US 12,491,797 B2Granted

Shoulder blade position estimation apparatus and seat

AssigneeSubaru Corporation

InventorNaomichi Sawada

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A shoulder blade position estimation apparatus for a vehicle is provided in a seat on which an occupant operating a steering wheel of the vehicle is seated, and configured to estimate positions of shoulder blades of the occupant. The shoulder blade position estimation apparatus includes a surface pressure sensor and a shoulder blade position estimation unit. The seat includes a seat surface member on which thighs and a waist of the occupant are placed, and a seat back disposed in rear of an upper body of the occupant. The surface pressure sensor detects a distribution of surface pressures that the seat back receives from the upper body of the occupant. When the occupant turns the steering wheel by a predetermined angle, the shoulder blade position estimation unit estimates that the shoulder blades are present near a region where the surface pressures on left and right sides change in opposite directions.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A shoulder blade position estimation apparatus for a vehicle, the shoulder blade position estimation apparatus being provided in a seat on which an occupant operating a steering wheel of the vehicle is seated, and configured to estimate positions of shoulder blades of the occupant, the seat having a seat surface member on which thighs and a waist of the occupant are to be placed and a seat back to be disposed in rear of an upper body of the occupant, the shoulder blade position estimation apparatus comprising:

a surface pressure sensor configured to detect a distribution of surface pressures that the seat back receives from the upper body of the occupant;
and
a processor configured to function as a shoulder blade position estimation unit, the shoulder blade position estimation unit being configured to estimate that the shoulder blades are present next to a region where the surface pressures, which are on a left side and a right side respectively, change in opposite directions based on the occupant turning the steering wheel by a predetermined angle;
and
an actuator configured to automatically adjust a height of a support member, to support the shoulder blade of the occupant, mounted to the seat back based on a result of the shoulder blade position estimation unit.

2 more elements

a surface pressure sensor configured to detect a distribution of surface pressures that the seat back receives from the upper body of the occupant;
a processor configured to function as a shoulder blade position estimation unit, the shoulder blade position estimation unit being configured to estimate that the shoulder blades are present next to a region where the surface pressures change in opposite directions based on the occupant turning hands of the occupant along a rim of the steering wheel by a predetermined angle;
and
an actuator configured to automatically adjust a height of a support member, to support the shoulder blade of the occupant, mounted to the seat back based on a result of the shoulder blade position estimation unit.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/203,782Filed 31 May 2023
Priority: JP 2022-10551130 Jun 2022
Published: US 2024/0001811 A14 Jan 2024
Granted: 9 Dec 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B60N 2/0028
For detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part: of a body part, e.g. of an arm or a leg
B60N 2/0034
Characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat: in, under or on the seat cover
B60N 2/0244
Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation: with logic circuits
B60N 2/026
With logic circuits: varying hardness or support of upholstery, e.g. for tuning seat comfort when driving curved roads