Abstract:
The present invention discloses a seat adjusting method and a seat adjusting system capable of actively adjusting a user&#39;s sitting posture and comfort according to the body weight of different users. Stress sensors are provided for detecting a stress distribution situation of a seat support surface. Airbags are buried into the support surface for actively changing the level of the support surface in order to increase a contact area between the support surface and the user, and the stress distribution situation can be matched with an expected ratio to provide the best ergonomic support effect to users.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a seat support adjusting technology, in particular to a technology of actively adjusting a user&#39;s sitting posture and comfort by means of a stress distribution detection. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In general, a seat support surface in contact with a user includes portions such as a cushion top and a front backrest, whose curvature and level can be adjusted according to a user&#39;s personal preference. In a conventional seat, a plurality of airbags are buried in the seat support surface, and an inflation/deflation control device is provided for the user to operate and adjust an inflated/deflected state of each airbag. If the user adjusts the inflated and deflated state of each airbag by the inflation/deflation control device, the curvature and level of the support surface will be changed, so that the way of the support surface in contact with the user will be changed accordingly, and the user can adjust a support effect of the support surface (such as adjusting the way of the cushion top being in contact with the user&#39;s thigh or the backrest being in contact with the user&#39;s back or lower back) according to the user&#39;s personal feeling. 
         [0005]    Alternately, the inflation/deflation control device can be used for driving the airbags to have a dynamic change of inflation or deflation, so that the support surface can provide a dynamic support effect such as a massage to users. 
         [0006]    Since different users may have different sitting habits and postures and subjective sensations, and the support effect adjusted by such method is not necessarily the best support effect as to human health care or medical science. For example, a user may adjust a seat support surface according to the user&#39;s subjective most comfortable mode within a few minutes before sitting on a seat, but such subjective most comfortable mode always involves an uneven distribution of stress, or even a support mode of a stress concentrated at a specific position, and thus causing a poor blood circulation or using excessive forces in some muscles. Once the user has sat for a long time, the user will feel uncomfortable, ached, or unease. 
         [0007]    If such uncomfortable feeling occurs, the users usually adjust the support mode of the support surface according to their sensation. Since the uncomfortable feeling has occurred, the users generally adjust the support mode of the support surface excessively in order to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling immediately, so that the uncomfortable feeling will occur at other positions after the users have been sitting for some time. 
         [0008]    In present existing technologies, some conventional seats come with a plurality of stress detectors corresponding to the airbags respectively, and a memory device for recording the stress situation of each airbag in order to find out and record the best support mode for a particular user, so that the same user can have the same support effect quickly for the next time. 
         [0009]    However, the support effect obtained from the users&#39; subjective sensation and experience usually does not fit a long sitting time for human bodies or even may cause chronicle harmful effects such as poor blood circulation or other health issues caused by the poor sitting posture to those sitting with an inappropriate posture for a long time. 
         [0010]    In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention developed a seat adjusting method and a seat adjusting system by adopting an active adjusting technology totally different from the traditional passive adjusting technology to provide a more comfortable sitting effect for users. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a seat adjusting method and a seating adjusting system for actively adjusting a user&#39;s sitting posture and comfort. 
         [0012]    The seat adjusting method of the present invention comprises the steps of: burying a plurality of airbags into an internal side of a support surface, wherein an inflated or deflated state of each airbag is controlled by an inflation/deflation control device; detecting a stress distribution situation of a seat support surface by a plurality of stress sensors; outputting a detected stress of each stress sensor to a control unit to produce a corresponding stress parameter, wherein the control unit is connected to a built-in memory for preloading an optimal stress parameter ratio; using the control unit to compare an actual stress parameter ratio obtained by the stress sensor with an optimal stress parameter ratio, when a user sits on a seat; and performing an adjusting procedure for inflating or deflating each airbag by the inflation/deflation control device according to a comparison result, wherein the comparison procedure and the adjusting procedure are carried out in cycles and stopped until the actual stress parameter ratio is matched with the optimal stress parameter ratio. 
         [0013]    In the aforementioned process of adjusting the inflation and deflation of each airbag, the plurality of airbags buried into the support surface can change the level of the support surface, such that a contact area between the support surface and the user is increased, and the stress distribution situation can match an expected ratio to provide the most ergonomic support effect. 
         [0014]    In practices, the inflation/deflation control device adjusts the airbags until the actual stress parameter ratio is matched with an optimal stress parameter ratio, and then the corresponding stress parameter of each stress sensor is recorded in the built-in memory. If the same user sits in the seat again, the control unit will not perform the comparison procedure again, but will drive the inflation/deflation control device directly to perform the adjusting procedure and will stop the adjusting procedure when the inflated/deflated mode of each airbag is matched with the recorded stress parameter. 
         [0015]    Alternately, the control unit is connected to a portable storage device, such that the corresponding stress parameter of each stress sensor can be recorded into the portable storage device which provides the users a convenient carrying way, after the actual stress parameter ratio is matched with the optimal stress parameter ratio. 
         [0016]    In summation of the foregoing method, the seat adjusting system of the present invention comprises a plurality of airbags buried in an internal side of the seat support surface, a plurality of stress detectors for detecting a stress distribution situation of a seat support surface to release a stress parameter, and an inflation/deflation control device connected to each stress detector for actively controlling an inflation or a deflation of each airbag according to the stress parameter. 
         [0017]    The inflation/deflation control device further comprises a control unit connected to each stress detector for obtaining a stress parameter, a pump connected to the control unit, an air valve assembly connected to the control unit, an operating interface connected to the control unit, a built-in memory connected to the control unit for preloading an optimal stress parameter ratio, a portable storage device connected to the control unit; and a power supply device for supplying electric power required by the operation of the seat adjusting system. 
         [0018]    In practices, a ventilation pipeline of this system is built between each airbag and the air valve assembly of the inflation/deflation control device, and the stress sensor is installed between each airbag and the support surface or installed on the ventilation pipeline. The inflation/deflation control device includes an electric port or a wireless transmission interface connected to the control unit and provided for the portable storage device to transmit data. 
         [0019]    In addition to the adjusting effect, the aforementioned inflation/deflation control device can also provide a support effect to maintain the inflated/deflated mode of each airbag and perform a continuous or intermittent dynamic inflation/deflation control to specific airbags to provide users a touch feeling, so as to achieve a massaging effect. 
         [0020]    The seat adjusting system of the present invention further comprises an auxiliary medical detector, and the auxiliary medical detector includes a cushion laid on the seat, a plurality of precision stress detectors distributed densely on the cushion, and a display device connected to the auxiliary medical detector for displaying the stress distribution situation, wherein the display of the stress distribution situation can be a data display or a graphic display provided for medical professionals to make decisions and adjust the mode of each stress distribution situation by the medical professionals, and thus the seat adjusting system of the present invention can be applied in auxiliary medical applications. 
         [0021]    In addition, the seat adjusting system of the present invention further comprises an electrothermal component installed on an internal side of the support surface to provide a warmth retention effect to the seat adjusting system, a plurality of ventilation holes disposed on the support surface, and an air passage disposed in the seat for circulating an air flow and connected to an air blower, such that when the air blower produces an air flow, an active ventilation effect of the seat adjusting system can be achieved through the air passage and ventilation holes on the support surface. 
         [0022]    Compared with the prior art, the present invention actively changes the mode of the support surface according to a stress detection result, so that the users can obtain a larger contact area and a support effect without an excessively concentrated stress. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an installation position of a seat adjusting system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an assembly of a seat adjusting system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an assembly of a seat adjusting system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a seat adjusting system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of a seat adjusting system in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention as follows. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for schematic views of an installation position of a seat adjusting system and an assembly of each component in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention respectively, the seat adjusting system comprises a plurality of stress detectors  20  installed inside a seat  10  for detecting a stress distribution situation of a seat support surface  11 , a plurality of airbags  30  buried into an internal side of the support surface  11 , and an inflation/deflation control device  40 . If stresses are exerted onto the airbags  30  on the internal side of the support surface  11  of the seat  10 , then the stress detector  20  will detect the stresses exerted by the airbags  30 , and a stress parameter will be released to the inflation/deflation control device  40 , such that the inflation/deflation control device  40  will actively control the inflation/deflation ratio of each airbag  30  according to the stress parameter. 
         [0030]    The inflation/deflation control device  40  comprises a control unit  41  connected to each stress detector  20  for obtaining the stress parameter, a pump  42  connected to the control unit  41 , an air valve assembly  43  connected to the control unit  41 , an operating interface  44  connected to the control unit  41 , a built-in memory  45  connected to the control unit  41 , a portable storage device  46  connected to the control unit  41 , and a plurality of ventilation pipelines  47  connected to each airbag  30 . 
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment, the operating interface  44  is provided for users to adjust the mode of the support surface  11  manually or automatically, and the electric power required for the whole system is supplied by a power supply device (not shown in the figure) such as an electric connector connected to an automobile power supply or an electric adapter for converting a high voltage current into a low voltage current, etc. 
         [0032]    In addition to the aforementioned seat adjusting system, the present invention also provides a seat adjusting method, wherein each stress sensor  20  is used for detecting a stress distribution situation of the seat support surface  11 , and the inflated/deflated mode of each airbag  30  is controlled by the inflation/deflation control device  40 , and each stress sensor  20  is connected to the control unit  41  of the inflation/deflation control device  40  to produce a corresponding stress parameter, and the control unit  41  is connected to the built-in memory  45  for preloading an optimal stress parameter ratio. 
         [0033]    If a user sits in a seat, the inflation/deflation control device  40  will inflate each airbag  30  to an appropriate level, and then use each stress sensor  20  to detect an actual stress distribution situation of the seat support surface  11  at that time, and transmit the obtained actual stress parameter ratio to the control unit  41  of the inflation/deflation control device  40 . The control unit  41  compares the actual stress parameter ratio with a preloaded optimal stress parameter ratio. In the meantime, the inflation/deflation control device  40  also drives the pump  42  and the air valve assembly  43  to adjust the inflated/deflated mode of each airbag  30  according to a comparison result. When the inflation or deflation of each airbag  30  is adjusted, the aforementioned comparison procedure and adjusting procedure are performed in cycles, and the adjusting procedure is stopped until the actual stress parameter ratio is matched with the optimal stress parameter ratio, so that the users can obtain a larger contact area and a support effect without excessively concentrated stress. 
         [0034]    For instance, if a user sits in a seat, the original stress distribution situation between the support surface  11  and the user is generally concentrated at a specific area of the user&#39;s buttocks and only a very small portion of the stresses is scattered to the middle and front sections of the user&#39;s thigh. With the seat adjusting method, the support surface  11  can have a change of three-dimensional level, such that the contact area between the support surface  11  and the user&#39;s buttocks and thigh is increased, and the original stress concentrated at the specific area of the user&#39;s buttocks can be scattered appropriately from the periphery of the original specific area to the middle and front sections of the user&#39;s thigh. By such stress detection adjusting measure, the present invention can actively provide users a more comfortable and objective support effect. 
         [0035]    In practices, the aforementioned portable storage device  46  can upload data to the control unit  41  or download data from the control unit  41 , such as uploading or downloading related stress parameters or control codes. The portable storage device  46  can be a universal serial bus (USB) memory stick or any other portable memory card or storage medium with a general specification, such as CF, Micro Drive, Smart Media, Memory Stick, Mage Gate, Multi Media CARD, Secure Digital, xD Picture Card, external hard disk drive (HDD), and IC memory device, etc. 
         [0036]    The aforementioned portable storage device  46  can be connected to the control unit  41  through an electric port or a wireless transmission interface connected to the control unit  41 , such as various types of communication ports, memory card sockets, Bluetooth transmission interfaces, infrared transmission interfaces, radio frequency transmission interfaces, etc, and users simply need to operate the operating interface  44  to control operations such as uploading, downloading or executing data with the portable storage device  46 . The aforementioned electric port or wireless transmission interface is provided for connecting the control unit with the network system or other terminals. 
         [0037]    The airbags  30  are installed symmetrically on the left and right sides on the seat  10 , and each airbag  30  has an inflation/deflation control, and two adjacent airbags  30  are interconnected to form a synchronous inflating/deflating airbag set. In addition to the adjusting function, the inflation/deflation control device  40  also maintains the inflation/deflation of each airbag  30 , provides a support function, and further provides a continuous or intermittent dynamic inflation/deflation control to specific airbags  30 , so as to achieve a massaging effect. 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIG. 3  for a schematic view of an assembly of a seat adjusting system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stress sensors  20  can be installed on the ventilation pipeline  47  in addition to the positions between each airbag  30  and the support surface  11  as shown in  FIG. 1 , so that the stress sensors  20  can still reflect the stress distribution situation of the support surface  11  by means of the fluid properties of the air. 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIG. 4  for a schematic view of an assembly of a seat adjusting system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seat adjusting system further comprises an auxiliary medical detector  50 , and the auxiliary medical detector  50  includes a cushion  51  laid on the seat  10  (covered onto the support surface  11 ), and a plurality of precision stress detectors  52  densely distributed on the cushion, such that the auxiliary medical detector  50  can use a display device to display data or graphics of the stress distribution situation and provide the data or graphics to medical professionals for a professional judgment and allow medical professionals to adjust the mode of each support surface  11  manually. The seat adjusting system of the present invention can be applied to the auxiliary medical applications. 
         [0040]    With reference to  FIG. 5  for a schematic view of an assembly of a seat adjusting system in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seat adjusting system includes an electrothermal component  12  such as an electrothermal silk or an electrothermal cloth installed on an internal side of the support surface  11 , so that the seat adjusting system can provide a warmth retention effect. Alternately, the seat adjusting system includes a plurality of ventilation holes  13  disposed on the support surface  11  and an air passage  14  built in the seat  10  for circulating an air flow. The air passage  14  is connected to an air blower  15 . When the air blower  15  produces an air flow, the air passage  14  and the ventilation holes  13  are provided for the ventilation of the support surface  11 , such that the seat adjusting system can have a ventilation effect. 
         [0041]    While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.