Vehicle seats

Abstract

To provide a headrest in which a device can be arranged and which is easily manufactured.SOLUTION: A headrest 1 includes a pillar 16 supported by a seat back 4, a case 17 supported by the pillar and having a receiving recessed part 40 recessed inward on an outer surface, a device 15 received in the receiving recessed part, and a skin material 19 covering the case and the device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a headrest. [Background technology]

[0002] Headrests that are equipped with devices such as speakers inside and are manufactured using skin-integrated foam molding are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The device is attached to a unit, which is then fixed to a frame that forms the framework of the headrest. The device and the frame are then inserted into a skin material sewn into a bag shape, and a foaming material such as urethane material is foamed inside the skin material to form the headrest. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-108118 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The manufacturing process for the headrest described in Patent Document 1 includes a process of housing a device in a skin material and foaming a foam material to form the device, which poses a problem that the manufacturing of the headrest is not easy.

[0005] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide a headrest that can accommodate a device therein and that is easy to manufacture. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a headrest (1, 71, 101, 151, 201) that includes a pillar (16) supported on a seat back (4), a case (17) supported on the pillar and having a receiving recess that is recessed inward on its outer surface, a device (15) received in the receiving recess (40, 102, 202), and a skin material (19) that covers the case and the device.

[0007] According to this aspect, the headrest can be manufactured by receiving the device in the receiving recess and covering the headrest with a skin material, thereby providing a headrest that can accommodate a device inside and is easy to manufacture.

[0008] In the above aspect, the receiving recesses may extend rearward on both left and right edges of the front surface of the case, and the front surface of the case other than the receiving recesses may be flush with the front surface of the device.

[0009] According to this aspect, a step is less likely to occur on the front surface of the headrest, thereby improving the comfort of the headrest.

[0010] In the above aspect, the receiving recesses extend rearward on both left and right edges of the front surface of the case, and the device overlaps at least a portion of the pillar in a side view.

[0011] According to this aspect, when a load is applied from the side, the pillars can support the device.

[0012] In the above aspect, it is preferable that a locking portion (45) capable of locking the device is provided on the opening edge of the receiving recess, and a locked portion (23) that engages with the locking portion is provided on the front surface of the device.

[0013] According to this aspect, the device can be locked to the case.

[0014] In the above aspect, the device may be provided with ribs (22) that protrude in opposite directions and abut against the wall surfaces that define the receiving recess.

[0015] According to this aspect, it is possible to guide the device to a proper position.

[0016] In the above aspect, a device-side connector (21) may be provided on the rear end surface of the device, and a main body-side connector (32) connectable to the device-side connector may be provided on the bottom wall of the receiving recess.

[0017] According to this aspect, it is possible to transmit signals and supply power to the device.

[0018] In the above aspect, guide ribs (22) protruding outward to the left and right are provided on both the left and right side surfaces of the device, strip-like guide grooves (47) extending in the front-to-rear direction are provided on the surfaces facing the left and right walls that define the receiving recess, the tip surfaces of the guide ribs abut the bottom surfaces of the guide grooves, a device-side connector (21) is provided on the rear end surface of the device, and a main body-side connector (32) is provided on the bottom wall of the receiving recess, and the device-side connector or the main body-side connector is supported floating so as to be displaceable in the left-to-right direction.

[0019] According to this aspect, when inserting the device into the receiving recess, the guide rib is accommodated in the guide groove, and the device is moved rearward to guide the device to the appropriate position in the vertical direction. Also, the device-side connector or the main body-side connector is supported so that it can be displaced left and right. This makes it easy to connect the device-side connector and the main body-side connector even if the device position is shifted left and right from the appropriate position.

[0020] In the above aspect, a cable (72) having a conductor (72A) electrically connecting to the device and an insulator (72B) covering the conductor is connected to the device, and the cable is preferably bonded to the lower end of the outer surface of the pillar so that the conductor is exposed.

[0021] According to this aspect, by providing a spring piece that spring-contacts a conductor provided at the lower end of the outer surface of the pillar, the headrest can be electrically connected to the device via the spring piece even when the headrest is moved up or down relative to the seat back.

[0022] In the above aspect, a cavity (57) is provided inside the case, and the wall surfaces defining the receiving recess, located on the inner left and right sides, may have through holes (48) leading to the inside of the cavity.

[0023] According to this aspect, a cavity can be provided in the headrest to improve the output from the device.

[0024] In the above aspect, the receiving recess (102) is provided on the left and right side surfaces of the case, and a hinged lid (104) is provided behind the receiving recess in a position that can cover the opening of the receiving recess.

[0025] According to this aspect, by adjusting the position of the lid, it is possible to guide the output direction of vibrations or the like output from the device.

[0026] In the above aspect, the receiving recess (102) is provided on the left and right side surfaces of the case, and the left and right side surfaces of the case are provided with ear portions (154) that stand outward to the left and right and are supported rotatably with their axis in the left-right direction.

[0027] According to this aspect, the output direction of the device can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the ear portion.

[0028] In the above aspect, the pillar has a pair of left and right leg portions (24) at its lower end extending toward the seat back, and the receiving recesses (202) are provided in a pair on the left and right sides of the case, and the receiving recesses each extend upward from the underside of the case on the left and right outer sides of the legs.

[0029] When the device is removed from the receiving recess, the device is likely to move along the insertion direction. According to this aspect, the device is assembled to the case by moving it upward, so that the device is prevented from moving toward the seated occupant when it is removed from the receiving recess.

[0030] In the above aspect, the front surface of the case may be provided with a pair of left and right through holes (203) that lead to the interior of the receiving recess, and a restricting wall (204) that engages with the front surface of the device and restricts the device from moving forward.

[0031] According to this aspect, vibrations and the like can be output forward from the device through the through-hole, and the device can be prevented from moving toward the seated occupant when it is removed from the receiving recess. [Effects of the Invention]

[0032] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a headrest including a pillar supported by a seat back, a case supported by the pillar and having an inwardly recessed receiving recess on its outer surface, a device received in the receiving recess, and a skin covering the case and the device. According to this aspect, the headrest can be manufactured by receiving the device in the receiving recess and covering the headrest with the skin. This makes it possible to provide a headrest that can accommodate a device inside and is easy to manufacture.

[0033] In the above aspect, the receiving recesses may extend rearward from both left and right edges of the front surface of the case, and the front surface of the case other than the receiving recesses may be flush with the front surface of the device. According to this aspect, a step is less likely to occur on the front surface of the headrest, thereby improving the comfort of the headrest.

[0034] In the above aspect, the receiving recesses extend rearward from both left and right edges of the front face of the case, and the device overlaps at least a portion of the pillar in a side view. According to this aspect, the device can be supported by the pillar when a lateral load is applied.

[0035] In the above aspect, a locking portion that can lock the device may be provided on an opening edge of the receiving recess, and a locked portion that engages with the locking portion may be provided on the front surface of the device. According to this aspect, the device can be locked to the case.

[0036] In the above aspect, the device may be provided with ribs that protrude in opposite directions and abut against the wall surfaces that define the receiving recess. According to this aspect, the device can be guided to a proper position.

[0037] In the above aspect, a device-side connector may be provided on the rear end surface of the device, and a main body-side connector connectable to the device-side connector may be provided on the bottom wall of the receiving recess, making it possible to transmit signals to and supply power to the device.

[0038] In the above aspect, the device may have guide ribs protruding outward to the left and right on both left and right side surfaces, strip-shaped guide grooves extending forward and backward on the surfaces facing the left and right walls defining the receiving recess, the protruding end surfaces of the guide ribs abutting the bottom surfaces of the guide grooves, a device-side connector provided on the rear end surface of the device, and a main body-side connector provided on the bottom wall of the receiving recess, with the device-side connector or the main body-side connector floatingly supported so as to be displaceable in the left and right directions. According to this aspect, when inserting the device into the receiving recess, the guide ribs are accommodated in the guide grooves, and the device is moved rearward, thereby guiding the device to the appropriate position in the up and down direction. Furthermore, the device-side connector or the main body-side connector is supported so as to be displaceable in the left and right directions. This makes it easier to connect the device-side connector and the main body-side connector even if the device is misaligned in the left and right directions from the appropriate position.

[0039] In the above aspect, a cable having a conductor electrically connected to the device and an insulator covering the conductor may be connected to the device, and the cable may be coupled to the lower end of the outer surface of the pillar so that the conductor is exposed. According to this aspect, by providing a resilient piece that resiliently contacts the conductor provided at the lower end of the outer surface of the pillar, the headrest can be electrically connected to the device via the resilient piece even when the headrest is moved up or down relative to the seat back.

[0040] In the above aspect, a cavity may be provided inside the case, and through holes may be provided in the left and right inner walls of the wall surfaces defining the receiving recess, leading to the inside of the cavity. According to this aspect, a cavity for improving output from the device can be provided in the headrest.

[0041] In the above aspect, the receiving recess may be provided on the left and right side surfaces of the case, and a hinged lid may be provided behind the receiving recess in a position that can cover the opening of the receiving recess. According to this aspect, by adjusting the position of the lid, it is possible to guide the output direction of vibrations and the like output from the device.

[0042] In the above aspect, the receiving recess may be provided on the left and right side surfaces of the case, and the left and right side surfaces of the case may be provided with ears that stand outward to the left and right and are supported rotatably about an axis in the left-right direction. According to this aspect, the output direction of the device can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the ears.

[0043] In the above aspect, the pillar may have a pair of left and right legs at its lower end extending toward the seat back, and the case may have a pair of left and right receiving recesses, each extending upward from the underside of the case on the left and right outer sides of the legs. When the device is removed from the receiving recess, it is easy for the device to move along the insertion direction. According to this aspect, the device is attached to the case by moving it upward, so that the device is prevented from moving toward the seat occupant when it is removed from the receiving recess.

[0044] In the above aspect, the front surface of the case may be provided with a pair of left and right through-holes that lead to the interior of the receiving recess, and a restricting wall that engages with the front surface of the device and restricts forward movement of the device. According to this aspect, vibrations and the like can be output forward from the device through the through-holes, and the device can be prevented from moving toward the seat occupant when it is removed from the receiving recess. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0045] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a seat provided with a headrest according to a first embodiment; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a headrest and an upper portion of a seat back according to a first embodiment; [Figure 3]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a headrest according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] IV-IV cross section of Figure 2 [Figure 5] 5A is a front view of a headrest according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the portion surrounded by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5A when the pillar is inserted. [Figure 6] 10A is a rear view of a front part of a case of a headrest according to a second embodiment, FIG. 10B is a front view of a pillar, and FIG. 10C is a front view of a rear part of the case of the headrest according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a headrest according to a third embodiment; [Figure 8] 10A is a side view of a headrest according to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a side view of the headrest when the curved surface of the ear portion faces forward, downward, and backward. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a headrest according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a modified example of a headrest according to an embodiment; and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a fixing structure of a device in the headrest according to the modified example. [Figure 11] 1A is a front view showing a modified example of a headrest according to an embodiment; FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a fixing structure of a device in the headrest according to the modified example; and FIG. 1C is a side view showing the fixing structure of a device in the headrest according to the modified example. [Figure 12] Sound system functional block diagram [Figure 13] Door trim side view [Figure 14] (A) A perspective view of a first example of a fixing means for a flat cable, and (B) A perspective view of a second example of the fixing means for a flat cable. [Figure 15] 1A is a top view of a third example of a fixing means for a flat cable, FIG. 1B is a front view of a fourth example of a fixing means for a flat cable, and FIG. 1C is a front view of a fifth example of a fixing means for a flat cable. [Figure 16] (A) A front view of a fifth example of a fixing means for a flat cable, and (B) a front view of a sixth example of the fixing means for a flat cable. [Figure 17] Cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the door trim [Figure 18] Functional block diagram of the biosensor system [Figure 19] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a first example and a second example of the arrangement of vibration devices; [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a pad member for explaining possible positions for arranging the vibration device. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a top view of a seat cushion for explaining possible positions for arranging the vibration device; [Figure 22] 1A to 1D are cross-sectional views of pad members for explaining (A) a first example, (B) a second example, (C) a third example, and (D) a sixth example of a housing chamber for a vibration device; [Figure 23] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of pad members for explaining a fourth example and a fifth example of a housing chamber for a vibration device; [Figure 24] (A) An explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a method for fixing a vibration device, and (B) a cross-sectional view of a mounting portion. [Figure 25] (A) Block diagram of the information transmission system and (B) Configuration diagram of the control device [Figure 26] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a first example of a vehicle, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram for explaining a contraction mode of a front and rear partition wall in the first example. [Figure 27] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a second example of a vehicle, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contraction mode of the left and right partition walls in the second example. [Figure 28] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a third example of a vehicle, and FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contraction mode of the left and right partition walls in the third example. [Figure 29] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a vehicle seat having an operating switch provided on an armrest, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the armrest. [Figure 30] 1A and 1B are perspective views of the armrest when the operating unit is in (A) the use position and (B) the storage position. [Figure 31] 1A and 1B are side views of a vehicle seat in which an operating unit is rotatably connected to a main body, the operating unit being in (A) a use position and (B) a storage position, and the operating unit being positioned so as to stand up relative to the main body. [Figure 32]1A and 1B are side views of a vehicle seat having an armrest rotatably attached to a seat back, the armrest being in (A) a use position and (B) a storage position. [Figure 33] (A) A top view of a vehicle seat in which an operating unit is provided so as to be detachable from a main body, and (B) A top view of the vehicle seat after the left and right operating units have been swapped. [Figure 34] (A) A side view of a vehicle seat in which a connection portion is provided between a main body portion and an operating portion, and (B) a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXXIVB-XXXIVB of FIG. 34(A). [Figure 35] (A) is a perspective view showing an armrest in which the operation switch is covered with a cover material, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXXVB-XXXVB of FIG. 35(A). [Figure 36] A perspective view of a vehicle seat equipped with a table [Figure 37] (A) A side view of a vehicle seat when an armrest is used as an operation input device, and (B) A functional block diagram showing an operation input system when the armrest is used as an operation input device. [Figure 38] (A) Modified connection between the main body and the operation unit, and (B) Modified operation switch DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] <Headrest> Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the headrest according to the present invention is applied to a headrest of a vehicle seat will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction are defined based on the orientation of the automobile.

[0047] <<First Embodiment>> The headrest 1 according to the first embodiment constitutes a part of a vehicle seat 2. As shown in FIG.

[0048] The seat cushion 3 has a seating surface facing upward and supports the buttocks of a seated occupant. The seat back 4 extends upward from the rear of the seat cushion 3. The seat back 4 has a support surface facing forward and supports the back of the seated occupant who leans against the support surface.

[0049] The seat cushion 3 and the seat back 4 each have a metal frame 5, a pad member 6 supported by the frame 5, and a cover material 7 that covers the pad member 6.

[0050] The frame 5 of the seat back 4 has left and right side members 8 extending vertically, upper members 9 extending horizontally and joined to the upper ends of the left and right side members 8, respectively, and lower members 10 extending horizontally and joined to the lower ends of the left and right side members 8, respectively.

[0051] A pair of guide stays 12 are joined to the center of the upper member 9 in the left-right direction. Each guide stay 12 is formed in a rectangular tubular shape with both ends open. The guide stays 12 are arranged at intervals from each other on the left and right. Each guide stay 12 has a circular cross section and is provided with a through hole 12A that penetrates in the up-down direction.

[0052] The headrest 1 is joined to an upper part of the seat back 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the headrest 1 has a device 15, a pillar 16, a case 17, a pad member 18, and a cover material 19 (see FIG. 4).

[0053] 1 and 2, device 15 is an electronic device driven by electricity, which generates (outputs) vibrations and sound to transmit information to an occupant of vehicle seat 2, and corresponds to a so-called information transmission device. Device 15 is preferably a device that outputs vibrations and sound waves with directionality. Device 15 may include a speaker, an eccentric motor, etc.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 3, a device-side connector 21 is provided on the rear end surface of the device 15. The device-side connector 21 is a connector for supplying power to the device 15 or for inputting and outputting signals. In this embodiment, the device-side connector 21 is supported by a known method on the housing of the device 15 so as to be floating and displaceable in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the device 15 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, but is not limited to this form.

[0055] Guide ribs 22 extending in the front-rear direction are provided at approximately the center in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides of the device 15. Locking recesses 23 (locked portions) recessed rearward are provided on both left and right edges of the front surface of the device 15.

[0056] 2, the pillar 16 includes a pair of left and right leg portions 24 extending upward from the upper portion of the seat back 4, a pair of left and right extending portions 26 extending obliquely upward and forward from the upper ends of the leg portions 24 via curved portions 25, a pair of left and right vertical portions 27 extending upward from the front ends of the extending portions 26, and a horizontal portion 28 extending to the left and right and connecting the upper ends of the vertical portions 27. In this embodiment, the left and right leg portions 24, the left and right extending portions 26, the left and right vertical portions 27, and the horizontal portion 28 are formed by bending a round metal pipe.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 3, a pair of left and right insertion holes 29 are provided in the pillar 16. The insertion holes 29 are holes for inserting a cable 30 for supplying power to the device 15. One end of the cable 30 is connected to a power supply connector supported by the frame 5 of the seat back 4. The cable 30 passes through the interior of the pillar 16 and the insertion holes 29. A main body side connector 32 is provided on the other end of the cable 30.

[0058] The case 17 is a member made of hard resin and is supported on the upper part of the pillar 16. The case 17 is formed by combining a case front part 34 (also called a front cover) that forms the front part of the case 17 and a case rear part 36 (also called a rear cover) that forms the rear part of the case 17.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 4A, the case front portion 34 is a member made of hard resin and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A front recess 38 recessed forward is provided on the rear surface of the case front portion 34. The front recess 38 is located approximately in the left-right center of the rear surface of the case front portion 34. A partition wall 39 protruding rearward and extending vertically is provided approximately in the left-right center of the front recess 38. The walls defining the upper and lower edges and the left and right edges of the front recess 38 each have a front joining surface (not shown) facing rearward. The front recess 38 may be provided with a plurality of columnar connecting portions (not shown) protruding rearward to connect to the case rear portion 36. In this embodiment, the connecting portions are arranged symmetrically with respect to the partition wall 39, and the partition wall 39 is sandwiched between pairs of connecting portions on the left and right. The bottom wall defining the front surface of the front recess 38 may be provided with ribs (horizontal ribs) that protrude forward and extend in the left-right direction, or ribs (vertical ribs) that extend in the up-down direction.

[0060] The case front portion 34 has a pair of left and right receiving recesses 40. The receiving recesses 40 are provided in walls that define the left and right edges of the front recess 38, respectively. The receiving recesses 40 extend rearward from both left and right edges of the front surface of the case front portion 34. The receiving recess 40 is formed by surfaces that define the left and right inner edges (hereinafter referred to as inner walls 42), walls that define the left and right outer edges (hereinafter referred to as outer walls 43), a wall that defines the upper edge, a wall that defines the lower edge, and a wall that defines the rear edge (hereinafter referred to as bottom wall 44), thereby defining a substantially rectangular parallelepiped receiving space 41. The inner wall 42 has a wall surface that faces the outer wall 43, and the outer wall 43 has a wall surface that faces the inner wall 42. The receiving space 41 (i.e., the bottom surface of the receiving recess 40) is located at least forward of the leg portion 24 of the pillar 16 in a horizontal cross-sectional view.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 4(B), the front end of the inner wall 42 and the front end of the outer wall 43 are provided with locking claws 45 (locking portions) that protrude in directions facing each other. Two or more locking claws 45 may be provided on each of the inner wall 42 and the outer wall 43. Each of the locking claws 45 is a resilient piece that resiliently engages with the locking recesses 23 provided on both the left and right edges of the front surface of the device 15. This allows the locking claws 45 for locking the device 15 to be formed with a simple configuration.

[0062] Grooves (hereinafter referred to as guide grooves 47) recessed in opposite directions are provided in the wall surface of the inner wall 42 facing the outer wall 43 and the wall surface of the outer wall 43 facing the inner wall 42. The guide grooves 47 are located on the opposing surfaces of both left and right walls that define the receiving recess 40. The guide grooves 47 extend in the front-rear direction at approximately the vertical center of the wall surface of the inner wall 42 facing the outer wall 43 and at approximately the vertical center of the wall surface of the outer wall 43 facing the inner wall 42, respectively. In this embodiment, the guide grooves 47 extend from the front edge to the rear edge of the corresponding wall surface.

[0063] A through-hole 48 is provided in the bottom wall 44. The through-hole 48 is provided at least at a position where the device-side connector 21 of the device 15 received in the receiving recess 40 can be inserted. The receiving recess 40 and the front recess 38 communicate with each other via the through-hole 48.

[0064] The case rear portion 36 is a member made of hard resin and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A rear recess 50 recessed rearward is provided on the front surface of the case rear portion 36. The rear recess 50 is located approximately in the left-right center of the rear surface of the case front portion 34. A partition wall 52 protruding forward and extending vertically is provided approximately in the left-right center of the rear recess 50. In this embodiment, the partition wall 52 provided on the case front portion 34 is provided with a convex portion protruding rearward, and the partition wall 52 provided on the case rear portion 36 is provided with a concave portion recessed rearward. The concave portion recessed rearward on the partition wall 52 provided on the case rear portion 36 is shaped to match the convex portion of the partition wall 39 provided on the case front portion 34. The front recess 38 may be provided with a columnar connecting portion 53 protruding forward to connect to the case rear portion 36. In this embodiment, the connecting portions 53 are disposed symmetrically on the left and right sides of the partition wall 52, and the partition wall 52 is sandwiched between the pair of connecting portions 53 on the left and right sides. The bottom wall 44 that defines the front surface of the front recess 38 may be provided with horizontal ribs 44A extending left and right and vertical ribs 44B extending up and down.

[0065] A clip 54 for fixing the cable 30 and a support post 55 for engaging the main body connector 32 are provided on the front surface of the bottom wall 44 of the rear recess 50. The main body connector 32 is supported by the support post 55 (i.e., on the rear case 36) so as to float and be displaceable in the left-right direction. The main body connector 32 is connected to the device connector 21. Power is supplied to the device 15 via the cable 30, and a control signal for controlling the output is transmitted thereto.

[0066] The walls defining the upper and lower edges and the left and right edges of the rear recess 50 are each provided with a rear joint surface facing forward. The upper edges of the rear joint surfaces are formed with recesses that are recessed rearward to receive the upper portions of the left and right vertical portions 27 and horizontal portions 28 of the pillar 16.

[0067] The front case portion 34 and the rear case portion 36 are joined together such that their mating surfaces are in contact with each other. The upper portions of the left and right vertical portions 27 and the horizontal portions 28 of the pillar 16 are received in recesses in the rear mating surfaces and are sandwiched between the front case portion 34 and the rear case portion 36, thereby supporting the case 17 on the pillar 16. When the front case portion 34 and the rear case portion 36 are joined together, the front recess portion 38 and the rear recess portion 50 are aligned in the front-to-rear direction, forming a cavity 57 inside the case 17. In this embodiment, when the front case portion 34 and the rear case portion 36 are combined, the protrusions provided on the partition wall 39 of the front case portion 34 and the recesses provided on the partition wall 52 of the rear case portion 36 fit together, and the partition wall 39 of the front case portion 34 and the partition wall 52 of the rear case portion 36 are continuous in the front-to-rear direction. This divides the cavity 57 into two spaces 57A and 57B arranged side by side.

[0068] 4(A), the device 15 is inserted into the receiving recess 40 from the front and is housed in the receiving space 41 inside the receiving recess 40. If the output from the device 15 is directional, the device 15 should be inserted into the receiving recess 40 so that the output direction faces forward. When the device 15 is completely inserted into the receiving recess 40, the front surface of the device 15 is flush with the front surface of the case 17, except for the portion where the receiving recess 40 is provided.

[0069] At this time, the guide ribs 22 provided on the device 15 are received in the guide grooves 47 provided in the inner wall 42 and the outer wall 43. At this time, the protruding end faces of the guide ribs 22 abut against the left and right side faces of the corresponding guide grooves 47, more specifically, the bottom faces of the guide grooves 47. The guide ribs 22 may also be slidable back and forth along the guide grooves 47. As shown in FIG. 4(A), when the device 15 is fully inserted into the receiving recess 40, the device 15 overlaps at least a portion of the pillar 16 in a side view.

[0070] The pad member 18 is a cushioning material made of urethane material and is arranged to cover the case 17 and the device 15. In this embodiment, the portion of the pad member 18 that covers the front surface of the device 15 may be provided with through-holes 18A that penetrate in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the pad member 18 is arranged to cover the entire portion of the case 17 other than the receiving recess 40 and the front surface of the device 15 as a whole, but is not limited to this form. The pad member 18 only needs to be arranged to cover at least the approximately central portion of the front surface of the case 17 in the left-right direction.

[0071] The cover material 19 is a sheet-like member made of a material such as cloth or artificial leather, and is arranged to cover the outer surface of the pad member 18. The pad member 18 is preferably attached to the back surface of the cover material 19 in advance. Furthermore, the cover material 19 is preferably provided with fasteners in appropriate positions so that it can be separated from the case 17 together with the pad member 18.

[0072] Next, the effects of the headrest 1 configured in this manner will be described.

[0073] A worker assembling the headrest 1 first attaches the device 15 to the case front portion 34 by inserting the device 15 into the receiving recess 40. The worker then joins the case front portion 34 and the case rear portion 36 together so as to sandwich the pillar 16. This causes the case 17 to be supported by the pillar 16. The worker then covers the case 17 with the cover material 19 having the padding member 18, thereby completing the headrest 1. In this way, by inserting the device 15 into the receiving recess 40, locking it with the locking portion, and covering the headrest 1 with the cover material 19, the worker can easily manufacture a headrest 1 into which the device 15 can be placed.

[0074] When device 15 is completely housed in receiving recess 40 and assembled to case 17, the front surface of device 15 is flush with the front surface of case 17 other than receiving recess 40. This makes it difficult for a step to form on the front surface of headrest 1 when covering it with skin material 19, thereby improving the comfort of headrest 1.

[0075] When device 15 is completely housed in receiving recess 40 and assembled to case 17, device 15 overlaps at least a portion of pillar 16 in a side view. This allows device 15 to be supported by pillar 16 when a lateral load is applied to headrest 1. This prevents device 15 from moving laterally along the load direction, thereby preventing, for example, movement of device 15 toward an occupant positioned in the load direction, thereby improving the safety of vehicle seat 2 provided with headrest 1.

[0076] When the device 15 is completely accommodated in the receiving recess 40, the protruding end faces of the guide ribs 22 abut against the inner wall 42 and the outer wall 43, specifically, the bottom surfaces of the guide grooves 47 provided on each wall. This guides the device 15 so that it is positioned appropriately in the left-right direction.

[0077] When the operator inserts the device 15 into the receiving recess 40, the operator may insert the guide rib 22 into the guide groove 47 and move the device 15 rearward, thereby positioning the device 15 appropriately in the vertical direction.

[0078] Due to repeated insertion and removal of the device 15 or manufacturing tolerances, the tip end surface of the guide rib 22 may not abut against the bottom surface of the guide groove 47, and the left-right position of the device 15 may not be precisely determined. Therefore, in this embodiment, the device-side connector 21 and the main body-side connector 32 are each supported so as to be displaceable in the left-right direction (i.e., floatingly supported). This allows the device-side connector 21 and the main body-side connector 32 to be connected even if the position of the device 15 is slightly shifted in the left-right direction from the appropriate position. In this embodiment, the device-side connector 21 and the main body-side connector 32 are supported so as to be displaceable in the left-right direction, but only one of them may be supported so as to be displaceable in the left-right direction.

[0079] In this embodiment, a cavity 57 is provided inside the case 17, and a through-hole 48 that leads to the inside of the cavity 57 is provided in the bottom wall 44. This allows the device-side connector 21 to be inserted and coupled to the main body-side connector 32.

[0080] When a device 15 (speaker) that outputs sound outputs sound in a directional direction, the sound is output in the opposite direction to the directional direction with an out-of-phase sound. Because the interior of the receiving recess 40 is connected to the cavity 57 by the through-hole 48, the cavity 57 can be used as an acoustic chamber for trapping the sound output in the opposite direction. This improves the quality of the sound output from the device 15 (speaker) in the directional direction (forward).

[0081] The device 15 can be detached from the case 17 by removing the skin material 19. Therefore, it is possible for each passenger to attach another device 15 (speaker) that emits a sound that they like.

[0082] <<Second embodiment>> The headrest 71 according to the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in other respects in structure to the cable 72. Therefore, a description of the other components will be omitted, and the following description will focus on the structure of the cable 72.

[0083] As shown in Fig. 5(A), cable 72 is connected to device 15. Cable 72 is made of a bendable flat cable. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5(B), cable 72 is made of a so-called FPC cable, which is made by sandwiching conductors 72A (conductive layers) arranged in parallel between film-like insulators 72B (insulating layers). Cable 72 may be manufactured using printing technology (printed electronics technology).

[0084] Cable 72 covers the outside of leg 24 at least from the lower end to the upper end of leg 24. Cable 72 is bonded to the outer surface of pillar 16 on the insulating layer side. This provides an insulating layer between conductor 72A and pillar 16, preventing a short circuit between conductor 72A and pillar 16. One end of conductor 72A of cable 72 is exposed to the outside at the lower end of the outer surface of pillar 16, forming cable terminal 74. A resin hose 75 covering cable terminal 74 is preferably provided on leg 24. The hose is preferably provided with bellows on its outer peripheral surface, which is flexible and expandable in its axial direction.

[0085] As shown in Fig. 5(B), the guide stay 73 connected to the headrest 71 according to this embodiment has a cylindrical guide stay main body 81 and elastic pieces 82 provided on the guide stay main body 81. The guide stay main body 81 is made of insulating hard resin and has circular through-holes (hereinafter referred to as stay through-holes 83) that penetrate in the vertical direction. The legs 24, together with the cables 72 that cover the legs 24, are inserted into the stay through-holes 83. This allows the headrest 71 to be connected to the guide stay 73 so as to be movable up and down.

[0086] An elastic piece 82 that comes into contact with the cable terminal 74 is provided at the bottom of the guide stay 73. The elastic piece 82 is provided below the stay through-hole 83, protrudes from the radially outer side of the pillar 16 toward the pillar 16, and comes into elastic contact with the cable terminal 74. The elastic piece 82 may be made of metal, and may also be provided with a metal terminal that connects to the cable terminal 74. As shown in FIG. 5(A) , a cable 85 is connected to the elastic piece 82, and the cable 85 is connected to a connector provided inside the seat back 4. When the elastic piece 82 comes into contact with the cable terminal 74, the cable 85 is electrically connected to the cable 72, and signals and power are supplied to the device 15.

[0087] Next, we will explain the operation and effects of the headrest 71 configured in this manner. Even when the headrest 71 is moved up and down, the elastic piece 82 comes into contact with the cable terminal 74. This allows signals and power to be supplied to the device 15 even when the headrest 71 is moved up and down.

[0088] <<Third Embodiment>> The headrest 101 according to the third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a receiving recess 102 is provided in the rear case portion 36 and that a lid 104 is provided, but other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, a description of the other configurations will be omitted.

[0089] As shown in Figures 6(A) to (C), the case 17 of the headrest 101 according to the third embodiment is configured by combining a case front portion 34 and a case rear portion 36, similar to the first embodiment.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 6(C), the receiving recesses 102 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the case rear portion 36. The receiving recesses 102 are recessed inward on the left and right sides, respectively. Fixing portions 102A (such as screw holes) for fixing the device 15 are provided on the left and right side walls, respectively. The device 15 is fixed to the case rear portion 36 while inserted into the receiving recesses 102.

[0091] In this embodiment, a through hole is provided in the bottom wall of the receiving recess 102, so that holes (receiving holes 105) that communicate with the interior of the rear recess 50 and penetrate in the left-right direction are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the case rear portion 36. A part of the device 15 is accommodated in the receiving recess 102. That is, a receiving space 41 that receives a part of the device 15 is formed inside the receiving recess 102.

[0092] The front recess 38 and the rear recess 50 are respectively provided with partition walls 39, 52 extending vertically, as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the front recess 38 and the rear recess 50 may respectively be provided with connecting portions 106, 107 for connecting the case front portion 34 and the case rear portion 36, as in the first embodiment. Horizontal ribs extending in the left-right direction and vertical ribs extending in the up-down direction may be provided.

[0093] As in the first embodiment, the case front portion 34 and the case rear portion 36 are joined together with the pillar 16 sandwiched therebetween. This allows the case 17 to be supported on the upper portion of the pillar 16. A pad member 18 and a skin material 19 are arranged to cover the front and rear surfaces of the case 17.

[0094] As shown in Fig. 7, the garnish 103 is a cylindrical member made of hard resin and extending in the left-right direction. The end portion on the inner side of the seat is fitted into and fixed to the opening edge of the receiving recess 102. The end portion on the outer side of the seat of the garnish 103 is provided with a flange portion 108 extending in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction. It is preferable that a net be stretched over the end portion on the outer side of the seat of the garnish 103 to seal the inner hole.

[0095] The lid 104 is made of a resin plate. The lid 104 is provided on the left and right rear edges of the case 17, respectively. The lid 104 is hingedly connected to the left and right rear edges of the case 17, respectively, and is supported by the case 17 so as to be rotatable about an axis in the vertical direction. The lid 104 is provided behind the receiving recess 102 in a position where it can cover the opening of the receiving recess 102. That is, as shown in FIG. 7 , the lid 104 rotates to move between a closed position (two-dot chain line) where it covers the left and right side surfaces of the case 17 from the outside, and an open position (solid line) where it exposes the left and right side surfaces of the case 17. A reflector or the like for reflecting sound and vibrations may be attached to the inner surface of the lid 104 along the inner surface.

[0096] Next, the effects of the headrest 101 configured in this manner will be described. When the lid 104 is open, the receiving recess 102 is sealed by the lid 104. This makes it possible to protect the device 15 housed inside the receiving recess 102. When sound or vibration is output from the device 15 with the lid 104 open, the sound or vibration emitted from the device 15 is reflected by the lid 104. This makes it easier for the sound or vibration to be transmitted to a seated person further forward. Furthermore, by adjusting the degree to which the lid 104 is open, the seated person can adjust the direction in which the sound or vibration is transmitted.

[0097] <<Fourth Embodiment>> The headrest 151 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment in that it does not include a lid body 104 and in the structure of a garnish 152, but other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment. Therefore, a description of the other configurations will be omitted.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 8(A), the garnish 152 has a generally cylindrical garnish main body 153 extending in the left-right direction, and ear portions 154 provided on the garnish main body 153.

[0099] The garnish body 153 is fitted into the receiving recess 102 at its left and right inner ends. The garnish body 153 is connected to the rear case 36 so as to be rotatable about the left-right axis X. The garnish body 153 is connected to the rear case 36 so as to be rotatable about the left-right axis X.

[0100] The ears 154 are connected to the left and right outer ends of the garnish main body 153. The ears 154 rise outward in the left and right direction from the left and right outer ends of the garnish main body 153, and extend outward beyond the left and right outer surfaces of the case 17. The ears 154 are plate-shaped and have a substantially arc shape when viewed in cross section in the front-to-rear direction. The ears 154 have a curved surface 156 on the axis side of the garnish main body 153. The ears 154 rise outward in the left and right direction from the left and right side surfaces of the case 17, and are supported rotatably around the left and right axis. The ears 154 function as reflectors that reflect sound and vibrations from the device 15 and change the direction in which the sound and vibrations are transmitted.

[0101] Next, the effects of the headrest 151 configured in this manner will be described. The garnish main body 153 is supported on the case 17 so as to be rotatable about an axis X extending in the left-right direction. Therefore, by rotating the ear portion 154, the occupant can position the ear portion 154 so that the curved surface 156 faces forward (see FIG. 8(B)). This makes it easier for vibrations and sound from the device 15 to be transmitted forward. Similarly, the occupant can position the ear portion 154 so that the curved surface 156 faces downward (see FIG. 8(C)). This makes it easier for vibrations and sound from the device 15 to be transmitted downward. Furthermore, the occupant can position the ear portion 154 so that the curved surface 156 faces rearward (see FIG. 8(D)). This makes it easier for vibrations and sound from the device 15 to be transmitted rearward. In this way, by rotating the ear portion 154 and changing the orientation of the curved surface 156, it is possible to change the direction in which sound and vibrations from the device 15 are transmitted.

[0102] <<Fifth Embodiment>> The headrest 201 according to the fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the position where the receiving recess 202 is provided, but other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, a description of the other configurations will be omitted.

[0103] As in the first embodiment, the case 17 is provided with a pair of receiving recesses 202. As shown in FIG. 9(A), the receiving recesses 202 are provided at both left and right ends of the underside of the case 17. Each of the receiving recesses 202 is recessed upward from the underside of the case 17. The receiving recesses 202 extend from the underside of the case 17 to the upper part of the case 17. The receiving recesses 202 are located on the left and right outer sides of the leg portions 24 of the pillar 16, respectively.

[0104] 9(B), in this embodiment, the receiving recess 202 is provided in the case front portion 34. However, this is not limited to this embodiment, and the receiving recess 202 may be formed by joining the case front portion 34 and the case rear portion 36 together.

[0105] Each device 15 has a shape that fits into the receiving recess 202. Each device 15 is fitted inside the receiving recess 202 so that the output direction of vibration and sound faces forward. A pair of through holes 203, one on each side, are provided on the front surface of the case 17, which extend rearward and reach the inside of the receiving recess 202. Restriction walls 204 are provided on the wall surfaces that define the left and right sides of the through holes 203, extending inward on the left and right.

[0106] Each device 15 has an extension plate 205 (also called a wing portion) on its underside that extends in the left-right direction. Each extension plate 205 has a tapping hole. After fitting the device 15 into the receiving recess 202, a tapping screw is inserted into the tapping hole from below and tapped into the underside of the case 17, thereby fixing the device 15 to the case 17. At this time, the restriction wall 204 is located in front of both left and right edges of the front surface of the device 15, restricting the forward movement of the device 15. Vibrations and sound from the device 15 travel forward through the through hole 203 and are transmitted to the seated person in front without being blocked by the case 17.

[0107] Next, the effects of the headrest 201 configured in this manner will be described. A headrest configured by inserting the device 15 into a recess or hole provided in the case 17 has the advantage that the device 15 can be easily assembled to the case 17. On the other hand, there is a risk that the device 15 may move in the opposite direction to the insertion direction and come off the case 17.

[0108] A receiving recess 202 is formed in the headrest 201 so as to recess upward from the underside of the case 17, and the device 15 is assembled to the case 17 by moving it upward. Therefore, even if the device 15 moves in the direction opposite to the insertion direction, the device 15 can be prevented from moving toward the seated occupant. Furthermore, the restricting wall 204 prevents the device 15 from moving forward, so that the device 15 can be more reliably prevented from moving toward the seated occupant.

[0109] Here, the receiving recesses 202 are each configured to recess upward from the bottom surface of the case 17, but the receiving recesses 202 may be configured to extend from the top surface of the case 17 to the bottom of the case 17. However, by configuring the receiving recesses 202 to recess upward from the bottom surface of the case 17, the position of the device 15 in the headrest 201 can be set lower. This allows the center of gravity of the headrest 201 to be lowered, improving the stability of the headrest 201 against horizontal loads.

[0110] This concludes the description of the embodiments of the headrests 1, 71, 101, 151, and 201 (hereinafter collectively referred to as headrest H), but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be widely modified and implemented.

[0111] In the first embodiment, the device 15 is locked by the locking claws 45 engaging with the front surface of the device 15, but this is not limited to this. Alternatively, tapping holes may be provided in the left and right side walls of the case front portion 34, and the device 15 may be fixed to the case front portion 34 by tapping from the outside of the left and right sides of the case front portion 34. In this case, the outer wall 43 defining the receiving recess 202 may not be provided. Alternatively, the device 15 may be fixed to the case 17 by providing an extension plate 205 similar to that of the fifth embodiment on the front surface of the device 15 and tapping the plate against the front surface of the case 17.

[0112] In the above embodiment, the pad member 18 is provided above the seat back 4, but this is not limiting. As shown in FIG. 10(A), the headrest 251 may be teardrop-shaped, with the pad member 18 extending from above the seat back 4 toward the front. The headrest 251 is not limited to a headrest in which the device 15 is engaged with the case 17, but the device 15 may be directly fixed to the pillar 16. As shown in FIG. 10(B), the headrest 251 may have the device 15 fixed to a bracket 253 coupled to a pillar 252. The bracket 253A may be fixed to the pillar 252 so as to have a surface 253AS facing forward of the seat, and the device 15 may be coupled to the surface 253AS. The bracket 253B may be fixed to the pillar 252 so as to have a surface 253BS facing toward the left or right of the seat, and the device 15 may be coupled to the surface 253BS.

[0113] 11(A) and 11(B), the device 15 may be fixed to a pad member 18 supported on a pillar 264 of a headrest 263. In this case, a clip 266 may be fixed to the pad member 18, and a wire 268 that fits into the clip 266 may be provided on the device 15. The main body side connector 32 may be fixed to a position where it fits into the device side connector 21 of the pad member 18.

[0114] 11(C), the device 15 may be fixed to the pillar 270 by fixing the main body side connector 32 to the pillar 270 and connecting the device side connector 21 to the main body side connector 32. Alternatively, the pillar 270 may be provided with a notch, and the device 15 may be provided with a locking claw that fits into the notch, and the locking claw may be engaged with the notch, thereby fixing the device 15 to the pillar 270.

[0115] In the second embodiment described above, the cable 72 for powering the device 15 and for communication is provided on the outer surface of the pillar 16, but this is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 11(A), the headrest 263 may have a pillar 274 for accommodating the cable 30 (harness) extending downward and reaching the seat back 4.

[0116] A duct may be provided in headrest H to guide the sound emitted by device 15 forward. The duct may be made of a flexible material. Device 15 may transmit sound or vibrations through pad member 18 or skin material 19, or may emit sound by vibrating case 17.

[0117] Alternatively, the device 15 may be provided on a neck rest attached to the pillar 16. The device 15 may be a vibrating body that transmits sound to the seat occupant by vibrating.

[0118] When the device 15 is a device 15 that generates vibrations (a vibration device such as an eccentric motor), it is preferable to provide a vibration-isolating member (insulator) on the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 12A of the guide stay 12 so that the vibrations are not transmitted to the frame 5 of the seat back 4 via the guide stay 12. A vibration-isolating member may be provided between the pillar and the case 17 that houses the device 15.

[0119] A dynamic damper may be provided in cavity 57 provided inside case 17, which allows the sound emitted from device 15 to be altered (to create deep bass).

[0120] When the seat cushion 3 or the pad member 6 of the seat back 4 is provided with air holes for blowing air onto the seating surface and a duct leading to the air holes, the device 15 may be one that emits sound into the duct. This can transmit vibrations to the seating surface of the seat cushion 3 or the support surface of the seat back 4, thereby relieving stiffness and muscle fatigue of the seated occupant (massaging the seated occupant).

[0121] The headrest H may have a slot for arranging an electronic circuit board. For example, an amplifier for amplifying the output from the device 15 or a filter for filtering an input signal to the device 15 may be installed in the slot. Alternatively, the slot may be configured so that an amplifier unit having an amplifier housed in a housing or a filter unit having a filter housed in a housing can be inserted and removed into the slot. Furthermore, an amplifier unit in which an amplifier and a filter are integrated may be inserted and removed into the slot.

[0122] A protective member for protecting the device 15 may be provided in front of the device 15. A counterweight for resisting the load from the headrest H may be provided on the frame 5 of the seat back 4. The counterweight is preferably provided in a portion of the upper member 9 between the guide stays 12.

[0123] When the device 15 is provided in the headrest H, the pillars of the headrest H may be configured to be less prone to deformation, for example, by increasing their diameter or thickness, compared to when the device 15 is not provided in the headrest H. The shape of the pillars is not limited to the inverted U-shape described in the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 11(C), the pillars 270 may be configured with two straight pipes inserted into the case 17. When the pillars 270 are configured with straight pipes, the pillars 270 may be provided with reinforcing members 272 that seal the ends inside the case 17. The reinforcing members 272 may be made of a resin material. The pillars may also be configured to have an elliptical shape extending in the vertical direction. The pillars may also have three or more legs 24.

[0124] <Sound System> As described above, when the device 15 provided in the headrest H is a speaker (hereinafter referred to as a headrest speaker), the device 15 may constitute a part of an audio system 401 for controlling music or sound provided in the vehicle cabin. Such an audio system 401 will be described below.

[0125] 12, the sound system 401 has headrest speakers 402 provided in each headrest H, in-vehicle speakers 403 provided on the door trim or the like of the vehicle other than the seats, and a control device 404 that controls the headrest speakers 402 and the in-vehicle speakers 403. Sound and music to be notified to the driver may be selected and output from the headrest speaker 402 in the driver's seat, and sounds and music to be shared with others may be output from the headrest speaker 402 in each seat and the in-vehicle speaker 403. The control device 404 may also control sounds emitted from speakers provided on the seat backs (hereinafter referred to as seat back speakers 405).

[0126] Specifically, if the sound system 401 includes a car navigation device 406 that acquires the vehicle's position (location), traffic regulation information, and the like, the control device 404 may acquire the information from the car navigation device 406, select information to be notified to the driver, and output the selected information from the headrest speaker 402 (in-car speaker 403). Examples of information to be notified to the driver include accident information around the vehicle, traffic regulation information, and whether or not the surrounding vehicles are autonomous vehicles. As a result, important information for the driver is output as audio from the headrest speaker 402 in the driver's seat, so that the driver can be accurately notified of warnings and information necessary for driving operation. Furthermore, the control device 404 outputs information that is preferably shared with all occupants (e.g., driving guidance from the car navigation device 406, information about stores and weather along the planned route, emergency earthquake alerts, traffic congestion information, etc.) from the headrest speaker 402 in each seat and the in-car speaker 403. As a result, information that is preferably shared can be notified to all occupants.

[0127] It is preferable that headrest speaker 402 and in-vehicle speaker 403 can be changed between a directional (strong) state and a non-directional (weak) state in the output direction, and that the output direction can be changed. In this case, when audio should be transmitted to a specific passenger, control device 404 adjusts the output direction of headrest speaker 402 (in-vehicle speaker 403) so that the output direction is directed toward the specific passenger, and when audio should be transmitted to all passengers, the speaker can be set to a non-directional state (or a weakly directional state).

[0128] Furthermore, the control device 404 may output music that suits the preferences of the seat occupant from the headrest speaker 402 of each seat. For example, the control device 404 may receive a radio broadcast and output it from the headrest speaker 402 of the seat corresponding to the driver's seat, and output music from the headrest speaker 402 of the seat corresponding to the passenger seat.

[0129] The control device 404 may select music data stored in the storage device and output it from a speaker according to the position (location) of the vehicle acquired by the car navigation device 406. Furthermore, when the control device 404 is capable of controlling speakers (such as the headrest speaker 402) provided in each seat in the vehicle, or speakers provided in the smartphone or personal computer of the passenger, it may select a speaker to output the music and perform output.

[0130] Furthermore, the control device 404 may acquire a planned driving route and the like from the car navigation device 406, estimate vehicle behavior, and output a notification regarding the estimated vehicle behavior from the headrest speaker 402 where the passenger who is prone to motion sickness is seated. This allows the passenger who is prone to motion sickness to sense in advance the direction of the inertial force acting on his or her body, thereby preventing motion sickness.

[0131] The control device 404 may be equipped with a learning means for providing music that matches the preferences of the occupant. Specifically, the control device 404 may acquire the occupant's reaction to the music provided to the occupant (response such as whether to accept or reject) to construct a learning model, and use the learned model to select music that corresponds to the occupant's reaction and output it from a speaker (such as the headrest speaker 402).

[0132] The sound system 401 includes a microphone 407 capable of acquiring sound from within the vehicle cabin, and the control device 404 determines the strength of the noise based on the signal acquired from the microphone 407, and when it determines that the noise is strong (or that there is noise), it increases the volume of the sound output from the headrest speaker 402. In addition, the control device 404 may increase the volume of the sound output from the speaker when it detects that a window is open, when the air conditioner is operating, when the vehicle is accelerating (i.e., when the engine sound or motor sound is loud), when it detects noise outside the vehicle (when another vehicle is approaching the vehicle), etc.

[0133] The control device 404 may limit (or prohibit) output from the speaker when the volume of noise picked up by the microphone 407 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, or when the volume to be output from the speaker is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0134] Furthermore, when the control device 404 determines that a conversation is taking place between the occupants based on the voices acquired by the microphone 407, the control device 404 may limit the volume of the speakers (headrest speakers 402 of each seat, in-vehicle speakers 403, seatback speakers 405, or speakers mounted on the occupants' terminals such as smartphones or personal computers). At this time, the control device 404 may limit the volume to be lower than when no conversation is taking place, or may set the volume to zero (i.e., mute).

[0135] Furthermore, the control device 404 may be configured to output the voice of a seated occupant in the front seat (rear seat) from the headrest speaker 402 of the rear seat (front seat) when the voice is acquired by the microphone 407. In this case, if each seat is provided with a light-emitting element, the control device 404 may light up the light-emitting element of the seat occupied by the seated occupant whose voice has been acquired. The control device 404 may appropriately execute or stop processing to output the voice of other seated occupants from the headrest speaker 402 of the seat occupied by the seated occupant, based on input (for example, button input, etc.) from the seated occupant.

[0136] The sound system 401 may include an exterior speaker 408 that emits sound toward the outside of the vehicle. The control device 404 may output sound acquired by a microphone 407 from the exterior speaker 408. The sound system 401 may also include a microphone 407 that acquires sound outside the vehicle so that people outside the vehicle can have a conversation with people inside the vehicle.

[0137] During automatic driving, the control device 404 may output to the headrest speakers 402 of each seat, and set the output content to music preferred by the occupant, and during manual driving, may output to the in-vehicle speakers 403 and the headrest speakers 402 of all seats, and set the output content to be driving guidance.

[0138] Sound system 401 includes exterior camera 410 that captures images outside the vehicle, and when control device 404 determines based on the image acquired by exterior camera 410 that the vehicle may be in a dangerous state, it may switch audio output from headrest speaker 402 to audio output from interior speaker 403 in order to notify everyone in the vehicle instead of just the driver. When control device 404 determines based on the image acquired by exterior camera 410 that a dangerous event is occurring in a predetermined direction, it may output from a speaker in the corresponding direction.

[0139] At this time, the control device 404 may change the sound image position by controlling the output from speakers (headrest speaker 402, seatback speaker 405, etc.) installed on the seats in the vehicle cabin and the in-vehicle speaker 403, thereby intuitively informing the occupants of an approaching vehicle, etc.

[0140] Furthermore, the control device 404 may be configured to acquire the status (red, yellow, or green) of a traffic light in front of the vehicle using the exterior camera 410, and based on the acquired result, notify the occupant via a speaker that it is possible to start (by notifying with sound or vibration) the occupant. Specifically, when the control device 404 detects, based on the exterior camera 410, that the traffic light in front of the vehicle has changed from red to green, the control device 404 may notify the driver that it is possible to start via the headrest speaker 402 (the headrest speaker 402 in the driver's seat or a speaker provided in the seat back 4) or the in-vehicle speaker 403. When the traffic light in front of the vehicle has changed from green to yellow or from yellow to red, based on the exterior camera 410, the control device 404 may notify the driver via the headrest speaker 402 or the in-vehicle speaker 403 to slow down or stop.

[0141] The sound system 401 may also include a vibration device 412 and a lighting device 414 provided on the seat. The vibration device 412 and the lighting device 414 may be controlled by the control device 404. The control device 404 may drive the vibration device 412 and the lighting device 414 to notify the driver of starting, deceleration, and stopping.

[0142] Furthermore, the sound system 401 may include a vehicle speed sensor 415 and a brake sensor 416 that detects the operating state of the brakes (for example, a sensor that detects the amount of brake depression). The control device 404 may set the timing of providing guidance to the occupant and the level of notification to the occupant based on the vehicle speed acquired by the vehicle speed sensor 415 and the operating state of the brakes acquired by the brake sensor 416. For example, the control device 404 may set the timing of providing guidance to the occupant earlier when the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined value and the brakes are not operating than in other cases. Furthermore, the control device 404 may increase the level of notification to the occupant when the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined value and the brakes are not operating compared to other cases by, for example, making the sound louder, increasing the vibration, flashing the lights, etc.

[0143] Furthermore, the control device 404 may switch between the headrest speaker 402 and the in-vehicle speaker 403 depending on the situation inside the vehicle and the purpose of use of the vehicle. For example, when the vehicle is used for car sharing, the control device 404 may output voice or music from the headrest speaker. Furthermore, when the control device 404 determines that the vehicle is being used by a family based on the detection results of an in-vehicle camera or the like, it may output voice or music from the in-vehicle speaker 403.

[0144] The sound system 401 may also include a biometric information sensor 418 capable of acquiring biometric information such as the body shape and sitting height of the seated occupant. The biometric information sensor 418 may be configured, for example, as a body pressure sensor provided on the seating surface of the seat or an in-vehicle camera that captures an image of the seated occupant. The control device 404 may control (select) a speaker (such as the headrest speaker 402) based on the biometric information of the seated occupant acquired by the biometric information sensor 418. The control device 404 may be configured, for example, to change the direction of the sound output from the speaker based on the body shape and sitting height of the seated occupant acquired by the biometric information sensor 418 (for a small person or child, sound may be emitted downward from the headrest speaker 402, or sound may be emitted from a speaker in the seat back 4 if a speaker is provided in the seat back 4). In addition, the control device 404 may obtain the presence or absence of an occupant in each seat from an occupancy sensor provided in each seat, and when it determines that no occupant is present, may prevent sound from being output from the speaker provided in that seat (such as the headrest speaker 402).

[0145] The acoustic system 401 may also include a seat position sensor 420 that detects the position of the seat. The seat position sensor 420 may be, for example, a reclining angle sensor that detects the reclining angle of the seat. When the seat is supported rotatably with respect to the floor about an axis extending in the vertical direction, the seat position sensor 420 may be a rotation angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the seat.

[0146] The control device 404 may set the volume of the sound output from the headrest speaker 402 based on the reclining angle acquired by the seat posture sensor 420. Specifically, the control device 404 may set the volume of the sound output from the headrest speaker 402 to decrease as the reclining angle increases. This allows the volume of the sound output from the headrest speaker 402 to decrease as the seat is reclined and the distance between the head of the seated occupant and the headrest H decreases, thereby improving seat comfort.

[0147] The control device 404 may change or limit the volume and output direction of the sound output from the headrest speaker 402 and the seatback speaker 405 based on the rotation angle of the seat acquired by the seat position sensor 420. Specifically, when the control device 404 determines based on the rotation angle of the seat that the output direction of the headrest speaker 402 and the seatback speaker 405 is directed toward an occupant other than the seat occupant and that this will affect the other occupants, the control device 404 may reduce the volume of the sound output from the headrest speaker 402 and the seatback speaker 405 to reduce the volume of the sound (or mute the sound) and may also change the output direction of the headrest speaker 402 and the seatback speaker 405 in order to suppress this effect.

[0148] The sound system 401 may also include a distance measurement sensor 421 that detects the distance between a headrest H equipped with a speaker and an object (such as the head of a seated person) located in front of the headrest H. In this case, the control device 404 may set the volume and acoustic properties of the sound output from the headrest speaker 402 based on the distance acquired by the distance measurement sensor 421. The distance measurement sensor 421 may be, for example, based on radio waves or infrared rays. The control device 404 may determine the presence or absence of a seated person based on the distance acquired by the distance measurement sensor 421. When two speakers are provided in the headrest H as described above, the distance measurement sensor 421 is preferably disposed between the two headrest speakers 402 or in a position that does not overlap with the headrest speakers 402.

[0149] When the distance acquired by distance measurement sensor 421 is equal to or greater than a first threshold (for example, when the occupant is eating), control device 404 may set the volume of the sound output from headrest speaker 402 and in-car speaker 403 to be higher than when the distance is less than the first threshold. Furthermore, when the distance acquired by distance measurement sensor 421 is equal to or greater than a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold, control device 404 may stop the output of sound from headrest speaker 402 and in-car speaker 403. Furthermore, control device 404 may change the volume of the sound output from headrest speaker 402 and in-car speaker 403 based on an input to a smartphone held by the occupant. In this case, it is preferable that a dedicated application for changing the volume of headrest speaker 402 and in-car speaker 403 is installed on the smartphone. When the application is executed, the smartphone is paired with control device 404, and, for example, corresponding sound or music may be output from the speaker based on the input to the smartphone.

[0150] Furthermore, the sound system 401 may include a bone conduction speaker 422 provided in the headrest H in addition to the above-mentioned speaker. When the control device 404 determines that the head of the seated occupant is in contact with the headrest H based on the distance acquired by the distance measurement sensor 421, the control device 404 may output sound from the bone conduction speaker 422 instead of the above-mentioned speaker. Furthermore, the control device 404 may move the headrest H and output sound from the bone conduction speaker 422 after the headrest H is in contact with the head, neck, or shoulders of the seated occupant. Alternatively, the control device 404 may output sound from the bone conduction speaker 422 when it is desired to transmit sound only to the seated occupant, and may output sound from the above-mentioned speaker in other cases. When an air cell is provided in the neck pad, headrest H, or seat back 4 and a vibration device 412 is provided on the seated occupant's side, the control device 404 may drive the vibration device 412 as the bone conduction speaker 422. At this time, it is preferable that the vibration device 412 is configured to be able to massage the seated person by pressing the appropriate position on the seated person.

[0151] Acoustic system 401 may include fragrance device 423 that emits a fragrance into the vehicle cabin. Fragrance device 423 may be provided in headrest 1. Control device 404 may be able to change the type of fragrance emitted from fragrance device 423 in accordance with the sound output from the speaker. This makes it possible to change the fragrance in accordance with the situation of a movie being shown on a monitor or the like inside the vehicle, for example.

[0152] Acoustic system 401 may identify the seat occupant based on information acquired by biometric sensor 418 (for example, an in-car camera) and determine the type of fragrance to be output from fragrance device 423 according to the identified seat occupant. The fragrance outlet of fragrance device 423 may be retractable when not in use, and may be rotatable or slidable for storage. Fragrance device 423 may also be capable of refining (blending) an original fragrance by combining fragrances from cartridges containing multiple aromatic agents.

[0153] When control device 404 determines from biometric information sensor 418 that the seat occupant is wearing a mask, it may control fragrance device 423 to emit a stronger fragrance than when it determines that the occupant is not wearing a mask. Sound system 401 includes air conditioning device 424, and control device 404 may acquire information from air conditioning device 424 indicating whether air conditioning device 424 is operating, and when air conditioning device 424 is operating, may limit or prohibit the emission of fragrance from fragrance device 423. When control device 404 detects, by an in-car camera or the like, that a window is open, it may limit or prohibit the emission of fragrance from fragrance device 423.

[0154] Headrest H may be provided with a duct for guiding the fragrance from fragrance device 423. For example, the duct may be provided so as to cross the interior of sealed case 17, or the duct may be provided on the outside of case 17. When the duct is provided inside case 17, it is preferable that the duct is provided in a position that avoids the speaker. Also, case 17 containing the speaker may itself constitute part of the duct. Fragrance device 423 may be configured to use the vibrations of the speaker as a pump to release the fragrance. Furthermore, a passage for emitting sound from the speaker may function as a passage for guiding the fragrance from fragrance device 423.

[0155] The headrest speaker 402 may be wirelessly powered by a power supply device 426 provided at the upper end of the seat back 4. The headrest speaker 402 may be provided with a battery, which may be configured to be charged when no one is seated. The battery may be detachably provided in the headrest 1. For example, the power supply device 426 provided at the upper end of the seat back 4 may be able to supply power to a terminal (such as a smartphone) held by an occupant. The power supply device 426 may be provided with a structure (such as a rib) for holding the terminal, and may also have a function to prevent the terminal from being left behind. In addition to the battery, the devices 15 (such as a speaker, fragrance device 423, vibration device 412, or communication unit) provided in the headrest 1 may be detachable from the seat and replaceable.

[0156] The sound system 401 may include a display 428 and a projector 430. The display 428 may be provided on the back of the headrest 1, or may be a head-up display. In this case, a duct (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction may be connected to the speaker of the headrest 1, and the duct may be provided with a valve (not shown) for switching the output direction. When an image is displayed on the display 428, the control device 404 may control the valve so that sound corresponding to the image is transmitted to the rear.

[0157] The control device 404 may be a device that coordinates and operates a speaker, a lighting device 414, a car navigation device 406, a display 428, a projector 430, a fragrance device 423, an air conditioner 424, and various other devices, switches, etc. The sound system 401 may function as an immersive theater screening system (4DX) that provides realistic sensory elements in addition to video.

[0158] It is preferable that control device 404 is configured to stop sound generation from one of the speakers and generate sound from the other speakers when it detects an abnormality in that speaker. Specifically, when control device 404 detects an abnormality in headrest speaker 402, it may output sound from in-vehicle speaker 403 (door speaker, etc.) located on the side of the corresponding seat. When control device 404 detects an abnormality in headrest speaker 402 and in-vehicle speaker 403 located on the side of the corresponding seat, it may output sound from a speaker provided in a seat located near the corresponding seat.

[0159] When an abnormality is detected in the driver's seat headrest speaker 402, the control device 404 may provide driving assistance information from a different speaker (such as the in-vehicle speaker 403 or a speaker provided on a seat other than the driver's seat). In this case, when outputting from another speaker, the control device 404 may change the output direction from the normal output direction so that the sound reaches the driver better. The control device 404 may activate the vibration device 412 or the lighting device 414 to notify the driver.

[0160] When the control device 404 detects an abnormality in any one of the speakers installed in the driver's seat, the speakers installed in seats other than the driver's seat, and the in-vehicle speaker 403, it may display the position of the speaker in which the abnormality was detected on the display 428 or the touch panel of the navigation device, and may limit (stop) the output from the speaker in which the abnormality was detected.

[0161] When an abnormality is detected in at least one of the speakers provided in the seat, the control device 404 may limit (prohibit) the operation of the speaker in which the abnormality was detected, and may output from the in-vehicle speaker 403 (a door speaker or a speaker provided in the interior such as a tray) that is close to the abnormal speaker, or from speakers provided in other seats. In this case, the control device 404 may increase the volume of the sound generated from the in-vehicle speaker 403 and the speakers provided in other seats to be larger than the volume of the sound normally generated from the in-vehicle speaker 403, or change the output direction. At the same time, the control device 404 may also drive the vibration device 412 or flash the lighting device 414.

[0162] When the control device 404 generates audio related to driving assistance information from a speaker that emits sound inside the vehicle cabin, if the control device 404 is unable to acquire the corresponding voice of the occupant through the microphone 407 (i.e., the occupant does not respond), the control device may notify the occupant again by, for example, generating a louder sound from the speaker, activating the vibration device 412, or flashing the lighting device 414.

[0163] <Door touch sensor> There is a door trim 500 that includes a vehicle interior part 501 that forms the surface facing the interior of the vehicle (for example, International Publication No. 2020 / 204174). A touch switch 502 for receiving input from a seat occupant is provided on the side surface facing the interior of the vehicle. As a countermeasure against vehicle vibration, there is a demand for the development of technology for more firmly fixing the flat cable 503 connected to the touch switch 502. The following describes a vehicle interior part 501 that improves the fixation of the flat cable 503 connected to the touch switch 502.

[0164] As shown in Fig. 13, a vehicle interior trim 501 is provided on a door trim 500 of a vehicle door and forms part of the interior side of the door trim 500. That is, the door trim 500 includes a door trim main body 505 and a vehicle interior trim 501. The door trim main body 505 is provided with an opening 506 that penetrates in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle interior trim 501 is fitted into the opening 506 from the exterior side of the vehicle. As shown in Fig. 14(A), the vehicle interior trim 501 has a touch switch 502 that controls on-board equipment installed in the vehicle, and a decorative panel 507 on which a pattern is provided. The decorative panel 507 has a surface that faces the interior side of the vehicle.

[0165] The touch switch 502 may be configured as a so-called membrane switch. The touch switch 502 has a plurality of electrodes for receiving input from the occupant. The electrodes of the touch switch 502 are arranged along the surface of the decorative panel 507 facing the interior of the vehicle. A decorative film 508 is attached to the surface of the touch switch 502.

[0166] A touch operation on touch switch 502 is detected as a change in capacitance or resistance between the electrodes. A flat cable 503 (also called a connection part) is connected to the electrodes. In such flat cable 503, it may be desirable to improve fixation as a countermeasure against vibrations in a vehicle (especially a vehicle that runs on rough roads).

[0167] In response to such demands, it is conceivable to provide a fixing means 510 for fixing the flat cable 503 to the decorative panel 507 (base member) with which the flat cable 503 abuts. Below, various aspects of the fixing means 510 (fixing device) will be described one by one.

[0168] As shown in Fig. 14(A), the fixing means 510 for the flat cable 503 preferably includes two protrusions 512 that protrude from the upper end of the decorative panel 507 and abut against the flat cable 503 at edges (also referred to as sides) in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the flat cable 503. This positions the flat cable 503, preventing it from wobbling. Also, as shown in Fig. 14(B), the fixing means 510 may include protrusions 513 that extend in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the flat cable 503 at each edge in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the flat cable 503 and abut against the protrusions 512. This improves the fixation of the flat cable 503.

[0169] 15(A), the fixing means 510 may include an opening 514 provided in the flat cable 503 and a protrusion 516 provided in the decorative panel 507 and protruding into the opening 514. The flat cable 503 is positioned by the protrusion 516 protruding into the opening 514, thereby improving the fixation of the flat cable 503.

[0170] 15(B), the fixing means 510 may be provided on the upper surface of the decorative panel 507 and may include a recess 518 capable of accommodating the flat cable 503. The width (front-rear width) of the recess 518 may be approximately equal to the width of the flat cable 503. By accommodating the flat cable 503 in the recess 518, the fixation of the flat cable 503 is improved.

[0171] 15(C), the fixing means 510 may include a sheet-like protective member 520 placed on the decorative panel 507 so as to cover the recess 518 that houses the flat cable 503. In this way, the flat cable 503 is protected by the protective member 520.

[0172] 16(A), the fixing means 510 may be provided in the decorative panel 507 and may include a through-hole 522 through which the flat cable 503 can be inserted. By passing the flat cable 503 through the through-hole 522, the fixing ability of the flat cable 503 is improved. As shown in FIG. 16(B), the fixing means 510 may include the through-hole 522 in the decorative panel 507 and a clip member 524 for fastening the flat cable 503 to the through-hole 522. For example, the clip member 524 may seal the flat cable 503 to the wall surface defining the through-hole, and may be made of, for example, a nonwoven fabric. This reduces the effects of vehicle vibration, prevents the flat cable 503 from falling off, and further improves the fixing ability of the flat cable 503. Furthermore, since the insulating nonwoven fabric is provided between the wall surface defining the through hole 522 and the flat cable 503, it is possible to prevent the wiring of the flat cable 503 from coming into contact with the vehicle interior part 501 or the door panel and short-circuiting to ground.

[0173] Alternatively, the vehicle interior accessory 501 may be configured by sandwiching the clip member 524 between the flat cable 503 and insert-molding the clip member 524 together with the decorative panel 507. This integrates the decorative panel 507 and the flat cable 503, improving the fixation of the flat cable 503.

[0174] If rainwater or the like splashes on the door trim 500 when the door is opened, the rainwater may adhere to the electrodes of the touch switch 502. Therefore, it is desirable to prevent rainwater from adhering to the vehicle interior part 501.

[0175] 17 , it is conceivable to provide a protruding portion 526 that protrudes downward toward the interior of the vehicle on the upper side of vehicle interior part 501, in a portion of door trim main body 505 that is close to vehicle interior part 501. Protruding portion 526 has a canopy shape that covers touch switch 502 from diagonally above. Protruding portion 526 prevents water adhering to the interior surface of door trim 500 above touch switch 502 from dripping downward and reaching the electrodes of touch switch 502.

[0176] Protruding portion 526 may be disposed above a portion of flat cable 503 that passes above vehicle interior part 501. Moreover, protruding portion 526 may be disposed below vehicle interior part 501 to prevent water from entering flat cable 503.

[0177] In addition, a hydrophilic coating may be applied to the touch switch 502, and a flow path for flowing water may be provided on the interior side of the door trim 500 so as to avoid the touch switch 502.

[0178] Although the above description has been given of an example in which the touch switch 502 is configured as a membrane switch, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the touch switch 502 may be configured as a button displayed on a touch panel. The touch panel may be connected via a flat cable 503 to a control device that processes inputs to the touch panel and controls the display on the touch panel.

[0179] When receiving an input to touch switch 502, the control device may perform control such that the location of the operation input on the touch panel is highlighted. If the control device is connected to a microphone capable of capturing the occupant's voice, the control device may change the degree of screen highlighting depending on whether or not the occupant is speaking. Specifically, when the occupant says "recline seat," the control device may perform control so that only the switch portion related to reclining displayed on the touch panel is illuminated. Furthermore, the control device may be connected to a sensor provided on the interior side of door trim 500 that detects the seat position (e.g., reclining angle, etc.), and the position of the button that accepts input may be changed and displayed on the touch panel depending on the detection result of the sensor.

[0180] Alternatively, a plurality of touch switches 502 may be provided, each with a light-emitting element. To notify which of the touch switches 502 accepts input, each light-emitting element may light up or flash as appropriate. The touch switch 502 that accepts input may be changed depending on the position of the seat located on the interior side of the door trim 500. For example, if touch switches 502 are provided at the front and rear of the door beside the seat, when the seat is reclined backward (the reclining angle reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold), the switch on the rear side of the door may light up and become active (i.e., become able to accept input).

[0181] <Biosensor system> Vehicles are sometimes equipped with respiratory assistance systems to guide the respiratory state of seated occupants to a desirable state (see, for example, International Publication No. 2021 / 020523). Sensors have been developed that can acquire information from seated occupants other than breathing-related information, such as heart rate and pulse rate. Therefore, there is a need for the development of a biosensor system 601 that can acquire various biometric information of seated occupants and provide new services based on the acquired biometric information. The following describes a biosensor system 601 that can provide various services based on the biometric information acquired by the sensor.

[0182] The biosensor system 601 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. As shown in Fig. 18, the biosensor system 601 includes a biosensor 602 provided on a seat inside the vehicle, a control device 603 (ECU) capable of acquiring information from the biosensor 602, a battery 604 that supplies power to the control device 603, a communication device 605 that mediates communication between the control device 603 and external devices, and an alarm device 606 that alerts people inside and outside the vehicle.

[0183] The biosensor 602 is provided in each seat and acquires biometric information of the occupant of the corresponding seat. The biometric information acquired by the biosensor 602 may be capable of detecting, for example, the occupant's breathing (e.g., number of breaths), heartbeat (e.g., heart rate), pulse (e.g., pulse rate), odor from the occupant, and pressure (body pressure) applied to the seating surface. The biosensor 602 may be composed of multiple devices (e.g., semiconductor devices) or a single device. The biosensor may be, for example, a resistance pressure-sensitive sensor that has electrodes arranged one above the other on the pad of the seat cushion, and the resistance between the electrodes changes depending on the breathing, heartbeat, etc. of the occupant sitting on the seat cushion.

[0184] The control device 603 is configured by a microcomputer including a central processing unit (CPU) 610, a RAM 611, a ROM 612, and a storage device 613 such as an SSD or HDD.

[0185] The control device 603 may store the information acquired by the biosensor 602 in the storage device 613. The information stored in the storage device 613 may be, for example, biometric information such as heart rate, breathing, pulse wave, body odor, and body pressure. The control device 603 can detect an abnormality in the driver (e.g., cardiac arrest) based on the information stored in the storage device 613 and the detection results of the biosensor 602.

[0186] The control device 603 may be connected to a vehicle behavior sensor 607 such as a vehicle speed sensor or an acceleration sensor. This allows the control device 603 to determine whether an accident has occurred in the vehicle in which the biosensor system 601 is installed, based on the detection result of the vehicle behavior sensor 607.

[0187] The control device 603 may also be connected to an autonomous driving assistance system for autonomously driving the vehicle.

[0188] The communication device 605 mediates communication between the control device 603 and a portable terminal 608 (smartphone) held by the seat occupant, and an emergency center 609. The communication device 605 mediates short-range wireless communication between the control device 603 and the terminal 608 using Wi-Fi or the like, and may also mediate packet communication or voice communication between the control device 603 and a server provided in the emergency center 609.

[0189] The notification device 606 notifies people inside and outside the vehicle, and may be a speaker that generates sound inside and outside the vehicle, a light-emitting device that irradiates light inside and outside the vehicle, or the like.

[0190] The terminal 608 may communicate (pair) with the control device 603 via the communication device 605, and display information (heart rate, respiratory rate, etc.) acquired by the biosensor 602 on the screen.

[0191] When the control device 603 determines that an accident has occurred based on the detection results of the vehicle behavior sensor 607, or when the biosensor 602 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the driver, it may drive the alarm device 606 to notify the outside of the vehicle of the occurrence of the accident by sound, light, or the like. This makes it possible to notify the outside of the vehicle of the occurrence of an accident or an abnormality in the driver even when it is not possible to connect to the emergency center 609 by the communication device 605. At this time, the control device 603 may notify the outside of the vehicle of the urgency of rescue of the driver by the strength and pitch of the sound, or the intensity and color of the light.

[0192] When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the driver, the control device 603 may be configured to connect to an emergency center 609 and output a voice from the emergency center 609 from a speaker into the vehicle. The control device 603 may also be configured to control the terminal 608 and connect to the emergency center 609. This enables communication between the emergency center 609 and the driver via the terminal 608, making it possible to provide appropriate rescue to the driver.

[0193] The control device 603 may also be configured to be able to control the seat, and may be configured to control the seat when it determines that an accident has occurred based on the detection result of the vehicle behavior sensor 607, or when it determines that an abnormality has occurred in the driver based on the biological sensor 602. Additionally, the control device 603 may be configured to be able to control a seat heater provided in the seat, and may drive the seat heater to warm the seated occupant when it determines that an accident has occurred based on the detection result of the vehicle behavior sensor 607, or when it determines that an abnormality has occurred in the driver based on the biological sensor 602.

[0194] The terminal 608 may be configured to be able to acquire the biological information stored in the storage device 613 from the control device 603. This allows the history of the biological information acquired by the terminal 608 to be used as data for diagnosing the physical condition of the occupant, for example, in a hospital or the like.

[0195] When the control device 603 detects, based on the body pressure acquired by the biosensor 602, that the driver's posture has deteriorated due to, for example, fainting, it may notify the autonomous driving assistance system to have the vehicle autonomously drive and stop at the side of the road.

[0196] When it is determined that an accident has occurred based on the detection result of the vehicle behavior sensor 607, the control device 603 may transmit the pressure distribution of the seating surface acquired by the biosensor 602 to an external server. This allows, for example, a rescuer to understand the posture of an occupant trapped in the vehicle due to the accident based on the pressure distribution when providing rescue. At this time, the rescuer may link (or use in combination) the information acquired by the biosensor 602 with the information recorded by a drive recorder installed in the vehicle.

[0197] <Vibration device> A vibration device 702 for transmitting predetermined information to a seat occupant may be provided in the seat 701 (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-152377). Meanwhile, a ventilation groove 703 may be provided inside the seat 701 for the purpose of blowing air to the seating surface and exhausting air from the seating surface (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-110702).

[0198] From the viewpoint of effectively transmitting vibrations to the seated occupant, it is preferable that the vibration device 702 be provided on the surface of the pad member 704 facing the seating surface. On the other hand, if part of the ventilation groove 703 is provided on the surface of the pad member 704 facing the seating surface, the range in which the vibration device 702 can be arranged is limited. Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of technology that can appropriately position the ventilation groove 703 and the vibration device 702 so that vibrations can be easily transmitted to the occupant.

[0199] 19(A), a seat 701 may be provided which includes a pad member 704 and a cover material 705 covering the outer surface of the pad member 704, and which has ventilation grooves 703 including a portion provided on the surface of the pad member 704 (the surface facing the seated person), and a vibration device 702 provided on the front side of the pad member 704, with the vibration device 702 being positioned so as to avoid the ventilation grooves 703. This allows the ventilation grooves 703 to be provided on the surface of the pad member 704. Furthermore, since only the cover material 705 is provided between the vibration device 702 and the seated person, vibrations are easily transmitted to the seated person.

[0200] 19(B), a seat 701 may include a pad member 704 and a cover material 705 covering the surface of the pad member 704, and may include ventilation grooves 703 provided on the surface of the pad member 704 and a vibration device 702 housed in the ventilation grooves 703, with the seating surface of the vibration device 702 being flush with the surface of the pad member 704 where the ventilation grooves 703 are not provided. This allows the pad member 704 and the vibration device 702 to form a smooth surface, improving seating comfort. Furthermore, since only the cover material 705 is provided between the vibration device 702 and the seated person, vibrations are easily transmitted to the seated person.

[0201] Furthermore, the ventilation groove 703 includes a linear portion 710 extending linearly and a recessed portion 711 connected to the linear portion 710 and extending laterally from the linear portion 710, and the vibration device 702 has a shape (box-like) that matches the recessed portion 711, and the vibration device 702 is housed in the recessed portion 711 to seal it. This allows the vibration device 702 and the ventilation groove 703 to form a linear ventilation path 712. By forming the linear ventilation path 712 in the sheet 701 in this way, the breathability within the sheet 701 is improved compared to when a zigzag ventilation path is formed.

[0202] 20, the pad member 704 may be configured by a pad main body 720 and a cover pad 722 disposed on the surface of the pad main body 720. In this case, the cover pad 722 includes a sheet-like intermediate pad 725 and a sheet-like front pad 726. The intermediate pad 725 and the front pad 726 are overlapped on the surface of the pad main body 720 in the order described above.

[0203] The pad main body 720 is provided with a main body ventilation hole 730 that penetrates in the front-to-back direction. The intermediate pad 725 is provided with an intermediate ventilation groove 732 that penetrates in the front-to-back direction. The intermediate ventilation groove 732 has a U-shaped groove portion 734 that is U-shaped when viewed from the front side, and an extending groove portion 736 that extends from the U-shaped groove portion 734. The front pad 726 is provided with a cover ventilation hole 748 that penetrates in the front-to-back direction at a position that aligns with the U-shaped groove portion 734. When the cover pad 722 is overlaid on the pad main body 720, the main body ventilation hole 730 overlaps with the extending groove portion 736 in the front-to-back direction, and the cover ventilation hole 748 overlaps with the U-shaped groove portion 734 in the front-to-back direction. As a result, an air passage that passes through the main body ventilation hole 730, intermediate ventilation groove 732, and cover ventilation hole 748 in this order is formed in the pad member 704.

[0204] 21 , a recess 750 that is recessed toward the back side and that accommodates the vibration device 702 may be formed on the surface of the intermediate pad 725. The recess 750 may be provided at a position that avoids the intermediate ventilation groove 732, or may be provided so as to be in contact with the intermediate ventilation groove 732. When the recess 750 is provided so as to be in contact with the intermediate ventilation groove 732, the vibration device 702 has a shape that matches the recess 750, and when the vibration device 702 is accommodated in the recess 750, the recess 750 is preferably sealed. As a result, the side surface of the vibration device 702 forms a surface that defines the ventilation path, and the portion of the ventilation path that passes through the intermediate pad 725 and near the portion where the vibration device 702 is provided is linear.

[0205] 20 , a recess 750 for accommodating the vibration device 702 may be provided in the front pad 726 or the pad main body 720. When the recess 750 is provided in the front pad 726, it is preferable that the recess 750 be provided at a position that avoids the cover ventilation hole 748. When the recess 750 is provided in the pad main body 720, it is preferable that the recess 750 be provided on the front side of the pad main body 720, and the recess 750 may be provided at a position that avoids the main body ventilation hole 730 or at a position that contacts the main body ventilation hole 730.

[0206] However, the recess 750 that accommodates the vibration device 702 is formed in either the pad main body 720, the intermediate pad 725, or the front pad 726, and each defines an accommodation chamber 752 that accommodates the vibration device 702, but is not limited to being formed in only one of the respective components.

[0207] For example, as shown in Fig. 22(A), the accommodation chamber 752 that accommodates the vibration device 702 may be provided so as to straddle the front pad 726 and the intermediate pad 725, and as shown in Fig. 22(B), the accommodation chamber 752 may be formed so as to extend from the front side of the front pad 726 to the intermediate pad 725. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 22(C), the accommodation chamber 752 that accommodates the vibration device 702 may be formed so as to extend from the surface of the intermediate pad 725 to the pad main body 720, or as shown in Fig. 22(D), the accommodation chamber 752 may be formed so as to straddle the front pad 726, the intermediate pad 725, and the pad main body 720.

[0208] As shown in FIG. 23(A), the accommodation chamber 752 that accommodates the vibration device 702 may be provided with a harness accommodation section 754 that accommodates a harness for supplying power to the vibration device 702. When a recess 750 is provided in the intermediate pad 725 to form the harness accommodation section 754, a harness through-hole 755 that penetrates the pad main body 720 in the front-to-back direction may be provided at a position that aligns with the recess 750, as shown in FIG. 23(B). Alternatively, a harness groove 756 recessed toward the front side may be formed on the back side of the intermediate pad 725, and the harness accommodation section 754 may be formed by the harness groove 756 and the pad main body 720. Alternatively, the harness groove 756 may be provided on the front side of the intermediate pad 725 so as to be recessed toward the back side, and the harness accommodation section 754 may be formed by the harness groove 756 and the front-side pad 726.

[0209] As described above, when the vibration device 702 is provided on the pad member 704, the vibration device 702 is generally accommodated in a recess 750 formed in the pad member 704 (i.e., embedded or inserted into the pad member 704). However, the method of arranging the vibration device 702 on the pad member 704 is not limited to this. For example, a mounting portion may be provided on a member for fixing the upholstery material 705, such as a suspending wire or a clip base, and the vibration device 702 may be fixed to the mounting portion. By providing a mounting portion for the vibration device 702 on a member for fixing the upholstery material 705 (a wire embedded in the pad or a base for fixing the upholstery with a clip; also referred to as a upholstery fixing portion) and fixing the vibration device 702, the vibration device 702 can be firmly fixed to the pad member 704. Furthermore, since vibrations generated from the vibration device 702 are transmitted to the member for fixing the upholstery material 705, the vibrations are more easily transmitted to the occupant.

[0210] 24(A) shows an example in which a vibration device 702 is fixed to a wire 770, which is a member for fixing a skin material 705. The wire 770 for fixing the skin material 705 is housed in a groove 774 provided on the surface of a pad member 772.

[0211] As shown in Figure 24(B), the groove is formed in an H-shape on the surface of the pad member 704 of the seat cushion. The groove has a pair of left and right vertical portions 776 extending in the front-rear direction, and a horizontal portion 778 extending left and right and connecting the vertical portions. Similarly, in the seat back, the groove has a pair of left and right vertical portions (not shown) extending in the up-down direction, and a horizontal portion (not shown) extending left and right and connecting the vertical portions. Wires 770 are housed in the vertical portions and horizontal portions, respectively.

[0212] Each wire 770 housed in the vertical portion 776 is provided with a fixture 782 that constitutes the mounting portion 780. As shown in FIG. 25(B), the fixture 782 has a hook portion 790 that hooks onto the wire 770 and a vibration device fixing portion 792. The vibration device fixing portion 792 is box-shaped and opens toward the seating surface. A claw portion 794 that engages with the vibration device 702 and fixes the vibration device 702 is provided at the opening of the vibration device fixing portion 792. The claw portion 794 engages with the surface of the vibration device 702 facing the seating surface, locking the vibration device 702 to the fixture 782. As a result, the vibration device 702 is fixed to the pad member 704 via the wire 770.

[0213] The vibration device 702 fixed to the pad member 704 transmits vibrations to the seat occupant to convey information. Meanwhile, the vehicle is equipped with a device that transmits information by outputting sound, such as a speaker. As such, the vehicle has had to be equipped with a device for each function, one for outputting vibration and one for outputting sound. Therefore, it is conceivable to use an actuator, such as a voice coil motor, in the vehicle to output a composite waveform of sound and vibration, thereby outputting vibration and sound simultaneously. The waveform that drives the actuator should preferably be a waveform that combines both low-frequency components that can be sensed by humans through touch and high-frequency components that are transmitted as sound. The waveform that drives the actuator may, for example, alternate between vibrations of low-frequency components and vibrations of high-frequency components. This causes the actuator to intermittently output vibration and sound.

[0214] In this way, by being able to output vibration and sound from a single actuator, it is possible to simultaneously convey information to the seated person through tactile (vibration) and auditory (sound) senses. Because vibration and sound are simultaneously output from a single device (actuator), costs can be reduced and layout flexibility can be improved compared to using two devices that output vibration and sound, respectively. In addition, because vibration and sound are simultaneously output from a single device (actuator), the seated person is more likely to notice the vibration and sound.

[0215] <Information transmission system> Vehicles are sometimes equipped with information transmission systems that have devices that emit sounds or lights and transmit various types of information by activating these devices. However, depending on the posture or state of the seated occupant, even if such devices are activated, the information may not be transmitted accurately.

[0216] Therefore, as shown in Figure 25(A), the information transmission system 801 may include an information acquisition device 802 that acquires information about the vehicle's surrounding environment, an information transmission device 803 that can transmit the surrounding information acquired by the information acquisition device 802 to the seat occupants, a state detection device 804 that detects the state of the vehicle including the interior of the vehicle, and a control device 805 that controls the driving state of the information transmission device 803 based on the detection results by the state detection device 804.

[0217] 25(B), the control device 805 is configured by a microcomputer equipped with a central processing unit 810 (CPU), RAM 811, ROM 812, and a storage device 813 configured by an SSD or HDD. The control device 805 includes a drive unit 820 (drive means) that drives the information transmission device 803 based on information acquired by the information acquisition device 802, and a change unit 821 (change means) that changes the drive of the drive unit 820 when there is a change in the detection result by the state detection device 804. The drive unit 820 and the change unit 821 may each be configured by the control device 805 executing predetermined software.

[0218] The information acquisition device 802 acquires information about road curvatures, forks, and unevenness, driving information to the destination, and distance information to surrounding vehicles and obstacles. The information acquisition device 802 may be configured, for example, by a car navigation system, or may be configured by various sensors such as road surface sensors, radar, lidar, and sonar installed in the vehicle. The car navigation system may also be configured by a combination of various sensors.

[0219] The state detection device 804 detects the state of the passengers in the vehicle cabin and the driving state of the vehicle. The state detection device 804 may be capable of detecting the presence or absence of an occupant in each seat, the type of occupant (child, elderly, unwell, etc.), each occupant's level of alertness, biometric information such as heart rate, pulse wave, temperature, and body pressure, and the occupant's working state (working, reading, etc.). The state detection device 804 may be configured, for example, by a device such as a sensor provided in each seat, an in-vehicle camera, or an operation switch, or a combination of these devices.

[0220] The state detection device 804 may acquire the autonomous driving level of the vehicle as the state of the vehicle. Specifically, the state detection device 804 may detect whether the vehicle is in a manual driving mode in which the driver performs driving operations, or in an autonomous driving mode in which the vehicle travels autonomously.

[0221] In some cases, seats are supported on the floor so that they can rotate around an axis extending in the vertical direction. In such cases, the state detection device 804 may include a rotation angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of each seat. The state detection device 804 may also include a reclining angle sensor that detects the reclining angle of the seat, and a position sensor that detects the fore-and-aft position and movement distance of the seat. Based on the detection results of the rotation angle sensor, reclining angle sensor, and position sensor, the state of the occupant (e.g., whether the seat is in relaxation mode) and the autonomous driving level of the vehicle can be estimated.

[0222] The information transmission device 803 may be configured with a vibrator (vibration device) that transmits information by vibration, a speaker that transmits information by sound (air vibration), or a combination of a vibrator and a speaker. The vibrator is preferably provided in each seat, and may be, for example, a device (such as an eccentric motor) that transmits information to the occupant by vibrating the seating surface of the seat cushion or seat back.

[0223] When the state detection device 804 detects that the vehicle is in manual driving mode, the control device 805 (drive unit 820) controls the information transmission device 803 to selectively transmit surrounding environment information only to a specific occupant (the state of the drive unit 820 at this time is referred to as a specific transmission mode). At this time, the control device 805 (drive unit 820) may drive only the speaker or vibrator provided in the seat in which the specific occupant is seated, or may drive only the speaker provided in the door on the side of the seat in which the specific occupant is seated. The control device 805 may also selectively or cooperatively drive the speaker or vibrator provided in the seat and the speaker provided in the door. At this time, the control device 805 may also increase the activation amount of the speaker or vibrator corresponding to the specific occupant compared to the speakers or vibrators corresponding to other occupants. Specifically, when the vehicle is in manual driving mode, the control device 805 (drive unit 820) may drive at least one of a vibrator and a speaker provided in the driver's seat to transmit peripheral information only to the driver. Note that the speaker or vibrator corresponding to a specific occupant refers to a speaker or vibrator provided in the seat where the occupant sits, or a speaker in a door located to the side of the seat.

[0224] When the state detection device 804 detects that the vehicle is in the autonomous driving mode, the control device 805 (drive unit 820) controls the information transmission device 803 to widely transmit surrounding environment information to the occupants in the vehicle cabin (the state of the drive unit 820 at this time is referred to as the overall transmission mode). For example, when the vehicle is in the autonomous driving mode, the control device 805 may drive either the vibrator or the speaker of the seat where the occupant is seated to widely transmit surrounding environment information to the occupants in the vehicle cabin.

[0225] When the vehicle state detected by the state detection device 804 switches from the manual driving mode to the automatic driving mode, the change unit 821 may change the operation mode of the drive unit 820 from the specific transmission mode to the entire transmission mode. When the vehicle state detected by the state detection device 804 switches from the manual driving mode to the automatic driving mode, the change unit 821 may change the state of the drive unit 820 from the specific transmission mode to the entire transmission mode.

[0226] The control device 805 may select information that is particularly useful to the driver from the surrounding environment information acquired by the information acquisition device 802, and drive the information transmission device 803 to preferentially transmit the information to the driver. Information that is particularly useful to the driver from the surrounding environment information may include, for example, information about road curvatures, forks, and unevenness, driving information to the destination, and distance information to surrounding vehicles and obstacles. When driving the information transmission device 803 to preferentially transmit information to the driver, the control device 805 may, for example, activate only the speaker and vibrator on the driver's seat and the door on the side of the driver's seat, and may increase the drive amount of the vibrator on the speaker on the driver's seat and the door on the side of the driver's seat compared to the others.

[0227] The change unit 821 may change the operating mode of the drive unit 820 based on the type of surrounding environment information acquired by the information acquisition device 802. For example, when the information acquired from the surrounding environment information is particularly useful to the driver, the change unit 821 may change the state of the drive unit 820 from the all-transmission mode to a specific transmission mode in which information is transmitted only to the driver.

[0228] The control device 805 may select an occupant to whom information should be transmitted, based on the occupant's status acquired by the status detection device 804, and control the information transmission device 803 to selectively transmit information to that occupant. Specifically, when the types of occupants acquired by the status detection device 804 include an occupant that falls into a specific category (e.g., a child, an elderly person, a person in poor health, etc.) that requires monitoring, the control device 805 may control the information transmission device 803 to selectively transmit surrounding environment information to an occupant monitoring an occupant that falls into the specific category. In this case, the control device 805 may drive only a speaker or vibrator provided in the seat in which the occupant to be monitored is seated, or a speaker in a door located to the side of the seat, or may increase the amount of operation of those speakers and vibrators compared to other speakers and vibrators.

[0229] In addition, when the work status of the occupant acquired by the status detection device 804 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, when the occupant is studying, reading, or otherwise in a state where he or she is likely to miss something), the control device 805 may control the information transmission device 803 so that the surrounding environment information is more effectively transmitted to the occupant, for example by increasing the operating level of the corresponding speaker or vibrator.

[0230] In addition, when an abnormality in the physical condition of an occupant is detected based on biological information such as the occupant's level of alertness, heart rate, pulse wave, etc. acquired by the state detection device 804, the control device 805 may limit (prohibit) the output from the speaker or vibrator provided in the seat in which the occupant is seated, or from the speaker in the door located to the side of the seat, or may stop changing the strength of the output, etc. (limit the operation of the change unit 821).

[0231] <Vehicle> Ride-sharing services are now available, matching drivers with people who want to ride with them. However, since ride-sharing services involve people who do not know each other sharing a vehicle, ensuring the privacy of passengers is an issue.

[0232] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 26(A), a vehicle 904 may have seat rows 903, each with seats 902 arranged front to back, arranged side by side in a passenger compartment 901, and a front-to-rear partition wall 905 extending front to back between the left and right seat rows 903. This divides the passenger compartment 901 into two private compartments 906A, left and right, making it easier to ensure privacy than when the front-to-rear partition wall 905 is not provided. In this case, the seats 902 may be supported on a floor 907 via rails 902L and may be movable back and forth. Furthermore, the seats 902 may be rotatable about an axis A extending in the vertical direction. This allows, for example, a passenger to arrange the two seats 902 arranged front to back so that they face each other, or to arrange the front sides of the two seats 902 arranged left to right so that they are close to each other.

[0233] The front-rear partition wall 905 may be movable forward and backward, and more preferably, the front-rear partition wall 905 may be movable until there is no longer any front-rear partition wall 905 between the left and right seats 902 located in the front row or the last row. As shown in Fig. 26(B), the front-rear partition wall 905 may be retractable forward and backward, and more preferably, the front-rear partition wall 905 may be retractable until there is no longer any front-rear partition wall 905 between the left and right seats 902 located in the front row or the last row.

[0234] The front-rear partition wall 905 may move or contract depending on the autonomous driving level (autonomous driving mode, manual driving mode) of the vehicle 904. For example, when the vehicle 904 is in the autonomous driving mode, the front-rear partition wall 905 may expand until the front-rear partition wall 905 is present between all adjacent seats 902, and when the vehicle 904 is in the manual driving mode, the front-rear partition wall 905 may contract until the front-rear partition wall 905 is no longer present between all adjacent seats 902. Also, when the vehicle 904 is in the manual driving mode, the front-rear partition wall 905 may contract until the front-rear partition wall 905 is no longer present between the driver's seat and passenger seat (the left and right seats 902 located in the front row).

[0235] 27(A), a vehicle 904 may have a passenger compartment 901 with rows of seats 908 arranged side by side, and a left-right partition wall 909 extending left and right between the rows of seats 908. This divides the passenger compartment 901 into two compartments 906B, one for the front and one for the rear, making it easier to ensure privacy than if the left-right partition wall 909 were not provided. In this case, the seats 902 may be supported on a floor 907 via rails 902L and may be movable forward and backward. Each seat 902 may be rotatable about an axis A extending in the vertical direction. This allows, for example, a passenger to position the two seats 902 arranged side by side so that they face each other, or to position the front sides of the two seats 902 arranged side by side so that they are close to each other.

[0236] The left and right partition walls 909 may be movable forward and backward, and more preferably, the left and right partition walls 909 may be movable until the left and right ends of the partition walls 909 no longer exist between the adjacent sheets 902. As shown in Fig. 27(B), the left and right partition walls 909 may be contractible left and right, and more preferably, the left and right partition walls 909 may be contractible left and right, and more preferably, the left and right partition walls 909 may be contractible until the left and right ends of the partition walls 909 no longer exist between the adjacent sheets 902.

[0237] In this case, tables 910 may be provided on the front and rear surfaces of the left and right partition walls 909, respectively, so as to protrude in the front-rear direction.

[0238] As shown in FIG. 28(A), a vehicle 904 may have a passenger compartment 901 with four seats 902 arranged in the front and rear and left and right directions. The passenger compartment 901 may be provided with a front-to-rear partition wall 905 extending in the front-to-rear direction between the two seats 902 located on the left side and the two seats 902 located on the right side, and a left-to-right partition wall 909 extending in the left-to-right direction between the two seats 902 located in the front side and the two seats 902 located in the rear side. The front-to-rear partition wall 905 and the left-to-right partition wall 909 divide the passenger compartment 901 into four compartments 906C arranged in the front-to-rear direction and left-to-right direction. One seat 902 is arranged in each compartment 906C. In this case, each seat 902 may be supported on a floor 907 via rails 902L and may be movable forward and backward. Preferably, each seat 902 is rotatable about an axis A extending in the vertical direction. This allows the passenger to, for example, arrange two seats 902 arranged in a row at the front and rear so that they face each other, or arrange two seats 902 arranged on the left and right so that the front sides of the seats are close to each other.

[0239] The front-rear partition wall 905 may be movable forward and backward or retractable until it is no longer between the two seats 902 located at the front, or until it is no longer between the two seats 902 located at the rear. Also, as shown in Figure 28(B), the left-right partition wall 909 may be movable left and right or retractable until it is no longer between the two seats 902 located on the left, or until it is no longer between the two seats 902 located on the right. This allows the compartments 906C to be connected, and the vehicle interior 901 to be divided more freely.

[0240] As shown in FIG. 28(A), tables 910 extending substantially horizontally may be provided at the connection points between the front and rear partition walls 905 and the left and right partition walls 909. The tables 910 may be connected to the front and rear partition walls 905 and the left and right partition walls 909, respectively. This improves stability compared to when the table 910 is connected to only one of the front and rear partition walls 905 and the left and right partition walls 909. Each private room 906C may be provided with a storage section 911 capable of storing items. The storage section 911 may be formed, for example, of a box with an upward opening. The storage section 911 may be placed on the floor 907. The storage section 911 may also be provided in the front and rear partition walls 905 or the left and right partition walls 909.

[0241] The front / rear partition wall 905 and the left / right partition wall 909 may move or contract depending on the autonomous driving level (autonomous driving mode, manual driving mode) of the vehicle 904. Furthermore, the front / rear partition wall 905 and the left / right partition wall 909 may move or expand / contract to notify other occupants of information based on the occupant's state (for example, trying to sleep, feeling unwell, etc.) or activity state (trying to work, read, study, etc.).

[0242] In this way, dividing the vehicle cabin 901 into private compartments 906A, 906B, and 906C by front and rear partition walls 905 and left and right partition walls 909 not only ensures the privacy of the occupants in the vehicle cabin 901, but is also expected to have the effect of preventing the transmission of infectious diseases between occupants.

[0243] <Armrest> Some vehicle seats are equipped with armrests on which a seat occupant can rest their arms. These armrests may be equipped with operation switches for adjusting the reclining angle of the vehicle seat or for activating a seat heater.

[0244] 29(A) and 29(B), an armrest 941 provided on a vehicle seat 940 includes an operation switch 942, and the operation switch 942 is preferably provided on one of the left and right side surfaces of the armrest 941, on the side facing the seated person (the side surface facing the inside of the seat). This allows the occupant's thumb to be in a position that touches the operation switch 942 when the occupant places their palm on the upper surface of the armrest 941 with their arm resting on the armrest 941. Therefore, the occupant can easily input an operation to the operation switch 942 in a natural position with their arm resting on the armrest 941.

[0245] The operation switch 942 may be provided on the side surface of the armrest 941 on the outer side of the seat. In this case, when the occupant places their arm on the armrest 941 and places their palm on the upper surface of the armrest 941, the operation switch 942 can be operated with the index finger, middle finger, or ring finger.

[0246] As shown in Fig. 29(A), the operation switch 942 may be provided on the upper surface of the armrest 941. When armrests 941 are provided on the left and right sides of the occupant, operation switches 942 with different operation targets and modes may be provided on the left and right armrests 941. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 29(B), the operation switch 942 may be provided on the lower surface of the armrest 941.

[0247] The operation switch 942 provided on the armrest 941 may be any type of switch, such as a physical switch or a touch panel (capacitive type, pressure sensitive type, etc.).

[0248] 30(A) and (B), armrest 945 includes main body 946 that extends forward and backward to support the arms of the seated occupant (on which the arms can be placed), and operating unit 947 that has operation switches 942. Operating unit 947 can be displaced between a use position (see FIG. 30(A)) that allows the seated occupant to easily input operations, and a stored position (see FIG. 30(B)) in which it is stored. This allows operating unit 947 to be stored when no operation input is required.

[0249] The main body 946 may be connected to any of the seat back 940A, seat cushion 940B, or headrest 940C (collectively referred to as the seat body), and may also be connected to and supported by the floor F (see Figure 29(A)), door trim (not shown), etc.

[0250] The vehicle may be provided with a control device (not shown) that can switch between an automatic driving mode in which the vehicle drives autonomously and a manual driving mode in which the vehicle drives based on the driver's driving operation. In this case, armrest 945 may be provided with actuator 948 that displaces the operating unit based on a signal from the control device (see, for example, FIGS. 30(A) and (B)). The control device may drive actuator 948 in the manual driving mode to place operating unit 947 in the use position, and in the automatic driving mode to place operating unit 947 in the retracted position.

[0251] The operating unit 947 may be supported so as to be slidable back and forth or left and right relative to the main body 946. In this case, the operating unit 947 may be displaceable between a storage position (see FIG. 30(A)) in which it is covered at least from above by the main body 946, and an operating position (see FIG. 30(B)) in which at least a part of the upper surface is exposed.

[0252] The actuator 948 may be configured by a device (for example, a linear actuator) that is extendable in the front-rear direction. The actuator 948 is interposed between the operating unit 947 and the main body 946, and may displace the operating unit 947 between the storage position and the use position by extending the actuator 948.

[0253] 31(A) and 31(B), the operating unit 947 may be rotatably (also referred to as tiltably) connected (i.e., hingedly connected) to the main body 946 about an axis P extending in the left-right direction. In this case, the operating unit 947 may be configured of a plate-like member, and may be displaceable between a storage position located below the main body 946 and a use position in which the upper surface of the operating unit 947 is flush with the upper surface of the main body 946 and is approximately horizontal.

[0254] 31(C), the operating unit 947 may be connected to the main body 946 so as to be able to stand up diagonally forward relative to the main body 946. In this case, it is preferable that a locking mechanism is provided in the armrest 941 so that the seated person can lock the operating unit 947 in a state where it is rotated by a predetermined angle relative to the main body 946 and release the lock as needed.

[0255] If the operating unit 947 can be raised diagonally forward relative to the main body 946 and the vehicle seat 940 is a driver's seat, the operating unit 947 may get in the way when the seated driver tries to grip the steering wheel, preventing the driver from extending their elbows. Therefore, it is preferable that the operating unit 947 be disposed in front of the elbows of a seated occupant of a standard build. This allows the driver to perform driving operations without being hindered by the operating unit 947 by moving the operating unit 947 to a stored position (e.g., FIG. 31(A) or 31(B)), and allows the driver to easily operate the operation switch 942 when necessary by raising the operating unit 947 (e.g., FIG. 31(C)).

[0256] As shown in Figures 32(A) and (B), a vehicle seat 950 may be provided with a seating sensor 951 that determines whether or not a person is seated. In this case, the vehicle seat 950 may be provided with an actuator 953 that displaces an armrest 952, and a control device 954 that drives the actuator 953 based on the presence or absence of a person seated determined by the seating sensor 951. For example, when the armrest 952 is connected to the seat back 940A so as to be rotatable about an axis Q extending in the left-right direction, the actuator 953 may be a motor that rotates the armrest 952. The seating sensor 951 may be a pressure sensor that detects pressure applied to the seating surface by the seating occupant, or a membrane switch that is provided along the seating surface and switches on / off depending on the load from the seating occupant.

[0257] The control device 954 may drive the actuator 953 to move the armrest 952 between a usable position (FIG. 32(A)) and a position where the armrest 952 is stored (FIG. 32(B)) depending on the presence or absence of a seat occupant detected by the seating sensor 951. Specifically, when the seating sensor 951 detects the presence of a seat occupant, the control device 954 may drive the actuator 953 (motor) to rotate the armrest 952 to a usable position where its upper surface is approximately horizontal. When the seating sensor 951 detects that no seat occupant is seated, the control device 954 may drive the actuator 953 (motor) to rotate the armrest 952 to a stored position where the armrest 952 extends approximately vertically along the seat back 940A to the side of the seat back 940A.

[0258] As shown in FIG. 33(A), armrest 960 has main body 961 that supports the arms of a seated occupant and operation units 962L, 962R that have operation switches 942, and operation units 962L, 962R may be detachable from main body 961. This allows the seated occupant to detach operation units 962L, 962R from main body 961 and operate them when seat back 940A is in a reclining position where it is tilted backward. Furthermore, operation units 962L, 962R may be configured by a terminal with a touch panel, and operation units 962L, 962R may include a terminal (for example, a smartphone, a tablet, etc.) as part thereof. The terminal may function as operation switch 942 by installing a predetermined application thereon.

[0259] It is preferable that the operating unit 962L located on the left side of the seat can be attached and detached to the main body 961 located on the right side of the seat, and the operating unit 962R located on the right side of the seat can be attached and detached to the main body 961 located on the left side of the seat. This allows the operating units 962L and 962R to be used interchangeably, as shown in Figure 33(B).

[0260] The operation units 962L, 962R may also be provided with an operation unit connection sensor 964 that detects whether they are connected to the main body 961. As a result, when the operation unit connection sensor 964 detects that the operation unit 962L (962R) is connected, it is possible to change the function, operation target, etc. of the operation switch 942 provided on the connected operation unit 962L. The main body 961 may also be provided with a main body connection sensor 966 that detects whether the operation units 962L, 962R are connected. As a result, when the main body connection sensor 966 detects that the operation units 962L, 962R are connected, it is possible to change the function, operation target, etc. of the operation switch 942 provided on the main body 961.

[0261] For example, when the operation unit 962L is attached to the main body 961 located on the left side, the operation switch 942 on the surface of the main body 961 located on the left side or the operation unit 962L located on the seat occupant's side (right side surface) may be activated (operation input may be enabled). That is, the operation units 962L, 962R may function as a key for activating the operation switch 942, that is, an enabling key. Furthermore, when the operation units 962L, 962R are connected to the main body 961, the operation content of the operation switch 942 may be changed. Alternatively, when the operation units 962L, 962R are connected to the main body 961, the operation switch 942 that accepts operation input may be changed (for example, changed from the operation switch 942 located on the side surface of the armrest 960 on the inner side of the seat to the operation switch 942 located on the outer side of the seat).

[0262] As shown in FIG. 34(A), the armrest 970 includes a main body 971 that supports the arm of an occupant and an operating unit 972 that has an operation switch 942. The main body 971 and the operating unit 972 may be connected via a connecting portion 974 that includes a portion that extends upward toward the front. The connecting portion 974 may be connected to the front end of the main body 971, extend upward toward the front, and be connected to the rear end of the operating unit 972. The operating unit 972 may be arranged so that its rear end extends forward from the front end of the connecting portion 974. As a result, the operating unit 972 and the main body 971 are connected via the operating portion 972, and the operating portion 972 is positioned higher than the main body 971, allowing the occupant to grip the operating unit 972 with their elbow resting on the main body 971.

[0263] The vertical width of operation unit 972 is preferably set so that the seated person can easily grip operation unit 972, and specifically, it is preferably set so that it is smaller than the vertical width of main body 971. Furthermore, by deformation of connection portion 974 (for example, bending deformation at a connecting portion of connection portion 974 with operation unit 972, a connecting portion of connection portion 974 with main body 971, etc.), operation unit 972 may be displaceable between a stored position (see solid line in FIG. 34(A)) where the upper surface is flush with main body 971 and does not interfere with driving operations by the seated person, and a use position (see two-dot chain line in FIG. 34(A)) where it stands up relative to main body 971 and makes it easy for the seated person to input operations.

[0264] A touch sensor 976 that detects contact by an occupant with a predetermined area may be provided on the lower surface (rear surface) of the operation unit 972. The operation switch 942 may be configured so that when contact is detected by the touch sensor 976, the operation switch 942 becomes active and ready to accept operation input.

[0265] A recess 978 (also called a hollow) recessed upward (inward) may be provided on the lower surface (back surface) of the operation unit 972, and a touch sensor 976 may be disposed in the recess 978. This prevents erroneous input to the operation unit 972 (touch sensor 976) because the operation switch 942 cannot accept operation input unless there is contact with the touch sensor 976 in the recess 978.

[0266] When at least a portion of the outer surface of the armrest 980 is covered with a sheet-like covering material 981, the operation switch 942 does not have to be covered with the covering material 981, or may be covered with the covering material 981 (see FIG. 35(A)). When the operation switch 942 is covered with the covering material 981, it is preferable that a pattern, symbol, letter, or the like indicating the presence of the operation switch 942 is drawn on the surface of the covering material 981 in a portion corresponding to the operation switch 942 (that is, a visual effect is provided).

[0267] 35(B), the operation switch 942 may include a light-emitting element 982, and at least a portion of the cover material 981 that covers the operation switch 942 may be configured to transmit light emitted by the light-emitting element 982. In this way, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 982 passes through the cover material 981, and the seated person can recognize the position of the operation switch 942 by the light.

[0268] The armrest may be provided with an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor may be connected to a processing device that acquires and processes the voice of the occupant. The processing device may be, for example, a so-called AI assistant that is activated by the voice of the occupant and can output a voice corresponding to the voice of the occupant based on a predetermined learning model. When the acceleration sensor detects that the occupant has performed an operation such as tapping, knocking, or rubbing on the armrest with their fingers, the processing device may perform a corresponding operation such as activating itself. In this way, the occupant can activate the processing device not only by emitting a voice but also by touching the armrest.

[0269] As shown in FIG. 36 , a vehicle seat 985 may include a plate-shaped table 988 connectable to an armrest 986 and provided with an operation switch 987. When the vehicle seat 985 is provided with a pair of left and right armrests 986, the table 988 may be connectable to one of the two armrests 986 or to both. The table 988 may be inseparable from the armrest 986 (i.e., integrated), or may be detachable (removable). The table 988 may be connected to the seat back, seat cushion, or headrest, or may be storable therein. The operation switch 987 may be provided on any of the top, bottom, left and right side, front and rear surfaces of the table 988. The table 988 may be arranged (deployed) so that it has a surface facing up and down on the top surface of the armrest 986. In this case, the operation switch 987 is preferably provided on either the left or right side of the table 988. As a result, even if the operation switch 942 provided on the upper surface of the armrest 986 is covered from above when the table 988 is placed, the seated person can easily operate the operation switch 987.

[0270] The operation switch 942 provided on the table 988 may operate the same object as, or may be different from, the operation switch 942 provided on the armrest 986. The operation switch 942 provided on the table may operate the same object as, or may be different from, the operation switch 942 provided on the armrest 986.

[0271] As shown in Figures 37(A) and (B), a vehicle seat 990 includes a seat device 991 that changes the position and shape of the seat, an armrest 992 that is rotatably supported on the seat back or seat cushion, and a rotation angle sensor 993 that detects the rotation angle of the armrest 992, and the seat device 991 is driven based on the operation input to the armrest 992 detected by the rotation angle sensor 993.

[0272] The seat device 991 may change the position or shape of the seat in accordance with the rotation direction and rotation angle of the armrest 992 detected by the rotation angle sensor 993. The seat device 991 may, for example, move the seat forward or backward, or may change the height of the seat surface. The seat device 991 may also change the reclining angle.

[0273] The seat device 991 may be configured to increase the reclining angle and tilt the seat back backward when the rotation direction of the armrest 992 detected by the rotation angle sensor 993 corresponds to a lifting action of the armrest 992. The seat device 991 may also be configured to adjust the height of the seat cushion (height adjustment) when the rotation direction of the armrest 992 detected by the rotation angle sensor 993 corresponds to a lifting action of the armrest 992. When the vehicle seat 990 is supported rotatably with respect to the floor about an axis extending in the up-down direction, the seat device 991 may rotate the vehicle seat 990 in accordance with the rotation angle of the armrest 992 detected by the rotation angle sensor 993.

[0274] When the vehicle is provided with a cruise control device 994 that causes the vehicle to cruise, the cruise control device 994 may change the set speed when the vehicle is cruising in response to the lifting or pushing down operation of the armrest 992 detected by the rotation angle sensor 993.

[0275] An autonomously driven vehicle is provided with a cruise control device 994 that sequentially creates a cruise plan to cause the vehicle to cruise autonomously. In this case, when a pair of left and right armrests 992 are provided on the vehicle seat, the cruise control device 994 may set or change the cruise plan based on a rotation operation of the left and right armrests 992. For example, the cruise control device 994 may set or change the cruise plan to change lanes in a direction corresponding to the operated armrest 992. Alternatively, the cruise control device 994 may set or change the cruise plan to overtake based on a rotation operation of the left and right armrests 992.

[0276] The vehicle seat 990 may be provided with a reaction force adjustment actuator 995 that adjusts the reaction force to be applied to the armrest 992 when the armrest 992 is rotated. This allows the seated person to adjust the strength of the force (operating force) to be applied to the armrest 992.

[0277] In this way, armrest 992 can be used as an operation input device for controlling vehicle travel, and an operation system 996 can be constructed in which armrest 992 is used as an operation input device. When armrest 992 is used as an operation input device, the control corresponding to an operation input to left armrest 992 and the control corresponding to an operation input to left armrest 992 may be different.

[0278] When the armrest 992 is used as an operation input device for controlling vehicle travel, it is preferable to provide a vibration device 997 on the armrest 992. The vibration device 997 is preferably activated when an operation input to the armrest 992 is detected by the rotation angle sensor 993. This makes it possible to notify the operator that the operation input has been detected by the rotation angle sensor 993 (i.e., to provide feedback to the operator that the operation input has been detected).

[0279] FIG. 30(B) shows a configuration in which the operation unit 947 is housed inside the main body 946, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 38(A), the operation unit 947 may be supported so as to be slidable back and forth relative to the main body 946. This allows the seated person to move the operation unit 947 to suit their body shape. Also, FIG. 29(A) shows a case in which the operation switch 942 is circular and provided with input buttons for forward, backward, left, and right (operation switch 942R on the top surface of the armrest 941 on the right side of the seated person) or a case in which the operation switch 942 is configured as a touch panel (operation switch 942L on the top surface of the armrest 941 on the left side of the seated person), but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 38(B), for example, the operation switch 942 may include a pair of buttons 942A in the front and back, a pair of buttons 942B in the left and right, and a circular button 942C.

[0280] Although the description of the embodiment has been completed above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be widely modified and implemented. [Explanation of symbols]

[0281] 1: Headrest according to the first embodiment 4: Seat back 15: Device 16: Pillar 17: Case 19:Skin material 21: Device side connector 22: Guide rib (rib) 23: Locking recess (locked part) 24: Legs 30: Cable 32: Main unit connector 40: Receiving recess 44: Bottom wall 45: Locking claw (locking part) 47: Guide groove 48:Through hole 57: hollow 71: Headrest according to the second embodiment 72: Cable 72A: conductor 72B: Insulator 85: Cable 101: Headrest according to the third embodiment 102: Receiving recess 104: Lid 151: Headrest according to the fourth embodiment 154:Ear part 201: Headrest according to the fifth embodiment 202: Receiving recess 203: Through hole 204: Regulatory Wall H: Headrest

Claims

1. A seat for a vehicle, A pad member equipped with ventilation grooves, A vibration device provided on the front side of the pad member, The pad member comprises a surface material that covers at least a portion of the front surface, The vibration device is positioned in a vehicle seat that avoids the ventilation groove.

2. The vehicle seat according to Claim 1, wherein the front surface of the vibration device and the front surface of the pad member, the portion without the ventilation groove, are flush with each other.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein only the surface material is provided between the vibration device and the seated person.

4. The front surface of the pad member is provided with a recess on the back side and a recess for housing the vibration device, The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the recess is provided in a position that avoids the ventilation groove.

5. The pad member is provided with a harness through hole for housing a harness for supplying power to the vibration device, The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the harness through-hole penetrates in the front-to-back direction at a position aligned with the recess.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein the harness through hole is opened at the center of the bottom surface of the recess.

7. The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vibration device is provided on the outside of the seat in the ventilation groove.

8. The front surface of the pad member is provided with a suspension groove for suspending the surface material, The aforementioned suspension groove has a pair of left and right vertical sections extending in the front-rear direction, The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vibration device is located between the vertical portions when viewed in the front-to-back direction.

9. The ventilation groove is located between the vertical portions when viewed from the front and back directions, The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the vibration device is located between either one of the vertical portions and the ventilation groove when viewed in the front-back direction.

10. A seat cushion having an upward-facing seat surface that supports the buttocks of a sitter, A seat back extends upward from the rear of the seat cushion and supports the back of the sitter leaning against it on a support surface facing forward, The seat back has a headrest attached to the upper part of the seat back, The seat back comprises a metal back frame, a back pad member supported by the back frame, and a back surface material covering the surface of the back pad member. The back frame comprises left and right side members, upper members connected to the upper ends of the left and right side members, and lower members connected to the lower ends of the left and right side members. The headrest comprises a pillar connected to the seat back, a headrest pad member, and a headrest surface material. The aforementioned seat cushion comprises a metal cushion frame, the pad member, and the surface material. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the vibration device is provided in the seat cushion.

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