JPH04187106A - Seat - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a seat in which the shape of the seating surface of the seat can be variably controlled.

(Prior art) Conventional sheets of this type include, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-2
There is one as shown in FIG. 10 described in Japanese Patent No. 57333. This seat S consists of a seat cushion 101 and a seat back 103, and includes a front support section,
A front air mat 105, a center air mat 107, cushion side air mats 109, 111, and a back side air mat 113.11 are installed inside each support part such as a center support part and a side support part.
5, and the shape of the seating surface of the seat S is changed by inflating and deflating each air mat. Then, each air mattress 105 is installed according to the driving time and vehicle speed.
115 are controlled at regular intervals by a timer to change the shape of the seating surface of the seat S, and when driving for a long time, the occupant's posture is changed over time from the seat side to reduce fatigue. It has become.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such a conventional vehicle seat, each of the air mattresses 105 to 1]5 is only periodically controlled at fixed time intervals set in a timer. Therefore, the change pattern of the seating surface shape of the seat S is constant at each location. Therefore, whether any part of the body is fatigued at all,
Even parts that are in a mildly fatigued state are subject to changes in the same pattern as parts that are more fatigued, and the movements do not necessarily match the feelings of the occupant.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet that can obtain a more appropriate fatigue-reducing effect.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a seat that is composed of a seat cushion and a seat back and whose seat shape can be changed, and in which the seat shape is changed for each predetermined part. The seat is provided with an actuator, a driving means for driving the actuator, and a control means for controlling the driving means to change the shape of the seat surface in different operation patterns for each predetermined region.

Further, the control means is characterized in that the control means performs control using each operation pattern corresponding to a change pattern of subjective fatigue symptoms for each predetermined part of the body.

Furthermore, a means is provided for the seated person to set the initial seat shape,
The control means controls the operation pattern so that it corresponds to the seat shape set by the setting means.

(Function) According to the above configuration, the drive means CL is controlled by the control means CL3.
2 is controlled and actuator CL1 is driven. Therefore, it is possible to change the shape of the seat surface of the seat S with different activation patterns for each predetermined region, and to appropriately activate each predetermined body region of the seated person.

The operating pattern can also be controlled in response to a pattern of changes in subjective fatigue symptoms in a predetermined part of the body.

Furthermore, the operating pattern can be controlled to correspond to the initial seat shape set by the seated person using the setting means CL4.

(Example) ゛Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention as a seat S. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle seat S is composed of a seat cushion 1 and a seat back 3. Cushion side support parts 5 and 7 are provided on both sides of the seat cushion 1, and backside support parts 9 and 11 are provided on both sides of the seat back 3.

In the seat cushion 1, a hip support air mat 13 and a thigh support air mat 15, which respectively support the buttocks and thighs of a seated occupant, are disposed as an actuator CLI. Seat back 5 Inside is a lumbar support air mat 1 that supports the lumbar vertebrae and upper limbs of the seated person.
7 and a back support air mat 19 are provided as an actuator CLI.

Cushion side support air mats 21 and 23 are disposed as actuators CL1 in the cushion side support parts 5 and 7 to support the side parts of the lower limbs of the seated person. Backside support air mats 25 and 27 that support the side parts of the limbs are provided as actuators CLI.

By expanding and contracting each of these air mats 13 to 27, the shape of the seating surface of the seat S changes at that location.

Each of the air mats 13 to 27 is connected to a pipe line 31 branched from the discharge port of the near compressor (or pump) 29, and each pipe line 31 is connected to a solenoid valve 33, respectively.
and a pressure sensor 35 are interposed. These compressor 29 and electromagnetic valve 33 constitute driving means CL2.

The compressor 29, electromagnetic valve 33, and pressure sensor 35 are connected to a controller 37 composed of a microcomputer.

The controller 37 controls the compressor 29 and the electromagnetic valve 33 to change the shape of each seat surface in different operation patterns for each predetermined portion. For example, in this embodiment, the hip support air mat 13 and the lumbar support air mat 17 of the seat cushion 1 are configured differently.

The controller 37 also includes an ignition switch 3.
9. Manual adjustment as means CL4 for setting the timer 41 and the initial pressure of each part and setting the initial seat shape.
A control switch 43 is connected.

The compressor 29 is then driven by a drive signal from the controller 37. The air pressure of each air mat 13 to 27 is detected by a pressure sensor 35, and based on this detected value, the electromagnetic valve 33 is controlled to open and close to
7 are respectively inflated and deflated to change the shape of the seating surface of the seat S, thereby reducing fatigue of the seated person.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the driving waveform of the air mattress in the above embodiment.

The driving waveform of the air mattress in this embodiment is set to a triangular waveform having an amplitude A and a period C based on the initial pressure P1 that determines the initial seat shape set by the occupant. This drive waveform can also be set to various waveforms, such as a sine waveform, for example.

By the way, the subjective symptoms of fatigue felt by passengers are, for example,
As shown in Figures (a) and (b), there is a tendency for each part of the body to change as the driving time passes.

In other words, the feeling in the lumbar vertebrae, which is most closely related to sitting posture and is related to musculoskeletal fatigue, is sensitive;
), there is a tendency for subjective symptoms of fatigue to appear early in the initial stages of driving.

In addition, the sensation in the buttocks, which is closely related to fatigue due to pressure concentration and blood flow compression, is relatively insensitive, so as shown by the solid line in Figure 4 (b), subjective symptoms of fatigue are difficult to appear in the early stages of driving. After a certain amount of driving time has passed, subjective symptoms of fatigue suddenly appear.

In this way, the fatigue process differs depending on the body part. Therefore, the stimulation index is determined for each region as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b).

Figure 5(a) shows an example of setting a stimulation index for the lumbar region. It is set up so that the

Figure 5(b) shows an example of setting a stimulation index for the buttocks, and this stimulation index is set in accordance with the temporal change in the symptoms of fatigue in the buttocks shown in Figure 4(b). It is set to revitalize the area.

FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the operation pattern of the air mattress for each seat surface variable portion in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6(a) shows a variable pattern of the amplitude of the air mattress 17, 13 for the lumbar vertebrae and the buttocks as an example of the seat surface variable portions.

This variable amplitude pattern is set by multiplying the amplitude A set at the beginning of driving by a stimulation index (degree of change in seat shape) set over time for each body part.

The variable amplitude pattern for the lumbar vertebrae, where subjective symptoms of fatigue appear from the early stage of driving, is set to 0.3 A from the early stage of driving (0 to 1 hour), as shown in the upper row of Figure 6(a). 0.6A (1-2 hours), 0.8A (2-3 hours), 0.9A (3-4 hours) over time
It is set to increase and revitalize the market. on the other hand,
As shown in the lower part of Fig. 6(a), the amplitude variation pattern for the buttocks, in which the subjective symptoms of fatigue are relatively mild at the beginning of driving, and the subjective symptoms of fatigue rapidly increase from the middle of driving, is as shown in the lower part of Fig. 6(a). 0 to 1 hour) is 0. Set to a small IA, and increase rapidly to 0.4A (1 to 2 hours), 0.8A (2 to 3 hours), and 0.9A (3 to 4 hours) during operation for activation. are doing.

FIG. 6(b) shows a variable pattern of the period of the air mattress for the lumbar vertebrae and the buttocks as an example of the seat surface variable portions.

The variable pattern of this period is shown in FIG. 5(a).

It is set by multiplying the initial setting period C by the reciprocal of the stimulation index set in (b).

As shown in the upper part of FIG. 6(b), the periodic variable pattern for the lumbar region is (110, 3
)C (0-1 hours), (110,6)C (1-2 hours)
, (110,8)C (2-3 hours), (110,9)C
(3 to 4 hours), which is set to shorten each time period to increase activation.

On the other hand, the periodic variable pattern for the buttocks is shown in Figure 6 (b
), the initial stage of operation (0 to 1 hour) is (1
10,1) C is relatively long compared to the waist, and from the middle of driving (110,4)C (1 to 2 hours), (110,8)C
(2 to 3 hours) and (110,9)C (3 to 4 hours), and are set to be activated.

In this way, by variably controlling the amplitude or period of the air mat over time, different patterns of stimulation can be applied to the lumbar region and the buttocks to activate them, as shown in Figure 7. .

Therefore, the shape of the seat can be changed for each predetermined body part of the occupant, such as the waist and buttocks, in accordance with changes in subjective symptoms of fatigue with respect to driving time and the initial seat shape set by the occupant. It is possible to reduce fatigue in a more appropriate manner that matches the sensation of the patient.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing other embodiments of the method of setting the stimulation index.

This example focuses on the fact that the subjective symptoms of fatigue that humans feel are greatly influenced by the pressure (pressure concentration) on each body part, and that the higher the pressure input to the same body part, the faster the subjective symptoms of fatigue appear. The stimulation index is set in correspondence with changes over time in subjective symptoms of fatigue for each part of the body, and in correspondence with the set pressure Pi of the air mattress at the beginning of driving.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, first, the first stimulation index St for each body part is set in accordance with the temporal change in the subjective symptoms of fatigue for each body part, as in the above embodiment. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, a second stimulation index 5t is obtained by multiplying the first stimulation index St by a coefficient Ki.
- Set Ki. Here, the coefficient Ki is set at a value proportional to the initial set pressure Pi of each air mattress for each part of the body.

For example, when the occupant is seated, the initial setting pressure of the air mattress for the lumbar vertebrae, lower limb body side part, and upper limb body side part is Pl, and the initial setting pressure of the air mattress for the buttocks and thighs is P2 (P2>Pl). It is assumed that it has been set.

Then, each air mat has a first stimulation index St as shown in FIG. 8 as a reference, and a coefficient of 1 or 2 (K
2 > Kl ), the second stimulation index St·Ki as shown in the left half of FIG. 9 is set.

In addition, if the initial pressure setting of some air mattresses is changed to a tighter setting, for example, for driving on a mountain road after a break,
The second stimulation index 5t-Ki set before the break is reset, and the coefficient K according to the newly set initial pressure Pi is reset.
For example, the second stimulation index St·Ki as shown in FIG. 9 is set by i.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

This flowchart starts when the ON signal of the ignition switch 39 is input to the controller 37,
It is repeated at regular intervals.

When the driver is seated and turns on the ignition switch 39 (step S1), the controller 37 starts control (step S2), and then operates the manual adjustment switch 43 to adjust the initial pressure Pi1 of each air mattress according to the occupant. Setting amplitude A and period C (step S3)
.

In step S4, the initial pressure Pi of each air mattress is detected, and the process moves to step S5.

In step S5, the detected initial pressure P of each air mattress is
A coefficient Ki is set according to i. Then, based on the first stimulation index St for each air mattress, the temporal amplitude At or cycle Ct of each air mattress is calculated by the following equation.

At-3t/KL dispute A ct=　　　　　　　　,c St-ni 1 Here, St: first stimulation index Ki: coefficient according to initial pressure Pi A: Initial amplitude C: Initial cycle It is.

Then, the amplitude At for each air mattress calculated above
Alternatively, each air mattress is variably controlled based on the cycle Ct.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 39 is OFF, and if it is OFF, the calculated value At or Ct is reset (step S7).

Further, if the ignition switch 39 is not turned off, the process moves to step S5, and variable control of each air mattress is continued.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the effect of reducing fatigue can be more effectively achieved.

In addition, since fatigue is recovered by taking a break, control can also be adjusted according to the rest time. For example, if you have taken a sufficient break, you may want to control from the initial state of driving, or depending on the break time, if you are driving after a break, you may want to control from the state one hour after you started driving. It is possible.

In addition, the predetermined region where the shape of the seat surface is changed can be variously applied, such as the lower back, the buttocks, the thighs, and the back. Furthermore, the seat of the present invention can be applied to other than vehicles, such as seats for ships, aircraft, and other general seats.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the configuration of the present invention, the actuation pattern for changing the shape of the seat can be changed for each predetermined region, so the actuation pattern can be adapted to the subjective symptoms of fatigue, or the initial seat By making it correspond to the surface shape, etc., the fatigue-reducing effect can be more appropriately achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the drive waveform of an air mattress. ), (b)
5(a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the setting of the stimulation index, and FIGS. 6(a) and (b) ) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the operation pattern of the air mattress for each seat surface variable part, Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing changes in stimulation to each part of the body, and Figs. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing how to set the stimulation index. FIG. 10 is a control flowchart, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a conventional vehicle seat. 1... Seat cushion 3... Seat back S... Seat CLI... Actuator CL2... Drive means CL3... Control means CL4... Setting means 1... Seat cushion 3... Seat back S... Seat CLl... Actuator CL2... Drive means CL3... Control means CL4... Setting means Fig. 1

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A seat consisting of a seat cushion and a seat back, the shape of which can be changed, including an actuator that changes the shape of the seat in each predetermined region, a drive means that drives the actuator, and a seat that changes the shape of the seat. and a control means for controlling the drive means to change the operation pattern to be different for each predetermined region. (2) The seat according to claim (1), wherein the control means performs control using each operation pattern corresponding to a change pattern of subjective fatigue symptoms for each predetermined body region. (3) A means for a seated person to set an initial seat shape is provided, and the control means controls the operation pattern so that it corresponds to the seat shape set by the setting means. ) or the sheet described in (2).