitute the seat air conditioning unit 3, thereby simplifying the configuration.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning device 3 of this embodiment, the first outlet 32a is positioned vertically below the second outlet 33a.

Accordingly, by providing the first outlet 32a and the second outlet 33a at locations corresponding to the upper body of a person, for example, it is possible to blow air onto the lower side of the person's upper body through the first outlet 32a, and to blow air onto the upper side of the person's upper body through the second outlet 33a. As a result, it is possible to blow air onto a specific part of the person's body, thereby cooling or warming the part, and thus it is possible to keep the conditioned air around the person seated in the seat 1, and to provide a more comfortable conditioned environment with a minimum of air conditioning energy.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning device 3 of this embodiment, the discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 has a first mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path 31 is guided only to the second ventilation path 32, thereby discharging air from the first discharge port 32a.

This allows air to be blown downwards on the upper body, such as the buttocks and waist, for example, or in other words, air is not blown upwards on the upper body, such as the head and neck. The air blown downwards on the upper body by being discharged from the first outlet 32a is drawn in through the first intake 31a of the seat surface 11c, that is, the air is drawn into the first intake 31a from the first outlet 32a via the lower side of the upper body of the person seated on the seat 1. This allows an airflow to be created that envelops the lower side of the upper body of the person, from the buttocks to the thighs.

As a specific example, when a person sits in the seat 1 for a long time, when the seat heater is turned on while the air conditioner is heating the area around the seat 1, etc., the first mode can be executed to prevent the part of the person in contact with the seat 1 from becoming steamy. As another example, immediately after a person sits on the seat 1 when the seat 1 is warm, or immediately after the air conditioner is started when the person is sweating, the first mode, which is a mode in which air is not discharged from the second outlet 33a, can be executed to prevent the air from being blown onto the head, neck, etc. of a warm person, thereby suppressing the discomfort of being too cold. As a result, the conditioned air can be kept around the person sitting in the seat 1, and a more comfortable conditioned environment can be provided with a minimum of air conditioning energy.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning device 3 of this embodiment, the discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 has a second mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path 31 is guided only to the third ventilation path 33, thereby discharging air from the second discharge port 33a.

This allows air to be blown toward the upper side of the upper body, such as the person's head and neck, for example, without blowing air toward the lower side of the upper body, such as the person's buttocks and waist. The air blown toward the upper side of the person's upper body by being discharged from the second outlet 33a is drawn in through the first intake port 31a of the seat surface 11c, that is, the air is drawn into the first intake port 31a from the second outlet 33a via the upper side of the upper body of the person sitting on the seat 1. This allows an airflow to be created that envelops the upper side of the person's upper body, as well as the buttocks and thighs.

As a specific example, even if the heat remaining in the seat 1 is cooled by lowering the temperature around the seat 1 using an air conditioner, a person's back and lower back may still be wet with sweat. In this case, by executing the second mode, it is possible to cool the acromion, neck, head, etc. without excessively cooling the person's back and lower back. As a result, it is possible to keep the conditioned air around the person sitting in the seat 1, and provide a more comfortable conditioned environment with minimal air conditioning energy.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning device 3 of this embodiment, the discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 has a third mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path 31 is guided simultaneously to the second ventilation path 32 and the third ventilation path 33, thereby discharging air simultaneously from the first discharge port 32a and the second discharge port 33a.

According to this, the air discharged from the first outlet 32a and the second outlet 33a and blown onto the person is drawn in from the first intake port 31a of the seat surface 11c, that is, the air is drawn into the first intake port 31a from the first outlet 32a and the second outlet 33a through the person seated on the seat 1. This makes it possible to generate an airflow that essentially envelops the person's entire body, including the entire upper body, buttocks, and thighs.

As a specific example, even if the air conditioner lowers the temperature around seat 1 and expels the heat remaining in seat 1, heat may remain in the person's body when there is a lot of solar radiation or when the person has been seated for a long time. In this case, the person's entire body can be cooled by implementing the third mode. Also, if it is desired to reduce the energy consumption of the air conditioner, the person's entire body can also be cooled by implementing the third mode. This makes it possible to keep the conditioned air around the person seated in seat 1, providing a more comfortable conditioned environment and reducing the energy consumption of the system, including the air conditioner.

The seat air conditioner 3 of this embodiment is also provided with a control unit 60 that controls the blower 34 and the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35. The discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 has a first mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path 31 is guided only to the second ventilation path 32, thereby discharging air from the first discharge port 32a, a second mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path 31 is guided only to the third ventilation path 33, thereby discharging air from the second discharge port 33a, and a third mode in which air guided to the first ventilation path 31 is guided simultaneously to the second ventilation path 32 and the third ventilation path 33, thereby discharging air simultaneously from the first discharge port 32a and the second discharge port 33a. The control unit 60 switches the mode of the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 by selecting one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.

As a result, the control unit 60 can select one of the first, second, and third modes, so that it can cool or heat appropriately according to the person's condition and needs.

The seat air conditioner 3 of this embodiment is also provided with at least one of a temperature sensor 51 and a humidity sensor 52. The control unit 60 switches the mode of the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 based on at least one of information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 51 and information indicating the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 52.

This makes it possible to detect the temperature and humidity near the seat, and therefore to switch the mode of the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit so as to generate an air flow that is comfortable for people. In addition, the results of the detected temperature and humidity can be output to an air conditioner, for example. This allows the air conditioner to condition the air based on the results of the detected temperature and humidity.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning device 3 of this embodiment, at least one of the temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52 is arranged in the first ventilation passage 31 or the exhaust ventilation passage selection switch unit 35.

This makes it possible to accurately detect the temperature and humidity on the seat surface, specifically the temperature corresponding to the buttocks and thighs of a person sitting on the seat 1, and the humidity corresponding to the space between the buttocks and thighs and the seat surface 11c. Therefore, the mode of the discharge ventilation path selection switch 35 can be switched to generate an air flow that is even more comfortable for people.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning device 3 of this embodiment, the first outlet 32a is arranged at a position corresponding to at least one of the person's back and lumbar region, and the second outlet 33a is arranged at a position corresponding to at least one of the person's head, neck, and acromion.

Accordingly, when air is discharged from the first outlet 32a, it can be blown onto at least one of the person's back and waist, and when air is discharged from the second outlet 33a, it can be blown onto at least one of the person's head, neck, and acromion. This makes it possible to partially cool or warm the person's body, and it is also possible to substantially cool or warm the entire person's body. This makes it possible to keep the conditioned air around the person seated in the seat 1, and to provide a more comfortable conditioned environment with minimal air conditioning energy.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning device 3 of this embodiment, when driving the blower 34, the control unit 60 first switches the discharge ventilation path selection switching unit 35 to the first mode, then to the second mode, and then to the third mode.

With this, especially in the summer, from the moment a person gets into the vehicle until the air conditioner starts cooling, seat air conditioning is performed in a mode that adapts to the ever-changing interior environment, so that conditioned air can be kept around the person sitting in seat 1, providing a more comfortable air-conditioned environment with minimal air-conditioning energy.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning device 3 of this embodiment, the control unit 60 switches the discharge ventilation path selection switch unit 35 to the first mode when at least one of the temperature and humidity is stabilized within a predetermined range based on at least one of information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 51 and information indicating the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 52.

With this, when the air conditioner is providing stable cooling, air is discharged from the back and lower back, but not onto the head, neck, and acromion, preventing the head, neck, and acromion from becoming too cold, while maintaining an air flow that envelops the back and lower back to the legs, maintaining a comfortable air-conditioned environment.

(First Modification of the Embodiment)
This modified example differs from the seat air-conditioning device 3 of the embodiment in that the first ventilation passage 131 is further connected to a second air intake 31b. Unless otherwise specified, the other configurations of this modified example are the same as those of the embodiment, and the same configurations and functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions of the configurations and functions are omitted.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the exterior of a seat 1 equipped with a seat air conditioning device 3a in a modified embodiment, and a cross-sectional view of the seat.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first ventilation passage 131 is connected to the second air intake 31b, which is an air intake different from the first air intake 31a. Specifically, the first ventilation passage 131 has a communication hole 31c that forms the second air intake 31b. In this embodiment, the communication hole 31c extends from the second air intake 31b along the Z-axis direction and is connected to the first ventilation passage 131. The second air intake 31b is formed on a surface other than the seat surface 11c of the seat 1. In this embodiment, the second air intake 31b is formed on the surface opposite the seat surface 11c (the surface on the negative Z-axis side of the seat portion 10) and can draw in air around the bottom of the seat 1. The air drawn in from the first intake port 31a and the second intake port 31b is mixed between the first intake port 31a and the second intake port 31b and the exhaust ventilation path selection switch 35, and is guided to at least one of the second ventilation path 32 and the third ventilation path 33.

The second intake port 31b may be disposed opposite the air outlet of an air conditioner mounted on the vehicle. In other words, the second intake port 31b may take in cold or warm air discharged by the air conditioner, and mix it with the air flowing through the first ventilation passage 131.

In this modified seat air conditioning unit 3a, the first ventilation passage 131 communicates with a second air intake 31b, which is an intake different from the first air intake 31a, and the second air intake 31b is formed on a surface of the seat 1 other than the seat surface 11c.

As a result, the first ventilation passage 131 communicates with not only the first intake port 31a but also the second intake port 31b, so that the air sucked in from the first intake port 31a between the seat surface 11c and the person can be mixed with the air sucked in from the second intake port 31b formed outside the seat surface 11c (here, the air around the bottom of the seat 1). In this way, the air around the seat 1 can be actively taken in, so that a more comfortable air-conditioned environment can be provided for the person sitting in the seat 1.

This modified example also provides the same effects as described above.

(Modification 2 of the embodiment)
In this modified example, the first air intakes 31a are formed in the center and outer edge of the seat surface 11c, and in particular, the first air intakes 31a are formed in the innermost part 11d, the front end part 11e, and both side parts 11f of the seat surface 11c as the outer edge parts, which is a point that differs from the seat air conditioning device 3 of the embodiment. Unless otherwise specified, the other configurations of this modified example are the same as those of the embodiment, and the same configurations and functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description of the configurations and functions will be omitted.

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a seat 1 equipped with a seat air conditioning device 3b in a second modified embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, the first air intake 31a is formed in the center and outer edge of the seat surface 11c. Here, the outer edge includes the rear portion 11d, the front end portion 11e, and both side portions 11f of the seat surface 11c. Note that although the outer edge is described here as including the rear portion 11d, the front end portion 11e, and both side portions 11f, it is sufficient that the outer edge is at least either the rear portion 11d or the front end portion 11e. Therefore, air is guided to the first ventilation passage 31 by the first air intake 31a provided in both the center and the outer edge.

According to this, by drawing in air from the first intake port 31a formed in the center of the seat surface 11c between the buttocks and thighs and the seat surface 11c, it is possible to suppress stuffiness of the buttocks and thighs. In addition, among the first intake ports 31a formed in the outer edge portion (the back portion 11d, the front end portion 11e, and both side portions 11f) of the seat surface 11c, the first intake ports 31a formed in the back portion 11d and the front end portion 11e of the seat surface 11c in particular are formed in positions that are less likely to be covered by the buttocks and thighs of the person, so that air around the seat can be drawn in. For example, even if air cannot be drawn in from the first intake port 31a formed in the center of the seat surface 11c, air can be drawn in from the first intake port 31a formed in the outer edge portion of the seat surface 11c, so that air can be discharged from the first discharge port 32a and the second discharge port 33a.

(Third Modification of the Embodiment)
This modification differs from the seat air-conditioning device 3 of the embodiment in that the seat air-conditioning device 3c further includes a second air intake 31b arranged at a position different from the first air intake 31a, a fourth air passage 31c1 connected to the second air intake 31b, and an air intake air passage selection switch 36 connected to the first air passage 31 and the fourth air passage 31c1. Unless otherwise specified, the other configurations of this modification are the same as those of the embodiment, and the same configurations and functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions of the configurations and functions are omitted.

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a seat 1 equipped with a seat air conditioning device 3c in a third modified embodiment of the present invention, and a cross-sectional view of the seat 1.

11, the second air intake 31b is disposed at a position different from the first air intake 31a. In this modified example, as in FIG. 9, the second air intake 31b is formed on the surface on the negative Z-axis direction side of the seat 10, and can intake air around the bottom of the seat 1. The second air intake 31b is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 11, and may be disposed on the side or back of the seat back 13, for example. The second air intake 31b may also be connected to an air conditioning device (not shown) mounted on the vehicle. The second air intake 31b is connected to the fourth ventilation passage 31c1, and the fourth ventilation passage 31c1 is connected to the intake ventilation passage selection switch 36. Similarly, the first ventilation passage 31 connected to the first air intake 31a is also connected to the intake ventilation passage selection switch 36.

The intake ventilation path selection switch 36 has the function of selecting at least one of the first ventilation path 31 and the fourth ventilation path 31c1. Since the intake ventilation path selection switch 36 is connected to the blower 34, air from the selected ventilation path is sucked in by the blower 34. Since the intake ventilation path selection switch 36 is electrically connected to the control unit 60, the control unit 60 can select at least one of the first ventilation path 31 and the fourth ventilation path 31c1.

With this configuration, the blower 34 is connected between the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 and the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit 35.

Here, the selection modes of the intake ventilation path selection switch 36 are defined as follows. First, the mode in which the first ventilation path 31 is connected to the blower 34 is defined as the fourth mode. Next, the mode in which the fourth ventilation path 31c1 is connected to the blower 34 is defined as the fifth mode. Next, the mode in which both the first ventilation path 31 and the fourth ventilation path 31c1 are connected to the blower 34 is defined as the sixth mode. Therefore, the control unit 60 switches the mode of the intake ventilation path selection switch 36 by selecting one of the fourth mode, the fifth mode, and the sixth mode. With this configuration, the control unit 60 can control the intake of air from at least one of the first intake port 31a and the second intake port 31b, and the blowing of air from at least one of the first discharge port 32a and the second discharge port 33a.

Next, the operation of the seat air conditioning device 3c of this modified example will be described. Normally, as described in the embodiment, the control unit 60 controls one of the first to third modes based on the output of the temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52, for example. At the same time, the control unit 60 controls one of the fourth to sixth modes. For example, if the output of the temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 is controlled to be in the fifth mode in order to actively take in the air that has been temperature-adjusted by the air conditioner. If the output of the temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52 tends to fall below the predetermined threshold, the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 is controlled to be in the sixth mode in order to take in the air of the seat surface 11c and generate an airflow that envelops the person. If the output of the temperature sensor 51 and the humidity sensor 52 falls below the predetermined threshold and becomes stable, the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 is controlled to be in the fourth mode in order to generate only the airflow that envelops the person. If the outputs of the temperature sensor 51 and humidity sensor 52 fluctuate, the control unit 60 compares them with predetermined thresholds and controls the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 to select the optimal mode described above.

This allows the selection and mixing of air drawn in from the first air intake 31a between the seat surface 11c and the person and air drawn in from the second air intake 31b formed outside the seat surface 11c. When the temperature of the air drawn in from the second air intake 31b is different from the temperature of the air drawn in from the first air intake 31a, the selection and mixing of the two makes it possible to adjust the temperature more precisely, thereby providing a more comfortable air-conditioned environment for the person sitting in the seat 1.

Next, the operation when, for example, a person gets into the vehicle in midsummer will be described. For example, when the control unit 60 determines that the vehicle door is unlocked when the vehicle is not in use and the temperature inside the vehicle from the air conditioner is equal to or higher than a threshold value (for example, 30°C), it performs the following operation.

The control unit 60 first (1) switches the intake ventilation path selection switch 36 to the fourth mode (air is taken in only from the seat surface 11c) and the exhaust ventilation path selection switch 35 to the first mode (air is discharged only toward the waist and back). By the operation of (1), when the air conditioner cannot blow cool air immediately after starting to use the vehicle, air can be blown only toward the person's waist and back, providing a feeling of coolness through the heat of vaporization caused by sweat. At this time, the air is not blown toward the neck and shoulders to prevent them from being exposed to lukewarm air.

Next, the control unit 60 (2) switches the intake ventilation path selection switch 36 to the fifth mode (air is taken in from other than the seat surface 11c) and the exhaust ventilation path selection switch 35 to the second mode (air is discharged only toward the neck and shoulders). When cool air starts to come out of the air conditioner as a result of the operation of (2), the cool air is actively taken in from the second intake port 31b, and the blowing of air toward the sweaty waist and back is stopped (to prevent excessive cooling), and the air is blown out from the neck and shoulders to cool them down.

Next, the control unit 60 (3) switches the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 to the sixth mode (intake of air from both the seat surface 11c and surfaces other than the seat surface 11c). The exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit 35 remains in the second mode (exhaust only toward the neck and shoulders). The operation of (3) also draws air in from the first intake port of the seat surface 11c, starting to generate an airflow that envelops the person, improving comfort.

Next, the control unit 60 (4) switches the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 to the fourth mode (intake of air only from the seat surface 11c). The exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit 35 remains in the second mode (exhaust only toward the neck and shoulders). The operation of (4) generates only an airflow that envelops the person, and stops taking in cool air from the air conditioner to prevent the person from getting too cold.

Next, the control unit 60 (5) switches the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit 35 to the third mode (exhausting toward both the waist and back and the neck and shoulders). The intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 remains in the fourth mode (intake air only from the seat surface 11c). The operation of (5) blows air not only to the neck and shoulders, but also to the waist and back, preventing heat build-up in the waist and back caused by long rides.

The control unit 60 switches between (1) to (5) based on the time elapsed since boarding and the outputs of the temperature sensor 51 and humidity sensor 52.

Accordingly, by having such an operating procedure under the control of the control unit 60, it is possible to improve comfort, especially when riding in the vehicle in midsummer.

(Fourth Modification of the Embodiment)
In this modification, the control unit 60 switches the intake air passage selection switcher 36 to the fifth mode and alternately switches the exhaust air passage selection switcher 35 between the first mode and the second mode for a second predetermined period while the intake air passage selection switcher 36 continues to be in the fourth mode or the sixth mode for a first predetermined period, which is different from the seat air conditioner 3c of the modification 3. Unless otherwise specified, the other configurations of this modification are the same as those of the modification 3, and the same configurations and functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description of the configurations and functions will be omitted.

Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the processing of the seat air conditioning device 3c in the fourth modified embodiment.

The structure of the seat air conditioning device 3c in this modified example is the same as that in FIG. 11 described in modified example 3, so the characteristic operation of this modified example will be described below with reference to FIG. 12.

The control unit 60 repeatedly executes the operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 12 while the vehicle is in use. When the flowchart of FIG. 12 is executed, the control unit 60 judges whether the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 is currently in the fourth mode (air intake only from the seat surface 11c) or the sixth mode (air intake from both the seat surface 11c and surfaces other than the seat surface 11c) (step S21). If it is not in either mode, i.e., the fifth mode (air intake from surfaces other than the seat surface 11c) (NO in S21), it is assumed that, for example, the inside of the vehicle is hot immediately after use and the air conditioner is actively discharging cool air, so it can be determined that the driver's attention is maintained. Therefore, the control unit 60 ends the flowchart of FIG. 12.

On the other hand, if the mode is the fourth or sixth mode (YES in S21), the control unit 60 judges whether a first predetermined period has elapsed since executing the flowchart in FIG. 12 (step S22). The first predetermined period is, for example, 30 minutes, and is the period until the driver's tension is relieved due to the continuation of the comfortable state that envelops the person in the fourth or sixth mode. If the first predetermined period has not elapsed (NO in S22), the process returns to step S21, and the control unit 60 repeats the operations from step S21 onwards.

On the other hand, if the first predetermined period has elapsed (YES in S22), it is assumed that the driver's tension has subsided, and the control unit 60 executes the following operation to alert the driver.

First, the control unit 60 switches the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 to the fifth mode (air intake from other than the seat surface 11c) (step S23). This interrupts the comfortable airflow that envelops the person. Next, the control unit 60 alternately switches the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit 35 between the first mode (air exhaust toward the waist and back) and the second mode (air exhaust toward the neck and shoulders) (step S24). Here, the timing of the alternate switching is set to, for example, every 30 seconds, which is assumed to be a time when it is possible to alert the driver. This operation interrupts the comfortable airflow for the driver, and the air is blown alternately toward the waist and back and the neck and shoulders, causing the driver to feel uncomfortable with the air conditioning. This allows the driver to be alerted that tension has been released.

Next, the control unit 60 determines whether a second predetermined period has elapsed since the operation of step S23 was first started (step S25). Here, the second predetermined period is set to, for example, 5 minutes, which is assumed to be enough to alert the driver by giving the driver the above-mentioned sense of discomfort. If the second predetermined period has not elapsed (NO in S25), the control unit 60 returns to step S23 and repeats the operations from step S23 onwards.

On the other hand, if the second predetermined period has elapsed (YES in S25), it is assumed that the driver's attention has been alerted, and the control unit 60 switches the intake ventilation path selection switch unit 36 and the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit 35 to the mode immediately before the flowchart in FIG. 12 was executed (original mode) (step S26). Then, the flowchart in FIG. 12 ends.

With this, when the airflow that envelops the person continues to be generated and the driver is particularly relaxed, air from the air conditioner, which has a different temperature than the seat surface (first air intake 31a), is drawn in only from the second air intake 31b, and the air is blown alternately onto the driver's waist and back and neck and shoulders, thereby alerting the driver.

(Other variations, etc.)
The present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments and modified examples of the embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments and modified examples of the embodiments.

For example, in the seat air conditioning device 3 according to each of the above-mentioned embodiments and the modified examples of the embodiments, the seat 1 may be provided with a seat heater. The seat heater is provided in at least one of the seat portion 10 and the seat back 13 of the seat 1 of a vehicle or the like, and heats the back, lower back, buttocks, thighs, etc. of a person by generating heat. The seat heater heats the seat 1 in a heating setting, and does not heat the seat 1 in a non-heating setting. The seat heater may be disposed between the first seat pad 11a and the first seat cover 11b, or between the second seat pad 13a and the second seat cover 13b. The seat heater may have a base material and a heater wire. The base material may be a nonwoven fabric formed into a sheet shape from a material having elasticity, flexibility, and ductility, a foaming resin such as cloth-like urethane, or the like. The heater wire may be a conductive wire that is electrically connected to a control unit 60 for controlling the power supplied to the heater wire, and is heated by power from a power supply unit 70 controlled by the control unit 60. The control unit 60 may be able to control the amount of heat generated by the heater wire by turning the current flowing through the heater wire on and off, or by changing the current value.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning devices according to the above-mentioned embodiments and the modified examples of the embodiments, the control unit may automatically select one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode to switch the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit, or the mode of the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit may be manually switched by a human operation.

In addition, in the seat air conditioning system according to each of the above embodiments and the modified examples of the embodiments, the control unit may acquire information indicating the temperature and humidity in the vehicle cabin from a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, etc. mounted on the vehicle, and may automatically select one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode based on the information indicating the temperature and humidity in the vehicle cabin from the temperature sensor, the humidity sensor, etc., which are sensors of the seat air conditioning system.

The processing units included in the seat air conditioners according to the above-described embodiments and the modified examples of the embodiments are typically realized as LSIs, which are integrated circuits. These may be implemented individually on a single chip, or may be implemented on a single chip that includes some or all of the processing units.

In addition, the integrated circuit is not limited to LSI, but may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. It is also possible to use an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after LSI manufacturing, or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connections and settings of circuit cells inside the LSI.

In each of the above embodiments and variations of the embodiments, each component may be configured with dedicated hardware, or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

Furthermore, all the numbers used above are examples to specifically explain this disclosure, and the embodiments and variations of the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the numbers shown as examples.

The division of functional blocks in the block diagram is one example, and multiple functional blocks may be realized as one functional block, one functional block may be divided into multiple blocks, or some functions may be transferred to other functional blocks. In addition, the functions of multiple functional blocks having similar functions may be processed in parallel or in a time-sharing manner by a single piece of hardware or software.

The order in which each step in the flowchart is performed is merely an example to specifically explain the present disclosure, and the steps may be performed in an order other than the above. Some of the steps may be performed simultaneously (in parallel) with other steps.

In addition, this disclosure also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to the embodiments and modifications of the embodiments that would come to mind by a person skilled in the art, and forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of the embodiments and modifications of the embodiments within the scope of the spirit of this disclosure.

This disclosure can be used, for example, in seats for vehicles and other moving objects, sofas, etc.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 seat 3, 3a, 3b, 3c seat air conditioning device 10 seat portion 31, 131 first ventilation passage 31a first intake port 31b second intake port 31c1 fourth ventilation passage 32 second ventilation passage 32a first discharge port 33 third ventilation passage 33a second discharge port 34 blower 35 discharge ventilation passage selection switcher 36 intake ventilation passage selection switcher 51 temperature sensor 52 humidity sensor 60 control section

Claims (13)

A seat air conditioning device for use in a seat,
A blower and
a first ventilation passage that guides air drawn in by the blower through a first air intake port provided in a seat portion on which a person sits on the seat;
a second ventilation passage for discharging the air guided to the first ventilation passage by the blower from a first outlet provided in the seat;
a third ventilation passage that is different from the second ventilation passage and that discharges the air guided to the first ventilation passage by the blower from a second outlet provided in the seat;
an exhaust ventilation passage selection switch unit that is provided on the first exhaust port and the second exhaust port side of the blower and that selects and switches at least one of the second ventilation passage and the third ventilation passage for the air guided to the first ventilation passage,
the first air intake port, the first ventilation passage, the blower, the exhaust ventilation passage selection switching unit, the second ventilation passage, the first exhaust port, the third ventilation passage, and the second exhaust port are built into the sheet;
The first air intake port is disposed vertically below the first air outlet port and the second air outlet port, and draws in air from a seat surface, which is a surface of the seat on which a person sits,
The first ventilation passage is provided in the seat portion and extends from the first intake port to the exhaust ventilation passage selection switch portion via the blower ,
A control unit is provided to control the blower and the exhaust ventilation path selection switch unit,
The exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit is
a first mode in which air guided to the first ventilation passage is guided only to the second ventilation passage, thereby discharging air from the first discharge port;
a second mode in which air guided to the first ventilation passage is guided only to the third ventilation passage, thereby discharging air from the second outlet port;
a third mode in which air guided to the first ventilation passage is guided to the second ventilation passage and the third ventilation passage simultaneously, thereby discharging air from the first discharge port and the second discharge port simultaneously;
The control unit switches the mode of the discharge-air-passage-path selection switching unit by selecting one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.
Seat air conditioning. The seat air conditioning device according to claim 1 , wherein the first outlet port is disposed vertically below the second outlet port. At least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor is provided,
The seat air conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit switches the mode of the discharge-air-passage-channel selection switch unit based on information indicating a temperature detected by the temperature sensor and information indicating a humidity detected by the humidity sensor. The seat air conditioning device according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor is arranged in the first ventilation passage or the discharge ventilation passage selection switch portion. The seat air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when driving the blower, the control unit first switches the outlet ventilation path selection switch unit to the first mode, then to the second mode, and then to the third mode. At least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor is provided,
6. The seat air conditioning device according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit switches the discharge ventilation path selection switch unit to the first mode when at least one of the temperature and the humidity is stabilized within a predetermined range based on at least one of information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and information indicating the humidity detected by the humidity sensor. The first ventilation passage communicates with a second intake port that is a different intake port from the first intake port,
The seat air-conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second air intake port is formed on a surface of the seat other than the seat surface. The first outlet is disposed at a position corresponding to at least one of a person's back and a person's waist,
The seat air-conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second outlet port is arranged at a position corresponding to at least one of a person's head, neck, and acromion. The seat air-conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the first air intake ports are formed in a central portion and an outer edge portion of the seat surface. The seat air-conditioning device according to claim 9 , wherein the outer edge portion is at least one of a deep portion and a front end portion of the seat surface. a second air intake port disposed at a position different from the first air intake port; a fourth air passage connected to the second air intake port; and an air intake passage selection switch connected to the first air passage and the fourth air passage,
The intake ventilation path selection switch unit is connected to the control unit,
The blower is connected between the intake ventilation path selection switching unit and the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit,
The intake air passage selection switch unit has a fourth mode in which the first air passage is connected to the fan, a fifth mode in which the fourth air passage is connected to the fan, and a sixth mode in which the first air passage and the fourth air passage are connected to the fan,
The seat air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control unit switches the mode of the intake ventilation path selection switch unit by selecting one of the fourth mode, the fifth mode, and the sixth mode. 12. The seat air conditioning device of claim 11, wherein the control unit has the following operational steps: (1) switch the intake ventilation path selection switching unit to the fourth mode and the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit to the first mode; (2) switch the intake ventilation path selection switching unit to the fifth mode and the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit to the second mode; (3) switch the intake ventilation path selection switching unit to the sixth mode; (4) switch the intake ventilation path selection switching unit to the fourth mode; and (5) switch the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit to the third mode. The seat air conditioning device according to claim 11, wherein when the intake ventilation path selection switching unit continues the fourth mode or the sixth mode for a first predetermined period, the control unit switches the intake ventilation path selection switching unit to the fifth mode and alternately switches the exhaust ventilation path selection switching unit between the first mode and the second mode for a second predetermined period.

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