Method for adjusting a vehicle seat

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for switching a vehicle seat of a vehicle from an actual seat setting to a target seat setting, comprising the following steps: detecting (10) the target seat setting of the vehicle seat and the actual seat setting of the vehicle seat, calculating (20) a switching time required to switch the vehicle seat from the actual seat setting to the target seat setting, determining (30) at least one current driving state parameter of the vehicle, the current driving state parameter describing the current driving state of the vehicle, calculating (40) a risk metric based on the switching time and the driving state parameter, and, once the risk metric is below a predefined threshold, manipulating (50) a seat adjustment unit (4) to switch the vehicle seat (3) to the target seat setting.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for adjusting a vehicle seat. The invention also relates to a computer program for carrying out the method and to a storage medium for storing a computer program product. Finally, the invention relates to a control device of a vehicle for carrying out the method. Background Art

[0002] It is known from the prior art to operate a vehicle autonomously. In this case, the occupants of the vehicle no longer need to intervene. It is also known from the prior art that the vehicle seats can be adjusted, for example, so that the position on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the seat height and the seat inclination are adapted to the individual needs of the occupants. If the vehicle moves autonomously, the vehicle seats can also be rotated so that, for example, all occupants are aligned with each other.

[0003] A method for braking an autonomously driven vehicle in order to be able to adjust a seat without risk is known from DE 10 2014 214 364 A1. The structure of a seat adjuster is known, for example, from DE 10 2017 206 941 A1. Summary of the invention

[0004] The method according to the invention enables a safe and reliable adjustment of the vehicle seat. On the one hand, it is ensured that the vehicle seat is only adjusted if the adjustment of the vehicle seat does not pose any risk to the user in the event of an accident due to the current vehicle driving state. On the other hand, active intervention in the autonomous or self-driving vehicle is prevented.

[0005] The method for converting a vehicle seat of a vehicle from an actual seat setting to a target seat setting comprises the following steps: First, the target seat setting of the vehicle seat and the actual seat setting of the vehicle seat are detected. The target seat setting can be input by a user, in particular via an input device. Then, the conversion time required for converting the vehicle seat from the actual seat setting to the target seat setting is calculated based on the actual seat setting and the target seat setting. Then, at least one current driving state parameter of the vehicle is determined, which describes the current driving state of the vehicle. The current driving state parameter is in particular a sensor signal from a motion sensor and / or data from other auxiliary systems of the vehicle. The current driving state of the vehicle can be characterized by the driving state parameter, which is related to the movement of the vehicle itself on the one hand and to the environmental conditions of the vehicle on the other hand. Thereafter, a risk measure is calculated based on the conversion time and the driving state parameter. By taking into account the conversion time, the risk measure can be estimated more accurately than in the prior art. As a result, it can be estimated more accurately whether the vehicle seat is allowed to be adjusted, so that a smaller tolerance range can be provided. This makes it possible to allow a greater number of adjustment movements than in the prior art. The user's comfort is thereby improved.

[0006] Finally, the seat adjustment unit is actuated to convert the vehicle seat into the target seat setting. However, this is only done when the risk measure is below a predefined threshold. Thus, the adjustment of the vehicle seat is delayed as long as the threshold is exceeded. No intervention is made in the vehicle, which preferably moves autonomously or automatically, and likewise no user's desire to adjust the vehicle seat is rejected.

[0007] The dependent claims reveal preferred developments of the invention.

[0008] Preferably, a step for outputting an error message is provided. This step is performed if the risk measure is not below the predefined threshold value. In this case, a message is output to the user of the vehicle seat that the vehicle seat cannot be adjusted at the moment because the risk of injury in the event of an accident is too great. The output can be made visually and / or acoustically and / or tactilely. In particular, an indication can also be output which conditions must be met in order for the risk measure to be below the threshold value, i.e. in order for the vehicle seat to be adjustable. An indication can also be given to the user to make the adjustment as soon as it is possible, i.e. as soon as the risk measure is below the threshold value. It is particularly advantageous if the user can be offered the possibility of issuing an interrupt command in order to avoid future adjustments to the vehicle seat.

[0009] The step of determining the at least one current driving state parameter and the step of calculating the risk measure are advantageously repeated. This results in a continuous recalculation of the risk measure. Thus, it is possible to delay the adjustment of the vehicle seat until the risk measure is less than the predefined threshold value. The aforementioned step of actuating the seat adjustment unit should then be performed. This allows the seat adjustment to be postponed until the vehicle seat can be adjusted without risk. No active intervention in the guidance of the vehicle is required.

[0010] Advantageously, the risk measure is calculated by multiplying the at least one driving state parameter by the transition time. A reference value is calculated from this, which depends both on the transition time and on the driving state parameter. In particular, weighting factors can be provided in order to weight the transition time and / or the individual driving state parameters differently.

[0011] The driving state parameter preferably maps various states of the vehicle. It is thus provided in particular that the driving state parameter maps the current speed of the vehicle and / or the current acceleration of the vehicle and / or the current traffic sign condition and / or the current traffic jam condition. For the speed and the acceleration, the corresponding measured values ​​can be used directly as driving state parameters. It is particularly advantageous with respect to the traffic jam condition to determine the duration of the vehicle being in the traffic jam. It is thus possible, for example, to check whether a traffic jam assistance function of the vehicle is activated. Therefore, the duration that has passed during which the vehicle is identified as being in a traffic jam can be advantageously used to assess the risk of adjusting the vehicle seat. In particular, a short duration represents a greater risk because the vehicle is at the end of a traffic jam. Therefore, a longer duration represents a lower risk. With respect to the traffic sign condition, it is preferably provided that the duration of the red light phase of the traffic light is determined. The longer the duration from the start of the red light phase, the higher the risk of adjusting the vehicle seat, because then the end of the red light phase and the start of the vehicle can be expected.

[0012] Advantageously, provision is made for the predefined threshold value to be different for at least two different target seat settings. Different target seat settings can thus be defined, wherein a method has different dangers in the event of an accident for different target seat settings. Thus, for a target seat setting with a low potential for danger, a different threshold value can be used than for a target seat setting with a high potential for danger. This makes it possible to prevent or delay only the minimum possible number of requests to adjust the vehicle seat before the threshold value is fallen below. This achieves maximum user comfort.

[0013] The target seat setting preferably also includes a target position of the steering wheel and / or pedal assembly of the vehicle. It is thus preferably provided that the position of the steering wheel and pedal assembly can also be adjusted. This is particularly advantageous if, in an autonomous or automated driving operation of the vehicle, the steering wheel and pedal assembly can be moved or rotated out of the actuation range of the user in order to thereby prevent freedom of movement and / or undesired driving inputs by the user. It is therefore particularly advantageous if, in the actuation step, the adjustment unit is actuated to adjust the position of the steering wheel and / or pedal assembly.

[0014] The present invention also relates to a computer program. Preferably, the computer program is designed to execute the method as described above.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a machine-readable storage medium, on which the computer program is stored, and which may in particular be a flash memory and / or a CD and / or a DVD.

[0016] The invention further relates to a control device for a vehicle. The control device is designed to carry out the method described above and / or to carry out the computer program described above. For this purpose, the control device is particularly advantageously coupled to a seat adjustment unit. Furthermore, the control device is particularly advantageously connected to a speed sensor and / or an acceleration sensor.

[0017] Particularly advantageously, there is a human-machine interface, which can be operated in particular by the control device. The human-machine interface preferably comprises an input device and / or an output device, particularly preferably a touch screen. The step of detecting a target seat setting can be implemented in particular via the input device in that the user inputs the target seat setting with the aid of the input device. The step of outputting an error message can be implemented particularly advantageously via the output device in that the user is informed that the seat cannot be adjusted as desired. Of course, the remaining instructions can also be output to the user via the output device.

[0018] Finally, the invention relates to a vehicle. The vehicle has a control device as described above. The vehicle is also preferably designed to operate autonomously. This means that the vehicle can be driven to the desired destination completely independently. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle is designed to operate automatically, in particular to operate in a highly automated manner. In this case, the vehicle can support the driver when driving the vehicle and take on some of the tasks itself. In both operating types, the user of the vehicle does not have to directly and actively intervene in the guidance of the vehicle and therefore has freedom in the alignment of the vehicle seat. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a vehicle having a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

[0021] Figure 2 The figure shows a schematic diagram of the process of the method according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Figure 1 A vehicle 2 having a control device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention is schematically shown. The control device 1 is coupled to an acceleration sensor 5 for detecting the acceleration of the vehicle 2 and to a speed sensor 6 for detecting the speed of the vehicle 2. The speed sensor 6 is in particular a wheel sensor which detects the movement of a wheel 7 of the vehicle 2.

[0023] The vehicle 2 also has at least one vehicle seat 3. The vehicle seat 3 can be adjusted by a seat adjustment unit 4, wherein the seat adjustment unit 4 is Figure 1 The longitudinal track is shown in FIG. 3 . Thus, the vehicle seat 3 can be adjusted longitudinally. The seat adjustment unit 4 particularly advantageously enables the vehicle seat 3 to be moved and / or rotated in any direction.

[0024] The vehicle 2 is in particular equipped to operate autonomously or at least automatically. Therefore, the user of the vehicle 2 does not have to make any driving inputs, but can be transported by the vehicle 2 to the desired destination. Alternatively, in automated operation, in particular in highly automated operation, the driver is supported when driving the vehicle 2. In order to improve the comfort of the user during the use of the vehicle 2 in autonomous or automated driving operation, it is provided that the user can select different seat settings of the vehicle seats 3. Thus, for example, all vehicle seats 3 can be aligned with each other to facilitate communication between vehicle occupants. It is also possible to provide the user with a seat position with maximum leg freedom.

[0025] However, for safety reasons, not all seat movements can be performed independently of the driving state of the vehicle 2. In particular, when the vehicle is driven at high speeds, attention must be paid to the safety of the user in the event of a potential accident. At the same time, the user should be provided with maximum comfort by inhibiting the seat movements as little as possible.

[0026] The control device 1 is therefore designed to carry out the method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 The process of the method is schematically shown in FIG.

[0027] The method performs a risk assessment to check whether the vehicle seat 3 can be switched from the actual seat setting to the target seat setting. The target seat setting is in particular selected by the user. Preferably, the user can choose from a large number of predefined settings in order to bring his vehicle seat 3 into the desired position. Therefore, the first step of the method is to detect 10 the target seat setting and the actual seat setting of the vehicle seat 3.

[0028] The seat arrangement comprises in particular a longitudinal adjustment and / or a seat height and / or a seat inclination and / or a seat rotation and / or a tilting of the vehicle seat 3. Likewise, the seat arrangement can have a position of a steering wheel and / or a pedal set of the vehicle 3 so that the user can move or rotate the steering wheel and / or the pedal set out of the user's actuation range when the vehicle 3 is operated autonomously or automatically.

[0029] Next, the switching time required to switch the vehicle seat 3 from the actual seat setting to the target seat setting is calculated 20. For this purpose, in particular, it is determined which actuators of the seat adjustment unit 4 should be actuated in order to reach the target seat setting starting from the actual seat setting. This is preferably done with the aid of a model stored in the control device 1.

[0030] Additionally, at least one current driving state parameter of the vehicle 2 is determined 30. The driving state parameter describes the current driving state of the vehicle 2. The driving state parameter may in particular be the current speed of the vehicle 2. Alternatively or additionally, the driving state parameter may be the current acceleration of the vehicle 2. These parameters may be derived directly from the acceleration sensor 5 and the speed sensor 6. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, the driving state parameter may be obtained from other control units of the vehicle that are coupled to the control device 1. The control device 1 may thus preferably access auxiliary functions of the vehicle 2, such as access to a traffic jam assistant and / or access to traffic sign monitoring. As a result, the driving state parameter may map additional information that has an impact on the movement of the vehicle 2.

[0031] For example, the following driving state parameter can be used: In principle, low speed is favorable. It is therefore provided that the driving state parameter corresponds to the current speed of the vehicle 2 detected by means of the speed sensor 6, so that a smaller driving state parameter indicates a lower risk than a larger driving state parameter. Likewise, specific ranges of speed can be weighted differently, so that, for example, speeds between 0 m / s and 2.8 m / s are associated with the driving state parameter—zero, while greater speeds are used directly as driving state parameters.

[0032] As in the case of dizziness, the smaller the acceleration, the lower the risk. Therefore, another driving state parameter can be obtained directly from the acceleration sensor 5. Similar to the speed, the various ranges can also be weighted differently, so that for example for speeds below 2 m / s 2 For an acceleration of 0, the driving state parameter takes a value of zero, and for a larger acceleration, the driving state parameter takes an actual acceleration value.

[0033] It is also possible to detect how long the traffic jam assistant of vehicle 2 has been active. If the traffic jam assistant is active for a predefined time period (e.g. one to two minutes), the other driving state parameter is selected to be smaller than if the predefined time period has not been reached. If the traffic jam assistant is active for a long time, it can be assumed that vehicle 2 is no longer at the end of a traffic jam.

[0034] The red phase of the traffic light can be identified based on traffic sign recognition. If a red phase is identified, a timer is preferably activated. The larger the timer reading, i.e. the longer the duration of the red phase, the higher the other driving state parameter is selected, because the probability that the red phase ends and the vehicle 2 moves again increases. Therefore, the elapsed time, i.e. the current value of the timer, can be used directly as a driving state parameter.

[0035] All of these driving state parameters are preferably designed such that a smaller value of the respective driving state parameter indicates a lower risk when adjusting the seat. Obviously, the same is true for the previously calculated transition time, which also indicates that the smaller the transition time, the lower the risk. A risk measure is calculated 40 based on all driving state parameters and the transition time. This is done in particular by multiplying the driving state parameter by the transition time. Therefore, the overall risk of the desired seat adjustment can be estimated based on the risk measure.

[0036] If the risk measure is known, it is checked 70 whether the risk measure is below a predefined threshold value. If this is not the case, an error message is output 60. The error message informs the user that the risk of the desired seat adjustment is too great and cannot be performed at the moment. Furthermore, the user is informed in particular to wait until the risk of the seat adjustment is reduced. Therefore, the steps of determining 30 the at least one current driving state parameter and calculating 40 the risk measure and the step of checking 70 are repeated. This repetition is carried out until the risk measure is below the predefined threshold value. As soon as the risk measure is below the threshold value, the seat adjustment unit 4 is actuated 50 to switch the vehicle seat 3 to the target seat setting.

[0037] The predefined threshold may be the same for all target seat settings. Alternatively, the threshold may be different for at least two different target seat settings. This allows different seat positions to be treated differently.

[0038] Overall, the method allows a very detailed risk assessment. Thus, a very clear distinction can be made between rejecting a seat adjustment and carrying out a seat adjustment, thereby preventing the specification of large tolerance ranges that unnecessarily reject a seat adjustment. Thus, the comfort of the vehicle user is maximized.

Claims

1. A method for converting a vehicle seat (3) of a vehicle (2) from an actual seat setting to a target seat setting, comprising the following steps: detecting (10) said target seat setting of a vehicle seat (3) and said actual seat setting of a vehicle seat, calculating (20) a transition time required to transition the vehicle seat (3) from the actual seat setting to the target seat setting, determining (30) at least one current driving state parameter of the vehicle (2), the current driving state parameter describing a current driving state of the vehicle (2), Calculating (40) a risk metric based on the transition time and the driving state parameter, and Once the risk measure is below a predefined threshold, actuating (50) a seat adjustment unit (4) to switch the vehicle seat (3) to the target seat setting.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The step of outputting (60) an error message if the risk measure is not below the predefined threshold.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The steps of determining (30) the at least one current driving state parameter and calculating (40) the risk measure are repeatedly performed until the risk measure is less than the predefined threshold value, so as to then perform the step of manipulating (50) the seat adjustment unit (4).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that The risk metric is calculated (40) by multiplying the at least one driving state parameter by the transition time.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that The driving state parameter maps the current speed of the vehicle (2) and / or the current acceleration of the vehicle (2) and / or the current traffic sign condition and / or the current traffic congestion condition.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that The predefined threshold is different for at least two different target seat settings.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that The target seat setting comprises a target position of a steering wheel and / or a pedal assembly of the vehicle (2), wherein in the step of actuating (50) an adjustment unit is actuated to adjust the position of the steering wheel and / or the pedal assembly.

8. Computer program product designed to carry out the method according to any of the preceding claims.

9. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program product according to claim 8. 10 . A control device ( 1 ) of a vehicle ( 2 ), the control device being designed to carry out the method according to claim 1 .

11. A vehicle (2) having a control device (1) according to claim 10, wherein: The vehicle is designed for an autonomous driving operation and / or an automated driving operation.

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