Headrest apparatus for vehicle

• US 20070027599A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Morio, Hirota, Koichi
• Application Number:
  US11/486,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

A headrest apparatus for a vehicle includes a headrest rear portion, a headrest front portion being movable between a fully closed position and a fully open position, a driving means for moving the headrest front portion, a capacitance sensor provided at the headrest front portion for detecting a change in capacitance, and a controlling means for controlling the driving means and comparing an amount of change in capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor to a predetermined threshold value when the headrest front portion moves towards the fully open position. The controlling means determines that the headrest front portion is positioned close to a head of an occupant when the amount of change in capacitance exceeds the threshold value. Further, the controlling means detects a capacitance change per unit moving distance of the capacitance sensor at a predetermined timing and changes the threshold value based on the detected result.

Claims

1. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a headrest rear portion supported by a seatback;

a headrest front portion being movable between a fully closed position in which the headrest front portion is closed to the headrest rear portion, and a fully open position in which the headrest front portion is away from the headrest rear portion;

a driving means for moving the headrest front portion;

a capacitance sensor provided at the headrest front portion for detecting a change in capacitance that is caused in response to a distance from a head of an occupant;

a controlling means for controlling the driving means and comparing an amount of change in capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor to a predetermined threshold value when the headrest front portion moves towards the fully open position,

the controlling means determining that the headrest front portion is positioned close to the head when the amount of change in capacitance exceeds the threshold value; and

the controlling means detecting a capacitance change per unit moving distance of the capacitance sensor at a predetermined timing and changing the threshold value based on the detected result.

2. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means changes the threshold value at predetermined time intervals.

3. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means changes the threshold value when the headrest front portion starts moving towards the fully open position.

4. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the controlling means changes the threshold value based on a driving voltage of the driving means.

5. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the controlling means changes the threshold value based on a moving speed of the headrest front portion.

6. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the threshold value is changed on the basis of a data table which is defined by a capacitance value detected by the capacitance sensor and the driving voltage.

7. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the threshold value is specified so as to increase as the driving voltage increases.

8. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the threshold value is changed on the basis of a data table which is defined by a capacitance value detected by the capacitance sensor and the moving speed of the headrest front portion.

9. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the threshold value is specified so as to increase as the moving speed increases.