AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION DEVICE FOR A MASSAGE SEAT

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic activation device for a massage seat (1) comprising at least one massage head (4) integrated into the backrest (2) of the seat (1), a pressure sensor (7) fitted to the backrest (2) of the seat (1) to detect pressure exerted on the backrest (2) by an occupant, a control module (5) for the massage head (4), connected to at least one pressure sensor (7) and automatically activating said massage head (4) when pressure is detected by said pressure sensor (7). The control module (5) automatically activates at least one massage head (4) based on a minimum pressure value detected by a pressure sensor (7) located in a defined area of ​​the backrest (2) of the seat, said pressure value and said area being representative of the occupant's posture in the seat (1). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION DEVICE FOR A MASSAGE SEAT

[0001] The invention relates to an automatic activation device for a massage seat.

[0002] Here the term seat should be understood as designating a seat of a motor vehicle, whatever the shape of the seat, whether it is intended for the driver or a passenger and whether the vehicle is a car, a van, a truck, a public works or agricultural vehicle.

[0003] The seats of many vehicles are equipped with devices that improve occupant comfort. Such seats have several seat and / or backrest adjustments and / or a heated seat. They may also include a massage device installed in the seat back and / or seat cushion. Generally, the massage device is activated manually. This solution is unsatisfactory because if the seat occupant is the driver, activation while driving diverts the driver's attention, which can lead to a temporary loss of vehicle control and potentially cause an accident. To remedy this, CN-A-108 556 708 discloses an automatic activation of the massage device when the occupant is seated and in contact with the seat back, based on the detection of pressure exerted by the occupant on the seat back. Pressure sensors are installed in the seat back for this purpose.One drawback of this solution is that the massage activates as soon as the occupant sits down, provided the massage function is active. However, the occupant may not necessarily want a continuous massage while seated, but only when needed, for example, when fatigued. Therefore, there is a need for a massage device that easily adapts to the occupant's specific needs.

[0004] The invention aims to meet these needs by providing a device for activating a massage seat that automatically adapts to the needs of the seat occupant, without requiring the occupant's attention.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to an automatic activation device for a massage seat comprising at least one massage head integrated into the backrest of the massage seat, at least one pressure sensor fitted to the backrest of the massage seat and adapted to detect pressure exerted on the backrest of the massage seat by an occupant of said seat, a control module for at least one massage head, said control module being connected to at least said pressure sensor and automatically activating said at least one massage head when pressure is detected by said pressure sensor, characterized in that the control module automatically activates at least one massage head from at least a minimum pressure value detected by at least said pressure sensor placed in at least one defined area of ​​the backrest of the massage seat, said pressure value and said area being representative of the occupant's posture in the massage seat.

[0006] Thus, thanks to the invention, the massage is only automatically activated when the seat occupant is in a specific posture. Typically, when the occupant is tired or tense, their posture, particularly their weight against the seat back, is indicative of their state of fatigue or tension. In such a state, a massage can improve the occupant's comfort. The invention therefore prevents the massage from activating when the occupant's posture does not appear to indicate fatigue or tension, or more generally, when the occupant's posture corresponds to a state that does not require a massage.

[0007] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such an activation device may comprise one or more of the following features:

[0008] At least one defined area of ​​the seat back is chosen from those corresponding to the support of the latissimus dorsi, teres minor and / or lower back of an occupant when seated in the seat.

[0009] The minimum pressure value detected by at least one pressure sensor placed in at least one defined area of ​​the seat back is 3000 hPa.

[0010] A minimum duration of at least 20 ms during which the minimum value of the pressure detected by at least one pressure sensor placed in at least one defined area of ​​the seat back is 3000 hPa is taken into account.

[0011] The control module includes an interface with the seat occupant consisting of a touch screen.

[0012] The intensity and / or duration of the massage are determined automatically by the control module according to the posture of the seat occupant.

[0013] The intensity and / or duration of the massage are adjustable by the seat occupant using the interface screen with the control module.

[0014] The device includes at least one other sensor selected from a flexible electronic strain sensor and a motion sensor.

[0015] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one massaging seat equipped with an automatic activation device conforming to any one of the preceding characteristics.

[0016] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig.1] is a simplified cross-section of a schematic massage seat comprising an automatic activation device according to an embodiment of the invention and

[0018] [Fig.2] is a simplified diagram of the operation of the device of [Fig.1].

[0019] Figure 1 illustrates a massage seat 1 installed in a vehicle not shown. Here, only The backrest 2 is equipped with a massage device, while the seat 3 does not have any massage features. Alternatively, the seat 3 is equipped with other comfort features, such as heating. In another embodiment, the seat also includes a massage device. The backrest 2 of the seat 1 includes at least one massage head 4. Here, four massage heads 4 are shown. They are evenly distributed in the backrest 2 according to its height. The term "massage head" is used here to designate the components that provide massage by deforming the contact surface of the backrest 2 with the back of the occupant seated in the seat 1. Such deformation can be achieved by various means known per se, such as air cushions, telescopic rods, cylinders, or the like. Alternatively, the number and / or distribution of the massage heads is different. A control module 5 for the massage heads 4 is schematically shown.It includes an interface with the occupant of seat 1, allowing them to obtain information on the status of the massage device, the current action, and also to control the massage. Advantageously, this interface is a touchscreen 6, schematically illustrated. Alternatively, the interface includes a remote control and / or dedicated control elements such as buttons, with the screen only displaying the information. At least one pressure sensor 7, here three sensors 7, are distributed in the backrest 2 of seat 1 near the face 8 of the backrest 2 intended to be in contact with the back of an occupant of seat 1.

[0020] The operation of the automatic activation device for the massage seat 1 according to an embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to [Fig. 2]. First, when an occupant sits down on the massage seat 1, or at any time while seated, they choose whether to activate 9 or 10 the automatic massage, i.e., to turn on the massage function of the seat 1. To do this, they use the screen 6 of the control module interface 5 to toggle a computer control 11, also known as an on / off switch. If the massage is deactivated, the occupant can reactivate it at any time, either for an automatic massage or for a manually triggered massage, i.e., activate the massage even if the conditions defined for automatic activation are not met.

[0021] When the automatic massage activation device is in operation, this implies that a massage will be automatically initiated when defined conditions are met. Screen 6 then displays a second computer command, also of type toggle 12. This toggle 12 allows the user to enable 13 or disable 14 the display of a message on screen 6 each time a massage is automatically triggered. If the response is yes 13, a secondary window or pop-up 15 appears and asks for confirmation 16 of whether or not to continue 17 the automatic massage. If the user chooses not to continue the massage, thus deactivating it, they can, as with the previous option 10, reactivate the massage manually or automatically.

[0022] When the automatic massage maintenance is activated according to choice 16, the device will automatically trigger a type of massage determined according to the pressure exerted by an occupant on the face 8 of the backrest 2 of the seat 1. The expression "type of massage" refers to the intensity, the duration of the massage and the areas of the back that will be massaged.

[0023] The control module 5 determines the type of massage to be performed based on at least a minimum pressure value exerted by the occupant on at least one given area of ​​the backrest 2, this pressure being representative of the occupant's posture in the seat 1. When the occupant applies, for example, significant pressure, i.e., beyond the defined minimum value, to at least one pressure sensor 7 in a given area of ​​the backrest 2, the control module 5 activates a massage by at least one massage head 4 in the relevant area of ​​the occupant's back. A minimum pressure value at which the device initiates a massage has been defined as being around 3000 hPa. This minimum pressure value may differ from the one indicated. In a preferred embodiment, the minimum value can be modified from the screen 6, for example, depending on whether the occupant of the seat 1 is an adult or a child.Advantageously, the duration for which this minimum pressure is exerted on at least one defined area is also taken into account. Thus, the device will not trigger a massage when the occupant applies pressure briefly to one or more defined areas of the backrest. For example, a minimum duration for applying minimum pressure to at least one defined area is 20 ms.

[0024] When the back of the occupant of seat 1 exerts pressure on certain areas of the backrest 2, this corresponds to a given posture of the occupant in seat 1. Certain postures are representative of the occupant's state. For example, if the pressure exerted on the pressure sensors 7 is in the middle of the backrest 2, this corresponds approximately to pressure from the latissimus dorsi and lower back muscles on the backrest. This posture potentially indicates a hunched position of the occupant of seat 1, a position that can be associated with discomfort, fatigue, or even drowsiness. If the pressure is exerted by the upper back muscles, at the level of the shoulders and / or teres minor, the corresponding posture is one in which the occupant tries to stretch while sitting as straight as possible. This posture can illustrate a state of tension or tightness in the occupant of seat 1.

[0025] Depending on the occupant's posture and the pressure exerted by their back on at least one defined area of ​​the backrest 2, the massage characteristics are adjusted. For example, if the occupant does not move much and / or if the pressure exerted remains relatively low, therefore close to the minimum value as defined previously, the device can automatically increase the duration of the massage to promote blood circulation and relieve muscle tension. If the pressure exerted is concentrated on an area of ​​the backrest 2, the device will automatically increase the intensity of the massage in that area to relieve muscle tension in the corresponding area of ​​the back. If the pressure exerted by the occupant's back is high in at least one area, compared to the defined minimum value, then the device will automatically decrease the duration of the massage to protect the affected muscles, which are already under tension.

[0026] The intensity of the massage, its duration and the area of ​​the back massaged are either defined automatically, the control module having in memory typical massages according to posture, or chosen beforehand by the occupant or defined automatically by the control module from the massages performed previously.

[0027] In another embodiment, the control module memorizes several types of massage for several regular occupants of seat 1, the latter then having to identify themselves via the interface when they sit on seat 1.

[0028] In another embodiment of the invention, flexible electronic strain sensors using special materials deformable under pressure are used, either instead of or in addition to pressure sensors 7. Similarly, in order to obtain greater accuracy in the type of posture detected, motion sensors may be associated with the sensors used to detect the pressure exerted on the face 8 of the backrest 2.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for automatically activating a massage seat (1) comprising at least one massage head (4) integrated in the backrest (2) of the massage seat (1), at least one pressure sensor (7) fitted to the backrest (2) of the massage seat (1) and adapted to detect pressure exerted on the backrest (2) of the massage seat (1) by an occupant of said seat, a control module (5) of the at least one massage head (4), said control module (5) being connected to at least said pressure sensor (7) and automatically activating said at least one massage head (4) when pressure is detected by said pressure sensor (7), characterized in that the control module (5) automatically activates at least one massage head (4) from at least one minimum value of the pressure detected by at least said pressure sensor (7) placed in at least one defined area of ​​the backrest (2) of the massage seat (1),said pressure value and said area being representative of the posture of the occupant in the massage seat (1).,

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one defined area of ​​the backrest (2) of the seat (1) is chosen from those corresponding to the support of the large back muscles, the small rounds and / or the lower back of an occupant when seated in the seat (1).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the minimum value of the pressure detected by at least one pressure sensor (7) placed in at least one defined area of ​​the backrest (2) of the seat (1) is 3000 hPa.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that a minimum duration of at least 20 ms during which the minimum value of the pressure detected by at least one pressure sensor (7) placed in at least one defined area of ​​the backrest (2) of the seat (1) is 3000 hPa is taken into account.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control module (5) comprises an interface with the occupant of the seat (1) formed by a touch screen (6).

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the intensity and / or duration of the massage are determined automatically by the control module (5) according to the posture of the occupant of the seat (1).

7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the intensity and / or duration of the massage are adjustable by the occupant of the seat (1) using from the screen (6) of the interface with the control module (5).

8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one other sensor chosen from a flexible electronic constraint sensor and a motion sensor.

9. The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one massaging seat (1) equipped with an automatic activation device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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