Seat and biological sensor

Abstract

To provide a seat and a biological sensor that can increase the thermal efficiency of a heater by restraining restrictions on the arrangement of the heater.SOLUTION: A seat comprises a meandering heater element, and a first biological sensor having a first emission region for emitting a first electromagnetic wave in a first direction. In the first emission region, a dimension in a second direction that is a direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than a dimension in a third direction that is a direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. The heater element and the first emission region are arranged at different positions in the second direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat and a biometric sensor. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the development of 60GHz radars built into seats for biometric sensing has been progressing. In addition, the demand for seat heaters is increasing with the spread of electric vehicles, which make it difficult to utilize engine waste heat.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a seat in which the heater element is positioned in a way that separates the members that block the passage of electromagnetic waves into left and right sides and places a sensor in the center of the seat. Patent Document 2 also discloses a seat in which a breathing sensor is placed in a low-temperature seat heater. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-40354 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-154854 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the technology of Patent Document 1 places restrictions on heater placement, which may reduce the thermal efficiency of the heater. Also, the technology of Patent Document 2 takes into consideration the use of piezoelectric film sensors for biosensing, but does not take into consideration radio wave sensors, which may block radio waves.

[0006] Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure contribute to providing a seat and a biometric sensor that can reduce restrictions on heater placement and increase the thermal efficiency of the heater. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To this end, one embodiment of a seat according to the present disclosure comprises a serpentine heater element and a first biosensor having a first radiation area that radiates a first electromagnetic wave in a first direction, wherein the dimension of the first radiation area in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than the dimension of a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and the heater element and the first radiation area are positioned at different positions in the second direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce restrictions on heater placement and increase the thermal efficiency of the heater. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a heater element and a biosensor. [Figure 2A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a heater element and a biosensor. [Figure 2B] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a person has released their back from the seat. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the arrangement of a biosensor equipped with an endfire array antenna. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a biosensor that emits horizontally polarized electromagnetic waves. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a surface including a meandering portion of a heater element and the position of a biosensor. [Figure 6A] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of the arrangement of a biosensor having a side surface with a small height dimension and a biosensor having a side surface with a small width dimension; [Figure 6B] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of the arrangement of a biosensor having a side surface with a small height dimension and a biosensor having a side surface with a small width dimension; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block of a biosensor. [Figure 8A] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a biosensor. [Figure 8B] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a biosensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that each of the embodiments described below represents a specific example of the present disclosure. Therefore, the components, the arrangement positions and connection forms of the components, etc. shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, components not recited in independent claims will be described as optional components.

[0011] Furthermore, each drawing is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily a precise illustration. In each drawing, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted or simplified.

[0012] First, a description will be given of a seat 1 installed in a vehicle. As shown in FIG.

[0013] The seat 1 comprises a seat cushion 1a that supports the buttocks and thighs of a person 4, a seat back 1b whose lower end is supported by the seat cushion 1a and serves as a backrest, and a headrest 1c that is provided on the seat back 1b and supports the head of the person 4.

[0014] The heater element 2 is arranged in a serpentine shape inside the seat back 1b of the seat 1. In the example of FIG. 1, the heater element 2 has a shape in which a plurality of straight portions 2a and U-shaped curved portions 2b are arranged alternately.

[0015] The biosensor 3 is a sensor that emits electromagnetic waves from an emission region 3a in a first direction to measure biometric information such as skin vibrations caused by breathing and heartbeat of the person 4. The biosensor 3 is equipped with, for example, an end-fire array (EFA) antenna that has a radiation directivity of the electromagnetic waves toward the substrate edge, and detects displacement of the body surface of the person 4 using the electromagnetic waves.

[0016] The biosensor 3 is a thin sensor that emits electromagnetic waves in a first direction and has an emission area 3a whose height (second direction) dimension is smaller than its width (third direction) dimension. The height (thickness) of the emission area 3a is, for example, 1 cm. The biosensor 3 may also be a sensor equipped with an antenna other than an endfire array antenna.

[0017] When viewed from a direction (first direction) perpendicular to the plane including the meandering portion of the heater element 2, the radiation region 3a is arranged in a gap between the heater elements 2 inside the meandering portion. In the example of Fig. 1, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane including the meandering portion of the heater element 2, the radiation region 3a is arranged at a position sandwiched between the heater elements 2 and two opposing straight portions 2a of the heater element 2. The radiation region 3a and the heater element 2 are arranged at different positions in the second direction.

[0018] By arranging the radiation areas 3a that radiate radio waves to the outside in the gaps between the heater elements 2, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in arranging the heater elements 2 and improve the thermal efficiency of the heater without interfering with the radiation of electromagnetic waves. The internal structure of the biosensor 3 will be described in detail later.

[0019] In addition, when the biosensor is installed in the seat of the vehicle, if the driver drives without resting his / her back against the seat 1, the distance between the seat 1 and the driver changes significantly due to vibration of the vehicle body, which may cause unstable measurement of bioinformation. Therefore, the biosensor may be arranged as described below.

[0020] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, the biosensor 11 is disposed in a lower region of the seat back 1b below the heat generating region 2a of the heater element 2. The heat generating region 2a is the region where the heater element 2 is provided to warm the person 4, and is, for example, the region where the heater element 2 meanders as shown in FIG. 1. The biosensor 11 is disposed in a lower region of the seat back 1b, closer to the seat cushion 1a in the second direction than the heat generating region 2a of the heater element 2. The biosensor 11 is disposed, for example, within 5 cm to 10 cm from the position where the seat cushion 1a and the seat back 1b meet.

[0021] When the heater element 2 is provided in both the seat cushion 1a and the seat back 1b, the heat generating portion of the heater element 2 is often divided between the seat cushion 1a and the seat back 1b, and in the lower region of the seat cushion 1a below the heat generating region 2a, the seat 1 is not in contact with the person 4, as shown in Fig. 2A. Therefore, even if the biosensor 11 is placed in that region, the heating efficiency will not decrease.

[0022] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2B, when person 4 is driving leaning forward without resting his / her back against seat back 1b, the state position changes significantly due to the influence of the road surface, and if biosensor 11 is in a high position, the distance between person 4 and biosensor 11 is likely to fluctuate.

[0023] However, even if the person 4 sits shallowly, the position where the seat cushion 1a contacts the buttocks does not change significantly, and therefore, when the biosensor 11 is in a low position, the distance between the biosensor 11 and the person 4 is unlikely to change. This makes it possible to stably measure bioinformation.

[0024] The biosensor 11 may be a sensor equipped with an endfire array antenna or a sensor equipped with another antenna. Both the biosensor 3 shown in Figure 1 and the biosensor 11 shown in Figures 2A and 2B may be provided on the seat 1, or at least one of them may be provided on the seat 1.

[0025] 3 shows a case where a biosensor 21 equipped with an endfire array antenna is provided in a lower region of the seat cushion 1a below the heat generating region 2a of the seat cushion 1a. Here, the biosensor 21 has an electromagnetic wave radiation region 21a whose height direction (second direction) is smaller than its width direction (third direction), and radiates electromagnetic waves from the radiation region 21a to the outside.

[0026] By using such a biosensor 21, it is possible to arrange the biosensor 21 even if the heat generating region 2a of the heater element 2 is arranged considerably below the seat back 1b.

[0027] 4, the biosensor 21 may emit horizontally polarized electromagnetic waves 22. Below the heat generating region 2a of the heater element 2, a conductor for supplying power to the heat generating region 2a extends in a generally vertical direction, but by emitting horizontally polarized electromagnetic waves 22, the influence of the conductor on the measurement of bioinformation can be reduced.

[0028] The radiation area of ​​the biosensor that radiates electromagnetic waves to the outside of the biosensor may be positioned on a surface including the serpentine portion of the heater element 2 so as not to overlap with the heater element 2, or may be positioned in front of the surface including the serpentine portion.

[0029] 5 shows a surface 30 including a meandering portion of the heater element 2 and biosensors 31, 32, and 33 provided at different positions. For example, the radiation area is located at the same position as the heater element 2 in the first direction, or is located closer to the outside of the seat back 1b than the heater element 2.

[0030] The radiation area 31a of the biosensor 31 is arranged behind the surface 30 including the meandering portion of the heater element 2. In this case, when viewed from a direction (first direction) perpendicular to the surface 30 including the meandering portion of the heater element 2, if the radiation area 31a is arranged in the gap of the heater element 2 inside the meandering portion, it is possible to suppress the influence of the electromagnetic waves by the heat element 2.

[0031] The biosensor 32 is arranged so that the radiation area 32a does not overlap the heater element 2 on the surface 30 including the meandering portion of the heater element 2. The radiation area 33a of the biosensor 33 is arranged forward of the surface 30 including the meandering portion of the heater element 2.

[0032] By arranging the biosensors 32 and 33 in this manner, the influence of the heat element 2 on the electromagnetic waves can be further suppressed.

[0033] In addition, in Figure 1, the biosensor 3 having an emission area 3a whose height dimension is smaller than its width dimension is arranged in the gap between the heater elements 2, but the emission area of ​​the biosensor whose width dimension is smaller than its height dimension and which radiates electromagnetic waves to the outside may also be arranged in the area sandwiched between two parts of one or more heater elements 2.

[0034] FIG. 6A shows biosensors 40 and 41 having radiation areas 40a and 41a whose width (third direction) dimension is smaller than their height (second direction) dimension.

[0035] FIG. 6B shows a biosensor 3 having an emission area 3a whose height dimension is smaller than its width dimension, and biosensors 40 and 41 having emission areas 40a and 41a whose width dimension is smaller than their height dimension.

[0036] The heater element 2 includes portions linearly arranged in the second direction and the third direction. The radiation areas 40a and 41a are arranged at positions sandwiched between the heater elements 2 in the second direction, and the radiation area 3a is arranged at a position sandwiched between the heater elements 2 in the third direction.

[0037] Even when wiring the heater element 2, it is difficult to arrange the radiation area 3a, which has a small height dimension, in a gap, by using biosensors 40, 41 having radiation areas 40a, 41a, which have a small width dimension, the biosensors 40, 41 can be easily arranged, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in wiring the heater element 2.

[0038] Although two biosensors 40 and 41 are shown in FIG. 6B along with the biosensor 3, the biosensor to be placed may be any one of them, or two of the three.

[0039] Next, an example of a functional block of each biosensor shown in Figures 1 to 6 will be described. As shown in Figure 7, the biosensor includes a signal processing IC 51, an occupant state estimation unit 54, a transmitting antenna 55, and a receiving antenna 56. The signal processing IC 51 also includes a transmitting signal processing unit 52 and a receiving signal processing unit 53.

[0040] The signal processing IC 51 constitutes, for example, a frequency modulated continuous wave (FM-CW) radar device, but may also constitute a pulse radar radar device.

[0041] The transmission signal processing unit 52 is connected to a plurality of antenna elements 55a of a transmission antenna 55. The reception signal processing unit 53 is connected to a plurality of antenna elements 56a of a reception antenna 56.

[0042] The transmission signal processing unit 52 controls the direction of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the biosensor to the outside, for example, by electronic scanning. The transmission signal processing unit 52 continuously generates a high-frequency (for example, millimeter-wave frequency band) transmission signal that has been frequency-modulated so that the frequency repeatedly increases and decreases gradually over time, using, for example, a reference signal obtained from an oscillator.

[0043] Then, the transmission signal processing unit 52 sends the transmission signal to each antenna element 55a, causing each antenna element 55a to transmit a frequency-modulated electromagnetic wave.

[0044] In addition, the transmission signal processing unit 52 changes the direction of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the biosensor to the outside (for example, the composite wave of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from each of the antenna elements 55a) by adjusting the phase of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from each antenna element 55a.

[0045] The transmission signal processing unit 52 may transmit radio waves from each antenna element 55a simultaneously (for example, by frequency division multiplexing or code division multiplexing) or in a time division manner (for example, by time division multiplexing). The direction of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the biosensor to the outside (for example, a composite wave of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from each antenna element 55a) may be changed by adjusting the phase between the antennas of the transmitted electromagnetic waves.

[0046] The reception signal processing unit 53 performs, for example, quadrature detection processing, frequency analysis processing, etc. on the reception signals related to the reflected waves acquired from each antenna element 56a using the local signal generated by the transmission signal processing unit 52. The reception signal processing unit 53 also calculates the phase difference of the reflected waves received by each antenna element 56a, and thereby estimates the distance, direction, relative speed, etc. to the human body.

[0047] The occupant state estimation unit 54 estimates the state of the person 4, such as breathing and heart rate, based on the information estimated by the received signal processing unit 53, and transmits a control signal to the vehicle ECU (Electronic Control Unit) to activate the brakes, etc., depending on the estimation result.

[0048] Next, we will explain an example of the configuration of the biosensor 3. Fig. 8A shows the biosensor 3 having an emission area 3a that emits electromagnetic waves to the outside and whose dimension in the height direction (second direction) is smaller than its dimension in the width direction (third direction).

[0049] The biosensor 3 includes two signal processing ICs 51, a transmitting antenna 55, a receiving antenna 56, a circuit board 61, a connector 62, a housing 63, and a dielectric lens 64. The solid arrow F represents the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the transmitting antenna 55.

[0050] The circuit board 61 is a board on which the transmitting antenna 55, the receiving antenna 56, the signal processing IC 51, the connector 62, etc. are mounted.

[0051] The signal processing IC 51, transmitting antenna 55, receiving antenna 56, connector 62, etc. are mounted on the front or back surface of the circuit board 61, and wiring (not shown) that electrically connects these mounted components to each other is patterned. The circuit board 61 is disposed so that the extending direction of the board surface is parallel to the front-to-rear direction. The direction closer to the dielectric lens 64 is the front direction (front end direction) of the circuit board 61.

[0052] The transmitting antenna 55 is disposed in the front region of the circuit board 61, and transmits electromagnetic waves parallel to the surface of the circuit board 61 toward the front end of the circuit board 61. The receiving antenna 56 is disposed in the front region of the circuit board 61, and receives reflected waves that are incident from the front end of the circuit board 61 and made parallel to the surface of the circuit board 61 by the dielectric lens 64. Therefore, the transmitting antenna 55 and the receiving antenna 56 have directional characteristics for transmission and reception in the front end direction of the circuit board 61. The area of ​​the circuit board 61 that is closest to the dielectric lens 64 is the front region of the circuit board 61.

[0053] The transmitting antenna 55 and the receiving antenna 56 are typically end-fire array antennas having directivity toward the front end of the circuit board 61. The end-fire array antenna includes a plurality of strip conductors arranged so that their longitudinal directions are parallel to one another, and transmits and receives electromagnetic waves along the direction in which the plurality of strip conductors are arranged.

[0054] The transmitting antenna 55 and the receiving antenna 56 may be configured by a conductor pattern formed on the circuit board 61, and may be an endfire array antenna, a Yagi array antenna, a Fermi antenna, a post-wall waveguide antenna, a post-wall horn antenna, or the like. The transmitting antenna 55 and the receiving antenna 56 may also be configured by a single antenna that is shared for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves.

[0055] 8B shows another configuration of the biosensor 3. This biosensor 3 includes two signal processing ICs 51, a transmitting antenna 55, a receiving antenna 56, a circuit board 71, a connector 72, a housing 73, and a dielectric lens 74. The solid arrow F represents the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the transmitting antenna 55.

[0056] The circuit board 71 is a board on which the signal processing IC 51, the transmitting antenna 55, the receiving antenna 56, the connector 72, etc. are mounted. The signal processing IC 51, the transmitting antenna 55, the receiving antenna 56, the connector 72, etc. are mounted on the front or back surface of the circuit board 71, and wiring (not shown) that electrically connects the mounted components to each other is patterned.

[0057] The circuit board 71 has a first board portion 71a whose board surface extends in the vertical direction and is arranged so that one board surface faces forward, and a second board portion 71b whose board surface extends in the front-to-back direction.

[0058] The first substrate unit 71a is a substrate unit on which the signal processing IC 51, the transmitting antenna 55, and the receiving antenna 56 are disposed. The second substrate unit 71b is a substrate unit on which components such as the signal processing IC 51, the connector 72, and an electrolytic capacitor (not shown) are disposed other than the transmitting antenna 55 and the receiving antenna 56. The second substrate unit 71b and the first substrate unit 71a are electrically connected to each other by a wiring unit (not shown).

[0059] The biosensors shown in Figures 2A to 6 are not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 8A or Figure 8B, and may have a configuration in which the configuration shown in Figure 8A or Figure 8B is rotated 90 degrees around the longitudinal axis, or another configuration.

[0060] In addition, this disclosure also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art would think of, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope that does not deviate from the intent of this disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0061] The present disclosure can be utilized in a seat that is provided with a heating element and a biometric sensor. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 seat 1a Seat cushion 1b Seat back 2 heater elements 2a Straight section 2b Curved section 3. Biometric sensors 4 people 22 Electromagnetic Waves 30 sides 31a Radiation area 51 Signal Processing IC 52 Transmission signal processing section 53 Received signal processing section 54 Occupant state estimation unit 55 Transmitting Antenna 56 Receiving antenna 61 Circuit Board 62 connectors 63 Case 64 Dielectric Lens

Claims

1. A serpentine heater element; a first biosensor having a first radiation area that radiates a first electromagnetic wave in a first direction; Equipped with a dimension of the first radiation region in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than a dimension of the first radiation region in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and the heater element and the first radiation region are disposed at different positions in the second direction; seat.

2. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the first radiation area is positioned at the same position as the heater element in the first direction or at a position closer to the outside of the seat than the heater element.

3. the first radiation region is disposed at a position sandwiched between the heater elements in the second direction; The seat of claim 1.

4. The seat according to claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnetic wave is a horizontally polarized electromagnetic wave.

5. The seat has a seat back and a seat cushion, the first biological sensor and the heater element are disposed on a seat back of the seat; the first biological sensor is disposed at a position closer to a seat cushion than a heat generating area of ​​the heater element in the second direction; The seat of claim 1.

6. The seat according to claim 5 , wherein the first electromagnetic wave is a horizontally polarized electromagnetic wave.

7. The seat has a seat back and a seat cushion, further comprising a second biosensor that emits a second electromagnetic wave; the first biological sensor, the second biological sensor, and the heater element are disposed on a seat back of the seat; the second biological sensor is disposed at a position closer to a seat cushion than a heat generating area of ​​the heater element in the second direction; The seat of claim 1.

8. The seat of claim 7 , wherein the second biosensor has a second radiation area that radiates a second electromagnetic wave in the first direction and whose dimension in the second direction is smaller than its dimension in the third direction.

9. a second biosensor having a second radiation area that radiates a second electromagnetic wave in the first direction and has a dimension in the third direction that is smaller than a dimension in the second direction; the heater element includes a portion linearly arranged in the second direction and the third direction; the first radiation region is disposed at a position sandwiched between the heater elements in the second direction, the second radiation region is disposed at a position sandwiched between the heater elements in the third direction; The seat of claim 1.

10. The seat according to claim 7, wherein the second electromagnetic wave is a horizontally polarized electromagnetic wave.

11. 11. The seat of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first biometric sensor and the second biometric sensor comprises an end-fire array antenna.

12. a signal generating circuit that generates a signal; an antenna that radiates the signal as a first electromagnetic wave in a first direction through a first radiation area; A biosensor having a dimension of the first radiation region in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than a dimension of the first radiation region in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction; In the second direction, the heater element arranged in a serpentine manner on the sheet and the first radiation area are arranged at different positions. Biometric sensors.

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