The technology described in this document can be embodied in a headrest of a seat, the headrest including an enclosure for housing one or more acoustic transducers, and an adjustable headrest wing disposed in front of the enclosure. The headrest wing is coupled to the enclosure by a pivot, and configured to be adjusted to one of multiple positions within an angle range around the pivot. The headrest wing is also configured to support the head of a seat-occupant. The headrest further includes a connector disposed between the enclosure and a rear portion of the headrest wing. The connector is configured to provide an acoustic channel between the enclosure and the headrest wing such that audio signals from the one or more acoustic transducers are radiated outward through the headrest wing.

A radio wave transmitting/receiving device is placed in a vehicle in such a way that the device is near the back of the seated person, and no discomfort is caused to the back of the seated person. The vehicle seat includes a seat cushion and a seatback connected to a rear part of the seat cushion. The seatback comprises a seatback frame including a left and a right side frame portion extending vertically, and an upper frame portion extending laterally between upper ends of the side frame portions, a pressure receiving member consisting of a plate member configured to support a back of a seated person and provided with a radio wave transmissive property, and supported by the seatback frame via an elastic member, and a radio wave transmitting/receiving device supported on a back surface of the pressure receiving member to irradiate radio wave to a seated person and receive radio wave reflected by the seated person.

A biological sensor is provided with at least two sensors for detecting vibrations, and is configured so that the at least two sensors form layers. One of the at least two sensors is a first sensor used to acquire biological information, and one is a second sensor used to remove noise. A first cushion material for reducing vibrations is disposed between the first sensor and the second sensor. The first cushion material is integrally laminated with the first sensor and the second sensor. This facilitates accurate detection of biological information.

A seat load detection method includes a process in which a control unit records a transition of a load detection signal and a transition of a seat load, a process in which the control unit specifies a timing when a load sensor detects a collision of a vehicle based on a transition record of the load detection signal, and a process in which the control unit calculates a correction value of the seat load based on a difference value between a stable seat load provided after the control unit detects the collision of the vehicle and a stable seat load provided before the load sensor detects the collision of the vehicle.

In an embodiment, there is provided a chair including: a chair body; at least one sensing element on the chair body for sensing a human body pressure on the chair body; at least one gasbag on the chair body for supporting a waist of a human body; a gas pump for performing inflation and deflation of the at least one gasbag; and a control assembly in signal connection with the at least one sensing element for controlling the gas pump to perform inflation and deflation of the at least one gasbag according to information acquired by the sensing element.

A method for a vehicle includes using sensors in a vehicle seat to detect biometrics of a person sitting in the seat and a vehicle controller determining from the biometrics of the person whether the person requires medical attention. In response to the person requiring medical attention, a request for assistance for the person is broadcasted via a V2X transceiver of the vehicle to medical practitioners of a medical practitioner network who are near a location of vehicle during the broadcasting. The medical practitioner network includes the person as a subscriber and medical practitioners as providers. Alternately, in response to the person requiring medical attention, the vehicle controller uses an autonomous vehicle control system of the vehicle to drive the vehicle to a medical facility.

Systems, devices, and techniques are provided for occupancy assessment of a vehicle. For one or more occupants of the vehicle, the occupancy assessment establishes position and/or identity for some or all of the occupant(s).

Vehicular control method to avoid collisions in which a smartphone is coupled to the vehicle while in a vehicular compartment. Data is generated from vehicle-resident sensors about operation of the vehicle and transferred from the vehicle to the smartphone while the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle. A communications network with another vehicle is established using the smartphone and the data transferred from the vehicle to the smartphone and data from sensors on the smartphone is transmitted via the smartphone and established communications network to other vehicle, the data including data about location and movement of the vehicle. Then, while the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle, a vehicular operational function is controlled based in part on data transmitted using the smartphone and established communications network to cause movement of the vehicle to change in order to avoid a collision with the other vehicle.

Bioinformation of a seated person is more accurately measured. A heartbeat measurement device for measuring heartbeat of a person seated on a vehicle seat has heartbeat sensors and a circuit substrate: the heartbeat sensors have leading wires which output electric signals corresponding to a heartbeat and constitute a transmission path for the electric signals; and the circuit substrate has input terminals which receives the electric signals output from the heartbeat sensors, and a differential amplifier which amplifies the electric signals input to the input terminals. The heartbeat sensors and the circuit substrate are disposed in positions adjacent to each other in the vehicle seat, and terminal portions of the leading wires come out from portions adjacent to the circuit board of the heartbeat sensors are connected to the input terminals in a state abutting the input terminals.

According to various implementations, a sensor mat includes a mat substrate, a sensor electrode, and a shield electrode. At least a portion of the sensor and shield electrodes are spaced apart from and parallel to each other on a first surface of the mat substrate. The shield electrode is electrically coupled to a voltage source to create a capacitance between the shield electrode and the sensor electrode, and the sensor electrode is used to detect a change in the capacitance. The shield electrode may also be alternately used for heating the surface of the vehicle part adjacent the mat. For example, the sensor may be disposed adjacent a portion of a steering wheel or a seat assembly and is used for sensing presence of an occupant's hands or body adjacent the steering wheel or seat assembly.