Smart seating device and adjustment method for a smart seating device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an intelligent seating device and an adjustment method for the intelligent seating device. The intelligent seating device includes: a seat; a flexible fiber sensor for detecting the pressure distribution on the support surfaces of the seat cushion and backrest; an inflation / deflation mechanism; and a controller that, when a occupant sits on the seat, determines the occupant's body type based on the pressure distribution, determines a first inflation amount of the support airbag based on the body type, stores a taste coefficient, and determines a second inflation amount of the support airbag based on the taste coefficient. When it is determined based on the pressure distribution that a occupant is sitting on the seat, the controller determines the current occupant's body type and whether a taste coefficient is stored. If no taste coefficient is stored, the controller controls the inflation / deflation mechanism to give the support airbag the first inflation amount; if a taste coefficient is stored, the controller controls the inflation / deflation mechanism to give the support airbag the second inflation amount. The intelligent seating device adjusts the inflation amount of the support airbag to meet the occupant's needs, improving the occupant's comfort.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of smart seating technology, and more specifically, to a smart seating device and an adjustment method for the smart seating device. Background Technology

[0002] In various settings such as automobiles, offices, and homes, seating serves as a medium for human contact, and its comfort directly determines the user experience. In particular, the comfort of seating in vehicles has become a core indicator in the design and manufacturing process.

[0003] Currently, a type of seating equipped with cameras, primarily used in vehicles, has emerged on the market. The cameras can be positioned around the seat to capture image information of the occupant, allowing the system to determine the occupant's silhouette based on this image information. The seating can then be adjusted according to this silhouette to modify the comfort level.

[0004] However, the image information captured by the camera can only calculate the outline of the seated person, which is greatly affected by the person's clothing and posture. Furthermore, the image information captured by the camera is significantly affected by environmental factors. When the scene (such as inside a vehicle or indoors) is poorly lit, or when the seated person's clothing obscures key parts of their body, the accuracy of the calculated outline drops drastically, failing to meet the needs of complex usage scenarios. The camera also inevitably captures the seated person's facial features, body posture, and other private information, posing a serious risk of privacy breaches. This does not meet current users' core needs for privacy protection and limits the application of this type of smart seating device in private settings. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To at least partially address the problems existing in the prior art, according to one aspect of the present invention, a smart seating device is provided. The smart seating device includes: a seat, the seat including a plurality of support airbags, the plurality of support airbags including a hip support airbag located in the seat cushion of the seat and / or a back support airbag located in the backrest of the seat; a flexible fiber sensor located in the seat cushion and the backrest for detecting the pressure distribution borne on the support surfaces of the seat cushion and the backrest; an inflation / deflation mechanism connected to the plurality of support airbags for adjusting the inflation amount of the plurality of support airbags; and a controller for determining the body type of the seated person based on the pressure distribution when the seated person sits on the seat, and determining the first inflation of the plurality of support airbags according to the body type. The controller is also used to receive and store a taste coefficient input by the user, and to determine a second inflation amount of multiple support airbags based on the taste coefficient. The taste coefficient is associated with the body type of the person currently seated on the seat. The controller is also used to determine the body type of the person currently seated and whether a taste coefficient associated with the body type of the person currently seated is stored when it is determined that a person is seated on the seat based on the pressure distribution. If the taste coefficient is not stored, the controller controls the inflation / deflation mechanism to give the multiple support airbags a first inflation amount. And if the taste coefficient is stored, the controller controls the inflation / deflation mechanism to give the multiple support airbags a second inflation amount.

[0006] For example, the controller is also configured to control the inflation and deflation mechanism to adjust the inflation volume of multiple support airbags in real time according to the pressure distribution. The real-time adjustment includes: when it is determined that there is a low-pressure area between the seat and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags corresponding to the low-pressure area to inflate; and when it is determined that there is a high-pressure area between the seat and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags corresponding to the high-pressure area to deflate.

[0007] For example, the controller is configured to control the inflation of the support airbag corresponding to the low-pressure area among the multiple support airbags until the support airbag is full or the low-pressure area disappears; and / or the controller is configured to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to deflate the support airbag corresponding to the high-pressure area among the multiple support airbags to a first inflation amount when no taste coefficient associated with the body type of the currently seated person is stored; and when the taste coefficient is stored, the controller to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to deflate the support airbag corresponding to the high-pressure area among the multiple support airbags to a second inflation amount.

[0008] For example, the controller is further configured to: determine whether the current seated person is in a resting state based on the pressure distribution; when the current seated person is not in a resting state, the low-pressure region includes a region with pressure less than a first low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure region includes a region with pressure greater than a first high-pressure threshold; when the current seated person is in a resting state, the low-pressure region includes a region with pressure less than a second low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure region includes a region with pressure greater than a second high-pressure threshold, wherein the second low-pressure threshold is less than the first low-pressure threshold, and the second high-pressure threshold is greater than the first high-pressure threshold.

[0009] For example, the backrest support airbag includes a shoulder support airbag corresponding to the shoulder area of ​​the backrest and a lumbar support airbag corresponding to the lumbar area of ​​the backrest. The controller is also configured to determine the waistline of the currently seated person based at least on the pressure distribution borne by the support surface of the backrest. The controller is also configured to determine the inflation volume of the lumbar support airbag and / or the ratio of the inflation volumes of the shoulder support airbag and the lumbar support airbag based on the position of the waistline when determining either a first inflation volume or a second inflation volume.

[0010] For example, the controller is also configured to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to maintain the current inflation level of the shoulder support airbag and the lumbar support airbag when, based on the pressure distribution, the pressure at each point in the area above the waistline of the backrest is less than a first preset threshold and the pressure on the seat cushion is greater than a second preset threshold, wherein the first preset threshold is less than the second preset threshold.

[0011] For example, the seat also includes a left wing and a right wing respectively connected to both sides of the backrest, and the multiple support airbags also include a left wing support airbag disposed in the left wing and a right wing support airbag disposed in the right wing, wherein: the controller determines the first inflation amount of the multiple support airbags according to the body type by: determining the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag and the right wing support airbag according to the body type to cover the seated person.

[0012] For example, the controller is further configured to determine the current sitting posture of the occupant, including sitting upright, sitting on the left side, and sitting on the right side, at least based on the pressure distribution borne by the support surface of the backrest; and the controller is further configured to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to make the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag greater than that of the right wing support airbag when the occupant is currently sitting on the left side; to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to make the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag less than that of the right wing support airbag when the occupant is currently sitting on the right side; and to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to make the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag equal to that of the right wing support airbag when the occupant is currently sitting upright.

[0013] For example, the intelligent seating device can be applied to a vehicle, wherein the controller controls the inflation and deflation mechanism to make the inflation amount of the right wing support airbag greater than that of the left wing support airbag when the vehicle turns left; and controls the inflation and deflation mechanism to make the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag greater than that of the right wing support airbag when the vehicle turns right.

[0014] For example, the smart seating device also includes a massage component, and the controller is further configured to activate the massage component when the duration of time the user sits on the seat is greater than or equal to a preset duration.

[0015] For example, the multiple support airbags also include a left leg support airbag and a right leg support airbag disposed in the seat cushion, the left leg support airbag and the right leg support airbag corresponding to the left leg and the right leg of the seated person, respectively; the controller determining either the first inflation amount or the second inflation amount includes: determining the inflation amount of the left leg support airbag and the right leg support airbag to provide support force to the left leg and the right leg of the seated person, respectively.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, an adjustment method for an intelligent seating device is also provided. The intelligent seating device includes: a seat, the seat including a plurality of support airbags, the plurality of support airbags including a hip support airbag located in the seat cushion of the seat and / or a back support airbag located in the backrest of the seat; the adjustment method includes: detecting the pressure distribution on the support surfaces of the seat cushion and the backrest; determining whether there is a seated person based on the pressure distribution; determining the body type of the current seated person based on the pressure distribution; determining whether a taste coefficient corresponding to the body type of the current seated person is stored; if no taste coefficient is stored, determining a first inflation amount of the plurality of support airbags according to the body type and controlling the plurality of support airbags to inflate at the first inflation amount; if a taste coefficient is stored, determining a second inflation amount of the plurality of support airbags according to the taste coefficient and controlling the plurality of support airbags to inflate at the second inflation amount.

[0017] For example, the adjustment method further includes: adjusting the inflation volume of multiple support airbags in real time according to the pressure distribution, wherein the real-time adjustment includes: when it is determined that there is a low-pressure area between the seat and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags corresponding to the low-pressure area to inflate; and when it is determined that there is a high-pressure area between the seat and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags corresponding to the high-pressure area to deflate.

[0018] For example, the step of controlling the inflation of the support airbag corresponding to the low-pressure area among the multiple support airbags includes: controlling the inflation of the support airbag until the support airbag is full or the low-pressure area disappears; and / or the step of controlling the deflation of the support airbag corresponding to the high-pressure area among the multiple support airbags includes: controlling the deflation of the support airbag to a first inflation level when no taste coefficient associated with the body type of the currently seated person is stored; and controlling the deflation of the support airbag to a second inflation level when the taste coefficient is stored.

[0019] For example, before real-time adjustment, the adjustment method further includes: determining whether the currently seated person is in a resting state based on the pressure distribution. When the currently seated person is not in a resting state, the low-pressure region includes areas with pressure less than a first low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure region includes areas with pressure greater than a first high-pressure threshold. When the currently seated person is in a resting state, the low-pressure region includes areas with pressure less than a second low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure region includes areas with pressure greater than a second high-pressure threshold. The second low-pressure threshold is less than the first low-pressure threshold, and the second high-pressure threshold is greater than the first high-pressure threshold.

[0020] For example, the backrest support airbag includes a shoulder support airbag corresponding to the shoulder area of ​​the backrest and a lumbar support airbag corresponding to the lumbar area of ​​the backrest. The adjustment method further includes: determining the waistline of the currently seated person based at least on the pressure distribution borne by the support surface of the backrest; and, when determining either a first inflation volume or a second inflation volume, determining the inflation volume of the lumbar support airbag and / or the ratio of the inflation volumes of the shoulder support airbag and the lumbar support airbag based on the position of the waistline.

[0021] For example, the adjustment method further includes: based on the pressure distribution, when it is determined that the pressure borne by each part of the backrest above the waistline is less than a first preset threshold and the pressure borne by the seat cushion is greater than a second preset threshold, controlling the shoulder support airbag and the lumbar support airbag to maintain the current inflation level, wherein the first preset threshold is less than the second preset threshold.

[0022] For example, the seat also includes a left wing and a right wing respectively connected to both sides of the backrest, and the multiple support airbags also include a left wing support airbag disposed in the left wing and a right wing support airbag disposed in the right wing. Determining the first inflation amount includes: determining the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag and the right wing support airbag to cover the seated person.

[0023] For example, the adjustment method further includes: determining the current sitting posture of the occupant based at least on the pressure distribution borne by the support surface of the backrest, the sitting posture including sitting upright, sitting on the left side, and sitting on the right side; when the occupant is currently sitting on the left side, controlling the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag to be greater than the inflation volume of the right wing support airbag; when the occupant is currently sitting on the right side, controlling the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag to be less than the inflation volume of the right wing support airbag; and when the occupant is currently sitting upright, controlling the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag to be equal to the inflation volume of the right wing support airbag.

[0024] For example, the intelligent seating device can be applied to a vehicle, and the adjustment method further includes: when the vehicle turns left, controlling the inflation volume of the right wing support airbag to be greater than the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag; and when the vehicle turns right, controlling the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag to be greater than the inflation volume of the right wing support airbag.

[0025] For example, the smart seating device also includes a massage component, and the adjustment method further includes: controlling the massage component to start when the duration of time the person sits on the seat is greater than or equal to a preset duration.

[0026] For example, the multiple support airbags also include a left leg support airbag and a right leg support airbag disposed in the seat cushion, the left leg support airbag and the right leg support airbag corresponding to the left leg and the right leg of the seated person, respectively; determining either the first inflation amount or determining the second inflation amount includes: determining the inflation amount of the left leg support airbag and the right leg support airbag to provide support for the left leg and the right leg of the seated person, respectively.

[0027] In the intelligent seating device provided in this embodiment of the invention, the controller can detect the pressure distribution on the support surfaces of the seat cushion and backrest based on flexible fiber sensors, and control the inflation / deflation mechanism to adjust the inflation volume of multiple support airbags. Therefore, compared with existing seating devices equipped with cameras, the pressure distribution detected by the flexible fiber sensors is less affected by the wearer's clothing and posture. This allows the intelligent seating device to more accurately adjust the inflation volume of the multiple support airbags to meet the occupant's needs, thereby improving comfort. Furthermore, the flexible fiber sensors are not affected by light, making the intelligent seating device suitable for low-light environments such as vehicles and indoor spaces, thus broadening its applicability. Additionally, the flexible fiber sensors do not capture the occupant's facial features, body posture, or other private information, eliminating the risk of privacy leaks and meeting current user needs for privacy protection. The application of the intelligent seating device in private settings is unrestricted.

[0028] A series of simplified concepts are introduced in the description of the invention, which will be further explained in detail in the detailed description section. This description is not intended to limit the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor is it intended to determine the scope of protection of the claimed technical solution.

[0029] The advantages and features of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The following figures are included as part of this invention for understanding its principles. The figures illustrate embodiments of the invention and their descriptions, serving to explain the principles of the invention. In the figures,

[0031] Figure 1 A perspective view of an intelligent seating device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the working framework of the intelligent seating device is shown.

[0033] Figure 3 This is a top view schematic diagram of a flexible fiber sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating an adjustment method for a smart seating device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating an adjustment method for a smart seating device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating an adjustment method for a smart seating device according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0037] Figure 7 This is a flowchart of an adjustment method for a smart seating device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0039] 100. Seating; 110. Seat cushion; 120. Backrest; 121. Shoulder area; 122. Lumbar area; 131. Left wing; 132. Right wing; 140. Headrest; 200. Flexible fiber sensor; 210. First electrode; 220. Second electrode; 230. Piezoresistive sensing layer; 240. Flexible substrate; 250. Cross point; 260. Opening; 300. Support airbag; 310. Hip support airbag; 320. Backrest support airbag; 321. Shoulder support airbag; 322. Lumbar support airbag; 331. Left wing support airbag; 332. Right wing support airbag; 341. Left leg support airbag; 342. Right leg support airbag; 400. Inflation / depression mechanism; 500. Controller; 600. Interactive device; 700. Massage component. Detailed Implementation

[0040] In the following description, numerous details are provided to enable a thorough understanding of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following description merely illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention, and that the invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. Furthermore, to avoid obscuring the invention, some technical features well-known in the art have not been described in detail.

[0041] According to one aspect of the present invention, a smart seating device is provided. The smart seating device can adjust the inflation volume of the support airbag according to the body type and sitting posture of the occupant to improve the occupant's comfort. The smart seating device can be applied to any suitable scenario, such as inside a vehicle or indoors. The smart seating device may include car seats, gaming chairs, ergonomic chairs, or smart sofas, etc. According to another aspect of the present invention, an adjustment method for the smart seating device is also provided. The smart seating device and the adjustment method for the smart seating device according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0042] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the intelligent seating device may include a seat 100, a flexible fiber sensor 200, multiple support airbags 300, an inflation / deflation mechanism 400, and a controller 500.

[0043] Seating 100 can be used for human habitation; the person sitting on seating 100 will be referred to as the seated person below. Seating 100 may include, for example, two, three, or more support airbags 300. Figure 1The approximate locations of multiple support airbags 300 are shown by rectangular dashed lines. These airbags 300 may include a hip support airbag 310 and / or a back support airbag 320. The hip support airbag 310 may be located in the seat cushion 110 of the seat 100. The hip support airbag 310 can be inflated and deflated to adjust the inflation level. The back support airbag 320 may be located in the backrest 120 of the seat 100. The backrest support airbag 320 can be inflated and deflated to adjust the inflation level. Thus, by adjusting the inflation level of these support airbags 300, the firmness of the seat 100 and the curvature of the support surface of the seat 100 can be changed, thereby ensuring that the seat 100 conforms as closely as possible to the curves of the occupant, effectively improving the occupant's comfort. In an embodiment of the application of intelligent seating devices to vehicles, by adjusting the inflation of multiple support airbags 300, the fatigue of the occupant during long-distance driving can be effectively alleviated, thereby improving the occupant's driving safety.

[0044] The flexible fiber sensor 200 can be located in the seat cushion 110 and the backrest 120. The flexible fiber sensor 200 can be located below the surface layer of the seat 100 and above the support airbag 300. When a person sits on the seat 100, their body exerts pressure on the support surface of the seat 100. The flexible fiber sensor 200 can be used to detect the pressure distribution on the support surfaces of the seat cushion 110 and the backrest 120.

[0045] The flexible fiber sensor 200 can include any suitable flexible fiber sensor, such as a piezoresistive flexible fiber sensor, a capacitive flexible fiber sensor, or a piezoelectric flexible fiber sensor. Figure 3As shown, the flexible fiber sensor 200 may include a first electrode 210, a second electrode 220, and a piezoresistive sensing layer 230. The piezoresistive sensing layer 230 may have a portion located between the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220, such that the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 intersect within the piezoresistive sensing layer 230, forming an intersection point 250 (i.e., a pressure detection point) within the piezoresistive sensing layer 230. When a person sits on the seat 100, their body exerts pressure on the support surface of the seat 100. This pressure can be transmitted through the seat 100 to the piezoresistive sensing layer 230, causing a change in the resistance of the piezoresistive sensing layer 230. Specifically, when the pressure value increases, the resistance of the piezoresistive sensing layer 230 decreases; conversely, when the pressure value decreases, the resistance of the piezoresistive sensing layer 230 increases. Thus, by detecting the resistance of the piezoresistive sensing layer 230, the pressure value can be reflected. The controller 500 can send an excitation signal to the first electrode 210 and receive a sensing signal returned by the second electrode 220. Since the resistance of the piezoresistive sensing layer 230 changes with the pressure value, the pressure value of the crosspoint 250 can be detected by acquiring the sensing signal returned by the second electrode 220. Multiple crosspoints 250 can be provided in the seat cushion 110 and the backrest 120 (specifically including the shoulder area 121 and the lumbar area 122 described below) so that the flexible fiber sensor 200 can detect the pressure distribution on the support surface of the seat cushion 110 and the backrest 120.

[0046] The flexible fiber sensor 200 can be manufactured in various ways. Exemplarily, the flexible fiber sensor 200 may include a flexible pressure sensor with a "sandwich" type multilayer composite structure. A typical manufacturing method for this flexible fiber sensor 200 is as follows: firstly, a first electrode 210, a second electrode 220, and a piezoresistive sensing layer 230 are prepared separately, and then these three material layers are precisely aligned and assembled together by lamination, hot pressing, or adhesive bonding. Exemplarily, the first electrode 210, the second electrode 220, and the piezoresistive sensing layer 230 can be directly knitted using a double-needle bed knitting machine. Exemplarily, the flexible fiber sensor 200 may also include a flexible substrate 240. The flexible substrate 240 may be thin, insulating, and flexible. The flexible substrate 240 may be made of a flexible thin nonwoven material, including nonwoven fabric, formed by mechanical, thermal, and / or chemical reinforcement, for example. Optionally, the flexible substrate 240 may be made of a flexible thin material produced by textile processes such as knitting and / or weaving. Optionally, the flexible substrate 240 may be made of a material including one or more of the aforementioned thin materials. The flexible substrate 240 can serve as an insulating substrate for the flexible fiber sensor 200. Furthermore, the flexible substrate 240 can provide structural support for the first electrode 210, the second electrode 220, and the piezoresistive sensing layer 230. The first electrode 210, the second electrode 220, and the piezoresistive sensing layer 230 can each be disposed on the flexible substrate 240. The first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 can be formed on the flexible substrate 240 using a textile process. The textile process, as used herein and hereinafter, can include any suitable textile process such as weaving and / or embroidery. The weaving process can include one or more of knitting and weaving. The piezoresistive sensing layer 230 can be formed on the flexible substrate 240 using a textile process.

[0047] The flexible fiber sensor 200 possesses good flexibility and breathability, resulting in strong bending, stretching, and deformation capabilities; for example, its minimum folding radius can be less than 0.2 mm. The flexible fiber sensor 200 can naturally conform to the complex curves of the seating 100, much like clothing, thus minimizing wrinkles during installation and use and reducing discomfort for the user. Furthermore, the flexible fiber sensor 200 is less susceptible to damage from bending, compression, and changes in environmental temperature and humidity during long-term use, reducing the likelihood of material stress relaxation and aging, thus exhibiting good durability. Additionally, due to its breathability and comfort, the flexible fiber sensor 200 minimizes obstruction of airflow within the seating 100, thus having minimal impact on the seating 100's ventilation, heating, and other comfort functions. Moreover, the flexible fiber sensor 200 can be easily processed into openings 260 through textile manufacturing. The opening 260 corresponds to the ventilation holes within the seat 100, allowing airflow to pass smoothly through both the ventilation holes and the opening 260. This minimizes the impact of the flexible fiber sensor 200 on the ventilation function of the seat 100 itself. For these reasons, the flexible fiber sensor 200 can be installed over a large area within the seat cushion 110 and backrest 120 of the seat 100, with high-density intersections 250, without significantly affecting the occupant or the seat 100's functionality. This allows the flexible fiber sensor 200 to detect pressure distribution over a large area with high density, effectively ensuring the logic judgment and precise control of the controller 500. Furthermore, since the flexible fiber sensor 200 can be sewn onto the surface fabric of the seat 100, its position relative to the seat 100 can be precisely located. Based on the detected pressure distribution, the support airbags 300 can be precisely adjusted to appropriate positions. Smart seating devices using the flexible fiber sensor 200 exhibit high batch consistency.

[0048] For example, the sampling frequency of the flexible fiber sensor 200 can be no less than 13Hz. The flexible fiber sensor 200 can withstand 200,000 impacts of 3 MPa and can automatically rebound after long-term use, thus eliminating the need for secondary calibration, meeting automotive-grade durability requirements, and can therefore be applied to vehicles.

[0049] The inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can be connected to all the support airbags 300 for adjusting the inflation level of these support airbags 300. Specifically, the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can introduce gas into the support airbags 300 to increase the inflation level of the support airbags 300. The inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can also expel gas from the support airbags 300 to decrease the inflation level of the support airbags 300. The inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can include an air pump type inflation / deflation mechanism, an air tank type inflation / deflation mechanism, or any other suitable inflation / deflation mechanism. Exemplarily, the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can independently adjust the inflation level of each support airbag 300, or the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can simultaneously adjust the inflation level of at least a portion of multiple support airbags 300.

[0050] The controller 500 can be electrically connected to the flexible fiber sensor 200 and the inflation / deflation mechanism 400. The controller 500 can be constructed using electronic components such as timers, comparators, registers, and digital logic circuits, or implemented using processor chips such as microcontrollers, microprocessors, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and their peripheral circuits. The pressure distribution detected by the flexible fiber sensor 200 can be transmitted to the controller 500. The controller 500 can be used to control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 according to the pressure distribution to adjust the inflation amount of at least a portion of the support airbags 300. Optionally, when the inflation amount of the support airbags 300 reaches a desired value matching the detected pressure distribution, the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can send a feedback signal to the controller 500, and the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to maintain the support airbags 300 at the current inflation amount. The intelligent seating device can achieve a closed-loop control of "sensing-analysis-adjustment-feedback", which can accurately control the inflation of the support airbag 300 so that the user can have a better experience.

[0051] The pressure distribution detected by the flexible fiber sensor 200 shows a significant correlation with the body type of the person sitting down. In some embodiments, the "body type" can be categorized into three, four, or more types based on factors such as weight, height, or body mass index (BMI). For example, adult body types can be classified into three types: small, medium, and large. For example, based on weight, body types weighing less than 50 kg, between 55 kg and 80 kg, and greater than 85 kg can be classified as small, medium, and large, respectively. For example, based on height, body types less than 150 cm, between 150 cm and 170 cm, and greater than 180 cm can be classified as small, medium, and large, respectively. For example, body types can be categorized according to BMI: less than 18.5, between 18.5 and 23.9, and greater than 24, into small, medium, and large body types, respectively. Optionally, similar to adults, minors' body types can be categorized into three, four, or more types. The body types can vary depending on the application scenario of the smart seating device. For example, driver's and passenger seats in vehicles, office chairs, and massage chairs may only include adult body types; children's study chairs may only include minor body types; and sofas in homes may include both adult and minor body types.

[0052] After determining the body type of the seated person, the controller 500 can determine the first inflation volume of the support airbags 300 based on the body type. The individual support airbags 300 do not have the same inflation volume; the inflation volumes of each support airbag 300 can be independent of each other. For example, the inflation volume of the hip support airbag 310 can be 30% of its rated inflation volume, while the inflation volume of the backrest support airbag 320 can be 35% of its rated inflation volume.

[0053] For example, the preferred inflation volume of the support airbags 300 for various body types can be collected, and this preference can be taken into account when determining the first inflation volume for each body type. Taking a smart seating device primarily used for adults as an example, the controller 500 can store the first inflation volume corresponding to each body type. That is, for three body types, the controller 500 can store three sets of first inflation volumes corresponding to these three body types, and each set of first inflation volumes can include the inflation volume of each support airbag 300.

[0054] The controller 500 of the smart seating device can be electrically connected to the interactive device 600. The interactive device 600 may include the vehicle's infotainment screen and / or a mobile phone. The controller 500 can send data to the interactive device 600. The interactive device 600 can display information such as the inflation volume and inflation / deflation status of each support airbag 300. Optionally, the controller 500 can calculate a 3D body pressure cloud map and / or a 2D body pressure cloud map based on the pressure distribution for display by the interactive device 600. In this way, the smart seating device can achieve visual interaction with the user through the interactive device 600.

[0055] Typically, inflating and deflating the support airbag 300 according to the first inflation volume can meet the needs of most people of the corresponding body type, but may be less comfortable for a small number of people. Therefore, the controller 500 can also be used to receive and store the taste coefficient input by the user. The user can include the seated person or anyone else. The user can input the taste coefficient through the interaction device 600. The interaction device 600 can also include any suitable device for inputting the taste coefficient, such as a button on the vehicle. In some embodiments, the interaction device 600 can have a custom airbag adjustment interface so that the user can adjust the inflation volume of the corresponding support airbag 300 according to their needs, thereby inputting the taste coefficient. The controller 500 can determine the second inflation volume of multiple support airbags 300 according to the taste coefficient to meet the personalized needs of the seated person.

[0056] When a person sits on the seat 100, the controller 500 determines the person's body type based on the pressure distribution detected by the flexible fiber sensor 200, and determines the first inflation level of the support airbag 300 accordingly. If the seat 100 cannot meet the person's comfort requirements, the user can input a preference coefficient through the interaction device 600. Then, the controller 500 adjusts the support airbag 300 to a second inflation level based on the user's input preference coefficient. In this way, the smart seating device can provide personalized preference settings for the person to meet the specific needs of different people. For example, if a person feels that the seat cushion 110 is too soft after sitting on the seat 100, they can input a preference coefficient, and the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to inflate the buttock support airbag 310 to a second inflation level to increase the firmness of the seat cushion 110 and thus meet the person's needs.

[0057] The controller 500 can store "body type - second inflation volume" files for different body types. For smart seating devices used in environments such as private cars, office chairs, and homes, where the number of occupants is relatively small, the correlation between the occupant's body type and taste coefficient can be directly established. Thus, the controller 500 can determine the corresponding taste coefficient by identifying the occupant's body type. If a person of the same body type has entered a taste coefficient multiple times, the previously entered coefficient will be overwritten. Taking a smart seating device primarily used for adults as an example, the controller 500 can store the second inflation volume corresponding to each body type for which a taste coefficient has been received. That is, if a user has entered a taste coefficient for only one body type, the controller 500 will only store one set of second inflation volumes corresponding to that body type; if a user has entered taste coefficients for multiple body types, the controller 500 can store multiple sets of second inflation volumes corresponding to each of these body types. Each second inflation unit may include the inflation of each support airbag 300.

[0058] Therefore, the controller 500 is also used to determine the body type of the current seated person when it is determined from the pressure distribution that a seated person has taken a seat on the seating 100, and whether a taste coefficient associated with the current seated person's body type has been received. If the taste coefficient has not been received, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to give the support airbag 300 a first inflation level. If the taste coefficient has been received, the controller 500 can recall the "Body Type - Second Inflation Level" file, thereby controlling the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to give the support airbag 300 a second inflation level.

[0059] The following describes the working principle of the intelligent seating device, using a medium-sized body type as an example. When a person sits on the seat 100, the controller 500 determines that the person's body type is medium based on the pressure distribution detected by the flexible fiber sensor 200. When the controller 500 does not store a taste coefficient corresponding to this medium-sized body type, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to inflate the support airbags 300 to a first inflation level. When the user has inputted a taste coefficient associated with this medium-sized body type, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to inflate multiple support airbags 300 to a second inflation level.

[0060] In summary, in the intelligent seating device provided by this invention, since the controller 500 can detect the pressure distribution on the support surfaces of the seat cushion 110 and backrest 120 based on the flexible fiber sensor 200, and control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to adjust the inflation volume of multiple support airbags 300, compared with existing seating devices equipped with cameras, the pressure distribution detected by the flexible fiber sensor 200 is less affected by the wearer's clothing and posture. Therefore, the intelligent seating device can more accurately adjust the inflation volume of the multiple support airbags 300 to meet the occupant's needs, thereby improving the occupant's comfort. Furthermore, the flexible fiber sensor 200 is not affected by light, making the intelligent seating device suitable for low-light environments such as vehicles and indoor spaces, thus broadening its applicability. Additionally, the flexible fiber sensor 200 does not capture the occupant's facial features, body posture, or other private information, eliminating the risk of privacy leakage and meeting current user needs for privacy protection. The application of the intelligent seating device in private settings is unrestricted.

[0061] The posture of a person sitting on the seat 100 for an extended period may change. For example, the flexible fiber sensor 200 can detect the pressure distribution on the support surface of the seat 100 in real time. The controller 500 can also be used to control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to adjust the inflation amount of the support airbags 300 in real time based on the pressure distribution. Real-time adjustment may include: inflating the support airbags 300 corresponding to the low-pressure area when a low-pressure area is determined to exist between the seat 100 and the current seated person based on the pressure distribution; and deflating the support airbags 300 corresponding to the high-pressure area when a high-pressure area is determined to exist between the seat 100 and the current seated person based on the pressure distribution. There is also a normal area between the seat 100 and the current seated person. Generally, the pressure in the normal area can be lower than the pressure in the high-pressure area but higher than the pressure in the low-pressure area. By adjusting the inflation volume of the support airbag 300 corresponding to abnormal areas (such as low-pressure areas) in real time according to the pressure distribution, the support airbag 300 can provide uniform support to all parts of the seated person, thereby providing a better user experience for the seated person.

[0062] For example, the controller 500 can also be used to determine whether the seated person is in a resting state based on the pressure distribution. Due to fatigue or other reasons, the seated person may take intermittent breaks, briefly relax, or close their eyes for a short nap on the seat 100. When the pressure distribution remains unchanged for a prolonged period (e.g., 3, 4, or 5 minutes), the controller 500 can determine that the seated person is in a resting state based on the pressure distribution. Not only does the seated person's body movement cause changes in the pressure distribution, but their breathing also causes changes in the pressure distribution. When the seated person is in a resting state, their body movement is small and infrequent, and their breathing is relatively gentle and exhibits periodic, regular changes, resulting in no significant change in the pressure distribution over a prolonged period. Conversely, when the pressure distribution shows significant changes over a prolonged period (e.g., 3, 4, or 5 minutes), the controller 500 can determine that the seated person is not in a resting state based on the pressure distribution. When a person is not resting, their body moves more and more frequently, and their breathing is relatively rapid and without any phased or regular changes, resulting in significant changes in pressure distribution over a long period of time.

[0063] When the current seated person is not resting, the low-pressure area can include regions with pressure below a first low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure area can include regions with pressure above a first high-pressure threshold. When the current seated person is resting, the low-pressure area can include regions with pressure below a second low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure area can include regions with pressure above a second high-pressure threshold. The second low-pressure threshold can be lower than the first low-pressure threshold, and the second high-pressure threshold can be higher than the first high-pressure threshold. It can be understood that when it is determined that the current seated person is not resting, the normal area corresponding to the pressure range that does not require adjustment of the support airbag 300 is smaller; while when it is determined that the current seated person is resting, the normal area corresponding to the pressure range is larger. Therefore, when the current seated person is resting, the sensitivity of adjusting the support airbag 300 can be reduced, thereby avoiding frequent inflation and deflation of the support airbag 300 that would disturb the seated person's rest, thus providing a more comfortable resting environment.

[0064] The following section will provide several methods for identifying high-pressure and low-pressure areas.

[0065] For example, the first low-pressure threshold and the first high-pressure threshold can be related to the average pressure value of all pressure data in the pressure distribution (e.g., the pressure value of all detection points). In some embodiments, the average pressure value of these detection points can be calculated for each detection of the pressure values ​​of all detection points. In this case, the average pressure value is updated in real time, and the first low-pressure threshold and the first high-pressure threshold are updated accordingly. In other embodiments, the average pressure value can be calculated for a smaller number of detection points, for example, multiple average pressure values ​​over time over a period of time during which the person initially sits on the seat 100. In this case, the first low-pressure threshold and the first high-pressure threshold will not be updated once determined or will not be updated for a certain period of time. The amount by which the second low-pressure threshold is less than the first low-pressure threshold can be determined according to the actual situation, and the amount by which the second high-pressure threshold is greater than the first high-pressure threshold can be determined according to the actual situation. For example, the first low-pressure threshold can be 80%, 75%, or 70% of the average pressure value, etc., and the first high-pressure threshold can be 120%, 125%, or 130% of the average pressure value, etc. The second low-pressure threshold can be 60%, 55%, or 50% of the average pressure value mentioned above, etc.; the second high-pressure threshold can be 140%, 145%, or 150% of the average pressure value mentioned above, etc.

[0066] Of course, when determining high-pressure and low-pressure areas, it's first necessary to confirm whether the person currently seated is resting. Taking a non-resting state as an example, we can determine whether each detection point is a high-pressure or low-pressure detection point. Points with pressure values ​​greater than the first high-pressure threshold are high-pressure detection points, and the area formed by these high-pressure detection points is the high-pressure area. Points with pressure values ​​less than the first low-pressure threshold are low-pressure detection points, and the area formed by these low-pressure detection points is the low-pressure area. Similarly, when the person currently seated is resting, the pressure values ​​of each detection point can be compared with the second high-pressure threshold and the second low-pressure threshold. Points with pressure values ​​greater than the second high-pressure threshold are high-pressure detection points, and the area formed by these high-pressure detection points is the high-pressure area. Points with pressure values ​​less than the second low-pressure threshold are low-pressure detection points, and the area formed by these low-pressure detection points is the low-pressure area.

[0067] In another set of embodiments, for each detection point's pressure values, the pressure value at each detection point can be compared with the numerical range of the modulo group among these pressure values ​​to determine whether each detection point belongs to a high-pressure or low-pressure detection point. In this case, the numerical range is updated in real time, and the first low-pressure threshold and the first high-pressure threshold are also updated accordingly. In other embodiments, the first low-pressure threshold and the first high-pressure threshold can be determined only based on the numerical range of the modulo group among the pressure values ​​of all detection points collected in several batches (e.g., several pressure values ​​collected over a period of time after the person initially sits on the seat 100). In this case, the first low-pressure threshold and the first high-pressure threshold will not be updated once determined, or will not be updated for a certain period of time. The numerical range of the modulo group can be the range of pressure values ​​of most detection points among all detection points, which may be related to the body type of the person sitting there. For example, the numerical range of the modulo group among pressure values ​​formed by a large body type may be higher than the numerical range of the modulo group among pressure values ​​formed by a small body type. Exemplarily, the first low-pressure threshold and the first high-pressure threshold can be the minimum and maximum values ​​of the numerical range of the aforementioned modulo group, respectively. Then, the second high-pressure threshold and the second low-pressure threshold can be determined according to actual needs.

[0068] In other embodiments, the real-time pressure value at each detection point can be compared in real time with the baseline pressure value over a period of time preceding the current moment. The baseline pressure value over that period of time can be the average of all pressure values ​​within that period. For example, the first low-pressure threshold can be 80%, 75%, or 70% of the baseline pressure value, etc., and the first high-pressure threshold can be 120%, 125%, or 130% of the baseline pressure value, etc. Then, a second high-pressure threshold and a second low-pressure threshold can be determined according to actual needs. Optionally, the baseline pressure value over that period of time preceding the current moment can also be the numerical range containing the modulo of all pressure values ​​within that period. For example, the first low-pressure threshold and the first high-pressure threshold can be the minimum and maximum values ​​of the numerical range containing the modulo, respectively. Then, a second high-pressure threshold and a second low-pressure threshold can be determined according to actual needs.

[0069] For example, the aforementioned real-time adjustment can be performed by adjusting the inflation volume of the corresponding support airbag 300 after maintaining the high-pressure detection point or low-pressure detection point in the high-pressure area or low-pressure area for a set duration. The set duration can be 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, or 5s, etc.

[0070] In practical applications, occupants may change their sitting posture due to discomfort or other reasons. When the occupant changes their posture, such as leaning forward or crossing their legs, causing a decrease in pressure on the seat 100 for some parts of their body, the controller 500 can identify low-pressure areas corresponding to the body parts based on the real-time pressure distribution detected by the flexible fiber sensor 200. Then, it can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to inflate the support airbags 300 corresponding to the low-pressure areas, ensuring that the seat 100 provides uniform support to all parts of the occupant. Conversely, when the occupant changes their sitting posture, such as leaning back or crossing their legs, causing an increase in pressure on the seat 100 for some parts of their body, the controller 500 can identify high-pressure areas corresponding to the body parts based on the real-time pressure distribution detected by the flexible fiber sensor 200. Then, it can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to deflate the support airbags 300 corresponding to the high-pressure areas, ensuring that the seat 100 provides uniform support to all parts of the occupant. With this configuration, the intelligent seating device can sense changes in the occupant's posture through real-time pressure distribution, thereby controlling the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to fine-tune the inflation / deflation of the support airbag 300. The intelligent seating device can achieve dynamic adaptive adjustment of the support airbag 300, thus improving the occupant's comfort. For example, the intelligent seating device can have a response time of less than 200 microseconds.

[0071] For example, the controller 500 can be used to control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to inflate the support airbag 300 corresponding to the low-pressure area until the support airbag 300 is fully inflated or the low-pressure area disappears. "Fully inflated" means that the support airbag 300 has reached 100% of its rated inflation capacity, thus preventing further inflation. When the support airbag 300 is fully inflated or the low-pressure area disappears, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to stop inflating the support airbag 300. This prevents the support airbag 300 from being over-inflated.

[0072] When the controller 500 controls the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to deflate the support airbag 300 corresponding to the high-pressure area, if no taste coefficient associated with the current occupant's body type is stored, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to deflate the support airbag 300 corresponding to the high-pressure area to a first inflation level; if a taste coefficient associated with the current occupant's body type is stored, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to deflate the support airbag 300 corresponding to the high-pressure area to a second inflation level. This allows the support airbag 300 to be restored to the preferred inflation level.

[0073] For example, such as Figures 1 to 2As shown, the backrest 120 of the seating 100 may include a shoulder region 121 and a lumbar region 122. When a person sits on the seating 100, their shoulders may rest against the shoulder region 121, and their lower back may rest against the lumbar region 122. A flexible fiber sensor 200 may be located in both the shoulder region 121 and the lumbar region 122, having multiple pressure detection points in both regions, thereby enabling the detection of pressure distribution on the support surfaces of the shoulder region 121 and the lumbar region 122 of the backrest 120. In embodiments where multiple support airbags 300 include a backrest support airbag 320, the backrest support airbag 320 may include a shoulder support airbag 321 and a lumbar support airbag 322. The shoulder support airbag 321 may be located within the shoulder region 121, corresponding to the shoulder region 121. The lumbar support airbag 322 can be located within the lumbar region 122 to correspond to the lumbar region 122. The controller 500 can also be used to determine the waistline of the current seated person based at least on the pressure distribution borne by the support surface of the backrest 120. That is, the controller 500 can determine the waistline of the current seated person based solely on the pressure distribution borne by the support surface of the backrest 120, or it can determine the waistline of the current seated person based on the pressure distribution borne by the support surfaces of the backrest 120 and the seat cushion 110. When different seated persons sit on the seating 100, their height and posture may affect the position of their waistline relative to the backrest 120. The controller 500 can also be used to determine the inflation amount of the lumbar support airbag 322 based on the position of the waistline when determining either a first inflation amount or a second inflation amount. Thus, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to give the lumbar support airbag 322 that inflation amount. There can be multiple lumbar support airbags 322, which are distributed sequentially along the height direction. Depending on the height of the waistline, the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can be controlled to inflate the lumbar support airbags 322 at different positions with different amounts of air. For example, when the waistline of the seated person is high, the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can be controlled to inflate the higher lumbar support airbags 322 with more air; conversely, when the waistline of the seated person is low, the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 can be controlled to inflate the lower lumbar support airbags 322 with more air.

[0074] Furthermore, the support required by the backrest 120 for the shoulders and lower back of the seated individual may differ. The controller 500 can also be used to determine the ratio of the inflation volume of the shoulder support airbag 321 to the lumbar support airbag 322 based on the position of the waistline when determining either the first inflation volume or the second inflation volume. Thus, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to maintain this inflation volume ratio for the shoulder support airbag 321 and the lumbar support airbag 322. This allows the backrest 120 to provide more ergonomic support for the shoulders and lower back of the seated individual.

[0075] For example, the controller 500 can also be used to control the shoulder support airbag 321 and the lumbar support airbag 322 to maintain their current inflation levels when, based on pressure distribution, the pressure at all points in the area above the waistline of the backrest 120 is less than a first preset threshold and the pressure at the seat cushion 110 is greater than a second preset threshold. The first and second preset thresholds can be pre-stored in the controller 500, and the first preset threshold can be less than the second preset threshold. In some embodiments, the second preset threshold can be associated with body type. When a seated person is picking up or placing items, or needs to observe the scene in front of them at close range, their shoulders will lean forward and disengage from the backrest 120. At this time, the pressure at all points in the area above the waistline will be less than the first preset threshold. Then, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to maintain the current inflation levels of the shoulder support airbag 321 and the lumbar support airbag 322. When the seated person leaves the seat 100, their body will not exert pressure on the seat cushion 110. When a person leans forward while seated, their body still exerts pressure on the seat cushion 110. Therefore, the pressure distribution detected by the flexible fiber sensor 200 is completely different when the person leaves the seat 100 and when they lean forward while seated on the seat 100. When the person leaves the seat 100, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to reduce the inflation level of the multiple support airbags 300 to zero. However, when the person leans forward while seated on the seat 100, they will inevitably lean back against the backrest 120 after a short period of time. Therefore, the controller 500 does not need to control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to reduce the inflation level of the shoulder support airbags 321 and lumbar support airbags 322 to zero; it only needs to control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to maintain the current inflation level of the shoulder support airbags 321 and lumbar support airbags 322, waiting for the person to lean back against the backrest 120 again.

[0076] For example, such as Figures 1 to 2As shown, the seating 100 may further include a left wing 131 and a right wing 132. The left wing 131 and the right wing 132 may be connected to both sides of the backrest 120, respectively. The plurality of support airbags 300 may further include a left wing support airbag 331 and a right wing support airbag 332. The left wing support airbag 331 may be disposed within the left wing 131. The right wing support airbag 332 may be disposed within the right wing 132. The controller 500 determining the first inflation amount of the plurality of support airbags 300 based on body type may include controlling the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag 331 and the right wing support airbag 332 according to body type to envelop the seated person. When a person sits on the seat 100, the controller 500 controls the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to inflate the left wing support airbag 331 and the right wing support airbag 332 to their corresponding first inflation amount, based on the person's body type. This allows the left wing support airbag 331 and the right wing support airbag 332 to hold and envelop the person. In this way, the left wing support airbag 331 and the right wing support airbag 332 can provide appropriate support to the person based on their body type, offering stable support and improving comfort.

[0077] For example, the controller 500 can also be used to determine the current sitting posture of the occupant based at least on the pressure distribution on the support surface of the backrest 120. The sitting posture can include sitting upright, sitting on the left side, and sitting on the right side. When the occupant is currently sitting on the left side, the pressure exerted by the left side of the occupant on the seat 100 is greater than the pressure exerted by the right side; when the occupant is currently sitting on the right side, the pressure exerted by the left side of the occupant on the seat 100 is less than the pressure exerted by the right side; when the occupant is currently sitting upright, the pressure exerted by the left side of the occupant on the seat 100 is approximately equal to the pressure exerted by the right side. Therefore, the flexible fiber sensor 200 can determine whether the occupant is currently sitting upright, sitting on the left side, or sitting on the right side based on the pressure distribution. When the occupant is currently sitting on the left side, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to inflate the left wing support airbag 331 more than the right wing support airbag 332. In this way, the left wing support airbag 331 can provide greater support to the left side of the seated person's body, improving their comfort. When the seated person is currently sitting on their right side, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to ensure that the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag 331 is less than that of the right wing support airbag 332. This allows the right wing support airbag 332 to provide greater support to the right side of the seated person's body, further improving their comfort. When the seated person is currently sitting upright, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to ensure that the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag 331 is equal to that of the right wing support airbag 332. This ensures that the left and right wing support airbags 331 and 332 provide approximately the same support to both sides of the seated person's body, preventing any feeling of discomfort.

[0078] For example, in an embodiment where the smart seating device is applied to a vehicle, when the vehicle turns left, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to inflate the right wing support airbag 332 more than the left wing support airbag 331. This allows the right wing support airbag 332 to provide greater support to the right side of the seated person's body, suppressing centrifugal force and improving the seated person's comfort. Similarly, when the vehicle turns right, the controller 500 can control the inflation / deflation mechanism 400 to inflate the left wing support airbag 331 more than the right wing support airbag 332. This allows the left wing support airbag 331 to provide greater support to the left side of the seated person's body, suppressing centrifugal force and improving the seated person's comfort.

[0079] For example, such as Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the smart seating device may also include a massage component 700. Figure 1The approximate locations of multiple massage components 700 are shown using elliptical dashed lines. The controller 500 is also used to activate the massage components 700 when the duration of time a person sits on the seat 100 is greater than or equal to a preset duration. The massage components 700 can massage the person to relieve fatigue. The massage components 700 may include various types of massage components known in the art or likely to emerge in the future, such as pneumatic massage components (e.g., massage airbags) or mechanical massage components. The massage components 700 may be located below the surface of the seat 100. The massage components 700 may be located in the seat cushion 110 and / or backrest 120. In embodiments where the massage component 700 includes massage airbags, a portion of the massage airbag may be completely offset from the support airbag 300, and another portion of the massage airbag may be located below the surface of the seat 100 and above the support airbag 300.

[0080] For example, such as Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the multiple support airbags 300 may further include a left leg support airbag 341 and a right leg support airbag 342. The left leg support airbag 341 may be located in the front left portion of the seat cushion 110. The right leg support airbag 342 may be located in the front right portion of the seat cushion 110. The left leg support airbag 341 and the right leg support airbag 342 may correspond to the left and right legs of the seated person, respectively. The controller 500 determining either a first inflation amount or a second inflation amount may include determining the inflation amount of the left leg support airbag 341 and the right leg support airbag 342 to provide support for the left and right legs of the seated person, respectively. With this configuration, the intelligent seating device can meet the needs of different seated persons, thereby improving the user experience.

[0081] For example, when a person sits on the seat 100, the controller 500 can also calculate the distance along the extension surface of the flexible fiber sensor 200 between the center of gravity of the pressure distribution on the support surface of the backrest 120 and the center of gravity of the pressure distribution on the support surface of the seat cushion 110, thereby determining the height of the person sitting on the seat. In this way, the intelligent seating device can provide more data for other devices, providing a basis for realizing more linkages.

[0082] For example, based on the real-time detection of pressure distribution by the flexible fiber sensor 200, the controller 500 can be used to score the sitting posture of the person sitting down. In this way, the person sitting down can know whether their sitting posture is scientific and reasonable. When the sitting posture score is low, the person sitting down can make targeted changes to achieve a healthier and more scientific sitting posture on the smart seating device, thereby avoiding health problems caused by incorrect sitting posture.

[0083] The adjustment method for intelligent seating devices can be applied to any of the intelligent seating devices described in this application. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the adjustment method may include the following steps.

[0084] Step S110: Detect the pressure distribution on the support surfaces of the seat cushion 110 and backrest 120.

[0085] Step S120: Determine whether there are seated individuals based on the pressure distribution.

[0086] Step S130: Determine the body type of the currently seated person based on the pressure distribution. When it is determined that there is a seated person based on the pressure distribution, the body type of the currently seated person can be determined based on the pressure distribution.

[0087] Step S140: Determine whether a taste coefficient associated with this body type is stored.

[0088] Step S150: When the taste coefficient is not stored, determine the first inflation volume of the multiple support airbags 300 according to the body type.

[0089] Step S160: Control the multiple support airbags 300 to inflate to the first inflation volume.

[0090] Step S170: When the taste coefficient is stored, determine the second inflation volume of the multiple support airbags 300 based on the taste coefficient.

[0091] Step S180: Control the multiple support airbags 300 to inflate with a second inflation volume.

[0092] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, the adjustment method may further include step S190. Step S190: Adjust the inflation volume of the multiple support airbags 300 in real time according to the pressure distribution. Real-time adjustment may include: when it is determined that there is a low-pressure area between the seat 100 and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags 300 corresponding to the low-pressure area to inflate; and when it is determined that there is a high-pressure area between the seat 100 and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags 300 corresponding to the high-pressure area to deflate.

[0093] For example, before real-time adjustment, the adjustment method further includes: determining whether the currently seated person is in a resting state based on the pressure distribution. When the currently seated person is not in a resting state, the low-pressure region includes areas with pressure less than a first low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure region includes areas with pressure greater than a first high-pressure threshold. When the currently seated person is in a resting state, the low-pressure region includes areas with pressure less than a second low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure region includes areas with pressure greater than a second high-pressure threshold. The second low-pressure threshold is less than the first low-pressure threshold, and the second high-pressure threshold is greater than the first high-pressure threshold.

[0094] For example, the step of controlling the inflation of the support airbag 300 corresponding to the low-pressure area among the multiple support airbags 300 may include: controlling the inflation of the support airbag 300 until the support airbag 300 is fully inflated or the low-pressure area disappears.

[0095] For example, the step of controlling the deflation of the support airbag 300 corresponding to the high-pressure area among the multiple support airbags 300 includes: when no taste coefficient associated with the body type of the current seated person is stored, controlling the support airbag 300 to deflate to a first inflation level; and when the taste coefficient is stored, controlling the support airbag 300 to deflate to a second inflation level.

[0096] For example, such as Figure 6 As shown, the adjustment method may further include step S1301. Step S1301: Determine the waistline of the currently seated person based at least on the pressure distribution borne by the support surface of the backrest 120. The timing of steps S1301 and S130 can be arbitrary; for example, they can be executed simultaneously or at different times. When determining the first inflation amount in step S150 and the second inflation amount in step S170, the inflation amount of the lumbar support airbag 322 and / or the ratio of the inflation amounts of the shoulder support airbag 321 and the lumbar support airbag 322 can also be determined based on the position of the waistline. Therefore, when performing step S160, the inflation amount of the lumbar support airbag 322 and / or the ratio of the inflation amounts of the shoulder support airbag 321 and the lumbar support airbag 322 can also be controlled according to step S150. When performing step S180, step S160 can also be followed to control the inflation volume of the lumbar support airbag 322 and / or the ratio of the inflation volume of the shoulder support airbag 321 to the lumbar support airbag 322.

[0097] For example, such as Figure 7 As shown, the adjustment method also includes step S200. Step S200: Based on the pressure distribution, when it is determined that the pressure borne by each point in the area above the waistline of the backrest 120 is less than a first preset threshold and the pressure borne by the seat cushion 110 is greater than a second preset threshold, the shoulder support airbag 321 and the lumbar support airbag 322 are controlled to maintain their current inflation levels, wherein the first preset threshold is less than the second preset threshold. Step S200 can be executed after either step S160 or step S180.

[0098] For example, determining the first inflation amount in step S150 may include determining the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag 331 and the right wing support airbag 332 to cover the seated person. Thus, when performing step S160, the left wing support airbag 331 and the right wing support airbag 332 may also be controlled to inflate at that inflation amount.

[0099] Exemplarily, the adjustment method may further include step S210. Step S210: Determine the current sitting posture of the occupant, including upright sitting, left-side sitting, and right-side sitting, based at least on the pressure distribution borne by the support surface of the backrest 120; when the occupant is currently sitting on the left side, control the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag 331 to be greater than the inflation amount of the right wing support airbag 332; when the occupant is currently sitting on the right side, control the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag 331 to be less than the inflation amount of the right wing support airbag 332; and when the occupant is currently sitting upright, control the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag 331 to be equal to the inflation amount of the right wing support airbag 332. Step S210 may be performed after either step S160 or step S180.

[0100] For example, the intelligent seating device can be applied to a vehicle, and the adjustment method may further include step S220. Step S220: When the vehicle turns left, the inflation amount of the right wing support airbag 332 is controlled to be greater than the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag 331; and when the vehicle turns right, the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag 331 is controlled to be greater than the inflation amount of the right wing support airbag 332. Step S220 may be performed after either step S160 or step S180.

[0101] Exemplarily, the adjustment method may also include step S230. Step S230: When the duration of time the person is seated on the seat 100 is greater than or equal to a preset duration, the massage component 700 is activated. Step S230 may be performed after either step S160 or step S180.

[0102] For example, either step S150, determining the first inflation amount, or step 170, determining the second inflation amount, may include determining the inflation amount of the left leg support airbag 341 and the right leg support airbag 342 to provide support for the left and right legs of the seated person, respectively.

[0103] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional terms such as "front", "rear", "up", "down", "left", "right", "horizontal", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", and "bottom" is generally based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and is only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention; the directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0104] For ease of description, relative terms such as "above," "over," "on the upper surface of," and "above" are used here to describe the regional positional relationship of one or more components or features shown in the figures to other components or features. It should be understood that relative terms include not only the orientation of the component as depicted in the figure but also different orientations during use or operation. For example, if the components in the figures are inverted as a whole, "above" or "above other components or features" will include cases where the component is "below" or "under" other components or features. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." Furthermore, these components or features may also be positioned at other different angles (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or other angles), and this document intends to include all such cases.

[0105] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0106] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0107] The present invention has been described through the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention to the scope of the described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many more variations and modifications can be made based on the teachings of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A smart seating device, characterized in that, include: A seating arrangement, the seating arrangement including a plurality of support airbags, the plurality of support airbags including a hip support airbag located in the seat cushion of the seating arrangement, and / or a back support airbag located in the backrest of the seating arrangement; A flexible fiber sensor, located in the seat cushion and the backrest, is used to detect the pressure distribution on the support surfaces of the seat cushion and the backrest; An inflation / deflation mechanism is connected to the plurality of support airbags and is used to adjust the inflation amount of the plurality of support airbags. as well as A controller is configured to determine the body type of a person seated on the seating based on the pressure distribution, and to determine a first inflation volume of the plurality of support airbags based on the body type. The controller is also configured to receive and store a taste coefficient input by the user, and determine a second inflation volume of the plurality of support airbags based on the taste coefficient, the taste coefficient being associated with the body type of the person currently seated on the seating. The controller is further configured to, when determining that a person has taken a seat on the seat based on the pressure distribution, determine the body type of the current person taking a seat and whether a taste coefficient associated with the body type of the current person taking a seat is stored; if the taste coefficient is not stored, control the inflation / deflation mechanism to give the plurality of support airbags the first inflation amount; and if the taste coefficient is stored, control the inflation / deflation mechanism to give the plurality of support airbags the second inflation amount.

2. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to adjust the inflation amount of the plurality of support airbags in real time according to the pressure distribution. The real-time adjustment includes: when a low-pressure area is determined to exist between the seat and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags corresponding to the low-pressure area to inflate; and when a high-pressure area is determined to exist between the seat and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags corresponding to the high-pressure area to deflate.

3. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is used to control the inflation of the support airbag corresponding to the low-pressure region among the plurality of support airbags until the support airbag is fully inflated or the low-pressure region disappears; and / or The controller is configured to, when no taste coefficient associated with the body type of the currently seated person is stored, control the inflation / deflation mechanism to deflate the support airbag corresponding to the high-pressure area among the plurality of support airbags to the first inflation amount; and when the taste coefficient is stored, control the inflation / deflation mechanism to deflate the support airbag corresponding to the high-pressure area among the plurality of support airbags to the second inflation amount.

4. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is also used for: Determine whether the person currently seated is in a resting state based on the pressure distribution; When the person currently seated is not in a resting state, the low-pressure area includes areas where the pressure is less than a first low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure area includes areas where the pressure is greater than a first high-pressure threshold. When the current seated person is in a resting state, the low-pressure region includes a region where the pressure is less than a second low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure region includes a region where the pressure is greater than a second high-pressure threshold, wherein the second low-pressure threshold is less than the first low-pressure threshold, and the second high-pressure threshold is greater than the first high-pressure threshold.

5. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The backrest support airbag includes a shoulder support airbag corresponding to the shoulder area of ​​the backrest and a lumbar support airbag corresponding to the lumbar area of ​​the backrest. The controller is also used to determine the waistline of the currently seated person, at least based on the pressure distribution on the support surface of the backrest. The controller is further configured to, when determining either the first inflation volume or the second inflation volume, determine the inflation volume of the lumbar support airbag and / or the ratio of the inflation volumes of the shoulder support airbag and the lumbar support airbag based on the position of the waistline.

6. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The controller is further configured to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to maintain the current inflation level of the shoulder support airbag and the lumbar support airbag when, based on the pressure distribution, the pressure borne by each part of the backrest above the waistline is less than a first preset threshold and the pressure borne by the seat cushion is greater than a second preset threshold, wherein the first preset threshold is less than the second preset threshold.

7. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The seating also includes a left wing and a right wing respectively connected to both sides of the backrest, and the plurality of support airbags also include a left wing support airbag disposed in the left wing and a right wing support airbag disposed in the right wing, wherein: The controller determines the first inflation amount of the plurality of support airbags according to the body type, including: determining the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag and the right wing support airbag according to the body type, so as to cover the seated person.

8. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to determine the current sitting posture of the occupant, based at least on the pressure distribution on the support surface of the backrest, the sitting posture including upright sitting, left-side sitting, and right-side sitting; and The controller is further configured to, when the seated person is currently seated on the left side, control the inflation mechanism to make the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag greater than that of the right wing support airbag; when the seated person is currently seated on the right side, control the inflation mechanism to make the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag less than that of the right wing support airbag; and when the seated person is currently seated upright, control the inflation mechanism to make the inflation amount of the left wing support airbag equal to that of the right wing support airbag.

9. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The intelligent seating device can be applied to vehicles. The controller is used to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to make the inflation volume of the right wing support airbag greater than that of the left wing support airbag when the vehicle turns left; and to control the inflation / deflation mechanism to make the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag greater than that of the right wing support airbag when the vehicle turns right.

10. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The smart seating device also includes a massage component, and the controller is further configured to activate the massage component when the duration of time the user sits on the seat is greater than or equal to a preset duration.

11. The intelligent seating device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of support airbags also include a left leg support airbag and a right leg support airbag disposed in the seat cushion, the left leg support airbag and the right leg support airbag corresponding to the left leg and right leg of the person sitting down, respectively; The controller determines either the first inflation amount or the second inflation amount by: determining the inflation amount of the left leg support airbag and the right leg support airbag to provide support for the left and right legs of the seated person, respectively.

12. A method for adjusting a smart seating device, characterized in that, The intelligent seating device includes: a seating unit, the seating unit including multiple support airbags, the multiple support airbags including a hip support airbag located in the seat cushion of the seating unit, and / or a back support airbag located in the backrest of the seating unit; the adjustment method includes: The pressure distribution on the support surfaces of the seat cushion and the backrest is detected; Determine whether anyone is seated based on the pressure distribution; The body type of the person currently seated is determined based on the pressure distribution. Determine whether a taste coefficient corresponding to the body type of the currently seated person is stored; When the taste coefficient is not stored, the first inflation volume of the plurality of support airbags is determined according to the body type, and the plurality of support airbags are controlled to inflate at the first inflation volume. When the taste coefficient is stored, the second inflation amount of the plurality of support airbags is determined according to the taste coefficient, and the plurality of support airbags are controlled to inflate with the second inflation amount.

13. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The adjustment method further includes: The step of adjusting the inflation volume of the plurality of support airbags in real time according to the pressure distribution includes: when a low-pressure area is determined to exist between the seat and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags corresponding to the low-pressure area to inflate; and when a high-pressure area is determined to exist between the seat and the current seated person according to the pressure distribution, controlling the support airbags corresponding to the high-pressure area to deflate.

14. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The step of controlling the inflation of the support airbag corresponding to the low-pressure region among the plurality of support airbags includes: controlling the inflation of the support airbag until the support airbag is fully inflated or the low-pressure region disappears; and / or The step of controlling the deflation of the support airbag corresponding to the high-pressure area among the plurality of support airbags includes: when no taste coefficient associated with the body type of the current seated person is stored, controlling the support airbag to deflate to the first inflation level; and when the taste coefficient is stored, controlling the support airbag to deflate to the second inflation level.

15. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 13, wherein before performing the real-time adjustment, the adjustment method further comprises: Based on the pressure distribution, determine whether the currently seated person is in a resting state. When the person currently seated is not in a resting state, the low-pressure area includes areas where the pressure is less than a first low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure area includes areas where the pressure is greater than a first high-pressure threshold. When the current seated person is in a resting state, the low-pressure region includes a region where the pressure is less than a second low-pressure threshold, and the high-pressure region includes a region where the pressure is greater than a second high-pressure threshold, wherein the second low-pressure threshold is less than the first low-pressure threshold, and the second high-pressure threshold is greater than the first high-pressure threshold.

16. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The backrest support airbag includes a shoulder support airbag corresponding to the shoulder area of ​​the backrest and a lumbar support airbag corresponding to the lumbar area of ​​the backrest. The adjustment method further includes: The waistline of the currently seated person is determined at least based on the pressure distribution borne by the support surface of the backrest; When determining either the first inflation volume or the second inflation volume, the inflation volume of the lumbar support airbag and / or the ratio of the inflation volumes of the shoulder support airbag and the lumbar support airbag are determined based on the position of the waistline.

17. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The adjustment method further includes: Based on the pressure distribution, when it is determined that the pressure borne by each part of the backrest above the waistline is less than a first preset threshold and the pressure borne by the seat cushion is greater than a second preset threshold, the shoulder support airbag and the lumbar support airbag are controlled to maintain the current inflation level, wherein the first preset threshold is less than the second preset threshold.

18. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The seating also includes a left wing and a right wing respectively connected to both sides of the backrest, and the plurality of support airbags also include a left wing support airbag disposed in the left wing and a right wing support airbag disposed in the right wing. Determining the first inflation volume includes: determining the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag and the right wing support airbag to cover the seated person.

19. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The adjustment method further includes: The current sitting posture of the person being seated is determined based at least on the pressure distribution on the support surface of the backrest, including sitting upright, sitting on the left side, and sitting on the right side; When the person being seated is currently sitting on the left side, the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag is controlled to be greater than the inflation volume of the right wing support airbag. When the person is currently seated on the right side, the inflation level of the left wing support airbag is controlled to be less than the inflation level of the right wing support airbag; and When the person is currently in the upright sitting position, the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag is controlled to be equal to the inflation volume of the right wing support airbag.

20. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The intelligent seating device can be applied to vehicles, and the adjustment method further includes: When the vehicle turns left, the inflation volume of the right wing support airbag is controlled to be greater than that of the left wing support airbag; and When the vehicle turns right, the inflation volume of the left wing support airbag is controlled to be greater than that of the right wing support airbag.

21. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The smart seating device also includes a massage component, and the adjustment method further includes: controlling the massage component to start when the duration of time the person sits on the seat is greater than or equal to a preset duration.

22. The adjustment method for an intelligent seating device as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The plurality of support airbags also include a left leg support airbag and a right leg support airbag disposed in the seat cushion, the left leg support airbag and the right leg support airbag corresponding to the left leg and right leg of the person sitting down, respectively; Determining either the first inflation volume or the second inflation volume includes: determining the inflation volume of the left leg support airbag and the right leg support airbag to provide support for the left and right legs of the seated person, respectively.

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