Vehicle seat

Abstract

The invention relates to a seat (4) comprising: - a seat (6) comprising a central part (14) having two opposing lateral edges (28, 30), and a first lateral support rim (16) integral with a lateral edge of the central part, the central part (14) comprising a rear zone (20), a middle zone (24) and a front zone (22), the seat (6) comprising: - a first capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes (C1) disposed on the first lateral support rim (16), - a second capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes (C2) disposed on the middle zone (24) of the central part, - a third capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes (C3) disposed on the rear zone (20) of the central part, said third capacitive sensor being the only capacitive sensor located on the rear zone, said third capacitive sensor being centered, in a transverse direction, with respect to the edges Lateral sides of the central section. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle seat Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat and in particular to a seat equipped with a device for determining the staturo-ponderal type of a seat occupant or for determining the position of the seat occupant. Prior art

[0002] There is a growing demand for devices for determining the type of occupant of a seat as well as for devices for determining the position of the occupant of the seat. This demand is particularly strong in the field of vehicle seating, where, for example, there is a need to be able to adapt the properties of an airbag system designed to protect a vehicle seat occupant in the event of an accident. These detection devices make it possible, in this case, to improve the operation of an airbag system and / or a seat belt pretensioner based on real-time knowledge of parameters such as the type of user, their height, weight, etc.

[0003] These determination devices also make it possible to determine, in conjunction with suitable software, a poor posture of a seat occupant which could lead to neck or lumbar pain. Presentation of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a seat equipped with a more reliable determination system. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention relates to a seat, in particular for a vehicle, the vehicle extending along a longitudinal direction, the seat comprising: - a seat comprising a central part having two opposing lateral edges, and at least one first lateral support edge integral with a lateral edge of the central part, the first lateral support edge projecting beyond the central part, the central part comprising a rear zone, a middle zone and a front zone, characterized in that the seat comprises: - a capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes arranged on the first lateral support edge, called the first capacitive sensor, - at least one capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes arranged in the median area of ​​the central part, called the second capacitive sensor, - a capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes disposed on the rear area of ​​the central part, called the third capacitive sensor, said third capacitive sensor being the only capacitive sensor located on the rear area, said third capacitive sensor being centered, in a transverse direction, with respect to the lateral edges of the central part.

[0006] The features described in the following paragraphs may optionally be implemented. They may be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other: - the second capacitive sensor has an "L" shape. - the seat has a second lateral support rim attached to another lateral side of the central part, the second lateral support rim extending outwards from the central part, the seat comprising a capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes disposed on the second lateral support rim, called the fourth capacitive sensor. - the seat includes a fifth capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes located on the middle area of ​​the central part, called the fifth capacitive sensor. - the second capacitive sensor and the fifth capacitive sensor are located symmetrically on either side of a central line extending in a longitudinal direction, said central line being centered with respect to the lateral edges of the central part. - The second capacitive sensor is the only sensor located in the middle area, said second capacitive sensor has an "I" shape, said second capacitive sensor extends in a transverse direction over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part, the second capacitive sensor being centered with respect to the lateral edge of the central part. - The seat also includes a single capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes located on the front area of ​​the central part, called the sixth capacitive sensor. - the sixth capacitive sensor has an "I" shape, said sixth capacitive sensor being centered in the transverse direction with respect to the lateral edges of the central part, said sixth capacitive sensor extending in the transverse direction over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part of the seat. - The third capacitive sensor comprises two branches arranged in a "T" shape, one branch of the third capacitive sensor extending in the transverse direction over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part of the seat, said branch being centered with respect to the lateral edges of the central part. - The third capacitive sensor has an "I" shape, said third capacitive sensor being centered in the transverse direction with respect to the lateral edges of the central part, said third capacitive sensor extending in the direction transverse over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part of the seat. - The first capacitive sensor includes a center of gravity located at a distance between 60 millimeters and 70 millimeters from point H along the longitudinal direction X. - The first capacitive sensor and the fourth capacitive sensor are connected to each other. - The second capacitive sensor and the fifth capacitive sensor are connected to each other. Brief description of the figures

[0007] [Fig.1] is a top perspective view of a seat according to a first embodiment;

[0008] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a flexible support arranged on the illustrated seat on the [Fig.l];

[0009] [Fig.3] is a top view of a flexible seat support according to a third variant;

[0010] [Fig.4] is a top view of a flexible support according to a fifth variant of the seat. Detailed description of the invention

[0011] In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

[0012] In the following description, spatial positioning indications such as up, down, upper, lower, horizontal, vertical, etc., are given for clarity, based on the usual position of use of a seat, but are not exhaustive. More specifically, orientations relative to the front and rear of the seat are relative to the usual position of use of the seat.

[0013] Longitudinal direction X means a horizontal direction extending from the front to the rear of the seat. Transverse direction Y means a horizontal direction extending from one side of the seat to the other side of the vehicle seat. Vertical direction Z means the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0014] Figure 1 illustrates a seat 4 according to a first embodiment. This seat 4 comprises a seat 6, a backrest 8 supported by the seat, and a determination system 2 according to a first embodiment. This determination system 2 comprises a flexible support 9 and six capacitive sensors with interdigitated electrodes C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 carried by the flexible support 9.

[0015] Seat 4 is for example a vehicle seat and, in particular, a motor vehicle seat.

[0016] The seat 6 includes a receiving face 12 intended to accommodate a seat occupant. The seat, and in particular the receiving face of the seat, includes a central part 14, a first lateral support edge 16 and a second lateral support edge 18.

[0017] For the purposes of this description, the central part 14 of the seat is said to be divided, by two transverse lines Y1, Y2, into three zones. These three zones have the same dimensions along the longitudinal direction X. A zone adjacent to the backrest is called the "rear zone 20". A zone located on the side opposite the backrest is called the "front zone 22". The zone located between the front zone and the rear zone is called the "middle zone 24".

[0018] The lateral support edges 16, 18 are generally called "bolsters" in English. They are integral with and contiguous to the central part 14. They extend outward from the central part essentially in the vertical direction Z. They extend along the lateral sides 28, 30 of the central part of the seat.

[0019] The flexible support 9 is arranged on the seat foam or the network of threads forming the seat. The flexible support 9 is made of a plastic material such as, for example, thermoplastic polyurethane, known by the acronym TPU. The capacitive sensors with interdigitated electrodes Cl, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 are fixed to the flexible support, for example by gluing. The capacitive sensors with interdigitated electrodes are hereinafter referred to as capacitive sensors. These capacitive sensors are described in patent FR 2109436 granted to the applicant.

[0020] The flexible support 9 is fixed to the seat in such a way that the capacitive sensors are arranged at particular locations on the seat. Thus, a first capacitive sensor Cl is located on the first lateral support edge 16. Specifically, the first capacitive sensor Cl is located on a face of the first lateral support edge adjacent to the central part.

[0021] The first capacitive sensor Cl is the only capacitive sensor located on the first lateral support edge 16. The first capacitive sensor Cl has a rectangular shape and extends along the longitudinal direction X.

[0022] With reference to [Fig. 2], the first capacitive sensor Cl comprises a center of mass Bl. The center of mass B1 is located at a distance of between 60 millimeters and 70 millimeters in front of point H along the longitudinal direction X. The center of mass Bl is located at a distance of between 193 millimeters and 202 millimeters to one side of point H along the longitudinal direction Y. Finally, the center of mass Bl is located at a distance of between -16 millimeters and -22 millimeters from point H along the longitudinal direction Z.

[0023] More preferably, the barycenter Bl is located at a distance between 63 millimeters and 67 millimeters in front of point H along the longitudinal direction X.

[0024] The H-point (or hip point) is the theoretical and relative location of an occupant's hip. In particular, the H-point is the pivot point between the torso and the upper legs of the body, as used in vehicle design, automobile design, and vehicle regulations. Technically, the positioning of the H-point has been defined by the hip articulation point of a male occupant in the 50th percentile. The H-point is defined in standard 20176:2006.

[0025] A second capacitive sensor C2 and a fifth capacitive sensor C5 are arranged on the flexible support so as to be located on the central part 14 of the seat.

[0026] In particular, in the first embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 1], the second capacitive sensor C2 and the fifth capacitive sensor C5 are arranged on the central area 24 of the seat. The second capacitive sensor C2 and the fifth capacitive sensor C5 have an "L" shape. One arm of this "L" shape extends along the longitudinal direction X. The other arm of this "L" shape extends along the transverse direction Y. The second capacitive sensor C2 and the fifth capacitive sensor C5 are located symmetrically on either side of a central line XI extending along a longitudinal direction X. The central line XI is centered along the transverse direction Y with respect to the lateral edges 28, 30 of the central part of the seat.

[0027] A third capacitive sensor C3 is arranged on the flexible support 9 so as to be located on the rear area 20 of the central part of the seat. Preferably, the third capacitive sensor C3 has a "T" shape. The third capacitive sensor C3 has a first arm 25 extending along the transverse direction Y and a second arm 26 extending along the longitudinal direction X. The second arm 26 originates from the middle of the first arm 25. Preferably, the first arm 25 extends along the transverse direction Y for a length at least equal to half the width of the central part 14 of the seat. In the present patent application, the width of the central part of the seat is measured along the transverse direction Y. Preferably, the first arm is centered along the transverse direction with respect to the lateral edges 28, 30 of the central part.Preferably, the second branch extends over a length less than one-third of the length of the first branch.

[0028] A fourth capacitive sensor C4 is arranged on the flexible support 9 so as to be located on the second lateral support rim 18, in particular, on a face of the second lateral support rim adjacent to the central part.

[0029] A sixth capacitive sensor C6 is arranged on the flexible support 9 so as to be positioned on the front area 22 of the central part of the seat. The sixth capacitive sensor C6 is shaped like an "I". The sixth capacitive sensor C6 extends according the transverse direction Y over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part of the seat.

[0030] The determination system 2 further includes electrical wires 32 fixed on the flexible support 9 and an electrical connector 34 fixed to one end of the flexible support.

[0031] The electrical wires 32 are each connected between an electrode of a capacitive sensor and the electrical connector 34. The determination system 2 is intended to be connected to a controller 10 via a wiring 36.

[0032] The controller 10 includes a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The processor further includes a voltage source, a ground, and a capacitance measurement unit.

[0033] The voltage source generates a voltage of, for example, 5 Volts.

[0034] The processor implemented by hardware may be equipped with ASICs (integrated circuits application-specific), DSPs (digital signal processors), DSPDs (digital signal processing devices), PLDs (programmable logic devices), FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays), and the like.

[0035] The electrical wires 32 and the wiring 36 electrically connect a first electrode of each capacitive sensor Cl to C6 to the voltage source of the controller and a second electrode of each capacitive sensor Cl to C6 to ground. The capacitance measurement unit is suitable for measuring the capacitance between the electrodes of each capacitive sensor.

[0036] According to a first variant of the first embodiment, the first capacitive sensor Cl and the fourth capacitive sensor C4 are connected to each other by an electrical wire 35. A single electrical wire 35 transmits an average capacitance of the two capacitive sensors.

[0037] Advantageously, this variant allows the use of a 34-pin output connector with fewer output pins. However, the amount of position information is reduced.

[0038] According to a second variant of the first embodiment, the second capacitive sensor C2 and the fifth capacitive sensor C5 are connected to each other by an electrical wire 35. A single electrical wire 35 transmits an average capacitance of the two capacitive sensors.

[0039] Advantageously, this variant allows the use of a 34-pin output connector with fewer output pins. However, the amount of position information is reduced.

[0040] According to a third variant illustrated in [Fig.3], the flexible support of the determination system 2 comprises only a single capacitive sensor in its median area 24 is called the second capacitive sensor. The second capacitive sensor C2 is the only sensor located in the middle area 24.

[0041] This second capacitive sensor C2 has the shape of an I which extends along the transverse direction Y over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part of the seat. It is centered along the transverse direction with respect to the lateral edges 28, 30 of the central part 14.

[0042] According to a fourth variant not illustrated, the flexible support of the determination system 2 has only one capacitive sensor in its middle area 24 called the second capacitive sensor. This second capacitive sensor C2 has the shape of an L. It is arranged on one side of the center line XI in the same location as the second capacitive sensor of the first embodiment.

[0043] According to a fifth variant illustrated in [Fig.4], the flexible support 9 of the determination system 2 comprises only a first capacitive sensor Cl intended to rest on the first lateral support edge 16, a second capacitive sensor C2 and a fifth capacitive sensor C5 intended to rest on the median area 24 of the central part of the seat, a third capacitive sensor resting on the rear area 20 and a sixth capacitive sensor resting on the front area 22.

[0044] According to a sixth variant not shown, the third capacitive sensor C3, located on the rear area 20, has an "I" shape instead of a "T" shape. The third capacitive sensor C3 is centered in the transverse direction with respect to the lateral edges 28, 30 of the central part 14. The fifth capacitive sensor C5 extends in the transverse direction Y over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part of the seat.

[0045] According to a seventh variant not illustrated, the flexible support of the determination system 2 does not include the sixth capacitive sensor C6. No capacitive sensor is arranged on the flexible support so as to be located in the front area 22 of the central part.

[0046] According to an eighth variant not shown, the flexible support of the determination system 2 comprises only the first capacitive sensor C1 arranged to rest on the first lateral support edge 16 and a second capacitive sensor C2 arranged to rest on the median area 24 of the central part of the seat. This second capacitive sensor C2 may be L-shaped and be arranged on one side of the central line XL. This second capacitive sensor C2 may also be I-shaped, extending along the transverse direction Y for a length at least equal to half the width of the central part of the seat. In this case, it is centered along the transverse direction with respect to the lateral edges 28, 30 of the central part 14.

[0047] According to a ninth embodiment, the capacitive sensors Cl to C6 are arranged directly on the foam or the fiber tangle forming the seat. In this case, the determination system does not include a flexible support.

[0048] These different variants can be combined with each other.

[0049] In this patent application, "I-shaped" means a straight-line shape.

Claims

Demands

1. Seat (4), particularly for a vehicle, the seat comprising: - a seat (6) comprising a central part (14) having two opposing lateral edges (28, 30), and at least one first lateral support edge (16) integral with a lateral edge of the central part, the first lateral support edge (16) extending in projection relative to the central part, the central part (14) comprising a rear zone (20), a middle zone (24) and a front zone (22), characterized in that the seat (6) comprises: - a capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes (C1) disposed on the first lateral support edge (16), referred to as the first capacitive sensor (C1), - at least one capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes (C2) disposed on the middle zone (24) of the central part, referred to as the second capacitive sensor (C2), - a capacitive sensor with electrodes interdigitated (C3) located on the rear area (20) of the central part, called the third capacitive sensor (C3),said third capacitive sensor being the only capacitive sensor located on the rear area, said third capacitive sensor being centered, in a transverse direction (Y), with respect to the lateral edges (28, 30) of the central part.

2. Seat (4) according to claim 1, wherein the second capacitive sensor (C2) has an "L" shape.

3. Seat (4) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the seat (6) comprises a second lateral support rim (18) integral with another lateral side of the central part, the second lateral support rim (18) extending in projection relative to the central part (14), the seat comprising a capacitive sensor (C4) with interdigitated electrodes disposed on the second lateral support rim (18), referred to as the fourth capacitive sensor (C4).

4. Seat (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the seat (4) comprises a fifth capacitive sensor (C5) with interdigitated electrodes disposed on the median area (24) of the central part, referred to as the fifth capacitive sensor (C5).

5. Seat (4) according to claim 4, wherein the second capacitive sensor (C2) and the fifth capacitive sensor (C5) are located symmetrically on either side of a central line (XI) extending along a longitudinal direction (X), said central line (XI) being centered with respect to the lateral edges (28, 30) of the central part.

6. Seat (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second capacitive sensor (C2) is the only sensor disposed on the median area (24), said second capacitive sensor (C2) has an "I" shape, said second capacitive sensor (C2) extends in a transverse direction (Y) over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part (14), the second capacitive sensor (C2) being centered with respect to the lateral edges (28, 30) of the central part.

7. Seat (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a single capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes (C6) disposed on the front area of ​​the central part, referred to as the sixth capacitive sensor.

8. Seat (4) according to claim 7, wherein the sixth capacitive sensor (C6) has an "I" shape, said sixth capacitive sensor (C6) being centered in the transverse direction (Y) with respect to the lateral edges (28, 30) of the central part, said sixth capacitive sensor (C6) extending in the transverse direction (Y) over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part (14) of the seat.

9. Seat (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the third capacitive sensor (C3) comprises two arms arranged in a "T" shape, one arm (25) of the third capacitive sensor extending in the transverse direction (Y) over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part (14) of the seat, said arm (25) being centered with respect to the lateral edges (28, 30) of the central part.

10. Seat (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the third capacitive sensor (C3) has an "I" shape, said third capacitive sensor (C3) being centered in the transverse direction (Y) with respect to the lateral edges (28, 30) of the central part, said third capacitive sensor (C3) extending in the transverse direction (Y) over a length at least equal to half the width of the central part (14) of the seat.

11. Seat (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first capacitive sensor (Cl) comprises a center of gravity (Bl) 11 located at a distance between 60 millimeters and 70 millimeters from point H along the longitudinal direction (X).

12. Seat (4) according to any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the first capacitive sensor and the fourth capacitive sensor are connected to each other.

13. Seat (4) according to any one of claims 4 to 12, wherein the second capacitive sensor and the fifth capacitive sensor are connected to each other.

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