Vehicle Seatback Fluid Bag Layout for Accurate Occupant Posture Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats lack the ability to accurately determine the posture of an occupant, particularly in terms of upper body movements, which affects the precision of posture assessment.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle seat design includes a seatback with multiple fluid bags, specifically an upper end fluid bag positioned between the left and right shoulder pressure receiving parts, and a control device that determines posture based on the internal pressures of these bags, ensuring accurate detection of the occupant's posture by focusing on the upper body movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple airbags are arranged in the up-down direction on the seatback to detect occupant posture, then the ability to determine posture is improved, but the accuracy of determining upper body posture remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the seatback into multiple pressure receiving parts corresponding to different body regions (waist, left shoulder, right shoulder). By segmenting the detection areas and assigning specific fluid bags to detect pressures at these segmented locations, the system can independently monitor and accurately determine upper body posture movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent places the upper end fluid bag specifically between the left and right shoulder pressure receiving parts to focus detection on the upper body region. This local quality approach concentrates sensing capability where it is most needed for accurate upper body posture determination, rather than uniform distribution throughout the seatback.
2Measurement precision
If the upper end fluid bag is disposed between the left and right shoulder pressure receiving parts, then the accuracy of upper body posture detection is improved, but the structural complexity of the seatback increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper end fluid bag serves multiple functions: it detects pressure at the upper end of the seatback, monitors upper body posture, and works cooperatively with the waist and shoulder pressure receiving parts. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate detection components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity while maintaining improved detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper end fluid bag is disposed within the space between the left and right shoulder pressure receiving parts, nesting it within the existing seatback structure. This nesting approach integrates the additional sensing component into the available space without requiring significant structural modifications or increasing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for precise determination of the occupant's posture by accurately capturing the movements of the upper body, enhancing the accuracy of posture assessment.
Implementation Method 1
a control device that determines a posture of the occupant based on internal pressures of the multiple front fluid bags
Data Source
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AI summary
[TASK] To accurately determine a posture of an occupant on a vehicle seat. [SOLUTION] A vehicle seat 1 includes a seat cushion 3 and a seatback 4. The seatback includes: a seatback frame 21; a waist pressure receiving part 51 provided on the seatback frame to support a waist of an occupant; left and right shoulder pressure receiving parts 52 provided on the seatback frame above the waist pressure receiving part to support left and right shoulder portions of the occupant; a pad 22 supported by the seatback frame, the waist pressure receiving part, and the left and right shoulder pressure receiving parts; multiple front fluid bags 61 arranged vertically on a front surface of the pad; and a control device 78 that determines a posture of the occupant based on internal pressures of the multiple front fluid bags. An upper end fluid bag 61A which is disposed highest among the multiple front fluid bags is disposed between the left and right shoulder pressure receiving parts as seen from front.