Seat state sensing device, program, and seat state sensing method

Abstract

A seat state sensing device includes a first vibration detector provided to a seat of a vehicle, which detects a vibration and outputs a first vibration signal; a second vibration detector provided to a vehicle body in the vicinity of the seat, which detects a vibration and outputs a second vibration signal; a first calculation section which calculates a similarity degree of the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector; and a sensing section which senses a seat state including at least one of a slide position of the seat in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a reclining angle of the seat, and an orientation of the seat with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, based on the similarity degree calculated by the first calculation section.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat state sensing device, a program, and a seat state sensing method that automatically sense a seat state of a seat, such as an orientation, a reclining angle, and the like, in a vehicle having a seat on which a passenger sits, such as a motor vehicle, a train, or an aircraft, a ship, and the like. BACKGROUND

[0002] A system that can present an appropriate driving posture corresponding to the size of a driver is shown in the following Patent Document 1.

[0003] A seat provided with a seat heater that gives a seated person a comfortable warm feeling according to the reclining state of the seat is shown in the following Patent Document 2.

[0004] A device that appropriately deploys an airbag according to a seated position of an occupant based on individual differences in size, driving posture, and the like is shown in the following Patent Document 3.

[0005] A safety airbag device that appropriately deploys an airbag by discriminating between an occupant who is seated on a seat and cargo that is placed on the seat is shown in the following Patent Document 4.

[0006] An active vibration noise control (ANC) device that can appropriately control in-vehicle noise even if the seat position and the reclining angle change is shown in the following Patent Document 5.

[0007] A noise control filter that detects a seat on which an occupant is seated with a sensing unit and limits noise control to be effective at that position is shown in the following Patent Document 6.

[0008] A train seat direction changing device that can make work easy when all seats are directed in a fixed direction at the time of round-trip travel or cleaning and shorten the work time is shown in the following Patent Document 7.

[0009] As shown in Patent Documents 1 to 7, in the seat state sensing related to the background art, a method of directly measuring a physical quantity related to a seat, such as a seat position, an angle, or a load, a distance, and the like, is common, and a seat state sensing based on an element that is not directly related to the seat itself has not been used.

[0010] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0011] PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0012] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-201174

[0013] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-52850

[0014] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H5-213142

[0015] Patent Literature 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-216824

[0016] Patent Literature 5: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-149922

[0017] Patent Literature 6: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-54962

[0018] Patent Literature 7: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-157619 SUMMARY

[0019] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a seat state sensing device capable of sensing a seat state including a slide position, a reclining angle, and a seat orientation of a seat at low cost using a vibration signal of a vehicle.

[0020] A seat state sensing device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: at least one first vibration detector provided to at least one seat of a vehicle, which detects a vibration and outputs a first vibration signal; at least one second vibration detector provided to a vehicle body in the vicinity of the seat, which detects a vibration and outputs a second vibration signal; a first calculation section which calculates a similarity of the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector; and a sensing section which senses a seat state including at least one of a slide position of the seat in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a reclining angle of the seat, and an orientation of the seat with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, on the basis of the similarity calculated by the first calculation section. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of the seat state sensing device according to Embodiment 1.

[0022] Figure 2 is a configuration diagram of a noise control filter.

[0023] Figure 3 is a diagram showing a driver's seat from a lateral direction.

[0024] Figure 4 is a configuration diagram of the seat state sensing device according to Embodiment 2.

[0025] Figure 5 is a diagram showing a driver's seat from a lateral direction.

[0026] Figure 6 is a diagram showing a seat arrangement in a case where a train interior is viewed from above.

[0027] Figure 7 is a configuration diagram of the seat state sensing device according to Embodiment 2.

[0028] Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a seat state sensing device according to Embodiment 1.

[0029] Figure 9 FIG. 2 is a view of a seat viewed from the lateral direction.

[0030] Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a seat state sensing device according to Embodiment 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] (Knowledge underlying the present disclosure)

[0032] Although there are many vehicles having seats, particularly, motor vehicles are premised on that all of the occupants are seated, and various controls corresponding to the seating state of the occupants are proposed.

[0033] For example, in Patent Literature 1, a system capable of prompting an appropriate driving posture corresponding to the physique of the driver is shown, and as a means to achieve this, a camera is used. Specifically, the physique (seat height) of the driver and the reclining angle and sliding amount of the driver's seat are calculated from an image captured by a camera in the vehicle cabin, and the driver's seat is controlled so as to coincide with recommended values of the reclining angle and sliding amount of the driver's seat corresponding to the physique.

[0034] Next, in Patent Literature 2, a seat having a seat heater that gives a comfortable warm feeling to the occupant according to the reclining state of the seat is shown, and as a means to achieve this, an angle sensor that detects the inclination of the seatback (seatback portion) is used. Specifically, the angle sensor provided in the seat detects the inclination angle of the seatback, and if it is judged that the angle deviates from the standard position and the degree of contact of the seat with the body of the occupant decreases, the heat generation amount of the seat heater is increased to give an appropriate warm feeling to the occupant. Or in the case of a large inclination angle (in a state where the seatback is greatly reclined) that is judged to be a state where the occupant is in a relaxed state, the seat heater is controlled to be at a low temperature, and it is possible to quickly fall asleep, or to prevent low-temperature burns. Here, in the angle sensor, a variable resistor, a rotary encoder, or a position sensor, a gyro sensor is exemplified.

[0035] Next, in Patent Literature 3, a device that appropriately deploys an airbag according to individual differences of an occupant based on a body, a driving posture, and the like is shown, and as a means to achieve this, a seat position detection unit that detects a sliding position of a seat and a seatback angle detection unit that detects a turning angle of a seatback are used. Specifically, the head position of an occupant is inferred from information detected by the seat position detection unit and the seatback angle detection unit, and the level of an airbag deployment condition is increased or decreased according to the inferred value. In more detail, in the case where the head position is close to a steering device (handle), the airbag is set to be easily deployed. Here, as the seat position detection unit and the seatback angle detection unit, a contact point method is exemplified.

[0036] In addition, in Patent Literature 4, an airbag device is also shown that appropriately deploys an airbag by discriminating between an occupant seated on a seat and a cargo placed on the seat. As a means to achieve this, a seat position detection unit that detects a vehicle front-rear direction position of a seat, a seatback angle detection unit that detects an inclination angle of a seatback, and a distance measurement unit that measures a distance to an occupant or a seatback are used. Specifically, the distance from a reference point (a position where the distance measurement unit is provided) to the seatback is calculated from the detection values of the seat position detection unit and the seatback angle detection unit, and whether or not there is an occupant on the seat is determined from the difference between this calculated value and a distance value directly measured by the distance measurement unit, and the timing, speed, and the like of airbag deployment are controlled. Further, by making a distinction between an occupant and a cargo, the necessity of airbag deployment is also controlled. Here, as the seat position detection unit and the seatback angle detection unit, a seatback angle sensor including a potentiometer (variable resistor) and a seat position sensor are exemplified, and as the distance measurement unit, an ultrasonic sensor is exemplified.

[0037] Next, in Patent Literature 5, an active vibration noise control (ANC) device that appropriately controls in-vehicle noise even if the seat position and the reclining angle change is shown, and as a means to achieve this, a detection unit that detects the position of a seat or the angle of a seatback in the vehicle front-rear direction and the up-down direction is used. Specifically, based on the seat position detected by a position sensor and the seatback angle detected by an angle sensor, the transmission characteristics from a speaker that regenerates a noise canceling sound to a microphone that detects an error signal of the canceling sound and the noise are switched to appropriate characteristics when a compensation unit is set, and thus the coefficients of an adaptive filter that outputs a control signal for canceling the noise can be appropriately calculated. Here, as the position sensor and the angle sensor, a variable resistor is exemplified.

[0038] Further, in Patent Literature 6, a noise control filter is also shown, and a seat on which an occupant is seated is detected with a sensing unit, and noise control is effectively performed limited to the position thereof. As a means to achieve this, a load sensor provided under a seat or a seat back (backrest) is used as an occupant presence / absence sensing sensor. Specifically, a seat on which an occupant is not seated is discriminated with the load sensor, and instead of not performing noise control on a seat on which an occupant is not seated, for example, a limited number of actuators (speakers) that reproduce control sound are effectively used so that the control space is enlarged in a seat on which an occupant is seated. Here, as the occupant presence / absence sensing sensor, a charge type is exemplified.

[0039] Up to this point, although a motor vehicle has been described, a seat on which an occupant is seated is also provided in a train, and unlike a motor vehicle, has a structure in which a plurality of seats are integrated, and the seat can be rotated, and the like.

[0040] In Patent Literature 7, a train seat direction changing device that enables easy work and shortens the work time when all seats are made to face a fixed direction at the time of return travel and cleaning is shown. As a means to achieve this, a direction sensing sensor that detects the direction of a seat and a reference posture sensing sensor that senses that a seat is in a reference posture are used. Specifically, the direction sensing sensor detects the rotational position of a seat to discriminate whether the direction of the seat is a given direction, and the reference posture sensing sensor discriminates whether the initial position (unreclined state) of the seat is reached, and only the seat at the initial position is unlocked in the given direction, and the orientation of all seats that have been unlocked is uniformly changed.

[0041] In the past as well, not only in a motor vehicle, a train, but also in an aircraft and the like, various services and value are provided to an occupant seated on a seat, and sensing of the state of a seat including the presence / absence of an occupant generally adopts a method of directly measuring a physical quantity related to a seat such as a position, an angle, or a load, a distance, and the like, and sensing of the state of a seat based on an element that is not directly related to the seat itself has not been used.

[0042] Further, in the active noise control (ANC) of Patent Literature 5 and Patent Literature 6 described above, a structure in which a seat position sensor, an angle sensor, or a load sensor and the like are additionally used regardless of the presence / absence of a noise detecting unit, and these noise detecting units are not used is adopted, and the cost increases.

[0043] To solve the problem, the inventors have conceived the present disclosure based on the finding that the similarity of vibrations detected by a vibration detector provided on a seat of a vehicle and vibrations detected by a vibration detector provided on a vehicle body in the vicinity of the seat enables easy and low-cost sensing of an insight into a seat state including at least one of a slide position of the seat, a reclining angle of the seat, and an orientation of the seat.

[0044] Next, each mode of the present disclosure will be described.

[0045] The seat state sensing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: at least one first vibration detector provided on at least one seat of a vehicle, which detects vibrations and outputs a first vibration signal; at least one second vibration detector provided on a vehicle body in the vicinity of the seat, which detects vibrations and outputs a second vibration signal; a first calculation section that calculates a similarity of the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector; and a sensing section that senses a seat state including at least one of a slide position of the seat in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a reclining angle of the seat, and an orientation of the seat with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, based on the similarity calculated by the first calculation section.

[0046] According to this mode, the first calculation section calculates a similarity of the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, and the sensing section senses a seat state based on the similarity, whereby a seat state of a seat provided on a vehicle can be sensed easily and at low cost.

[0047] In the above mode, the at least one second vibration detector includes a plurality of second vibration detectors provided separately from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, the seat state includes the slide position of the seat in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, the first calculation section calculates a plurality of similarities of the first vibration signal and a plurality of second vibration signals input from the plurality of second vibration detectors, and the sensing section senses the slide position of the seat in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body based on the plurality of similarities calculated by the first calculation section.

[0048] According to this mode, by providing a plurality of second vibration detectors separately from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, the sensing section senses a slide position of a seat based on a plurality of similarities, whereby sensing accuracy can be improved.

[0049] In the above-described aspect, the at least one second vibration detector includes a plurality of second vibration detectors arranged apart from each other in a vehicle body up-down direction, the seat state includes the reclining angle of the seat, the first calculation portion calculates a plurality of degrees of similarity of the first vibration signal and a plurality of second vibration signals input from the plurality of second vibration detectors, and the sensing portion senses the reclining angle of the seat on the basis of the plurality of degrees of similarity calculated by the first calculation portion.

[0050] According to this aspect, by arranging the plurality of second vibration detectors apart from each other in the vehicle body up-down direction, the sensing portion senses the reclining angle of the seat on the basis of the plurality of degrees of similarity, and thus it is possible to improve the sensing accuracy.

[0051] In the above-described aspect, the at least one seat includes a plurality of seats arranged in connection with each other in a vehicle body left-right direction and capable of being adjusted independently in reclining angle, the at least one first vibration detector includes a plurality of first vibration detectors arranged in the plurality of seats, and the aspect further includes a second calculation portion that calculates a degree of similarity of the plurality of first vibration signals input from the plurality of first vibration detectors to each other, and the sensing portion senses a relative reclining angle between the plurality of seats on the basis of the degree of similarity calculated by the second calculation portion in addition to the plurality of degrees of similarity calculated by the first calculation portion.

[0052] According to this aspect, the sensing portion senses the relative reclining angle between the plurality of seats arranged in connection with each other in the vehicle body left-right direction, and thus it is possible to sense the absolute reclining angle of each of the plurality of seats.

[0053] In the above-described aspect, the at least one seat includes a plurality of seats arranged in connection with each other in a vehicle body left-right direction, the at least one first vibration detector includes a plurality of first vibration detectors arranged in the plurality of seats, the seat state includes the orientation of the seats with respect to a vehicle body front-rear direction, the first calculation portion calculates a plurality of degrees of similarity of the plurality of first vibration signals input from the plurality of first vibration detectors and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, and the sensing portion senses the orientation of the plurality of seats with respect to the vehicle body front-rear direction on the basis of the plurality of degrees of similarity calculated by the first calculation portion.

[0054] According to this aspect, by arranging the plurality of seats in connection with each other in the vehicle body left-right direction, the plurality of first vibration detectors are arranged, and the sensing portion senses the orientation of the seats on the basis of the plurality of degrees of similarity, and thus it is possible to improve the sensing accuracy.

[0055] In the above-described aspect, the at least one first vibration detector includes a plurality of first vibration detectors disposed on the left and right of the seat, the seat state includes the orientation of the seat with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, the first calculation section calculates a plurality of degrees of similarity of the plurality of first vibration signals input from the plurality of first vibration detectors and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, and the sensing section senses the orientation of the seat with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body on the basis of the plurality of degrees of similarity calculated by the first calculation section.

[0056] According to this aspect, by providing a plurality of first vibration detectors on the left and right of the seat, the sensing section senses the orientation of the seat on the basis of a plurality of degrees of similarity, so that the sensing accuracy can be improved.

[0057] In the above-described aspect, the aspect further includes a signal processing section that performs signal processing given on the basis of the control coefficient with respect to a noise signal that is the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, thereby generating a control signal, and a speaker that is disposed in the seat or in the vicinity thereof and that outputs the control signal input from the signal processing section.

[0058] According to this aspect, a noise microphone provided in an active noise control (ANC) can be used as the second vibration detector, so that miniaturization and cost reduction can be achieved.

[0059] In the above-described aspect, the aspect further includes a storage section that stores a plurality of coefficients corresponding to seat states, and the storage section inputs, as the control coefficient, a coefficient corresponding to the seat state sensed by the sensing section among the plurality of coefficients to the signal processing section.

[0060] According to this aspect, by inputting, as the control coefficient, a coefficient corresponding to the seat state sensed by the sensing section to the signal processing section, the noise cancellation effect of the active noise control can be improved.

[0061] In the above-described aspect, the aspect further includes an update section that updates the control coefficient on the basis of an error signal that is the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector.

[0062] According to this aspect, an error microphone provided in the active noise control can be used as the first vibration detector, so that miniaturization and cost reduction can be achieved. Furthermore, the control coefficient is updated on the basis of the error signal, so that the noise cancellation effect of the active noise control can be improved.

[0063] A program according to an aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer that is a seat state sensing device mounted on a vehicle to function as a first calculation unit and a sensing unit, the seat state sensing device including at least one first vibration detector provided on at least one seat of the vehicle, which detects a vibration and outputs a first vibration signal, and at least one second vibration detector provided on a vehicle body in the vicinity of the seat, which detects a vibration and outputs a second vibration signal, the first calculation unit calculates a similarity between the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, and the sensing unit senses a seat state including at least one of a slide position of the seat in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a reclining angle of the seat, and an orientation of the seat with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, based on the similarity calculated by the first calculation unit.

[0064] According to this aspect, the seat state can be sensed easily and at low cost based on the similarity between the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector.

[0065] A seat state sensing method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a method of sensing a seat state of a seat state sensing device mounted on a vehicle, the seat state sensing device including at least one first vibration detector provided on at least one seat of the vehicle, which detects a vibration and outputs a first vibration signal, and at least one second vibration detector provided on a vehicle body in the vicinity of the seat, which detects a vibration and outputs a second vibration signal, the seat state sensing device calculates a similarity between the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, and senses a seat state including at least one of a slide position of the seat in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body, a reclining angle of the seat, and an orientation of the seat with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, based on the similarity calculated.

[0066] According to this aspect, the seat state can be sensed easily and at low cost based on the similarity between the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector.

[0067] The present disclosure can also be realized as a program that causes a computer to execute the features of the device described above or a system that operates according to the program. Needless to say, the computer program described above can be distributed via a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a communication network such as the Internet.

[0068] (Embodiments of the Present Disclosure)

[0069] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail using the drawings. Identical elements denoted by the same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same or corresponding elements.

[0070] The embodiments described below each represent a preferred specific example of the present disclosure.

[0071] Further, in the embodiments described below, active noise control (active type noise control: hereinafter omitted as "ANC") is indicated as an example of service to a seated occupant seated on a seat, but is not limited thereto, and can be provided to all services, values that can utilize the seat state sensed in the present disclosure, such as sound control, air conditioning control, lighting control, airbag control, and the like.

[0072] Furthermore, the structural elements, the arrangement positions and connection modes of the structural elements, the order of actions, and the like shown in the embodiments below are examples, and the gist is not intended to limit the present disclosure. The present disclosure is limited only by the claims.

[0073] Thus, regarding the structural elements among the structural elements in the embodiments below that are not recited in the independent claims representing the highest-order concept of the present disclosure, it is not necessarily required to achieve the subject matter of the present disclosure, but is described as a more preferred mode of configuration.

[0074] (Embodiment 1)

[0075] The structure of the seat state sensing device related to Embodiment 1 will be described. Figure 1 is a view that shows the structure of the seat state sensing device related to Embodiment 1. The seat state sensing device is provided with similarity calculators 21a, 21b and a seat position determiner 30. The similarity calculators 21a, 21b and the seat position determiner 30 can also be functions realized by a CPU executing a program read from a non-volatile memory such as a ROM, or can be realized by dedicated hardware.

[0076] Figure 1 The seat state sensing device of shows the seats when the inside of the vehicle cabin is viewed from above, and in the seats 101a, 101b of the driver's seat 101a having a handle 100 and the seat 101b of the passenger's seat adjacent thereto, the microphones 2a, 2b, 12a, 12b corresponding to the first vibration detectors and the speakers 3a, 3b, 13a, 13b are provided. In addition, the microphones 1a, 1b corresponding to the second vibration detectors are arranged in the vehicle body 111a (in the vicinity of the window 121a of the door on the driver's seat side), and the microphones 11a, 11b corresponding to the second vibration detectors are arranged in the vehicle body 111b (in the vicinity of the window 121b of the door on the passenger's seat side). These microphones and speakers are connected to the noise control filter 40 for reducing the vehicle running noise in the vehicle cabin. That is, Figure 1The ANC case in which the seat state sensing device is applied to the motor vehicle running noise is shown, and in this case, the seat state sensing device is further provided with a noise control filter 40.

[0077] Here, the microphones 1a, 1b, 11a, 11b are noise microphones in the ANC, and the microphones 2a, 2b, 12a, 12b are error microphones. The noise control filter 40 performs signal processing on a noise signal indicative of the running noise detected by the noise microphones 1a, 1b, 11a, 11b with a signal processor 41, and reproduces the control sound from the loudspeakers 3a, 3b, 13a, 13b so as to reduce the noise at the positions of the error microphones 2a, 2b, 12a, 12b. Also, at the positions of the error microphones 2a, 2b, 12a, 12b, the running noise interferes with the control sound, and the error microphones 2a, 2b, 12a, 12b detect a residual signal (hereinafter, referred to as an error signal) thereof. Normally, the noise control filter 40 uses adaptive signal processing to update its control coefficients so as to minimize the error signal. This operation is repeated, whereby the error signal is minimized, and the control coefficients for reducing the running noise are obtained. The control coefficients thus obtained are stored in a coefficient memory 42.

[0078] The use Figure 2 will be described in more detail. Figure 2 The inside of the noise control filter 40 of Figure 1 will be described.

[0079] In the Figure 2 , the noise signal detected by the noise microphones 1a, 1b, 11a, 11b is subjected to signal processing in the signal processor 41 with the control coefficients in the signal processor 41, and is outputted as a control signal to the loudspeakers 3a, 3b, 13a, 13b. At the same time, the noise signal detected by the noise microphones 1a, 1b, 11a, 11b is subjected to signal processing in the transmission characteristic corrector 43 with the coefficients in the transmission characteristic corrector 43.

[0080] Here, the respective transmission characteristics from the loudspeakers 3a, 3b, 13a, 13b to the error microphones 2a, 2b, 12a, 12b are set in the transmission characteristic corrector 43 as the coefficients in advance. The setting of the coefficients is performed by selecting the appropriate coefficients (coefficients obtained when the seat 101a is in the solid line position) from a plurality of coefficients pre-stored in the coefficient memory 42 according to the seat position judged (sensed) by the seat position judging device 30 (sensing portion) described later.

[0081] The coefficients thus set are subjected to signal processing in the transmission characteristic corrector 43 with the noise signal detected by the noise microphones 1a, 1b, 11a, 11b, and the output thereof is inputted to the coefficient updater 44.

[0082] The coefficient updater 44 updates the control coefficients of the signal processor 41 by adaptive signal processing using the output signal from the transfer characteristic corrector 43 and the error signals from the error microphones 2a, 2b, 12a, 12b, so as to minimize the error signals. Further, by iteratively performing this adaptive signal processing in succession, the control coefficients that reduce the running noise are obtained while the error signals are minimized.

[0083] The control coefficients thus obtained are finally stored in the coefficient memory 42.

[0084] However, the actual noise microphones are not only used as the microphones 1a, 1b, 11a, 11b shown in the figure, but also used as a plurality of microphones such as the microphones 1a to 1f as shown in the figure. Figure 1 Figure 3 For example, the microphone 1a and the microphone 1b are disposed apart from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and the microphone 1a and the microphone 1c are disposed apart from each other in the up-down direction of the vehicle body. Figure 3 The window 121a of the door near which the seat 101a is viewed from the lateral direction is shown, and of course, the window 121b of the door on the side of the copilot is also provided with a microphone. Further, all of these microphones are used in the noise control filter 40.

[0085] The microphones 1a to 1f are disposed in the vehicle body 111a near the seat 101a. In the example of the present embodiment, "near" means to the extent that the microphone 2a and the microphones 1a, 1b can detect the same vibration (running noise). In the example of the present embodiment, the microphones 1a to 1f are disposed in the vehicle body 111a near the seat 101a. Figure 3 In the example of the present embodiment, the microphones 1b, 1d, 1f are disposed in the front of the vehicle, and the microphones 1a, 1c, 1e are disposed in the rear of the vehicle. When the position of the seat 101a is moved in the front-rear direction, the microphones on which side the seat 101a is disposed is changed.

[0086] From this, the seat 101a is taken as an example to explain how the seat state sensing device functions on the noise control filter 40. Figure 1

[0087] Figure 1 In the example of the present embodiment, the seat 101a is initially in the position indicated by the dotted line, and is currently set to be moved to the position indicated by the solid line (in the direction close to the handle T00). At this time, the microphone 2a in the seat 101a is closest to the microphone 1b disposed in the vehicle body 111a. Even if the seat 101a is viewed from the lateral direction, the microphone 2a in the seat 101a is closest to the microphone 1b disposed in the vehicle body 111a. Figure 3 ​​The same applies to the case of the seat 101b. Thus, the running noise in the vehicle is detected by the microphone 2a, and also by the microphone 1b, and the similarity of these two signals (noise signals S2a, S1b) is calculated by the similarity calculator 21b. The similarity calculator 21b outputs a signal S21b indicating the similarity of the noise signals S2a, S1b, and inputs the signal S21b to the seat position determiner 30. As a specific example, it is sufficient to calculate only the cross-correlation or the coherence of the two signals.

[0088] The cross-correlation function is shown in Equation (1), for example, where x(t) is the signal detected by the microphone 1b, and y(t) is the signal detected by the microphone 2a. The similarity between the two signals can be calculated. In the case of weak similarity, Rxy(τ) approaches 0. In contrast, in the case of strong similarity, the value of Rxy(τ) increases.

[0089] [Equation 1]

[0090]

[0091] On the other hand, the coherence function is shown in Equation (2), where, again, x(t) is the signal detected by the microphone 1b, and y(t) is the signal detected by the microphone 2a. Wxy is the cross spectrum of x(t) and y(t), Wxx is the power spectrum of x(t), and Wyy is the power spectrum of y(t). The coherence function 2 is the value obtained by dividing the square of the absolute value of the average cross spectrum by the average power spectrum of each of x(t) and y(t). If the similarity between the two signals x(t) and y(t) is weak, then 2 becomes a small value (close to 0), and in the case of strong similarity, the value increases (close to 1). Here, the coherence function has a value for each frequency in order to perform frequency analysis.

[0092] [Equation 2]

[0093]

[0094] Note that the similarity calculation is not limited to the cross-correlation or the coherence, and can be calculated, for example, by the distance between vectors when two signals are respectively regarded as vectors, such as the Euclidean distance or the Mahalanobis distance. Further, it can be a method of calculating the distance by regarding the power spectrum after frequency analysis as a vector, such as the KepStram distance.

[0095] Thus, in the similarity calculator 21b, the similarity of the microphone 1b and the microphone 2a in the seat 101a shown by the solid line is calculated.

[0096] Similarly, the running noise when the seat 101a is in the position indicated by the solid line (in other words, at present) is detected by the microphone 1a as well as by the microphone 2a, and the similarity of these two signals (noise signals S2a, Sla) is calculated by the similarity calculator 21a. The similarity calculator 21a outputs a signal S21a indicating the similarity of the noise signals S2a, Sla, and the signal S21a is input to the seat position determiner 30. At this time, the microphone 1a is separated from the microphone 2a, and therefore the similarity is smaller than the similarity calculated using the microphone 1b and the microphone 2a.

[0097] In other words, in the seat position determiner 30, if the similarities calculated by the similarity calculator 21a and the similarity calculator 21b are compared, it is found that the output signal of the similarity calculator 21b is larger. Thus, the seat position determiner 30 determines that the seat 101a has moved toward the current position indicated by the solid line, in other words, the vicinity of the handle 100. Note that the seat position determiner 30 does not necessarily compare the two similarities calculated by the similarity calculator 21a and the similarity calculator 21b, but can determine the sliding position of the seat 101a based on the similarity calculated by only one of the similarity calculators 21a and 21b.

[0098] Furthermore, based on the result (signal S30) determined by the seat position determiner 30, the appropriate coefficient (the coefficient calculated when the seat 101a is in the position indicated by the solid line) is selected from the coefficients stored in the coefficient storage 42 of the noise control filter 40, and the signal processor 41 is set. Thus, in the seat 101a, a good running noise reduction effect can be obtained.

[0099] However, in the case where the seat 101a is freely movable at a position between the position indicated by the solid line and the position indicated by the dotted line, or the like, if the similarities of the microphone 2a and the microphone 1a and the similarities of the microphone 2a and the microphone 1b at each position are stored in advance for each position, it is possible to determine the position at the present time point by confirming which of the stored similarities the similarity calculated at the present time point is closest to.

[0100] Note that the seat 101a is described as an example in the present embodiment, but the same applies to the seat 101b, and a good noise reduction effect can be obtained by using the seat position sensing using the microphone 12a and the microphone 11a and the microphone 11b.

[0101] In this embodiment, the seat position sensing is applied to the noise control filter 40, but by adopting a structure in which the signal in which the similarity is calculated is used in common with the signal for noise control, that is, the signal detected by the microphones 1a, 1b, 11a, 11b, 2a, 12a, it is not necessary to newly provide a sensor for detecting the running noise, and it is possible to contribute to the downsizing and cost reduction of the device.

[0102] Further, in this embodiment, the structure in which two microphones 2a, 2b or microphones 12a, 12b are provided for one seat of the driver seat, the co-driver seat, or the like, but this is in order to obtain the effect at least at the binaural of the seated occupant as in the ANC, and for example, in the case of optimally controlling the air conditioner, the lighting for each occupant, it is possible to have only one microphone 2a or microphone 12a for one seat.

[0103] Further, in this embodiment, the structure in which the microphone is used as the noise detector, but this is not limited thereto, and any sensor that can detect a signal related to the running vibration such as the running noise, the acceleration sensor, the vibration sensor, or the like can be used.

[0104] In addition, in this embodiment, the structure in which the loudspeakers 3a, 3b, 13a, 13b are provided near the headrest of the seat, but this is not limited thereto, and can be provided in the vehicle interior of the vehicle body 111a, 111b, or the like.

[0105] Further, in this embodiment, the motor vehicle is exemplified, but this is not limited thereto, and can be applied to the aircraft, the train, or the like.

[0106] (Embodiment 2)

[0107] The structure of the seat state sensing device according to Embodiment 2 will be described. Figure 4 is a view that shows the structure of the seat state sensing device according to Embodiment 2. The seat state sensing device is provided with the similarity calculators 21a, 21b and the absolute angle determiner 51. The similarity calculators 21a, 21b and the absolute angle determiner 51 can also be functions realized by a CPU executing a program read from a non-volatile memory such as a ROM, or can be realized by dedicated hardware.

[0108] and Figure 1 Similarly, Figure 4 The seat state sensing device of Figure 1 The seat position sensing is described, but Figure 4 The seat leaning angle sensing is described.

[0109] Figure 4In this case, it is assumed that the seat 101a is initially in the position indicated by the dotted line, and after the leaning adjustment has been performed, is in the current position indicated by the solid line. Figure 4 In this case, since it is difficult to know the leaning angle, the Figure 5 is performed.

[0110] Figure 5 In this case, the microphones 1a to If and Figure 3 Also, the microphones are arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, but it should be further noted that the relationship between the microphones la, lc and le is that they are arranged in the up-down direction, and similarly, the relationship between the microphones lb, Id and If is that they are arranged in the up-down direction.

[0111] Also, in the case where Figure 5 In this case, it is known that the seat 101a is leaned from the initial position indicated by the dotted line to the current position indicated by the solid line. At this time, the microphone 2a in the seat 101a is initially closest to the microphone la provided on the vehicle body 111a, but by leaning, the position of the microphone 2a is lowered, and is currently close to the microphone lc.

[0112] Thus, as in the case of FIG. I, in the current leaning state (the state of the seat 101a indicated by the solid line), the driving noise in the vehicle is detected with the microphone 2a, and also detected with the microphone la, and the similarity of these two signals (the noise signals S2a, Sla) is calculated with the similarity calculator 21a. The similarity is simply required to take the cross-correlation, coherence, etc. of the two signals.

[0113] Meanwhile, the driving noise is detected with the microphone 2a and the microphone lc, and the similarity of these two signals (the noise signals S2a, S1c) is calculated with the similarity calculator 21b.

[0114] Also, in the absolute angle determiner 51 (sensing section), if the respective similarities calculated with the similarity calculator 21a and the similarity calculator 21b are compared, it is known that the output signal of the current similarity calculator 21b is larger. From this, the absolute angle determiner 51 determines that the seat 101a is in the current position indicated by the solid line, in other words, is leaned. Here, the absolute angle determiner 51 does not necessarily have to compare the two similarities calculated with the similarity calculator 21a and the similarity calculator 21b, but can determine the leaning angle of the seat 101a based on only the similarity calculated with one of the similarity calculators 21a, 21b.

[0115] Also, based on the result (the signal S51) determined by the absolute angle determiner 51, the appropriate coefficient (the coefficient calculated when the seat 101a is in the position indicated by the solid line) is selected from the coefficients stored in the coefficient storage 42 of the noise control filter 40, and is set in the signal processor 41. In this way, in the seat 101a, a good driving noise reduction effect is obtained.

[0116] However, if seat 101a can freely adjust its leaning angle in any position other than the position of the solid line and the dotted line, then if the similarity between microphone 2a and microphone 1a and the similarity between microphone 2a and microphone 1c for each leaning angle are stored in advance, then it is possible to determine which of the stored similarities is closest to the similarity calculated at the current time point, and thus determine the leaning angle at the current time point.

[0117] Here, of course, we also consider the position of seat 101a. Figure 1 When the microphones are positioned (near the handle) as indicated by the solid line, the leaning adjustment is performed. At this time, microphones 1a and 1c are not always close to microphone 2a. Conversely, microphones 1b and 1d can also be close. Therefore, it is preferable to calculate the leaning adjustment for microphone 2a separately. Figure 3 The similarity of all microphones from microphones 1a to 1f is used to determine the sliding position and leaning angle of seat 101a based on which microphone from microphones 1a to 1f has the strongest similarity to microphone 2a.

[0118] It should be noted that this embodiment uses seat 101a as an example, but the same applies to seat 101b. By using the seat position sensing of microphones 12a, 11a, and 11c, a good noise reduction effect can be obtained.

[0119] In this embodiment, the application of lean angle sensing to the noise control filter 40 is described. However, by adopting a structure that uses the signal for calculating similarity and the signal for noise control, i.e. the signal detected by microphones 1a, 1c, 11a, 11c, 2a, and 12a, a new sensor for detecting driving noise is not required, which contributes to the miniaturization and cost reduction of the device.

[0120] Furthermore, in this embodiment, two microphones 2a and 2b or microphones 12a and 12b are set for each seat such as the driver's seat and the front passenger seat. However, this is to ensure that the effect is available in at least the ears of the seated occupants, such as ANC. For example, if the air conditioning and lighting are optimally controlled for each occupant, there may only be one microphone 2a or microphone 12a per seat.

[0121] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a microphone is used as a noise detector, but it is not limited to this. Any sensor that can detect driving vibrations such as driving noise can also be used, such as an acceleration sensor or a vibration sensor.

[0122] In addition, in the present embodiment, the speakers 3a, 3b, 13a, 13b are provided near the headrest of the seat, but are not limited thereto and can be provided in the vehicle interior of the vehicle body 111a, 111b, or the like.

[0123] Further, in the present embodiment, a motor vehicle is exemplified, but is not limited thereto and can be applied to an aircraft, a train, or the like.

[0124] Thus, assuming a case of a train, the use of Figure 6 , Figure 7 will be described.

[0125] Figure 6 A seat in a case where the vehicle interior of the train 500 is viewed from above will be exemplified. In this way, the seats of the train 500 become, for example, 1D and 1E seats or 1A, 1B, and 1C seats, which are a seat structure of generally two seats or three seats in one, and these seats are arranged in one row with aisles therebetween, and the row is provided with a plurality of Figure 6 in ten rows. Each seat can independently adjust the reclining angle. In other words, the vehicle of the train 500 includes a plurality of seats that are provided in connection with each other in the left-right direction of the vehicle body and can independently adjust the reclining angle.

[0126] Figure 7 is a view that shows the structure of the seat state sensing device corresponding to the vehicle of the train 500. Figure 7 In the present embodiment, the seat 101a and the seat 101b are a one-piece structure, and the seats 101a, 101b have the microphones 2b, 12b (first vibration detectors). In the current seat position shown in a solid line, the microphone 2b and the microphone 12b are close to each other. The seat state sensing device has: similarity calculators 21a to 21c; an absolute angle determiner 51 that senses the absolute reclining angle of the seat 101a; and a relative angle determiner 52 that senses the relative reclining angle of the seat 101b with respect to the seat 101a. The similarity calculators 21a, 21b, the absolute angle determiner 51, and the relative angle determiner 52 can be functions realized by a CPU executing a program read from a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM, or can be realized by dedicated hardware.

[0127] On the other hand, if the seat 101a is initially adjusted to be reclined to the position shown in a dotted line, the microphone 2b and the microphone 12b at this time are in a state of being separated.

[0128] Therefore, the similarity calculator 21c (second calculation unit) calculates the similarity of the driving noise (noise signals S2b, S12b) detected by microphones 2b and 12b at each leaning angle. The relative angle determiner 52 compares the similarity (signal S21c in each state) between the initial leaning state (represented by a dotted line) and the current leaning state (represented by a solid line). The relative angle determiner 52 determines the leaning state represented by the solid line with the higher similarity as the current leaning position.

[0129] The relative angle determiner 52 only judges the relative leaning state of seats 101a and 101b. For example, if both seats are at the same leaning angle as seat 101a (represented by a dotted line), the relative angle determiner 52 outputs the same result as the current leaning state (represented by a solid line). In other words, it cannot determine the actual required leaning angle.

[0130] Therefore, regarding seat 101a, and Figure 4 Similarly, by comparing the similarity between microphones 1a and 2a installed on the train body 111a (vehicle panel, etc.) and microphones 1c and 2a installed on the train body 111a, the leaning angle of seat 101a relative to the train body 111a (or window 121a) is compared. In the absolute angle determiner 51, this absolute angle can be determined as the leaning angle of seat 101a. Furthermore, by using the relative angle determiner 52 to obtain the relative angle of seat 101b relative to seat 101a, the true leaning angle (absolute angle) of seat 101b can be determined.

[0131] Furthermore, based on the results (signals S51, S52) determined by the absolute angle determiner 51 and the relative angle determiner 52, appropriate coefficients are selected from the coefficient memory 42 stored in the noise control filter 40 and set in the signal processor 41. Thus, a good driving noise reduction effect is achieved in seats 101a and 101b.

[0132] In this embodiment, the application of lean angle sensing to the noise control filter 40 is described. However, by adopting a structure that uses the signal for calculating similarity and the signal for noise control, i.e. the signal detected by microphones 1a, 1c, 2a, and 12a, a new sensor for detecting driving noise is not required, which can contribute to the miniaturization and cost reduction of the device.

[0133] Further, in the present embodiment, the structure in which two microphones 2a, 2b or microphones 12a, 12b are provided for one seat is described, but this is for obtaining an effect on both ears of a seated passenger at least as in ANC, and for example, in a case where air conditioning, lighting, and the like are optimally controlled for each passenger, one microphone 2a or microphone 12a can be provided for one seat.

[0134] Further, in the present embodiment, the structure in which a microphone is used as a noise detector is described, but this is not limited thereto, and any sensor that can detect a signal related to a running vibration, such as a running noise, such as an acceleration sensor, a vibration sensor, and the like can be used.

[0135] In addition, in the present embodiment, the structure in which the loudspeakers 3a, 3b, 13a, 13b are provided near the headrest of the seat is described, but this is not limited thereto, and can be provided in a vehicle interior of the vehicle body 111a or the like.

[0136] Further, in the present embodiment, a train is exemplified, but this is not limited thereto, and the structure in which a plurality of seats are integrated and adjacent to each other, such as an aircraft, can be applied.

[0137] (Embodiment 3)

[0138] The structure of the seat state sensing device according to Embodiment 3 will be described. Figure 8 is a view that shows the structure of the seat state sensing device according to Embodiment 3. The seat state sensing device includes the similarity calculators 21a to 21d and the seat direction determiners 60a, 60b. The similarity calculators 21a to 21d and the seat direction determiners 60a, 60b can be functions realized by a CPU executing a program read from a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM, or can be realized by dedicated hardware.

[0139] and Figure 7 Similarly, Figure 8 The seat state sensing device of Figure 7 The leaning angle sensing is described, and Figure 8 The sensing of the orientation of the seat with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body (seat direction) will be described.

[0140] Unlike a motor vehicle or an aircraft in which the orientation of the seat is fixed to the front (handle, cockpit) direction, since a train adopts a running method in which it goes back and forth on a line, the traveling direction of the vehicle changes, and the seat also rotates according to this. Normally, the seat orientation is adjusted to be directly opposite to the traveling direction of the train, but for example, in a case where there are four passengers, sometimes the seat orientation is made to be opposite to the traveling direction, and two seats are made to face each other.

[0141] Figure 8In the figure, the seats 101a, 101b that have been currently integrated are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction. When the situation is observed from the lateral direction inside the room, as shown in the figure, the seats 101a, 101b are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction. Figure 9 Note that, in the figure, the seats 101a, 101b that have been currently integrated are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction. When the situation is observed from the lateral direction inside the room, as shown in the figure, the seats 101a, 101b are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction. Figure 9 Note that, in the figure, the seats 101a, 101b that have been currently integrated are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction. When the situation is observed from the lateral direction inside the room, as shown in the figure, the seats 101a, 101b are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction. Figure 9 Note that, in the figure, the seats 101a, 101b that have been currently integrated are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction. When the situation is observed from the lateral direction inside the room, as shown in the figure, the seats 101a, 101b are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction.

[0142] Figure 9 In the figure, the seats 101a, 101b that have been currently integrated are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction. When the situation is observed from the lateral direction inside the room, as shown in the figure, the seats 101a, 101b are shown in the positions indicated by solid lines in the current traveling direction.

[0143] As can be seen from the figure, the microphone 2a inside the seat 101a is closest to the microphone 1a provided on the train body 111a of the train. Figure 9 As can be seen from the figure, the microphone 2a inside the seat 101a is closest to the microphone 1a provided on the train body 111a of the train.

[0144] On the other hand, as can be seen from the figure, the microphone 12a inside the seat 101b at this time is far from the microphone 1a. Figure 8

[0145] Thus, in the current seat direction (the state indicated by solid lines), the traveling noise in the train is detected with the microphone 2a, and also detected with the microphone 1a, and the similarity of the two signals (noise signals S2a, S1a) is calculated with the similarity calculator 21a. The similarity only requires taking the cross-correlation, coherence, etc. of the two signals.

[0146] Meanwhile, the traveling noise is detected with the microphone 12a and the microphone 1a, and the similarity of the two signals (noise signals S12a, S1a) is calculated with the similarity calculator 21b.

[0147] Furthermore, in the seat direction determiner 60a (sensing section), if the respective similarities calculated with the similarity calculator 21a and the similarity calculator 21b are compared, it can be seen that the output of the similarity calculator 21a is greater. Thus, the seat direction determiner 60a determines that the seats 101a, 101b have become in the current seat orientation shown by solid lines. Note that the seat direction determiner 60a does not necessarily have to compare the two similarities calculated with the similarity calculator 21a and the similarity calculator 21b, but can determine the orientation of the seats 101a, 101b based only on the similarity calculated with one of the similarity calculators 21a, 21b.

[0148] ​On the other hand, the similarity of the noise signals S2a, S1b of the microphone 2a and the microphone 1b is calculated in the similarity calculator 21c, and the similarity of the noise signals S12a, S1b of the microphone 12a and the microphone 1b is calculated in the similarity calculator 21d, but both are low because of the separation of the microphone positions. As a result, in the seat direction determiner 60a, 60b, it is determined that the microphone 2a is closest to the microphone 1a, and it is determined that the seat direction indicated by the solid line.

[0149] Moreover, based on the result (signals S60a, S60b) determined by the seat direction determiner 60a, 60b, appropriate coefficients (coefficients calculated when the seats 101a, 101b are in the solid line position) are selected from the coefficients stored in the coefficient memory 42 of the noise control filter 40, and are set in the signal processor 41. Thus, in the seats 101a, 101b, a good running noise reduction effect is obtained.

[0150] However, if the seats 101a, 101b are rotated, they become in the state indicated by the dotted line, and thus in this case the microphone 12a is closest to the microphone 1b. That is, because the similarity calculated by the similarity calculator 21d is the largest, the seat direction determiner 60a, 60b determines that the seat direction indicated by the dotted line.

[0151] As a result, even if the seats 101a, 101b are rotated, by selecting appropriate coefficients (coefficients calculated when the seats 101a, 101b are in the dotted line position) from the coefficients stored in the coefficient memory 42 of the noise control filter 40, and setting them in the signal processor 41, a good running noise reduction effect is obtained also in the seats 101a, 101b.

[0152] However, in Figure 8 the seats 101a, 101b have been described as being integrated, but there is also a case where there is only one seat in the green car (first class), and thus in Figure 10 this case is exemplified.

[0153] Figure 10 In In

[0154] Thus, in the current seat direction (state shown in solid line), the running noise in the train running is detected with the microphone 2a, and also detected with the microphone 1a, and the similarity of these two signals (noise signals S2a, Sla) is calculated with the similarity calculator 21a. The similarity requires only the cross-correlation, coherence, etc. of the two signals.

[0155] Meanwhile, the running noise is detected with the microphone 2b and the microphone 1a, and the similarity of these two signals (noise signals S2b, Sla) is calculated with the similarity calculator 21b.

[0156] Further, in the seat direction determiner 60a (sensing section), if the respective similarities calculated by the similarity calculator 21a and the similarity calculator 21b are compared, it is found that the output of the similarity calculator 21a is greater.

[0157] On the other hand, the similarity of the noise signal S2a from the microphone 2a and the noise signal Sib from the microphone 1b is calculated with the similarity calculator 21c, and similarly the similarity of the noise signal S2b from the microphone 2b and the noise signal Sib from the microphone 1b is calculated with the similarity calculator 21d, but since either microphone is separated, the similarity becomes small. As a result, the similarity of the similarity calculator 21a is the greatest.

[0158] Thus, the seat direction determiner 60a, 60b determines that the seat 101a becomes the current seat orientation shown in solid line. Based on the result (signals S60a, S60b) determined by the seat direction determiner 60a, 60b, the appropriate coefficients (coefficients calculated when the seat 101a is in the solid line position) are selected from the coefficients stored in the coefficient memory 42 of the noise control filter 40, and are set in the signal processor 41. Thus, in the seat 101a, a good running noise reduction effect is obtained.

[0159] Next, if the seat 101a is rotated, it becomes the state shown in dotted line, and thus in this case the microphone 2b and the microphone 1b are closest. On the other hand, the microphone 2a is farther from the microphone 1b than from the microphone 1a. That is, the similarity calculated with the similarity calculator 21d among the similarity calculators 21a to 21d is the greatest, and thus the seat direction determiner 60a, 60b can determine that the seat direction becomes the one shown in dotted line.

[0160] As a result, even if the seat 101a is rotated, by selecting the appropriate coefficients (coefficients calculated when the seat 101a is in the dotted line position) from the coefficients stored in the coefficient memory 42 of the noise control filter 40, and setting them in the signal processor 41, a good running noise reduction effect can be obtained also in the seat 101a.

[0161] Note that, in the above description, the seat direction determiner 60a, 60b is configured to determine the seat direction based on the similarity of the noise signals detected by the microphones 1a, 1b and 2a, 2b. However, the seat direction determiner 60a, 60b can be configured to determine the seat direction based on the similarity of the noise signals detected by the microphones 1a, 1b and 2a, 2b, and the similarity of the noise signals detected by the microphones 1a, 1b and 2a, 2b.Figure 8 and Figure 10 In this embodiment, the case of applying seat orientation sensing to the noise control filter 40 has been described. However, by adopting a structure that uses the signal for calculating similarity and the signal for noise control, i.e. the signal detected by microphones 1a, 1b, 2a, and 12a, a new sensor for detecting driving noise is not required, which can contribute to the miniaturization and cost reduction of the device.

[0162] Furthermore, in this embodiment, two microphones 2a and 2b or microphones 12a and 12b are set for one seat. However, this is to ensure that the effect is achieved at least in both ears of the seated occupant, similar to ANC. For example, if the air conditioning and lighting are optimally controlled for each occupant, there may be only one microphone 2a or microphone 12a per seat.

[0163] Furthermore, this embodiment is described with the seat not being leaned against. Of course, seat orientation sensing can also be achieved when the seat is leaned against.

[0164] For example, in such Figure 7 With seat 101a leaning against it, since microphones 2a and 1c are in their closest position, the similarity calculator only needs to utilize the output signal of microphone 1c. Here, according to... Figure 9 It is clearly known that microphone 1a is positioned in the same direction as microphone 1c relative to window 121a. Figure 9 The microphone 2a is located closer to the left side of the window (in the center) than microphones 1b, 1d, and 1f on the opposite side. Therefore, even if microphone 1c is not used and the signal of microphone 2a is used directly, the similarity can be calculated to be the greatest compared to the microphones on the opposite side, so the seat direction can be accurately sensed.

[0165] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a microphone is used as a noise detector, but it is not limited to this. Any sensor that can detect driving vibrations such as driving noise can also be used, such as an acceleration sensor or a vibration sensor.

[0166] In addition, in this embodiment, the speakers 3a, 3b, 13a, and 13b are provided near the headrest of the seat, but it is not limited to this and can also be provided in the vehicle body 111a or the like.

[0167] --Industrial Applicability--

[0168] This disclosure is particularly useful for vehicles with seats that are movable in at least one of the following: a sliding position in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body, a leaning angle, and an orientation relative to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body.

[0169] --Explanation of reference numerals--

[0170] 1a ~ 1f, 2a, 2b, 12a, 12b microphone

[0171] 3a, 3b, 13a, 13b speaker

[0172] 21a ~ 21d similarity calculator

[0173] 30 seat position determiner

[0174] 40 noise control filter

[0175] 41 signal processor

[0176] 42 coefficient memory

[0177] 44 coefficient updater

[0178] 51 absolute angle determiner

[0179] 52 relative angle determiner

[0180] 60a, 60b seat direction determiner

[0181] 101a, 101b seat

Claims

1. A seat state sensing device comprising: at least one first vibration detector provided to at least one seat of a vehicle, detecting a vibration and outputting a first vibration signal; at least one second vibration detector provided to a vehicle body in the vicinity of the seat, detecting a vibration and outputting a second vibration signal; a first calculation section calculating a similarity of the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector; and a sensing section sensing a seat state including at least one of a slide position of the seat in a vehicle body front-rear direction, a reclining angle of the seat, and an orientation of the seat with respect to the vehicle body front-rear direction, based on the similarity calculated by the first calculation section.

2. The seat state sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second vibration detector has a plurality of second vibration detectors provided separately from each other in the vehicle body front-rear direction, the seat state includes the slide position of the seat in the vehicle body front-rear direction, the first calculation section calculates a plurality of similarities of the first vibration signal and a plurality of second vibration signals input from the plurality of second vibration detectors, and the sensing section senses the slide position of the seat in the vehicle body front-rear direction based on the plurality of similarities calculated by the first calculation section.

3. The seat state sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second vibration detector has a plurality of second vibration detectors provided separately from each other in a vehicle body up-down direction, the seat state includes the reclining angle of the seat, the first calculation section calculates a plurality of similarities of the first vibration signal and a plurality of second vibration signals input from the plurality of second vibration detectors, and the sensing section senses the reclining angle of the seat based on the plurality of similarities calculated by the first calculation section.

4. The seat state sensing device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one seat includes a plurality of seats provided in connection with each other in a vehicle body left-right direction and capable of adjusting the reclining angle independently, the at least one first vibration detector includes a plurality of first vibration detectors provided to the plurality of seats, the seat state sensing device further comprises: a second calculation section calculating a similarity of the plurality of first vibration signals input from the plurality of first vibration detectors to each other, and the sensing section senses a relative reclining angle between the plurality of seats further based on the similarity calculated by the second calculation section.

5. The seat state sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one seat includes a plurality of seats provided in connection with each other in a vehicle body left-right direction, the at least one first vibration detector includes a plurality of first vibration detectors provided to the plurality of seats, the seat state includes the orientation of the seat with respect to the vehicle body front-rear direction, the first calculation section calculates a plurality of similarities of the plurality of first vibration signals input from the plurality of first vibration detectors and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, and the sensing section senses the orientation of the seat with respect to the vehicle body front-rear direction based on the plurality of similarities calculated by the first calculation section. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The sensing section senses the orientation of the seat with respect to the vehicle body fore-and-aft direction based on the plurality of similarities calculated by the first calculating section.

6. The seat state sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first vibration detector includes a plurality of first vibration detectors disposed left and right of the seat, the seat state includes the orientation of the seat with respect to the vehicle body fore-and-aft direction, the first calculating section calculates a plurality of similarities of the plurality of first vibration signals input from the plurality of first vibration detectors and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, the sensing section senses the orientation of the seat with respect to the vehicle body fore-and-aft direction based on the plurality of similarities calculated by the first calculating section.

7. The seat state sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the seat state sensing device further comprises: a signal processing section that performs signal processing given based on a control coefficient with respect to a noise signal that is the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, thereby generating a control signal; and a speaker disposed in the seat or in the vicinity thereof that outputs the control signal input from the signal processing section.

8. The seat state sensing device according to claim 7, wherein the seat state sensing device further comprises: a storage section that stores a plurality of coefficients corresponding to seat states, the storage section inputs, as the control coefficient, a coefficient corresponding to the seat state sensed by the sensing section among the plurality of coefficients to the signal processing section.

9. The seat state sensing device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the seat state sensing device further comprises: an updating section that updates the control coefficient based on an error signal that is the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector.

10. A program for causing a computer that is a seat state sensing device mounted on a vehicle to function as a first calculating section and a sensing section, wherein the seat state sensing device comprises: at least one first vibration detector disposed in at least one seat of the vehicle that detects vibration and outputs a first vibration signal; and at least one second vibration detector disposed in a vehicle body in the vicinity of the seat that detects vibration and outputs a second vibration signal, the first calculating section calculates a similarity of the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, the sensing section senses a seat state including at least one of a slide position of the seat with respect to the vehicle body fore-and-aft direction, a reclining angle of the seat, and an orientation of the seat with respect to the vehicle body fore-and-aft direction based on the similarity calculated by the first calculating section.

11. A seat state sensing method, a seat state sensing device mounted on a vehicle comprises: at least one first vibration detector disposed in at least one seat of the vehicle that detects vibration and outputs a first vibration signal; and at least one second vibration detector disposed in a vehicle body in the vicinity of the seat that detects vibration and outputs a second vibration signal, ​ The seat state sensing device: calculates similarity of the first vibration signal input from the first vibration detector and the second vibration signal input from the second vibration detector, senses a seat state including at least one of a slide position of the seat in a vehicle body front-rear direction, a reclining angle of the seat, and an orientation of the seat with respect to the vehicle body front-rear direction, based on the calculated similarity.

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