JP2573451B2 - Safety devices for vehicle seats - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of detecting a seat in a driver's seat and automatically moving a tiltable seat back of a passenger seat arranged in parallel to the driver's seat to a preset storage position. The present invention relates to a safety device for a vehicle seat capable of performing the following.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional safety device for a vehicle seat of this type is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-63-149237.

That is, in a vehicle seat in which a seat back is automatically tilted to a preset storage position by a switch operation, in order to ensure safety of a rear rear seat, when a passenger riding on the rear seat is seated. Control means is provided for restricting the backward tilt of the seat back to a tilt range that does not make contact with the rear occupant.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional safety device for a vehicle seat, even when the vehicle is running, the seat back of the passenger seat is tilted backward to a large extent so as not to hit the rear seat occupant. Since operation is possible, if you apply a sudden brake during such operation,
In the case of a collision or the like, there is a problem in that the support of the occupant in the passenger seat is lost and the safety is lacking.

[0005] Further, since the vehicle can be driven with the seat back of the passenger's seat tilted greatly rearward, FIG.
As shown in the figure, when a collision occurs at the front of the vehicle or the like, a so-called submarine phenomenon (indicated by an arrow A in the figure) occurs in which the passenger in the passenger seat dives below the front of the seat due to the impact, The seatbelt or the like may cause the seated person to strongly compress the abdomen and cause rupture of the internal organs.
On the other hand, when the rear portion of the vehicle is collided during traveling, there is a possibility that the passenger seated in the passenger seat may jump out to the rear of the seat due to the impact (indicated by the arrow B in the drawing), and so on. There is a problem that the safety for the elderly is lacking.

As a technique for improving the safety of a passenger seated in the front passenger seat, a technique as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-12349 has been proposed. This is to restrict the tilting range of the seat back at that time to a narrow predetermined range of front and rear in order to prevent a sudden tilting operation of the seat back when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value. In the state where the vehicle is tilted backward greatly, the occupant may be put in a dangerous state until the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined value.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and provides a vehicle seat safety device capable of ensuring the safety of a passenger seated in a passenger seat of a vehicle seat. It is intended to be.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the gist of the present invention is to detect a seat on a driver's seat (20) and to arrange a passenger seat arranged side by side with the driver's seat (20). A safety device for a vehicle seat capable of automatically moving a tiltable seat back (32) of (30) to a preset storage position, the safety device being provided in the driver's seat (20), Seating detection means (41) for detecting the driver's seating on the driver's seat (20), start detection means (42) for detecting the ON state of an ignition switch for starting the engine, and running at a speed higher than a preset speed A vehicle speed detecting means (46) for detecting a speed, and a reclining device (33) capable of electrically adjusting a tilting position of the seat back (32) of the passenger seat (30) to a desired tilting position by a switch operation of a seated person. When When all of the seating detecting means (41), the starting detecting means (42) and the vehicle speed detecting means (46) are in the detecting state, the reclining device (33) is operated to change the tilt position of the seat back (32). The tilt of the seat back (32), which can be adjusted by a switch operation of the reclining device (33) after the adjustment is completed while adjusting to a predetermined storage position (N) within the safe upright range (θ2) at the time of collision. And a control unit (50) for restricting the position within the upright range (θ2).

[0009]

When no driver is present in the driver's seat (20), the seating detecting means (41) provided in the driver's seat (20) does not detect the driver's seating. Does not work. Thereby, the occupant of the passenger seat (30) can electrically adjust the seat back (32) of the passenger seat (30) to a desired tilting position by operating the switch of the reclining device (33). In this case, the passenger seat (3
The range in which the seat back (32) of (0) can be tilted is not restricted by the control means (50) to a safe upright range (θ2) at the time of a collision, and the seated person tilts greatly backward to relax. It can be adjusted freely according to the condition.

When the driver is seated in the driver's seat (20), the seat detection means (41) detects the driver's seat and sends the detection result to the control means (50). If the start detection means (42) and the vehicle speed detection means (46) are not in the detection state, the control means (50) does not operate, and therefore, the occupant of the front passenger seat (30) can use the driver seat (20). Passenger seat (30) as if there were no driver
Of the seat back (32) can be freely adjusted to a desired tilting position.

When all of the seating detecting means (41), the starting detecting means (42) and the vehicle speed detecting means (46) are in the detecting state, the detection results thereof are sent to the control means (50), and the results are sent to the control means (50). The control means (50) activates the reclining device (33) to determine the tilting position of the seat back (32) of the passenger seat (30) and the safe upright range (θ) at the time of collision.
2) Adjustment to a predetermined storage location (N). After the adjustment is completed, the control means (50) regulates the tilting position of the seat back (32) of the passenger seat (30), which can be adjusted by operating the switch of the reclining device (33), within the upright range (θ2). .

Thus, the seating detecting means (41),
When all of the start detection means (42) and the vehicle speed detection means (46) are in the detection state, that is, while the vehicle is traveling, the passenger seat (3)
Since the tilting position of the seat back (32) in (0) is regulated within the upright range (θ2) including the storage position (N) to be adjusted first, the occupant in the front passenger's seat during traveling can seat the seat back (32). Cannot be operated in the reclining state in which the vehicle is tilted backward greatly, and the danger such as the submarine phenomenon at the time of collision can be reliably avoided.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the driver's seat 20 and the passenger seat 30 of the vehicle seat are arranged side by side on the vehicle body floor 10 and the driver's seat 2
A console box 11 is provided between the passenger seat 0 and the passenger seat 30.

The driver's seat 20 includes a seat cushion 21,
The reclining device 2 is provided at the rear end of the seat cushion 21.
3 and a seat back 22 supported so that the tilt position can be adjusted. As shown in FIG. 3, the passenger seat 30 also includes a seat cushion 31 and a seat back 32 supported at a rear end of the seat cushion 31 via a reclining device 33 so as to be capable of adjusting a tilt position. As shown in FIG. 4, the reclining device 33 adjustably supports the tilting position of the seat back 32 of the passenger seat 30 within the entire tilting range θ1 or the safe upright range θ2 at the time of collision.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control means 50 for controlling the tilting of the seat back 32 by the reclining device 33 is composed of a microcomputer, and includes a CPU and a RO.
M and RAM, etc., and an input device 51,
It is connected to the output device 52. The input device 51 includes a seating detection unit 41, a start detection unit 42, a manual switch 43, an auto switch 44, a limit position control switch 45, and a vehicle speed detection unit 46.

The seating detecting means 41 comprises a pressure sensor or the like, and is provided inside the seat cushion 21 of the driver's seat 20 as shown in FIG. The seating detecting means 41 detects the driver's seating on the driver's seat 20. That is, the seating detection means 41 is turned on when the driver sits on the driver's seat 20 and is connected to the control means 50 so as to send a seating detection signal to the control means 50 as shown in FIG.

A start detecting means (hereinafter, referred to as an IGN switch) 42 is provided beside the base end of the handle 12, as shown in FIG. 3, and turns a key to turn on an ignition switch for starting the engine. It is turned on when in the state, and is connected to the control means 50 so as to send a start detection signal to the control means 50 as shown in FIG.

The vehicle speed detecting means (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle speed sensor) 46 comprises a general speed sensor and the like, and is provided in the console box 11 as shown in FIG. The vehicle speed sensor 46 is turned on when the traveling speed of the vehicle becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and is connected to the control means 50 so as to send a vehicle speed detection signal to the control means 50 as shown in FIG. I have.

The manual switch 43 is provided on the side of the seat cushion 31 of the passenger seat 30. The manual switch 43 drives the electric motor 36 of the reclining device 33 by a switch operation of the occupant of the passenger seat 30, whereby the seat back is provided. 32 is adjusted to a desired tilt position. The manual switch 43 outputs a manual operation signal to the control unit 50.

The auto switch 44 is connected to the control means 50 as shown in FIG.
1, when all of the IGN switch 42 and the vehicle speed sensor 46 are in the detection (ON) state, they are turned ON and output an auto switch signal to the control means 50. That is, O
When it becomes N, the reclining device 3
3 to output a swing command for the seat back 32 to a preset neutral (N) storage position.

The N storage position is a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, and can be set in advance in the upright range θ2 according to the specific preference of the occupant. The auto switch 44 is set to be turned off when the seat back 32 of the passenger seat 30 has finished tilting to the N storage position.

The control means 50 receives an auto switch signal from the auto switch 44 and outputs
Is set so as to output a motor drive signal. The electric motor 36 of the output device 52 is driven in accordance with the motor drive signal to tilt the seat back 32 of the passenger seat 30 back and forth to the N storage position shown in FIG.

The rotation speed of the electric motor 36 is determined by the sensor circuit 3
7 is detected. The sensor circuit 37 includes a reed switch or the like, and outputs a pulse number proportional to the rotation speed of the sensor circuit 37 to the control unit 50. The control means 50 is set so as to count the sensor signal and calculate the tilt position of the seat back 32 of the passenger seat 30 from the count value as will be described later.

The limit position control switch 45 is turned on when the seat back 32 is tilted to the N storage position and the auto switch 44 is turned from on to off.
0 is instructed to store the upright range θ2. The control means 50 having received the signal of the limit position control switch 45 controls the tilting position of the seat back 32, which can be arbitrarily adjusted by the occupant by operating the manual switch 43, within the safe upright range θ2 at the time of collision. Is set to

Next, the operation will be described. When the ignition key is turned on by turning the key of the car, the IGN switch 42 is turned on and connected to the battery, so that the seat detection means 41 and the vehicle speed sensor 46 can output. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, when there is no driver in the driver's seat 20, the seating detecting means 41 provided in the driver's seat 20 does not detect the driver's seating and remains OFF, and the seating detection is performed. Does not output a signal.

When the seat detecting means 41 is OFF, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 (manual .theta.1 routine), the control means 50 does not operate, and the occupant of the passenger seat 30 operates the manual switch 43 of the reclining device 33. By the operation, the seat back 32 of the passenger seat 30 can be adjusted to a desired tilt position within the entire tilt range θ1 (shown in FIG. 4). In this case, the range in which the seat back 32 of the passenger seat 30 can be tilted is the safe upright range θ2 at the time of collision.
The seated person can freely adjust to a relaxed state in which the seated person leans rearward greatly, without being restricted to the inside.

When the driver is seated in the driver's seat 20, the seating detecting means 41 detects the driver's seating and turns ON, and outputs a seating detection signal to the control means 50.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 (manual θ1 routine), the control means 50 does not operate unless the IGN switch 42 and the vehicle speed sensor 46 are ON. Therefore, the occupant of the passenger seat 30 can arbitrarily move the seat back 32 of the passenger seat 30 to a desired tilt position within the entire tilt range θ1 by operating the manual switch 43 in the same manner as when the driver is not in the driver seat 20. Can be adjusted.

During traveling at a predetermined speed, the seating detecting means 41, the IGN switch 42 and the vehicle speed sensor 46
Are turned on, a seating detection signal is output from the seating detection means 41, a start detection signal is output from the IGN switch 42, and a vehicle speed detection signal is output from the vehicle speed sensor 46 to the control means 50. Based on this, the control means 50
Operates the reclining device 33 to adjust the seat back 32 of the passenger seat 30 to a preset storage position (N) shown in FIG.

More specifically, FIG. 2 and FIG.
As shown in FIG.
When all of the vehicle speed sensors 46 are turned on, the auto switch 44 is turned on to output an auto switch signal to the control means 50. When an auto switch signal is input from the auto switch 44, the control means 50 counts each value of the N storage position and the current position of the seat back 32 based on the signal of the sensor circuit 37, and determines the value of the storage position and the current value. By comparing with the numerical value of the position, if the two numerical values are different, the difference between the values is calculated and stored.

Subsequently, the control means 50 outputs a motor drive signal to the output device 52 by an amount corresponding to the difference between the calculated values. In response to the motor drive signal, the electric motor 36 is driven in a predetermined direction by a fixed amount, and the seat back 3 of the passenger seat 30 is
2 is adjusted to the N storage positions shown in FIG. The N storage position is set only within the safe upright range θ2 at the time of collision as described above. After the adjustment is completed, the control unit 50
Restricts the tilting position of the seat back 32 of the front passenger seat 30 that can be adjusted by the switch operation of the reclining device 33 within the upright range θ2.

That is, when the adjustment is completed up to the N storage position of the seat back 32, as shown in FIG. 2, the auto switch 44 is turned from ON to OFF, while the limit position control switch 45 is turned ON, and the control means 50 stands upright. Range θ2
Command to memorize. The control means 50 having received the signal of the limit position control switch 45 operates the manual switch 43 to operate the seat back 32 which can be arbitrarily adjusted by the switch operation of the manual switch 43 by a motor drive signal corresponding to the numerical value of the tilt position of the upright range θ2. Set the tilting position to the safe upright range θ at the time of collision.
Regulate within 2.

Thus, when the vehicle is traveling at a predetermined speed, the seat back 32 is
, The so-called submarine phenomenon or the like that occurs when the occupant of the front passenger seat 30 collides forward in the reclining state can be prevented, and the safety of the occupant of the front passenger seat 30 of the vehicle seat can be prevented. Can be secured.

[0033]

According to the safety device for a vehicle seat according to the present invention, seat detecting means for detecting seating in a driver's seat,
Since it has a start detecting means for detecting an ON state of an ignition switch, a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a traveling speed, a reclining device capable of adjusting a tilting position of a seat back of a passenger seat, and a predetermined control means, the traveling state is determined. When all of the detecting means for detecting are in the detecting state, the tilting position of the seat back of the passenger seat can be adjusted to a preset storage position.
Since the tilting position of the seat back, which can be operated by the reclining device, can be regulated within a safe upright range at the time of a collision, the safety of the occupant in the front passenger seat of the vehicle seat can be ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle seat safety device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the vehicle seat safety device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a driver's seat and a passenger seat equipped with a vehicle seat safety device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a passenger seat equipped with a safety device for a vehicle seat according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle seat safety device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional vehicle seat.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 ... Driver seat 30 ... Passenger seat 32 ... Seat back 33 ... Reclining device 36 ... Electric motor 41 ... Seat detection means 42 ... Start detection means (IGN switch) 43 ... Manual switch 44 ... Auto switch 45 ... Limited position control switch 46 ... Vehicle speed detection switch (vehicle speed sensor) 50 ... Control means (microcomputer)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vehicle seat capable of detecting a seat in a driver's seat and automatically moving a tiltable seat back of a passenger seat arranged in parallel to the driver's seat to a preset storage position. A safety device, which is provided in the driver's seat and detects seating of a driver in the driver's seat, and a start detecting unit that detects an ON state of an ignition switch for starting an engine. Vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a running speed equal to or higher than the set speed, a reclining device capable of electrically adjusting a tilting position of the seat back of the front passenger seat to a desired tilting position by a switch operation of a seated person, and the seating detecting means When all of the start detection means and the vehicle speed detection means are in the detection state, the reclining device is actuated to move the tilting position of the seat back within the safe upright range at the time of collision. Control means for adjusting the tilting position of the seat back, which can be adjusted by a switch operation of the reclining device, within the upright range after the adjustment is completed to a predetermined storage position. Vehicle seat safety device.