A method for controlling a front passenger seat of a three-door four-seat vehicle and an electronic control unit

Abstract

The application discloses a method for controlling a co-driver seat of a three-door four-seat vehicle, and an electronic control unit, and the method comprises the following steps: in response to a function start signal transmitted by a co-driver seat controller, acquiring current driving state data and co-driver seat occupancy state data of the vehicle; determining whether the vehicle is in a driving state and whether the co-driver has a passenger; if the vehicle is not in the driving state and the co-driver does not have the passenger, feeding back a function enable signal to the co-driver seat controller, so that the co-driver seat controller controls adjustment of a co-driver seat position and / or a co-driver seat backrest. The application can improve the convenience of seat adjustment while ensuring the safety of passengers and driving.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of electric vehicle technology, and particularly relates to a method for controlling the passenger seat of a three-door, four-seat vehicle, an electronic control unit, a passenger seat controller, a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program product. Background Technology

[0002] The statements in this section are merely background information related to the present invention and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] Small cars are gaining increasing attention and popularity due to their compact and stylish appearance, as well as their convenience in urban environments, especially in congested traffic. For three-door, four-seater cars, a typical small car, the ease of entry and exit for rear passengers is a key technical challenge. Currently, to improve this, most three-door, four-seater cars on the market have developed manual adjustment functions for the front passenger seat. By manually adjusting the fore-and-aft position and backrest angle, sufficient space is provided for passengers to enter the rear seats from the front door. However, to prevent the front passenger seat back from obstructing the driver's view, it needs to be moved backward before driving, and manually adjusted again when rear passengers need to exit. This process is cumbersome and time-consuming. To improve the user experience, electric adjustment functions (quick-in / quick-out functions) have also emerged, allowing for one-button seat adjustment. However, the target adjustment parameters for this method cannot be modified once manufactured, making it unsuitable for different user needs and posing safety hazards. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a method for controlling the passenger seat of a three-door, four-seat automobile, an electronic control unit, a passenger seat controller, a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program product.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling the passenger seat of a three-door, four-seat automobile, applied to an electronic control unit, comprising the following steps:

[0006] In response to the function activation signal transmitted by the passenger seat controller, the vehicle's current driving status data and passenger seat occupancy status data are obtained.

[0007] The system determines whether the vehicle is in motion and whether there is a passenger in the front passenger seat. If the vehicle is not in motion and there is no passenger in the front passenger seat, it sends a function enable signal to the front passenger seat controller, enabling the front passenger seat controller to control the position of the front passenger seat and / or the adjustment of the front passenger seat backrest.

[0008] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the driving status data is acquired via a vehicle speed sensor.

[0009] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the passenger seat occupancy status data is acquired via a seat occupancy sensor and / or a seatbelt microswitch.

[0010] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling the passenger seat of a three-door, four-seat vehicle, applied to a passenger seat controller, comprising the following steps:

[0011] In response to the function activation signal transmitted by the function trigger switch, the function activation signal is sent to the electronic control unit to determine whether the current vehicle can perform this function;

[0012] In response to the function enable signal fed back by the electronic control unit, the current position and backrest angle of the passenger seat are obtained, and the position and / or backrest of the passenger seat are adjusted based on the preset target seat adjustment parameters.

[0013] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the preset target seat adjustment parameters are obtained through learning: acquiring the motor torque of the seat movement drive mechanism and the backrest rotation drive mechanism at each iteration, and calculating the target seat position and backrest angle.

[0014] In a third aspect, the present invention provides an electronic control unit connected to a passenger seat controller, comprising:

[0015] The vehicle status acquisition module is configured to acquire the current driving status data and passenger seat occupancy status data in response to the function activation signal transmitted by the passenger seat controller.

[0016] The function enable judgment module is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in motion and whether there is a passenger in the front passenger seat. If the vehicle is not in motion and there is no passenger in the front passenger seat, it sends a function enable signal to the front passenger seat controller, so that the front passenger seat controller controls the adjustment of the front passenger seat position and / or the front passenger seat backrest.

[0017] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the driving status data is acquired via a vehicle speed sensor.

[0018] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the passenger seat occupancy status data is acquired via a seat occupancy sensor and / or a seatbelt microswitch.

[0019] In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a passenger seat controller connected to an electronic control unit, comprising:

[0020] The function enable request module is configured to send a function enable signal to the electronic control unit in response to a function trigger switch, so as to determine whether the current vehicle can perform this function.

[0021] The seat adjustment control module is configured to respond to the function enable signal fed back by the electronic control unit, obtain the current position and backrest angle of the passenger seat, and adjust the position and / or backrest of the passenger seat based on preset target seat adjustment parameters.

[0022] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the preset target seat adjustment parameters are obtained through learning: acquiring the motor torque of the seat movement drive mechanism and the backrest rotation drive mechanism at each iteration, and calculating the target seat position and backrest angle.

[0023] In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, implements the aforementioned method for controlling the passenger seat of a three-door, four-seat automobile.

[0024] In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a computer program product comprising a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the passenger seat control method applied to a three-door, four-seat automobile.

[0025] The above one or more technical solutions have the following beneficial effects:

[0026] While the automatic quick-in / quick-out function brings convenience, it also poses certain risks. To prevent accidental operation of the function trigger button from affecting the front passenger or obstructing the driver's view due to the forward-leaning seat back, thus affecting safe driving, the quick-in / quick-out function is restricted by setting a function enable judgment process. The electronic control unit determines whether the seat can be adjusted based on the current driving status and the occupancy status of the front passenger seat, thereby improving the safety of this function.

[0027] By learning the adjustment parameters of the front passenger seat applicable to the current user and storing them in the front passenger seat controller, the system enables adaptive adjustment of parameters for different users, thereby improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the method steps executed by the electronic control unit in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the method steps executed by the passenger seat controller in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the installation position of the passenger seat controller in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the seatbelt buckle assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fast forward / fast out function buttons and their positions in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0034] It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and intended to provide further illustration of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0035] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of exemplary embodiments according to the invention. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0036] Where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0037] Currently, for three-door, four-seater cars on the market, a sliding track is installed under the front passenger seat to facilitate passenger access to the rear seats. This allows the front passenger seat to be moved forward as much as possible before adjusting the backrest, creating enough space for passengers to enter. The process is repeated when exiting the vehicle. For even greater convenience and a better user experience, some automakers offer electric options with a function trigger switch on the front passenger seat. Pressing the switch automatically moves the front passenger seat. However, parameters such as the amount of forward displacement are fixed at the factory and cannot be changed. This may not accommodate passengers of different body types, and manual adjustment may still be necessary.

[0038] Furthermore, the current methods for adjusting the front passenger seat are not safe enough. They can be adjusted at any time, such as with electric controls. If there is a misoperation, such as accidentally activating a function switch while driving, the front passenger seat will move forward and fold down. This could potentially injure the passenger in the front passenger seat. In addition, the forward-folding backrest can obstruct the driver's view, which is detrimental to safe driving.

[0039] To address the above technical problems, this embodiment discloses a passenger seat control system for a three-door, four-seat vehicle, such as... Figure 1As shown, the system includes an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), and connected to the ECU are a passenger seat controller, a seatbelt buckle assembly, a seat occupancy sensor, and a vehicle speed sensor. The passenger seat controller also connects to a function trigger switch, a seat movement mechanism, and a seat back adjustment structure.

[0040] In some embodiments, the seatbelt buckle assembly includes a microswitch disposed within the buckle, the microswitch being connected to the electronic control unit. When the seatbelt is inserted into or removed from the buckle, the microswitch sends an open / close signal to the electronic control unit to indicate whether the front passenger's seatbelt is inserted, thereby determining whether there is a passenger in the front passenger's seat.

[0041] In some embodiments, the seat occupancy sensor uses an SBR sensor to detect whether there is a passenger in the seat. This is typically used to remind the driver or occupants to wear seatbelts while the vehicle is in motion. The SBR sensor is a thin-film contact sensor, usually installed under the seat, either between the seat cover and foam (A-side sensor) or between the seat foam and seat frame (B-side sensor). The sensor's contacts are evenly distributed on the pressure-bearing surface of the seat, generating a trigger signal when the seat is subjected to external pressure.

[0042] The passenger seat controller is located within the passenger seat. In some embodiments, the passenger seat controller may be in the form of a control box, embedded within the passenger seat, and its core component is a microcontroller, i.e., an integrated circuit chip, which can set the seat control parameters through a program. Those skilled in the art will understand that the passenger seat controller can use any commercially available microcontroller capable of performing the above functions, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0043] In some embodiments, the seat moving mechanism includes at least a lower slide rail fixed to the vehicle floor, an upper slide rail connected to the seat and adapted to the lower slide rail, and a movement drive mechanism for controlling the movement of the upper slide rail relative to the lower slide rail. The seat moving mechanism is connected to the passenger seat controller via the movement drive mechanism. By controlling the movement of the upper slide rail relative to the lower slide rail, the seat position is adjusted. Furthermore, the moving mechanism includes a locking mechanism for locking the position of the upper slide rail relative to the lower slide rail when the seat is moved to the desired position. Those skilled in the art will understand the above-described configuration of the moving mechanism.

[0044] In some embodiments, the seat back adjustment structure includes at least a rotating mechanism that enables the backrest to rotate, and a rotating drive mechanism. The seat back adjustment structure is connected to the passenger seat controller via the rotating drive mechanism.

[0045] The function trigger switch, which controls the adjustment of the front passenger seat, is used to control the activation and deactivation of the function and transmits a function activation or deactivation signal to the front passenger seat controller. In some embodiments, the function trigger switch is located on the side of the front passenger seat back in the form of a button or knob. Furthermore, for function indication purposes, the outer surface of the function trigger switch can be marked with information such as "easy enter" to make the function of the button easily known to the passenger. Graphical representations of the seat adjustment and reset buttons can also be used, such as... Figure 2 As shown.

[0046] To enhance safety and prevent accidental operation of the function trigger button from affecting the front passenger or obstructing the driver's view due to a forward-leaning seat back, some embodiments include a function enable judgment process. When the front passenger seat controller receives a signal indicating that the function trigger switch has been activated, it first sends the signal to the electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU then determines, based on the current driving conditions and the front passenger seat's occupancy status, whether the conditions for seat adjustment are met. If the conditions are met, the ECU sends a function enable signal back to the front passenger seat controller, which then controls the seat to adjust its position and posture.

[0047] Specifically, the passenger seat controller is configured as follows:

[0048] In response to the function activation signal transmitted by the function trigger switch, the function activation signal is sent to the electronic control unit;

[0049] In response to the function enable signal fed back by the electronic control unit, the current position and backrest angle of the passenger seat are obtained, and the position and / or backrest of the passenger seat are adjusted based on the preset target seat adjustment parameters.

[0050] To ensure that the adjusted seat space can accommodate passengers of various body types and improve user experience, in some embodiments, the preset seat adjustment parameters are learned and stored in the passenger seat controller. Specifically, the motor torques of the moving and rotating drive mechanisms are acquired to calculate the target seat position and backrest angle. For example, when the vehicle is first used, the initial seat adjustment parameters may not suit the user's height and body type. The user may then manually make minor adjustments based on the automatically adjusted position. After the vehicle has been used for a period of time, the motor torques of the moving and rotating drive mechanisms are acquired to obtain a seat position suitable for the user to easily enter and exit. This allows for the learning of the target seat position and backrest angle, which is then stored. Specifically, the target position can be the average or maximum value of the previous positions, without limitation.

[0051] In this way, as long as the passenger presses the function trigger switch, the front passenger seat controller will receive the instruction, retrieve the stored learned position, and realize the function. Moreover, no matter what position the front passenger is in, the seat can be adjusted to the target position and the backrest can be adjusted to the target angle.

[0052] The electronic control unit is configured as follows:

[0053] In response to the function activation signal transmitted by the passenger seat controller, the vehicle's current driving status data and passenger seat occupancy status data are obtained.

[0054] The system determines whether the vehicle is in motion and whether there is a passenger in the front passenger seat. If the vehicle is not in motion and there is no passenger in the front passenger seat, it sends a function enable signal to the front passenger seat controller.

[0055] In some embodiments, a seatbelt microswitch is used to determine whether there is a passenger in the front passenger seat; when the seatbelt is fastened, it is determined that there is a passenger in the front passenger seat.

[0056] In some embodiments, a seat occupancy sensor is used to determine whether there is a passenger in the front passenger seat. When the seat occupancy sensor detects a load of ≥45kg, it is determined that there is a passenger in the front passenger seat.

[0057] Considering that the seat belt may be inserted even when there is no passenger in the front passenger seat, and that the seat occupancy sensor may also make a mistake, the above-mentioned methods of using seat belt micro switches or seat occupancy sensors may lead to false judgments. In order to avoid false judgments as much as possible, some embodiments adopt a method of using both to make judgments. That is, when the seat belt micro switch or the seat occupancy sensor determines that there is a passenger, it is considered that there is a passenger.

[0058] The driving status data is acquired through a vehicle speed sensor. In some embodiments, a vehicle speed greater than zero is considered to be in a driving state. In some embodiments, in certain scenarios, such as when the vehicle is about to stop and rear passengers are preparing to get off, the vehicle may not have come to a complete stop, but the front passenger seat can be adjusted to prepare for getting off. Therefore, a relatively small speed can be set, for example, a vehicle speed ≥ 25 km / h is considered to be in a driving state.

[0059] Embodiments of the present invention also provide an electronic control unit, which is connected to a passenger seat controller and includes:

[0060] The vehicle status acquisition module is configured to acquire the current driving status data and passenger seat occupancy status data in response to the function activation signal transmitted by the passenger seat controller.

[0061] The function enable judgment module is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in motion and whether there is a passenger in the front passenger seat. If the vehicle is not in motion and there is no passenger in the front passenger seat, it sends a function enable signal to the front passenger seat controller, so that the front passenger seat controller controls the adjustment of the front passenger seat position and / or the front passenger seat backrest.

[0062] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a passenger seat controller, which is connected to an electronic control unit and includes:

[0063] The function enable request module is configured to send a function enable signal to the electronic control unit in response to a function trigger switch, so as to determine whether the current vehicle can perform this function.

[0064] The seat adjustment control module is configured to respond to the function enable signal fed back by the electronic control unit, obtain the current position and backrest angle of the passenger seat, and adjust the position and / or backrest of the passenger seat based on preset target seat adjustment parameters.

[0065] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods and functions related to the electronic control unit or passenger seat controller connection in any of the above embodiments.

[0066] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the methods and functions relating to the electronic control unit or the passenger seat controller in any of the above embodiments.

[0067] A computer-readable medium can be any tangible medium that contains or stores a program for or relating to an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. A computer-readable medium can be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable medium can be, but is not limited to, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems, apparatus, or devices, or any suitable combination thereof. More detailed examples of computer-readable storage media include electrical connections with one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0068] Since the functions provided in one or more of the above embodiments may experience intermittent failures, some embodiments also provide a rapid troubleshooting method for the failure of the above control method, including:

[0069] (1) Check whether the seat belt is fastened and determine whether there is a passenger in the front passenger seat and whether the passenger protection mechanism is in effect.

[0070] (2) Check if the door has been open for more than the set time (e.g., 5 minutes). If it has, the door will automatically enter the sleep protection mechanism and the quick-in and quick-out function will be unavailable.

[0071] (3) Check whether the functions can be restored to normal after the vehicle is powered off. Specifically, the passenger seat controller can be set to reset after the vehicle is powered off to restore normal operation.

[0072] If the lock fails when no one is seated and the latch is not engaged, check the diagnostic data and perform diagnostic data stream analysis. The problem can be categorized into three cases:

[0073] If the seatbelt buckle is not actually inserted but is determined to be inserted, the buckle is considered faulty.

[0074] If no one is actually sitting in the vehicle but a passenger is detected, the SBR (Self-Propelled Boot and Receiver) is faulty.

[0075] External inspection: Check for any liquid (such as milk or beverage) seeping into the latch. Observe for any shaking or intermittent pauses when adjusting the seat position and angle. If this occurs, it indicates a loss of the motor Hall signal or motor damage. Check the wiring harness for damage and whether the Hall signal of the movement or rotation drive motor is short-circuited to ground or open-circuited (short-circuited to the battery). If the motor Hall component is determined to be faulty, possible faults include damage to the motor Hall component, loose connection of the motor Hall connector pins, or damage to the module's Hall sensor components. In cases of damage to components such as the control box, switch, or motor, replacing the corresponding parts and relearning and recording the position allows for reuse, reducing maintenance costs.

[0076] Various implementations of the present invention have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed implementations. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described implementations. The terminology used herein is chosen to well explain the principles, practical applications, or improvements to technology in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the various implementations disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the front passenger seat in a three-door, four-seat automobile, applied to an electronic control unit, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: In response to the function activation signal transmitted by the passenger seat controller, the vehicle's current driving status data and passenger seat occupancy status data are obtained. The system determines whether the vehicle is in motion and whether there is a passenger in the front passenger seat. If the vehicle is not in motion and there is no passenger in the front passenger seat, it sends a function enable signal to the front passenger seat controller, enabling the front passenger seat controller to control the position of the front passenger seat and / or the adjustment of the front passenger seat back. The control method is applied to the passenger seat controller and includes the following steps: In response to the function activation signal transmitted by the function trigger switch, the function activation signal is sent to the electronic control unit to determine whether the current vehicle can perform this function; In response to the function enable signal fed back by the electronic control unit, the current position and backrest angle of the passenger seat are obtained, and the position and / or backrest of the passenger seat are adjusted based on the preset target seat adjustment parameters; The preset target seat adjustment parameters are obtained through learning: the motor torque of the seat movement drive mechanism and the backrest rotation drive mechanism is obtained for each cycle, and the target seat position and backrest angle are calculated.

2. The passenger seat control method for a three-door, four-seat automobile as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The driving status data is acquired through a vehicle speed sensor.

3. The passenger seat control method for a three-door, four-seat automobile as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The passenger seat occupancy status data is obtained through a seat occupancy sensor and / or a seatbelt microswitch.

4. An electronic control unit, characterized in that, The method for controlling the passenger seat of a three-door, four-seat vehicle as described in any one of claims 1-3, connected to a passenger seat controller, includes: The vehicle status acquisition module is configured to acquire the current driving status data and passenger seat occupancy status data in response to the function activation signal transmitted by the passenger seat controller. The function enable judgment module is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in motion and whether there is a passenger in the front passenger seat. If the vehicle is not in motion and there is no passenger in the front passenger seat, it sends a function enable signal to the front passenger seat controller, so that the front passenger seat controller controls the adjustment of the front passenger seat position and / or the front passenger seat backrest.

5. The electronic control unit as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The driving status data is acquired through a vehicle speed sensor.

6. The electronic control unit as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The passenger seat occupancy status data is obtained through a seat occupancy sensor and / or a seatbelt microswitch.

7. A passenger seat controller, characterized in that, The method for controlling the passenger seat of a three-door, four-seat automobile, as described in any one of claims 1-3, is connected to an electronic control unit and includes: The function enable request module is configured to send a function enable signal to the electronic control unit in response to a function trigger switch, so as to determine whether the current vehicle can perform this function. The seat adjustment control module is configured to respond to the function enable signal fed back by the electronic control unit, obtain the current position and backrest angle of the passenger seat, and adjust the position of the passenger seat and / or the backrest of the passenger seat based on preset target seat adjustment parameters; The preset target seat adjustment parameters are obtained through learning: the motor torque of the seat movement drive mechanism and the backrest rotation drive mechanism is obtained for each cycle, and the target seat position and backrest angle are calculated.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When executed by the processor, the program implements the passenger seat control method for a three-door, four-seat automobile as described in any one of claims 1-3.

9. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the passenger seat control method for a three-door, four-seat automobile as described in any one of claims 1-3.

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