# US 11,896,396 B2 · Sensor-equipped seat

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- Number: US 11,896,396 B2
- Document ID: US11896396B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/270,526
- Filed: 2019-08-14
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-24
- Assignees: Ts Tech Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Ts Tech Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Shinji Sugiyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896396B2

## CPC

- A47C 7/62: Accessories for chairs
- A61B 5/6891: {Furniture}
- A47C 7/748: {for heating}
- A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20)
- A61B 5/08: Measuring devices for evaluating the respiratory organs
- B60N 2/0022: {for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature}
- B60N 2/0023: {for detection of driver fatigue}
- B60N 2/0033: {mounted on or in the foam cushion}
- 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 2/56: Heating or ventilating devices
- B60N 2/5657: {blown towards the seat surface}
- B60N 2/72: Attachment or adjustment thereof
- B60N 2/90: Details or parts not otherwise provided for
- A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
- A61B 5/6893: {Cars}
- B60N 2002/981: {Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger}
- B60N 2210/30: Temperature sensors
- B60N 2210/40: Force or pressure sensors
- B60N 2230/30: Signal processing of sensor data
- A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- 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 sensor-equipped seat detecting various parameters and determining a change in physical condition of a seated occupant includes: a surface temperature sensor detecting a seat surface temperature on a seated occupant side and acquiring surface temperature data; an outside air temperature sensor detecting the seat body outside temperature and acquiring outside air temperature data; and a controller having a calculation unit calculating the degree of change in temperature difference from the surface temperature data and the outside air temperature data and a wakefulness determination unit determining a wakefulness state of the seated occupant based on the degree of change. The calculation unit calculates the degree of change in temperature difference from the seat surface temperature in the surface temperature data and the outside air temperature in the outside air temperature data, the degree of data. The wakefulness determination unit determines the wakefulness state of the seated occupant based on the degree of change.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sensor-equipped seat comprising:
a surface temperature sensor detecting a seat surface temperature on a seated occupant side in a seat body and acquiring surface temperature data fluctuating with the seat surface temperature;
an outside air temperature sensor detecting a temperature outside the seat body and acquiring outside air temperature data fluctuating with the outside temperature; and
a controller having a calculation unit calculating the surface temperature data and the outside air temperature data and a determination unit determining a change in physical condition of the seated occupant on the basis of information calculated by the calculation unit,
wherein the calculation unit calculates, by computation, a degree of change in temperature difference from the seat surface temperature in the surface temperature data and the outside air temperature in the outside air temperature data, the degree of change in temperature difference being a degree of change per unit time, and
the determination unit is a wakefulness determination unit determining a wakefulness state of the seated occupant on the basis of the degree of change in temperature difference calculated by the calculation unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sensor-equipped seat according to claim 1, wherein
the seat body is provided with a seating portion supporting the seated occupant from below, and
the surface temperature sensor is attached to the seating portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The sensor-equipped seat according to claim 2, wherein the surface temperature sensor is attached at a part behind a middle portion of the seating portion in a front to back direction of the seat.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The sensor-equipped seat according to claim 2, wherein
the seating portion has a pad formed of a cushion material,
the surface temperature sensor is provided on a surface side of the pad,
the controller is provided on a back surface side of the pad, and
a harness connecting the surface temperature sensor and the controller through a through hole formed in the pad is provided.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The sensor-equipped seat according to claim 4, wherein
a recess portion recessed in a thickness direction of the pad is formed at a position different from a position of the through hole in the surface of the pad, and
the surface temperature sensor is disposed in the recess portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The sensor-equipped seat according to claim 4, comprising a respiration sensor attached to the seating portion and having a detection unit detecting a respiratory signal of the seated occupant, wherein
the detection unit has a first detection unit and a second detection unit disposed at different positions in a front to back direction of the seat, and
the surface temperature sensor is disposed between the first detection unit and the second detection unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sensor-equipped seat according to claim 6, wherein
the respiration sensor is provided on the surface side of the pad, and
a second harness connecting the respiration sensor and the controller through the through hole formed in the pad is provided.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The sensor-equipped seat according to claim 6, wherein
the respiration sensor detects the respiratory signal of the seated occupant and acquires respiratory data fluctuating with respiration,
the controller further has a second calculation unit calculating, by computation, a degree of change in respiration, the degree of change in respiration being a degree of change in the respiratory data per unit time, and
the wakefulness determination unit determines the wakefulness state of the seated occupant by using a Bayesian filter in which a probability of the seated occupant's drowsiness with regard to the degree of change in respiration is set as a likelihood and the likelihood is multiplied by a prior probability of drowsiness.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The sensor-equipped seat according to claim 2, wherein
the seating portion is configured by covering a pad as a cushion material with a skin,
a seat heater attached to a back surface side of the skin is provided between the skin and the pad in the seating portion, and
the seat heater is disposed on a surface of the pad at a position different from a position of the surface temperature sensor.