Seat control device, seat control system, and seat control method

Abstract

It helps to suppress feelings of anxiety in the person sitting in the seat. [Solution] The seat control device 2 comprises a swing control unit 25 and a swing interruption unit 28. The swing control unit 25 alternately performs a first displacement, which displaces the swinging unit 16 toward the first side D1 until it reaches a predetermined first position L1, and a second displacement, which displaces the swinging unit 16 toward the second side D2 until it reaches a predetermined second position L2 located toward the second side D2 from the first position L1. The swing interruption unit 28 interrupts the displacement of the swinging unit 16 by the swing control unit 25. The swing control unit 25 is configured to restart the displacement of the swinging unit 16, which was interrupted by the swing interruption unit 28, from the first displacement in response to a predetermined swing restart instruction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat control device, a seat control system, and a seat control method.

Background Art

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 describes a seat control device for controlling the posture of a seat mounted on a vehicle. The seat control device performs a process (hereinafter referred to as rocking process) for alternately displacing the seat back and seat cushion of the seat (hereinafter referred to as rocking portion) to tilt forward (hereinafter referred to as first displacement) and displacing the rocking portion to tilt backward (hereinafter referred to as second displacement). Further, the seat control device can temporarily suspend and resume the above-described rocking process.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above rocking process, when the first displacement and the second displacement are alternately performed, a seated person can easily predict, for example, that the second displacement will be performed next after the first displacement is performed. Therefore, the seated person can easily predict how their own body will be displaced. On the other hand, when a suspended rocking process is resumed, it is difficult for the seated person to predict whether the suspended rocking process will be resumed from the first displacement or the second displacement. That is, it is difficult for the seated person to predict how their own body will be displaced.

[0005] If the interrupted rocking process is resumed from the first displacement, the seated person will be displaced so as to tilt forward. Because the seated person can see ahead while being displaced in a forward-tilting position, they are less likely to feel anxious. On the other hand, if the interrupted rocking process is resumed from the second displacement, the seated person will be displaced so as to tilt backward. Because it is difficult for the seated person to see behind them while being displaced in a backward-tilting position, they may feel anxious.

[0006] In one aspect of this disclosure, it is desirable to minimize the feeling of anxiety experienced by the person sitting in the seat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of this disclosure is preferably, for example, to include at least one of the following constituent elements. Furthermore, to the extent possible, any combination of several of the following constituent elements may be applied.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure is a seat control device (2) for controlling the posture of a vehicle seat (1) having a seat cushion (11) and a seat back (12). The oscillating part (16) of the seat (1), which includes at least the seat back (12), is defined as the oscillating part (16). The side on which the seat back (12) tilts forward is defined as the first side (D1), and the side on which the seat back (12) tilts backward is defined as the second side (D2).

[0009] The seat control device (2) includes a swing control unit (25) and a swing interruption unit (28). The swing control unit (25) alternately performs a first displacement, which displaces the swinging unit (16) to the first side (D1) until it reaches a predetermined first position (L1), and a second displacement, which displaces the swinging unit (16) to the second side (D2) until it reaches a predetermined second position (L2) located to the second side (D2) of the first position (L1). The swing interruption unit (28) interrupts the displacement of the swinging unit (16) by the swing control unit (25). The swing control unit (25) is configured to restart the displacement of the swinging unit (16) that was interrupted by the swing interruption unit (28) from the first displacement in response to a predetermined swing restart instruction.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the oscillation control unit (25) resumes the displacement of the oscillation unit (16), which was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit (28), from the first displacement in response to a predetermined oscillation restart instruction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from resuming from the second displacement. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the person (M) sitting in the seat (1) from feeling uneasy.

[0011] In one aspect of this disclosure, the range of motion of the oscillating part (16) is defined as the range of motion of the oscillating part (16) when the oscillating control unit (25) displaces the oscillating part (16) from a second position (L2) to a first position (L1). A predetermined position within the range of motion of the oscillating part (16) that is closer to the first position (L1) than the second position (L2) is defined as the permitted position (L3). The seat control device (2) may include a position determination unit (S303) that determines whether or not the oscillating part (16) is located on the second side (D2) of the permitted position (L3).

[0012] When the oscillation control unit (25) restarts the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) that was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit (28) in response to an oscillation restart instruction, if the position determination unit (S303) determines that the oscillation unit (16) is located to the second side (D2) of the permitted position (L3), the oscillation control unit (25) may restart the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from the first displacement. Alternatively, if the position determination unit (S303) determines that the oscillation unit (16) is located to the first side (D1) of the permitted position (L3), the oscillation control unit (25) may restart the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from the second displacement.

[0013] Now, let's consider the case where the oscillation control unit (25) is configured to always restart the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from the first displacement. When the oscillation unit (16) is located near the first position (L1), if the oscillation control unit (25) restarts the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from the first displacement, the oscillation unit (16) will be displaced to the first side (D1), and will immediately reach the first position (L1) and stop. Because the oscillation unit (16) moves in this manner, the seated person's (M) body will accelerate and decelerate in a short time, which may cause the seated person (M) to feel uncomfortable.

[0014] On the other hand, with the above configuration, if the oscillating part (16) is located to the first side (D1) of the permitted position (L3), the oscillating control unit (25) restarts the displacement of the oscillating part (16) from the second displacement. Therefore, when the oscillating part (16) is located near the first position (L1), the oscillating control unit (25) restarts the displacement of the oscillating part (16) from the first displacement, thereby preventing the oscillating part (16) from being displaced to the first side (D1) and immediately reaching the first position (L1) and stopping. This helps to prevent discomfort to the seated person (M).

[0015] In one aspect of this disclosure, when the oscillation control unit (25) resumes the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) that was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit (28) in response to an oscillation restart instruction, if the position determination unit (S303) determines that the oscillation unit (16) is located to the first side (D1) of the permitted position (L3), the oscillation control unit (25) may resume the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from the third displacement. The third displacement may be the oscillation unit (16) being displaced to the second side (D2) at a speed slower than the displacement speed of the oscillation unit (16) in the second displacement until it reaches the second position (L2).

[0016] According to the above configuration, if the oscillating part (16) is located to the first side (D1) of the permitted position (L3), the displacement of the oscillating part (16) is restarted from a third displacement, which has a slower displacement velocity than the second displacement. Here, when the displacement speed of the oscillating part (16) is slow, the change in the seated person's (M) field of vision when the seated person's (M) body is displaced to the second side D2 is relatively gradual compared to when the displacement speed is fast. Therefore, the seated person (M) can easily recognize that their body is being displaced to the second side (D2) while the oscillating part (16) is being displaced. In other words, when the displacement speed of the oscillating part (16) is slow, the seated person (M) can predict how their body will be displaced due to the displacement of the oscillating part (16). Therefore, when the oscillating part (16) is displaced to the second side (D2), it is possible to suppress the seated person (M) from feeling anxious.

[0017] In one aspect of this disclosure, the seat control device (2) may be configured to transition its operating state between a stopped state (A3), a swaying state (A4), and a swaying interruption state (A5) in response to the displacement of the swaying part (16) by the swaying control unit (25). The stopped state (A3) is the operating state before the swaying part (16) is displaced by the swaying control unit (25). The swaying state (A4) is the operating state when the swaying control unit (25) is displacing the swaying part (16). The swaying interruption state (A5) is the operating state when the displacement of the swaying part (16) by the swaying control unit (25) is interrupted by the swaying interruption unit (29). When the operating state of the seat control device (2) is the stopped state (A3), the swaying control unit (25) may start the displacement of the swaying part (16) from a first displacement in response to a predetermined swaying start instruction.

[0018] In this case, if the oscillation control unit (25) starts the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from the second displacement in response to a predetermined oscillation start instruction, there is a risk that the seated person (M) may feel uneasy for the same reasons as when the oscillation control unit (25) resumes the interrupted displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from the second displacement.

[0019] On the other hand, with the above configuration, the oscillation control unit (25) restarts the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from the first displacement in response to a predetermined oscillation start instruction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the restart of the displacement of the oscillation unit (16) from the second displacement. Thus, it is possible to suppress causing anxiety to the person (M) sitting on the seat (1) when the oscillation control unit (25) starts the displacement of the oscillation unit (16).

[0020] One aspect of the present disclosure is a seat control system (100) comprising a vehicle seat (1), a displacement mechanism (14), and the above-described seat control device (2). The displacement mechanism (14) is configured to be operable to displace the posture of the seat (1). The seat control device (2) controls the posture of the seat (1) by operating the displacement mechanism (14). The seat control system (100) can achieve the same effects as the above-described seat control device (2).

[0021] Further, one aspect of the present disclosure is a seat control method executed by the above-described seat control device (2). According to the seat control method, the same effects as those of the above-described seat control device (2) can be obtained.

[0022] It should be noted that the reference signs in the above parentheses are examples showing the correspondence relationship with the specific configurations and the like described in the embodiments described later, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations and the like indicated by the reference signs in the above parentheses. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] [Figure 1] It is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the normal posture and relaxed posture of a seat. [Figure 2] FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the first position and the second position. FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram showing the permission position. [Figure 3] It is a block diagram showing the configuration of a seat control system. [Figure 4] It is a state transition diagram showing the operating state of a seat control device. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart showing posture displacement processing. [Figure 6] It is a flowchart showing displacement interruption processing. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart showing swing processing. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart showing swing interruption processing. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The following "embodiments of the invention" show an example of embodiments that belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the matters specifying the invention described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations, structures and the like shown in the following embodiments.

[0025] [1. Configuration] The seat control system 100 of this embodiment is a system that has the function of controlling the posture of the seat 1 (see Figure 3). The seat control system 100 is installed in a vehicle. In this embodiment, the seat control system 100 is installed in a passenger car. However, it is not limited to this, and the seat control system 100 may be installed in vehicles other than passenger cars, or in vehicles other than automobiles such as railway vehicles, ships, and aircraft. In addition, a passenger car equipped with the seat control system 100 is equipped with a driving control device that has the function of controlling the driving of the passenger car. The driving control device is configured to communicate with the seat control device 2, which will be described later.

[0026] The seat control system 100 comprises a seat 1, a seat control device 2, and an input unit 3. <Sheet 1> Seat 1 is a seat on which an occupant of a vehicle (i.e., a passenger car) can sit (see Figures 1 and 2). In this embodiment, as an example, seat 1 is assembled such that the seat width direction coincides with the left-right direction of the vehicle, the seat height direction coincides with the up-down direction of the vehicle, and the seat front-rear direction coincides with the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Hereafter, the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-rear direction of the vehicle will be simply referred to as the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-rear direction, respectively.

[0027] Seat 1 is, for example, the front seat of a passenger car (i.e., the driver's seat or passenger seat). However, it is not limited to this; Seat 1 may also be the rear seat of a passenger car. The seat 1 comprises a seat cushion 11, a seat back 12, an ottoman 13, a displacement mechanism 14, a displacement part 15, and a swinging part 16. The seat cushion 11 is the part that supports the buttocks of the sitter M. The seat back 12 is the part that supports the back of the sitter M. The seat back 12 is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 11 and is rotatable about an axis that extends in the left-right direction relative to the seat cushion 11. The ottoman 13 is the part that supports the lower legs of the sitter M. The ottoman 13 is connected to the front end of the seat cushion 11 and is rotatable about an axis that extends in the left-right direction relative to the seat cushion 11.

[0028] The displacement mechanism 14 is a mechanism configured to be operable to displace the posture of the seat 1. The displacement mechanism 14 in this embodiment consists of a slider mechanism, a lifter mechanism, a tilt mechanism, a reclining mechanism, and an ottoman mechanism. Hereafter, the slider mechanism, lifter mechanism, tilt mechanism, reclining mechanism, and ottoman mechanism will be collectively referred to as the five mechanisms.

[0029] The slider mechanism is a mechanism for displacing the seat cushion 11 in the front-to-back direction. The lifter mechanism is a mechanism for displacing the seat cushion 11 in the up-and-down direction. The reclining mechanism is a mechanism for changing the angle of the seat back 12 relative to the seat cushion 11. The tilt mechanism is a mechanism for displacing the front end of the seat cushion 11 in the up-and-down direction. The rear end of the seat cushion 11 is connected to the floor of the passenger car, and the seat cushion 11 is rotatable about an axis extending left-to-right relative to the floor. Therefore, when the tilt mechanism is activated, the seat cushion 11 rotates about this axis. In addition, since the seat back 12 and ottoman 13 are connected to the seat cushion 11, the seat back 12 and ottoman 13 are displaced along with the displacement of the seat cushion 11 by the slider mechanism, lifter mechanism, and tilt mechanism.

[0030] The reclining mechanism is a mechanism for changing the angle of the seat back 12 relative to the seat cushion 11. The ottoman mechanism is a mechanism for changing the angle of the ottoman 13 relative to the seat cushion 11.

[0031] Each of the five mechanisms is equipped with an actuator (an electric motor in this embodiment), which is not shown. Each actuator operates the corresponding mechanism by outputting a driving force in response to a control signal transmitted from the seat control device 2, which will be described later.

[0032] The displacement portion 15 is a part of the seat 1 that includes at least the seat cushion 11 and the seat back 12, and is a part that can be displaced by the displacement mechanism 14 (see Figure 1). In this embodiment, the displacement portion 15 is the seat cushion 11, the seat back 12, and the ottoman 13.

[0033] The oscillating portion 16 is a part of the seat 1 that includes at least the seat back 12 of the displacement portion 15 (see Figure 2A). In this embodiment, the oscillating portion 16 consists of the seat cushion 11, the seat back 12, and the ottoman 13.

[0034] <Seat control device 2> The seat control device 2 controls the posture of the seat 1 by activating the displacement mechanism 14 (see Figure 3). The seat control device 2 is configured to communicate with each actuator of the displacement mechanism 14 and the input unit 3, which will be described later.

[0035] The seat control device 2 is primarily composed of a well-known microcomputer having a CPU 21 and memory 22, which is a semiconductor memory such as ROM and RAM. The various functions of the seat control device 2 are realized by the CPU 21 executing a program stored in memory 22, which is a non-transitional physical recording medium. When the program is executed, the processing corresponding to the program is performed. The number of microcomputers constituting the seat control device 2 may be one or more. Furthermore, the method for realizing the functions of the seat control device 2 is not limited to software; some or all of its elements may be realized using one or more hardware components. For example, if the above functions are realized by an electronic circuit, which is hardware, that electronic circuit may be a digital circuit containing many logic circuits, an analog circuit, or a combination thereof.

[0036] The memory unit 23 is a memory device for storing various types of information. As will be described later, the memory unit 23 stores information indicating the posture of the seat 1. The memory unit 23 also has information indicating the comfortable posture P2, which will be described later, pre-stored in it. Furthermore, the memory unit 23 stores the number of oscillations in the oscillation process, which will be described later.

[0037] Furthermore, the memory unit 23 stores various flags. These flags include permission information indicating whether or not a predetermined process is permitted to be executed. Hereafter, if the flag is ON, it will be said that the predetermined process is permitted to be executed, and if the flag is OFF, it will be said that the predetermined process is prohibited. In this embodiment, the memory unit 23 stores a displacement interruption permission flag indicating whether or not the displacement interruption process, which will be described later, is permitted to be executed as an interrupt. The memory unit 23 also stores an oscillation interruption permission flag indicating whether or not the oscillation interruption process, which will be described later, is permitted to be executed as an interrupt.

[0038] The seat control device 2 comprises a displacement control unit 24, a oscillation control unit 25, a target speed instruction unit 26, a displacement interruption unit 27, and an oscillation interruption unit 28, as functions realized by the CPU 21 executing a program (see Figure 3).

[0039] The displacement control unit 24 performs the posture displacement processing described later. The posture displacement processing is the process of displacing the posture of the seat 1 to the normal posture P1 and the comfortable posture P2 (see Figure 1). The normal posture P1 is the posture of the seat 1 before the posture displacement processing described later is performed, in which the seat back 12 is more upright compared to the comfortable posture P2. The normal posture P1 may be, for example, the posture of the seat 1 when a passenger car is in motion. In the normal posture P1 of this embodiment, the ottoman 13 is stored below the seat cushion 11.

[0040] Comfortable posture P2 is a seat position 1 suitable for a seated person M to sleep in. In comfortable posture P2, the seat cushion 11 and seat back 12 of seat 1 are tilted further back than in normal posture P1. In comfortable posture P2 of this embodiment, the ottoman 13 is positioned to support the lower legs of the seated person M. As an example, the seated person M's posture in seat 1 in comfortable posture P2 has a hip angle θ1 of approximately 128° and a knee angle θ2 of approximately 133°. The hip angle θ1 refers to the relative angle between the pelvis and the thigh. The knee angle θ2 refers to the relative angle between the thigh and the lower leg.

[0041] The displacement control unit 24 displaces the displacement unit 15 at the target speed indicated by the target speed indicator unit 26, which will be described later, by activating at least one mechanism (all mechanisms in this embodiment) of the displacement mechanism 14.

[0042] The operation of the displacement mechanism 14 when the displacement control unit 24 in this embodiment displaces the seat 1 from a normal posture P1 to a comfortable posture P2 will be explained in more detail. The displacement control unit 24 displaces the seat cushion 11 backward using the slider mechanism, displaces the seat cushion 11 upward using the lifter mechanism, and displaces the seat cushion 11 so that it tilts backward using the tilt mechanism. As mentioned above, the seat back 12 and ottoman 13 are displaced together with the displacement of the seat cushion 11 by the slider mechanism, lifter mechanism, and tilt mechanism. The displacement control unit 24 also rotates the seat back 12 backward relative to the seat cushion 11 using the reclining mechanism. The displacement control unit 24 also rotates the ottoman 13 relative to the seat cushion 11 using the ottoman mechanism, displacing it to a position where it can support the lower legs of the seated person M. As a result, the posture of the seat 1 is displaced from a normal posture P1 to a comfortable posture P2.

[0043] The operation of the displacement mechanism 14 when the displacement control unit 24 in this embodiment displaces the seat 1 from a comfortable position P2 to a normal position P1 will be described in the same manner. The displacement control unit 24 displaces the seat cushion 11 forward by the slider mechanism, displaces the seat cushion 11 downward by the lifter mechanism, and displaces the seat cushion 11 so that it tilts forward by the tilt mechanism. The displacement control unit 24 also rotates the seat back 12 so that it is raised forward relative to the seat cushion 11 by the reclining mechanism. The displacement control unit 24 also rotates the ottoman 13 relative to the seat cushion 11 by the ottoman mechanism and stores it below the seat cushion 11. As a result, the posture of the seat 1 is displaced from a comfortable position P2 to a normal position P1.

[0044] The oscillation control unit 25 performs the oscillation process described later. The oscillation process is the process of oscillating the oscillation part 16 of the seat 1 (see Figure 2A). Specifically, the oscillation control unit 25 operates at least one mechanism of the displacement mechanism 14 (the tilt mechanism in this embodiment) to oscillate the oscillation part 16 at the target speed indicated by the target speed indicator unit 26, which will be described later. As mentioned above, the seat cushion 11 rotates around an axis that is located at the rear end and extends in the left-right direction due to the tilt mechanism. As the seat cushion 11 rotates, the entire oscillation part 16 (i.e., the seat cushion 11, seat back 12, and ottoman 13) rotates.

[0045] The oscillation control unit 25 performs the first displacement and the second displacement alternately. Alternatively, the oscillation control unit 25 may perform the first displacement and the second displacement alternately and periodically. The first displacement is the displacement of the oscillating part 16 to the first side D1 in a predetermined direction until it reaches a predetermined first position L1. The second displacement is the displacement of the oscillating part 16 to the second side D2 until it reaches a predetermined second position L2 (see Figure 2A). The first position L1 is the position D1 to the first side of the second position L2, and the second position L2 is the position D2 to the second side of the first position L1.

[0046] In this embodiment, the first side D1 is the side on which the seat cushion 11 and seat back 12 tilt forward, and the second side D2 is the side on which the seat cushion 11 and seat back 12 tilt backward. In this embodiment, the first position L1 is, for example, the position of the oscillating part 16 of the seat 1 in the comfortable position P2 when it is rotated by approximately 4° by the tilt mechanism and displaced to the first side D1. The second position L2 is the position of the oscillating part 16 when it is rotated by approximately 8° by the tilt mechanism when it is positioned at the first position L1 and displaced to the second side D2. Hereafter, the range of motion of the oscillating part 16 when the oscillating control unit 25 displaces the oscillating part 16 from the first position L1 to the second side D2 until it reaches the second position L2 will also be simply referred to as the range of motion of the oscillating part 16.

[0047] The target speed instruction unit 26 controls the target speed according to the instruction speed set in the CPU 21, and also instructs the displacement control unit 24 and the oscillation control unit 25 to set the target speed. The target speed instruction unit 26 controls the target speed to follow the instruction speed. Furthermore, when the target speed instruction unit 26 makes the target speed follow the instruction speed, it gradually changes the target speed at a predetermined rate of change (i.e., acceleration) to reach the instruction speed. This prevents the target speed from changing abruptly even if the instruction speed changes abruptly. Therefore, it prevents the displacement control unit 24 from rapidly accelerating or decelerating the displacement unit 15, and prevents the oscillation control unit 25 from rapidly accelerating or decelerating the oscillation unit 16.

[0048] The displacement interruption unit 27 executes the displacement interruption process, described later, as an interruption to the attitude displacement process. The displacement interruption process is a process to temporarily interrupt the displacement of the displacement unit 15 caused by the attitude displacement process. When the displacement interruption process is executed, the displacement control unit 24 stores the contents of the process currently being executed in the attitude displacement process in the storage unit 23, and then interrupts the attitude displacement process. When the displacement interruption process is completed, the displacement control unit 24 resumes the attitude displacement process from the process that was being executed before the interruption, based on the contents of the process stored in the storage unit 23.

[0049] The oscillation interruption unit 28 executes the oscillation interruption process, described later, as an interruption to the oscillation process. The oscillation interruption process is a process to temporarily interrupt the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 caused by the oscillation process. When the oscillation interruption process is executed, the oscillation process is interrupted. When the oscillation interruption process is completed, the oscillation control unit 25 restarts the oscillation process from S303, regardless of the content of the process that was being executed before the interruption in the oscillation process, as described later.

[0050] <Input section 3> The input unit 3 is an interface for receiving input operations from the user (i.e., the seated person M). In this embodiment, the input unit 3 is, for example, a plurality of push buttons located around the hand area of ​​the seated person M on the seat 1. The input unit 3 receives operations indicating various instructions from the user and transmits signals indicating those instructions to the seat control device 2. Hereafter, the fact that the seat control device 2 has received signals indicating various instructions from the input unit 3 will be simply referred to as "various instructions have been received."

[0051] [2. Operating status] The operating states of the seat control device 2 (hereinafter also simply referred to as operating states) will be explained using Figure 4. The operating states include normal state A1, intermediate state A2, comfortable state A3, oscillating state A4, and oscillating interrupted state A5.

[0052] Normal state A1 is the operating state before the attitude displacement processing described later is performed. When the displacement of the displacement unit 15 by the displacement control unit 24 is initiated in normal state A1, the seat control device 2 transitions to intermediate state A2.

[0053] Intermediate state A2 is an operating state in which the posture of seat 1 is being displaced by the displacement control unit 24 to the normal posture P1 and the comfortable posture P2. In intermediate state A2, when the posture of seat 1 reaches the comfortable posture P2 by the displacement control unit 24, the seat control device 2 transitions to the comfortable state A3. Also, in intermediate state A2, when the posture of seat 1 reaches the normal posture P1 by the displacement control unit 24, the seat control device 2 transitions to the normal state A1.

[0054] Comfort state A3 is the operating state when the seat 1's posture is displaced to the comfort posture P2 by the displacement control unit 24. In comfort state A3, if the oscillation control unit 25 starts displacing the oscillation unit 16, the seat control device 2 transitions to the upright transition state A41 or the reclining transition state A43, which will be described later. Also, in comfort state A3, if the displacement control unit 24 starts displacing the displacement unit 15, the seat control device 2 transitions to the intermediate state A2.

[0055] Oscillating state A4 is the operating state when the oscillating unit 16 is displaced by the oscillating control unit 25. Oscillating state A4 includes the upright transition state A41, the upright state A42, the tilting transition state A43, and the tilted state A44. When the oscillating process is completed in oscillating state A4, the seat control device 2 transitions to the comfortable state A3.

[0056] The raised transition state A41 is the operating state when the oscillating part 16 is displaced to the first side D1. When the oscillating part 16 reaches the first position L1 in the raised transition state A41, the seat control device 2 transitions to the raised state A42.

[0057] The raised state A42 is the operating state when the oscillating part 16 is in the first position L1. When the displacement of the oscillating part 16 toward the second side D2 begins in the raised state A42, the seat control device 2 transitions to the tilted state A43.

[0058] The tilt transition state A43 is the operating state when the oscillating part 16 is displaced to the second side D2. When the oscillating part 16 reaches the second position L2 in the tilt transition state A43, the seat control device 2 transitions to the tilt state A44.

[0059] The tilted state A44 is the operating state when the oscillating part 16 is in the second position L2. In the tilted state A44, if the displacement of the oscillating part 16 toward the first side D1 begins, the seat control device 2 transitions to the upright transition state A41. Also, if the oscillating interruption process is executed in the tilted state A44, the seat control device 2 transitions to the oscillating interruption state A5.

[0060] Oscillating interruption state A5 is the operating state when the oscillating interruption process described later is being executed. In oscillating interruption state A5, when the oscillating interruption process is completed and the displacement of the oscillating unit 16 by the oscillating control unit 25 is resumed, the seat control device 2 transitions to either the upright transition state A41 or the tilting transition state A43 of the oscillating states A4.

[0061] Furthermore, the vehicle's driving control system permits or prohibits the vehicle from starting based on the operating state of the seat control system 2. Specifically, when the seat control system 2 is in the normal state A1, the driving control system permits the vehicle from starting. This is because, when the seat control system 2 is in the normal state A1, the posture of the seat 1 is assumed to be the normal posture P1. The posture of the occupant M seated in the seat 1 in the normal posture P1 is assumed to be a posture suitable for driving the vehicle.

[0062] On the other hand, if the seat control device 2 is not in the normal state A1, the driving control device will prohibit the passenger car from starting. This is because, if the seat control device 2 is not in the normal state A1, it is assumed that the posture of the seat 1 is not in the normal posture P1. If the posture of the seat 1 is not in the normal posture P1, it is assumed that the posture of the occupant M is not suitable for driving the passenger car.

[0063] [3. Processing] <Posture displacement processing> The posture displacement processing performed by the CPU 21 will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 5. Posture displacement processing is performed when a displacement instruction is received, while the operating state of the seat control device 2 is in the normal state A1. A displacement instruction is an instruction by the seated person M to change the posture of the seat 1 from the normal posture P1 to the comfortable posture P2.

[0064] Furthermore, posture displacement processing is permitted only when the passenger car is stationary, and prohibited while the passenger car is in motion. This is because the posture of a seated person M sitting in seat 1 in comfortable posture P2 is assumed not to be suitable for the passenger car to be in motion.

[0065] In S101, the CPU 21 stores information indicating the current orientation of seat 1 (i.e., the normal orientation P1) in the storage unit 23. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S102. In S102, the CPU 21 allows the displacement interruption process, described later, to be executed as an interrupt. Specifically, the CPU 21 rewrites the displacement interruption permission flag in the memory unit 23 to ON. This allows the CPU 21 to execute the displacement interruption process as an interrupt while S103, described later, is being executed. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S103.

[0066] In S103, the CPU 21 instructs the target speed instruction unit 26 to a predetermined instruction speed and uses the function of the displacement control unit 24 to displace the seat 1 from the normal position P1 to the comfortable position P2. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S104. As soon as the displacement control unit 24 starts displacing the seat 1, the seat control device 2 transitions from the normal state A1 to the intermediate state A2. Then, once the displacement control unit 24 has displaced the seat 1 to the comfortable position P2, the seat control device 2 transitions from the intermediate state A2 to the comfortable state A3.

[0067] In S104, the CPU 21 prevents the displacement interruption process, described later, from being executed via an interrupt. Specifically, the CPU 21 rewrites the displacement interruption permission flag in the memory unit 23 to OFF. As a result, the CPU 21 does not execute the displacement interruption process via an interrupt while S105 to S107 are being executed. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S105.

[0068] In S105, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a return instruction has been given. A return instruction is an instruction from the seated person M to change the position of seat 1 from the comfortable position P2 to the normal position P1. If the CPU 21 determines that a return instruction has been given (S105: YES), it proceeds to S108. On the other hand, if the CPU 21 determines that there is no return instruction (S105: NO), it proceeds to S106.

[0069] In S106, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a rocking start instruction has been given. A rocking start instruction is an instruction from the seated person M to perform a rocking process. If the CPU 21 determines that a rocking start instruction has been given (S105: YES), it proceeds to S107. On the other hand, if the CPU 21 determines that there is no rocking start instruction (S105: NO), it proceeds back to S105.

[0070] In S107, CPU21 performs oscillation processing. Details of the oscillation processing will be described later. After the oscillation processing is complete, CPU21 returns to S105. In other words, CPU21 repeats the processing from S105 to S107 until it receives a return instruction.

[0071] In S108, CPU21, in the same manner as in S102, allows the displacement interrupt process to be executed via an interrupt. This allows CPU21 to execute the displacement interrupt process via an interrupt while S109, described later, is being executed. Then, CPU21 proceeds to S109.

[0072] In S109, the CPU 21 instructs the target speed instruction unit 26 to a predetermined instruction speed and uses the function of the displacement control unit 24 to displace the seat 1 from the comfortable position P2 to the normal position P1. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S110. As soon as the displacement control unit 24 starts displacing the seat 1, the seat control device 2 transitions from the comfortable state A3 to the intermediate state A2. Then, once the displacement control unit 24 has displaced the seat 1 to the normal position P1, the seat control device 2 transitions from the intermediate state A2 to the normal state A1.

[0073] In S110, CPU21, in the same manner as in S104, prevents the displacement interruption process from being executed via an interrupt. Then, CPU21 terminates this process.

[0074] <Displacement Interruption Processing> The displacement interruption process executed by the CPU 21 will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 6. The displacement interruption process is executed when a displacement interruption instruction is received, provided that the execution of the displacement interruption process via interrupt is permitted (i.e., the displacement interruption permission flag in the memory unit 23 is ON). A displacement interruption instruction is an instruction by the seated person M to interrupt the displacement of the displacement unit 15 caused by the posture displacement process. As mentioned above, when the displacement interruption process is executed (i.e., the posture displacement process is interrupted), the displacement control unit 24 stores the contents of the process that was being executed in the memory unit 23. Specifically, for example, if the posture displacement process is interrupted while S103 is being executed, the displacement control unit 24 stores information in the memory unit 23 indicating that S103 was being executed.

[0075] Furthermore, in emergencies (for example, if an impact to seat 1 is detected, or if there is a risk that the seated person M's body will be trapped in seat 1 due to the displacement of seat 1), CPU 21 may execute the displacement interruption process even without a displacement interruption instruction. In this case, CPU 21 may forcibly execute the displacement interruption process regardless of whether or not execution of the displacement interruption process via interrupt is permitted.

[0076] In S201, the CPU 21 uses the function of the displacement interruption unit 27 to stop the displacement of the displacement unit 15 by the displacement control unit 24. Specifically, the CPU 21 stops the displacement of the displacement unit 15 by the displacement control unit 24 by instructing the target speed instruction unit 26 to set the speed to zero. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S202.

[0077] In S202, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a transition restart instruction has been received. A transition restart instruction is an instruction from the seated person M to resume the interrupted posture displacement processing. If the CPU 21 determines that a transition restart instruction has been received (S202: YES), it terminates this process. Then, the CPU 21 resumes the processing that was being executed before the interruption in the posture displacement processing, based on the contents of the processing before the interruption stored in the memory unit 23. Specifically, for example, if the memory unit 23 has information indicating that S103 was being executed, the CPU 21 resumes the posture displacement processing from S103.

[0078] On the other hand, if CPU21 determines that there is no instruction to resume the transition (S202:NO), it repeats the determination in S202.

[0079] <Oscillating process> The oscillation process performed by the CPU 21 will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 7. The oscillation process is performed when the operating state of the seat control device 2 is the comfortable state A3 (i.e., the seat 1 is in the comfortable position P2) and an oscillation start instruction is given. The oscillation start instruction is an instruction from the seated person M to oscillate the oscillation unit 16.

[0080] In S301, the CPU 21 initializes the count of oscillations stored in the memory unit 23 (i.e., sets it to zero). Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S302. In S302, the CPU 21 allows the oscillation interruption process, described later, to be executed as an interrupt. Specifically, the CPU 21 rewrites the oscillation interruption permission flag in the memory unit 23 to ON. As a result, the CPU 21 can execute the oscillation interruption process as an interrupt while S303 to S308 are being executed. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S303.

[0081] In S303, the CPU 21 determines whether the oscillating part 16 is located at the first side D1 relative to the permitted position L3. The permitted position L3 is a predetermined position within the movable range of the oscillating part 16 that is closer to the first position L1 than to the second position L2 (see Figure 2B). As an example, the permitted position L3 is the position of the oscillating part 16 when it has been displaced from the first position L1 to the second side D2 by approximately 20% of the maximum displacement. The maximum displacement is the amount of displacement when the oscillating part 16 is displaced within the movable range from the first position L1 to the second position L2.

[0082] If the CPU 21 determines that the oscillating part 16 is located at the first side D1 relative to the permitted position L3 (S303: YES), it proceeds to S308. On the other hand, if the CPU 21 determines that the oscillating part 16 is located at the second side D2 relative to the permitted position L3 (S303: NO), it proceeds to S304.

[0083] In S304, the CPU 21 uses the functions of the oscillation control unit 25 to displace the oscillation unit 16 to the first side D1 until it reaches the first position L1. The CPU 21 displaces the oscillation unit 16 at a first speed V1. Specifically, the CPU 21 instructs the target speed instruction unit 26 to set the first speed V1 as the instruction speed, and uses the functions of the oscillation control unit 25 to displace the oscillation unit 16 to the first side D1 until it reaches the first position L1. The first speed V1 is the rotational speed when the oscillation unit 16 rotates due to the tilt mechanism, and is, for example, 1° per second. Then the CPU 21 proceeds to S305. As soon as the oscillation control unit 25 starts displacing the oscillation unit 16, the seat control device 2 transitions from the comfortable state A3, the reclined state A44, or the oscillation interrupted state A5 to the upright transition state A41. As the oscillating part 16 reaches the first position L1, the seat control device 2 transitions from the raised transition state A41 to the raised state A42.

[0084] In S305, the CPU 21 stops the oscillating unit 16 for a predetermined time. Specifically, the CPU 21 stops the oscillating unit 16 by instructing the target speed instruction unit 26 to set the instruction speed to zero for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds). Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S306.

[0085] In S306, the CPU 21 uses the functions of the oscillation control unit 25 to displace the oscillation unit 16 to the second side D2 until it reaches the second position L2. The CPU 21 displaces the oscillation unit 16 at a first speed V1. Specifically, the CPU 21 instructs the target speed instruction unit 26 to set the first speed V1 as the instruction speed, and uses the functions of the oscillation control unit 25 to displace the oscillation unit 16 to the second side D2 until it reaches the second position L2. Then the CPU 21 proceeds to S307. As soon as the oscillation control unit 25 starts displacing the oscillation unit 16, the seat control device 2 transitions from the upright state A42 to the reclined state A43. When the oscillation unit 16 reaches the second position L2, the seat control device 2 transitions from the reclined state A43 to the reclined state A44.

[0086] In S307, the CPU 21 uses the functions of the oscillation control unit 25 to displace the oscillation unit 16 to the second side D2 until it reaches the second position L2. The CPU 21 displaces the oscillation unit 16 at a second speed V2. Specifically, the CPU 21 instructs the target speed instruction unit 26 to set the second speed V2 as the instruction speed, and uses the functions of the oscillation control unit 25 to displace the oscillation unit 16 to the second side D2 until it reaches the second position L2. The second speed V2 is the rotational speed when the oscillation unit 16 rotates due to the tilt mechanism, and is slower than the first speed V1. As an example, the second speed V2 is approximately 50% of the first speed (for example, 0.5° per second). Then the CPU 21 proceeds to S308. Furthermore, as soon as the oscillation control unit 25 starts displacing the oscillation unit 16, the seat control device 2 transitions from the comfortable state A3, the upright state A42, or the oscillation interrupted state A5 to the reclined state A43. When the oscillation unit 16 reaches the second position L2, the seat control device 2 transitions from the reclined state A43 to the reclined state A44.

[0087] In S308, the CPU 21 increments the count of oscillations stored in the memory unit 23. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S309. In S309, the CPU 21 determines whether the number of oscillations stored in the memory unit 23 has reached a predetermined target number. The target number is set, for example, to the number of oscillations necessary to promote sleep for the seated person M. If the CPU 21 determines that the number of oscillations has reached the target number (S309: YES), it proceeds to S311. On the other hand, if the CPU 21 determines that the number of oscillations has not reached the target number (S309: NO), it proceeds to S310.

[0088] In S310, the CPU 21 stops the oscillating unit 16 for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds), similar to S305. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds back to S305. In S311, the CPU 21 prevents the oscillation interruption process, described later, from being executed as an interrupt. Specifically, the CPU 21 rewrites the oscillation interruption permission flag in the memory unit 23 to OFF. Then, the CPU 21 terminates this process. Upon termination of this process, the seat control device 2 transitions from oscillation state A4 to comfort state A3.

[0089] <Oscillation interruption process> The oscillation interruption process executed by CPU 21 will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 8. The oscillation interruption process is executed when an oscillation interruption instruction is received, provided that execution of the oscillation interruption process via interrupt is permitted (i.e., the oscillation interruption permission flag in memory unit 23 is ON). An oscillation interruption instruction is an instruction from the seated person M to interrupt the oscillation process.

[0090] Furthermore, in emergencies (for example, if an impact to seat 1 is detected, or if there is a risk of seater M's body being trapped in seat 1 due to seat 1 displacement), CPU 21 may execute the swing interruption process even without a swing interruption instruction. In this case, CPU 21 may forcibly execute the swing interruption process regardless of whether execution of the swing interruption process via interrupt is permitted.

[0091] Furthermore, upon commencement of the oscillation interruption process, the seat control device 2 transitions from oscillation state A4 to oscillation interruption state A5. In S401, the CPU 21 uses the function of the oscillation interruption unit 28 to stop the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 by the oscillation control unit 25. Specifically, the CPU 21 stops the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 by the oscillation control unit 25 by instructing the target speed instruction unit 26 to set the instruction speed to zero. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to S402.

[0092] In S402, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a rocking restart instruction has been received. A rocking restart instruction is an instruction from the seated person M to restart the rocking process. If the CPU 21 determines that a rocking restart instruction has been received (S402: YES), it terminates this process. Then, regardless of the content of the process that was being executed before the interruption in the rocking process, the CPU 21 restarts the rocking process from S303. On the other hand, if the CPU 21 determines that there is no rocking restart instruction (S402: NO), it repeats the determination in S402.

[0093] [4. Effects] According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The seat control device 2 of this embodiment controls the posture of a vehicle seat 1 having a seat cushion 11 and a seat back 12.

[0094] The pivoting part 16 is defined as the displaceable portion of the seat 1, which includes at least the seat back 12. The side on which the seat back 12 tilts forward is defined as the first side D1, and the side on which the seat back 12 tilts backward is defined as the second side D2.

[0095] The seat control device 2 comprises a swing control unit 25 and a swing interruption unit 28. The swing control unit 25 alternately performs a first displacement, which displaces the swinging unit 16 toward the first side D1 until it reaches a predetermined first position L1, and a second displacement, which displaces the swinging unit 16 toward the second side D2 until it reaches a predetermined second position L2, which is located toward the second side D2 of the first position L1. The swing interruption unit 28 interrupts the displacement of the swinging unit 16 by the swing control unit 25. As long as the swinging unit 16 is toward the second side D2 of the permitted position L3, the swing control unit 25 is configured to resume the displacement of the swinging unit 16, which was interrupted by the swing interruption unit 28, from the first displacement in response to a predetermined swing restart instruction.

[0096] If the oscillation control unit 25 resumes the interrupted displacement of the oscillation unit 16 from the first displacement, the seated person M will be displaced to the first side D1, that is, tilted forward. When seated person M is displaced to the first side D1, they can see forward and are therefore less likely to feel anxious. On the other hand, if the oscillation control unit 25 resumes the interrupted displacement of the oscillation unit 16 from the second displacement, seated person M will be displaced to the second side D2, that is, tilted backward. When seated person M is displaced to the second side D2, it is difficult for them to see backward. Therefore, seated person M may feel anxious.

[0097] On the other hand, with the above configuration, as long as the oscillating unit 16 is at the second position D2 relative to the permitted position L3, the oscillation control unit 25 will resume the displacement of the oscillating unit 16, which was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit 28, from the first displacement in response to the oscillation restart instruction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the oscillating unit 16 from resuming from the second displacement. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the occupant M of the seat 1 from feeling uneasy.

[0098] (2) The range in which the oscillating unit 16 is displaced when the oscillating control unit 25 displaces the oscillating unit 16 from the second position L2 to the first position L1 is defined as the movable range of the oscillating unit 16. A predetermined position within the movable range of the oscillating unit 16 that is closer to the first position L1 than to the second position L2 is defined as the permitted position L3. In this embodiment, the seat control device 2 has a position determination unit that determines whether or not the oscillating unit 16 is located at the second side D2 of the permitted position L3. When the oscillating control unit 25 resumes the displacement of the oscillating unit 16 that was interrupted by the oscillating interruption unit 28 in response to an instruction to resume oscillating, if the position determination unit determines that the oscillating unit 16 is located at the second side D2 of the permitted position L3, the oscillating control unit 25 resumes the displacement of the oscillating unit 16 from the first displacement. Furthermore, if the position determination unit determines that the oscillating unit 16 is located at the first side D1 relative to the permitted position L3, the oscillating control unit 25 displaces the oscillating unit 16 to the second side D2, thereby restarting the displacement of the oscillating unit 16.

[0099] Now, let's consider the case where the oscillation control unit 25 is configured to always restart the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 from the first displacement. When the oscillation control unit 25 restarts the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 from the first displacement while the oscillation unit 16 is located near the first position L1, the oscillation unit 16 will be displaced to the first side D1 and immediately reach the first position L1 and stop. Because the oscillation unit 16 operates in this manner, the seated person M's body will accelerate and decelerate in a short time, which may cause discomfort to the seated person M.

[0100] On the other hand, with the above configuration, if the oscillating part 16 is located at the first side D1 rather than the permitted position L3, the oscillating control unit 25 restarts the displacement of the oscillating part 16 by displacing the oscillating part 16 to the second side D2. Therefore, when the oscillating part 16 is located near the first position L1, the oscillating control unit 25 restarts the displacement of the oscillating part 16 from the first displacement, thereby preventing the oscillating part 16 from being displaced to the first side D1 and immediately reaching the first position L1 and stopping. This helps to prevent the seated person M from experiencing discomfort.

[0101] (3) When the oscillation control unit 25 resumes the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 that was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit 28 in response to an oscillation restart instruction, if the position determination unit determines that the oscillation unit 16 is located at the first side D1 rather than the permitted position L3, it resumes the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 from the third displacement. The third displacement is to displace the oscillation unit 16 to the second side D2 at a speed slower than the displacement speed of the oscillation unit 16 in the second displacement until it reaches the second position L2.

[0102] According to the above configuration, if the oscillating part 16 is located at the first side D1 rather than the permitted position L3, the displacement of the oscillating part 16 is restarted from a third displacement, which has a slower displacement speed than the second displacement. When the displacement speed of the oscillating part 16 is slow, the change in the seated person M's field of vision when the seated person M's body is displaced to the second side D2 is relatively gradual compared to when the displacement speed is fast. Therefore, the seated person M is more likely to recognize that their body is being displaced to the second side D2 while the oscillating part 16 is being displaced. In other words, when the displacement speed of the oscillating part 16 is slow, the seated person M can predict how their body will be displaced by the displacement of the oscillating part 16. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the feeling of anxiety that the seated person M of the seat 1 will experience when the oscillating part 16 is displaced to the second side D2.

[0103] (4) The seat control device 2 transitions its operating state to a comfortable state A3, an oscillating state A4, and an oscillating interrupted state A5, in accordance with the displacement of the oscillating part 16 by the oscillating control unit 25. Comfortable state A3 is the operating state before the oscillating part 16 is displaced by the oscillating control unit 25. Oscillating state A4 is the operating state when the oscillating control unit 25 is displacing the oscillating part 16. Oscillating interrupted state A5 is the operating state when the displacement of the oscillating part 16 by the oscillating control unit 25 is interrupted by the oscillating interruption unit 28.

[0104] When the operating state of the seat control device 2 is the comfortable state A3, the oscillation control unit 25 initiates the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 from the first displacement in response to a predetermined oscillation start instruction, as long as the oscillation unit 16 is in the second position D2 beyond the permitted position L3.

[0105] Here, if the oscillation control unit 25 were to start the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 from the second displacement, it could cause the seated person M to feel uneasy for the same reasons as when the interrupted displacement of the oscillation unit 16 is resumed from the second displacement. On the other hand, with the above configuration, as long as the oscillation unit 16 is at the second side D2 of the permitted position L3, the oscillation control unit 25 will start the displacement of the oscillation unit 16, which was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit 28, from the first displacement in response to the oscillation start instruction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 from starting from the second displacement. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the seated person M of the seat 1 from feeling uneasy.

[0106] Furthermore, with the above configuration, in both cases—when the oscillation control unit 25 initiates the displacement of the oscillation unit 16, and when the oscillation control unit 25 resumes the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 that was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit 28—the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 is initiated from the first displacement. Therefore, the oscillation control unit 25 can displace the oscillation unit 16 using the same control program in both of these cases. Consequently, compared to the case where different control programs are used in these two cases, the capacity of the control program stored in the memory 22 can be reduced, and the effort required to create the control program can be reduced.

[0107] [5. Correspondence between wordings] In the above embodiment, S303 corresponds to an example of a position determination unit. Also, the comfortable state A3 corresponds to an example of a stopped state.

[0108] [6. Other Embodiments] While embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and can take various forms.

[0109] (1) In the above embodiment, the rocking interruption unit 28 interrupts the displacement of the rocking unit 16 by the rocking control unit 25 in response to a rocking interruption instruction from the seated person M. The rocking control unit 25 also resumes the displacement of the rocking unit 16 in response to a rocking restart instruction from the seated person M.

[0110] However, this is not limited to the above. For example, the oscillation interruption unit 28 may, if a predetermined interruption condition is met, execute the oscillation interruption process even without an instruction to interrupt the oscillation from the seated person M, and interrupt the displacement of the oscillation unit 16 by the oscillation control unit 25. The interruption condition may be, for example, the passenger car becoming ready to start (for example, the passenger car's range being set to a range other than P range). Also, if seat 1 is the front seat of the passenger car, the interruption condition may be that a person is seated in the rear seat of the passenger car.

[0111] Furthermore, if the above interruption conditions are no longer met, the oscillation interruption unit 28 may terminate the oscillation interruption process and restart the oscillation of the oscillation unit 16 by the oscillation control unit 25, even without a restart instruction from the seated person M. With this configuration, if the interruption conditions are no longer met, the oscillation of the oscillation unit 16 will be restarted even without a restart instruction from the seated person M, thus reducing the effort required for the seated person M to operate the input unit 3.

[0112] (2) In the above embodiment, when the oscillation interruption process is executed, the oscillation process is interrupted. If an instruction to restart the oscillation is given while the oscillation interruption process is in progress, the CPU 21 restarts the oscillation process from S303. However, the embodiment is not limited to this; for example, when the oscillation interruption process is executed, the CPU 21 may terminate the oscillation process instead of interrupting it. If the oscillation interruption process is terminated, the CPU 21 may execute the oscillation process from S301 (i.e., from the beginning).

[0113] (3) In the above embodiment, the rocking control unit 25 displaces the rocking part 16 of the seat 1 in the comfortable position P2. However, it is not limited to this, and the rocking control unit 25 may, for example, displace the rocking part 16 of the seat 1 in the normal position P1.

[0114] (4) In the above embodiment, the seat 1 is equipped with an ottoman 13. However, the seat 1 does not have to be equipped with an ottoman 13. In this case, the displacement part 15 may be the seat cushion 11 and the seat back 12, and the swinging part 16 may be the seat cushion 11 and the seat back 12. Alternatively, the swinging part 16 may be the seat back 12 alone. In this case, the swinging control unit 25 may displace the swinging part 16 by operating the reclining mechanism.

[0115] (5) Multiple functions of one component in the above embodiment may be realized by multiple components, or one function of one component may be realized by multiple components. Also, multiple functions of multiple components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by multiple components may be realized by one component. Furthermore, some of the configurations of the above embodiment may be omitted. Furthermore, at least some of the configurations of the above embodiment may be added to or replaced with the configurations of other above embodiments.

[0116] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, but is sufficient to be consistent with the intent of the disclosures described in the embodiments described above. Therefore, it may be a configuration in which at least two of the embodiments described above are combined, or a configuration in which any of the illustrated components or components described with reference numerals in the embodiments described above are omitted. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0117] 1...Seat, 11...Seat cushion, 12...Seat back, 14...Displacement mechanism, 16...Oscillating part, 2...Seat control device, 25...Oscillating control unit, 28...Oscillating interruption unit, 100...Seat control system, D1...First side, D2...Second side, L1...First position, L2...Second position, L3...Permission position, M...Occupant.

Claims

1. A seat control device for controlling the posture of a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, A displaceable portion of the seat, including at least the seat back, is designated as a pivoting part. The side of the seatback that tilts forward is designated as the first side, and the side of the seatback that tilts backward is designated as the second side. A rocking control unit that alternately performs a first displacement, which displaces the rocking part toward the first side until it reaches a predetermined first position, and a second displacement, which displaces the rocking part toward the second side until it reaches a predetermined second position located toward the second side of the first position. The system includes a rocking interruption unit that interrupts the displacement of the rocking unit by the rocking control unit, The oscillation control unit is configured to resume the displacement of the oscillation unit, which was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit, from the first displacement in response to a predetermined oscillation restart instruction. Seat control device.

2. A seat control device according to claim 1, The range in which the oscillating part is displaced when the oscillating control unit displaces the oscillating part from the second position to the first position is defined as the range of motion of the oscillating part. A predetermined position within the movable range of the swinging part that is closer to the first position than the second position is designated as the permitted position. The swinging part is provided with a position determination unit that determines whether or not it is located on the second side of the permitted position, When the oscillation control unit resumes the displacement of the oscillation part that was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit in response to the oscillation restart instruction, if the position determination unit determines that the oscillation part is located on the second side of the permitted position, it resumes the displacement of the oscillation part from the first displacement, and if it determines that the oscillation part is located on the first side of the permitted position, it resumes the displacement of the oscillation part from the second displacement. Seat control device.

3. A seat control device according to claim 2, When the oscillation control unit resumes the displacement of the oscillation part that was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit in response to the oscillation restart instruction, if the position determination unit determines that the oscillation part is located on the first side of the permitted position, the oscillation control unit resumes the displacement of the oscillation part from the third displacement. The third displacement is the displacement of the oscillating part toward the second position at a speed slower than the displacement speed of the oscillating part in the second displacement, until it reaches the second position. Seat control device.

4. A seat control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The seat control device controls the operating state of the seat control device in accordance with the displacement of the oscillating part by the oscillating control unit. The oscillation control unit determines the operating state, which is the stopped state, before the oscillation part is displaced, The oscillation state is the operating state when the oscillation control unit is displacing the oscillation part, The system is configured to transition to a state where the displacement of the oscillating part by the oscillating control unit is interrupted by the oscillating interruption unit, which is the operating state. When the operating state of the seat control device is the stopped state, the oscillation control unit initiates the displacement of the oscillation part from the first displacement in response to a predetermined oscillation start instruction. Seat control device.

5. A seat control system comprising: a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back; a displacement mechanism that can be operated to displace the posture of the seat; and a seat control device that controls the posture of the seat by operating the displacement mechanism, A displaceable portion of the seat, including at least the seat back, is designated as a pivoting part. The side of the seatback that tilts forward is designated as the first side, and the side of the seatback that tilts backward is designated as the second side. The aforementioned seat control device is A rocking control unit that alternately performs a first displacement, which displaces the rocking part toward the first side until it reaches a predetermined first position, and a second displacement, which displaces the rocking part toward the second side until it reaches a predetermined second position located toward the second side of the first position. The system includes a rocking interruption unit that interrupts the displacement of the rocking unit by the rocking control unit, The oscillation control unit is configured to resume the displacement of the oscillation unit, which was interrupted by the oscillation interruption unit, from the first displacement in response to a predetermined oscillation restart instruction. Seat control system.

6. A seat control method performed by a seat control device that controls the posture of a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, A displaceable portion of the seat, including at least the seat back, is designated as a pivoting part. The side of the seatback that tilts forward is designated as the first side, and the side of the seatback that tilts backward is designated as the second side. The method involves alternately performing a first displacement, which displaces the oscillating part toward the first side until it reaches a predetermined first position, and a second displacement, which displaces the oscillating part toward the second side until it reaches a predetermined second position located toward the second side of the first position. The method includes interrupting the displacement of the oscillating part by performing the aforementioned alternating actions, The alternating actions described above allow the interrupted displacement of the oscillating part to be resumed from the first displacement in response to a predetermined instruction to resume oscillating. Seat control method.

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