JP7684546B2 - Vehicle seat device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat device, and more particularly to a vehicle seat device equipped with a headrest.

A vehicle seat device used in automobiles and the like is known in which the headrest attached to the top of the seat back is configured so that both the left and right sides can be folded forward separately, so that the right side of the headrest folds forward when turning left, and the left side of the headrest folds forward when turning right, supporting the head of the seated occupant and reducing motion sickness (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2020-59349 A

Conventional vehicle seat devices that aim to reduce motion sickness involve large movements when performing motion sickness reduction actions.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to reduce motion sickness in a vehicle seat device without causing large movements.

A vehicle seat device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle seat device (10) including a seat body (20) having a seat cushion (22), a seat back (26) connected to the rear of the seat cushion, and a headrest (28) attached to the seat back, the headrest including a main body portion (29) that supports the head of a seated occupant, and a neck support portion (33) that is provided at the bottom of the main body portion and can protrude forward, and further including a behavior detection device (60, 62) that detects acceleration and turning of the vehicle, and a control device that controls the neck support portion to protrude forward when the acceleration or turning of the vehicle is detected by the behavior detection device.

This configuration can reduce motion sickness without large movements.

In the vehicle seat device, the neck support portion preferably includes an airbag (32) that is inflated forward when compressed air is supplied to the neck support portion.

With this configuration, the neck support section has a simple structure.

In the above vehicle seat device, preferably, the headrest includes an upper member (40) fixed to the seat back and forming the main body, and a lower member (42) disposed below the upper member so as to be displaceable in the front-rear direction and forming the neck support portion, and the neck support portion includes a linear actuator (48) that displaces the lower member in the front-rear direction relative to the upper member.

This configuration provides a neck support section that can be accurately displaced in the front-to-rear direction.

In the vehicle seat device, preferably, the behavior detection device includes an acceleration detection device (60) that detects the acceleration in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle, and the control device controls the neck support portion to protrude forward more when the acceleration is large than when the acceleration is small.

This configuration allows the seated occupant to recognize the magnitude of acceleration and is less likely to suffer from motion sickness.

In the vehicle seat device, preferably, the behavior detection device includes a steering angle detection device (62) that detects the steering angle of the vehicle, and the control device controls the neck support portion to protrude forward more when the steering angle is large than when the steering angle is small.

This configuration allows the seated occupant to recognize the magnitude of the steering angle and reduces the risk of motion sickness.

In the vehicle seat device, preferably, the control device includes an input unit that inputs navigation information including the vehicle's current location information and driving route information on the vehicle's map data from a navigation device (70) mounted on the vehicle, and when the curvature of the road on the driving route at the current location or a predetermined distance ahead of the current location is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the control device increases the forward protrusion amount of the neck support portion compared to when the curvature is less than the predetermined value.

This configuration allows the seated occupant to recognize the curvature of the road ahead of time, making them less likely to suffer from motion sickness.

In the vehicle seat device, preferably, the control device controls a vibration action that repeatedly causes the neck support portion to protrude forward.

With this configuration, the seated occupant is less likely to suffer from motion sickness due to vibration stimulation.

The vehicle seat device of the present invention can reduce motion sickness without causing large movements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a vehicle seat device according to the present invention; 1 is a block diagram of a control system for a vehicle seat device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view, partially in section, showing another embodiment of a vehicle seat device according to the present invention;

Below, one embodiment of a vehicle seat device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

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

The seat body 20 has a seat cushion 22 that forms a seat surface, and a seat back 26 that forms a backrest surface and is connected to the rear of the seat cushion 22 by an electric reclining device 24 so that the angle of inclination about a horizontal axis can be changed. A headrest 28 is attached to the upper part of the seat back 26 by a post 30 that extends upward from the seat back 26.

The headrest 28 includes a main body 29 that supports the head of the seated occupant, and a neck support 33 that is attached to the lower part of the main body 29 and can protrude forward. The neck support 33 has an airbag (air cell) 32 built in. The airbag 32 is supplied with compressed air and expands forward. The neck support 33 protrudes forward when the airbag 32 expands.

A control device 50 is provided under the seat cushion 22.

The control system of the seat device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The control device 50 is an electronic information processing device including a microcomputer, and has an input unit 52, a calculation processing unit 54, and an output unit 56.

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

The acceleration sensor 60 outputs information regarding the acceleration in the forward/rearward and left/right directions of the vehicle to the input unit 52. The steering angle sensor 62 outputs vector information regarding the steering angle of the vehicle to the input unit 52. The vehicle speed sensor 64 outputs information regarding the traveling speed of the vehicle to the input unit 52.

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

The calculation processing unit 54 generates a control command to inflate the airbag 32 to a predetermined volume based on the input information from the input unit 52 when the vehicle is performing a driving behavior that is likely to cause motion sickness, such as when accelerating in the forward/rearward direction, when the vehicle is turning as can be determined from the lateral acceleration and steering angle, and passes the control command to the output unit 56. This control command may be an oscillation control command for a vibration operation that repeatedly inflates the airbag 32.

When the airbag 32 inflates, the neck support section 33 protrudes forward, improving support for the neck of the seated person, particularly the cervical vertebrae, and making the neck less likely to shake. This makes it less likely for motion sickness to occur or reduces the severity of motion sickness.

The forward protrusion of the neck support portion 33 requires less movement than when both the left and right sides of the headrest are bent forward, improving responsiveness.

Furthermore, the calculation processing unit 54 corrects the above-mentioned control command so that the greater the left-right acceleration and its change (differential value), the greater the steering angle and its change (differential value), and the higher the vehicle speed, the greater the inflation of the airbag 32, in other words, the greater the forward protrusion of the neck support part 33.

When the current location of the vehicle or the road along the travel route a predetermined distance ahead of the current location is curved, the calculation processing unit 54 generates a control command to inflate the airbag 32 to a predetermined volume based on the navigation information input to the input unit 52, and passes the control command to the output unit 56. This control command may also be an oscillation control command for a vibration operation that repeatedly inflates the airbag 32. The predetermined distance from the current location may be a distance equivalent to a point in time about several tens of seconds before the vehicle enters the curved road, and may be set relative to the vehicle speed.

Furthermore, the calculation processing unit 54 corrects the above-mentioned control command based on the navigation information so that when the curvature of the road on the travel route at the current location or a predetermined distance ahead of the current location is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (when there is a sharp curve), the airbag 32 is inflated to a greater extent than when the curvature is less than the predetermined value (when there is a gentle curve), in other words, so that the neck support part 33 protrudes forward to a greater extent.

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

As a result, the airbag 32 repeatedly inflates and deforms with a period (frequency) according to the compressed air supply/discharge cycle, and with a size determined by the compressed air supply/discharge time in each cycle. In other words, the airbag 32 vibrates with a variable frequency and variable amplitude determined by the control command, and can provide the seated occupant with a vibration stimulus suitable for reducing motion sickness via the neck support section 33. Vibrations suitable for reducing motion sickness include vibrations with frequencies, amplitudes, and waveforms that have the effect of correcting autonomic nerve activity. The vibration waveform is determined by the speed at which compressed air is supplied to and discharged from the airbag 32.

In the seat device 10 of this embodiment, navigation information is used to detect turning in advance, so that prior to the turning, that is, immediately before the vehicle changes from straight driving to curved driving, the neck support portion 33 protrudes forward by inflating the airbag 32, thereby improving the support for the neck of the seated occupant. In this way, the support for the neck of the seated occupant is improved prior to turning, making it even less likely that motion sickness will occur.

The control device 50 controls the airbag 32 to inflate more as the acceleration in the forward/backward direction, the acceleration in the left/right direction, the steering angle and its changes, or the sharper the curve, so the seated occupant can recognize the acceleration in the forward/backward direction and the left/right direction, the steering angle and its changes, or the degree of the curve, based on the amount of forward projection of the neck support part 33, and this recognition also makes it less likely that motion sickness will occur.

Next, another embodiment of the vehicle seat device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

In this embodiment, the headrest 28 includes an upper member 40 that is fixed to the seat back 26 by posts 30 and forms the upper part of the headrest 28, and a lower member 42 that forms the lower part of the headrest and is provided at the lower part of the upper member 40 so as to be displaceable in the front-rear direction by guide rails 44, 46. The upper member 40 forms the main body of the headrest 28, and the lower member 42 forms the neck support part.

The post 30 passes through an opening 42A formed in the lower member 42 and has an upper end fixed to the lower surface of the upper member 40. The guide rails 44, 46 are linear guides that are fitted together to be relatively movable in the front-rear direction, with the guide rail 44 fixed to the lower surface of the upper member 40 and the guide rail 46 fixed to the upper surface of the lower member 42.

A linear actuator 48 is attached to the lower part of the upper member 40 by a bracket 45. The operating rod 49 of the linear actuator 48 is connected to the lower member 42 by the bracket 45.

The linear actuator 48 may be either hydraulic or electric, and displaces the lower member 42 in the forward and backward directions relative to the upper member 40.

The linear actuator 48 may be controlled by a control device equivalent to the control device 50 described above. This allows the lower member 42 to operate in the same manner as the neck support section 33 of the embodiment described above, and provides the same effects as the embodiment described above.

The present invention has been described above in terms of its preferred embodiment, but as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, multiple airbags 32, for example, three airbags on the left, right and center, may be aligned and positioned in the headrest 28, and these airbags 32 may be individually inflated to further improve support for the neck of the seated occupant.

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

10: Seat device 12: Slide rail device 20: Seat body 22: Seat cushion 24: Electric reclining device 26: Seat back 28: Headrest 29: Main body 30: Post 32: Airbag 33: Neck support section 40: Upper member 42: Lower member 42A: Opening 44: Guide rail 45: Bracket 46: Guide rail 48: Linear actuator 49: Actuating rod 50: Control device 52: Input section 54: Arithmetic processing section 56: Output section 58: Airbag control section 60: Acceleration sensor (behavior detection device)
62: Steering angle sensor (behavior detection device)
64: Vehicle speed sensor (vehicle speed detection device)
70: Navigation device

Claims (7)

A vehicle seat device including a seat body having a seat cushion, a seat back connected to a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a headrest attached to the seat back,
The headrest includes a main body portion that supports the head of a seated occupant, and a neck support portion that is provided at a lower portion of the main body portion and can protrude forward,
Furthermore, a behavior detection device that detects acceleration and turning of the vehicle;
a control device that controls the neck support portion to protrude forward when the vehicle acceleration or turning is detected by the behavior detection device ,
The headrest includes an upper member fixed to the seat back and forming the main body, and a lower member disposed below the upper member and displaceable in the front-rear direction and forming the neck support . A vehicle seat device including a seat body having a seat cushion, a seat back connected to a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a headrest attached to the seat back,
The headrest includes a main body portion that supports the head of a seated occupant, and a neck support portion that is provided at a lower portion of the main body portion and can protrude forward,
Furthermore, a behavior detection device that detects acceleration and turning of the vehicle;
a control device that controls the neck support portion to protrude forward when the vehicle acceleration or turning is detected by the behavior detection device,
The headrest includes an upper member fixed to the seat back and constituting the main body, and a lower member provided below the upper member so as to be displaceable in the front-rear direction and constituting the neck support portion,
The neck support portion includes a linear actuator that displaces the lower member in the front-rear direction relative to the upper member . A vehicle seat device including a seat body having a seat cushion, a seat back connected to a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a headrest attached to the seat back,
The headrest includes a main body portion that supports the head of a seated occupant, and a neck support portion that is provided at a lower portion of the main body portion and can protrude forward,
Furthermore, a behavior detection device that detects acceleration and turning of the vehicle;
a control device that controls the neck support portion to protrude forward when the vehicle acceleration or turning is detected by the behavior detection device,
the behavior detection device includes an acceleration detection device that detects acceleration in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction of the vehicle,
The vehicle seat apparatus , wherein the control device performs control so as to increase the forward protrusion amount of the neck support portion when the acceleration is large compared to when the acceleration is small. A vehicle seat device including a seat body having a seat cushion, a seat back connected to a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a headrest attached to the seat back,
The headrest includes a main body portion that supports the head of a seated occupant, and a neck support portion that is provided at a lower portion of the main body portion and can protrude forward,
Furthermore, a behavior detection device that detects acceleration and turning of the vehicle;
a control device that controls the neck support portion to protrude forward when the vehicle acceleration or turning is detected by the behavior detection device,
the behavior detection device includes a steering angle detection device that detects a steering angle of the vehicle,
The control device performs control to increase the forward protrusion amount of the neck support portion when the steering angle is large compared to when the steering angle is small . A vehicle seat device including a seat body having a seat cushion, a seat back connected to a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a headrest attached to the seat back,
The headrest includes a main body portion that supports the head of a seated occupant, and a neck support portion that is provided at a lower portion of the main body portion and can protrude forward,
Furthermore, a behavior detection device that detects acceleration and turning of the vehicle;
a control device that controls the neck support portion to protrude forward when the vehicle acceleration or turning is detected by the behavior detection device,
The control device includes an input unit that inputs navigation information including current location information of the vehicle and driving route information on map data of the vehicle from a navigation device mounted on the vehicle, and when the curvature of the road at the current location or on the driving route a predetermined distance ahead of the current location is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the vehicle seat device performs control to increase the amount of forward protrusion of the neck support portion compared to when the curvature is less than the predetermined value . A vehicle seat device including a seat body having a seat cushion, a seat back connected to a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a headrest attached to the seat back,
The headrest includes a main body portion that supports the head of a seated occupant, and a neck support portion that is provided at a lower portion of the main body portion and can protrude forward,
Furthermore, a behavior detection device that detects acceleration and turning of the vehicle;
a control device that controls the neck support portion to protrude forward when the vehicle acceleration or turning is detected by the behavior detection device,
The control device is a vehicle seat device that controls a vibration action that repeatedly causes the neck support portion to protrude forward . 7. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the neck support portion includes an airbag that is inflated forward by being supplied with compressed air.

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