JP7729073B2 - Device and method for measuring body length in a seated position, and device and method for setting driving posture - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a seated torso length measuring device and a seated torso length measuring method that measure the torso length of a subject seated in a seat, as well as a driving posture setting device and a driving posture setting method that are equipped with the seated torso length measuring device and the seated torso length measuring method and control the posture of a vehicle seat to achieve an appropriate driving posture.

An appropriate driving posture for occupants is generally recommended for driving a vehicle safely, securely, and comfortably. This driving posture can be set (adjusted) by adjusting some or all of the following: the tilt of the seat back, the position of the seat cushion in the fore-and-aft direction, the position (height) of the seat cushion in the up-and-down direction, the tilt of the seat cushion's seat surface, the up-and-down position of the steering wheel, and the fore-and-aft position of the steering wheel. When driving a vehicle, occupants adjust some or all of these parameters to suit their own body type to adjust their driving posture. In recent years, technology for automatically adjusting driving posture has been researched and developed, as disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1.

The vehicle control system disclosed in Patent Document 1 comprises: a camera fixed at a predetermined position within the vehicle cabin so that its optical axis is inclined at a predetermined fixed angle relative to a predetermined reference direction; a physical information calculation means for calculating physical information related to the driver's seat height using at least the position of the driver's eyes in an image captured by the camera and the reclining angle and sliding amount of the driver's seat relative to the reference direction at the time the image was captured as parameters; a seat recommendation value acquisition means for acquiring recommended values for the reclining angle and sliding amount based on the physical information calculated by the physical information calculation means; and a seat control means for controlling the actual reclining angle and sliding amount so that they match the recommended values acquired by the seat recommendation value acquisition means.

JP 2014-201174 A

However, when the seat back of a seat is tilted farther back, i.e., when the reclining angle increases, the head or back of the person seated in the seat may move away from the headrest or seat back rather than coming into contact with them. In such cases, the eye height position of the person will be shifted compared to when the head and back of the person are in contact with the headrest and seat back. For this reason, when physical information related to the driver's sitting height is calculated using parameters such as the position of the driver's eyes in an image captured by a camera and the reclining angle and sliding amount of the driver's seat relative to a reference direction at the time the image was captured, as in the vehicle control system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the physical information will contain an error equivalent to this shift, and as a result, there is a risk that the position of the vehicle seat cannot be controlled to achieve an appropriate driving posture.

The present invention was made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a seated torso length measuring device and a seated torso length measuring method that can measure torso length (sitting height) more accurately in a seated position, as well as a driving posture setting device and a driving posture setting method that are equipped with this seated torso length measuring device and seated torso length measuring method and can more appropriately control the posture of a vehicle seat to achieve a driving posture that suits the occupant.

After extensive investigation, the inventors have found that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by the present invention described below. Specifically, a seated torso length measuring device according to one aspect of the present invention includes an eye height measuring unit that measures the eye height of a subject seated in a seat; a torso length processing unit that calculates the torso length of the subject based on the eye height measured by the eye height measuring unit; and a correction unit that corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measuring unit based on the reclining angle of the seat back before calculating the torso length of the subject using the torso length processing unit. Preferably, in the seated torso length measuring device described above, the torso length processing unit calculates the torso length of the subject based on the eye height corrected by the correction unit. Preferably, in the seated torso length measuring device described above, the correction unit corrects the torso length of the subject calculated by the torso length processing unit to be longer the greater the reclining angle. Here, the torso length (sitting height) is the length from the hip point to the top of the head when in an upright position. Height is the length from the sole of the foot to the top of the head when standing, and leg length is the length from the sole of the foot to the hip point when standing.

This type of seated body length measurement device corrects the eye height when calculating the subject's body length based on the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit. This eliminates the need to improve the algorithm used to calculate body length in the body length processing unit, and allows for more accurate body length measurement in a seated position using the existing algorithm.

In another aspect, in the above-described seated torso length measurement device, the correction unit corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit so that the torso length of the subject is calculated based on the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit when the subject's head and back are in contact with the headrest and seat back. Preferably, in the above-described seated torso length measurement device, the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit is a second height in the height direction relative to the first height of the eye height measurement unit, and the torso length processing unit calculates the torso length of the subject as a result of subtracting a second sum of a fourth distance from the predetermined reference plane to a fourth height of the seat surface and a fifth distance from the fourth height to a fifth height of the subject's hip point from a first sum of a first distance from the predetermined reference plane to the first height of the eye height measurement unit, a second distance from the first height to the second height, and a third distance from the second height to a third height of the top of the head. Preferably, the device further includes a memory unit that stores the first distance, the third distance, the fourth distance, and the fifth distance. Preferably, the first distance and the fourth distance are given as design values, and the third distance and the fifth distance are given as statistical values. Preferably, the device further includes a memory unit that stores the first distance, the third distance, and the fifth distance, and a seat height acquisition unit that acquires the fourth distance.

This type of seated torso length measuring device corrects the subject's torso length calculated by the torso length processing unit so that it is the length when the head and back are in contact with the headrest and seat back. Therefore, when this seated torso length measuring device is used by another device, there is no need to modify the other device.

In another aspect, the above-described seated torso length measurement device further includes a correction coefficient information storage unit that stores correction coefficient information representing the correspondence between the reclining angle and a correction coefficient, and an angle acquisition unit that acquires the reclining angle. The correction unit calculates a correction coefficient corresponding to the reclining angle acquired by the angle acquisition unit based on the correction coefficient information stored in the correction coefficient information storage unit, and corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit by multiplying the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit by the calculated correction coefficient. Preferably, in the above-described seated torso length measurement device, the correction coefficient is set to 1 when the reclining angle is a predetermined angle (basic angle) and increases as the reclining angle increases. Preferably, the reclining angle is the angle between the vertical direction and the seat back, where 0 is the reference angle when the seat back is aligned vertically, and the predetermined angle (basic angle) is a value between 23 degrees and 24 degrees.

This type of seated torso length measurement device stores a correction coefficient in advance, allowing for easy and quick correction by simply multiplying the subject's eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit by the correction coefficient.

A method for measuring torso length in a seated position according to another aspect of the present invention includes an eye height measurement step for measuring the eye height of a subject seated in a seat; a torso length processing step for determining the torso length of the subject based on the eye height measured in the eye height measurement step; and a correction step for correcting the eye height measured in the eye height measurement step based on the reclining angle of the seat back of the seat before determining the torso length of the subject in the torso length processing step.

This method of measuring torso length in a seated position corrects the eye height when calculating the subject's torso length based on the eye height measured in the eye height measurement process. This eliminates the need to improve the algorithm for calculating torso length in the torso length processing process, and allows for more accurate measurement of torso length in a seated position using the existing algorithm.

A driving posture setting device according to another aspect of the present invention comprises any one of the above-described seated body length measuring devices, a vehicle seat for use in a vehicle as the seat, an input unit that accepts input of the height of the occupant, with the subject as the occupant, a height dimension ratio information storage unit that stores height dimension ratio information that associates dimension ratio information representing the dimension ratios of specific body parts related to driving posture with height and torso length, a seat drive unit that moves the posture of the vehicle seat, a dimension ratio determination unit that determines dimension ratio information related to the occupant's height received by the input unit and the torso length measured by the seated body length measuring device based on the height dimension ratio information stored in the height dimension ratio information storage unit, and a posture control unit that controls the seat drive unit so that the posture of the vehicle seat is set to a posture corresponding to the driving posture based on the occupant's height received by the input unit and the dimension ratio information determined by the dimension ratio determination unit. Preferably, the driving posture setting device further comprises: a class feature information storage unit that stores class feature information in which a plurality of different classes into which body types are classified according to dimensional ratios of predetermined second body parts are associated with a plurality of predetermined feature amounts that characterize the classes; a torso length ratio processing unit that calculates the leg length of the occupant based on the occupant's height received by the input unit and the occupant's torso length calculated by the seated posture torso length measuring device, and calculates a torso length ratio that is the ratio of the torso length to the leg length, and uses the occupant's height received by the input unit and the calculated torso length ratio as the feature amount; and a class identification unit that identifies a class corresponding to the occupant's feature amount processed by the torso length ratio processing unit based on the class feature information stored in the class feature information storage unit, and associates the dimension ratio information with the height and the torso length. The height dimension ratio information is dimension ratio information associated with the feature quantities, which are the occupant's height received by the input unit and the torso length ratio calculated based on the occupant's height received by the input unit and the torso length measured by the seated torso length measurement device, and the dimension ratio information is a plurality of dimension ratio information further associated with each of the plurality of classes associated with each of the plurality of feature quantities. The height dimension ratio information storage unit stores class dimension ratio information that associates each of the plurality of classes with each of the plurality of dimension ratio information. The dimension ratio identification unit identifies the dimension ratio information related to the occupant's height received by the input unit and the torso length measured by the seated torso length measurement device based on the class dimension ratio information stored in the height dimension ratio information storage unit and corresponding to the class identified by the class identification unit.

This provides a driving posture setting device that is equipped with a seated torso length measuring device and can more appropriately control the posture of the vehicle seat to achieve a driving posture that suits the occupant. Because the driving posture setting device is equipped with one of the seated torso length measuring devices described above, it can measure torso length more accurately, thereby enabling more accurate control of the posture of the vehicle seat.

In another aspect, the driving posture setting device described above further includes a steering device capable of changing the posture of the steering wheel, and the posture control unit further controls the steering device so that the posture of the steering wheel corresponds to the driving posture based on the occupant's height received by the input unit and the dimensional ratio information identified by the dimensional ratio identification unit. In other words, the posture control unit controls the seat drive unit and the steering device so that the posture of the vehicle seat and the posture of the steering wheel correspond to the driving posture based on the occupant's height received by the input unit and the dimensional ratio information identified by the dimensional ratio identification unit.

This type of driving posture setting device controls not only the posture of the vehicle seat but also the posture of the steering wheel, allowing for a more appropriate driving posture.

A driving posture setting method according to another aspect of the present invention includes the above-described seated torso length measurement method, in which a vehicle seat used in a vehicle is used as the seat; height dimension ratio information, which associates dimension ratio information representing the dimension ratios of predetermined body parts related to driving posture with height and torso length, is stored in a height dimension ratio information storage unit; and the method controls the posture of the vehicle seat, including an input process for accepting input of the height of the subject as an occupant; a dimension ratio specification process for specifying dimension ratio information related to the occupant's height received in the input process and the torso length measured by the seated torso length measurement method, based on the height dimension ratio information stored in the height dimension ratio information storage unit; and a posture control process for controlling the posture of the vehicle seat so that the posture of the vehicle seat corresponds to the driving posture based on the occupant's height received in the input process and the dimension ratio information specified in the dimension ratio specification process.

This provides a driving posture setting method that includes a seated torso length measurement method and can more appropriately control the posture of the vehicle seat to achieve a driving posture that suits the occupant. Because the driving posture setting method includes the seated torso length measurement method described above, it can measure torso length more accurately, allowing for more accurate control of the vehicle seat posture.

In another aspect, in the driving posture setting method described above, the posture control step further controls the posture of the steering wheel so that the posture of the steering wheel corresponds to the driving posture based on the occupant's height received in the input step and the dimensional ratio information identified in the dimensional ratio identification step.

This driving posture setting method controls not only the posture of the vehicle seat but also the posture of the steering wheel, allowing for a more appropriate driving posture.

The seated torso length measuring device and seated torso length measuring method of the present invention can measure torso length (sitting height) more accurately while in a seated position. The present invention provides a driving posture setting device and driving posture setting method that are equipped with this seated torso length measuring device and seated torso length measuring method and can more appropriately control the posture of a vehicle seat to achieve a driving posture that suits the occupant.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a driving posture setting device including a seated posture torso length measuring device according to an embodiment. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second input unit of the driving position setting device. FIG. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining a first input unit and an eye height measurement unit of the driving posture setting device. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating class feature information as an example. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an appropriate driving posture. 1 is a diagram for explaining a method for calculating torso length, and the definitions of height, torso length, and leg length. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating correction coefficient information as an example. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a correction method for measuring torso length in a seated posture. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the driving posture setting device. 1A to 1C are diagrams showing, as examples, screens displayed on a display device.

One or more embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Components with the same reference numerals in each drawing are identical components, and their description will be omitted where appropriate. In this specification, generic reference numerals are used without subscripts to refer to components, and subscripted reference numerals are used to refer to individual components.

In one embodiment, the driving posture setting device controls the posture of a vehicle seat to achieve an appropriate driving position for an occupant seated in the vehicle seat. The driving posture setting device includes a vehicle seat for use in a vehicle; a seated body length measurement device that measures the body length of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat; an input unit that accepts input of the occupant's height; a height dimension ratio information storage unit that stores height dimension ratio information that associates body height and body length with dimension ratio information representing the dimensional ratios of specific body parts related to driving posture; a seat drive unit that controls the posture of the vehicle seat; a dimension ratio determination unit that determines dimension ratio information related to the occupant's height accepted by the input unit and the body length measured by the seated body length measurement device based on the height dimension ratio information stored in the height dimension ratio information storage unit; and a posture control unit that controls the seat drive unit to adjust the posture of the vehicle seat to a posture corresponding to the driving posture based on the occupant's height accepted by the input unit and the dimension ratio information determined by the dimension ratio determination unit. The seated body length measuring device includes an eye height measuring unit that measures the eye height of a subject (a passenger in this case) seated in a seat (a vehicle seat in this case), a body length processing unit that calculates the body length of the subject based on the eye height measured by the eye height measuring unit, and a correction unit that corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measuring unit based on the reclining angle of the seat back before the body length of the subject is calculated by the body length processing unit. A driving posture setting device equipped with such a seated body length measuring device will be described in more detail below.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a driving posture setting device equipped with a seated torso length measurement device in an embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a second input unit of the driving posture setting device. Figure 2A is a perspective view, and Figure 2B is a side view. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a first input unit and eye height measurement unit of the driving posture setting device. Figure 3A is a perspective view of the driver's seat (an example of a vehicle seat), and Figure 3B is a side view thereof. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating class feature information, as an example. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an appropriate driving posture. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a method for calculating torso length and the definitions of height, torso length, and leg length. Figure 6A is a diagram illustrating a method for calculating torso length, and Figure 6B is a diagram illustrating the definitions of height, torso length, and leg length. Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating correction coefficient information, as an example. The horizontal axis of Figure 7 represents the reclining angle, and the vertical axis represents the correction coefficient. Figure 8 is a diagram explaining a correction method for measuring torso length in a seated position. Figure 8A is a diagram explaining the difference in eye height due to differences in reclining angle, Figure 8B is a diagram explaining a state in which the back is away from the seat back and the upper body is slightly leaning forward, and Figure 8C is a diagram explaining a state in which the back is in contact with the seat back and the upper body is stretched along the seat back.

In the following description, terms indicating directions such as "front," "rear," "right," "left," "up," and "down" refer to the respective directions of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling forward, with "front" being the direction of travel.

In this embodiment, the driving posture setting device D includes, for example, an input unit 1, an eye height measurement unit 2, a control processing unit 3, a memory unit 4, a seat drive unit 5, a steering device 6, and a display device 7, as shown in FIG. 1.

The seat driver 5 is connected to the control processor 3 and controls the position of the vehicle seat ST under the control of the control processor 3. The vehicle seat ST is a device used in a vehicle for a passenger DV to sit on. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle seat ST includes a seat cushion SC forming a seat surface, a seat back SB attached at its lower end (one end) to the rear end (other end) of the seat cushion SC and serving as a backrest, and a pillow-shaped headrest HR attached at the upper end (other end) of the seat back SB. The vehicle seat ST incorporates the seat driver 5. In this embodiment, the seat driver 5 includes, for example, an electric reclining mechanism 51 that adjusts the tilt of the seat back SB, an electric slide mechanism 52 that adjusts the position (front-rear position) of the seat cushion SC in the fore-and-aft direction, an electric lift mechanism 53 that adjusts the position (vertical position, height) of the seat cushion SC in the up-down direction, and an electric tilt mechanism 54 that adjusts the height of the front end (one end) of the seat cushion SC in the up-down direction to adjust the tilt of the seat surface of the seat cushion SC. Such motorized reclining mechanism 51, slide mechanism 52, lift mechanism 53, and tilt mechanism 54 are configured using known conventional means, as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2011-79472, 2019-172016, and 2006-218882. The inclination of the seat back SB is expressed by the angle (reclining angle) between a normal to a horizontal plane (e.g., the vehicle floor surface FL) and a line extending in the direction of the seat back SB's approximate height. The reclining angle when the seat back SB is aligned in the vertical direction (normal direction) is defined as the reference angle of 0 degrees. Therefore, the smaller the reclining angle, the more the seat back SB is positioned upright, while the larger the reclining angle, the more the seat back SB is tilted backward and reclined. The inclination of the seating surface is expressed by the angle between the horizontal plane and the seating surface.

The input unit 1 is connected to the control processing unit 3 and is a device that inputs various instructions (various commands), such as instructions to move the posture of the vehicle seat ST (instructions to adjust the posture of the vehicle seat ST), and various data necessary to operate the driving posture setting device D (seated posture torso length measuring device), such as the height of the occupant DV, to the driving posture setting device D. In this embodiment, the input unit 1 includes a first input unit 11, a second input unit 12, and a third input unit 13, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The first input unit 11 is a device that accepts input of various data such as the height. The first input unit 11 may be configured with multiple switches, such as a numeric keypad, but in this embodiment, it is a cylindrical dial switch that can rotate about an axis and be pushed in the axial direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, it is located in the center console separating the driver's seat and the passenger seat inside the vehicle. By rotating this dial switch, the numerical value displayed on the display device 7 (e.g., a head-up display (HUD) or center display) increases or decreases depending on the direction of rotation (e.g., clockwise rotation increases the numerical value, and counterclockwise rotation decreases the numerical value), as shown in FIG. 10B (described later). By pushing the dial switch, the numerical value displayed on the display device 7 is confirmed and input into the driving posture setting device D (seated posture torso length measurement device).

The second input unit 12 is a device for inputting instructions to change the posture of the vehicle seat ST. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the second input unit 12 includes a seat back switch (SB switch) 121 for inputting instructions to adjust the tilt of the seat back SB, and a seat cushion switch (SC switch) 122 for inputting instructions to adjust the fore-aft position, up-down position, and tilt of the seat cushion SC. The SB switch 121 and SC switch 122 are disposed on the lower side of the vehicle seat ST so that they mimic the shape of the vehicle seat ST in a side view. The SB switch 121 is configured to tilt approximately in the fore-aft direction around its lower end as a rotation axis. The SC switch 122 is configured to tilt approximately up-down at both its front and rear ends around its approximate center as a rotation axis, and is also configured to move in the fore-aft direction.

In manual adjustment of the posture of the vehicle seat ST, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the SB switch 121 is tilted forward (or rearward), the control processing unit 3 controls the reclining mechanism 51 to tilt the seat back SB forward (or rearward) while the SB switch 121 is tilted, gradually decreasing (or increasing) the reclining angle. When the SB switch 121 returns to its original neutral position, the control processing unit 3 stops the reclining mechanism 51, and the seat back SB maintains its posture at that reclined angle. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the SC switch 122 is moved forward (or rearward), the control processing unit 3 controls the slide mechanism 52 to gradually move the seat cushion SC forward (or rearward) while the SC switch 122 is in the forward (or rearward) position. When the SC switch 122 returns to its original position, the control processing unit 3 stops the slide mechanism 52, and the seat cushion SC maintains its posture in its forward (or rearward) position. As shown in FIG. 2A , when the rear end of the SC switch 122 is tilted upward (or downward), the control processing unit 3 controls the lift mechanism 53 to gradually raise (or lower) the seat cushion SC while the SC switch 122 is tilted upward (or downward). When the SC switch 122 returns to its original position, the control processing unit 3 stops the lift mechanism 53, and the seat cushion SC maintains its posture at its vertical position (height). As shown in FIG. 2A , when the front end of the SC switch 122 is tilted upward (or downward), the control processing unit 3 controls the tilt mechanism 54 to gradually raise (or lower) the front end of the seat cushion SC while the SC switch 122 is tilted upward (or downward). When the SC switch 122 returns to its original position, the control processing unit 3 stops the tilt mechanism 54, and the seat cushion SC maintains its posture with the seat surface tilted.

The third input unit 13 is a device for inputting instructions to change the position of the steering wheel. The third input unit 13 includes a tilt switch (TR switch) for inputting instructions to adjust the up-down position of the steering wheel, and a telescopic switch (TS switch) for inputting instructions to adjust the fore-aft position of the steering wheel, and is disposed near the steering device 6.

The eye height measurement unit 2 is a device that measures the eye height (eye height, eye position in the vertical direction) of an occupant DV seated in a vehicle seat ST. In this embodiment, the eye height measurement unit 2 includes, for example, an eye height data acquisition unit 21 and an eye height processing unit 36 (22). The eye height data acquisition unit 21 is connected to the control processing unit 3 and is a device that acquires predetermined data for measuring the eye height of an occupant DV seated in a vehicle seat ST in accordance with the control of the control processing unit 3. In this embodiment, the eye height processing unit 36 (22) is functionally configured in the control processing unit 3 by executing a control processing program described below, and determines the eye height of the occupant DV by processing the predetermined data acquired by the eye height data acquisition unit 21.

For example, the eye height data acquisition unit 21 includes a camera that generates an image of an occupant DV seated in a vehicle seat ST, and is located in a predetermined location, such as at one side edge (or top edge) of a display device 7 located next to a dashboard that displays vehicle speed, engine speed, etc., as shown in FIG. 3A. Because the face width of people varies statistically little between individuals, a statistically determined fixed value (fixed face width value) is used. The eye height processing unit 36 (22) calculates the eye height based on the image of the occupant generated by the camera and the fixed face width value. More specifically, the eye height processing unit 36 (22) first extracts the outer contour of the face from a predetermined image area in the image of the occupant DV generated by the camera where the occupant's face is expected to appear, using, for example, an edge filter or a circular Hough transform, or by facial pattern matching, and then calculates the number of pixels present within a line along the width direction with the widest width of the outer contour of the face. The predetermined image area is determined in advance based on, for example, the position of the camera, the position of the vehicle seat ST, the focal length and optical axis direction of the camera, etc., and is stored in the storage unit 4. Next, the eye height processing unit 36 (22) divides the fixed face width value by the determined number of pixels to determine the actual length of the subject captured in one pixel, taking into account camera parameters such as the focal length of the camera. Next, the eye height processing unit 36 (22) extracts the white of the eye from the predetermined image area (or the image area within the outer contour of the face) using image processing such as a white filter to determine the pixel position of the white of the eye, calculates the number of pixels from the bottom edge of the image of the occupant DV (or the pixel position through which the optical axis of the camera passes (usually the central pixel position of the image)) to the pixel position of the determined white of the eye, and multiplies this determined number of pixels by the actual length of the subject captured in the determined one pixel to determine the eye height. Note that if the optical axis of the camera is not horizontal but has an angle, this angle is taken into account in calculating the eye height. Additionally, if the pixel is rectangular rather than square, the actual length of the subject reflected in one pixel in the width direction (horizontal direction) is converted from the aspect ratio to the actual length of the subject reflected in one pixel in the vertical direction, and this is used to calculate the eye height.

The eye height is measured from a predetermined reference position. The reference position for the eye height may be, for example, the position of the vehicle floor, the position of the seat surface of the seat cushion SC, or the position of the hip point HP depending on the posture of the vehicle seat ST. In this embodiment, however, as shown in Figures 3B and 6A, the reference position for the eye height is the position in the height direction where the eye height data acquisition unit 21 is disposed.

In the above description, the actual length of the subject captured in one pixel was calculated using camera parameters, but since the camera parameters are known in advance, a function (or table) that converts the number of pixels in one line into the actual length of the subject captured in one pixel can be created in advance, and the actual length of the subject captured in one pixel can be calculated using this function from the number of pixels in one line.

Alternatively, for example, the eye height data acquisition unit 21 may include a camera that generates an image of the occupant DV seated in the vehicle seat ST and a rangefinder (e.g., an infrared pulse rangefinder) that measures the distance to the occupant DV seated in the vehicle seat ST, and may be arranged in a manner similar to that described above. The eye height processing unit 36 (22) calculates the eye height of the occupant DV based on the image of the occupant DV generated by the camera and the distance to the occupant DV measured by the rangefinder. In this case, the eye height processing unit 36 (22) calculates the actual length of the subject captured in one pixel from the measured distance to the occupant DV and the camera parameters of the camera, and then calculates the eye height of the occupant DV in the same manner as described above. Note that a so-called stereo camera may be used instead of the rangefinder. In this case, one of the stereo cameras can be used as the camera of the eye height data acquisition unit 21 (can be used for both purposes).

The steering device 6 is a mechanism for steering the steered wheels by changing the steering wheel's position. The steering device 6 includes, for example, a steering wheel, a steering shaft connected to the steering wheel, a steering angle sensor that detects the steering angle generated on the steering shaft by operating the steering wheel, and a steering angle drive mechanism that applies a steering angle to the steered wheels in accordance with the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor. The steering shaft includes a tilt mechanism connected to a control processing unit 3 that electrically moves the steering wheel up and down under the control of the control processing unit 3, and a telescopic mechanism connected to the control processing unit 3 that electrically moves the steering wheel forward and backward under the control of the control processing unit 3. Such electrically powered tilt and telescopic mechanisms are configured using conventional means and are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2020-19327 and 2019-23050.

When manually adjusting the steering wheel position, when the TR switch is used to instruct the steering wheel to be raised (or lowered), the control processing unit 3 gradually raises (or lowers) the steering wheel's vertical position using the tilt mechanism of the steering device 6. When the TR switch is released, the control processing unit 3 stops the tilt mechanism of the steering device 6, and the steering wheel maintains its vertical position. When the TS switch is used to instruct the steering wheel to be moved forward (or backward), the control processing unit 3 gradually raises (or lowers) the steering wheel's vertical position using the telescopic mechanism of the steering device 6. When the TS switch is released, the control processing unit 3 stops the telescopic mechanism of the steering device 6, and the steering wheel maintains its vertical position.

The display device 7 is connected to the control processing unit 3 and displays predetermined information, such as height, input via the first input unit 11 under the control of the control processing unit 3. For example, it may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) center display or a head-up display.

The memory unit 4 is connected to the control processing unit 3 and is a circuit that stores various predetermined programs and various predetermined data under the control of the control processing unit 3. The various predetermined programs include, for example, a control processing program that controls each of the components 1, 2, 4-7 of the driving posture setting device D (torso length measurement device in a seated position) according to the function of each component; a torso length processing program that calculates the torso length of the occupant DV based on the eye height of the occupant DV measured by the eye height measurement unit 2; and a torso length processing program that calculates the torso length of the occupant DV based on the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 based on the reclining angle of the seat back SB of the vehicle seat ST before calculating the torso length of the occupant DV using the torso length processing program. a dimension ratio specification program that specifies dimension ratio information related to the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the torso length of the occupant DV calculated by the torso length processing program based on height dimension ratio information stored in a height dimension ratio information storage unit 42 (described later); and a posture control program that controls the seat drive unit 5 so that the posture of the vehicle seat ST is set to a posture corresponding to the driving posture based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the dimension ratio information specified by the dimension ratio specification program. The various types of predetermined data include data required for executing these programs, such as class feature information, height dimension ratio information (class dimension ratio information), and correction coefficient information. The storage unit 4 includes, for example, a non-volatile storage element such as ROM (Read Only Memory) or a rewritable non-volatile storage element such as EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The storage unit 4 also includes RAM (Random Access Memory), which serves as the working memory of the control processing unit 3 and stores data generated during execution of the specified program. The storage unit 4 functionally includes a class feature information storage unit 41, a height dimension ratio information storage unit (class dimension ratio information storage unit) 42, and a correction coefficient information storage unit 43.

The class feature information storage unit 41 stores class feature information. The class feature information is information that associates multiple different classes (body type classes, groups, and body type groups) that classify body types according to the dimensional ratios of specific body parts (body type classification parts) with multiple specific feature values that characterize the classes. The body type classification parts are parts that are set appropriately from the perspective of classifying body types, such as arms, trunk, and legs.

Vehicles may be exported to and used in various regions or countries. In such cases, the body types of people in the destinations vary depending on the destination, with, for example, Caucasians having relatively long legs or, conversely, Asians having relatively long torsos. In such cases, the driving posture must be adapted to the body types of people in the destinations. For this reason, it is possible to produce vehicles for each destination, but this would require additional manufacturing steps, reducing the benefits of mass production. For this reason, this embodiment automatically identifies the body types of occupants, thereby reducing the manufacturing steps and lowering costs.

In identifying this body type, the body has various parts, such as the head, arms, hands, neck, trunk, legs, and feet. The arms can be further divided into parts such as the upper arms and forearms, and the legs can be further divided into parts such as the thighs and shins. Meanwhile, people's body types can be classified by race (e.g., Asian, Black, and Caucasian), region (e.g., Asian, European, and North American), or ethnicity (country), depending on various factors such as genetic information, climate, and lifestyle. Furthermore, body types generally differ by gender, and can also be classified by gender. For each of these various body types, for example, the dimensional proportions of specific body parts can be statistically determined for each body type. When body types are classified into multiple classes based on the dimensional proportions of specific body parts, the features characterizing the classes were examined and investigated. As described above, since each part of the body is different, the inventor repeatedly conducted trial and error, such as investigating whether a class can be characterized by assuming, for example, head size as a feature, or whether a class can be characterized by assuming, for example, leg length as a feature. From the results of these numerous investigations, the inventor discovered that the torso length ratio (= torso length/leg length), which is the ratio of torso length to height and leg length, can be a feature that characterizes the class. Therefore, in this embodiment, the feature is height and torso length ratio. The more the torso length ratio is greater than 1 (torso length/leg length > 1), the longer the torso length is than the leg length (torso length > leg length), and the more the torso length ratio is less than 1 (torso length/leg length < 1), the longer the leg length is than the torso length (torso length < leg length). As shown in Figure 6B, the height is the length from the sole of the foot to the top of the head when in a standing position, the leg length (foot length) is the length from the sole of the foot to the hip point HP when in a standing position, and the torso length (sitting height) is the length from the hip point HP to the top of the head when in a standing position.

As described above, for each of the various body types, in one example, the dimensional ratios of each specified body part can be statistically determined for each body type. Therefore, the multiple classes may be, for example, classes classified by race or classes classified by race and gender, or, for example, classes classified by region or classes classified by region and gender, or, for example, classes classified by ethnicity (country) or classes classified by ethnicity (country) and gender.

In this embodiment, body types are classified into six classes (classes 1 through 6) as shown in Figure 4. The features are height and torso length ratio as described above, and based on the survey results, the torso length ratio is a function of height. The horizontal axis of Figure 4 represents height, and the vertical axis represents torso length ratio. Class 1 ASM represents Asian men (e.g., Japanese men) and is represented by a straight line (first function line) with a downward-sloping profile in which the torso length ratio decreases with increasing height. Class 2 ASF represents Asian women (e.g., Japanese women) and is represented by a straight line (second function line) with a downward-sloping profile in which the torso length ratio decreases slightly with increasing height. Class 3 EPM represents European men (e.g., German men) and is represented by a straight line (third function line) with a upward-sloping profile in which the torso length ratio increases slightly with increasing height. Class 4 EPF represents European women (e.g., German women) and is represented by a straight line (fourth function line) with a downward-sloping profile in which the torso length ratio decreases with increasing height. The fifth class NAM represents North American men (e.g., American men) and is a straight line (fifth function line) with an upward-sloping profile in which the torso length ratio increases slightly with height. The sixth class NAF represents North American women (e.g., American women) and is a straight line (sixth function line) with an upward-sloping profile in which the torso length ratio increases with height. In the downward-sloping curve, the first class ASM has the steepest slope, the second class ASF has the smallest slope, and the fourth class EPF has a slope between the slopes of the first and second classes ASM and ASF. In the upward-sloping curve, the sixth class NAF has the steepest slope, the fifth class NAM has the smallest slope, and the third class EPM has a slope between the slopes of the fifth and sixth classes NAM and NAF. The height ranges for each class vary depending on the height distribution of each class.

Each feature of the first to sixth classes (first to sixth feature) is expressed by a function line of the body length ratio to height (first to sixth function formula). The first class ASM is associated with the first function formula of the first feature, the second class ASF is associated with the second function formula of the second feature, the third class EPM is associated with the third function formula of the third feature, the fourth class EPF is associated with the fourth function formula of the fourth feature, the fifth class NAM is associated with the fifth function formula of the fifth feature, and the sixth class NAF is associated with the sixth function formula of the sixth feature. These are stored as class feature information in the class feature information storage unit 41. Note that, although function formulas are used in the above description, tables of body length ratio to height may also be used (first to sixth tables corresponding to the first to sixth function lines).

The height dimension ratio information storage unit 42 stores height dimension ratio information. The height dimension ratio information is information that associates dimension ratio information representing the dimension ratios of specific body parts related to driving posture (driving posture-related parts) with height and torso length. As described above, driving posture is associated with body type, body types are classified into classes, and classes are associated with their feature quantities (here, height and torso length ratios). Therefore, in this embodiment, the height dimension ratio information that associates the dimension ratio information with the height and torso length is dimension ratio information associated with the feature quantities, and is a plurality of dimension ratio information that is further associated with each of the plurality of classes that are associated with each of the plurality of feature quantities. In other words, the height dimension ratio information storage unit 42 stores class dimension ratio information that associates each of the plurality of classes with each of the plurality of dimension ratio information. The appropriate driving posture is known. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , it is a posture in which the driver can switch between the brake and accelerator pedals with their heels on the floor, their wrists resting on the steering wheel, and the vehicle speed and rotation speed, etc., can be visually confirmed on the dashboard without being interfered with by the steering wheel, and a clear view of the road ahead can be secured. This appropriate driving posture is defined by ankle angle φ1, knee angle φ2, hip angle φ3, armpit angle φ4, and elbow angle φ5, and these ankle angle φ1, knee angle φ2, hip angle φ3, armpit angle φ4, and elbow angle φ5 are each set within a predetermined range from multiple samples so as to achieve the above-mentioned posture. A method for calculating such an appropriate driving posture is also known. Examples of the driving posture-related parts include the arms (upper arms and forearms), hands, trunk, legs (thighs and shins), feet, and buttocks. The dimensional ratios of each of these driving posture-related parts are statistically determined in advance, for example, with respect to torso length. For example, publicly available human body dimension data may be used. Note that items that are not correlated with torso length, such as buttock thickness and arm length, are included in the dimension ratio information as fixed values. In this embodiment, first to sixth dimension ratio information are prepared in advance corresponding to the first to sixth classes, and the first to sixth dimension ratio information is associated with each of the first to sixth classes and stored as class dimension ratio information in the height dimension ratio information storage unit (class dimension ratio information storage unit) 42.

The correction coefficient information storage unit 43 stores correction coefficient information. The correction coefficient information represents the correspondence between the reclining angle and a correction coefficient. More specifically, to correct the torso length of the occupant DV calculated by the torso length processing program so that the greater the reclining angle, the longer the torso length of the occupant DV. More specifically, to correct the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 so that the torso length of the occupant DV calculated based on the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 when the head and back of the occupant DV are in contact with the headrest HR and seatback SB (to match the torso length of the occupant DV), or to correct the torso length of the occupant DV calculated based on the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 when the back of the occupant DV is in contact with the seatback SB (to match the torso length of the occupant DV). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the correction coefficient is set to 1 when the reclining angle is a predetermined angle (basic angle) θ0, and increases as the reclining angle increases. The base angle is preferably any value in the range of 23 to 24 degrees.

When the seat back SB of the vehicle seat ST is tilted backward more (when the reclining angle is increased), for example, as shown in Fig. 8A, the head and back of the occupant DV seated in the vehicle seat ST may separate from the headrest HR and the seat back SB without contacting them. In such a case, as shown in Fig. 8C, the upper body of the occupant DV in a state in which the head and back of the occupant DV are in contact with the headrest HR and the seat back SB and relatively extended, bends at the first lumbar point LSP, and becomes relatively leaning forward as shown in Fig. 8B ((angle φ2 between line segment C7P-HP and line segment LSP-HP shown in Fig. 8C) < (angle φ1 between line segment C7P-HP and line segment LSP-HP shown in Fig. 8B)). As a result, the eye height position of the occupant DV is shifted downward compared to when the head and back of the occupant DV are in contact with the headrest HR and the seat back SB, or when the back of the occupant DV is in contact with the seat back SB, and the eye height measured by the eye height measuring unit 2 is lower compared to when the head and back of the occupant DV are in contact with the headrest and the seat back, or when the back of the occupant DV is in contact with the seat back SB. In the example shown in Figure 8A, in consideration of the function of the headrest HR during a collision, the standard state is a position in which the head is spaced a predetermined distance (design value) from the headrest and the back is in contact with the seat back SB. As described above, the correction coefficient is set to a larger value as the reclining angle increases, so the driving posture setting device D (seated posture torso length measuring device) can correct this deviation and can correct the eye height measured by the eye height measuring unit 2 when the head and back of the occupant DV are in contact with the headrest HR and seat back SB (or when the back of the occupant DV is in contact with the seat back SB). Therefore, the driving posture setting device D (seated posture torso length measuring device) can correct the torso length of the occupant DV to be calculated based on the eye height measured by the eye height measuring unit 2 when the head and back of the occupant DV are in contact with the headrest HR and seat back SB (or when the back of the occupant DV is in contact with the seat back SB). 8B and 8C are points representing the posture of the upper body, and from the top, they are the eye point EP, the ear point TRP, the first cervical vertebra point C1P, the seventh cervical vertebra point C7P, the first lumbar vertebra point LSP, and the hip point HP. The posture of the upper body generally changes with the hip point HP as the base point.

This correspondence between the reclining angle and the correction coefficient is created in advance from multiple samples, expressed as a function formula or table, and stored as correction coefficient information in the correction coefficient information storage unit 43.

The control processing unit 3 is a circuit that controls each of the components 1, 2, 4-7 of the driving posture setting device D (seated posture torso length measurement device) according to the function of each component, measures the torso length of the occupant DV seated in the vehicle seat ST, and controls the posture of the vehicle seat ST to achieve an appropriate driving posture according to the measured torso length of the occupant DV. The control processing unit 3 is configured, for example, with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and its peripheral circuits. By executing the control processing program, the control processing unit 3 is functionally configured with a control unit 31, torso length processing unit 32, correction unit 33, dimensional ratio identification unit 34, posture control unit 35, and eye height processing unit 36 (22).

The control unit 31 controls each of the components 1, 2, 4-7 of the driving posture setting device D (seated posture torso length measuring device) according to the function of each component, and is responsible for overall control of the driving posture setting device D (seated posture torso length measuring device).

As described above, the eye height processing unit 36 (22) determines the eye height of the occupant DV by processing the specified data acquired by the eye height data acquisition unit 21.

The torso length processing unit 32 calculates the torso length of the occupant DV based on the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 (the eye height calculated by the eye height processing unit 36 (22)). More specifically, the torso length processing unit 32 calculates the torso length of the occupant DV based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2. In this embodiment, since the height and inclination of the seat surface of the seat cushion SC are changeable, the torso length processing unit 32 calculates the torso length of the occupant DV based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11, the eye height of the occupant DV measured by the eye height measurement unit 2, and the height and inclination of the seat surface of the vehicle seat ST in which the occupant DV is seated.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the torso length H6 is calculated by subtracting the sum of a fourth distance (seat height) H4 from the floor surface FL to the seat surface of the vehicle seat ST and a fifth distance (fifth height) H5 from the seat surface of the vehicle seat ST to the hip point HP from the sum of a first distance (first height) H1 from the floor surface FL on which the vehicle seat ST is mounted to the position of the eye height data acquisition unit (camera in the above example) 21, a second distance (eye height of the occupant DV) H2 from the position of the eye height data acquisition unit (camera in the above example) 21 to the position of the eyes of the occupant DV, and a third distance (third height) H3 from the position of the eyes of the occupant DV to the position of the top of the occupant DV (H6 = (H1 + H2 + H3) - (H4 + H5)). The first distance H1 is given as a design value. The eye height H2 of the occupant DV is obtained by measurement using the eye height measurement unit 2. The third distance H3 is obtained from, for example, the human body dimension data, which are statistically determined in advance. The fourth distance H4 is obtained from design values (seat height when lift amount is 0 and seat inclination when tilt amount is 0), the state value of the lift mechanism 53 (current lift amount), and the state value of the tilt mechanism 54 (current tilt amount). The current lift amount and current tilt amount are obtained by the torso length processing unit 32 from, for example, the lift mechanism 53 and the tilt mechanism 54. Alternatively, the current lift amount and current tilt amount are obtained by, for example, obtaining control values (control commands) from the posture control unit 35, which are controlled to the current lift amount and current tilt amount, from the posture control unit 35, and then the current lift amount and current tilt amount are obtained from these control values. The fifth distance H5 is obtained from, for example, the buttocks thickness, which is given by the human body dimension data, which are statistically determined in advance. The design values for calculating the first distance H1, third distance H3, and fourth distance H4, and the fifth distance H5, are stored in advance in the memory unit 4 as one of the various predetermined data. Note that in calculating the body length, the third distance H3 and the fifth distance H5 are set to fixed values independent of the class (for example, the average value for each class).

The correction unit 33 corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 based on the reclining angle of the seat back SB of the vehicle seat ST before the torso length processing unit 32 calculates the torso length of the occupant DV. The correction unit 33 corrects the torso length of the occupant DV calculated by the torso length processing unit 32 to be longer the greater the reclining angle. More specifically, the correction unit 33 corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 so that the torso length of the occupant DV calculated based on the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 is obtained when the head and back of the occupant DV are in contact with the headrest HR and seat back SB (or when the back of the occupant DV is in contact with the seat back SB). More specifically, the correction unit 33 acquires the reclining angle from the reclining mechanism 51 (or acquires the control value (control command) of the posture control unit 35 that has been controlled to the current reclining angle from the posture control unit 35), calculates a correction coefficient corresponding to the acquired reclining angle based on the correction coefficient information stored in the correction coefficient information storage unit 43, and corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 by multiplying the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 by the calculated correction coefficient. Therefore, the torso length processing unit 32 calculates the torso length of the occupant DV based on the eye height corrected by the correction unit 33 ((the second distance H2) = (the eye height corrected by the correction unit 33)).

The dimension ratio determination unit 34 determines dimension ratio information related to the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the torso length calculated by the torso length processing unit 32, based on the height dimension ratio information stored in the height dimension ratio information storage unit 42. In this embodiment, as described above, body types are classified into classes, and the classes are associated with their feature amounts (here, height and torso length ratios). Therefore, the dimension ratio determination unit 34 determines dimension ratio information corresponding to the occupant DV based on class dimension ratio information corresponding to the class of the occupant DV. More specifically, the dimension ratio determination unit 34 functionally comprises a torso length ratio processing unit 341, a class determination unit 342, and a ratio determination unit 343.

The torso length ratio processing unit 341 calculates the leg length of the occupant DV based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the torso length calculated by the torso length processing unit 32, and calculates the torso length ratio, and uses the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the calculated torso length ratio as the feature quantity. The leg length is calculated as the subtraction result by subtracting the calculated torso length from the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 (leg length = height - torso length).

The class identification unit 342 identifies a class corresponding to the occupant DV feature (height and torso length ratio in this embodiment) processed by the torso length ratio processing unit 341 based on the class feature information stored in the class feature information storage unit 41. More specifically, in a two-dimensional coordinate space with the height and torso length ratio as the two axes, the class identification unit 342 selects, from among multiple height and torso length ratios associated with multiple classes, the height and torso length ratio that is closest to the torso length ratio calculated by the height and torso length ratio processing unit 341 of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11, and identifies the class corresponding to this selected height and torso length ratio as the class corresponding to the torso length ratio (occupant DV feature) calculated by the height and torso length ratio processing unit 341 received by the first input unit 11. The most similar height and torso length ratio is, for example, the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11, and is the torso length ratio closest to the torso length ratio calculated by the torso length ratio processing unit 341 among the torso length ratios of a plurality of classes corresponding to the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, when the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 is TL and the torso length ratio calculated by the torso length ratio processing unit 341 is RT, the class identification unit 342 selects, as the most similar height and torso length ratio, the height TL of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11, and the torso length ratio RC closest to the torso length ratio RT calculated by the torso length ratio processing unit 341 among the torso length ratios of a plurality of classes corresponding to the height TL of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11, and identifies a third class EPM having this height TL and torso length ratio RC. In the above description, the class identification unit 342 fixed the height and selected the closest torso length ratio from among the torso length ratios of each class, but it may also be possible to identify the class of the function line that is closest in distance by calculating the distance between the torso length ratio calculated by the height and torso length ratio processing unit 341 of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and each function line of each class. In other words, the closest height and torso length ratio may be the height and torso length ratio that is closest in distance to the torso length ratio calculated by the height and torso length ratio processing unit 341 of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11, among the multiple height and torso length ratios associated with each of the multiple classes.

The ratio identification unit 343 identifies dimension ratio information corresponding to the class identified by the class identification unit 342 based on the class dimension ratio information stored in the height dimension ratio information storage unit 42. In the example shown in Figure 4, the third dimension ratio information corresponding to the third class EPM identified by the class identification unit 342 is identified.

The posture control unit 35 controls the seat drive unit 5 so that the posture of the vehicle seat ST corresponds to the driving posture based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the dimensional ratio information identified by the dimensional ratio identification unit 34. As in Patent Document 1, an appropriate driving posture may be achieved by controlling the posture of the vehicle seat ST. However, to achieve a more appropriate driving posture, in this embodiment, the posture control unit 35 also controls the steering device 6 so that the posture of the steering wheel corresponds to the driving posture based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the dimensional ratio information identified by the dimensional ratio identification unit 34. In other words, the posture control unit 35 controls the seat drive unit 5 and the steering device 6 so that the posture of the vehicle seat ST and the posture of the steering wheel correspond to the driving posture based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the dimensional ratio information identified by the dimensional ratio identification unit 34. More specifically, the posture control unit 35 first determines the dimensions of each predetermined driving posture-related body part related to the driving posture from the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the dimension ratio information specified by the dimension ratio specification unit 34. For example, when determining the dimensions of the thigh, the thigh dimension is determined by multiplying the thigh dimension ratio in the dimension ratio information specified by the dimension ratio specification unit 34 by the torso length determined by the torso length processing unit 32. In this case, as in the example shown in FIG. 4 , if the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 as a feature and the torso length ratio determined by the torso length ratio processing unit 341 do not match the feature of each class and the class is specified by selecting the most similar feature, the dimensions of each predetermined driving posture-related body part related to the driving posture may be corrected based on the difference. More specifically, the posture control unit 35 determines the length of each of the driving posture-related parts based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the dimension ratio information identified by the dimension ratio identification unit 34, and corrects the determined length of each of the driving posture-related parts based on the difference in the two-dimensional coordinate space of the height and body length ratio between a first point (point MP in the example shown in Figure 4) represented by the body length ratio determined by the height and body length ratio processing unit 341 of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and a second point (point CP in the example shown in Figure 4) represented by the most similar height and body length ratio. For example, when the difference is x [%] relative to the feature of the class, if the torso length ratio calculated by the torso length ratio processing unit 341 is greater than the torso length ratio as one of the feature of the class, each length of the calculated driving posture-related body part is corrected to be longer by x [%], and if the torso length ratio calculated by the torso length ratio processing unit 341 is smaller than the torso dimension ratio as one of the feature of the class, each length of the calculated driving posture-related body part is corrected to be shorter by x [%]. Here, as described above, since the driving posture-related body parts that are not correlated with torso length have fixed values, the posture control unit 35 corrects only the driving posture-related body parts that are correlated with torso length excluding leg length (e.g., vertical length of face, etc.) among the driving posture-related body parts (driving posture-related body parts that are not correlated with torso length, such as buttocks thickness and arm length, are not corrected and their fixed values are used as they are). The posture control unit 35 then uses known conventional means to determine the posture of the vehicle seat ST and the posture of the steering wheel corresponding to the driving posture based on the corrected lengths of the driving posture-related parts, and controls the seat drive unit 5 and the steering device 6 so that the posture of the vehicle seat ST and the posture of the steering wheel match the determined posture of the vehicle seat ST and the steering wheel. For information on the posture of the vehicle seat ST and the posture of the steering wheel corresponding to the driving posture, see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2017-33320, 2016-165961, and 2019-38320.

The correction unit 33 corresponds to an example of a correction unit that corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit based on the reclining angle of the seat back of the seat before the torso length processing unit calculates the torso length of the subject, and also corresponds to an example of an angle acquisition unit that acquires the reclining angle.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the driving posture setting device. Figure 10 shows, as an example, various screens displayed on the display device. Figure 10A shows the top screen when registering an occupant, Figure 10B shows a height input screen for inputting height using the first input unit 11, Figure 10C shows an eye height measurement precautions screen for displaying precautions when measuring eye height, and Figure 10D shows an occupant information editing screen for editing occupant information.

When the vehicle starts operating, this driving posture setting device D (seated posture torso length measurement device) initializes the necessary components and begins operation. By executing the control processing program, the control processing unit 3 functionally configures a control unit 31, torso length processing unit 32, correction unit 33, dimension ratio determination unit 34, posture control unit 35, and eye height processing unit 36 (22), while the dimension ratio determination unit 34 functionally configures a torso length ratio processing unit 341, class determination unit 342, and ratio determination unit 343. Then, for example, in response to the start of vehicle operation or the operation of a switch (not shown) that inputs an instruction to start setting the driving posture, the following operations related to setting the driving posture are initiated.

In FIG. 9, the driving posture setting device D first causes the control unit 31 of the control processing unit 3 to display the top screen for occupant registration on the display device 7 (S1).

For example, the driving posture setting device D further has a registration function and an authentication function (detection function) for occupant DVs, and this top screen 91, as shown in FIG. 10A, has an "OK" button 911 for inputting whether or not the occupant DV authenticated by the driving posture setting device D is acceptable, occupant name display areas 912, 913 for displaying the names of occupants registered in the driving posture setting device D and the occupants authenticated by the driving posture setting device D (authentication results), and a "New Registration" button 914 for inputting an instruction to register a new occupant DV. For example, occupant registration information that associates occupant names with authentication results is stored in the storage unit 4, and when processing S1 is executed, the occupant names registered (stored) in the occupant registration information are displayed in the occupant name display areas 912 and 913, and face authentication is performed by a known, conventional method based on an image of the occupant DV captured by the camera of the eye height data acquisition unit 21, and if the authentication result obtained by this authentication is included in the occupant registration information, the frame of the occupant name display area 912 (or the occupant name display area 913) that displays the occupant name associated with the authentication result is highlighted. For example, the frame is highlighted by changing a thin frame line to a thick frame line. When the dial switch of the first input unit 11 is rotated, the highlighted frame moves cyclically in the following order: "OK" button 911, occupant name display area 912, occupant name display area 913, "New Registration" button 914, "OK" button 911, .... When the dial switch is pushed, the content of the highlighted frame is input into driving posture setting device D. In the example shown in FIG. 10A, the frame of the "New Registration" button 914 is highlighted, and it is assumed here that the dial switch is pushed in this display state. This data for the top screen 91, along with data for the screens described below, is pre-stored in memory unit 4 as one of the various predetermined data.

When the dial switch is pushed, a driving posture adjustment precautions screen (not shown) is displayed, displaying precautions to take when adjusting the driving posture, such as "Please leave the vehicle stopped until completion." After a predetermined time has passed or upon input of a transition instruction (for example, input operation of the "OK" button displayed on the driving posture adjustment precautions screen (not shown), the driving posture setting device D causes the control unit 31 to display on the display device 7 a height input screen for inputting height via the first input unit 11, and accepts input of the height of the occupant DV (S2).

This height input screen 92, for example, as shown in Figure 10B, has an input candidate numeric value display area 921 for displaying and inputting input candidate numeric values. This input candidate numeric value display area 921 may be configured to display a single numeric value, but in the example shown in Figure 10B, it is configured with five sub-input candidate numeric value display areas 921-1 to 921-5 to display multiple numeric values, in this example, five numeric values. When the dial switch of the first input unit 11 is rotated, the highlighted display of the frame moves sequentially from the fifth sub-input candidate numeric display area 921-5 to the first sub-input candidate numeric display area 921-1 according to the direction of rotation; for example, when rotated counterclockwise, the highlighted display of the frame moves sequentially from the fifth sub-input candidate numeric display area 921-5 to the first sub-input candidate numeric display area 921-1, and when it reaches the first sub-input candidate numeric display area 921-1, the numerical value itself displayed in the input candidate numeric display area 921 increases sequentially; on the other hand, when rotated clockwise, the highlighted display of the frame moves sequentially from the first sub-input candidate numeric display area 921-1 to the fifth sub-input candidate numeric display area 921-5, and when it reaches the fifth sub-input candidate numeric display area 921-5, the numerical value itself displayed in the input candidate numeric display area 921 decreases sequentially. In the example shown in FIG. 10B, the first through fifth sub-input candidate numeric display areas 921-1 through 921-5 each display "170 cm" through "174 cm," and the frame of the first sub-input candidate numeric display area 921-1 displaying "170 cm" is highlighted. In this example, the dial switch is pushed in this display state. As a result, "170 cm" is entered into the driving posture setting device D as the height of the occupant DV.

When the driver's posture setting device D receives the input of the occupant's height, the control unit 31 of the driving posture setting device D displays, on the display device 7, an eye height measurement precaution screen 93, for example, as shown in FIG. 10C, for displaying precautions to take when measuring eye height, and the eye height measurement unit 2 measures the occupant's eye height (S3).

After measuring the eye height of the occupant DV, the driving posture setting device D uses the torso length processing unit 32 and correction unit 33 of the control processing unit 3 to calculate the corrected torso length of the occupant DV based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 in process S2 and the eye height of the occupant DV measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 (S4). More specifically, the correction unit 33 obtains the reclining angle from the reclining mechanism 51, calculates a correction coefficient corresponding to the obtained reclining angle based on the correction coefficient information stored in the correction coefficient information storage unit 43, and corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 in process S3 by multiplying the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 in process S3 by the calculated correction coefficient ((corrected eye height) = (eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 in process S3) × correction coefficient)). The torso length processing unit 32 then subtracts the second sum of the fourth distance and the fifth distance from the first sum of the first distance H1, the second distance H2 (= corrected eye height), and the third distance H3, to obtain the torso length H6 of the occupant DV as the result of this subtraction (H6 = (H1 + H2 + H3) - (H4 + H5)).

Once the torso length of the occupant DV is determined, the driving posture setting device D determines the leg length of the occupant DV to determine the torso length ratio based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the torso length determined by the torso length processing unit 32, using the torso length ratio processing unit 341 of the dimension ratio determination unit 34 in the control processing unit 3. The height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 and the determined torso length ratio are used as the feature quantities (S5). The class determination unit 342 of the dimension ratio determination unit 34 determines the class corresponding to the feature quantities (height and torso length ratio in this embodiment) based on the class feature quantity information stored in the class feature quantity information storage unit 41 (S6). The ratio determination unit 343 of the dimension ratio determination unit 34 determines the dimension ratio information corresponding to the class determined by the class determination unit 342 based on the class dimension ratio information stored in the height dimension ratio information storage unit 42 (S7).

Once the dimensional ratio information corresponding to the occupant DV has been identified, the driving posture setting device D controls the seat drive unit 5 and the steering device 6 using the posture control unit 35 of the control processing unit 3 so that the posture of the vehicle seat ST and the posture of the steering wheel correspond to the driving posture based on the height of the occupant DV received by the first input unit 11 in process S2 and the dimensional ratio information identified by the ratio identification unit 343 of the dimensional ratio identification unit 34 as described above (S8).

In this way, the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 is corrected to determine the occupant DV's torso length, the occupant DV's class is automatically identified from multiple body type classes, and the position of the vehicle seat ST and the steering wheel are controlled to achieve a driving posture that suits the occupant DV's body type. Therefore, this process could end here. However, in this embodiment, the position of the vehicle seat ST and the steering wheel can be manually adjusted according to the occupant DV's preferences. The occupant DV adjusts the position of the vehicle seat ST and the steering wheel according to their preferences (as needed) using the second input unit 12 and the third input unit 13. Upon receiving input operations via the second input unit 12 and the third input unit 13, the driving posture setting device D controls the seat drive unit 5 and the steering device 6 via the posture control unit 35 of the control processing unit 3 in accordance with the input operations via the second input unit 12 and the third input unit 13 (S9). This completes the manual adjustment.

For example, when manual adjustment is completed after a predetermined time (manual adjustment time) has elapsed since the end of execution of process S8, or by inputting information into an input unit (not shown) to input the end of manual adjustment (not shown), the driving posture setting device D uses the control unit 31 of the control processing unit 3 to register (store) the current posture of the vehicle seat ST and the posture of the steering wheel, displays an occupant information editing screen for editing occupant information on the display device 7, and upon receiving input from the dial switch of the first input unit 11 on the "Complete" button 941 (described below), the current posture of the vehicle seat ST and the posture of the steering wheel are further registered and stored in the occupant registration information in association with the occupant name, and this process ends.

10D , the occupant information editing screen 94 includes a "Done" button 941 for inputting an instruction to update the occupant registration information, store it in the memory unit 4, and terminate this process; an "Edit Driver Name" button 942 for inputting an instruction to input and edit the occupant name; a "Change Icon" button 943 for inputting an instruction to change the icon; and an occupant name input/edit field 944 for inputting and editing the occupant name. When the "Done" button 991 is selected by rotating the dial switch of the first input unit 11 and the dial switch is pushed, the confirmed current posture of the vehicle seat ST (the reclining angle of the vehicle seat ST, the fore-and-aft position of the seat cushion SC, the up-and-down position of the seat cushion SC, and the tilt of the seat surface) and the posture of the steering wheel (the up-and-down position and fore-and-aft position of the steering wheel) are associated with the occupant name displayed in the occupant name input/edit field 944 and further registered and stored in the occupant registration information.

As explained above, the seated torso length measurement provided in the driving posture setting device D in this embodiment and the seated torso length measurement method implemented therein correct the eye height when calculating the torso length of the occupant DV based on the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit 2. Therefore, there is no need to improve the algorithm for calculating torso length in the torso length processing unit 32, and torso length can be measured more accurately in a seated position using the existing algorithm.

The seated torso length measurement and seated torso length measurement method correct the torso length of the occupant DV calculated by the torso length processing unit 32 to the length when the head and back are in contact with the headrest HR and seat back SB (or when the back is in contact with the seat back SB). Therefore, when the seated torso length measurement device is used by another device, there is no need to improve the other device. For example, in the above description, the seated torso length measurement device is used in the driving posture setting device D, and the class of the occupant DV is identified using the features of height and torso length ratio, but there is no need to improve the algorithm for identifying this class.

The above-mentioned seated body length measurement and seated body length measurement method can be easily and quickly corrected by pre-storing a correction coefficient and simply multiplying the eye height of the occupant DV measured by the eye height measurement unit 2 by the correction coefficient.

This embodiment provides a driving posture setting device D and a driving posture setting method that are equipped with the seated torso length measuring device and seated torso length measuring method, and that can more appropriately control the posture of the vehicle seat ST to achieve a driving posture that suits the occupant DV. Because the driving posture setting device and driving posture setting method are equipped with the seated torso length measuring device and seated torso length measuring method, they can measure torso length more accurately, thereby enabling more accurate control of the posture of the vehicle seat ST.

The above-mentioned driving posture setting device and driving posture setting method control not only the posture of the vehicle seat ST but also the posture of the steering wheel, thereby achieving a more appropriate driving posture.

The above-mentioned driving posture setting device and driving posture setting method automatically identify the occupant DV class, eliminating the need for the occupant DV to input the class and eliminating the need to manufacture vehicles differently depending on their destination. This reduces the amount of manufacturing work required, allowing for the benefits of mass production and lower costs. The above-mentioned driving posture setting device and driving posture setting method can identify the occupant DV class, automatically achieving an appropriate driving posture according to the occupant DV class.

The above-mentioned driving posture setting device and driving posture setting method correct the length of each driving posture-related part, thereby achieving an appropriate driving posture for the occupant DV seated in the vehicle seat ST.

In the above embodiment, the reclining mechanism 51, sliding mechanism 52, lift mechanism 53, and tilt mechanism 54 of the seat drive unit 5 are controlled to control the posture of the vehicle seat ST. However, at least one of the reclining mechanism 51, sliding mechanism 52, lift mechanism 53, and tilt mechanism 54 of the seat drive unit 5 may be controlled. Similarly, the telescopic mechanism and tilt mechanism of the steering device 6 are controlled to control the posture of the steering wheel. However, at least one of the telescopic mechanism and tilt mechanism of the steering device 6 may be controlled. Here, if the tilt mechanism 54 is not provided and the seat surface tilt of the seat cushion SC is fixed, the design value of the seat surface tilt is used in calculating the torso length. If the lift mechanism 53 is not provided and the seat surface height of the seat cushion SC is fixed, the design value of the seat surface height is used in calculating the torso length.

In order to express the present invention, the present invention has been appropriately and sufficiently described above through embodiments with reference to the drawings. However, it should be recognized that those skilled in the art could easily modify and/or improve the above-described embodiments. Therefore, unless modifications or improvements made by those skilled in the art deviate from the scope of the claims set forth in the claims, such modifications or improvements are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the claims.

D Driving posture setting device 1 equipped with seated body length measurement device Input unit 2 Eye height measurement unit 3 Control processing unit 4 Memory unit 5 Seat drive unit 6 Steering device 7 Display device 11 First input unit 12 Second input unit 13 Third input unit 21 Eye height data acquisition unit 22 (36) Eye height processing unit 31 Control unit 32 Body length processing unit 33 Correction unit 34 Dimension ratio identification unit 35 Posture control unit 41 Class feature information memory unit 42 Height dimension ratio information memory unit 43 Correction coefficient information memory unit

Claims (8)

a vehicle seat for use in a vehicle ;
an eye height measuring unit for measuring the eye height of a subject seated in the vehicle seat;
a body length processing unit that calculates a body length of the subject based on the eye height measured by the eye height measuring unit;
a correction unit that corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit based on a reclining angle of a seat back of the vehicle seat before the torso length processing unit calculates the torso length of the subject,
Device for measuring torso length when seated. the correction unit corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit so that the torso length of the subject is determined based on the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit when the head and back of the subject are in contact with a headrest and a seat back,
a correction coefficient information storage unit that stores correction coefficient information that indicates a correspondence relationship between the reclining angle and a correction coefficient ;
An angle acquisition unit that acquires the reclining angle ,
the correction unit calculates a correction coefficient corresponding to the reclining angle acquired by the angle acquisition unit based on the correction coefficient information stored in the correction coefficient information storage unit, and corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit by multiplying the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit by the calculated correction coefficient .
The device for measuring torso length in a seated position according to claim 1. a correction coefficient information storage unit that stores correction coefficient information that indicates a correspondence relationship between the reclining angle and a correction coefficient;
An angle acquisition unit that acquires the reclining angle,
the correction unit calculates a correction coefficient corresponding to the reclining angle acquired by the angle acquisition unit based on the correction coefficient information stored in the correction coefficient information storage unit, and corrects the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit by multiplying the eye height measured by the eye height measurement unit by the calculated correction coefficient.
The device for measuring torso length in a seated position according to claim 1. an eye height measuring step of measuring the eye height of a subject seated in a vehicle seat used in a vehicle ;
a body length processing step of calculating a body length of the subject based on the eye height measured in the eye height measuring step;
and a correction step of correcting the eye height measured in the eye height measurement step based on a reclining angle of a seat back of the vehicle seat before determining the torso length of the subject in the torso length processing step.
How to measure torso length when seated. The device for measuring torso length in a seated position according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
an input unit that receives an input of a height of the occupant of the target person;
a height dimension ratio information storage unit that stores height dimension ratio information in which dimension ratio information representing the dimension ratio of each predetermined body part related to the driving posture is associated with height and torso length;
a seat driving unit that moves the position of the vehicle seat;
a dimension ratio determination unit that determines dimension ratio information related to the occupant's height received by the input unit and the torso length measured by the seated posture torso length measurement device based on the height dimension ratio information stored in the height dimension ratio information storage unit;
a posture control unit that controls the seat drive unit so that the posture of the vehicle seat becomes a posture corresponding to a driving posture based on the height of the occupant received by the input unit and the dimension ratio information specified by the dimension ratio specifying unit,
Driving posture setting device. Further provided with a steering device capable of changing the attitude of the steering wheel,
The posture control unit further controls the steering device so that the posture of the steering wheel corresponds to a driving posture based on the height of the occupant received by the input unit and the dimension ratio information specified by the dimension ratio specifying unit.
The driving position setting device according to claim 5. 5. A driving posture setting method for controlling the posture of a vehicle seat, comprising the method for measuring torso length in a seated posture according to claim 4, wherein height dimension ratio information, which associates dimension ratio information representing dimensional ratios of predetermined body parts related to a driving posture with height and torso length, is stored in a height dimension ratio information storage unit,
an input step of receiving an input of a height of the occupant of the target person;
a dimension ratio specifying step of specifying dimension ratio information related to the occupant's height and the torso length measured by the seated posture torso length measuring method, based on the height dimension ratio information stored in the height dimension ratio information storage unit;
a posture control step of controlling the posture of the vehicle seat so that the posture of the vehicle seat becomes a posture corresponding to a driving posture based on the height of the occupant received in the input step and the dimension ratio information specified in the dimension ratio specifying step,
How to set driving posture. The posture control step further includes controlling the posture of the steering wheel so that the posture of the steering wheel corresponds to a driving posture based on the occupant's height received in the input step and the dimension ratio information specified in the dimension ratio specification step.
The driving posture setting method according to claim 7.