JP5223357B2 - Vehicle seat heating device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle seat heating apparatus for heating a passenger.

  A seated occupant is warmed by a heater unit disposed in a vehicle seat. However, there are restrictions on the power consumption that can be used with this heater unit due to in-vehicle battery capacity and power generation, so the heater spacing between the rear area of the seat surface and the lower area of the rear surface is used to quickly warm up when sitting. It is also conceivable to make the width narrower than other regions (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-20225

  However, the method of warming each part of the occupant who feels a comfortable temperature differs between the initial stage of heating and the steady state. In the above heater unit, only the heater wiring interval is changed at the end. Since the relative temperature relationship is always constant, the occupant is not comfortable during the initial heating period and the steady state.

A vehicle seat heating apparatus according to the present invention includes at least first to third heating means and a control means for independently controlling the first to third heating means, which are disposed in a vehicle seat. The first heating means is a thigh heating means for heating the thigh of an occupant seated on the seat, and the second heating means is a buttock heating means for heating the buttock of the occupant And the third heating means is a waist heating means for heating the waist of the occupant, and the control means is the first to third in the initial mode after the start of heating by the first to third heating means. The third heating means is controlled, and then the first to third heating means are controlled in the steady mode, and the first heating means is heated so as to be comfortable from the initial mode to the steady mode. Temperature of the seat surface to be heated by the second heating means The first to third heating means are arranged such that the relationship between the temperature of the seat surface and the temperature of the seat surface heated by the third heating means differs between the initial mode and the steady mode. When controlling , in the initial mode, the temperature of the seat surface heated by the thigh heating means is higher than the temperature of the seat surface heated by the buttocks heating means, and in the steady mode, The temperature of the seat surface heated by the thigh heating means is lower than the temperature of the seat surface heated by the hip heating means, and the temperature of the seat surface heated by the hip heating means The thigh heating means, the buttocks heating means, and the waist heating means are controlled so as to be lower than the temperature of the seat surface heated by the waist heating means .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a passenger | crew can be heated efficiently so that it may become comfortable over the heating initial stage and a steady state.

  With reference to FIGS. 1-8, one Embodiment of the seat heating apparatus for vehicles by this invention is described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle seat equipped with the vehicle seat heating apparatus of the present embodiment. The seat 10 includes a seat portion 1 that supports a seated passenger from below and a back portion 2 that supports the seated passenger from behind. In FIG. 1, the headrest is not shown. In the seat portion 1, a thigh heater unit 6 is disposed in a seat front portion 3 where a thigh of a seated occupant is located, and a buttocks heater unit 7 is disposed in a seat rear portion 4 where a seated occupant's buttocks is located. Is arranged. In the back portion 2, a back heater unit 8 is disposed in the back portion lower portion 5 where the seated occupant's waist is located.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the vehicle seat heating apparatus. The vehicle seat heating apparatus SH of the present embodiment includes the above-described thigh heater unit 6, the buttocks heater unit 7, the waist heater unit 8, the heater control unit 20, and the seat heater on / off switch 21. Yes. The vehicle seat heating apparatus SH includes a thigh temperature sensor 22, a buttocks temperature sensor 23, and a waist temperature sensor 24. Each of the heater units 6 to 8 has a heat generating unit that converts the supplied electric power into Joule heat using a heating wire. Each heater unit 6-8 is an independent heater unit.

  The thigh heater unit 6 is configured to have a higher power density than the buttocks heater unit 7. This is to make the temperature of the seat surface near the thigh higher than the temperature of the seat surface near the buttocks, as will be described later, when heating at the maximum output. The waist heater unit 8 is configured so that the rated power is approximately the same as that of the thigh heater unit 6. As described later, this is because power consumption is the same between the case where the outputs of the thigh heater unit 6 and the buttocks heater unit 7 are maximized and the case where the outputs of the buttocks heater unit 7 and the waist heater unit 8 are maximized. This is for the purpose. Thereby, it can heat effectively within the electric power which can be allocated to the vehicle seat heating apparatus SH. In the present embodiment, the arrangement area of the waist heater unit 8 is smaller than the arrangement area of the thigh heater unit 6. For this reason, the power density of the waist heater unit 8 is higher than the power density of the thigh heater unit 6, so that the temperature of the seat surface near the waist can be rapidly increased.

  The heater control unit 20 is a control device that independently controls the electric power supplied to the heater units 6 to 8 from the power source of the vehicle (for example, the battery 16). The heater control unit 20, each heater unit 6-8, and the battery 16 are connected by a power line. The heater controller 20 includes a seat heater on / off switch 21, a thigh temperature sensor 22, a buttocks temperature sensor 23, a waist temperature sensor 24, and an auto air conditioner amplifier for a vehicle air conditioner AC, which will be described later, via signal lines. 130 is connected.

  The seat heater on / off switch 21 is a switch for instructing on / off of the vehicle seat heating apparatus SH. The thigh temperature sensor 22 is a temperature sensor that detects the temperature near the surface of the seat front part 3, and the buttocks temperature sensor 23 is a temperature sensor that detects the temperature near the surface of the seat rear part 4, and The temperature sensor 24 is a temperature sensor that detects the temperature near the surface of the lower back portion 5.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle air conditioner AC mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle air conditioner AC has a blower motor 112 that drives the fan 111, an evaporator 113 that dehumidifies and cools the air blown by the fan 111, and the blown air dehumidified and cooled by the evaporator 113 in the case 110. A heater core 114 for heating and an air mix door 115 for adjusting the air distribution ratio to the heater core 114 are provided. The intake portion of the case 110 is provided with an inside / outside air switching door 106 that switches between intake air from the inside air introduction port 107 or intake air from the outside air introduction port 108. Further, a drain discharge port 116 for discharging moisture in the air (condensed water) condensed by the evaporator 113 to the outside of the vehicle is provided at the lower portion of the case 110.

  The air inside or outside the vehicle selected by the inside / outside air switching door 106 is pressurized and blown by a fan 111 driven by a blower motor 112 controlled by voltage, passes through an evaporator 113, and is dehumidified and cooled. The Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 113, and the liquid refrigerant is vaporized by the evaporator 113, whereby the blown air is dehumidified and cooled. The vaporized refrigerant is compressed by a refrigerant compressor (not shown), and cooled and condensed by a condenser (not shown). The air that has passed through the evaporator 113 is distributed into air that passes through the heater core 114 and air that does not pass through the heater core 114 at an air distribution ratio determined by the air mix door 115. The air that has been distributed by the air mix door 115 and has passed through the heater core 114 and the air that has not passed through the heater core 114 are merged again downstream of the heater core 114 and supplied to the vehicle interior.

  The vehicle air conditioner AC includes a vent port 117 provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle, a vent duct 119 connected to the vent port 117, and a vent duct 119 for distributing the conditioned air into the vehicle. And a vent door 118 that opens and closes. Similarly, the vehicle air conditioner AC includes a differential opening 120, a differential duct 122 connected to the differential opening 120, a differential door 121 that opens and closes the differential duct 122, a foot opening 123, and a foot duct 125 connected to the foot opening 123. And a foot door 124 for opening and closing the foot duct 125.

  The vehicle air conditioner AC includes an auto air conditioner amplifier 130, various heat load sensor groups 135 for detecting the heat load of the vehicle air conditioner AC, and an actuator (not shown) that opens and closes various doors. Yes. The auto air conditioner amplifier 130 calculates the air conditioning operation condition based on the information from the thermal load sensor group 135 so that the passenger compartment becomes the set temperature set by the passenger. Based on the calculated air conditioning operation conditions, the auto air conditioner amplifier 130 controls the voltage VF of the blower motor 112 so as to achieve a predetermined fan speed (air volume), and the opening degree M of the air mix door 115 and the inside / outside air switching door 106. And the opening degree of each door 118, 121, 124 is controlled by the actuator of each door.

The opening degree M of the air mix door 115 and the voltage VF of the blower motor 112 are expressed by the following equations.
M = f1 (Tw, Tam, Tin, Ts, Tptc, Q) (1)
VF = f2 (M) (2)
Here, Tw is the engine outlet water temperature, Tam is the outside air temperature, Tin is the passenger compartment temperature, Ts is the fan intake air temperature, Tptc is the set temperature in the vehicle, and Q is the amount of solar radiation. It is a parameter about load.
Further, when M is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the air mix door 115 is fully opened (full hot position).

  The vehicle air conditioner AC having the above configuration is configured such that the automatic air conditioner amplifier 130 causes the voltage (the number of revolutions) of the blower motor 112, the switching position of the inside / outside air switching door 106, the opening of the air mix door 115 and the doors 118, 121, and 124. The air-conditioning air whose air volume and temperature are adjusted so that the vehicle interior becomes the set temperature is blown into the vehicle interior.

  In order to efficiently warm the occupant seated by the vehicle seat heating apparatus SH of the present embodiment, the inventors have different ways of feeling warmth depending on the body part of the occupant and the influence on heat transfer by clothing. Were investigated experimentally. In this investigation, we made a seat that can control the surface temperature of the seat independently for each part, and experimented with subjects (total 109 people) by changing the combination of the heated part and the surface temperature. It was. As a result, it was found that warming the thighs and buttocks is effective in order to immediately feel warmth at the initial stage of heating (in order to obtain immediate warmth). In order to obtain a comfortable feeling in a steady environment where the ambient temperature around the subject (occupant) and the temperature of the seat in contact with the subject (occupant) are stable, heating to the buttocks and waist is effective. It has been found.

  FIG. 4 shows the thermal conductance (heat transfer amount per degree of temperature difference between the skin surface and the seat surface) and sensory characteristics of each part of the body in the seated state. The subject's clothes were typical clothes during driving in winter. Although it varies depending on the clothes (clothing), the magnitude relationship between the thermal conductance values decreases in the order of the thigh, buttocks, and lower back. In addition, the difference in thermal conductance was greater for body parts than for clothing.

  The thigh has good heat transfer efficiency, and when seated in a low-temperature seat, a lot of heat is taken away by the seat, so the discomfort due to coldness is great. Therefore, it is necessary to perform heating with the highest priority in the early stage of seating. Further, since the thigh can transmit heat to the human body most efficiently by heating, the thigh is also a part where an immediate warm feeling can be obtained. However, since it is easy to feel stuffiness and heat, it is necessary not to overheat in a steady environment.

  Although the heat transfer efficiency of the buttocks is slightly inferior to that of the thigh, heat can be efficiently transferred to the human body by heating, and a warm feeling can be obtained immediately. Moreover, since warmth can be continuously felt by moderate heating to the buttocks, heating in a steady environment is also effective.

  The waist is a part where the greatest comfort (feeling of warmth) can be obtained by heating. However, in winter, the heat resistance of the clothes is large and the adhesion to the seat is poor, so the heat transfer efficiency is inferior to other parts. Therefore, an immediate warming feeling due to heating cannot be obtained. However, since the heat transfer efficiency is poor, it is hard to feel the coldness when sitting on a low-temperature seat compared to other parts.

  Based on the above results, in the vehicle seat heating apparatus SH of the present embodiment, the seated occupant is warmed as follows. In addition, based on the above result, the magnitude relationship of the power density of each heater unit 6-8 is set as mentioned above.

  As will be described later, the heater control unit 20 controls the output of each of the heater units 6 to 8 in the initial mode after the start of heating, and satisfies the predetermined condition after the start of heating. Control the output of 6-8. Immediately after the start of heating, it is necessary to quickly warm up the passenger, but there is a limit to the power that can be used in the vehicle seat heating apparatus SH. Therefore, in the initial mode, the heater control unit 20 is configured to preferentially warm the thigh and the buttocks where it is easy to obtain a warm feeling rather than the waist where it is difficult to obtain a warm feeling due to poor heat transfer efficiency. The outputs of the heater unit 6 and the buttock heater unit 7 are maximized.

  By controlling the outputs of the heater units 6 to 8 in this way, it is possible to immediately give a sense of warmth to the seated passenger. Further, as described above, the power density of the thigh heater unit 6 is set higher than the power density of the buttocks heater unit 7, so that the temperature of the seat surface near the thigh is It becomes higher than the temperature and it is easy to get a comfortable feeling. In the initial mode, heating by the lumbar heater unit 8 is not performed. However, as described above, the lumbar region is less likely to feel cold when seated, so there is also warmth of the thighs and buttocks, which does not give the passenger a sense of incongruity. .

  The temperature in the passenger compartment rises so that the air mix door 115 of the vehicle air conditioner AC is not fully open (that is, not fully hot), and the temperature near the surface of the seat front 3 is the target in the initial mode. When the temperature range lower limit is exceeded, the heater control unit 20 controls the output of each of the heater units 6 to 8 by control (described later) in the transition period from control in the initial mode. Even if the vehicle air conditioner AC is in a full hot state, if the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the seat front part 3 exceeds the target temperature region upper limit value in the initial mode, the heater control unit 20 starts from the control in the initial mode. The output of each heater unit 6-8 is controlled by the control in the transition period.

  That is, the heater control unit 20 determines that the vehicle air conditioner AC is not in a full hot state based on the opening signal of the air mix door 115 output from the auto air conditioner amplifier 130, and the thigh temperature sensor 22 When it is determined that the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the seat front 3 detected in step S1 exceeds the lower limit value of the target temperature region in the initial mode, the outputs of the heater units 6 to 8 are controlled by the control in the transition period. When the heater control unit 20 determines that the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the seat front part 3 detected by the thigh temperature sensor 22 exceeds the target temperature region upper limit value in the initial mode, the vehicle air conditioner AC Even in the full hot state, the outputs of the heater units 6 to 8 are controlled by the control in the transition period.

  Since the thighs of the seated occupant are warmed to some extent when the transition is made, the heater control unit 20 turns off the thigh heater unit 6 and uses the electric power made available thereby, the waist heater unit. Turn 8 on to maximize output. As a result, the maximum power consumption can be suppressed to be equal to that in the initial mode, and heating can be efficiently performed within the range of usable power allocated to the vehicle seat heating apparatus SH. In the transition period, the heater control unit 20 maximizes the output of the buttock heater unit 7. However, when the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the seat rear portion 4 detected by the buttocks temperature sensor 23 exceeds a target temperature region upper limit value in a steady mode to be described later, the heater control unit 20 detects the seat detected by the buttocks temperature sensor 23. The output of the heel heater unit 7 is controlled (temperature control) so that the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the rear part 4 falls within the target temperature region in the steady mode.

  By controlling the output of each of the heater units 6 to 8 in this way, in the transition period, the temperature of the lumbar seat surface is rapidly increased with limited power while keeping the temperature of the buttocks seat surface at an appropriate temperature. be able to. As described above, since the power density of the waist heater unit 8 is higher than the power density of the thigh heater unit 6, the temperature of the seat surface in the vicinity of the waist can be rapidly increased. In the transition period, the thigh heater unit 6 is turned off, but since the time from the transition period to the transition to the steady mode described below is short, the seated passenger feels that the thigh cools. There is nothing.

  When the output of each heater unit 6-8 is controlled by the control in the transition period, when the temperature near the surface of the lower back portion 5 detected by the waist temperature sensor 24 exceeds the lower limit value of the target temperature region in the steady mode. The heater controller 20 controls the outputs of the heater units 6 to 8 in the steady mode. The heater control unit 20 turns on the thigh heater unit 6 again in the steady mode. The heater control unit 20 is configured so that the temperature of the seat surface detected by each of the sensors 22 to 24 falls within the target temperature region in the steady mode, and the temperature relationship of the seat surface is in the vicinity of the waist, the vicinity of the buttocks, The output of each heater unit 6-8 is controlled (temperature control) so that it becomes small in the order near the thigh. In the steady mode, the heater units 6 to 8 are energized. However, since each part of the seat 10 is appropriately warmed, the total power consumed by the heater units 6 to 8 is the vehicle seat heating. It falls within the available power allocated to the device SH.

  By controlling the outputs of the heater units 6 to 8 in this way, the seated occupant can obtain a feeling of comfort in the buttocks and waist without feeling tummy and heat in the thighs.

--- Flow chart ---
5 to 7 are flowcharts showing the operation of a program for controlling the outputs of the heater units 6 to 8. For example, when the seat heater on / off switch 21 is turned on while an ignition switch (not shown) of the vehicle is in an accessory on (ACC ON) state, a program for performing the processing shown in FIGS. Is executed. Note that Step I shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the control in the initial mode described above, Step II shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the control in the transition period described above, and Step III shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the steady mode described above. Corresponds to the control in.

  In step S101 of FIG. 5, the thigh heater unit 6 and the buttocks heater unit 7 are controlled to have maximum output, and the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, based on the signal (HVAC signal) from the auto air conditioner amplifier 130, it is determined whether or not the vehicle air conditioner AC is in a full hot state. If an affirmative determination is made in step S103, the process proceeds to step S105, and it is determined whether or not the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the seat front part 3 detected by the thigh temperature sensor 22 exceeds the target temperature region upper limit value in the initial mode. If a negative determination is made in step S105, the process returns to step S103. If a positive determination is made in step S105, the process proceeds to step S109, and the process proceeds to step II shown in FIG.

  If a negative determination is made in step S103, the process proceeds to step S107, and it is determined whether or not the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the seat front part 3 detected by the thigh temperature sensor 22 exceeds the target temperature region lower limit value in the initial mode. If a negative determination is made in step S107, the process returns to step S103. If a positive determination is made in step S107, the process proceeds to step S109.

  In step II of FIG. 6, in step S111, the thigh heater unit 6 is turned off and the waist heater unit 8 is turned on to control the output to the maximum, and the process proceeds to step S113. In step S113, it is determined whether or not the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the lower back portion 5 detected by the waist temperature sensor 24 exceeds the target temperature region lower limit value in the steady mode. If a negative determination is made in step S113, the process proceeds to step S115, and it is determined whether or not the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the seat rear part 4 detected by the buttocks temperature sensor 23 exceeds the target temperature region upper limit value in the steady mode.

  If a negative determination is made in step S115, the process returns to step S113. If an affirmative determination is made in step S115, the process proceeds to step S117, where the temperature of the buttock heater unit 7 is controlled so that the temperature in the vicinity of the surface of the seat rear part 4 detected by the buttock temperature sensor 23 falls within the target temperature region in the steady mode. Return to S113.

  If a positive determination is made in step S113, the process proceeds to step S119, and the process proceeds to step III shown in FIG.

  In Step III of FIG. 7, the temperature of the seat surface detected by each of the sensors 22 to 24 in Step S121 is within the target temperature region in the steady mode, and the temperature relationship of the seat surface is in the vicinity of the waist. The heater units 6 to 8 are controlled in temperature so as to decrease in the order of the vicinity of the buttocks and the vicinity of the thighs, and the process proceeds to step S123. In step S123, it is determined whether or not the seat heater on / off switch 21 is turned off. If a negative determination is made in step S123, the process returns to step S121. If an affirmative determination is made in step S123, the process proceeds to step S125, the heaters 6 to 8 are turned off, and the program ends.

  An example of the temperature transition in the vicinity of the seat surface when the outputs of the heater units 6 to 8 are controlled as described above is shown in FIG. In step I, that is, in the initial mode, the thighs and buttocks that can easily be immediately warmed are preferentially warmed. Since the power density of the thigh heater unit 6 is higher than the power density of the buttocks heater unit 7 as described above, the temperature of the seat surface near the thigh is higher than the temperature of the seat surface near the buttocks. It is easy to get a comfortable feeling. Although the lumbar heater unit 8 remains off, the temperature of the seat surface near the lumbar region gradually increases due to heat transfer from the occupant side and warming of the passenger compartment by the vehicle air conditioner AC.

  In step II, that is, in the transition period, the thigh heater unit 6 is turned off, and the waist heater unit 8 is turned on instead. Thereby, the temperature of the seat surface of the lumbar region can be rapidly increased with limited electric power while keeping the temperature of the seat surface of the buttocks at an appropriate temperature. In Step III, that is, in the steady mode, the temperature of the seat surface falls within a predetermined temperature range, and the temperature relationship of the seat surface decreases in the order of the waist, the buttocks, and the thighs.

The vehicle seat heating apparatus SH described above has the following effects.
(1) In the control in the initial mode immediately after the start of heating by the heaters 6 to 8 and in the subsequent control in the steady mode, there is a magnitude relationship between the temperature of the seat surface near the waist, the buttocks, and the thighs. The outputs of the heaters 6 to 8 are controlled differently. Thereby, since the passenger can be warmed in consideration of the difference in how the warmth is sensed by the body part of the occupant and the influence on the heat transfer due to the clothes, the occupant can be warmed efficiently. Moreover, compared with the conventional vehicle seat heating apparatus that uses the same amount of electric power to uniformly heat the seat surface and the back surface, the feeling of immediate warming can be greatly improved.

(2) Each of the heaters 6 to 8 that are independently controlled is configured to warm the thigh, buttocks, and waist of the occupant. Thereby, since the way of warming according to the site | part of a body can be respectively performed with respect to the seated passenger | crew, a passenger | crew can be given a feeling of comfort effectively.

(3) In the initial mode, the power density and output of the heaters 6 and 7 are controlled so that the temperature of the seat surface near the thigh is higher than the temperature of the seat surface near the buttocks. As a result, if the seat surface is cold, the discomfort will increase (on the contrary, it is easy to get immediate warmth) The thigh temperature is warmed with the highest priority, and at the same time, the buttocks with better heat transfer efficiency than the waist are heated. By doing so, a warm feeling can be improved immediately.

(4) In the transition period, the thigh heater unit 6 is turned off, and the waist heater unit 8 is turned on by the electric power made available thereby to maximize the output. Therefore, the maximum power consumption can be suppressed to the same level as in the initial mode, and heating can be efficiently performed within the range of usable power allocated to the vehicle seat heating apparatus SH. Further, since the thigh of the seated occupant is warmed to some extent when the transition is made, there is no discomfort such as making the occupant feel cold even when the thigh heater unit 6 is turned off. .

(5) In the steady mode, the temperature of the seat surface detected by each of the sensors 22 to 24 falls within the target temperature region in the steady mode, and the temperature relationship of the seat surface is in the vicinity of the waist, the vicinity of the hip, Each heater unit 6-8 was configured to be temperature-controlled so as to become smaller in the order near the thigh. As a result, heat transfer efficiency is good, and the temperature of the thigh that causes stuffiness and discomfort when heated for a long period of time is kept lower than other parts, and at the same time, the waist (the part that feels best when warmed up) ) Warming provides a high level of comfort. At the same time, by continuing to heat the buttocks at an appropriate temperature, a feeling of warmth without any discomfort can be obtained.

(6) Based on the signal from the auto air conditioner amplifier 130, the control of the output of each heater unit 6-8 is switched. Accordingly, it is possible to control the vehicle seat heating device SH in cooperation with the vehicle air conditioner AC in consideration of the temperature environment in the passenger compartment that affects the portion of the passenger's body other than the portion in contact with the seat. So you can warm the passengers efficiently.

(7) The control of the outputs of the heater units 6 to 8 is switched depending on whether or not the vehicle air conditioner AC is in a full hot state. As a result, it is possible to control the vehicle seat heating device SH according to how the passenger feels the cold by using a signal output from the auto air conditioner amplifier 130, such as the opening signal of the air mix door 115, and the cost increases. Thus, the vehicle seat heating apparatus SH that can efficiently warm the occupant can be realized.

---- Modified example ---
(1) In the above description, the heater units 6 to 8 are controlled using both the temperature detection results of the temperature sensors 22 to 24 and the signal (HVAC signal) output from the auto air conditioner amplifier 130. Is not limited to this. For example, the heater units 6 to 8 may be controlled without using the HVAC signal, and the heater units 6 to 8 may be controlled without using the temperature detection results of the temperature sensors 22 to 24.

  For example, when the heater units 6 to 8 are controlled without using the HVAC signal, the initial mode and the steady mode may be switched based on the temperature detection results of the temperature sensors 22 to 24. For example, when controlling each heater unit 6-8 without using the temperature detection result of each temperature sensor 22-24, the output of each heater unit 6-8 is prescribed | regulated beforehand, and an HVAC signal (for example, An initial mode and a steady mode may be switched based on the air mix door opening signal.

  For example, when the heater units 6 to 8 are controlled without using the HVAC signal and the temperature detection results of the temperature sensors 22 to 24, the outputs of the heater units 6 to 8 are defined in advance. You may comprise so that an initial mode and a steady mode may be switched according to time.

  In addition to the air mix door opening signal, the HVAC signal referred to by the heater control unit 20 to control the heater units 6 to 8 is a signal representing the voltage VF of the blower motor 112 (blower motor rotation speed signal). Etc. may be used.

(2) In the above description, the thigh heater unit 6, the buttocks heater unit 7, and the waist heater unit 8 are provided in the seat 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a heater unit may be provided above the back portion 2. In addition, a heater unit may be provided in the vicinity of the front surface of the seat portion 1 where the occupant's knees touch when seated, and the thigh heater unit 6 may be extended to the vicinity of the front surface of the seat portion 1.

(3) In the above description, each of the heater units 6 to 8 transfers heat from the heat generating portion that generates Joule heat mainly by conduction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may comprise so that heat heated to the predetermined temperature may be blown out from the seat part 1 or the back part 2, and heat may be transmitted.
(4) The above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined.

  In the above-described embodiment and its modifications, for example, the first heating means is in the thigh heater unit 6, the second heating means is in the buttocks heater unit 7, and the third heating means is in the waist heater unit 8. Each corresponds. The control means is realized by the heater control unit 20 and a program executed by the heater control unit 20. The above description is merely an example, and when interpreting the invention, there is no limitation or restriction on the correspondence between the items described in the above embodiment and the items described in the claims.

1 is a view showing a seat 10. FIG. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the vehicle seat heating apparatus SH. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of vehicle air conditioner AC. It is a table | surface which shows the thermal conductance and sensory characteristic of each part of the body in the seated state. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the program for controlling the output of each heater unit 6-8. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the program for controlling the output of each heater unit 6-8. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the program for controlling the output of each heater unit 6-8. It is a figure which shows an example of the temperature transition of the seat surface vicinity at the time of controlling the output of each heater unit 6-8.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seat part 2 Back part 3 Seat front part 4 Seat rear part 5 Back lower part 6 Thigh heater unit 7 Hip part heater unit 8 Lumbar heater unit 10 Seat 20 Heater control part 21 Seat heater on / off switch 130 Auto air conditioner amplifier AC Vehicle air conditioner Equipment SH Vehicle seat heating system

Claims (5)

At least first to third heating means disposed in a seat of the vehicle;
Control means for independently controlling the first to third heating means,
The first heating means is a thigh heating means for heating a thigh of an occupant seated on the seat,
The second heating means is a buttocks heating means for heating the buttocks of the occupant,
The third heating means is a waist heating means for heating the waist of the occupant,
The control means controls the first to third heating means in an initial mode after starting heating by the first to third heating means, and thereafter controls the first to third heating means in a steady mode. Controlling the temperature of the seat surface heated by the first heating means so as to be comfortable from the initial mode to the steady mode, the temperature of the seat surface heated by the second heating means, And, when controlling the first to third heating means so that the temperature relationship of the seat surface heated by the third heating means is different between the initial mode and the steady mode , the initial mode Then, the temperature of the seat surface heated by the thigh heating means is set higher than the temperature of the seat surface heated by the buttocks heating means, and the thigh heating means heats in the steady mode. Said seating surface The temperature of the seat surface heated by the buttocks heating means is lower than the temperature of the seat surface heated by the buttocks heating means, and the temperature of the seat surface heated by the buttocks heating means is set to the temperature of the seat surface heated by the waist heating means. Controlling the thigh heating means, the buttocks heating means, and the waist heating means so as to be lower than the temperature;
A vehicle seat heating device. The vehicle seat heating apparatus according to claim 1 ,
In the initial mode, the control means heats the occupant seated on the seat by the thigh heating means and the buttocks heating means, and in the transition period from the initial mode to the steady mode, the buttocks heating And the waist heating means for controlling the thigh heating means, the buttocks heating means, and the waist heating means so as to heat the occupant seated on the seat by the means and the waist heating means. . The vehicle seat heating apparatus according to claim 2 ,
The thigh heating means, the buttocks heating means, and the waist heating means are each heating means for heating using Joule heat,
The rated power of the thigh heating means and the waist heating means are substantially equal,
The control means is configured so that the power consumption in the thigh heating means and the buttocks heating means in the initial mode is substantially equal to the power consumption in the buttocks heating means and the waist heating means in the transition period. A vehicle seat heating device that controls the thigh heating means, the buttocks heating means, and the waist heating means. In the vehicle seat heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The seat heating device for vehicles, wherein the control means switches between the initial mode and the steady mode based on an air conditioning state of the air conditioning device of the vehicle. The vehicle seat heating apparatus according to claim 4 ,
The control means sets the initial mode when the air conditioning state of the vehicle air conditioner is a full hot state, and sets the steady mode when the air conditioning state of the vehicle air conditioner is not a full hot state. A vehicle seat heating device.

Images