Seat apparatus

Abstract

In order to improve steering operation operability during cornering while maintaining a driver holding property, a seat apparatus is provided with: a seat back frame; a cornering sensor for detecting a cornering direction of a vehicle; and a control unit that controls the seat back frame on the basis of the result of detection by the cornering sensor. The seat back frame is provided with: left and right side frames disposed on both sides of the seat back frame; a back plate disposed between the left and right side frames; and a swinging mechanism for swinging the back plate with respect to the direction of movement of the vehicle. The control unit controls the swinging mechanism such that, upon detection of a cornering direction of the vehicle by the cornering sensor, the inner one of the sides of the back plate with respect to the cornering direction is positioned rearward of the outer one of the sides with respect to the cornering direction.

Claims

1. A seat apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a seat frame; a cornering sensor that detects a cornering direction of the vehicle; and a control unit that controls the seat frame on a basis of a detection result obtained by the cornering sensor, wherein the seat frame includes: left and right side frames that are respectively arranged at two side parts of the seat frame; and an adjustment mechanism that engages with the left and right side frames and that, when a driver of the vehicle is seated in the seat apparatus, adjusts a posture of the driver; wherein the control unit controls the adjustment mechanism to adjust the posture of the driver on a basis of a calculated lateral acceleration calculated from the detection result obtained by the cornering sensor, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a backboard that is located within the seat frame at a location corresponding to at least a portion of a back of the driver when the driver is seated in the seat apparatus, and wherein the posture of the driver is adjusted by moving at least an upper part of the backboard.

2. The seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cornering sensor is a steering angle sensor that detects a steering angle of a steering of the vehicle.

3. The seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cornering sensor is a navigation system installed in the vehicle.

4. The seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat frame is a seat back frame, and the seat back frame includes the adjustment mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view showing a frame configuration of a seat apparatus according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a rough configuration of the first connection unit and the first drive source provided with the seat apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main control configuration of the seat apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relation between vehicle speed and steering angle in a case where the threshold of calculated lateral acceleration is ?0.2 G or greater and 0.2 or smaller.

(5) FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing showing a posture of a backboard provided with the seat apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing showing a path on which a vehicle that was traveling straight corners to the left, corners to the right just after cornering to the left and then travels straight again.

(7) FIG. 7 is an explanatory drawing showing vehicle speed, calculated lateral acceleration and state of backboard while a vehicle travels as shown in FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is an explanatory drawing showing seat pressure distribution when a driver is seated and when a driver is operating a steering with respect to a case where the driver is held by side support frames as in a conventional seat apparatus and a case where the driver is held by the seat apparatus according to the embodiment.

(9) FIG. 9 is a graph showing change in measured lateral acceleration over time in a case where a vehicle travels the path same as that in the case of FIG. 7, the measured lateral acceleration being obtained by measuring the actual lateral acceleration to the vehicle on a real-time basis.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(10) Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described by using the drawings. Although various limitations that are technically preferred in order to carry out the present invention are included in the embodiment described below, the scope of the invention is not limited to the following embodiment and examples shown in the drawings in any way.

(11) FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view showing a frame configuration of a seat apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the seat apparatus 1 includes a seat cushion frame 2, a seat back frame 3 which is attached to the back end part of the seat cushion frame 2 and seat rails 4 which support the seat cushion frame 2 so as to slide freely.

(12) The seat back frame 3 supports a seat pad which is not shown in the drawing. The seat back frame 3 includes a frame main body 5, a backboard 6 which is disposed inside the frame main body 5, a pair of connectors 7 where the connectors 7 are respectively fixed at lower left and right ends of the frame main body 5 and a swing mechanism 8 which makes the backboard 6 swing with respect to the traveling direction of a vehicle.

(13) The frame main body 5 includes a pair of right and left side frames 51 and 52 which extend in the vertical direction, an upper frame 53 which extend between upper end parts of the side frames 51 and 52 which form a pair and a lower frame 54 which extend between lower end parts of the side frames 51 and 52 which form a pair.

(14) The side frames 51 and 52 are parallel to each other and extend in the vertical direction.

(15) At the lower end parts of the left and right side frames 51 and 52, the connectors 7 are respectively fixed. The connectors 7 are connected to the seat cushion frame 2 so as to rotate freely.

(16) The upper frame 53 is formed continuously from the side frames 51 and 52 which form a pair. At the upper frame 53, a head rest supporting unit 531 for detachably supporting a head rest, which is not shown in the drawing, is provided.

(17) The backboard 6 is a board member shaped in an approximately rectangular shape when seen from the front and is disposed between the side frames 51 and 52 which form a pair. The backboard 6 supports the back of a driver via a seat pad which is not shown in the drawing.

(18) The swing mechanism 8 includes a first connection unit 81, a first drive source 82, a second connection unit 83 and a second drive source 84.

(19) FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a rough configuration of the first connection unit 81 and the first drive source 82. Here, the specific configurations of the second connection unit 83 and the second drive source 84 are the same as those of the first connection unit 81 and the first drive source 82. Therefore, reference numerals whose first two digits are different such as 81* and 83* are used for the corresponding parts and their description is omitted.

(20) The first connection unit 81 includes a wire unit 811 which extends toward outside from one side of the backboard 6, a gear unit 812 which is fixed to the side frame 51 which is one of the pair of side frames 51 and 52, and a link unit 814 which rotates centering around the rotary shaft 813 of the gear unit 812 and which makes the wire unit 811 swing in the front-back direction.

(21) The first drive source 82 is connected to the gear unit 812 and rotates the rotary shaft 813 of the gear unit 812. Thereby, the link unit 814 rotates and the wire unit 811 swings in the front-back direction, and one side part of the backboard 6 also swings in the same direction.

(22) The swing mechanism 8 and the backboard 6 are an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the posture of a driver according to the present invention.

(23) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main control configuration of the seat apparatus of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the steering angle sensor 11 which detects steering angle of the steering of a vehicle, the vehicle speed sensor 12 which detects the speed of a vehicle, the first drive source 82 and the second drive source 84 are electrically connected to the control unit 10 of the seat apparatus 1. The control unit 10 controls the first drive source 82 and the second drive source 84 on the basis of the detection result obtained by the steering angle sensor 11 and the detection result obtained by the vehicle speed sensor 12.

(24) Hereinafter, the posture controlling of the backboard 6 performed by the control unit 10 will be described in detail.

(25) If the vehicle 100 curves at a speed V and the steering angle at that time is ?, cornering radius R is calculated by formula (1) shown below. Calculated lateral acceleration Gc is calculated by formula (2) shown below. Here, A represents the stability factor and is a coefficient unique to a vehicle. Further, L represents a length of a wheel base of the vehicle 100.
R=(1+AV.sup.2)/(L/?)(1)
Gc=V.sup.2/R(2)

(26) The control unit 10 applies the detection result obtained by the steering angle sensor 11 and the detection result obtained by the vehicle speed sensor sequentially to formula (1) and formula (2) to obtain the cornering radius R and the calculated lateral acceleration Gc on a real-time basis. If the steering angle is positive, the cornering is to the right and the calculated lateral acceleration acts on to the left. On the other hand, if the steering angle is negative, the cornering is to the left and the calculated lateral acceleration acts on to the right. If the steering angle becomes larger, the calculated lateral acceleration becomes greater. Further, if the vehicle speed becomes faster, the calculated lateral acceleration becomes greater. If the calculated lateral acceleration reaches a predetermined value or greater, the control unit 10 executes posture control of the backboard 6.

(27) As for the predetermined value, ?0.2 G or smaller is set for when cornering to the right and +0.2 G or greater is set for when cornering to the left, for example. If the calculated lateral acceleration is ?0.2 G or smaller or 0.2 G or greater, the lateral acceleration becomes a burden to a driver in general. Therefore, these values are set as thresholds.

(28) FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relation between vehicle speed and steering angle in a case where the thresholds of the calculated lateral acceleration is set to ?0.2 G or greater and 0.2 G or smaller. In a case where the vehicle speed is at 40 km and the steering angle to the left is 69 deg (B1 in FIG. 4) or the vehicle speed is at 30 km and the steering angle to the right is 115 deg (B2 in FIG. 4) where the detection result obtained by the steering angle sensor 11 and the detection result obtained by the vehicle speed sensor are in the shaded regions shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 10 determines that the calculated lateral acceleration exceeded the thresholds and executes the posture controlling of the backboard 6.

(29) The controlling performed by the control unit 10 at the time of posture controlling of the backboard 6 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing showing a posture of the backboard 6. Here, the solid lines in FIG. 5 show the state where the backboard 6 is not swinging and this position is the reference position.

(30) If the cornering exceeding the threshold is to the right, the control unit 10 controls the first drive source 82 and the second drive source 84 so as to move, among the two side parts of the backboard 6, the side part which is inside with respect to the cornering direction (the right side part facing the traveling direction) toward back from the reference position and move the side part which is outside with respect to the cornering direction (the left side part facing the traveling direction) toward front from the reference position (see narrow two-dot chain lines in FIG. 5).

(31) On the other hand, if the cornering exceeding the threshold is to the left, the control unit 10 controls the first drive source 82 and the second drive source 84 so as to move, among the two side parts of the backboard 6, the side part which is inside with respect to the cornering direction (the left side part facing the traveling direction) toward back from the reference position and move the side part which is outside with respect to the cornering direction (the right side part facing the traveling direction) toward front from the reference position (see bold two-dot chain lines in FIG. 5).

(32) Next, operation of the embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing showing a path on which a vehicle that was traveling straight corners to the left, corners to the right just after cornering to the left and then travels straight again. FIG. 7 is an explanatory drawing showing vehicle speed, calculated lateral acceleration and state of backboard while a vehicle travels as shown in FIG. 6.

(33) First, when traveling straight, the control unit 10 controls the first drive source 82 and the second drive source 84 so that the backboard 6 be at the reference position.

(34) Then, the steering is operated and the vehicle 100 starts cornering to the left. While traveling, the control unit 10 monitors the detection result obtained by the steering angle sensor 11 and the detection result obtained by the vehicle speed sensor at all times and sequentially calculates the calculated lateral acceleration. For example, at point (1) shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, if the vehicle speed is 40 km, the steering angle to the left is 69 deg and the calculated lateral acceleration exceeds 0.2 G, at this point, the control unit 10 determines that the calculated lateral acceleration exceeded the threshold and controls the first drive source 82 and the second drive source 84 so as to move, among the two side parts of the backboard 6, the side part which is inside with respect to the cornering direction toward back from the reference position and move the side part which is outside with respect to the cornering direction toward front from the reference position (see the state of the backboard shown in (1) of FIG. 7).

(35) Thereafter, the steering is operated in the opposite direction and the vehicle 100 corners to the right. At point (2) shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, if the vehicle speed is at 30 km, the steering angle to the right is 115 deg and the calculated lateral acceleration is smaller than ?0.2 G, at this point, the control unit 10 determines that the calculated lateral acceleration exceeded the threshold and controls the first drive source 82 and the second drive source 84 so as to move, among the two side parts of the backboard 6, the side part which is inside with respect to the cornering direction toward back from the reference position and move the side part which is outside with respect to the cornering direction toward front from the reference position (see the state of the backboard shown in (2) of FIG. 7).

(36) Then, when the steering is operated and the vehicle 100 travels straight, the calculated lateral acceleration becomes smaller than the threshold. Therefore, the control unit 10 controls the first drive source 82 and the second drive source 84 so that the two side parts of the backboard 6 be at the reference position (see the state of the backboard shown in (3) of FIG. 7).

(37) As described above, according to the embodiment, when the cornering direction of the vehicle 100 is detected by the steering angle sensor 11, among the two side parts of the backboard 6, the side part which is inside with respect to the cornering direction moves toward back from the reference position and the side part which is outside with respect to the cornering direction moves toward front from the reference position. Therefore, the backboard 6 can be tilted inside with respect to the cornering direction.

(38) FIG. 8 is an explanatory drawing showing seat pressure distribution when a driver is seated and when a driver is operating a steering operation with respect to a case where the driver is held by side support frames as in a conventional seat apparatus and a case where the driver is held by the seat apparatus according to the embodiment. In the seat pressure distribution shown in FIG. 8, the light color parts indicate parts where seat pressure is small and the dark color parts indicate parts where seat pressure is large. In a seated state, there is no great difference in seat pressure between the conventional seat apparatus and the seat apparatus 1 of the embodiment. However, it can be understood that the seat pressure increases at the shoulder parts in the conventional seat apparatus when operating the steering. In a case where the driver is held by the backboard 6 as in the seat apparatus 1 of the embodiment, pressure to the shoulder is small comparing to the case where the driver is held by moving the side support frames as in the conventional way. Therefore, operability of the steering operation can be enhanced while maintaining the driver holding ability at the time of cornering.

(39) Further, the steering angle sensor 11 which detects the steering angle of the steering of a vehicle is used as the cornering sensor of the present invention. Therefore, the backboard 6 can be moved in conjunction with the steering operation.

(40) Conventionally, among seat apparatuses to be mounted on vehicles such as auto mobiles, there is known a seat apparatus which holds the driver to the seat apparatus to reduce a burden on the driver by detecting measured lateral acceleration and holding the driver to the seat apparatus by moving the side support frames, which are provided with the seat apparatus, according to the detection result of the measured lateral acceleration in order to ensure safety in operation when the vehicle performs cornering (for example, see JP Hei4-031138).

(41) Further, in recent years, it is preferred that the holding ability of the seat apparatus can vary according to the condition of the vehicle.

(42) However, if measured lateral acceleration is to be used for controlling, the side support frames sensitively react to the detection result and may move frequently. Therefore, it is preferred that the holding ability of the seat apparatus can vary according to the state of the vehicle on the basis of the detected information alternative to the measured lateral acceleration.

(43) In the embodiment, if the calculated lateral acceleration which is calculated from the detection result obtained by the steering angle sensor 11 and the detection result obtained by the vehicle speed sensor 12 is a predetermined value or greater, the swing mechanism 8 operates and the backboard 6 swings.

(44) Here, FIG. 9 is a graph showing change in actual lateral acceleration over time in a case where a vehicle 1 travels the path same as that in the case of FIG. 7, the measured lateral acceleration being obtained by measuring the actual lateral acceleration to the vehicle on a real-time basis. Since the measured lateral acceleration is sensitive to the influence of steering correction, slipping on a road and the like, the measured lateral acceleration exceeds the threshold (?0.2 G) in the area circled with a dotted circle. In a case where the swing mechanism 8 is controlled on the basis of the detection result of the measured lateral acceleration, the backboard 6 moves frequently and a load is put on the driver. On the other hand, in a case of calculated lateral acceleration as shown in FIG. 7, the above mentioned influence can be controlled. Therefore, the swing mechanism 8 do not move frequently and the load put on the driver can also be reduced. In such way, even if calculated lateral acceleration is used alternative to measured lateral acceleration, the holding ability of the seat apparatus can vary according to the state of the vehicle.

(45) The embodiment in which the present invention is applicable is not limited to the above described embodiment, and the embodiment can be modified arbitrarily within the scope of the invention.

(46) For example, in the above described embodiment, the steering angle sensor 11 is described as an example of a cornering sensor which detects the cornering direction of a vehicle. However, the road information (for example, road condition and the like) obtained from a navigation system installed in a vehicle may be used as a cornering sensor. Further, since a sensor which detects the cornering direction of a vehicle is usually installed in a navigation system itself, the control unit 10 may recognize the cornering direction of the vehicle from the detection result obtained by such sensor. In such way, the backboard 6 can be moved in conjunction with the actual traveling rout.

(47) Moreover, in the above described embodiment, a case where the two side parts of the backboard 6 are respectively swung in the front-back direction is described as an example. However, the control unit 10 may control at least one of the first drive source 82 and the second drive source 84 so that, among the two side parts of the backboard 6, the side part which is inside with respect to the cornering direction be positioned at back than the side part which is outside with respect to the cornering direction. Even in such case, the posture of the driver can be made to tilt inside with respect to the cornering direction, and the operability of the steering operation can be improved while maintaining the driver holding ability at the time of cornering.

(48) Further, in the above described embodiment, a case where an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the posture of a driver includes the backboard 6 and the swing mechanism 8 is described as an example. However, the adjustment mechanism may be any mechanism as long as it adjusts the posture of a driver. For example, an adjustment mechanism which adjusts the posture of a driver by moving the side support frames which are respectively provided to the side frames which form a pair is suggested.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(49) The seat apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a seat apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(50) 1 seat apparatus

(51) 2 seat cushion frame

(52) 3 seat back frame

(53) 4 seat rail

(54) 5 frame main body

(55) 6 backboard (adjustment mechanism)

(56) 7 connector

(57) 8 swing mechanism (adjustment mechanism)

(58) 10 control unit

(59) 11 steering angle sensor (cornering sensor)

(60) 12 vehicle speed sensor

(61) 51 side frame

(62) 52 side frame

(63) 53 upper frame

(64) 54 lower frame

(65) 81 first connection unit

(66) 82 first drive source

(67) 83 second connection unit

(68) 84 second drive source

(69) 100 vehicle

(70) 811 wire unit

(71) 812 gear unit

(72) 813 rotary shaft

(73) 814 link unit