Vibration sheet and vibration unit

Abstract

The present invention provides a vibration-resistant seat that can suppress deterioration in seating comfort even when the seat cushion is relatively thin. [Solution] A seat having side supports on the sides of the seat surface comprises a vibration device installed inside the side support, and a vibration transmission member extending from the vibration device and installed inside the space between the side support and the seat surface, which transmits the vibrations generated by the vibration device.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a vibrating seat.

Background Art

[0002] There is a vibrating seat that vibrates in accordance with the video of video content and the audio of music content reproduced inside a vehicle. The vibrating seat includes, for example, a vibration device embedded in a cushion of a seat surface portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In the vibrating seat according to the present invention, the vibrating device is mounted on a side support located on the side of the seat surface, so that even when an occupant sits on the seat surface, the outer shell of the vibrating device does not come into contact with the occupant. For this reason, the vibrating seat according to the present invention has the effect of suppressing deterioration of seating comfort even when the cushion of the seat surface is relatively thin. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle equipped with a vibrating seat according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a front view explanatory diagram of a vibrating sheet according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a plan view explanatory diagram of the vibrating sheet according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a side view diagram illustrating the vibrating sheet according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of the vibrating sheet will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0010] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle 100 equipped with a vibrating seat 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the vibrating seat 1 is mounted on the vehicle 100. Although Figure 1 shows one vibrating seat 1, there may be two or more vibrating seats 1 mounted on the vehicle 100 (for example, the driver's seat and the passenger seat).

[0011] The vehicle 100 includes a content playback device 101, a display 102, a speaker 103, and a storage device 104. The storage device 104 is an information storage device such as data flash, and stores content information 105 such as video content and music content.

[0012] The content playback device 101 is an AV (Audio Video) player that plays video content and music content. The content playback device 101 plays content information 105 read from the storage device 104. The content playback device 101 outputs the video signal of the content information 105 to the display 102 for display and outputs the audio signal of the content information 105 to the speaker 103 for sound output.

[0013] The vibrating sheet 1 is equipped with multiple vibrating devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d. The number of vibrating devices equipped with the vibrating sheet 1 may be 1 to 3, or 5 or more. The vibrating devices 11 to 14 vibrate in response to drive signals input from the content playback device 101.

[0014] The content playback device 101 outputs control signals to the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d that vibrate the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d in accordance with the video and audio of the video content and the audio of the music content to be played in the vehicle 100.

[0015] Figure 2 is a front view explanatory diagram of the vibrating sheet 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 3 is a plan view explanatory diagram of the vibrating sheet 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 4 is a side view explanatory diagram of the vibrating sheet 1 according to the embodiment.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the vibrating seat 1 includes a seat portion 21, a backrest portion 22, a headrest portion 23, and side supports 24a and 24b. The side supports 24a and 24b are provided at both ends in the width direction of the seat portion 21. The side supports 24a and 24b are members that support the portion from the buttocks to the thighs of the occupant seated on the vibrating seat 1 from the sides, that is, members that suppress the occupant's lateral movement in response to lateral G-forces during cornering.

[0017] The side supports 24a are provided with vibration devices 11a and 11b inside. The side supports 24b are provided with vibration devices 11c and 11d inside. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of vibration devices 11a and 11b are provided along the longitudinal direction of the side support 24a. The plurality of vibration devices 11c and 11d are provided along the longitudinal direction of the side support 24b.

[0018] In addition, the plurality of vibration devices 11a and 11b and the plurality of vibration devices 11c and 11d are provided at positions facing each other with the seat surface portion 21 interposed therebetween. For example, the vibration device 11a is disposed on the side of the left thigh of the occupant (the person sitting on the vibrating seat 1). The vibration device 11b is disposed on the side of the left hip of the seated person. The vibration device 11c is disposed on the side of the right thigh of the seated person. The vibration device 11d is disposed on the side of the right hip of the seated person.

[0019] Note that the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d can be realized by a configuration such as a piezoelectric element, a motor in which an eccentric weight is pivotally supported, or an electromagnetic mechanism having the same structure as an acoustic speaker. In the configuration of the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d shown in FIG. 3, the upper surface is a vibration surface (vibration portions 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d) formed by a diaphragm, and the lower surface and the side peripheral surface are covered with a case. Note that the upper surface may also be formed by a case, and the structure may be such that the upper surface vibrates (the case itself vibrates).

[0020] The vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are embedded in installation holes 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d provided in the side supports 24a and 24b. In this example, the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are inserted into the installation holes 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d that extend from the side surface of the cushion constituting the inside of the side supports 24a and 24b toward the inside of the cushion substantially parallel to the upper surface of the cushion. After the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are embedded in the installation holes 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d, the opening portions on the side surface are filled with a cushion member.

[0021] Also, in order to prevent the movement of the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d after installation, the sizes of the installation holes 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d are set to appropriate sizes (such as making the installation holes 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d slightly smaller than the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d so that they are elastically supported by the cushion), or necessary processing such as adhesion is performed.

[0022] Note that the installation holes 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d may be provided so as to extend from the upper surface or the lower surface of the cushions of the side supports 24a, 24b into the interior of the cushions. In this case, after the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d are embedded inside, the upper or lower opening portions are filled by the cushion members.

[0023] Also, vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d are provided in the seating surface portion 21 of the vibration sheet 1 and inside the side supports 24a, 24b (inside the cushions), extending from the vibration portions 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d on the upper surfaces of the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d toward the inside of the seating surface portion 21. The vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d extend to the lower regions of the parts where vibrations are desired to be applied to the seated person.

[0024] Note that the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d are extended and arranged so as not to contact each other. That is, the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d are separated. Specifically, the vibration transmission member 28a extends to the lower part under the back of the left thigh of the seated person. The vibration transmission member 28b is arranged under the left hip of the seated person. The vibration transmission member 28c extends to the lower part under the back of the right thigh of the seated person. The vibration transmission member 28d extends to the lower part under the right hip of the seated person.

[0025] As a result, when the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are individually driven and controlled by the content playback device 101, the vibration seat 1 can prevent the vibrations of each vibration device 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d from interfering with each other and applying vibration to the seated person, thereby preventing the vibration from hindering the effect of enhancing the sense of realism during content playback.

[0026] The vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are made of a hard resin or metal (for example, aluminum) that vibrates when vibrations from the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are transmitted to them. One end of each vibration transmission member 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d is in contact with the vibrating parts 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d on the upper surface of the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d by pressure, adhesion, or the like.

[0027] Furthermore, the other ends of the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d extend into the interior of the seat portion 21, substantially parallel to the upper surface of the seat portion 21, and are embedded in the seat portion 21. In other words, the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are positioned inside the seat portion 21, sandwiched between cushions that make up the interior of the seat portion 21 and the side supports 24a and 24b.

[0028] Specifically, the seat portion 21 and the side supports 24a and 24b are provided with mounting holes 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d for setting vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d. The mounting holes 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d are made to an appropriate size (for example, slightly smaller than the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d so that they are elastically supported by the cushion), or necessary processing such as bonding is performed. These vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, along with the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d, form a vibration unit that is built into the vibration seat 1.

[0029] As described above, the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are located outside the seat surface 21, so even when an occupant sits on the vibrating seat 1 (seat surface 21), the outer shells of the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d do not come into contact with the occupant. For this reason, the vibrating seat 1 can suppress deterioration of seating comfort even when the cushion of the seat surface 21 is relatively thin. Although the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are located below the seat surface 21, they can be constructed thinly without vibration mechanisms, so there is almost no deterioration of seating comfort even when the cushion is relatively thin.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the side supports 24a and 24b are provided with through holes 26a, 26b, and 26c that penetrate from the installation holes 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d to the bottom surface of the side supports 24a and 24b. The drive signal lines 27a and 27b connected to the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are routed from the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d through the through holes 26a, 26b, and 26c to the outside from the bottom surface of the side supports 24a and 24b. The drive signal lines 27a and 27b are then routed along the bottom surface of the vibration seat 1 and connected to a vibration signal output device that outputs vibration signals, in this example, a content playback device 101 that outputs vibration signals according to the content. In this way, the drive signal lines 27a and 27b are connected to the content playback device 101 through a route that does not interfere with the person sitting on the vibration seat 1. Therefore, since the drive signal lines 27a and 27b of the vibrating seat 1 do not come into contact with the occupant, it is possible to suppress any deterioration in seating comfort.

[0031] With this configuration, the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d vibrate below the seat surface 21 in conjunction with the driving of the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d in the vibrating seat 1. This ensures a comfortable seating experience while efficiently transmitting the vibrations of the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d to the back of the thighs or buttocks of the seated occupant.

[0032] Specifically, vibration signals from the content playback device 101 drive each vibration device 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, and each vibration device 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d applies vibrations based on the vibration signals to each vibration transmission member 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d. Each vibration transmission member 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d transmits these vibrations downward to the seat surface 21. As a result, the extended portions of each vibration transmission member 28 on the seat surface 21 vibrate, and these vibrations are applied to the seated area above them via the cushion of the seat surface 21.

[0033] When the content playback device 101 outputs vibration signals to the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d in accordance with the audio of the content information 105 being played, the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d apply vibrations corresponding to the vibration signals to the seated person via the respective vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d (and the cushion of the seat portion 21). As a result, the seated person can feel vibrations corresponding to the content information 105 and enjoy a highly immersive content playback experience.

[0034] For example, when a moving object that serves as a sound source in the video being played back is approaching from the front, the content playback device 101 controls the vibration of the front vibration devices 11a and 11c to gradually increase, and then to increase the vibration of the rear vibration devices 11b and 11d. As a result, the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d can enhance the sense of realism in the situation where a moving object is approaching in the video.

[0035] Furthermore, the content playback device 101 controls the vibration of the rear vibration devices 11b and 11d to be increased, then gradually decreased, and then the front vibration devices 11a and 11c to be increased when, for example, a moving object that is the sound source in the video being played back moves away from the front. As a result, the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d can enhance the sense of realism in the situation where a moving object is moving away in the video.

[0036] Furthermore, the content playback device 101 controls the vibration devices 11a and 11b on the left side to vibrate strongly when, for example, a moving object that is the sound source in the video being played moves from left to right. This control then gradually reduces the vibration, and subsequently reduces the vibration of the vibration devices 11c and 11d on the right side. As a result, the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d can enhance the sense of realism in situations where a moving object moves from left to right in the video.

[0037] Furthermore, the content playback device 101 controls the vibration devices 11a and 11b on the left side to vibrate more vigorously when, for example, a moving object that is the sound source in the video being played back moves from right to left. This causes the vibration devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d to vibrate more vigorously, then gradually reduce the vibration, and then vibrate less vigorously.

[0038] In this description, we have explained the case where the vibrating parts 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d of the vibrating devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are on the upper surfaces of the vibrating devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d. However, the vibrating parts 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d may also be on the lower surfaces of the vibrating devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, or they may be in the intermediate part between the upper and lower surfaces of the vibrating devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d. In any of these configurations, the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are embedded in the seating surface 21, extending inward from the vibrating parts 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d towards the interior of the seating surface 21. As a result, the vibrating seat 1 can efficiently transmit vibrations from the vibrating devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d to various parts of the seated occupant, in this example, the back of the thighs or the buttocks, while ensuring a good seating experience.

[0039] Furthermore, by making the portion of the vibration transmission member 28 located on the seat surface 21 (extended portion) a plate-shaped member having a main surface parallel to the seat surface of the seat surface 21, and by making its size, shape, and material such that the occupant can sufficiently feel the vibrations while the impact of the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d is sufficiently small, a vibration seat 1 that balances vibration effect and seating comfort can be realized. Specifically, by making the size and shape of the vibration transmission members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d a shape that corresponds to the shape of the part to which vibrations are to be transmitted to the occupant (a shape that covers the entire area of ​​the left and right buttocks and the lower part of the left and right thighs of the occupant), and by using a resin material that can sufficiently transmit vibrations and has elasticity and hardness that deforms appropriately in response to the occupant's seating pressure, a vibration seat 1 that balances vibration effect and seating comfort can be realized.

[0040] Furthermore, while this example uses a content playback device 101 that outputs vibration signals corresponding to the content as a vibration signal output device, it is also possible to use a vibration signal output device that applies vibrations to the user to provide a massage or relaxation effect.

[0041] Further effects and modifications can be readily derived by those skilled in the art. Therefore, broader aspects of the present invention are not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments expressed and described above. Accordingly, various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the overall concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 1. Vibration Sheet 11a,11b,11c,11d Vibration device 21 Seat part 23 Headrest section 24a, 24b Side support 25a,25b,25c,25d installation hole 26a,26b,26c through hole 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d Vibration transmission members

Claims

1. In a seat equipped with side supports on the sides of the seat surface, A vibration device installed inside the side support, A vibration transmission member is installed inside the side support and the seat surface, extending from the vibration device and transmitting vibrations generated by the vibration device. A vibrating seat equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The vibration transmission member is a plate-shaped member having a main surface parallel to the seat surface of the seat portion. The vibrating sheet according to claim 1.

3. The vibration transmission member is made of an elastic material that elastically deforms when a person sits on the seat surface. The vibrating sheet according to claim 2.

4. The vibration devices are arranged in an even number of units. Each of the aforementioned vibrators is provided at a position opposite to the seat surface. The vibrating sheet according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3.

5. Each of the vibration transmission members corresponding to each of the even-numbered vibration devices is spaced apart from each other. The vibrating sheet according to claim 4.

6. The aforementioned vibration device is Multiple side supports are provided along the longitudinal direction of the aforementioned side support. The vibrating sheet according to claim 5.

7. The side support is provided with a through hole that penetrates from the installation position of the vibrator to the bottom surface of the side support, Drive signal lines that transmit vibration signals to drive the vibration device are routed through the aforementioned through-hole. A vibrating sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. Mounted on the vehicle A vibrating sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. A vibration unit to be installed in a seat equipped with side supports on the sides of the seat surface, A vibrator installed inside the side support, A vibration transmission member installed inside the side support and the seat surface, which extends from the vibration device and transmits vibrations generated by the vibration device, A vibration unit equipped with the following features.

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