Automobile seat acupoint stimulation adaptation method

Abstract

The invention discloses an automobile seat acupoint stimulation adaptation method, and belongs to the technical field of intelligent cabins. According to the main conception, a dimension reduction thought is adopted, a large number of individual differences are converted into number-controllable groups by defining height groups in advance, and a relatively most appropriate fixed actuator is selected for each group of users to achieve adaptation of a stimulation scheme. The method specifically comprises the following steps: acquiring height data of a current user, and matching the height data with a plurality of preset height groups to determine a target height group; and according to the selected symptom conditioning scheme in combination with the target height group, calling a corresponding actuator activation list for generating and sending a driving instruction to a corresponding fixed actuator so as to execute an acupoint stimulation mode. Static hardware layout based on the acupuncture points and dynamic software selection based on the height are coupled, the mapping relation between the human body acupuncture points and the height interval and between the human body acupuncture points and the height interval and the fixed actuator is established, the thought of hardware limitation is effectively made up, cost is low, and reliability is high.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of automobile intelligent cockpit, and in particular to a meridian point stimulation adaptation method for automobile seat, and in particular to a method capable of intelligently selecting actuators to achieve precise meridian point stimulation according to users of different heights. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the development of automobile intelligence, the functions of seats have been expanded from basic support and adjustment to active health intervention. Integrating traditional Chinese medicine meridian point massage concepts into automobile seats has become an important direction for improving driving comfort and relieving travel fatigue.

[0003] A common solution directly related to the industry is to arrange multiple position-fixed massage actuators (such as airbags, vibration modules, etc.) in the seat according to the human meridian point atlas, in order to provide targeted meridian point stimulation for users. However, this solution has an inherent defect: the layout is based on a standard body model, but in reality, users have a huge difference in height and body shape. For users of different heights, the spatial coordinates of key meridian points such as Shenshu and Weizhong on the back and waist of the seat will change significantly, causing the fixed actuators to deviate from the actual meridian points and greatly reducing the stimulation effect.

[0004] To solve this problem, the industry has also tried to propose a tracking solution using movable actuators, trying to dynamically adjust the position of the actuators through mechanical mechanisms to adapt to different users, such as using complex mechanical moving mechanisms or large pressure sensor arrays for closed-loop optimization. However, this solution is extremely complex and costly, and the introduction of moving parts poses a reliability risk, making it difficult to be widely used in mass-produced vehicles. On the other hand, the current widely studied adaptive seat adjustment technology focuses on adjusting the overall position of the seat (such as front-back and backrest angle) according to height and weight to optimize the driving posture, but this process does not consider the relative position relationship between the fixed massage points on the seat and the user's meridian points. In other words, even if the overall position of the seat is comfortable, the fixed massage points may still deviate from the target meridian points due to the difference in human proportions.

[0005] Therefore, how to achieve precise meridian point adaptation for users of different heights with a simple, reliable, and low-cost method without complex moving mechanisms is a technical problem that needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. SUMMARY

[0006] In view of the above, the present application aims to provide an automobile seat meridian point stimulation adaptation method to solve the problem of the inability of fixed massage elements to precisely act on meridian points due to user height differences in the prior art, as well as the complexity and high cost of dynamic tracking solutions.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present application is as follows:

[0008] This invention provides a method for acupoint stimulation adaptation in car seats, including:

[0009] Get the current user's height data;

[0010] The height data is matched with multiple preset height groups to determine the target height group to which the user belongs;

[0011] Receive the user's selected target symptom management plan;

[0012] Based on the target height group and the target symptom treatment plan, the corresponding target actuator activation list is retrieved from the pre-stored database; wherein, the database stores the mapping relationship between different height groups and different symptom treatment plans, and each actuator activation list records the identifiers of one or more actuators that need to be activated for the given symptom treatment plan under the corresponding height group, and the actuators are located in a fixed position on the car seat.

[0013] Based on the target actuator activation list, drive instructions are generated and sent to the corresponding fixed actuators to drive the actuators to execute preset stimulation patterns.

[0014] In at least one of the possible implementations, the dividing lines of multiple height groups are determined based on anthropometric data, so that the projection positions of acupoints related to a predetermined symptom management plan on the car seat for users of different heights within the same height group all fall within the effective stimulation coverage of the same or a group of fixed actuators.

[0015] In at least one possible implementation, the method for constructing the actuator activation list specifically includes:

[0016] Multiple fixed actuators are pre-installed in the backrest, seat cushion, and leg rest of the chair, taking into account the anatomical locations of target acupoints distributed on the back, lumbosacral region, and posterior side of the lower limbs. Each actuator is assigned a unique identifier.

[0017] Based on anthropometry data, a mapping relationship between acupoints and fixed actuator identifiers was established for different height groups, forming an actuator activation list for different predetermined symptom treatment plans.

[0018] In at least one of the possible implementations, the preset stimulation mode includes at least one of vibration frequency, heating temperature, and stimulation duration, and different predetermined symptom treatment plans correspond to different combinations of stimulation mode parameters.

[0019] In at least one of the possible implementations, the method of acquiring user height data includes: acquisition via machine vision, manual input by the user, or reading through interaction with the user's mobile terminal.

[0020] In at least one possible implementation, the adaptation method further includes: continuously listening to the user's real-time adjustment commands for the current stimulation mode during the execution of the stimulation mode by the actuator.

[0021] In at least one of the possible implementations, the effective stimulation coverage of the fixed actuator is determined by its physical size, which is 3-8 cm in diameter or side length, to cover a single or multiple adjacent acupoints.

[0022] Compared to existing technologies, the main design concept of this invention lies in its approach of not attempting to move actuators to chase acupoints, but rather adopting a dimensionality reduction strategy. By pre-defining height groups, a large number of individual differences are transformed into a controllable number of groups, and the most suitable fixed actuator is selected for each user group to adapt the stimulation program. Specifically, this includes: acquiring the current user's height data and matching it with multiple preset height groups to determine the target height group; based on the selected symptom treatment plan and the target height group, retrieving the corresponding actuator activation list to generate and send drive commands to the corresponding fixed actuators to execute the acupoint stimulation mode. This invention couples a static hardware layout based on acupoints with dynamic software selection based on height, establishing a mapping relationship between human acupoints, height ranges, and fixed actuators. This effectively overcomes hardware limitations, resulting in low cost and high reliability.

[0023] In practical applications of this invention, absolute precision in acupoint tracking is not pursued. Instead, relatively accurate coverage is achieved through a specially designed actuator size (e.g., 3-8 cm) and the aforementioned anthropometry-based grouping boundaries. This ingenious balance between engineering compromise and medical precision yields unexpected results: personalized acupoint stimulation comparable to complex dynamic tracking schemes is achieved using a simple, reliable, and low-cost system. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the acupoint stimulation adaptation method for car seats provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0027] This invention proposes an embodiment of an acupoint stimulation adaptation method for car seats, specifically, as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it includes:

[0028] Step S1: Based on the layout of several fixed actuators pre-configured on the seat, set the corresponding identification information;

[0029] As a physical premise of this invention, based on the theory of meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine, multiple actuator units with completely fixed positions can be pre-installed in the backrest, cushion, and leg rest of a car seat, according to the anatomical projection positions of target acupoint groups (such as Dazhui, Shenshu, Weizhong, etc.) on the back and posterior side of the lower limbs. Each actuator unit integrates vibration, heating, and electrical stimulation functions, has a unique identifier at the software program level, and is configured with corresponding position parameters according to the actual hardware layout to subsequently trigger the action of one or more fixed actuator units. Furthermore, its physical dimensions are preferably designed to effectively cover one or several adjacent acupoints, providing a tolerance basis for subsequent grouping and coverage patterns; for example, in some embodiments, the diameter is preferably 5 cm.

[0030] Specifically, a pre-built hardware foundation is established. This hardware system mainly includes multiple fixed actuator units arranged in zones within the backrest, seat cushion, and leg rest of the car seat, based on the anatomical locations of target acupoints (such as, but not limited to, Dazhui, Fengmen, Feishu, Xinshu, Mingmen, Shenshu, Dachangshu, Baliao, Huantiao, Yinmen, Weizhong, Chengshan, etc.) distributed on the back, lumbosacral region, and posterior aspect of the lower limbs according to Traditional Chinese Medicine meridian theory. Each actuator unit can be configured as a module integrating a vibration motor, heating film, and electrode pads, connected to the seat controller via a LIN bus. Its preferred shape is circular with a diameter of 5 cm, ensuring that its effective stimulation range covers a certain area. Simultaneously, each actuator unit is assigned a unique hardware ID during configuration, such as #01 to #48, and can be defined and edited in the control algorithm according to the zone layout.

[0031] Step S2: Construct a height grouping and acupoint mapping library, and establish a corresponding association with the fixed actuator;

[0032] To elaborate, firstly, based on a large amount of anthropometry data, users' heights can be divided into a finite number of consecutive groups, such as Group S (150~160cm), Group M (161~170cm), Group L (171~180cm), and Group XL (181~190cm). It's important to note that setting the group thresholds is crucial. The goal is to ensure that within the same group, for two users whose heights fall within the threshold values, the vertical projection points of core acupoints (such as Shenshu and Dachangshu) related to a specific treatment plan (e.g., relieving lumbar muscle strain) on the chair fall within the effective stimulation range of the same or several fixed actuators.

[0033] Based on this grouping principle, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, multiple activation lists of actuators can be stored in advance in the database for several preset symptom treatment programs, such as the relief of chronic lumbar muscle strain. Each list uniquely corresponds to a height group. This list is essentially a data mapping table, mainly addressing the following question: "For a user who is 175cm tall (belonging to group L), if a lumbar muscle strain relief program is to be implemented, which fixed actuators should be activated to precisely cover his / her Shenshu, Dachangshu, and Weizhong acupoints?"

[0034] Therefore, based on the actual situation, the following preparatory work can be carried out during the vehicle development phase:

[0035] 1. Height grouping definition: For example, based on the Chinese national standard for adult anatomy GB / T10000-2023, driver height is divided into four consecutive groups: G1 (150~160cm), G2 (161~170cm), G3 (171~180cm), and G4 (181~190cm).

[0036] 2. Determine the group boundaries and the coverage of the fixed actuator: Taking group G3 (171~180cm) as an example, two subjects with heights of 171cm and 180cm were selected, and the subjects were seated in a standard driving position. The projection points of their Shenshu acupoint, Dachangshu acupoint, etc. on the back of the seat were measured.

[0037] During this process, it is necessary to ensure that the distance between the two projection points is less than or equal to the effective stimulation diameter of a single actuator (which can be set to 6 cm). If the distance is too large, the group width value needs to be adjusted or the physical size of the actuator needs to be increased to ensure that the same acupoint of a general user within the group can be covered by the same actuator unit.

[0038] 3. Establish a mapping table: Based on the above measurements and verifications, establish a mapping table for each given symptom treatment plan. For example, for a lumbar muscle strain relief plan, the acupoint combination is the associated activator of Shenshu (BL23), Dachangshu (BL25), and Weizhong (BL40). Therefore, the contents of the mapping table for this treatment plan example can be referenced as follows:

[0039] (3.1) If the user's height is in group G1, activate the actuator list: [#10,#11,#29] (the installation positions of these actuators can just cover the above three acupoints of the G1 group members).

[0040] (3.2) If the user's height is in group G2, activate the actuator list: [#11,#12,#30].

[0041] (3.3) If the user's height is in group G3, activate the actuator list: [#12,#14,#31].

[0042] (3.4) If the user's height is in group G4, activate the actuator list: [#13,#15,#32].

[0043] After the above preparations are completed, the mapping table will be burned to the vehicle's seat control unit or stored in a cloud database.

[0044] Following the previous text, in step S3, the user's height data is obtained and the grouping is determined. Based on the user's selected treatment plan, the corresponding target fixed actuators in the mapping library are matched according to the grouping results, and the target fixed actuators are driven to execute the preset stimulation process.

[0045] In actual operation, when a user enters the vehicle, the system first obtains the user's height data (e.g., user A is 175cm tall) through the in-vehicle camera or manual input. Then, the system compares the height data of 175cm with the preset group to determine that the user belongs to group L in the example above.

[0046] Next, users can select a treatment plan for chronic lumbar muscle strain symptoms via the central control screen. Based on the above-mentioned L group and lumbar muscle strain as joint query conditions, the system accurately retrieves the corresponding target actuator activation list from the database. For example, the list indicates that actuators #12 (lower left side of the backrest), #14 (lower right side of the backrest), and #31 (middle of the leg rest) need to be activated.

[0047] Finally, based on this list, the vehicle's domain controller generates and sends drive commands to actuators #12, #14, and #31, triggering them to operate in a preset mid-frequency vibration + 45℃ heat therapy mode, while the other dozens of fixed actuators on the seat remain silent. As can be seen from the above steps, although the actuator hardware is fixed, through the logic of height grouping and acupoint mapping, the system can intelligently activate the most suitable fixed actuator or group for users of different heights, thus achieving relatively precise personalized stimulation.

[0048] Based on the above, here is a more detailed reference for the adaptation steps:

[0049] When user A opens the driver's side door, the infrared camera on the A-pillar inside the vehicle activates and captures a full-body image of user A standing. The onboard computing platform estimates user A's height to be 175cm using a posture recognition algorithm, and this data is sent to the seat control unit via the CAN bus.

[0050] The height grouping table built into the seat control unit matches the data of 175cm to group G3 (171-180cm), and then listens for user commands. For example, after user A sits down, he selects the long-distance driving fatigue prevention program from the symptom list through the seat health APP on the central control screen.

[0051] Therefore, the seat control unit uses "G3 group + long-distance driving fatigue prevention" as the keyword to query the corresponding acupoints in its internal database. For example, it finds the matching acupoints as Fengmen, Xinshu, and Huantiao. Furthermore, the query results can be displayed and output, and the actuators activated by this scheme for G3 group are: #03 (corresponding to Fengmen), #08 (corresponding to Xinshu), and #27 (corresponding to Huantiao).

[0052] Next, the control unit sends instructions to actuators #03, #08, and #27 via the LIN bus. The instructions include the vibration mode, heating temperature, and working duration, such as low-frequency pulse +38℃ +15 minutes. After that, these three actuators start working and automatically stop after the entire acupoint stimulation process lasts for 15 minutes.

[0053] Finally, it can be added that during the stimulation process, user A can also adjust the working mode of the corresponding actuator in real time through the slider and other operation controls on the central control screen, such as changing the vibration intensity of actuator #27 (Huantiao acupoint), thereby realizing a closed loop of human-computer interaction and further improving the user experience of the present invention.

[0054] In summary, the core concept of this invention lies in providing a low-cost, highly reliable, and personalized solution for acupressure massage functions in car seats through the construction of a height-grouped and acupressure mapping database. This breaks away from the conventional thinking of "either inaccurate fixation or overly complex movement," using height grouping to adapt to fixed actuators, thus resolving the contradiction between individual differences and hardware fixation / complexity. In practical applications, no complex mechanical moving parts are required; precise acupressure stimulation tailored to each individual can be achieved solely through software algorithms and a pre-built mapping database, thus providing a technological foundation for large-scale mass production.

[0055] By optimizing the size of the fixed actuator and reliably dividing the height group boundaries, sufficient acupoint coverage accuracy to produce therapeutic effects can be achieved simply by selecting different fixing points at the software program level. It should be understood that this invention does not seek strict precision from a single perspective, but rather balances engineering approximation with medical effectiveness. In addition, this invention decouples the seat adjustment solution from the hardware driving logic, providing diverse possibilities for subsequent OTA online upgrades to continuously expand the treatment solution library and optimize stimulation parameters.

[0056] In this invention, when directional terms are mentioned, they are relative concepts based on the embodiments. Furthermore, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more than one" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the existence of A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" and similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, and c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0057] The above description of the structure, features, and effects of the present invention is based on the embodiments shown in the figures. However, the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the technical features involved in the above embodiments and their preferred methods can be reasonably combined and matched by those skilled in the art to form a variety of equivalent solutions without departing from or changing the design concept and technical effects of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the scope of implementation shown in the figures. Any changes made in accordance with the concept of the present invention, or modifications to equivalent embodiments, that do not exceed the spirit covered by the specification and figures, should be within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for acupoint stimulation and adaptation in car seats, characterized in that, include: Get the current user's height data; The height data is matched with multiple preset height groups to determine the target height group to which the user belongs; Receive the user's selected target symptom management plan; Based on the target height group and the target symptom treatment plan, the corresponding target actuator activation list is retrieved from the pre-stored database; wherein, the database stores the mapping relationship between different height groups and different symptom treatment plans, and each actuator activation list records the identifiers of one or more actuators that need to be activated for the given symptom treatment plan under the corresponding height group, and the actuators are located in a fixed position on the car seat. Based on the target actuator activation list, drive instructions are generated and sent to the corresponding fixed actuators to drive the actuators to execute preset stimulation patterns.

2. The method for acupoint stimulation and adaptation of car seats according to claim 1, characterized in that, The boundaries for multiple height groups are determined based on anthropometric data. This ensures that the projection positions of acupoints related to the established symptom management plan on the car seat fall within the effective stimulation coverage of the same or a group of fixed actuators for users of different heights within the same height group.

3. The method for adapting acupoint stimulation to a car seat according to claim 1, characterized in that, The methods for constructing the actuator activation list specifically include: Multiple fixed actuators are pre-installed in the backrest, seat cushion, and leg rest of the chair, taking into account the anatomical locations of target acupoints distributed on the back, lumbosacral region, and posterior side of the lower limbs. Each actuator is assigned a unique identifier. Based on anthropometry data, a mapping relationship between acupoints and fixed actuator identifiers was established for different height groups, forming an actuator activation list for different predetermined symptom treatment plans.

4. The method for adapting acupoint stimulation to a car seat according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset stimulation mode includes at least one of vibration frequency, heating temperature, and stimulation duration, and different predetermined symptom treatment plans correspond to different combinations of stimulation mode parameters.

5. The method for acupoint stimulation and adaptation of a car seat according to claim 1, characterized in that, Methods for obtaining user height data include: acquisition through machine vision, manual input by the user, or reading through interaction with the user's mobile terminal.

6. The method for acupoint stimulation and adaptation of a car seat according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adaptation method further includes: continuously listening to the user's real-time adjustment commands for the current stimulation mode during the execution of the stimulation mode by the actuator.

7. The method for acupoint stimulation and adaptation of a car seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The effective stimulation coverage of a fixed actuator is determined by its physical size, which is 3-8 cm in diameter or side length, to cover a single or multiple adjacent acupoints.

Images