Armrest assembly, seat and control method

Abstract

The invention discloses an armrest assembly, a seat and a control method. The armrest assembly comprises a connecting handle, an armrest, a first sensor, a second sensor and a driving module. The handrail is installed at the upper end of the connecting handle and can move relative to the connecting handle. The first sensor is mounted on the armrest. The second sensor is electrically connected with the first sensor and senses the direction of external force acting on the handrail. The driving module drives the handrail to move relative to the connecting handle according to the external force direction sensed by the second sensor. Two sensors are arranged, when the first sensor detects that a user holds the handrail, the second sensor can sense the direction of external force borne by the handrail and control the driving module to move, the user only needs to hold the handrail and apply some external force to the handrail, and the user does not need to adjust a transmission mechanism by himself / herself; the driving module can enable the adjustment of the armrest to be more labor-saving, and the first sensor and the second sensor can enable the use to be more convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of seats, and particularly to an armrest assembly, a seat and a control method. Background Art

[0002] Many seats are provided with armrests on both sides of the seat to improve the user experience. When using the seat, for different users or usage scenarios, the most comfortable armrest angle is also different. In the prior art, a driving module is selected to be provided on the armrest assembly, so that the armrest can perform various actions such as rotation, movement or lifting to reach the most comfortable angle, but the specific operation process is not convenient. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. For this purpose, the present invention provides an armrest assembly that can more conveniently control the movement of the armrest.

[0004] The present invention also provides a seat and a control method having the above armrest assembly.

[0005] The armrest assembly according to the first aspect embodiment of the present invention includes a connecting handle, an armrest, a first sensor, a second sensor and a driving module. The armrest is installed at the upper end of the connecting handle, and the armrest can move relative to the connecting handle. The first sensor is installed on the armrest, and the first sensor is used to detect whether the armrest is held. The second sensor is electrically connected to the first sensor. When the first sensor detects that the armrest is held, the second sensor senses the direction of the external force acting on the armrest. The driving module drives the armrest to move relative to the connecting handle according to the direction of the external force sensed by the second sensor.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, it has at least the following beneficial effects: In the prior art, if it is necessary to control the movement of the armrest, it is often necessary to manually adjust the rotation or lifting mechanism. However, for the armrest assembly of the embodiment of the present invention, by providing two sensors, when the first sensor detects that the user holds the armrest, the second sensor can sense the direction of the external force received by the armrest and control the movement of the driving module. The user only needs to hold the armrest and apply some external force to the armrest, without having to adjust the transmission mechanism by himself. The driving module can make the adjustment of the armrest more labor-saving, and the first sensor and the second sensor can make the use more convenient.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, there are two first sensors, and the two first sensors are respectively installed on the two side surfaces of the armrest along the width direction. When both of the first sensors are in contact with the hand, the first sensors detect that the armrest is held.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first sensor extends straight along the length direction of the armrest, and both of the two first sensors protrude outward relative to the two side surfaces of the armrest in the width direction, and / or, the first sensor is a capacitive sensor.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly includes a middle portion, the armrest is connected to the connecting handle through the middle portion, the driving module includes a lifting mechanism, a translation mechanism and a rotating mechanism, the lifting mechanism is connected to the rotating mechanism to connect the middle portion and the connecting handle, the lifting mechanism is configured to drive the middle portion to lift relative to the connecting handle, the rotating mechanism is configured to drive the middle portion to rotate horizontally relative to the connecting handle, the translation mechanism connects the armrest and the middle portion, and the translation mechanism is configured to drive the armrest to move relative to the middle portion in the front-back direction.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the lifting mechanism includes a first motor, a first lead screw and a lifting portion, the lifting portion is fixedly connected to the middle portion and slidably connected to the connecting handle, the connecting handle can limit the rotation of the lifting portion relative to itself, the power end of the first motor is fixedly connected to the first lead screw, the lifting portion is threadedly connected to the first lead screw, and the first motor is configured to drive the first lead screw to rotate, so that the lifting portion drives the middle portion to lift relative to the connecting handle.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the rotating mechanism includes a second motor, a gear and a toothed ring, the second motor is fixedly installed on the middle portion, the toothed ring is fixedly installed on the armrest, the tooth head of the gear meshes inside the toothed ring, the number of external teeth of the gear is less than the number of internal teeth of the toothed ring, and the second motor is configured to drive the gear to rotate, so that the toothed ring rotates relative to the gear, and thus the armrest rotates relative to the middle portion.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the translation mechanism includes a third motor and a second lead screw, the third motor is fixedly connected to the second lead screw and the middle portion, the armrest is threadedly connected to the second lead screw, the armrest is slidably connected to the middle portion, and the third motor is configured to drive the second lead screw to rotate, so that the armrest slides relative to the middle portion.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly further includes a power switch, the power switch is electrically connected to the first sensor, the power switch is configured to control the first sensor to be turned on or off, and when the power switch is turned off, the armrest is fixed relative to the connecting handle.

[0014] The control method according to the second aspect embodiment of the present invention is used to control the armrest assembly described in any one of the first aspect embodiments. The control method includes the following steps: When the first sensor detects that the armrest is held, the second sensor detects the direction of the external force applied to the armrest, and controls the drive module to drive the armrest to move relative to the connection handle along the direction of the external force.

[0015] The control method according to the embodiment of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: In the prior art, if it is necessary to control the movement of the armrest, it is often necessary to manually adjust the rotation or lifting mechanism. However, for the armrest assembly of the embodiment of the present invention, by providing two sensors, when the first sensor detects that the user holds the armrest, the second sensor can sense the direction of the external force applied to the armrest and control the movement of the drive module. The user only needs to hold the armrest and apply some external force to it, without having to adjust the transmission mechanism by himself. The drive module can make the adjustment of the armrest more labor-saving. This control method is more convenient than the adjustment method in the prior art.

[0016] The seat according to the third aspect embodiment of the present invention includes the armrest assembly described in any one of the first aspect embodiments.

[0017] The seat according to the embodiment of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: In the prior art, if it is necessary to control the movement of the armrest, it is often necessary to manually adjust the rotation or lifting mechanism. However, for the armrest assembly of the embodiment of the present invention, by providing two sensors, when the first sensor detects that the user holds the armrest, the second sensor can sense the direction of the external force applied to the armrest and control the movement of the drive module. The user only needs to hold the armrest and apply some external force to it, without having to adjust the transmission mechanism by himself. The drive module can make the adjustment of the armrest more labor-saving. The first sensor and the second sensor can make the use more convenient.

[0018] The additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be partially given in the following description, partially become obvious from the following description, or be understood through the practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The following further describes the present invention in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments, where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the armrest assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the armrest of the armrest assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a first exploded view of the middle part of the armrest assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a second exploded view of the middle part of the armrest assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 Exploded view of the connecting handle of the armrest assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 Cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Reference numerals: Armrest assembly 100, Connecting handle 101, Armrest 102, Intermediate part 103, First sensor 104, Power switch 105, Display screen 106, Second sensor 201, Translation mechanism 202, Second lead screw 203, Third motor 204, Circuit board 205, Rotating mechanism 301, Second motor 302, Gear 303, Ring gear 304, Lifting mechanism 501, First motor 502, First lead screw 503, Lifting part 504. Detailed implementation manners

[0021] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. The examples of the embodiments are shown in the drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements or elements with the same or similar functions from beginning to end. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0022] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that for the orientation description, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., the orientation or positional relationship indicated is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0023] In the description of the present invention, the meaning of several is more than one, the meaning of multiple is more than two, greater than, less than, exceeding, etc. are understood as not including the present number, and above, below, within, etc. are understood as including the present number. If the first and second are described only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features, they should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the sequence relationship of the indicated technical features.

[0024] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, words such as setting, installing, connecting, etc. should be understood in a broad sense. Those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above words in the present invention in combination with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0025] In the description of the present invention, the description with reference to terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "schematic embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0026] Referring to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 , according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the armrest assembly 100 includes a connecting handle 101, an armrest 102, a first sensor 104, a second sensor 201, and a driving module. The armrest 102 is installed at the upper end of the connecting handle 101, and the armrest 102 can move relative to the connecting handle 101. The first sensor 104 is installed on the armrest 102, and the first sensor 104 is used to detect whether the armrest 102 is being held. The second sensor 201 is electrically connected to the first sensor 104. When the first sensor 104 detects that the armrest 102 is being held, the second sensor 201 senses the direction of the external force acting on the armrest 102. The driving module drives the armrest 102 to move relative to the connecting handle 101 according to the direction of the external force sensed by the second sensor 201. In the prior art, if it is necessary to control the movement of the armrest 102, it is often necessary to manually adjust the rotating or lifting mechanism. However, for the armrest assembly 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, by providing two sensors, when the first sensor 104 detects that the user is holding the armrest 102, the second sensor 201 can sense the direction of the external force received by the armrest 102 and control the movement of the driving module. The user only needs to hold the armrest 102 and apply some external force to the armrest 102, without having to adjust the transmission mechanism by himself. The driving module can make the adjustment of the armrest 102 more labor-saving, and the first sensor 104 and the second sensor 201 can make it more convenient to use.

[0027] Referring to Figure 2 , in some embodiments of the present invention, there are two first sensors 104, and the two first sensors 104 are respectively installed on the two side surfaces of the armrest 102 along the width direction. When both of the two first sensors 104 are in contact with the hand, the first sensor 104 detects that the armrest 102 is being held. The two first sensors 104 can further achieve the function of preventing accidental touch, avoiding the user's hand accidentally applying external force to the armrest 102 when placed on the armrest 102 and causing the armrest 102 to rotate, and arranging the two first sensors 104 as Figure 1 and Figure 2The settings on both sides in the width direction of the armrest 102 are more in line with usage habits. When the user places their hand on the armrest 102 and holds it, the thumb and little finger will naturally trigger the first sensors 104 on both sides respectively, which is ergonomic and can also prevent false touch situations caused by, for example, pushing or touching a single-sided first sensor 104.

[0028] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , in some embodiments of the present invention, the first sensors 104 extend straight along the length direction of the armrest 102, and both of the two first sensors 104 protrude outward relative to the two side surfaces of the armrest 102 in the width direction, and / or the first sensor 104 is a capacitive sensor. Setting the first sensors 104 in a straight structure extending along the length direction of the armrest 102 can provide a larger triggering range, so that when the user holds the armrest 102 in various postures, the first sensors 104 on both sides can be triggered. Designing the first sensors 104 to protrude relative to the surface of the armrest 102 is also to make the first sensors 104 easier to trigger, and because the first sensors 104 protrude relatively, the user can also more easily perceive them when holding. A capacitive sensor is a sensor that converts the change of the measured quantity into the change of capacitance. The capacitive sensor has high sensitivity, is relatively stable, has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture and install. Using the capacitive sensor as the first sensor 104 can cause the capacitance to change after the user's hand touches the first sensor 104, so as to realize the triggering of the first sensor 104. The touch method can be more intuitively fed back to the user. It should be noted that in some embodiments of the present invention, the length of the first sensor 104 can be longer than Figure 1 the length shown, penetrate the armrest 102 along the length direction, or the first sensor 104 is arranged in the first half of the armrest 102 that is commonly used for holding, optimizing the space layout. In some embodiments of the present invention, the first sensor 104 can also use an infrared sensor, etc. Taking the infrared sensor as an example, it can be arranged without protruding relative to the surface of the armrest 102 to realize detection by using infrared rays, improving the aesthetics of the armrest 102, and the infrared sensor can also be arranged on Figure 1 the upper surface of the armrest 102 shown. When the hand is placed on the armrest 102, it will cover the infrared sensor and trigger. The triggering condition set in this way is simpler and more sensitive. In some embodiments, the first sensor 104 can also be arranged in the button structure on the side of the armrest 102 as shown in Figure 1 . It needs to actively touch the button or press it to trigger. Such a design can increase the difficulty of triggering the first sensor 104 and prevent false touch. Therefore, a suitable type of sensor can be selected according to the requirements for sensitivity and anti-false touch, and the placement position can also be flexibly selected.

[0029] It should be noted that, with reference to Figure 2 , in some embodiments of the present invention, the second sensor 201 is a three-dimensional force sensor. The three-dimensional force sensor is disposed inside the armrest 102 and can sense the forces applied to the armrest 102 in various directions, so as to drive the driving module to perform corresponding actions. Specifically, it can be arranged as a strain gauge type three-dimensional force sensor as shown in Figure 2 . Based on the deformation characteristics of the strain gauge, the magnitude and direction of the force are determined by measuring the resistance change. It is composed of multiple strain gauges distributed in three mutually perpendicular directions to form a Wheatstone bridge circuit. The strain gauge type sensor has a fast dynamic response, strong anti-interference ability and environmental adaptability, and a relatively simple structure and is easy to maintain. In some embodiments, three-dimensional force sensors of various types such as capacitive, piezoresistive, and inductive can also be used.

[0030] It should be noted that, with reference to Figure 2 , in some embodiments of the present invention, a circuit board 205 is further installed inside the armrest assembly 100. The first sensor 104, the second sensor 201, the driving module, etc. are electrically connected through the circuit board 205 and interact with each other.

[0031] With reference to Figures 1 to 6 , in some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly 100 includes an intermediate portion 103. The armrest 102 and the connecting handle 101 are connected through the intermediate portion 103. The driving module includes a lifting mechanism 501, a translation mechanism 202, and a rotation mechanism 301. The lifting mechanism 501 is connected to the intermediate portion 103 and the connecting handle 101. The lifting mechanism 501 is used to drive the intermediate portion 103 to lift relative to the connecting handle 101. The rotation mechanism 301 is used to drive the intermediate portion 103 to rotate horizontally relative to the connecting handle 101. The translation mechanism 202 connects the armrest 102 and the intermediate portion 103. The translation mechanism 202 is used to drive the armrest 102 to move relative to the intermediate portion 103 in the front-rear direction. Setting the three mechanisms enables the driving module to drive the armrest 102 to move relative to the connecting handle 101 at multiple angles. Specifically, it can achieve rotation in the horizontal direction, movement in the front-rear direction, and lifting in the vertical direction. In this way, it can cooperate with the second sensor 201 to improve the mobility of the armrest 102, enabling the user to adjust the armrest 102 to the required angle and position, with stronger adjustability and applicability.

[0032] With reference to Figure 5 and Figure 6, in some embodiments of the present invention, the lifting mechanism 501 includes a first motor 502, a first lead screw 503 and a lifting part 504. The lifting part 504 is fixedly connected to the middle part 103 and slidably connected to the connecting handle 101. The connecting handle 101 can restrict the lifting part 504 from rotating relative to itself. The power end of the first motor 502 is fixedly connected to the first lead screw 503. The lifting part 504 is threadedly connected to the first lead screw 503. The first motor 502 is used to drive the first lead screw 503 to rotate, so that the lifting part 504 drives the middle part 103 to move up and down relative to the connecting handle 101. Refer to Figure 5 , both the connecting handle 101 and the lifting part 504 are elliptical and sleeved with each other. Therefore, the two can only slide relative to each other and cannot rotate. Also, because the lifting part 504 is fixedly connected to the connecting handle 101 and threadedly connected to the first lead screw 503, when the first motor 502 drives the first lead screw 503 to rotate, the lifting part 504 will drive the middle part 103 to move up and down, thus achieving the technical effect of the middle part 103 moving up and down relative to the connecting handle 101, that is, making the armrest 102 connected to the middle part 103 move up and down relative to the connecting handle 101. The lead screw drive has high precision, stable operation and a self-locking function. It is not easy to slide down due to its own gravity without being driven, and the structure is more stable. Moreover, installing the first lead screw 503 and the first motor 502 inside the connecting handle 101 can also improve the aesthetics. It should be noted that in some embodiments of the present invention, various transmission mechanisms such as sprocket chain drive and rack drive can also be used, as long as the armrest 102 can be moved up and down relative to the connecting handle 101. The outer peripheral shapes of the connecting handle 101 and the lifting part 504 are not limited to elliptical. The elliptical shape is an improvement made in the embodiments of the present invention to simplify the structure. In some embodiments, the connecting handle 101 and the lifting part 504 can also be set as cylindrical, and limit bumps and grooves can be provided inside to enable the two to only slide relative to each other, and the same technical effect can be achieved.

[0033] Refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4, in some embodiments of the present invention, the rotation mechanism 301 includes a second motor 302, a gear 303, a gear ring 304. The second motor 302 is fixedly installed on the middle part 103, the gear ring 304 is fixedly installed on the armrest 102, the teeth of the gear 303 mesh inside the gear ring 304, the outer number of teeth of the gear 303 is less than the inner number of teeth of the gear ring 304, and the second motor 302 is used to drive the gear 303 to rotate, so that the gear ring 304 rotates relative to the gear 303, thereby causing the armrest 102 to rotate relative to the middle part 103. When the second motor 302 drives the gear 303 to rotate, since the second motor 302 is fixedly installed on the middle part 103, the gear 303 will only rotate around its own axis. The gear ring 304 meshes with the gear 303, and the number of teeth of the gear 303 is less than that of the gear ring 304. Therefore, the gear 303 and the gear ring 304 will not be fully meshed, but the gear 303 transmits force to the gear ring 304 through the meshed part, so that the gear ring 304 rotates relative to the gear 303. Also, because the gear ring 304 is fixedly installed on the armrest 102, the technical effect of the armrest 102 rotating relative to the middle part 103 is achieved. The transmission structure of the gear 303 and the gear ring 304 is stable and easy to be laid flat inside the middle part 103, reducing the occupied space, and the rotation noise is small and the fluctuation is small, and the rotation process is stable, improving the use experience.

[0034] Further, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , in some embodiments of the present invention, the specific connection method between the second motor 302 and the gear 303 is through a worm and worm gear connection. The output end of the second motor 302 is connected to the worm, the worm is in transmission connection with the worm gear, the worm gear and the gear 303 are coaxially arranged, and the second motor 302 drives the worm to rotate, so that the worm gear and the gear 303 rotate coaxially. Such a design can make the second motor 302 be laid flat under the gear 303 and the gear ring 304, improving the space utilization rate.

[0035] Referring to Figure 2 , in some embodiments of the present invention, the translation mechanism 202 includes a third motor 204, a second lead screw 203. The third motor 204 is fixedly connected to the second lead screw 203 on the middle part 103, the armrest 102 is threadedly connected to the second lead screw 203, the armrest 102 is slidably connected to the middle part 103, and the third motor 204 is used to drive the second lead screw 203 to rotate, so that the armrest 102 slides relative to the middle part 103. The specific principle is as follows: The third motor 204 and the second lead screw 203 are fixedly installed on the middle part 103, and the armrest 102 is threadedly connected to the second lead screw 203. When the third motor 204 drives the second lead screw 203 to rotate, since the armrest 102 and the middle part 103 are as Figure 1The relative rotation cannot occur as shown, so the armrest 102 can only slide based on the position connected to the second lead screw 203, and the arrangement direction of the second lead screw 203 is consistent with the length direction of the armrest 102. Therefore, the armrest 102 can slide back and forth relative to the middle part 103. Setting the translation mechanism 202 can further improve the degree of freedom of the armrest 102 and enhance the user experience.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 , in some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly 100 further includes a power switch 105. The power switch 105 is electrically connected to the first sensor 104 and is used to control the first sensor 104 to turn on or off. When the power switch 105 is turned off, the armrest 102 is fixed relative to the connecting handle 101. In this way, there are more choices for whether the armrest 102 moves. When it is necessary for the armrest 102 to sense the direction of external force and be driven, the power switch 105 is turned on. When it is necessary for the angle of the armrest 102 to be fixed and unchangeable, the power switch 105 is turned off. At this time, even if the first sensor 104 is touched, the second sensor 201 will not control the drive module to drive the armrest 102 to move, so that the armrest assembly 100 can meet more diverse scenarios.

[0037] It should be noted that, reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , in some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly 100 further includes a display screen 106. The display screen 106 is installed on the upper surface of the armrest 102 and can be used to observe the current angle, displacement amount, lifting height, etc. of the armrest 102, so that the current state of the armrest 102 is more intuitively reflected. Thus, the adjustment of the armrest 102 by the user can be reflected by data and is convenient for adjusting the armrest 102 to exactly the same state during multiple uses. When the elderly or children are users, they do not know how to adjust well. When others help them adjust the armrest 102, each time the armrest 102 is adjusted and the current position is observed through the display screen 106, and after adjusting to the same position, the power switch 105 is turned off, which can avoid accidental touch and ensure the same experience for multiple uses.

[0038] Reference Figure 1 , in some embodiments of the present invention, in addition to the power switch 105, the armrest assembly 100 is also provided with multiple switches, specifically including a relaxation mode switch, a lunch break mode switch, etc. Switching the mode can change the sensing threshold of the second sensor 201 in the armrest 102. For example, in the normal mode, relaxation mode, and lunch break mode, the external force required for the second sensor 201 to sense and drive the drive module to move gradually increases. In this way, it can be avoided that the armrest 102 moves due to subconscious activities when the hand is placed on the armrest 102 during the lunch break, so as to avoid accidental touch in different scenarios from the perspective of force. A greater force is required to drive the armrest 102 to move in the lunch break mode.

[0039] A control method according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention is used to control the armrest assembly 100 in any one of the embodiments of the first aspect. The control method includes the following steps: when the first sensor 104 detects that the armrest 102 is being held, the second sensor 201 detects the direction of the external force applied to the armrest 102, and controls the drive module to drive the armrest 102 to move relative to the connecting handle 101 in the direction of the external force. In the prior art, if it is necessary to control the movement of the armrest 102, it is often necessary to manually adjust the rotating or lifting mechanism. However, for the armrest assembly 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, by providing two sensors, when the first sensor 104 detects that the user is holding the armrest 102, the second sensor 201 can sense the direction of the external force applied to the armrest 102 and control the movement of the drive module. The user only needs to hold the armrest 102 and apply some external force to the armrest 102, without having to adjust the transmission mechanism by himself. The drive module can make the adjustment of the armrest 102 more labor-saving, and this control method is more convenient than the adjustment method in the prior art.

[0040] Specifically, when the armrest 102 needs to swing to the left, hold the armrest 102 and apply a rotational external force to the left. When the armrest 102 needs to rise, hold the armrest 102 and apply an upward lifting force. When the armrest 102 needs to slide forward, hold the armrest 102 and apply a forward thrust. The control logic for other directions is the same.

[0041] Further, when there are two first sensors 104, and the two first sensors 104 are respectively installed on both side surfaces of the armrest 102 in the width direction, the first sensor 104 detects that the armrest 102 is being held only when both first sensors 104 are in contact with the hand. That is, it is necessary to hold and let the hand contact both first sensors 104 at the same time in order to drive the armrest 102 to move by an external force. Such a design can make the armrest 102 stop and go immediately. For example, when the armrest 102 needs to rotate to the left, hold the armrest 102 and apply an external force to the left. When the armrest 102 rotates to an appropriate angle, as long as the thumb leaves one of the first sensors 104, the drive module will no longer drive the armrest 102 to rotate, and at this time the armrest 102 will stop, which is very convenient to use and does not require too many complicated steps.

[0042] A seat according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention includes the armrest assembly 100 of any one of the embodiments of the first aspect. In the prior art, if it is necessary to control the movement of the armrest 102, it is often necessary to manually adjust the rotation or lifting mechanism. However, in the armrest assembly 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, by providing two sensors, when the first sensor 104 detects that the user holds the armrest 102, the second sensor 201 can sense the direction of the external force applied to the armrest 102 and control the movement of the drive module. The user only needs to hold the armrest 102 and apply some external force to the armrest 102, without having to adjust the transmission mechanism by himself. The drive module can make the adjustment of the armrest 102 more labor-saving. The first sensor 104 and the second sensor 201 can make the use more convenient.

[0043] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention within the knowledge scope of those of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

Claims

1. An armrest assembly, characterized in that: include: Connecting handle; An armrest, the armrest being mounted on the upper end of the connecting handle, and the armrest being movable relative to the connecting handle; A first sensor, the first sensor is installed on the armrest, and the first sensor is used to detect whether the armrest is held; a second sensor, the second sensor being electrically connected to the first sensor, and when the first sensor detects that the armrest is held, the second sensor senses a direction of an external force acting on the armrest; A driving module is used to drive the armrest to move relative to the connecting handle according to the direction of the external force sensed by the second sensor.

2. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two first sensors, which are respectively installed on both side surfaces of the armrest along the width direction. When the two first sensors are in contact with the hand, the first sensor detects that the armrest is held.

3. The armrest assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first sensors extend straightly along the length direction of the armrest, the two first sensors both protrude outward relative to the two side surfaces of the armrest along the width direction, and / or the first sensors are capacitive sensors.

4. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The armrest assembly includes a middle part, and the armrest and the connecting handle are connected through the middle part. The driving module includes a lifting mechanism, a translation mechanism and a rotation mechanism. The lifting mechanism and the rotation mechanism connect the middle part and the connecting handle. The lifting mechanism is used to drive the middle part to rise and fall relative to the connecting handle. The rotation mechanism is used to drive the middle part to rotate horizontally relative to the connecting handle. The translation mechanism connects the armrest and the middle part, and the translation mechanism is used to drive the armrest to move in the front-rear direction relative to the middle part.

5. The armrest assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The lifting mechanism includes a first motor, a first screw rod and a lifting part. The lifting part is fixedly connected to the middle part and slidably connected to the connecting handle. The connecting handle can limit the relative rotation of the lifting part. The power end of the first motor is fixedly connected to the first screw rod. The lifting part is threadedly connected to the first screw rod. The first motor is used to drive the first screw rod to rotate, so that the lifting part drives the middle part to rise and fall relative to the connecting handle.

6. The armrest assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rotating mechanism includes a second motor, a gear, and a gear ring. The second motor is fixedly installed on the middle part, the gear ring is fixedly installed on the armrest, the tooth head of the gear is engaged with the inside of the gear ring, the number of external teeth of the gear is smaller than the number of internal teeth of the gear ring, and the second motor is used to drive the gear to rotate so that the gear ring rotates relative to the gear, thereby rotating the armrest relative to the middle part.

7. The armrest assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The translation mechanism includes a third motor, a second screw rod, the third motor and the second screw rod are fixedly connected to the middle part, the armrest is threadedly connected to the second screw rod, the armrest is slidably connected to the middle part, and the third motor is used to drive the second screw rod to rotate, thereby causing the armrest to slide relative to the middle part.

8. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The armrest assembly also includes a power switch, which is electrically connected to the first sensor. The power switch is used to control the first sensor to be turned on or off. When the power switch is turned off, the armrest is fixed relative to the connecting handle.

9. A control method, characterized in that: Used to control the armrest assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the control method comprises the following steps: When the first sensor detects that the armrest is held, the second sensor detects the direction of the external force applied to the armrest and controls the driving module to drive the armrest to move relative to the connecting handle along the direction of the external force.

10. A seat, characterized in that: The invention comprises an armrest assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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