Sensor unit

Abstract

To provide a sensor unit to be easily attached / detached to / from a seat on which a person is to be seated, and also to provide a seat with the sensor unit.SOLUTION: A sensor unit 30 comprises: a sensor module 31 including a biological sensor for detecting a biological signal of a seated person, and a wireless communication part connected to the biological sensor so as to wirelessly transmit the detected biological signal to an outer side; and a senor holding body 32 for holding the sensor module 31. The sensor holding body 32 includes a seat attachment part to be detachably attached to an attached part which is arranged at a position on which the seated person abuts on a front surface of a seat cushion 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor unit and a seat with a sensor unit, and particularly to a sensor unit attached to a seat for a seated person to sit on and a seat with a sensor unit.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, vehicle seats having a function of measuring the biological information of a driver during vehicle operation are known. For example, a seat having a function of measuring the driver's heartbeat using a biological sensor that detects the driver's bioelectric potential and quickly notifying the driver when an abnormality occurs in the change of the heartbeat is known (specifically, see Patent Document 1). Also, a seat having a function of estimating the physical state of a driver using a biological sensor that detects the driver's sitting posture, controlling the seat movement of the seat according to the estimation result, and recovering the driver from a fatigued state is known (specifically, see Patent Document 2).

[0003] In the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of capacitance-coupled sheet-like sensors are arranged between a cushion pad and a trim cover that constitute a seat back, and it is disclosed that the heartbeat of a seated person is measured based on the bioelectrical signal of the seated person detected by the sheet-like sensors. At this time, the plurality of sheet-like sensors are fixed by being attached to the cushion pad with an adhesive or the like. Also, in the seat control device described in Patent Document 2, a plurality of piezoelectric elements as body pressure distribution sensors are fixed inside the seat back and the seat cushion respectively, and the body pressure distribution of the occupant is detected by converting the pressure corresponding to the occupant's sitting posture into a voltage signal. When it is estimated that the physical state of the occupant is a fatigued state, it is disclosed that the seat is controlled to perform a movement to recover the occupant's fatigue.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-123359 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-65504 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] Incidentally, in vehicle seats such as those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the biosensor (sensor unit) is fixed to the cushion pad of the seat back (seat cushion) with adhesive or the like, making it difficult to remove the biosensor from the seat. This meant that the type of sensor unit could not be changed according to the user's (seatee's) request, and the output function based on biometric information obtained from the biosensor could not be modified, potentially resulting in a lack of versatility for the seat. Furthermore, there was a risk that the sensor unit could not be replaced at the appropriate time. Furthermore, it was expected that if users could easily remove the sensor unit from the vehicle seat and attach it to a work chair or other object separate from the vehicle seat, the output function based on the sensor unit would be available in a variety of situations.

[0006] Furthermore, in vehicle seats equipped with biosensors, such as those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the sheet-like biosensor is fixed to the cushion pad with adhesive or double-sided tape, but it is not fixed to the surface material on the seating side. This could cause the biosensor to shift position, potentially making it impossible to reliably detect the seating person's biological signals. Furthermore, when attaching biosensors to vehicle seats, there was a need for a simple assembly configuration while also considering the seating comfort of the person sitting in the seat.

[0007] Book The objective of the invention is to provide a sensor unit that can be easily attached to and detached from an object that a person can come into contact with, particularly a seat on which a person sits. to The purpose is to provide 。

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] According to the sensor unit of the present invention, the above problem is solved by The seat on which the person sits a sensor unit to be attached to, Seated person a biosensor for detecting the biological signal of, before and Sa a sensor holder for holding the biosensor. The sensor holder is detachably attached to a mounting portion provided at a position where seat in can abut against Seated person so as to be detachable from the attached portion. seat It has a mounting portion The seat mounting portion is attached to the seat cushion which is the mounting portion, and is provided at both ends of the main body portion of the sensor holder in the front-rear direction of the seat, and extends in the front-rear direction of the seat. and is solved by 。

[0009] At this time, The sensor unit is attached to a vehicle seat equipped with a seat cushion and a seat back, and the seat mounting portion is attached to the seat cushion so as to be sandwiched between the seat back and the seat cushion. it is good. Furthermore, the main body of the sensor holder is preferably positioned to sandwich the seat cushion between the seat mounting portion in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the biosensor is preferably placed on the surface of the seat cushion. Furthermore, the system includes a communication unit connected to the biosensor for transmitting the detected biosignal to the outside, the sensor holder holding the communication unit, the communication unit having conductive wires and a harness bundling the conductive wires that connect the biosensor and the ECU and output the biosignal obtained from the biosensor toward the ECU, an opening formed at one end of the sensor holder for passing the harness from the sensor holder to the outside of the sensor holder, and no opening formed at the other end of the sensor holder, and the biosensor is preferably positioned closer to the one end than to the other end. Furthermore, the sensor unit is attached to a vehicle seat equipped with a seat cushion, and the sensor holder is attached to the seat cushion and further comprises a communication unit for transmitting the detected biological signal to the outside, the sensor holder holds the communication unit, the communication unit has conductive wires and a harness bundling the conductive wires that connect the biological sensor and the ECU and output the biological signal obtained from the biological sensor toward the ECU, the sensor holder has an opening formed therein for passing the harness from the sensor holder to the outside of the sensor holder, and the sensor unit is preferably attached to the seat cushion such that the opening is located in the rear portion of the seat cushion. Furthermore, the seat mounting portion includes a rear cover attached to the rear end of the sensor holder and a front cover attached to the front end of the sensor holder, an engaging member fixed to the extended end of the rear cover and an engaged member fixed to the extended end of the front cover, and the seat mounting portion is attached to the seat cushion by engaging the engaging member with the engaged member, and it is preferable that the engaged member is engaged with the engaging member at a position facing the surface of the seat cushion opposite to the surface to which the biosensor is attached. Furthermore, the sensor holder is configured to include a flat cushioning material that supports the biosensor from below, and the sensor unit further includes a communication unit connected to the biosensor for transmitting the detected biosignal to the outside, the sensor holder holds the communication unit, the communication unit has conductive wires and a harness bundling the conductive wires that connect the biosensor and the ECU and output the biosignal obtained from the biosensor toward the ECU, a part of the harness is placed on the back surface of the cushioning material, and the cushioning material preferably has a transparent resin base as an underlay layer.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, a sensor unit that can be easily attached to and detached from an object that a human can abut against, particularly a seating seat, is realized. can.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is an external perspective view of a seat with a sensor unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 2A] It is a front view of the sensor unit. [Figure 2B] It is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 2A and shows the configuration of the sensor unit. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a wireless sensor unit. [Figure 4]It is an external perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] It is an external perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit according to the third embodiment. [Figure 6] In the seat with a sensor unit according to the fourth embodiment, it is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the wired sensor unit. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing the seat arrangement of the wired sensor unit in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] Hereinafter, it is an external perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a front view of the wired sensor unit. [Figure 10A] It is a perspective view showing the surfaces of the sensor module and the cushion material. [Figure 10B] It is a perspective view showing the back surfaces of the sensor module and the cushion material. [Figure 11] Hereinafter, it is an exploded perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit. [Figure 13] It is an enlarged view of the main part of the sensor unit, showing the seat attachment part to the seat back (seat cushion). [Figure 14] It is an exploded perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 15] It is an exploded perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit according to the eighth embodiment. [Figure 16] It is an exploded perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit according to the ninth embodiment. [Figure 17] It is an exploded perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit according to the tenth embodiment. [Figure 18] It is an exploded perspective view of the seat with a sensor unit according to the eleventh embodiment. [Figure 19A] It is a diagram showing another embodiment of the seat attachment part of the sensor unit. [Figure 19B] It is a diagram showing another embodiment of the seat attachment part. [Figure 20A] This is a perspective view of a shoe with a sensor unit. [Figure 20B] This is a perspective view of a shoe with a sensor unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1-20A and 20B. This embodiment relates to a seat with a sensor unit for a person to sit on, wherein the sensor unit comprises a biosensor for detecting the person's biological signals, a wireless communication unit connected to the biosensor for wirelessly transmitting the detected biological signals to the outside, and a sensor holder for holding the biosensor and the wireless communication unit, and the sensor holder has a seat mounting portion that is detachably attached to a mounting portion provided on the surface of the seat cushion at a position where the person sitting can come into contact with it. Note that, with a seat equipped with a sensor unit, the side where the occupant sits is the front side of the seat relative to the seatback.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, the seat S with a sensor unit of this embodiment is a vehicle seat and mainly consists of a seat body comprising a seat cushion 1, a seat back 2, a headrest 3, and an armrest 4, and a sensor unit 30 installed inside the seat body (seat cushion 1) that detects an electrical signal corresponding to the biopotential of a person sitting on the seat and transmits the detected electrical signal to the outside.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the seat cushion 1 is a seating portion that supports the occupant from below, and is constructed by placing a cushion pad 10 on a cushion frame (not shown) which forms the skeleton, and covering it with a surface material 20. The seat back 2 is a backrest that supports the occupant's back from behind, and is constructed by placing a cushion pad (not shown) on a back frame (not shown) which forms the skeleton, and covering it with an outer material (not shown). The headrest 3 is a headrest that supports the occupant's head from behind, and is constructed by placing a cushion pad (not shown) on a headrest pillar (not shown) which serves as a core material, and covering it with a surface material (not shown). The armrest 4 is an arm portion that supports the seated person's arms from below, and is rotatably mounted to the outer surface of the seat back 2 in the seat width direction via a mounting bracket (not shown).

[0023] The cushion pad 10 is a cushioning material made of foamed urethane or the like. As shown in Figure 1, on the surface of the cushion pad 10, the left and right lateral portions in the seat width direction have a surface suspension groove 11 extending in the front-to-back direction of the seat, and a surface suspension groove 12 extending in the seat width direction to connect the left and right surface suspension grooves 11. Furthermore, on the surface of the cushion pad 10, a cushion recess 13 corresponding to the outer shape of the sensor unit 30 is formed in the portion facing the sensor unit 30 in order to ensure a comfortable seating feel.

[0024] The outer material 20 is made of an elastic fabric material, leather material, etc., and is formed, for example, by sewing conductive threads to a base fabric made of natural fibers or synthetic fibers as needed. Furthermore, wadding material (not shown) may be attached to the back surface of the upholstery material 20 in order to improve the seating comfort of the seat cushion 1. On the surface of the upholstery material 20, upholstery pockets 21 and 22 are formed in the front and rear portions of the upholstery attachment grooves 12, respectively, for housing the sensor unit 30 inside. Additionally, upholstery pockets 23 and 24 are formed in the outer portions of the left and right upholstery attachment grooves 11 in the seat width direction.

[0025] The surface pockets 21-24 are bag-shaped pocket portions formed by separately sewing a cloth material or the like to the back surface of the main body portion of the surface material 20, and the sensor unit 30 can be stored through the pocket openings 21a-24a provided on the surface of the surface material 20. The front and rear upholstery pockets 21 and 22 are located in the central part of the seat cushion 1 in the seat width direction, and are arranged so as to be aligned in the front-to-back direction of the seat. Furthermore, the left and right upholstery pockets 23 and 24 are positioned opposite each other in the front-to-back direction of the seat.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the sensor unit 30 mainly consists of a sensor module 31 including a biosensor 31a and a bag-shaped sensor holder 32 that holds the sensor module 31, and is attached to the surface pockets 21-24 (attachment parts) on the seat cushion 1 in a position where a seated person can come into contact with them, in a manner that allows for easy attachment and detachment.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the sensor module 31 mainly consists of a biosensor 31a that detects an electrical signal corresponding to the biopotential of the seated person, a wireless communication unit 31b that receives the electrical signal and transmits it wirelessly to the outside, a control unit 31c that processes the electrical signal detected by the biosensor 31a and transmits it to the wireless communication unit 31b, and a battery unit 31d that supplies power. The biosensor 31a is specifically a sensor that detects the breathing signal (electrical signal) of a seated person, and more specifically, a planar pressure sensor that detects the seating pressure of a seated person. "Seating pressure" is a value that changes periodically in response to the physiological activity (breathing) of the person sitting on the seat S equipped with a sensor unit. The wireless communication unit 31b uses wireless communication technology to connect to external terminals, such as tablet devices, smartphones, PCs, and other computers and electrical equipment, and to send and receive electrical signals (data signals). The control unit 31c is equivalent to a microcomputer and comprehensively performs electrical control, while the battery unit 31d is a relatively small button cell battery.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the sensor holder 32 is a roughly rectangular bag-shaped body and mainly consists of a roughly flat cushioning material 32a that supports the entire sensor module 31 from below, a cloth member 32b that is attached to cover the entire sensor module 31 from above, and a bag-shaped cover material 32c that houses the sensor module 31, the cushioning material 32a, and the cloth member 32b inside. The fabric member 32b is, for example, a nonwoven fabric tape, and all four ends of it are in contact with and attached to the surface of the cushioning material 32a. Alternatively, it may be attached with an adhesive. The cover material 32c is formed by overlapping a pair of outer covers face to face, creating an opening at one end, and sewing the remaining end. A pair of hook-and-loop fasteners are provided on the inner surface of the opening of the cover material 32c as a cover closing portion 32d. Furthermore, the internal space of the cover material 32c is formed to be approximately the same size as the outer dimensions of the cushion material 32a, and the sensor module 31 is housed inside the cover material 32c without any misalignment.

[0029] On the surface of the sensor holder 32, a positioning indicator section 32e is formed as a rectangular stitched line (stitch) to indicate the holding position of the sensor module 31 to the outside. Alternatively, a rectangular cushioning material (urethane slab) may be attached instead of the stitched line. Furthermore, on the back surface of the sensor holder 32 opposite to the surface on which the positioning indicator 32e is formed, a seat mounting portion 32f is provided, which can be attached to the surface pockets 21-24 (attachment portions) of the seat cushion 1 by contacting each other surface-to-surface.

[0030] The seat attachment portion 32f may be formed as, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener, or it may be formed as double-sided tape and attached to the inner surface of the outer pockets 21-24 with adhesive force that allows for easy attachment and detachment. If a hook-and-loop fastener is used, it is preferable that one hook-and-loop fastener (for example, the hook side) of the seat attachment portion 32f be configured to be detachable from the other hook-and-loop fastener (for example, the loop side) provided on the inner surface of the outer pockets 21-24.

[0031] In the above configuration, the sensor unit 30 is connected to a known heart rate measurement device (not shown) via a network. Based on the breathing signal (electrical signal) of the seated person transmitted from the sensor unit 30, the heart rate measurement device measures the seated person's heart rate and can quickly notify the seated person if an abnormality occurs in the change in heart rate. Regarding the specific method for calculating heart rate based on the electrical signal from the sensor unit 30, a known calculation method (for example, the calculation method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-123359) can be used, and a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0032] In addition, the type of biosensor can be changed according to the user's (seatee's) request, and the output function based on the biometric information detected by the biosensor can also be modified. Specifically, in addition to pressure sensors, temperature sensors, sound sensors, light sensors, odor sensors, acceleration sensors, etc., may also be used. Furthermore, the output functions are envisioned to include measuring changes in the seated person's heart rate and notifying them of any heart rate abnormalities (such as drowsiness), measuring the seated person's sitting posture and controlling the seat's movement to create relaxation or skeletal correction modes, and providing games or videos to the seated person based on their biometric information (e.g., electrocardiogram, blood pressure, body temperature, respiration, etc.).

[0033] <Second embodiment of a seat with a sensor unit> Next, a second embodiment of the sensor unit-equipped sheet S2 will be described based on Figure 4. In the sensor unit-equipped sheet S2, the configuration of the sensor unit 130 differs mainly from that of the sensor unit-equipped sheet S. The sensor unit 130 mainly consists of a sensor module 131 and a block-shaped sensor holder 132 that holds the sensor module 131, and is attached to a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped cushion recess 113 (mounting part) formed on the surface of the cushion pad 110 of the seat cushion 101 in a manner that allows for attachment and detachment.

[0034] Sensor module 131 has the same configuration as sensor module 31 shown in Figure 3. The sensor holder 132 is a pad member made of a rectangular block and is formed in a shape corresponding to the cushion recess 113. A storage recess 133 for housing the sensor module 131 is formed on the surface of the sensor holder 132. In this case, the sensor holder 132 (the outer surface of the sensor holder 132) corresponds to the "sheet mounting part" and is attached to the cushion recess 113 (the part to be attached) in a manner that allows it to be attached and detached.

[0035] Even with the above configuration, it is possible to realize a sensor unit that can be attached to and detached from a seat relatively easily, and it can be installed not only on vehicle seats but also on various other seats such as work chairs.

[0036] <Third embodiment of a seat with a sensor unit> Next, a third embodiment, a seat S3 with a sensor unit, will be described based on Figure 5. In the sensor unit-equipped sheet S3, the configuration of the sensor unit 230 is mainly different from that of the sensor unit-equipped sheet S. The sensor unit 230 mainly consists of a plurality of sensor modules 231 and a sheet-like sensor holder 232 that holds the plurality of sensor modules 231 together, and is attached to the cushion pad 210 (mounting part) of the seat cushion 201 in a manner that allows for easy attachment and detachment.

[0037] The sensor module 231 has the same configuration as the sensor module 31 shown in Figure 3. Multiple sensor modules 231 are arranged at intervals in the seat width direction and the seat front-to-back direction, with a total of four locations corresponding to positions that a seated person can come into contact with. The sensor holder 232 is a single surface material formed in a shape that can cover the surface of the central portion of the cushion pad 210. Multiple sensor modules 231 are attached to the back surface of the sensor holder 232 using hook-and-loop fasteners or double-sided tape. In this case, the sensor holder 232 corresponds to the "seat mounting part" and is attached to the cushion pad 210 (the part to be mounted) by being hooked on in a way that allows it to be attached and detached.

[0038] Even with the above configuration, it is possible to realize a sensor unit that can be attached to and detached from a seat relatively easily, and it can be installed not only on vehicle seats but also on various other seats such as work chairs. Furthermore, it allows for the attachment of multiple biosensors to a seat with a relatively simple configuration.

[0039] <Fourth embodiment of a seat with a sensor unit> Next, a fourth embodiment, a sheet S4 with a sensor unit, will be described based on Figures 6 and 7. In the sensor unit-equipped sheet S4, the sensor unit 330 uses a wired communication method, compared to the sensor unit-equipped sheet S. As shown in Figure 6, the sensor unit 330 includes a sensor module 331 which comprises a biosensor 331a and a wired communication unit 331b connected to the biosensor 331a for transmitting detected biosignals to the outside. As shown in Figure 7, the wired communication unit 331b is a harness consisting of conductive wires and a bundle of conductive wires that connect the biosensor 331a to the ECU 340 provided on the seat cushion 301 and output the biosignal obtained from the biosensor 331a toward the ECU 340. More specifically, the wired communication unit 331b extends downward from the sensor holder 332, passing through a through-hole in the cushion pad 310, then bending forward from the seat and extending along the bottom surface of the cushion frame, where it connects to the ECU 340. The ECU340 is a control unit for a known heart rate measurement device capable of calculating the heart rate of a seated person by analyzing the biosignals detected by the sensor unit 330, and is mounted on the bottom surface of the cushion frame. A power battery (not shown) is provided around the ECU340.

[0040] Even with the above configuration, it is possible to realize a sensor unit that can be attached to and detached from the seat, resulting in a sensor unit that can be replaced in seats of various vehicles.

[0041] <Fifth embodiment of a seat with a sensor unit> Next, the sensor unit-equipped sheet S5 of the fifth embodiment will be described based on Figures 8-10A and 10B. The sensor unit 430 of the sensor unit-equipped sheet S5 uses a wired communication method. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the sensor unit 430 mainly consists of a sensor module 431 and a cushion-shaped sensor holder 432 that holds the sensor module 431 inside, and is attached to the seat cushion 401 and the seat back 402 (the part to be attached) in a manner that allows for easy attachment and detachment. The following describes the sensor unit 430 provided on the seat cushion 401.

[0042] As shown in Figures 9 and 10A,B, the sensor module 431 includes a plurality of biosensors 431a and a wired communication unit 431b connected to the plurality of biosensors 431a for transmitting detected biosignals to the outside. The biosensors 431a are planar pressure sensors, spaced apart in the seat width direction and the seat front-to-back direction, with a total of six sensors positioned to correspond to locations where a seated person can make contact. In order to improve the detection accuracy of the sensors, four biosensors 431a are positioned at locations corresponding to the seated person's buttocks. The wired communication unit 431b consists of conductive wires and a harness bundling the conductive wires, which connect the biosensor 431a to an ECU (not shown) provided on the seat cushion 401.

[0043] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the sensor holder 432 is a single cushion and mainly consists of a substantially flat cushion material 432a that supports a plurality of biosensors 431a from below, and a bag-shaped cover material 432c that houses the sensor module 431 and the cushion material 432a inside. On the back surfaces of the four corners of the sensor holder 432, there are seat attachment parts 432f (hook-and-loop fasteners) that can be attached to the surface of the seat cushion 401.

[0044] The surface of the cushioning material 432a has a plurality of storage recesses 433 for housing the biosensor 431a, and linear slit holes 434 provided adjacent to each storage recess 433 for passing the wired communication unit 431b (conductor) through. In the above configuration, the wired communication unit 431b (conductor) extends from the biosensor 431a through the slit hole 434 to the back surface of the cushioning material 432a. Furthermore, multiple wired communication units 431b are bundled together on the back surface of the cushioning material 432a and extend as a harness. The cushioning material 432a may have a multi-layer structure. In that case, each layer should be fixed with an adhesive or the like, and it is also preferable to have a transparent resin base as the underlay layer. By using transparent resin, the wiring of the wired communication unit 431b can be easily checked. The length and width of the slit hole 434 can be adjusted as needed.

[0045] The cover material 432c is formed by overlapping a pair of outer covers face to face, creating an opening at one end, and sewing the remaining end. A zipper is provided on the inner surface of the opening of the cover material 432c as a cover closing portion 432d. The internal space of the cover material 432c is formed to be the same size as the outer dimensions of the cushion material 432a, and multiple biosensors 431a are housed on the surface of the cover material 432c without any displacement. On the surface of the cover material 432c, a positioning indicator section 432e is formed as a rectangular sewing line to indicate the holding position of the sensor module 431 to the outside. In addition to the positioning indicator unit 432e, a separate positioning indicator unit may be formed to confirm the front-to-back (left-to-right) orientation of the sensor unit 430.

[0046] Even with the above configuration, it is possible to realize a sensor unit that can be easily attached to and detached from a seat, and that can be replaced in various vehicle seats. Furthermore, multiple biosensors can be attached to a seating surface in a relatively simple configuration, allowing for precise positioning.

[0047] In the above configuration, as shown in Figure 10A, a storage recess 433 is formed on the surface of the cushioning material 432a. In addition, a separate storage recess for housing the wired communication unit 431b may also be formed on the back surface of the cushioning material 432a. In this way, when the biosensor 431a and the wired communication unit 431b are attached to the cushioning material 432a, the front and back surfaces of the cushioning material 432a become substantially flush, resulting in a good seating experience for the person sitting. While it is desirable that the front and back surfaces of the cushioning material 432a be approximately flush, this is not particularly limited, and the portion of the cushioning material 432a to which the biosensor 431a is attached may protrude slightly or be slightly recessed.

[0048] In the above configuration, as shown in Figure 10A, a recessed area 433 for positioning the biosensor 431a is formed on the surface of the cushioning material 432a. Alternatively, a predetermined marking (triangular marking) or a jig may be used as a positioning method.

[0049] <Sixth embodiment of a seat with a sensor unit> Next, the sensor unit-equipped sheet S6 of the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11-13. In the sensor unit-equipped seat S6, the configuration of the seat mounting portion 533 of the sensor unit 530 differs from that of the sensor unit-equipped seat S5, mainly in the configuration of the seat mounting portion 533 of the sensor unit 530. The sensor unit 530 consists of a sensor module 531 including a biosensor 531a and a cushion-shaped sensor holder 532 that holds the sensor module 531 inside, and is attached to the seat cushion 501 and the seat back 502 (the part to be attached) in a manner that allows for easy attachment and detachment. The following describes the sensor unit 530 located on the seat back 502.

[0050] The sensor holder 532 is a single cushion. At both ends of the sensor holder 532 in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction), there are seat mounting portions 533 that can be attached to the surface of the seat back 502.

[0051] The seat mounting section 533 includes an upper cover 533a attached by sewing to the upper end of the sensor holder 532 and extending toward the headrest 503, and a lower cover 533b attached by sewing to the lower end of the sensor holder 532 and extending toward the seat cushion 501. A pair of insertion holes 534 are formed in the approximately central portion of the upper cover 533a in the extending direction, for inserting a pair of pillars 503a of the headrest 503. Furthermore, an engaging hook 535 (engaging member) with a roughly J-shaped cross-section and a long length in the sheet width direction is fixed to the extended end of the upper cover 533a with adhesive. A rectangular engaging member 536 (engaged member), which is elongated in the sheet width direction, is fixed to the extended end of the lower cover 533b with adhesive. The engaging hook 535 and engaging member 536 are made of resin trim cord, and the engaging hook 535 can be hooked onto the engaging member 536.

[0052] In the above configuration, in order to attach the sensor unit 530 to the seat back 502, first, as shown in Figure 12, it is attached to the seat back 502 so as to cover the seat mounting portion 533. Specifically, the front, top, bottom, and rear surfaces of the seat back 502 are covered by the upper cover 533a and the lower cover 533b. At this time, the pillar 503a of the headrest 503 is inserted into the insertion hole 534 of the upper cover 533a. Then, as shown in Figure 13, at the lower end of the back surface of the seat back 502, the engaging hook 535 of the upper cover 533a is hooked onto the engaging member 536 of the lower cover 533b.

[0053] The method for attaching the sensor unit 530 provided on the seat cushion 501 is the same. Specifically, as shown in Figure 12, the seat mounting portion 533 covers the top, front, bottom, and rear surfaces of the seat cushion 501. Then, as shown in Figure 13, at the rear end of the seat cushion 501, the engaging hook 535 of the rear cover 533a is hooked onto the engaging member 536 of the front cover 533b.

[0054] Even with the above configuration, it is possible to realize a sensor unit that can be easily attached to and detached from a seat, and that can be replaced in seats for various vehicles.

[0055] <Seventh embodiment of a seat with a sensor unit> Next, the sensor unit-equipped sheet S7 of the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 14. In the sensor unit-equipped seat S7, the configuration of the seat mounting portion 633 of the sensor unit 630 is different compared to the sensor unit-equipped seat S6. The sensor unit 630 mainly consists of a sensor module 631, a cushion-shaped sensor holder 632 that holds the sensor module 631 inside, and a seat mounting part 633 that is attached to the surface of the sensor holder 632 and can be attached to the seat cushion 601 (seat back 602). The following describes the sensor unit 630 provided on the seat cushion 601.

[0056] The seat mounting portion 633 is a long surface cover attached to the surface of the sensor holder 632 by sewing or adhesive, and covers the cushion pad 610 as part of the surface material 620 of the seat cushion 601. The outer edge of the seat mounting portion 633 is provided with wire fasteners 633a along its entire length, at the front end and at both ends in the seat width direction. These fasteners interlock with the wire fasteners 620a provided on the surface material 620, allowing the sensor unit 630 to be attached to the seat cushion 601. In this case, the rear end of the outer edge of the seat mounting portion 633 is not provided with a wire fastener 633a. By doing so, the seat S7 with the sensor unit can be easily manufactured, and the assembly work of the sensor unit 630 is also made easier.

[0057] With the above configuration, the sensor unit 630 can be attached to the seat cushion 601 by changing the surface material.

[0058] <Eighth embodiment of a seat with a sensor unit> Next, the sensor unit-equipped sheet S8 of the eighth embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 15. In the sensor unit-equipped seat S8, the configuration of the seat mounting portion 733 of the sensor unit 730 is different compared to the sensor unit-equipped seat S6. The sensor unit 730 includes a sensor module 731, a cushion-shaped sensor holder 732 that holds the sensor module 731 inside, and seat mounting parts 733 attached to both ends of the sensor holder 732 in the width direction (seat width direction), which can be attached to the seat cushion 701. The seat S8 with the sensor unit is equipped with resin protective covers 734 on both sides that protect the seat cushion 701 from the outside in the width direction of the seat.

[0059] The seat mounting section 733 is attached to both the left and right ends of the sensor holder 732 by sewing and includes a left cover 733a and a right cover 733b that extend outward in the width direction of the seat. The extended ends of the left cover 733a and the right cover 733b are sandwiched between the seat cushion 701 and the protective cover 734, respectively, allowing the sensor unit 730 to be attached to the seat cushion 701.

[0060] <Ninth embodiment of a seat with a sensor unit> Next, the sensor unit-equipped sheet S9 of the ninth embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 16. In the sensor unit-equipped sheet S9, the configuration of the sheet mounting portion 833 of the sensor unit 830 is different compared to the sensor unit-equipped sheet S6. The sensor unit 830 includes a sensor module 831, a cushion-shaped sensor holder 832 that holds the sensor module 831 inside, and a seat mounting portion 833 attached to the upper end of the sensor holder 832, which can be attached to the seat back 802. The seat S8 with the sensor unit includes a J-shaped hook 834 mounted at an upper position on the underside of the seat back 802, and a table 835 positioned below the hook 834 and rotatably mounted to the seat back 802.

[0061] The seat mounting portion 833 is a long cover that is attached by sewing to the upper end of the sensor holder 832 and extends upward, and includes a pair of insertion holes 833a for inserting a pair of pillars 803a of the headrest 803, and a fastening hole 833b for fastening to a hook 834. Furthermore, the extended end of the seat mounting portion 833 is sandwiched between the seat back 802 and the table 835. With the above configuration, the sensor unit 830 can be attached to the seat back 802 using existing parts. Alternatively, the existing armrest can be used to attach the sensor unit 830 to the seat back 802.

[0062] <Tenth and eleventh embodiments of a seat with a sensor unit> Next, the sensor unit-equipped sheets S10 and S11 of the 10th and 11th embodiments will be described with reference to Figures 17 and 18. The seat S10 with a sensor unit is a sofa-type seat. A cushion-shaped (seat cushion-shaped) sensor unit 930 is detachably attached to the surface of the seat cushion 901 of the seat S10. The seat S11 with a sensor unit is a seat of the type found in office chairs. A cushion-shaped (seat cushion-shaped) sensor unit 1030 is detachably attached to the surface of the seat cushion 1001 of the seat S11. These sensor units 930 and 1030 are preferably attached to the seat cushions 901 and 1001 using, for example, hook-and-loop fasteners.

[0063] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the sensor unit 30 is mounted inside the seat cushion 1, but this is not limited to this configuration and can be changed. It may also be mounted inside the seat back 2, inside the headrest 3, or inside or outside the armrest 4. It may also be mounted inside or outside an ottoman (not shown). Furthermore, although the sensor unit 30 is attached to the seat on which a person sits, it is not particularly limited and may be attached to the inside or outside of an object that a person can come into contact with.

[0064] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 2B, the sensor unit 30 has a seat mounting portion 32f (hook-and-loop fastener or double-sided tape) that can be attached to the surface of the surface material 20 (surface pockets 21-24) of the seat cushion 1, but it is not limited to hook-and-loop fastener or double-sided tape and can be changed. Specifically, as shown in Figure 19A, the sensor unit 30A may have a rectangular plate-shaped magnet inside as the seat mounting portion 32Af. With this configuration, the sensor unit 30A can be attached to a metal wire (for example, a metal wire for fastening the upholstery material) provided on the cushion pad of the seat cushion or seat back in a detachable manner. Alternatively, it can be attached to a metal frame that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion or seat back in a detachable manner. More specifically, as shown in Figure 19B, the sensor unit 30B may have a mounting band on its outer surface (back surface) as a seat mounting portion 32Bf. With this configuration, the seat mounting portion 32Bf can be detachably attached to the outer surface of the armrest (the part to be attached) with the armrest sandwiched in between.

[0065] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the sensor module 131 (biosensor) is housed on the surface of the block-shaped sensor holder 132, but it is not particularly limited and may also be housed in a storage recess provided on the back surface of the sensor holder 132. In that case, the sensor module 131 (biosensor) will be positioned sandwiched between the sensor holder 132 and the cushion recess 113 provided in the seat cushion 101 (cushion pad 110) in the vertical direction. This configuration allows for a more stable attachment of the biosensor to the seat. Furthermore, by minimizing the thickness of the sensor holder 132 block, it becomes easier to detect the occupant's biosignals.

[0066] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the seat S5 with the sensor unit is equipped with a cushion-shaped (seat cushion-shaped) sensor unit 430. The sensor unit 430 may further have a charging means (charging unit) that utilizes wireless or wired communication, or it may have a remaining charge display unit that displays the remaining charge. Furthermore, the sensor unit 430 may also have a display processing unit that wirelessly communicates with the seated person's mobile phone and displays a predetermined animation screen based on the sensing information on the mobile phone's display. Furthermore, the sensor unit 430 may also have a fault detection unit that determines whether the sensing function is malfunctioning, and may also have a fault notification unit (fault display unit) that notifies the user of the malfunction when it occurs. The fault display unit is preferably positioned in front of the seat surface relative to the seated surface of the person sitting. Furthermore, the shape of the sensor unit 430 and the biosensor 431a are not limited to a rectangular shape; they may also be triangular, circular, or other shapes, as long as they are easy to position.

[0067] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the sensor unit 430 is configured as a single cushion (seat cushion), and the cushion may further have pockets on its outer or inner surface. In this case, an ECU, battery, tablet, etc., may be inserted into the pockets. It is preferable that the pockets be detachably attached to the main body of the sensor unit 430.

[0068] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the sensor unit 430 is detachably attached to the seat cushion 401. Therefore, the design of the sensor holder 432 (cover material 432c) can be changed or washed independently. On the other hand, the sensor unit 430 may be integrally attached to the seat cushion 401 (surface material 420). In this way, the electronic components inside the sensor unit 430 can be suitably protected (exposure to the outside can be suppressed). Furthermore, when integrally attaching the sensor unit 430 to the outer material 420, it is preferable to first house the cushion material 432a with the biosensor 431a shown in Figure 10A inside the cover material 432c, and then sew the cushion material 432a, cover material 432c, and outer material 420 together.

[0069] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the sensor unit 430 is attached to the seat cushion 401 and the seat back 402 to sense the seating pressure of the occupant, but it may also be attached to other seat components. Specifically, the sensor unit 430 may be attached to an armrest, ottoman, or the like. In this way, the sensor unit 430 can not only sense the seating pressure of the person sitting, but also sense the movements of the person's hands and legs. Furthermore, the sensor unit 430 may also be capable of reversibly sensing the seating pressure of the occupant. This would allow the sensor unit 430 to be mounted upside down on the seat cushion 401, making it possible to acquire different sensing information. Furthermore, it would be desirable for the sensor unit 430 to be able to sense even if it is mounted upside down front to back or upside down left to right. In that case, it would be desirable for the biosensors 431a to be arranged so as to be symmetrical front to back (or left to right). Furthermore, although the sensor unit 430 is a single cushion, it may be possible to fold it in half, for example. When folding, it is preferable that the biosensor 431a and the wired communication unit 431b be positioned to avoid the fold. Alternatively, they may be deliberately positioned to overlap the fold.

[0070] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 10B, multiple wired communication units 431b (conductors) are bundled and extend from the back surface of the cushioning material 432a, and the routing direction of the wired communication units 431b (conductors) and the routing direction of the harness can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, while the wired communication unit 431b (harness) protrudes outward from the opening of the sensor holder 432, the position where the wired communication unit 431b protrudes does not have to be at the corner of the opening of the sensor holder 432. That is, it may be at the central part of the opening of the sensor holder 432, or at the position of a through hole separately formed at a predetermined position in the sensor holder 432.

[0071] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the sensor unit 530 is attached to the seat back 502, and it is preferable that the sensor unit 530 be positioned to avoid a reclining device (not shown). Alternatively, it may be further secured using components of the reclining device.

[0072] In the above embodiment, a seat S1-S11 with a sensor unit is described as shown in Figures 1-19A,B, but it is not limited to a seat, and may be a shoe S12 with a sensor unit as shown in Figures 20A,B, for example. The sensor unit-equipped shoe S12 should ideally have an insole 1101 (insole) with a sensor unit 1130 inside the shoe. Specifically, it is preferable that multiple sensor units 1130 are provided and each is housed in a storage recess 1101a formed on the upper part of the insole 1101. In addition, the floor may be equipped with a sensor unit.

[0073] In the above embodiment, a vehicle seat used in an automobile was described as a specific example, but it is not particularly limited and can be used for various types of seats, including motorcycle seats, seats in trains and buses, seats in airplanes and ships, as well as office chairs for work, wheelchairs, and children's seats in shopping carts.

[0074] In this embodiment, the sensor unit and the seat with the sensor unit according to the present invention were mainly described. However, the embodiments described above are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and of course, equivalents thereof are included. In particular, the arrangement and configuration of the sensor unit described in the above embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] S, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, S10, S11 Sensor unit equipped seat 1,101,201,301,401,501,601,701,901,1001 Seat cushion 2,402,502,602,802 Seatback 3,503,803 Headrests 503a, 803a Pillar 4. Armrest (mounting part) 10,110,210,310,610 Cushion pads 11,12 Skin suspension groove 13,113 Cushion recess 20,620 Skin material 620a wire fastener 21, 22, 23, 24 Surface pocket (attachment part) 21a, 22a, 23a, 24a Pocket opening 30 (30A, 30B), 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830, 930, 1030 Sensor Unit 31,131,231,331,431,531,631,731,831 Sensor Modules 31a, 331a, 431a, 531a Biosensors 31b, 331b, 431b Wireless communication section, wired communication section (communication section) 31c Control Unit 31d Battery Unit 32,132,232,332,432,532,632,732,832 Sensor holder 32a,432a Cushioning material 32b Cloth parts 32c, 432c cover material 32d, 432d Cover closing section 32e, 432e Positioning display unit 32f (32Af, 32Bf), 432f Seat mounting section (mounting section) 133,433 Storage recess 434 Slit holes 533, 633, 733, 833 Seat mounting section (mounting section) 533a Upper cover (rear cover) 533b Lower cover (front cover) 633a Wire fastener 733a Left cover 733b Right cover 833a Insertion hole 833b Hook hole 534 Insertion hole 535 Engagement Hook 536 Engaging member 734 Protective Cover 834 Hook 835 Table 340 ECU S12 Shoes with Sensor Unit 1101 Insole 1101a Storage recess 1130 Sensor Unit

Claims

1. A sensor unit to be attached to a seat in which a person is seated, A biosensor that detects the biological signals of the seated person, The system comprises a sensor holder that holds the biosensor, The sensor holder has a seat mounting portion that is detachably attached to a mounting portion provided on the seat at a position where the seated person can come into contact with it. The aforementioned seat mounting portion is It is attached to the seat cushion, which is the part to be attached, The sensor holder is provided at both ends of the main body portion in the front-to-back direction of the sheet, A sensor unit characterized by extending in the front-to-back direction of the seat.

2. The sensor unit is attached to a vehicle seat equipped with a seat cushion and a seat back, The sensor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat mounting portion is attached to the seat cushion by being sandwiched between the seat back and the seat cushion.

3. The sensor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the main body portion of the sensor holder sandwiches the seat cushion between the seat mounting portion in the vertical direction.

4. The sensor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the biosensor is arranged on the surface of the seat cushion.

5. The communication unit is connected to the biosensor and transmits the detected biosignal to the outside, The sensor holder holds the communication unit, The communication unit has conductive wires and a harness bundling the conductive wires that connect the biosensor and the ECU and output the biosignals obtained from the biosensor toward the ECU. An opening is formed at one end of the sensor holder for passing the harness from the sensor holder to the outside of the sensor holder. No opening is formed at the other end of the sensor holder. The sensor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the biosensor is positioned closer to the one end than to the other end.

6. The sensor unit is attached to a vehicle seat equipped with the seat cushion, The sensor holder is attached to the seat cushion. The system further comprises a communication unit connected to the biosensor for transmitting the detected biosignal to the outside, The sensor holder holds the communication unit, The communication unit has conductive wires and a harness bundling the conductive wires that connect the biosensor and the ECU and output the biosignals obtained from the biosensor toward the ECU. The sensor holder has an opening formed therein for passing the harness from the sensor holder to the outside of the sensor holder. The sensor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor unit is attached to the seat cushion such that the opening is positioned in the rear portion of the seat cushion.

7. The sheet mounting portion comprises a rear cover attached to the rear end of the sensor holder and a front cover attached to the front end of the sensor holder, An engaging member is fixed to the extended end of the rear cover. A member to be engaged is fixed to the extended end of the front cover. The seat mounting portion is attached to the seat cushion by engaging the engaging member with the engaged member. The sensor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the engaged member is engaged with the engaging member at a position facing the surface opposite to the surface of the seat cushion to which the biosensor is attached.

8. The sensor holder is configured to include a flat cushion material that supports the biosensor from below, The sensor unit further comprises a communication unit connected to the biosensor for transmitting the detected biosignal to the outside, The sensor holder holds the communication unit, The communication unit has conductive wires and a harness bundling the conductive wires that connect the biosensor and the ECU and output the biosignals obtained from the biosensor toward the ECU. A portion of the harness is placed on the back surface of the cushioning material. The sensor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the cushioning material has a transparent resin base as an underlay layer.

Images