# US 10,117,589 B2 · Vehicle seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,589 B2 - Document ID: US10117589B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/108,128 - Filed: 2014-12-25 - Published: 2016-11-03 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-27 - Assignees: Ts Tech Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Ts Tech Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Shinji Sugiyama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117589B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/0245: by using sensing means generating electric signals, {i.e. ECG signals} - A61B 5/282: Holders for multiple electrodes (for introduction into the body A61B5/287) - A61B 5/308: for electrocardiography [ECG] - A61B 5/6893: {Cars} - A61B 5/7203: {for noise prevention, reduction or removal} - B60N 2/0022: {for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature} - B60N 2/003: {characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat} - B60N 2/0035: {characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information} - B60N 2/58: Seat coverings - B60N 2/5825: {by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like} - B60N 2/5891: {characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for} - B60N 2/643: {shape of the back-rests (B60N2/66 takes precedence)} - B60N 2210/12: Capacitive; Electric field - B60N 2230/30: Signal processing of sensor data - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle seat includes sheet-shaped sensors configured to detect electric signals associated with the biopotential of a seated passenger, the vehicle seat being configured to remove noise caused due to static electricity to stably measure a bioelectric signal (e.g., heart rate) of the passenger. A seat back includes the sheet-shaped sensors. A cushion pad placed on a seat back frame is covered with a trim cover. Vertically-extending conductive fabric in a belt shape is disposed on an outer surface of the trim cover. The portion where the conductive fabric is disposed has a three-layer structure of the conductive fabric, a skin, and a wadding. A free end of the conductive fabric drawn into the seat back is provided with a J-hook hooked onto a lower frame bridging portion, thus part of the conductive fabric and the lower frame bridging portion contact each other to be electrically conductive with each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle seat comprising: a seat that comprises a seat frame having electrical conductivity, a cushion pad, and a trim cover that covers the seat frame and the cushion pad; a sensor that is attached to the seat and detects an electric signal associated with a biopotential of a seated passenger; and a central processing unit configured to measure a heart rate of the seated passenger based on the electric signal detected by the sensor, wherein at least a part of the trim cover is provided with a conductive member disposed on a surface of the trim cover configured to contact the seated passenger, wherein a part of the conductive member contacts the seat frame, whereby the conductive member and the seat frame are in electrical conduction with each other, and wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors provided at a respective plurality of portions of the trim cover, and the conductive member is disposed at a position not overlapping with the plurality of sensors, and is provided between the plurality of sensors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the at least a part of the trim cover is formed of a skin and a wadding material, and wherein the wadding material is disposed between the skin and the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member comprises a conductive fabric, and wherein the conductive fabric is sewn on the trim cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member has a free end on a side contacting the seat frame, wherein the vehicle seat further comprises a hook-shaped member that is attached to the free end, and wherein the conductive member is drawn into the seat, and the hook-shaped member is hooked onto the seat frame, whereby the conductive member and the seat frame contact each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a capacitance-coupled sheet-shaped sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are provided on each of right and left sides of the seat, and the conductive member is provided along a longitudinal direction of the seat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the conductive member is provided at a center of the seat in a width direction of the seat. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein the conductive member extends around an end portion of the seat in the longitudinal direction of the seat toward a rear side of the seat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the conductive member outwardly extends beyond an end portion of the sensor in a longitudinal direction of the sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the conductive member outwardly extends beyond first and second end portions of the sensor in a longitudinal direction of the sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the conductive member comprises a first conductive member that extends along the longitudinal direction of the seat, and a second conductive member that extends along a width direction of the seat, and wherein the first and second conductive members are electrically connected to each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the second conductive member extends around an end portion of the seat in the width direction of the seat toward a rear side of the seat.