Posture Support System

Abstract

To detect abnormality if the health state of a seated person deteriorates and to introduce an occupant to the resting posture.SOLUTION: A posture support system comprises: a seat 10 configured to be changed to a plurality of forms; biological information detection means 1 (2-5) for detecting biological information of the seated person seated on the seat 10; a diagnostic part (diagnosis program) for diagnosing the health state of the seated person on the basis of the biological information detected by the biological information detection means; and a seat deformation part (seat deformation program) for performing control to change the form of the seat 10 so as to introduce the seated person to the resting posture if the diagnostic part diagnoses that the health state of the seated person is not normal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a posture support system that guides the posture of an occupant seated in a seat to a relaxed state. [Background technology]

[0002] If the health condition of a driver who drives a vehicle deteriorates, this may have a negative impact on the driving of the vehicle, so it is desirable to detect the deterioration of the health condition in advance and take some kind of measures. As such a measure, a technology is known that estimates biological information such as blood flow and blood pressure based on the measurement results of pulse waves and the like using a non-contact blood flow sensor embedded in the seat cushion and back of the seat to grasp the driver's health condition (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-168177 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, while the technology described in Patent Document 1 can grasp the health condition of a person seated in a seat (seat occupant), it may be difficult to take action when the health condition actually deteriorates. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to detect an abnormality in the health condition of a seated occupant when that condition deteriorates, and to guide the occupant to a resting position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a posture support system, A seat equipped with a seat heater and configured to be changeable into a plurality of forms; a biological information detection means for detecting biological information of an occupant seated in the seat; a diagnosis unit that diagnoses a health condition of a seated occupant based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means; a threshold setting unit that resets a threshold value that is a reference for diagnosing a health condition of a seated occupant in accordance with a diagnosis result of the biological information by the diagnosis unit; a memory storing a body temperature regulation program for regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant based on a temperature measurement result by a temperature sensor when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal; A control unit capable of executing a program; a seat deformation unit that performs control to change the shape of the seat so as to guide the seated occupant to a resting position when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal, The seat includes, as a seat body, a seat cushion for supporting the buttocks and thighs of a seated person, a seat back having a lower end supported by the seat cushion, and a headrest provided on the seat back for supporting the person's head, The seat cushion and the seat back are configured so that the shape change can be controlled by the seat deformation portion, The seat deformation unit, after reclining the seat back, tilts the entire seat to the left or right, and deforms the bank portion of the seat back so that it bulges forward to adjust the degree of bulging, thereby controlling the seat back to a state in which it envelops the body of the seated occupant, The body temperature regulation program causes the control unit to operate the seat heater when the body temperature of the seated occupant drops. In combination with the above sheet shape change It has the function of regulating the body temperature of the seated person.

[0006] The invention described in claim 2 is the posture support system described in claim 1, The seat deformation unit adjusts the inclination of the headrest in the front-rear direction relative to the seat back after reclining the seat back, and controls the entire seat to be inclined to the left or right. It is characterized by: The invention described in claim 3 is A posture support system, comprising: A seat equipped with a seat heater and configured to be changeable into a plurality of forms; a biological information detection means for detecting biological information of an occupant seated in the seat; a diagnosis unit that diagnoses a health condition of a seated occupant based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means; a threshold setting unit that resets a threshold value that is a reference for diagnosing a health condition of a seated occupant in accordance with a diagnosis result of the biological information by the diagnosis unit; a memory storing a body temperature regulation program for regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant based on a temperature measurement result by a temperature sensor when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal; A control unit capable of executing a program; a seat deformation unit that performs control to change the shape of the seat so as to guide the seated occupant to a resting position when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal, The seat includes, as a seat body, a seat cushion for supporting the buttocks and thighs of a seated person, a seat back having a lower end supported by the seat cushion, and a headrest provided on the seat back for supporting the person's head, The seat cushion and the seat back are configured so that the shape change can be controlled by the seat deformation portion, the seat deformation unit adjusts a tilt of the headrest in a front-rear direction relative to the seat back after reclining the seat back, and controls the entire seat to tilt to the left or right, The body temperature regulation program has a function of regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant by operating the seat heater in combination with a change in the shape of the seat when the body temperature of the seated occupant drops. It is characterized by:

[0007] The invention described in claim 4 is Any one of 1 to 3 In the posture support system described in a selection unit that allows the seat occupant to select whether or not to change the shape of the seat by the seat deformation unit when the diagnosis unit has diagnosed that the health condition of the seat occupant is not normal; and a consciousness confirmation means for confirming whether the seated person is conscious or not when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated person is not normal, The seat deformation unit changes the shape of the seat in response to a selection made by a seated occupant in the selection unit, or automatically changes the shape of the seat when no selection is made by the seated occupant in the selection unit; When the consciousness confirmation means confirms that the seated occupant is conscious, the seat deformation unit does not change the shape of the seat even if the seated occupant does not select the selection unit. It is characterized by: The invention described in claim 5 is A posture support system, comprising: A seat equipped with a seat heater and configured to be changeable into a plurality of forms; a biological information detection means for detecting biological information of an occupant seated in the seat; a diagnosis unit that diagnoses a health condition of a seated occupant based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means; a threshold setting unit that resets a threshold value that is a reference for diagnosing a health condition of a seated occupant in accordance with a diagnosis result of the biological information by the diagnosis unit; When the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal, To A memory storing a temperature regulation program for regulating the body temperature of a seated person based on the temperature measurement result by the temperature measurement device; A control unit capable of executing a program; a seat deformation unit that performs control to change the shape of the seat so as to guide the seated occupant to a resting position when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal; and a selection unit that allows the seat occupant to select whether or not to change the shape of the seat by the seat deformation unit when the diagnosis unit has diagnosed that the health condition of the seat occupant is not normal; a consciousness confirmation means for confirming whether the seated occupant is conscious or not when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal, The seat includes, as a seat body, a seat cushion for supporting the buttocks and thighs of a seated person, a seat back having a lower end supported by the seat cushion, and a headrest provided on the seat back for supporting the person's head, The seat cushion and the seat back are configured so that the shape change can be controlled by the seat deformation portion, The sheet deformation portion is The seat back is reclined and the entire seat can be controlled to tilt to the left or right, and the form of the seat is changed according to a selection made by the seated person at the selection unit, or the form of the seat is automatically changed when the seated person does not make a selection at the selection unit, and when it is confirmed by the consciousness confirmation means that the seated person is conscious, the seat deformation unit does not change the form of the seat even if the seated person does not make a selection at the selection unit, The body temperature regulation program has a function of regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant by operating the seat heater in combination with a change in the shape of the seat when the body temperature of the seated occupant drops. It is characterized by:

[0008] The invention described in claim 6 comprises the following: 3 In the posture support system according to any one of the preceding claims, An air conditioner capable of adjusting the temperature of the space surrounding the seat is provided, The body temperature regulation program has a function of regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant by operating the seat heater and blowing warm air from the air conditioner through an outlet when the body temperature of the seated occupant drops, by using the control unit. It is characterized by:

[0009] The invention described in claim 7 is the posture support system described in claim 6, The body temperature regulation program has a function of automatically adjusting the direction of the air outlet of the air conditioner by the control unit. It is characterized by: The invention described in claim 8 is the posture support system described in claim 6 or 7, The seat is provided with a blower, The control unit is capable of controlling an operation of the blower, The body temperature regulation program has a function of operating the seat heater and controlling the blower by the control unit. It is characterized by:

[0010] The invention described in claim 9 is 8 In the posture support system described in The body temperature regulation program has a function of controlling the air conditioner and the blower together by the control unit. It is characterized by: The invention described in claim 10 is a posture support system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The temperature sensor is provided in the headrest or neckrest. It is characterized by:

[0011] The invention described in claim 11 comprises the following: 10 In the posture support system according to any one of the preceding claims, The temperature sensor is an infrared sensor. It is characterized by: The invention described in claim 12 is a posture support system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, The seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back, and a headrest. the seat cushion is composed of a seat cushion frame which serves as a skeleton, a cushion pad provided on the seat cushion frame, and a skin which covers the seat cushion frame and the cushion pad, The seat heater is provided between the cushion pad and the seat cover, Between the rear end of the seat cushion and the lower end of the seat back, The seatback is provided with a reclining mechanism that enables the seatback to rotate in the front-rear direction relative to the seat cushion. Effect of the Invention

[0012] Claim 1 and 3 According to the invention, the biological information of the seated person is detected by the biological information detection means, and the health condition of the seated person is diagnosed by the diagnosis unit, so that if the health condition of the seated person deteriorates, the abnormality can be detected. Also, if the body temperature of the seated person drops, the seat heater is operated to regulate the body temperature of the seated person, so that the health condition of the seated person can be improved. In addition, since the shape of the seat cushion and the seat back, which are the seat body, can be controlled by the seat deformation portion, the seat can be deformed significantly, making it easier for the seated person to assume a comfortable position. In addition, if the health condition of the seated person deteriorates, the seat deformation section changes the shape of the seat to guide the seated person into a resting position, thereby enabling the seated person whose health condition has deteriorated to remain in a resting state.

[0013] Claim 2 to According to the described invention, The seat deformation part changes the shape of the seat to guide the occupant into a resting position, so that the occupant whose health condition has deteriorated can be kept in a resting position. It is possible.

[0014] According to the invention described in claims 4 and 5, Since the seat occupant has the selection unit, the decision of whether or not to change the seat configuration using the seat deformation unit can be left to the seat occupant himself / herself, and therefore, in controlling the change in the seat configuration using the seat deformation unit, the seat occupant can easily take appropriate measures according to his / her own condition. Also, a state in which the seat occupant does not select a selection unit can be judged as a deterioration in the seat occupant's health condition, and the seat occupant can be easily guided to a resting position as quickly as possible. Also, the consciousness confirmation means can easily take measures as quickly as possible when the seat occupant is unconscious.

[0015] Claim 6 and 7 According to the invention described in If the body temperature of the seated person drops, the air conditioner will be operated to regulate the body temperature of the seated person, thereby maintaining the health of the seated person. It is possible.

[0016] Claim 8 and 9 According to the invention described in If the body temperature of the seated person drops, the blower will be operated to regulate the body temperature of the seated person, thus improving the health of the seated person. It is possible. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of the arrangement of a biosensor with respect to a seat cushion. [Diagram 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of the arrangement of biosensors with respect to a seat back. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a posture support system. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram of the interior of a vehicle incorporating a posture support system as viewed from the rear. [Figure 6] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a change in the shape of a sheet. [Figure 7] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a change in the shape of a sheet. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a notification means for notifying a seated occupant of his / her health condition. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for changing the configuration of a seat by the posture support system. [Figure 10] 11A and 11B are diagrams showing an example of a shape change of a seat having a movable portion. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a cushion pad of a seat cushion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are subject to various technically preferable limitations for carrying out the present invention, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0021] The posture support system in this embodiment is for guiding the posture of a person (seat occupant) seated in seat 10 to a resting position. Such a posture support system includes seat 10 configured to be changeable into a plurality of forms, a biometric information detection means for detecting the biometric information of the seat occupant seated in seat 10, and a control device 40 for operating seat 10, its peripheral devices, and various functions so that the seat occupant can assume a resting position when the biometric information detected by the biometric information detection means is diagnosed as being in a specific state.

[0022] The seat 10 is a vehicle seat, and in this embodiment, is a driver's seat in a passenger vehicle. However, the seat is not limited to this, and may be a seat other than the driver's seat in a passenger vehicle, a seat in another automobile such as a bus or truck, or a seat in a vehicle other than an automobile such as a train, ship, or aircraft. In addition, the passenger car in this embodiment may be one that runs only by manual driving, or one that can run by switching between automatic driving (automatic driving mode) and manual driving (manual driving mode). For convenience of explanation, the following will describe the case of a passenger car that can run by switching between automatic driving and manual driving.

[0023] The seat 10 is configured to be changeable into a plurality of forms and includes a seat cushion 11 supporting a person's buttocks and thighs, a seat back 14 whose lower end is supported by the seat cushion 11 to form a backrest, and a headrest 17 provided on the seat back 14 to support the person's head.

[0024] The seat cushion 11 is mainly composed of a seat cushion frame which serves as a framework, a cushion pad 12 provided on the seat cushion frame, and a cover 13 which covers the seat cushion frame and the cushion pad 12 (see FIG. 2). In addition, the left and right ends of the seat cushion 11 are formed with bulging banks 11a to enhance the holding ability of the seated occupant. The seat cushion 11 of this embodiment further includes a seat heater 20 provided between the cushion pad 12 and the cover 13 .

[0025] A groove 12a that is long in the left-right direction of the seat 10 is formed on the upper surface of the cushion pad 12. Two grooves 12a are provided on the upper surface of the cushion pad 12 so as to divide the upper surface of the cushion pad 12 in the front-rear direction. In other words, the upper surface of the cushion pad 12 is divided into a front side, a center side, and a rear side.

[0026] The seat back 14 is mainly composed of a seat back frame which serves as a framework, a cushion pad 15 provided on the seat back frame, and a cover 16 which covers the seat back frame and the cushion pad 15 (see FIG. 3). In addition, the left and right ends of the seat back 14 are formed with bulging banks 14a to enhance the holding ability of the seated occupant. The seat back 14 of this embodiment further includes a seat heater 30 provided between the cushion pad 15 and the cover 16 .

[0027] A groove 15a that is long in the left-right direction of the seat 10 is formed on the front surface of the cushion pad 15. Two grooves 15a are provided on the front surface of the cushion pad 15 so as to divide the front surface of the cushion pad 15 in the upper and lower directions. In other words, the front surface of the cushion pad 15 is divided into an upper side, a central side, and a lower side.

[0028] The seat heater 20 in the seat cushion 11 is a planar heating element that warms the seat cushion 11, and is mainly composed of a planar base material 21 made of a polyester cloth material or the like, and a metal heater wire 22 (also called a heating wire) that is adhesively fixed to the base material 21, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0029] The heater wires 22 are adhesively fixed onto the base material 21, and as shown in FIG. 2, two heater wires 22 snake approximately in parallel from the rear of the seat cushion 11 toward the front and are connected at the front portion. In this embodiment, the heater wire 22 is fixed on the base material 21 while meandering approximately parallel to the front-rear direction, but is not limited thereto, and the arrangement of the heater wire 22 may be changed as appropriate. In addition, the heater wire 22 is fixed on the base material 21 by an adhesive, but the heater wire 22 may be fixed so as to be folded inside the base material 21.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the heater wire 22 is composed of a front heater wire 22a located in the front section of the upper surface of the cushion pad 12, a central heater wire 22b located in the central section, a rear heater wire 22c located in the rear section, and a groove heater wire 23 that connects the front heater wire 22a, the central heater wire 22b, and the rear heater wire 22c together and is inserted into the groove 12a.

[0031] Similarly, the seat heater 30 in the seat back 14 is mainly composed of a base material 31 and a heater wire 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the heater wire 32 is composed of an upper heater wire 32a located in the upper section of the front surface of the cushion pad 15, a central heater wire 32b located in the central section, a lower heater wire 32c located in the lower section, and a groove heater wire 33 which connects the upper heater wire 32a, the central heater wire 32b, and the lower heater wire 32c together and is inserted into the groove 15a.

[0032] The headrest 17 protrudes downward, and the protruding portion includes a headrest pillar 18 (see FIG. 7) provided on the seat back 14, a cushion pad provided around the upper portion of the headrest pillar 18, and a cover covering the upper portion of the headrest pillar 18 and the cushion pad. In addition, the left and right end portions of the headrest 17 are formed with banks 17a that bulge forward to improve the ability to hold the head of the seated occupant. The headrest pillar 18 has a pair of support pillars that protrude downward from the underside of the headrest 17, and a horizontal shaft portion provided between the upper ends of the pair of support pillars. The horizontal shaft portion is located near the center of the headrest 17.

[0033] When the seat 10 is provided in a passenger vehicle capable of switching between automatic and manual driving, the driver can be in a relaxed state during automatic driving, so the seat 10 is also changed to a form that is not suitable for manual driving. For example, the seat 10 during automatic driving can be rotated toward the rear seat side, slid in the front-rear direction of the passenger vehicle, the seat back 14 can be reclined, or changed to a flat state. Even in the case of a passenger vehicle that is capable of running during manual driving or only by manual driving, the seat 10 can be slid in the front-rear direction of the passenger vehicle and the angle of the seat back 14 can be changed. That is, the seat 10 in this embodiment is configured to be changeable into a plurality of forms. In addition, the seat 10 can be modified in various ways, for example, by allowing the headrest 17 to move up and down or forward and backward relative to the seat back 14, or by allowing each of the bank portions 11a, 14a, and 17a to move forward and backward to adjust the degree of protrusion.

[0034] In addition, in the case of using a passenger car that can switch between automatic and manual driving, although not shown in the figure, the passenger car is equipped with a driving control unit that switches between automatic and manual driving. The driving control unit performs control to switch from automatic driving to manual driving, for example, when the passenger vehicle moves from an expressway to a general road or when the vehicle approaches a road with a complex shape. In such a case, if an abnormality occurs in the driver's health condition, it is not desirable to forcibly switch to manual driving. Conversely, if the driver's health condition deteriorates during manual driving, it is possible to switch from manual driving to automatic driving, and in such cases, it is necessary to know the health condition in advance. Even when a passenger vehicle that can be driven only by manual driving is adopted, the health condition can be known. In addition, although not shown in the figure, this driving control unit is connected to the control unit 40, and the control of switching between automatic driving and manual driving by the driving control unit and the control of the control unit 40 to change the seat 10 into multiple forms can be appropriately linked.

[0035] The seat 10 as described above is provided with various transformation mechanisms and various driving devices (motors, etc.) required to enable the seat 10 to be changed into a plurality of configurations. For example, when reclining the seat back 14, a reclining mechanism that allows the seat back 14 to rotate in the front-rear direction relative to the seat cushion 11 and a drive device that rotates the seat back 14 in the front-rear direction relative to the seat cushion 11 are built in between the rear end of the seat cushion 11 and the lower end of the seat back 14. In addition, various transformation mechanisms and various drive devices (motors, etc.) required for changing the seat 10 into various forms, such as rotating the seat 10 toward the rear seat side, sliding it in the front-rear direction of the passenger vehicle, reclining the seat back 14, changing it to a flat state, and moving each of the bank portions 11a, 14a, 17a in the front-rear direction to adjust the degree of bulging, are provided. In addition, the various deformation mechanisms and the various drive devices are represented as a deformation mechanism 50 and a drive device 51 in the example shown in FIG.

[0036] The seat 10 also has a built-in biosensor 1 as a bioinformation detection means for detecting the bioinformation of an occupant seated in the seat 10. To explain in more detail, in this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the biosensor 1 is provided in both the seat cushion 11, which is the seat main body, and the seat back 14, so that the bioinformation of the occupant seated in the seat 10 can be detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the biosensor 1 may be provided in either the seat cushion 11 or the seat back 14, or may be provided in a movable part such as a headrest 17 attached to the seat body (movable parts other than the headrest 17 will be described later). In any case, however, the biosensor 1 is provided in multiple places on the seat 10.

[0037] The biosensor 1 in this embodiment is for measuring pulse waves by measuring body surface movements and changes in hemoglobin content, and is a non-contact type that detects a person's bioinformation using electromagnetic waves, and can measure blood flow at a position opposite the skin surface of the measurement area. In addition, electromagnetic waves refer to electromagnetic waves in a broad sense, including radio waves and microwaves of about 100 MHz, as well as infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, etc., and appropriate electromagnetic waves are used as long as they do not have adverse effects on the human body. Such electromagnetic waves have the characteristic that they do not easily pass through various metals including iron, copper, aluminum, etc. Therefore, the biosensor 1 in this embodiment is disposed in a position on the seat 10 that avoids members that (may) obstruct the passage of the electromagnetic waves. In particular, it is desirable to provide the biosensor 1 closer to the seating surface than members that obstruct the passage of the electromagnetic waves. Therefore, the biosensor 1 in this embodiment is provided closer to the seating surface than the seat heater 20 in the seat cushion 11 and the seat heater 30 in the seat back 14. The seating surface of the seat 10 refers to the surface that the buttocks or thighs of a person contact in the case of the seat cushion 11, and refers to the surface that the person's back (chest side, lumbar side) contacts in the case of the seat back 14. Therefore, the biosensor 1 in the seat back 14 can be arranged corresponding to the position of the person's heart, making it easier to grasp the blood flow state of the thoracic aorta. Also, the biosensor 1 in the seat cushion 11 can be arranged corresponding to the position of the thighs, making it easier to grasp the blood flow state of the popliteal artery. In view of these circumstances, it is preferable that the biosensor 1 be arranged corresponding to the position of the body of the seated person.

[0038] Furthermore, when the biosensors 1 in this embodiment are arranged at multiple locations on the seat 10, spaced apart from each other, it is possible to calculate the distance from the position of the heart of a person sitting on the seat 10 (the position where the heart is estimated to be located) to one biosensor 1 and the other biosensor 1, which is preferable for measuring blood pressure. By using data on blood flow conditions measured and obtained by the biosensor 1, it is possible to obtain various biometric information of the person sitting in the seat 10, such as blood pressure, heart rate (pulse rate), respiratory rate, and arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). Depending on the type of biosensor used, it may also be possible to obtain stress levels, vascular age, and other information. When detecting blood pressure using the biosensor 1, high blood pressure may be used as a criterion for diagnosis, but low blood pressure may also be used as a criterion for diagnosis. That is, "shock or circulatory shock," as it is known in medical terms, is an acute syndrome in which blood pressure drops and the driver is in a near-death state, and is considered to be one of the life-threatening conditions. Therefore, in order to ensure safety while driving, it is desirable to constantly monitor not only high blood pressure but also low blood pressure.

[0039] The type of the biosensor 1 in this embodiment is not limited to the above, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That is, it is sufficient that the biosensor 1 can detect the bioinformation of the seat occupant and the system can control whether or not to change the configuration of the seat 10 based on the detected bioinformation. Therefore, the bioinformation detected by the biosensor 1 is not limited to information related to the state of blood, but may also be information on the consciousness or unconsciousness of the seat occupant, the body temperature of the seat occupant, body movements of the seat occupant (subtle movements of the body surface), etc.

[0040] Furthermore, the seat 10 is provided with a seating sensor 2 that detects a person sitting on the seat 10. In this embodiment, the biosensor 1 is linked to the seating sensor 2, and the biosensor 1 is set to be activated when the seating sensor 2 detects that a person is sitting on the seat. The seating sensor 2 in this embodiment is a pressure sensor provided in the seat 10. However, this is not limited to this, and may be, for example, an infrared sensor (a so-called human sensor) provided somewhere other than the seat 10. When a pressure sensor is used as the seating sensor 2, it may be possible to measure the weight of a seated person.

[0041] The posture support system includes means for detecting the state of the seated occupant including biological information in addition to the above-mentioned biological sensor 1. In this embodiment, for example, a camera 3, a respiration sensor 4, and a temperature sensor 5 are used as the other means. The data detected by each of these sensors is used in combination with the bioinformation that can be obtained by the biosensor 1 described above.

[0042] The camera 3 is for photographing the face and body conditions of the seated person and for confirming the seated person's biometric information that appears to the outside. In this embodiment, the camera 3 is used in combination with the biometric sensor 1 or as a biometric information detection means that replaces the biometric sensor 1. By photographing the seated person with the camera 3, it is possible to detect, for example, whether the seated person has his / her eyes closed for a certain period of time or more, the body movement and posture of the seated person, etc. This makes it possible to confirm whether the seated person is dozing, whether the seated person is conscious, the breathing rhythm of the seated person, the degree of inclination of the seated person's posture, etc. Furthermore, depending on the accuracy of the camera 3, the photographed image can be used to measure changes in facial color, and the pulse wave of the seated person can be detected from the changes in facial color. The camera 3 also functions as a biometric authentication means, making it possible to identify who is seated (mainly used for face authentication). Such a camera 3 may be a still camera that takes still images or a video camera that takes moving images, but a video camera is preferable because it is necessary to keep recording the state of the seated occupant while the occupant is seated. Also, this camera 3 may be a dedicated device, or a commercially available camera equipped with a communication function. Furthermore, the camera 3 may be set to operate in conjunction with the biosensor 1 or the seating sensor 2, or may be set to operate based on receiving a control signal from the control device 40. Image data of an image captured by the camera 3 is transmitted to the control device 40 and stored in the storage unit 44. Moreover, one or more cameras 3 may be provided in a passenger vehicle. The location of the camera 3 in the passenger vehicle is not particularly limited as long as it is a position where the camera can capture an image of a seated person. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, for example, the camera is provided on a rearview mirror 52, a ceiling 53, an instrument panel 54, or a door 55 so as to capture an image of the rear. Furthermore, if the seat 10 is not a driver's seat, the camera 3 may be provided around the passenger seat or the rear seat, although this is not shown in the figure.

[0043] The breathing sensor 4 detects the breathing state of the seated occupant to check whether the seated occupant is dozing off. In this embodiment, the breathing sensor 4 is used in combination with the biosensor 1, but it may be used as a bioinformation detection means instead of the biosensor 1. Specifically, like the biosensor 1, it detects the state of breathing by measuring the carbon dioxide concentration in the blood using electromagnetic waves such as microwaves. However, this is not limited to this, and it may be a type that uses electromagnetic waves such as microwaves to detect breathing from the movement of the body surface, or a type that directly measures the breathing rate by having the seated person wear a dedicated breathing detection device. It may also be a type that detects the state of breathing from the movement of the body surface using a pressure sensor. The breathing sensor 4 may be set to operate in conjunction with the biosensor 1 or the seating sensor 2, or may be set to operate based on receiving a control signal from the control device 40. Data acquired by the breathing sensor 4 is transmitted to the control device 40 and stored in the memory unit 44. The location of the respiratory sensor 4 is not particularly limited, but if a non-contact type sensor that uses electromagnetic waves such as microwaves is used, a location close to the heart and lungs is preferable, and if a type that directly measures respiratory rate is used, a location close to the head of the seated person, such as the headrest 17, is preferable. If a pressure sensor is used, it is preferable to place it on the seat cushion 11.

[0044] The temperature sensor 5 is for measuring the body temperature of a seated occupant, and is, for example, an infrared sensor. The temperature sensor 5 is used in combination with the biosensor 1 in this embodiment. Such temperature measurement by the temperature sensor 5 is performed by targeting the head and neck that are exposed and not obstructed by clothing, etc. For this reason, the temperature sensor 5 is preferably provided on the headrest 17 or neckrest.

[0045] Although the sensors for detecting the state of a seated occupant including biometric information, such as the biosensor 1 and the sensors 2 to 5, are appropriately provided on the seat cushion 11, the seat back 14, and the headrest 17, this is not limiting and the sensors may be provided collectively only on the seat cushion 11, only on the seat back 14, or only on the headrest 17. On the other hand, since a moving part such as the headrest 17 may easily resonate with vibrations generated during driving, the sensors may be provided away from the moving parts. When these sensors are provided in the headrest 17, they are provided to avoid the headrest pillar 18, and in particular, they are preferably provided closer to the seated occupant than the headrest pillar 18. Furthermore, when the sensors are provided in the headrest 17, they are preferably provided inside the skin of the headrest 17. Furthermore, when the sensors are provided in the headrest 17, they are preferably disposed between a pair of supports in the headrest pillar 18.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the posture support system in this embodiment operates the seat 10, its peripheral devices, and various functions to allow an occupant of the seat 10 to assume a comfortable posture as needed. The control device 40 includes a control unit 41, an input unit 42, an output unit 43, a storage unit 44, and a communication unit 45. The control device 40 is connected to the biosensor 1 and seating sensor 2 provided on the seat 10, the above-mentioned deformation mechanism 50 and drive device 51, and to the camera 3 and breathing sensor 4 provided somewhere inside the passenger vehicle as the above-mentioned peripheral devices, and is capable of transmitting and receiving various signals, data, etc. Furthermore, the control device 40 uses the passenger vehicle battery as a power source, and the above-mentioned various devices and various sensors connected to the control device 40 may be supplied with power via the control device 40, or may be supplied with power directly from the power source.

[0047] The control unit 41 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM), and can execute various operations in the posture support system based on the control by the control unit 41.

[0048] The input unit 42 is used to input various data to the system. Such an input unit 42 may be provided in a housing constituting the control device 40, or may be an input means such as a button or a touch panel attached to the housing of an apparatus installed around the seat 10, or may be various input devices connected to the control device 40 via a connection interface. It may also be a microphone (sound collection means) that picks up the voice of the seated occupant. However, the input unit 42 in this embodiment is provided within reach of the seated occupant's hands and voice. In addition, the input unit 42 in this embodiment is a touch panel display that constitutes the display unit of a navigation device described later, and various operations and data input in the system can be performed on the display unit.

[0049] The output unit 43 is for outputting the status and results of various operations in the posture support system, and may be a display for displaying various images and characters, an audio output means (speaker) for outputting audio, a light emitting means for emitting light (LED: light emitting diode, etc.), a vibrator for generating vibrations, etc. The output units 43 are installed around the seated person or the seat 10, such as in a position that is easily visible to the seated person or a position where the seated person can easily hear the audio. The voice output means may be configured to give voice instructions to the seated occupant based on the control of the control unit 41. Such an output unit 43 may be provided in a housing constituting the control device 40, may be provided around the seat 10, or may be one of various input devices connected to the control device 40 via a connection interface. However, the output unit 43 in this embodiment is provided within the line of sight of a seated occupant. The main output unit 43 in this embodiment is a display unit in a navigation device provided on an instrument panel 54 of a passenger vehicle shown in Fig. 5. A touch panel display is used as the display unit, and it is capable of displaying various images, characters, etc. Other output units 43 such as light emitting means may also be used as appropriate.

[0050] The storage unit 44 is configured with, for example, a RAM, a ROM, a non-volatile memory, and a hard disk drive, and stores various programs and data necessary for posture support.

[0051] The various programs stored in the memory unit 44 include various programs such as a biometric authentication program, a diagnostic program, a threshold setting program, a consciousness confirmation program, an abnormality level determination program, a seat transformation program, a body temperature regulation program, and a notification program. The various programs are executed by the control unit 41 to fulfill their functions. These various programs are executed by the control unit 41 to fulfill their functions.

[0052] The various data stored in the storage unit 44 includes various data transmitted to the control device 40, including data related to the bioinformation transmitted from the biosensor 1. In addition, data related to the bioinformation of individual seated occupants (individual biodata), threshold data, data for determining an abnormality level, etc. are stored. In addition, data on basic information such as the name, age, sex, height, weight, facial photo, voice, etc. of each individual seated person is also stored. Such basic information is used to identify the individual seated person, and the height, weight, age, sex, etc. may also be used as correction values ​​when diagnosing biometric information. The individual biometric data is history data relating to biometric information detected in the past for each individual seated occupant. The threshold data is a reference value for diagnosing the health condition of a seated occupant from the detected biological information, and is stored for each type of detected biological information. Also, the threshold data may be set for each individual seated occupant. The abnormality level determination data is a standard value for determining the level of abnormality when the health condition of a seated occupant is diagnosed as poor (abnormal) based on the detected biological information. In addition, the memory unit 44 also stores specific instruction data for giving voice instructions to the seat occupant (for example, instructions to encourage the occupant to stop driving, instructions to encourage the occupant to operate the input unit 42, instructions to encourage the occupant to call an ambulance, etc.).

[0053] The communication unit 45 communicatively connects the posture support system to a communication network N (computer network) such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network), and as shown in Figure 8, data can be sent and received between the system and the outside via the communication unit 45.

[0054] The various programs stored in the storage unit 44 will now be described. The biometric authentication program is a program for determining who is sitting in the seat and identifying the seat occupant. That is, the control unit 41 executes the biometric authentication program to identify the seat occupant. This makes it possible to identify an individual even if the seat occupant is, for example, a husband and wife, a parent and child, or siblings. More specifically, the face of the seated person captured by the camera 3 is compared with the facial photo included in the basic information data for facial recognition, thereby identifying and identifying the seated person. In addition, by combining biometric authentication by the camera 3 with measuring the weight of the seated person by the seat sensor 2, the accuracy of biometric authentication can be improved. It is also possible to omit such a biometric authentication program and identify the seated occupant through input operations using the input unit 42. Specifically, a list of candidate seated occupants is displayed on the above-mentioned touch panel display unit, which is the output unit 43, and the seated occupant identifies himself / herself by pressing a display such as a button that represents the seated occupant. The biometric authentication method of identifying the seated occupant through input operations using the input unit 42 is suitable, for example, when identifying a seated occupant who was born as a so-called multiple birth (including twins).

[0055] The diagnostic program is a program for diagnosing the health condition of a seated occupant based on biometric information detected by the biosensor 1 (which may be the camera 3 or the respiratory sensor 4). Data relating to the diagnosis result that can be obtained by executing the diagnostic program is transmitted to the control device 40 and stored in the memory unit 44. In other words, by the control unit 41 executing the diagnostic program, it is possible to diagnose whether the detected biometric information is in a good state (normal) or a bad state (abnormal) by comparing it with preset threshold data. This diagnostic program is executed by the control unit 41 on the premise that the seat occupant has been identified by the biometric authentication program.

[0056] The threshold setting program is a program for resetting threshold data, which is used as a reference for diagnosing the health condition of a seated person from detected biological information, according to the diagnosis result of the biological information. In other words, since it is considered that the biological information of a seated person rarely stays the same all the time and often changes from day to day, it is preferable to correct the threshold data according to the most recent biological information of the seated person, for example. Therefore, by executing the threshold setting program by the control unit 41, it is possible to reset the threshold data to suit the current state of the seated person. More specifically, individual biometric data (history information), which is data relating to past biometric information, height, weight, age, sex, etc. are used as correction values ​​to correct the threshold data. The correction of the threshold data may be performed every time the biological information is diagnosed, or may be performed after a certain period of time has elapsed, or may be performed when there is a significant change in the individual biological data or body weight. In this embodiment, the threshold setting program is executed in this manner to correct the threshold data, but when diagnosing biometric information, it is also possible to perform a diagnosis based only on the acquired biometric information without setting a threshold.

[0057] The consciousness confirmation program is a program for confirming whether or not the seated occupant is conscious when the health condition of the seated occupant is diagnosed as abnormal as a result of execution of the diagnosis program by the control unit 41. That is, the control unit 41 can execute the consciousness confirmation program to confirm whether or not the seated occupant is conscious. Data relating to whether or not the seated occupant is conscious, which can be confirmed by executing the consciousness confirmation program, is transmitted to the control device 40 and stored in the memory unit 44. More specifically, for example, the light-emitting means that emits light among the output units 43 is operated to blink, and the camera 3 detects the body movement of the seated person to confirm whether the seated person is conscious or not. Alternatively, a distinctive sound may be output from the sound output unit and the camera 3 detects the body movement of the seated person to confirm whether the seated person is conscious or not, or a vibration may be generated by a vibrator and the camera 3 detects the body movement of the seated person to confirm whether the seated person is conscious or not. In other words, the output unit 43 outputs light or sound, and the camera 3 checks the reaction of the seated person to confirm whether the seated person is conscious or not. Alternatively, as described above, the camera 3 may photograph the seated person to detect, for example, a state in which the seated person has his / her eyes closed for a certain period of time or the body movement or posture of the seated person to confirm whether the seated person is conscious or not. In addition, a button or the like that allows the seated person to select whether or not they are conscious may be displayed on the touch panel display, which is the output unit 43 in this embodiment, so that the seated person can check whether or not they are conscious by pressing the button. Furthermore, in the case where a microphone is used as the input unit 42, a voice may be output from the audio output means as the output unit 43 to the seated occupant to confirm whether or not they are conscious, and consciousness may be confirmed based on whether or not there is a response in the seated occupant's own voice. The above-mentioned consciousness confirmation means may be used alone or in appropriate combination. For example, the camera 3, the light emitting means, the sound output means, and the vibrator may be operated in sequence to set consciousness confirmation steps. In addition, when checking for consciousness, a time limit is set in advance, and if consciousness cannot be confirmed within the time limit, the subject is deemed unconscious, and even if the subject is deemed conscious, the level of reaction is judged based on the time that has passed up until that point. In other words, if the time that has passed is short, the subject is deemed to have a good reaction, and if the time that has passed is long, the subject is deemed to have a bad reaction, which is one of the factors in judging the level of abnormality. In this embodiment, the consciousness confirmation program is executed after the diagnostic program is executed, but this is not limited to this and may be executed before or at the same time as the diagnostic program.

[0058] The abnormality level determination program is a program for determining the level of abnormality based on data related to the diagnosis result obtained by executing the diagnosis program when the diagnosis result is abnormal, and data related to the consciousness of the seated occupant that can be confirmed by executing the consciousness confirmation program. The data related to the diagnosis result obtained by executing the abnormality level determination program is transmitted to the control device 40 and stored in the storage unit 44. In other words, by the control unit 41 executing the abnormality level judgment program, it is possible to determine the level at which the data relating to the diagnosis results and the data relating to whether the occupant is conscious or not are compared with predetermined abnormality level judgment data. More specifically, the abnormality level can be said to be the urgency of the health condition of the seated person, and the urgency is classified into low, medium, and high levels. For example, a low level of urgency refers to a state in which the person is conscious but the diagnosis result is poor, a medium level of urgency refers to a state in which the person is conscious but the diagnosis result is poor and the response to the consciousness check is also poor, and a high level of urgency refers to a state in which the person is unconscious and the diagnosis result is poor. The definition of such level classification can be changed as appropriate. In particular, since the presence or absence of consciousness is closely related to the degree of urgency, the level of abnormality may be determined based only on data regarding the presence or absence of consciousness of the seated occupant, which can be confirmed by, for example, executing a consciousness confirmation program.

[0059] The seat transformation program is a program for controlling the control unit 41 to execute a diagnostic program to change the shape of the seat 10 so as to guide the occupant into a resting position when the health condition of the occupant is diagnosed as not being normal. In other words, based on the diagnosis results stored in the memory unit 44, the control unit 41 executes a seat transformation program, thereby operating various transformation mechanisms 50 and various drive devices 51 in the seat 10, thereby changing the seat 10 into multiple forms.

[0060] The seat transformation program is set to perform control to automatically change the configuration of the seat 10 based on the diagnosis results stored in the memory unit 44. In this case, the configuration to which the seat 10 should be changed is determined according to the diagnosis results. That is, based on the diagnosis results (health condition of the seat occupant) stored in the memory unit 44, the seat 10 is transformed so as to assume a configuration suitable for the diagnosis results. In other words, if the diagnosis result obtained by the control unit 41 by executing the diagnostic program indicates that the configuration of the seat 10 needs to be changed, the control unit 41 controls the change in the configuration of the seat 10 by executing the seat transformation program, and in so doing changes the configuration of the seat 10 to a pre-set configuration corresponding to the diagnosis result without requiring the approval of the seat occupant. According to such a seat deformation program, the control unit 41 executes a diagnostic program to obtain the diagnostic results, and the process of making decisions up to actually changing the configuration of the seat 10 in accordance with the diagnostic results can be automated. This eliminates the need to hesitate when making decisions about how to change the configuration of the seat 10, and makes it possible to respond appropriately, for example, when it is desired to change the configuration of the seat 10 as quickly as possible.

[0061] To explain examples of changes in the configuration of seat 10 in more detail, for example, in the case of seat 10 during autonomous driving, the following can be performed: rotate seat 10 towards the rear seat; slide seat 10 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle; adjust the height of seat 10; adjust the fore-and-aft tilt of seat back 14 (recline); adjust the left-right tilt of seat back 14; adjust the fore-and-aft tilt of seat cushion 11; adjust the left-and-right tilt of seat cushion 11; change seat 10 to a flat state; move headrest 17 along headrest pillar 18 relative to seat back 14; adjust the degree of bulge of bank portions 11a, 14a, and 17a (see FIG. 6); tilt the entire seat 10 left-and-right ( 6), the inclination of the headrest 17 relative to the seat back 14 (see FIG. 7), etc., can be adjusted so that the seat 10 can be changed into various forms. Also, for example, in the case of a passenger vehicle that is driven manually or that can be driven only by manual driving, the position of the seat 10 can be fine-tuned by sliding it in the fore-and-aft direction of the passenger vehicle, the height of the seat 10 can be adjusted, the inclination of the seat back 14 in the fore-and-aft direction can be fine-tuned, the degree of protrusion of the bank portions 11a, 14a, 17a can be adjusted, and the like. When the vehicle is in manual driving mode and it is confirmed that the vehicle has stopped or parked, the seat 10 can be deformed in the same manner as in the automatic driving mode. In addition, each pattern of configuration change during automatic driving and each pattern of configuration change during manual driving may be combined as appropriate.

[0062] The modification of the shape of the sheet 10 will be described with reference to the drawings. 6 shows an example of a change in the configuration of the seat 10. By changing the configuration of the seat 10 in this way, it is possible to place the seated occupant in a lying position. To put the seated person in a lying position, first, the seat back 14 is reclined. Next, the degree of expansion of the banks 11a, 14a, and 17a is adjusted (deformed so that they bulge forward) so that the body of the seated person is wrapped around the seated person. Then, the entire seat 10 is tilted to the left (or right). In this way, the seated person can be laid down while the body is supported by the banks 11a, 14a, and 17a.

[0063] 7 shows an example of a change in the shape of the seat 10. By changing the shape of the seat 10 in this way, it is possible to make it easier for the seated person to breathe. To allow the seated occupant to breathe easily, first recline the seat back 14. Next, adjust the inclination of the head rest 17 relative to the seat back 14. That is, tilt the head rest 17 so that the head is lowered downward. In this way, the trajectory of the seated occupant is secured, making it easier for the seated occupant to breathe.

[0064] The body temperature regulation program is a program for regulating the body temperature of an occupant in combination with changing the configuration of the seat 10. That is, by the control unit 41 executing the body temperature regulation program, the body temperature of the occupant seated in the seat 10 can be increased or decreased. More specifically, as described above, the seat cushion 11 and the seat back 14 are provided with the seat heaters 20, 30, respectively. Many passenger cars are equipped with an air conditioner, and the passenger car in this embodiment is also provided with air outlets 54a, 54b (also called registers) for blowing out air from the air conditioner in an instrument panel 54, as shown in Fig. 5. The air outlets 54a, 54b may also be provided around the navigation device serving as the output unit 43, or may be provided for the feet. In other words, the passenger vehicle is pre-installed with devices for regulating the body temperature of an occupant seated in the seat 10, and the control unit 41 is capable of controlling these body temperature regulating devices by executing a body temperature regulation program. It is assumed that these body temperature regulating devices and the control device 40 are pre-connected. For example, if the body temperature of the seated person drops, the air conditioner blows hot air from the air outlets 54a, 54b and operates the seat heaters 20, 30 to warm the seat cushion 11 and the seat back 14. This makes it possible to raise the body temperature of the seated person. Also, if the body temperature of the seated person rises, the air conditioner blows cold air from the air outlets 54a, 54b. This makes it possible to lower the body temperature of the seated person. The directions of the air outlets 54a and 54b may be automatically adjusted under the control of the control unit 41. By executing the body temperature regulation program, the body temperature of the seat 10 can be regulated while changing the configuration of the seat 10, thereby synergistically improving the health condition of the seat occupant.

[0065] The notification program is a program for notifying the health condition of the seated occupant based on the diagnosis result stored in the memory unit 44. The notification destination of the seated occupant's health condition is set to differ depending on the urgency of the seated occupant's health condition. That is, by the control unit 41 executing the notification program, it is possible to notify a preset notification destination of the health condition of a seated occupant via the communication unit 45. As shown in FIG. 8, the notification is sent to the area around the seat 10 if the urgency of the occupant's health condition is low, to the occupant's family if the urgency is medium, and to a medical institution or fire department if the urgency is high. More specifically, when the degree of urgency is low, data related to the notification is output to a navigation device, which is the output unit 43 provided around the seat 10. The output unit 43 is a navigation device, but is not limited to this, and the above-mentioned light-emitting means or the like may be adopted as the output unit 43. These output units 43 may be used in appropriate combination as the notification means. Also, a communication terminal such as a smartphone owned by the seat occupant may be used as the notification means. If the urgency is medium, notification data is sent to a communication device owned by the occupant's family (for example, a smartphone 46, a personal computer 47, or some kind of communication device in the occupant's home 48). If the degree of urgency is high, data relating to the notification is sent to some kind of communication terminal in the medical institution 49 or a fire station (not shown). Those who receive the notification can take appropriate action, such as the occupant stopping and parking the car, a family member calling an ambulance, or a medical facility or fire department dispatching an ambulance. In addition to the above, other notification destinations, such as a car dealership or a police box (police station), may also be added. In addition, when sending notification data to facilities such as a medical institution 49, a fire station, or a police station, the data may be sent to the nearest medical institution 49, fire station, or police station by using a GPS (Global Positioning System, Global Positioning Satellite).

[0066] The flow of how the posture support system configured as above changes the configuration of the seat 10 so as to guide the seated occupant into a comfortable posture will be described with reference to FIG. First, the seating sensor 2 confirms that an occupant is seated in the seat 10 (step S1). When the seating confirmation is performed, a biometric authentication program is executed in response to this to identify the seated person (step S2). When the seated person is identified, if necessary (for example, if there is a large change in weight), the threshold setting program is executed to correct the threshold data (step S3). If there is no need to correct the threshold data, this step S3 is omitted.

[0067] Next, the various sensors 1, 3, 4, and 5 including the biosensor 1 are operated to detect and acquire bioinformation (step S4). When the biological information is acquired, a diagnostic program is executed, and the biological information is diagnosed, that is, the health condition of the seated occupant is diagnosed based on the acquired biological information (step S5). Next, a consciousness confirmation program is executed to confirm whether the seated occupant is conscious or not (step S6). Note that this step S6 may be performed simultaneously with step S5. After the consciousness is confirmed (or the vital signs are diagnosed), if necessary (for example, if there is a large change in the vital signs), the threshold setting program is executed to correct the threshold data (step S7). If there is no need to correct the threshold data, step S7 is omitted.

[0068] In step S8, it is determined whether the diagnostic result is good or bad, and if the diagnostic result including the result of consciousness confirmation is good (for example, the diagnostic result is good and includes a state of consciousness), the diagnostic result is output from output unit 43 (step S9), and the seated occupant can also check his or her own health condition. If the diagnosis result including the result of consciousness confirmation is bad, an abnormality level determination program is executed to determine the abnormality level of the diagnosis result (step S10).

[0069] When the abnormality level of the diagnosis result is determined, a seat transformation program is executed, and the configuration of the seat 10 is changed according to the abnormality level (step S11). When step S11 is completed, the configuration of the seat 10 is changed so as to guide the seated occupant into a comfortable position. After the configuration of the seat 10 has been changed, the body temperature regulation program is executed as necessary (based on the temperature measurement results by the temperature sensor 5) to regulate the body temperature of the seated occupant (step S12). Next, a notification program is executed, and the health condition of the seated occupant is notified to a preset notification destination according to the abnormality level (step S13).

[0070] In addition, if the result of checking in step S6 whether the seated occupant is conscious is that the seated occupant is not conscious, a step of automatically stopping and parking the passenger vehicle may be added. The flow from step S1 to step S8 is performed when the seat occupant sits in the seat 10 and at a predetermined timing while driving. While driving, there are patterns in which the flow is performed at regular time intervals and patterns in which the flow is performed at the discretion of the seat occupant or a passenger.

[0071] According to this embodiment, the biometric information of the seated person is detected by the biometric information detection means (various sensors including the biometric sensor 1) and the diagnostic program is executed to diagnose the health condition of the seated person, so that if the health condition of the seated person deteriorates, the abnormality can be detected. Furthermore, the seat transformation program is executed to change the form of the seat 10 and guide the seated person to a resting position, so that the seated person whose health condition has deteriorated can be kept in a resting state.

[0072] In addition, the decision as to whether or not to execute the sheet transformation program to change the shape of the sheet 10 can be made automatically based on the diagnostic results stored in the memory unit 44, so that appropriate measures based on the diagnostic results can be easily taken when controlling the change in the shape of the sheet 10 by executing the sheet transformation program.

[0073] In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a consciousness confirmation means (consciousness confirmation program) for confirming whether or not the seated occupant is conscious, so that by executing the consciousness confirmation program, it becomes easier to take action as quickly as possible if the seated occupant is unconscious.

[0074] In addition, the system is equipped with a notification means (notification program) that notifies the seated person of their health condition when it is diagnosed that their health condition is not normal, and the notification destination of the seated person's health condition differs depending on the urgency of the seated person's health condition, which prevents erroneous notifications such as notifying a medical institution or fire department even when the urgency is low, and makes it easy to make appropriate notifications according to the urgency. Furthermore, it is easy for the person receiving the notification to take appropriate measures.

[0075] In addition, the seat cushion 11 and the seat back 14, which are the seat body, are configured so that their shape can be controlled by a seat transformation program, so that the seat 10 can be transformed significantly, making it easier for the seated person to assume a comfortable position.

[0076] In addition, since the biometric information detection means (various sensors including the biometric sensor 1) is provided in the seat body (seat cushion 11 and seat back 14) and / or the movable part (headrest 17), it becomes easier to obtain biometric information from the torso and / or parts of the body of the seated occupant other than the torso.

[0077] [Modifications] The embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Modifications will be described below. The following modifications may be combined as far as possible.

[0078] [Variation 1]

[0079] In the above embodiment, the change in the shape of the seat 10 (execution of the seat transformation program) is performed automatically based on the diagnosis results stored in the storage unit 44. In contrast, the posture support system in this modified example includes a selection unit that, when the diagnostic program is executed and the health condition of the seated occupant is diagnosed as not normal, allows the seated occupant to select whether or not to execute the seat transformation program to change the configuration of the seat 10. The change in the configuration of the seat 10 (execution of the seat transformation program) is set to be performed according to the selection made by the seated occupant on the selection unit.

[0080] The selection unit is composed of the input unit 42. As described above, the input unit 42 is for inputting various data to the system, and is composed of buttons and the like provided on a housing constituting the control device 40, and a touch panel display constituting the display unit of the navigation device. The input unit 42 (i.e., the selection unit) in this modified example is a touch panel display that constitutes the display unit of the navigation device, and it is possible to select whether or not to change the configuration of the seat 10 on the display unit. More specifically, a button for selecting whether or not to change the configuration of the seat 10 is displayed on the display unit of the navigation device, and the seat occupant (or a passenger) can arbitrarily select and operate it as appropriate. In addition, for example, the voice output means may output a voice such as "Would you like to change to a comfortable position?" to prompt the seat occupant to select a configuration change for the seat 10, and the seat occupant may make a selection. In this case, the seat occupant may make the selection by speaking, for example, "Yes," or may make the selection by using the above-mentioned button or the like.

[0081] The seat transformation program in this modified example is set to automatically change the form of the seat 10 when the seat occupant does not select a selection section. That is, it is set to determine that the state in which the seat occupant has not selected a selection section is a state in which the health condition of the seat occupant has deteriorated (for example, the seat occupant is unconscious), and to quickly guide the seat occupant to a resting position. The seat transformation program in this modification may be used in combination with a consciousness confirmation program, which allows for consideration of cases where the occupant is conscious but unable to make a selection using the selection unit, and prevents the shape of the seat 10 from being changed at a time that does not suit the occupant's wishes, such as when the occupant's hands are tied up while driving.

[0082] According to this modified example, the decision of whether or not to change the configuration of the seat 10 by executing the seat transformation program is left to the occupant himself / herself, so that in controlling the change in the configuration of the seat 10 based on the seat transformation program, the occupant can easily take appropriate measures according to his / her own condition. In addition, a state in which the seated occupant does not select a selection section can be judged as a deterioration in the occupant's health condition, making it easier to guide the occupant to a resting position as quickly as possible.

[0083] [Modification 2] 10, seat 60 in this modified example includes movable parts 63-67 that are attached to seat bodies 61, 62 and move relative to seat bodies 61, 62 and come into contact with parts of the body of a seated occupant. These movable parts 63-67 are configured so that their shape can be controlled by a seat transformation program.

[0084] The seat body includes a seat cushion 61 and a seat back 62. The seat cushion 61 and the seat back 62 operate, for example, by reclining, in the same manner as the seat cushion 11 and the seat back 14 in the above-described embodiment. The movable parts 63 to 67 include a headrest 63 for supporting the head of the seated person, an armrest 64 for supporting the arms, an ottoman 65 for supporting the legs, a footrest 66 for supporting the feet, and a neck rest 67 for supporting the neck.

[0085] The headrest 63 has a headrest pillar 63a and operates in the same manner as the headrest 17 in the above-described embodiment. That is, the headrest 63 can be moved along the headrest pillar 63a relative to the seat back 62. In addition, the inclination of the headrest 63 and the degree of bulging of the bank portion can also be adjusted. The armrest 64 is provided to the seat back 14 via a rotation shaft 64a and rotates around the rotation shaft 64a. That is, when the seat back 62 is reclined, the armrest 64 also rotates, allowing the seat occupant to rest their arms on it even when the seat back 62 is reclined. The ottoman 65 is provided to the seat cushion 61 via a rotation shaft 65a and rotates around the rotation shaft 65a. That is, when the seat back 62 is reclined, the ottoman 65 also rotates, allowing a seated person to rest their legs on it. The footrest 66 is provided to the ottoman 65 via a rotation shaft 66a and rotates around the rotation shaft 66a. That is, when the seat back 62 is reclined, the footrest 66 rotates simultaneously with the ottoman 65, allowing the seated person to rest their feet on it. The neck rest 67 can adjust the degree of bulging of the bank portion.

[0086] The seat 60 can change the shape of the seat bodies 61 and 62 and the movable portions 63 to 67 by the control unit executing a seat transformation program. In this modification, for example, ottoman 65 is rotated upward to raise the legs of the seated person, or swung up and down as shown by the two-way arrow in Fig. 10 to promote blood circulation. Armrests 64 and footrest 66 can also promote blood circulation in the same way as ottoman 65. Further, the seat cushion 61, the seat back 62, and the headrest 63 can perform the same operations as the seat cushion 11, the seat back 14, and the headrest 17 in the above embodiment.

[0087] In this modification, the biosensor 1 is provided in each of the seat cushion 61, the seat back 62, the head rest 63, the arm rest 64, the ottoman 65, the foot rest 66, and the neck rest 67. This makes it easier to obtain biometric information from the torso and other parts of the body of the seated occupant.

[0088] Furthermore, although not shown, the movable parts 63 to 67 (for example, the armrest 64) are provided with indicators, which may be used as a means for notifying the driver when, for example, the diagnosis result is poor.

[0089] According to this modification, not only the seat main bodies 61, 62 but also the movable parts 63-67 attached to the seat main bodies 61, 62 can be controlled to change shape by the seat transformation program, so that even small parts of the seat 10 can be transformed, making it easier for the seated person to assume a resting position. In particular, since the shape of not only the torso of the seated person but also parts other than the torso can be changed, it is easy to accommodate the body of the seated person and to maintain a resting position.

[0090] [Modification 3] The seat 70 in this modified example includes a seat cushion 71, and in the seat cushion 71, an air passage 72a is formed in a cushion pad 72 as shown in Fig. 11. In addition, a through hole 72b that passes through the cushion pad 72 in the up-down direction is formed in the center of the air passage 72a. A blower (not shown) is provided below the through-hole 72b, and is capable of blowing air into the ventilation passage 72a through the through-hole 72b.

[0091] Further, the seat cushion 71 is provided with a cover member 73, which is capable of covering the ventilation passage 72a. A plurality of punched holes 73a are formed in the cover member 73, and these punched holes 73a serve as air outlets for the ventilation passage 72a. At least the portions of the cushion pad 72 including the cover member 73 that correspond to the punched holes 73a of the air outlets are covered with a breathable skin (not shown).

[0092] The air sent in from the blower passes through the through hole 72b and is sent into the air passage 72a, and the air that has circulated through the air passage 72a is blown out toward the occupant from the air outlet (punched hole 73a) in the cover member 73. The air sent from the blower may be hot or cold.

[0093] The body temperature regulation program in this modification is set to be executed by the control unit to control the operation of the blower. That is, the control unit executes the body temperature regulation program to control the operation of the blower, thereby raising or lowering the body temperature of the occupant seated in the seat 70. In this modified example, as in the above embodiment, the control unit can be configured to control the operation of the air conditioner, and the air conditioner control and the blower control can be performed together to make it easier to regulate the body temperature of the seated occupant.

[0094] According to this modified example, the operation of the blower can be controlled to raise or lower the body temperature of the occupant sitting in the seat 70, thereby regulating the body temperature of the occupant, thereby improving the health condition of the occupant.

[0095] [Modification 4] In the above embodiment, the biosensor 1 uses suitable electromagnetic waves that do not adversely affect the human body. However, in this modified example, if there is a desire to minimize the use of electromagnetic waves, the operation of the biosensor 1 can be stopped. In other words, in this modified example, a button or the like that allows the user to select whether or not to have the biometric information detected by the biosensor 1 is displayed on the display unit of the navigation device, which is the output unit 43, and the seat occupant can select whether or not to have the biometric information detected by the biosensor 1 by pressing the button. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and confirmation may be performed by a voice output means, or a selection unit such as a button may be provided on the housing constituting the control device 40. According to this modification, the sensing operation by the biosensor 1 can be stopped at the discretion of the seated occupant, and therefore, it is possible to suitably respond to the desire to minimize the use of electromagnetic waves. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1. Biometric sensor 2 Seat sensor 3. Camera 4. Respiration Sensor 5 Temperature Sensor 10 Sheets 11 Seat cushion 11a Bank 14 Seat back 14a Bank 17 Headrest 17a Bank 18 Headrest pillar 20 Seat heater 30 Seat heater 40 Control device 41 Control section 42 Input section 43 Output section 44 Memory section 45 Communications Department

Claims

1. A seat equipped with a seat heater and configured to be changeable into a plurality of forms; a biological information detection means for detecting biological information of an occupant seated in the seat; a diagnosis unit that diagnoses a health condition of a seated occupant based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means; a threshold setting unit that resets a threshold value that is a reference for diagnosing a health condition of a seated occupant in accordance with a diagnosis result of the biological information by the diagnosis unit; a memory storing a body temperature regulation program for regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant based on a temperature measurement result by a temperature sensor when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal; A control unit capable of executing a program; a seat deformation unit that performs control to change the shape of the seat so as to guide the seated occupant to a resting position when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal, The seat includes, as a seat body, a seat cushion for supporting the buttocks and thighs of a seated person, a seat back having a lower end supported by the seat cushion, and a headrest provided on the seat back for supporting the person's head, The seat cushion and the seat back are configured so that the shape change can be controlled by the seat deformation portion, The seat deformation unit, after reclining the seat back, tilts the entire seat to the left or right, and deforms the bank portion of the seat back so that it bulges forward to adjust the degree of bulging, thereby controlling the seat back to a state in which it envelops the body of the seated occupant, The body temperature regulation program has a function of regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant by operating the seat heater in combination with changing the shape of the seat when the body temperature of the seated occupant drops, thereby regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant.

2. The posture support system described in Claim 1, characterized in that the seat deformation unit adjusts the fore-and-aft tilt of the headrest relative to the seat back after the seat back is reclined, and controls the entire seat to tilt to the left or right.

3. A seat equipped with a seat heater and configured to be changeable into a plurality of configurations; a biological information detection means for detecting biological information of an occupant seated in the seat; a diagnosis unit that diagnoses a health condition of a seated occupant based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means; a threshold setting unit that resets a threshold value that is a reference for diagnosing a health condition of a seated occupant in accordance with a diagnosis result of the biological information by the diagnosis unit; a memory storing a body temperature regulation program for regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant based on a temperature measurement result by a temperature sensor when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal; and A control unit capable of executing a program; a seat deformation unit that performs control to change the shape of the seat so as to guide the seated occupant to a resting position when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal, The seat includes, as a seat body, a seat cushion that supports the buttocks and thighs of a seated person, a seat back whose lower end is supported by the seat cushion, and a headrest that is provided on the seat back and supports the person's head, The seat cushion and the seat back are configured so that the shape change can be controlled by the seat deformation portion, the seat deformation unit adjusts a tilt of the headrest in a front-rear direction relative to the seat back after reclining the seat back, and controls the entire seat to tilt to the left or right, The body temperature regulation program has a function of regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant by operating the seat heater in combination with changing the shape of the seat when the body temperature of the seated occupant drops, thereby regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant.

4. A selection unit that allows the seat occupant to select whether or not to change the shape of the seat by the seat deformation unit when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seat occupant is not normal; and a consciousness confirmation means for confirming whether the seated person is conscious or not when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated person is not normal, The seat deformation unit changes the shape of the seat in response to a selection made by a seated occupant in the selection unit, or automatically changes the shape of the seat when no selection is made by the seated occupant in the selection unit; The posture support system described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when the consciousness confirmation means confirms that the seated occupant is conscious, the seat deformation section does not change the shape of the seat even if the occupant does not select anything in the selection section.

5. A seat equipped with a seat heater and configured to be changeable into a plurality of forms; a biological information detection means for detecting biological information of an occupant seated in the seat; a diagnosis unit that diagnoses a health condition of a seated occupant based on the biological information detected by the biological information detection means; a threshold setting unit that resets a threshold value that is a reference for diagnosing a health condition of a seated occupant in accordance with a diagnosis result of the biological information by the diagnosis unit; a memory storing a body temperature regulation program for regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant based on a temperature measurement result by a temperature sensor when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal; and A control unit capable of executing a program; a seat deformation unit that performs control to change the shape of the seat so as to guide the seated occupant to a resting position when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal; and a selection unit that allows the seat occupant to select whether or not to change the shape of the seat by the seat deformation unit when the diagnosis unit has diagnosed that the health condition of the seat occupant is not normal; a consciousness confirmation means for confirming whether the seated occupant is conscious or not when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the health condition of the seated occupant is not normal, The seat includes, as a seat body, a seat cushion that supports the buttocks and thighs of a seated person, a seat back whose lower end is supported by the seat cushion, and a headrest that is provided on the seat back and supports the person's head, The seat cushion and the seat back are configured so that the shape change can be controlled by the seat deformation portion, The sheet deformation portion is The seat back is reclined and the entire seat can be controlled to tilt to the left or right, and the form of the seat is changed according to a selection made by the seated person at the selection unit, or the form of the seat is automatically changed when the seated person does not make a selection at the selection unit, and when it is confirmed by the consciousness confirmation means that the seated person is conscious, the seat deformation unit does not change the form of the seat even if the seated person does not make a selection at the selection unit, The body temperature regulation program has a function of regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant by operating the seat heater in combination with changing the shape of the seat when the body temperature of the seated occupant drops, thereby regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant.

6. An air conditioner capable of adjusting the temperature of the space surrounding the seat is provided, The posture support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body temperature regulation program has a function of regulating the body temperature of the seated occupant by causing the control unit to operate the seat heater and blow warm air from the air conditioner through the outlet when the body temperature of the seated occupant drops.

7. 7. The posture support system according to claim 6, wherein the body temperature regulation program has a function of automatically adjusting a direction of an air outlet of the air conditioner by the control unit.

8. The seat is provided with a blower, The control unit is capable of controlling an operation of the blower, 8. The posture support system according to claim 6, wherein the body temperature regulation program has a function of operating the seat heater and controlling the blower by the control unit.

9. 9. The posture support system according to claim 8, wherein the body temperature regulation program has a function of controlling both the air conditioner and the blower by the control unit.

10. 10. The posture support system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is provided in a headrest or a neckrest.

11. 11. The posture support system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is an infrared sensor.

12. The seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back, and a headrest. The seat cushion is composed of a seat cushion frame that serves as a skeleton, a cushion pad provided on the seat cushion frame, and a skin that covers the seat cushion frame and the cushion pad, The seat heater is provided between the cushion pad and the seat cover, Between the rear end of the seat cushion and the lower end of the seat back, 12. The posture support system according to claim 1, further comprising a reclining mechanism that enables the seat back to rotate in a front-rear direction relative to the seat cushion.

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