# US 11,299,044 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 11,299,044 B2 - Document ID: US11299044B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/623,998 - Filed: 2018-06-13 - Published: 2020-06-25 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-20 - Assignees: Ts Tech Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Ts Tech Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe; Kenichi Niitsuma; Hidetoshi Ozawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299044B2 ## CPC - B60K 28/066: {actuating a signalling device (B60K28/063 takes precedence)} - B60N 2/0244: {with logic circuits} - B60N 2/14: rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/10 {, B60N2/2869} take precedence) - B60N 2/143: {taking a position opposite to the original one} - B60N 2/75: Arm-rests - B60W 40/08: related to drivers or passengers - B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention - B60W 50/16: Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal - B60W 60/0053: {from vehicle to occupant} - G08G 1/00: Traffic control systems for road vehicles (arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 {; automatic vehicle control B62D}) - G08G 1/16: Anti-collision systems (road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08) - B60N 2002/981: {Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger} - B60N 2210/12: Capacitive; Electric field - B60N 2210/40: Force or pressure sensors - B60W 2040/0827: {due to sleepiness} - B60W 2040/0872: {Driver physiology} - B60W 2050/143: {Alarm means} - B60W 2540/229: Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract Provided is a vehicle seat that detects an alertness level of the driver, urges the driver to be alert, and permits the transition from autonomous driving to manual driving when the driver is alert enough for the manual driving. A vehicle seat (1) configured to be mounted on a vehicle (3) provided with a vehicle control device (5) that can be selectively switched from autonomous driving to manual driving comprises: a seat body (7) configured to support a driver; a seat control unit (10) configured to communicate with the vehicle control device; an alertness level sensor (8) provided on the seat body for detecting an alertness level of the driver; and a rousing unit (9) provided on the seat body for providing a stimulus for urging the driver to be roused, wherein the seat control unit is configured to detect the alertness level of the driver according to a signal from the alertness level sensor upon receiving a start signal that is produced by the vehicle control device when a transition from the autonomous driving to the manual driving is to be initiated, to activate the rousing unit when the alertness level is lower than a first alertness level threshold value, and to permit the vehicle control device to perform the transition from the autonomous driving to the manual driving when the alertness level is equal to or higher than the first alertness level threshold value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle seat configured to be mounted on a vehicle provided with a vehicle control device that can be selectively switched from autonomous driving to manual driving, comprising: a seat body configured to support a driver; a seat control unit configured to communicate with the vehicle control device; an alertness level sensor provided on the seat body for detecting an alertness level of the driver, and a rousing unit provided on the seat body for providing a stimulus for urging the driver to be roused; wherein the seat control unit is configured to detect the alertness level of the driver according to a signal from the alertness level sensor upon receiving a start signal that is produced by the vehicle control device when a transition from the autonomous driving to the manual driving is to be initiated, to activate the rousing unit when the alertness level is lower than a first alertness level threshold value, and to permit the vehicle control device to perform the transition from the autonomous driving to the manual driving when the alertness level is equal to or higher than the first alertness level threshold value thereof, and wherein the seat body is provided with a seat cushion that supports the driver's buttocks and thighs and a seatback that supports the driver's back, the alertness level sensor comprises a respiration sensor to detect a movement of the driver's chest from changes in the electrostatic capacitance of a pair sheet electrodes placed on the front surface of the seatback, and the seat control unit detects the alertness level of the driver according to the movement of the driver's chest detected by the respiration sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the alertness level sensor comprises the respiration sensor configured to detect a pressure applied by a part of the driver corresponding to the driver's lung, and the seat control unit detects the alertness level of the driver according to the movement of the driver's chest and the pressure detected by the respiration sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the alertness level sensor further includes a brainwave sensor, the brainwave sensor includes a magnetic sensor provided on a part of the headrest opposing the driver's head to detect a magnetic signal associated with the activity of the driver's brain cells, and obtain the driver's brainwave, and the seat control unit detects the alertness level of the driver according to the movement of the driver's chest and the driver's brainwave obtained by the brainwave sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat control unit is configured to change at least one of an intensity, a time duration, a cyclic period and a timing of the stimulus in dependence on the alertness level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat control unit is configured to compute a sleep level of the driver including a distinction between a REM sleep and a non-REM sleep based on an output from the alertness level sensor when the alertness level is lower than a second alertness level threshold value which is lower than the first alertness level threshold value, and to change the stimulus provided to the driver according to the computed sleep level. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat control unit is configured to receive a signal predicting a time of the transition from the autonomous driving to the manual driving from the vehicle control device, and to activate the rousing unit in advance of the predicted time of the transition by a prescribed time period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the rousing unit includes at least one of a light source configured to irradiate light to the driver, a vibration source configured to provide vibration to the driver, a sound source configured to generate sound, a heat source configured to heat or cool at least a part of the driver's body, and an electrical stimulus generating source configured to apply an electrical stimulus to the driver. ### Claim 8 A vehicle seat configured to be mounted on a vehicle provided with a vehicle control device that can be selectively switched from autonomous driving to manual driving, comprising: a seat body configured to support a driver, a seat control unit configured to communicate with the vehicle control device; an alertness level sensor provided on the seat body for detecting an alertness level of the driver, and a rousing unit provided on the seat body for providing a stimulus for urging the driver to be roused; wherein the seat control unit is configured to detect the alertness level of the driver according to a signal from the alertness level sensor upon receiving a start signal that is produced by the vehicle control device when a transition from the autonomous driving to the manual driving is to be initiated, to activate the rousing unit when the alertness level is lower than a first alertness level threshold value, and to permit the vehicle control device to perform the transition from the autonomous driving to the manual driving when the alertness level is equal to or higher than the first alertness level threshold value thereof, wherein the drive unit is provided between the seat body and the vehicle body, and by receiving a signal from the seat control unit, rotates the seat body with respect to the vehicle body thereof, wherein the seat body at the autonomous driving position can be at a rotated position which allows the occupants to face each other thereof, wherein the seat body at the manual driving position is relative to the vehicle body to face forward thereof, wherein the rousing unit causes the drive unit to rotate the seat body via the seat control unit for providing a stimulus for urging the driver when the seat body at the autonomous driving position is at the rotated position thereof, and wherein the seat body is provided with a seat cushion that supports the driver's buttocks and thighs and a seatback that supports the driver's back, the alertness level sensor comprises a respiration sensor to detect a movement of the driver's chest from changes in the electrostatic capacitance of a pair sheet electrodes placed on a front surface of the seatback, and the seat control unit detects the alertness level of the driver according to the movement of the driver's chest detected by the respiration sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle seat according to claim 8, further including an armrest which is moveable relative to the seat body, the rousing unit causing the armrest to move as the stimulus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein both the vehicle control device and the seat control unit are provided along the rotation axial line of the seat body.