JP2000142274A - Centralized control device interlocked with seat sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically actuate on-vehicle equipment only when a person is seated on a seat in the case of providing the on-vehicle equipment such as a television monitor and an air conditioner blowoff port seat by seat, to automatically make sound effect and an air-conditioning state optimum to the seated person and to detect the seated state of the person correctly and positively. SOLUTION: On-vehicle equipments such as audio equipment 15, an air conditioner 17 and a monitor 18 are provided corresponding to every seat and connected to slave processors 5 seat by seat, and each slave processor 5 is connected to a centralized control processor 2. Both the seated part and a seat back part of the seat are provided with seat pressure sensors 25, 27. When there is output from both sensors, it is so judged that a person is seated, and the centralized control processor sends a command to the slave processor to actuate the on-vehicle equipment for the seat and to provide sound effect and an air-conditioning state optimum to the person in that seat.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention detects the presence of a person sitting in each seat such as a rear seat of a vehicle, and selects the sound effect of audio equipment of the vehicle, selection of an air conditioner outlet, temperature / wind force adjustment, Monitors and operation terminals for each seat
The present invention relates to a seat sensor-linked central control device that can automatically and centrally control invalidation control and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Current vehicles are equipped with audio devices, car air conditioners, navigation devices, and the like.
Further, in a large vehicle or the like, an air conditioner, a television, a video, a navigation device, a monitor for the Internet, and the like are installed exclusively for the rear seats, thereby forming a multi-user system. In such a multi-user system, it is wasteful in terms of power consumption and the like that all devices can be operated at all times, and for example, it is necessary to set an optimal acoustic environment for each passenger. The operation of various devices can be adjusted by operating the operation unit of the centralized control unit provided on the center console etc. .

[0003]

However, for example, in the setting of air conditioning, desired conditions greatly differ depending on the situation at the time of each person. Therefore, if possible, each person sitting on the seat adjusts according to his / her wish. It is desirable to be able to perform, for example, to provide an air outlet dedicated to the rear seat, and to adjust the air volume and temperature blowing to yourself with an operation unit provided near the rear seat It is desirable to be able to do so.

In particular, in the case of a large vehicle including a limousine-type vehicle or a vehicle with a driver such as a company vehicle, the setting operation of the air conditioner can be performed according to the wishes of the person sitting in the rear seat. A need arises. This is not limited to the air conditioner, and it is desirable that the radio seat of the audio device, the music selection of the CD or the like, the operation selection of the navigation device, and the like can all be operated at the rear seat. Furthermore, when sitting on either the left or right side of the rear seat, it is necessary to be able to operate on each part, and when sitting on both the left and right sides, be able to operate on both, and be able to adjust each other It is necessary to put.

[0005] Further, when a monitor for displaying television or video, displaying a navigation device, or performing internet or the like is provided for each seat such as a rear seat, the operation is independently operated by the user. You have to be able to do it. Therefore, the power to these devices is switched on as needed by the person sitting in each seat,
In addition, when it is not necessary to perform the operation of turning off, not only is it bothersome, but also forgets to turn off the power when getting off the vehicle. It is necessary to provide a means for operating the power supply on the driver's seat side in order to prevent this forgetting to cut off, and it is also necessary to set the priority of the power supply operation between the seat side and the driver's seat side. Occurs. Further, when the user takes a seat, an operation such as turning on the power of each device is required to operate each device, and there is a problem that these devices cannot be operated immediately.

Further, as described above, when adjusting the audio equipment or adjusting the air outlet of the air conditioner according to the situation of the person sitting on the seat, the operation is troublesome and may not be performed properly. Many. Therefore, for example, in an audio device, it is possible to detect whether or not the user is sitting in the rear seat by using a pressure sensor provided in the seat portion, and perform control such as reducing the volume of the rear speaker when sitting in the rear seat. For example, it has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-125933. Further, it is also possible to detect whether or not the user is sitting on the seat according to the usage status of the seat belt and adjust the whole person sitting on the seat to have the best acoustic characteristics. Proposed.

[0007] However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatuses, all of them are intended only for adjusting audio equipment, and in addition to this, means for comprehensively adjusting, for example, an air conditioner and a monitor of a television are considered. The adjustment is merely performed by a control device dedicated to the device. In particular, when there are a plurality of in-vehicle devices corresponding to each seat, control must be performed by a control device for each device, and a redundant control device is required for each device, resulting in a lot of waste. . In addition, the in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat is automatically and intensively controlled, including the validity / invalidity control of each device, according to the seating status of each seat. The technology has not been developed yet.

Therefore, the present invention automatically detects whether or not the user is sitting on each seat of the vehicle, and centrally controls the in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat of the vehicle according to the detection result. This allows the user to immediately operate the in-vehicle equipment of the seated seat, automatically turn off the power when not in use, and optimize the in-vehicle equipment for the seated person. It is an object to be able to perform various functions.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a seat correspondence control device for controlling in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat of a vehicle, a seat sensor provided for each seat, A centralized control device for controlling the seating control device according to a signal from the seat sensor, and a centralized device for linking the seat sensor with the centralized control device, and the in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat. The operation adjustment of the device is performed, and the operation adjustment is an adjustment of the sound effect of the audio device, and the operation adjustment is an adjustment of the air conditioner, The operation adjustment is an adjustment for selecting a device to be displayed on the monitor.

The seat control device controls the power supply of the in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat. When a seating signal is output from a plurality of seats, the seat corresponding control device is set in advance. The operation of the in-vehicle equipment is adjusted according to the priority, and the seat sensor is detected as the seat sensor by the output of both the pressure sensor provided in the seat portion and the pressure sensor provided in the backrest portion. And as a seat sensor,
It uses a seat belt sensor that detects the wearing of a seat belt, and uses a heat sensor that detects body temperature as a seat sensor.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the apparatus of the present invention, and shows an example of a vehicle provided with four seats as normal seats. The high-performance centralized control processor 2 as a centralized control device is a processor having a lower performance than the centralized control processor 2, and is a seat corresponding control device for controlling in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat of the vehicle. The slave processor for driver's seat 3, the slave processor for front passenger seat 4, the slave processor 5 for rear right seat, and the slave processor 6 for rear left seat are linked and connected correspondingly to each seat. At the same time, a central slave processor 7 is connected to the center.

Each slave processor is a processor that operates under the control of the centralized control processor 2 and has a function of controlling devices connected to each under the control of the slave processor. As shown in FIG. 2, this vehicle is provided with an audio device 11, a monitor 12 for a television or a navigation device, an air conditioner 13 and the like on a center console 10 like a normal vehicle, and a driver manually inputs an operation to each of them. An operation unit capable of being provided is provided. Further, a central operation unit 14 capable of executing commands to the central control processor 2 shown in FIG. 1, various interrupt operations, and the like is also provided. In addition, the operation of these center console boxes, including the operation command of the navigation device, can also be operated by a remote controller (not shown).

In each slave processor as a seat corresponding control device in the present invention, for example, in the rear right seat slave processor 5 shown in FIG.
An audio 16, an air conditioner 17, a monitor 18, a seat belt sensor 19, and a seat pressure sensor 20 are connected to each other. The operation unit 15 is provided on the center armrest 21 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and an operation unit 41 for a rear left seat, which will be described later, is provided adjacent to the center armrest 21. Wires are concentrated. Here, "Audio 1
"6" is used as a means for providing effective sound, particularly to a person sitting in the rear right seat, and therefore, is not limited to simply adjusting the sound device dedicated to the rear right seat, but is disposed throughout the vehicle. This means that the audio function in the rear right seat is improved by selecting a large number of speakers, adjusting the volume of each speaker, adjusting the overall sound quality, and the like. When a person sitting in the rear right seat uses an audio device, for example, when using a radio, a channel selection or the like is performed by the operation unit 15.
When a CD or the like is used, the music selection or the like can be operated by the operation unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a rear seat outlet 22 provided in some vehicle models in recent years corresponds to a right seat outlet 23 and the like. As the monitor 17, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, an armrest storage type monitor that has recently been used in aircraft can be used. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the rod 40 is connected to the center armrest 21. By extending, the tip supports the monitor 17. When the monitor 17 is not used, the rod 40 is pulled into the center armrest 21 and the rod is rotated so that the monitor 17 can be stored in the center armrest 17.

The monitor 17 plays back images on a television and a video tape, plays back images on a DVD-ROM, functions as a screen display unit of a navigation device, functions as a display unit of the Internet, and displays images of a videophone which has been becoming popular in recent years. Section, video display section of video conference system, etc.
It can be used for various purposes and is a central part of future car multimedia. The operation of the various devices displayed on the monitor can be performed on the operation unit 15 in FIG.

The seat belt sensor 19 detects a contact between the fittings of the seat belt and outputs a signal when the seated driver fastens the seat belt. Can be used. Seat pressure sensor 20
Is a seating portion 2 as shown by a thick broken line in the seat portion of FIG.
4 and a backrest pressure sensor 27 of the backrest 26. Each signal is input to the slave processor 5 for the rear right seat. Thus, the seat pressure sensor 25 and the back pressure sensor 27
When the central control processor 2 or the rear right seat slave processor 5 simultaneously inputs a predetermined or more pressure signal from both pressure sensors, it is detected that the driver is seated. . In particular, in the sensor that detects whether or not the user is seated only by the seat pressure sensor 25, it is possible to prevent the detection of the seat when the object is placed on the seat 24. The seat belt sensor 19 and the seat pressure sensor 20 constitute a seat sensor 28.

As the seat pressure sensor 20, for example, FIG.
As shown in the figure, a sponge sheet 31 is provided on the back side of a skin 30 of a seat in which a seat cushion pad 29 is packed.
, The electrode sheet 32 is arranged on the back side, and the wading cover 33 is provided on the back side. The electrode sheet can be set to any size, but is usually about 30 cm. By providing such a seat pressure sensor 20 in the seat portion 24 and the backrest portion 26 as described above, when a person 35 sits on this seat as shown in FIG. By applying a pressure equal to or greater than a predetermined value to both the pressure sensor 27 and the backrest pressure sensor 27, it is possible to detect that a person is seated, rather than simply placing an object on the seat, by detecting this. At this time, when a signal is output from the seat belt sensor 19 by fastening the seat belt, a signal indicating that the person 9 is seated can be output immediately, and the signal can be combined with any output of the seat pressure sensor. Thus, a signal indicating that a person is seated may be used.

As described above, when a signal is output from the seat sensor 28 including the seat belt sensor 19 and the seat pressure sensor 20 when a person sits on the rear right seat, the centralized control processor 2 executes the processing based on the signal. In a power control device (not shown), devices such as the operation unit 15, the audio unit 16, the air conditioner 17, and the monitor 18 connected to the rear right seat slave processor 5 are turned on, and these devices are operated at the same time when the user is seated. Will be able to

Thus, the person sitting on this seat can operate each device almost simultaneously with sitting down by operating the operation unit 15 without performing any operation. In the central control processor 2, a filter coefficient of an audio circuit is set and sent to the rear right seat slave processor 5 so as to generate the most effective audio effect for the person in this seat. The slave processor 5 can automatically control the audio equipment for the rear right seat using the coefficient. Alternatively, the central control processor 2 sends the coefficient to the central slave processor 7, and adjusts the audio device provided in the center console based on the coefficient to generate the most effective sound effect for the person in the rear right seat. It can also be done. Furthermore, the air outlet of the entire vehicle can be selected and the air volume can be adjusted so that the air conditioner is most comfortable for the person in this seat.

The same devices and sensors as those connected to the slave processor 5 for the rear right seat are also connected to the slave processor 6 for the rear left seat. That is, the operation unit 3
7 is connected so that the operation can be performed simultaneously with the seating. The audio 38 is connected, and when a non-driver is seated only in the rear left seat, the person in the rear left seat is most likely to be seated. The same control as described above can be performed so as to generate an effective sound effect. Further, when there is a person who is also seated on the rear right seat, control is performed so that effective sound effects are generated on both sides of the rear seat. In this case, it is also possible to give priority to one of them, for example, to control so that the most effective sound effect is generated for the person in the right seat. Such an adjustment can also be performed artificially by operating the left-seat operation unit 41 provided on the center armrest 21 as necessary.

The air conditioner 43 connected to the rear left seat slave processor 6 controls the air volume and temperature at the rear seat outlet 22 at the outlet 22 for the left seat, similarly to the rear right seat. Do. As for the adjustment of the air conditioner, the control mode can be changed between the case where the user is seated only on the rear left seat and the case where the user is also seated on the rear right seat, similarly to the audio device.

The monitor 45 connected to the slave processor 6 for the rear left seat can also extend and support the rod 42 from the center armrest 21, similarly to the monitor for the rear right seat. Display the image of. The selection and the like of these images can be performed by operating the operation unit 37 in the same manner as in the case of the rear right seat. When
For example, the priority can be adjusted in advance, such as giving priority to the operation of the person in the right seat, or by manually setting the priority.

A seat belt sensor 48 as a seat sensor 47 connected to the slave processor 6 for the rear left seat,
The seat pressure sensor 50 has the same structure and function as those for the rear right seat, and based on this signal, the centralized control processor sends a command to the rear left slave processor to send the equipment connected thereto. Control. As described above, this control can change the control mode between a case where a person is seated only on the rear left seat and a case where a person is also seated on the rear right seat.

The same equipment as described above is also connected to the slave processor 4 for the passenger seat, and performs the same operation. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, no monitor is connected to the slave processor 4 for the passenger seat, and the monitor 12 installed on the center console 10 is used. However, for example, when an image of the navigation device is displayed in the driver's seat, and a television image is desired to be viewed in the front passenger seat, a monitor is separately connected to the front passenger seat and connected to the front passenger slave processor 4. You may do so.

In the driver's seat slave processor 3, the number of connected devices is further reduced, and audio and
The air conditioner or the like is set in advance at the center of the driver's seat when no one is on the driver's seat, so that special adjustment is not required. The operating section 52 connected to the driver's seat slave processor 3 can be removed by concentrating on the central operating section 53. Conversely, various command switches can be concentrated on the steering wheel, etc. Can be made smaller.

The driver's seat slave processor 3 is connected to an operating section 17 provided on a handle 15 or an armrest section 16 of a door.
The seat pressure sensor 20 is connected. By providing such a seat sensor, the central slave processor operates immediately via the central control processor when the driver sits down, and the power of each device can be turned on.
Conversely, when the user leaves the seat, the operation of each device can be automatically stopped.

In the above embodiment, the audio equipment, the air conditioner, the monitor, and the like have been described as the in-vehicle equipment. In addition, a voice input microphone for operating various equipment by voice can be controlled. Controls ON / OFF of the power supply of the microphone, and can determine the priority of the operation when the user is seated on a plurality of seats. In addition, although an example of using a seat pressure sensor as a seat sensor was shown, it is also necessary to detect the presence of a person in the seat by detecting the temperature of the person with a temperature sensor and distinguish it from the case where luggage is placed on the seat. Can also. In addition, such a seat sensor can be configured to obtain a seating signal in any combination with the seat pressure sensor or the seat belt sensor.

[0028]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the centralized control device controls the seat corresponding control device by the signal of the seat sensor, so that each seat of the vehicle can be controlled. Can control the various equipment connected to the seat control device automatically and centrally, and can immediately control the equipment in the seat where the seat is seated. In addition to being able to operate, when not in use, the power can be automatically turned off, and furthermore, each in-vehicle facility device can perform an optimal action for a seated person.

In the invention according to claim 2, the seat correspondence control device can adjust the operation of the in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat. The most appropriate operation adjustment can be automatically performed for the person in the seat. Also,
In the invention according to claim 3, since the operation adjustment is performed by adjusting the sound effect of the audio device, the audio device can be operated with the most appropriate sound effect for the occupant. In the invention according to claim 4,
Since the operation adjustment is an adjustment of the air conditioner, the most appropriate air conditioning can be automatically performed for a seated person. Further, in the invention according to claim 5, since the operation adjustment is a selection adjustment of a device to be displayed on a monitor,
The video of the device desired by the seated person can be displayed on the monitor.

Further, in the invention according to claim 6, since the seat control device controls the power supply of the in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat, the in-vehicle equipment corresponding to the seated seat is automatically controlled. Since the power is automatically turned off when the power is turned on and the user is no longer in the seat, no user operation is required, and wasteful power consumption can be prevented.
Further, in the invention according to claim 7, when seating signals are output from a plurality of seats, the operation of the in-vehicle equipment is adjusted in accordance with a preset priority order, so that a person is seated on the plurality of seats. Control interference such as issuing different commands while sitting is eliminated, and appropriate device control can be performed.

In the invention according to claim 8, the seat is detected by the output of both the pressure sensor provided on the seat and the pressure sensor provided on the backrest as the seat sensor, so that the object is placed on the seat. In this case, erroneous detection can be reliably prevented. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since a seat belt sensor for detecting the wearing of the seat belt is used as the seat sensor, it is possible to reliably detect that a person is sitting on the seat. Further, in the invention according to claim 10, since a heat sensor for detecting body temperature is used as the seat sensor, it is possible to reliably detect that a person is sitting on the seat.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of a vehicle to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear seat portion.

4A and 4B show an embodiment of a seat pressure sensor used in the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view including a seat portion, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is a usage pattern diagram showing a state where a person sits on a seat to which the seat pressure sensor of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Central control processor 3 Driver's seat slave processor 4 Passenger's seat slave processor 5 Rear right seat slave processor 6 Rear left seat slave processor 7 Central slave processor 11 Audio device 12 Monitor 13 Air conditioner 14 Central operation unit 15 Operation unit 16 Audio 17 air conditioner 18 monitor 19 seat belt sensor 20 seat pressure sensor 21 center armrest 22 outlet 24 seated part 25 seated part pressure sensor 26 backrest part 27 backrest part pressure sensor 29 cushion pad 30 skin 31 sponge sheet 32 electrode sheet 33 wading cover 41 operation Department

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A seat control device for controlling in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat of a vehicle, a seat sensor provided for each seat, a central control for controlling the seat control device based on a signal from the seat sensor. A centralized control device linked with a seat sensor, characterized by comprising a device. 2. The centralized control device according to claim 1, wherein said seat control device adjusts the operation of in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat. 3. The centralized control system according to claim 2, wherein the operation adjustment is adjustment of a sound effect of an audio device. 4. The centralized control system according to claim 2, wherein the operation adjustment is adjustment of an air conditioner. 5. The centralized control system according to claim 2, wherein the operation adjustment is a selection adjustment of a device to be displayed on a monitor. 6. The seat corresponding control device controls a power supply of in-vehicle equipment provided for each seat.
The centralized control device linked to the seat sensor described. 7. The centralized control in conjunction with a seat sensor according to claim 1, wherein when seating signals are output from a plurality of seats, the operation of the in-vehicle equipment is adjusted according to a preset priority. apparatus. 8. A seat sensor interlocking device according to claim 1, wherein the seat sensor is detected by output of both a pressure sensor provided on a seat portion and a pressure sensor provided on a backrest portion as the seat sensor. Central control unit. 9. The seat belt sensor according to claim 1, wherein the seat belt sensor detects the wearing of the seat belt.
A centralized control device for interlocking a seat sensor according to any one of claims 8 to 10. 10. The centralized controller linked to a seat sensor according to claim 1, wherein a heat sensor for detecting a body temperature is used as the seat sensor.