Vehicle seat with integrated weight detection portion

Abstract

The vehicle seat (1) comprises a seating part assembly (10), a floor assembly (13) carrying the seating part assembly (10), and a height adjustment device (12) for adjusting the distance between the seating part assembly (10) and the floor assembly (13) with a drive device (3). The vehicle seat further comprises a control system (14) coupled to the drive device (3), the control system being configured to perform the following steps: activating the drive device (3) in order to adjust the distance between the seating part assembly (10) and the floor assembly (13) in a first direction (R1); detecting a value of a parameter of the height adjustment device (12) and / or of the drive device (3) during adjustment in the first direction (R1); activating a drive device (3) for adjusting the distance between the seating part assembly (10) and the floor assembly (13) in a second direction (R2) opposite the first direction (R1); detecting a value of a parameter of the height adjustment device (12) and / or of the drive device (3) during adjustment in the second direction (R2); and ascertaining the weight acting on the seating part assembly (10) on the basis of the value of the detected parameter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The proposed solution relates to a vehicle seat, a system having a vehicle seat, a method, a corresponding computer program product and a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. Background Art

[0002] Some functions in current vehicles are based on the detection of seat occupancy. If the vehicle seat is occupied, the control mechanism in the vehicle often checks whether the corresponding seat belt has been fastened. In addition, the triggering of the airbag can also be linked to the seat occupancy. In some cases, these or other functions can be improved if not only whether the vehicle seat is occupied in any way is detected, but also the weight acting on the vehicle seat is indicated. Thus, for example, the warning for not fastening the seat belt can be cancelled when the vehicle seat is occupied by an object (for example, a bag) instead of a passenger. The triggering of the airbag can also be matched to the weight of the passenger in order to achieve an optimized restraining effect.

[0003] In practice, for example, so-called bladder mats or piezoelectric elements can be embedded in the seat part in order to detect the seat occupancy and perform an approximate weight detection. However, such components require installation space and, in addition, additional cable routing makes production more expensive.

[0004] DE 10 2006 061 669 A1 describes a method for determining information about the occupied weight of a vehicle seat, wherein a seat element of the vehicle seat can be adjusted by means of a drive unit, the method comprising the following steps: providing at least one measurement signal representing the state of the drive unit; actuating the drive unit for at least one predetermined time period; during the actuated time, detecting the measurement signal, determining a load torque from the measurement signal according to a motor model; and determining information about the occupied weight of the seat element as a function of the load torque. The electric drive unit can be designed for adjusting the seat height. However, it has been shown that the accuracy of the measurement should be improved.

[0005] DE 10 2017 217 331 A1 describes a method for operating an electric motor massage device, in particular for a seat of a motor vehicle, the massage device comprising a massage drive with an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is energized, the torque of the electric motor is detected and a reference value is determined therefrom, and the occupancy of at least one section of the seat is determined using the reference value.

[0006] DE 103 35 734 A1 relates to a method for detecting seat occupancy in a motor vehicle having at least one servomotor for adjusting a seat. The electrical power input for one or more servomotors for adjusting the seat is detected during the activation of the servomotors and evaluated as a measure of seat occupancy. However, the accuracy of this measurement can also be improved. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to improve the weight detection in a vehicle seat.

[0008] This object is achieved by the subject matter having the features of claim 1 .

[0009] According to the invention, the vehicle seat comprises a seating component, a floor component carrying the seating component, and a height adjustment device for adjusting the distance between the seating component and the floor component by means of a drive device. It is provided that the vehicle seat further comprises a control system connected to the drive device in terms of control technology, and the control system is configured to perform the following steps: activating the drive device to adjust (e.g., increase or decrease) the distance between the seating component and the floor component in a first direction (e.g., upward or downward); detecting the value of a parameter of the height adjustment device and / or the drive device when adjusting in the first direction; activating the drive device to adjust (e.g., decrease or increase) the distance between the seating component and the floor component in a second direction opposite to the first direction (e.g., downward or upward, respectively); detecting the value of a parameter of the height adjustment device and / or the drive device when adjusting in the second direction; and determining the weight acting on the seating component based on the detected value of the parameter.

[0010] This is based on the idea that the height adjustment motor generates a torque by adjustment, which corresponds to an electric current. This electric current can be measured by a control system (which can include electronics arranged at the vehicle seat and / or a central vehicle control system) and used to evaluate the load increase. The described solution is also based on the recognition that friction and tolerances can impede the accuracy of the weight measurement, but that measurement in both adjustment directions allows these influences to be eliminated. As a result, a particularly precise weight determination can be achieved with an extremely simple design.

[0011] The parameter can be an electrical parameter, in particular current intensity, voltage or power. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the parameter describes the torque. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the parameter describes the speed (for example, of the drive device), in particular the maximum speed reached during adjustment. These parameters allow, for example, simple conversion to weight by means of conversion rules and / or tables (lookup tables, LUTs). The parameter can particularly relate to one or more drive motors of the drive device. The control system can optionally be set up to increase the voltage and / or current intensity of the drive device (for each direction in two directions) from a starting value (for example, zero) until a component of the height adjustment device, in particular the drive motor of the drive device, starts to move from a stationary state. The value of the parameter is then, for example, the value of the current intensity or the voltage reached. The control system can also be set up to stop the drive device once the drive device records the movement. Therefore, the weight measurement can be achieved with only the smallest movement. The adjustment in the first and second directions is therefore only minimal and will hardly or will not be noticed by the seat user.

[0012] Furthermore, it can be provided that the parameter specifies the adjustment path passed within a certain (especially predetermined) time, in particular the length of this adjustment path, or the adjustment time required for a certain (especially predetermined) adjustment path. These parameters also allow a simple conversion into weight, for example by means of conversion rules and / or LUTs.

[0013] It may be advantageous if the control system is set up such that at least one value of the parameter in the first direction (R1) and / or in the second direction (R2) is detected within a period of one complete rotation of the transmission stage of the height adjustment device and / or the drive device. Inhomogeneities caused by transmission modulation can thus be compensated, so that a more accurate result can be achieved.

[0014] The control system can be configured to activate the drive device in the first direction and in the second direction for a predetermined time and / or for a predetermined adjustment path (measured, for example, by the number of motor revolutions). Thus, for example, the power for a predetermined adjustment path or a predetermined adjustment time can be determined and used to determine the weight.

[0015] The drive device can be activated at different adjustment speeds. In other words, the drive device can achieve a variable adjustment speed. The control system is, for example, set up to send the adjustment speed to the drive device with a signal. In addition, the drive device can have a maximum adjustment speed. When adjusting the seat height, the drive device runs, for example, at the maximum adjustment speed. The control system can be set up to activate the drive device in the first direction at an adjustment speed and then in the second direction at this (or another) adjustment speed, which is (respectively) less than the maximum adjustment speed. This makes the weight measurement process not disturb the seat user. The adjustment speed can be (respectively) less than or equal to 50% of the maximum adjustment speed, optionally less than or equal to 10% of the maximum adjustment speed or even less than or equal to 1% of the maximum adjustment speed, so that the adjustment is almost no longer perceptible. If the drive device has a minimum adjustment speed at which it can run, the control system can be set up to activate the drive device in the first direction at this minimum adjustment speed and then in the second direction at this (or one) minimum adjustment speed. The measurement can then be regarded as quasi-static.

[0016] The control system can have a storage medium in which, for example, a model is stored, which assigns a corresponding value of the acting weight to the value of the parameter, in particular to each possible value of the parameter. With the aid of this model (for example in the form of a LUT), the weight can be learned in a particularly simple manner. The model can also be a machine learning model, which is trained, for example, with different weight loads.

[0017] The model optionally assigns a value of a parameter (in particular each possible value of the parameter) to a value of a weight acting in each of a plurality of possible setting positions of the height adjustment device. It is thus possible to take into account that, due to the kinematics of the height adjustment device, not all the same torques are required for adjustment in each setting position.

[0018] The model optionally assigns the value of the parameter (in particular each possible value of the parameter) to the value of the weight acting on the one hand with reference to the adjustment in the first direction and on the other hand with reference to the adjustment in the second direction (independently of each other). The accuracy of the measurement can thus be further improved.

[0019] The control system is, for example, configured to determine the weight acting on the basis of the value of the parameter detected for the first direction and on the basis of the value of the parameter detected for the second direction, respectively. The control system is optionally further configured to determine the weight acting on the seating part component 10 from the two weight values ​​thus obtained, i.e. to form an average value in particular. In this case, a weighted average value can be formed in particular, for which each of the two individual values ​​is multiplied by a weighting factor.

[0020] Parameters can be detected for the drive motors of the drive device. The drive device can optionally include multiple drive motors. The control system can be set up to detect the value of the parameter for each of the multiple drive motors during adjustment and to determine the weight acting on the riding part component based on the detected values ​​of the parameters of the multiple drive motors. To this end, the values ​​of the parameters for the drive motors can be added and the weight can then be determined based on the added values. Alternatively, the corresponding weight acting on the riding part component can be determined separately for each drive motor and then, for example, an average value can be formed therefrom. As described above, the adjustment in the first direction is first performed and then the adjustment in the second direction is performed. The measured values ​​of the multiple drive motors can further improve the accuracy of the determined weight.

[0021] The control system can be configured to detect the value of the parameter for calibration purposes when no weight acts on the vehicle seat. This can be done in the manner described above, i.e. by activating the drive device to adjust the distance between the seating component and the floor component in a first direction and detecting the value of the parameter of the drive device when adjusting in the first direction; and activating the drive device to adjust the distance between the seating component and the floor component in a second direction and detecting the value of the parameter of the drive device when adjusting in the second direction. Since the weight acting on the seating component is known (0 kg), the detected value is stored as a reference and / or used to calibrate, for example, a model. By means of calibration, it is possible to correct for effects due to aging, such as changes in friction, efficiency, etc. during the service life of the vehicle seat.

[0022] The control system can optionally be configured to automatically repeat the calibration after predetermined time intervals. This allows a consistently high degree of accuracy in the weight determination.

[0023] The drive device, in particular each of the plurality of drive devices, can (in each case) comprise a brushless DC motor. Such a motor allows a particularly good adjustment of the adjustment speed by adjusting the rotational speed. The adjustment speed can usually be measured via the rotational speed.

[0024] The control system is optionally configured to acquire data about the seat occupancy of the vehicle seat from a camera or other detection device, such as a radar. The data may be a camera image or other data, which the control system evaluates, for example, in order to determine the size of a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat and / or the positioning of the passenger on the vehicle seat. These data may be used together with the determined weight. Furthermore, the determined weight may be corrected based on the seat occupancy data, for example the positioning of the passenger on the vehicle seat may be used to correct a measured (under) weight.

[0025] According to an advantageous further development, the control system can be designed to take into account the vehicle inclination when determining the weight acting on the seating component. Since the inclination of the vehicle in which the vehicle seat is installed can have an influence on the weight determination, an erroneous weight determination can occur from an excessively large vehicle inclination. In order to avoid this, the vehicle inclination can be taken into account as a further input variable.

[0026] According to an advantageous further development, the control system can be designed to take the temperature into account when determining the weight acting on the seating part component. The temperature can influence certain material properties of the height adjustment device and / or the drive device, in particular of the components, since large temperature fluctuations can also prevent the weight from being determined. In order to avoid this, the temperature can be taken into account as an additional input variable. This can be, for example, the temperature in the vehicle interior.

[0027] According to an advantageous further development, the control system can be designed to take into account the settings of other seat adjustment devices, in particular for adjusting the backrest angle and / or the seat inclination, when determining the weight acting on the seating component. In order to determine the specific weight, it may be important to load the seat at the same location. The center of gravity of the load on the seat can be influenced, for example, by the settings of other seat adjustment devices. Therefore, in order to determine an even more accurate measurement result for the weight acting on the vehicle seat, it may be appropriate to take into account the settings of other seat adjustment devices as additional input variables.

[0028] In order to be able to better prevent erroneous weight measurements, it can be provided that the control system is set up to detect whether the vehicle seat and / or a passenger sitting thereon has moved due to another force action, in particular a force action that is independent of the height adjustment device and / or the drive device, during the detection of at least one value of a parameter of the height adjustment device and / or the drive device in the first direction and / or in the second direction. This can preferably be provided in such a way that an analysis of the current profile can be taken into account or taken into account. In particular, the detection of at least one value of a parameter of the height adjustment device and / or the drive device can be repeated and / or the previously detected value of the parameter can be discarded when a movement due to another force action is detected.

[0029] According to an improved design, the control system can include a memory in which a model is stored in a callable manner, which model establishes at least one correlation between the weight acting on the seating component and the position of the input value adjuster and the value of the measured parameter. The model can include input variables, such as the input variables described above in this article. The model can be used to determine the weight acting on the seating component. The more input variables are taken into account, the more accurate the weight measurement result can be.

[0030] The aforementioned features can also be used to expand the design of the methods and / or systems described and / or claimed in this document.

[0031] According to one aspect, a system is provided, which includes a vehicle seat according to any of the embodiments described herein and a camera and / or other detection device.

[0032] According to a further development of the system, it can be provided that the system comprises a measuring device for measuring the adjustment of further seat adjustment devices, in particular for adjusting the backrest angle and / or the seat inclination.

[0033] According to one aspect, a computer-implemented method for determining the weight acting on a vehicle seat, in particular a vehicle seat according to any one of the designs described herein, is also provided. The method comprises the following steps: activating a drive device of a height adjustment device of the vehicle seat to adjust the distance between a seating part component and a floor component of the vehicle seat in a first direction; detecting the value of a parameter of the drive device when adjusting in the first direction; activating a drive device of a height adjustment device of the vehicle seat to adjust the distance between a seating part component and a floor component of the vehicle seat in a second direction opposite to the first direction; detecting the value of a parameter of the drive device when adjusting in the second direction; and determining the weight acting on the seating part component based on the value of the detected parameter. With regard to the advantages, reference may be made to the above description of the vehicle seat.

[0034] The method may include steps according to different designs of the control system described above.

[0035] According to one aspect, a computer program product is described, which includes instructions which, when executed by one or more computers (eg in the form of the control system described above), cause the one or more computers to perform the above-described method.

[0036] According to one aspect, a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium is described, on which instructions are stored, which when executed by one or more computers (eg, in the form of the control system described above) cause the one or more computers to perform the above-described method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The idea underlying the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle seat with a height adjustment device, which is carried by a floor component, wherein the floor component is designed, for example, in the form of a longitudinal adjustment device;

[0039] Figure 2 A view showing a seating portion assembly of a vehicle seat;

[0040] Figure 3 Shows the Figure 2 A top view of the arrangement;

[0041] Figure 4 Shows the Figure 2 a partial enlarged view of the arrangement of , showing the drive device at the pivot element for connecting the seating portion assembly with the floor assembly in the form of a longitudinal adjustment device;

[0042] Figure 5 Shows the Figure 1 an alternative design of drive device for a vehicle seat; and

[0043] Figure 6 Shows the method for knowing the effect of pressing Figure 1 Method of measuring the weight on the vehicle seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Figure 1 A vehicle seat 1 is shown, which can be arranged in a vehicle, for example, as a front seat or also as a rear seat in a second or third seat row. The vehicle seat 1 has a seating subassembly 10, on which a backrest subassembly 11 is arranged so as to be adjustable in inclination and which is connected via a height adjustment device 12 to a floor assembly 13 in the form of a longitudinal adjustment device for longitudinally adjusting the vehicle seat 1 along a longitudinal direction X.

[0045] The longitudinal adjustment device 13 is usually composed of Figure 1 Combination Figure 2 and 3 As can be seen, there are two pairs of guide rails 130A, 131A, 130B, 131B, which are arranged at one side of the seating part assembly 10 and are spaced apart from each other along a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The lower guide rails 131A, 131B are firmly connected to the vehicle floor 2. The upper guide rails 130A, 130B are correspondingly coupled to the pivot elements 120A, 121A, 120B, 121B of the height adjustment device 12, and the floor assembly 13 is connected to the seating part assembly 10 via the pivot elements.

[0046] The pivot elements 120A, 121A, 120B, 121B together with the upper guide rails 130A, 130B and the lateral frame parts 100A, 100B of the seating part assembly 10 form two pairs of hinged four-bar mechanisms. For this purpose, the pivot elements 120A, 121A, 120B, 121B are pivotably connected with one end to the respectively assigned upper guide rails 130A, 130B and with the other end to the seating part assembly 10, for example, to a transverse tube 102 extending pivotably between the frame parts 100A, 100B of the seating part assembly 10 (or to another part of the seating part assembly 10), so that the height position of the seating part assembly 10 can be changed along the height direction Z (perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y) by pivoting the pivot elements 120A, 121A, 120B, 121B. In this case, the distance between the seating part component 10 and the floor component 13 changes. The height adjustment device 12 is therefore configured to adjust the distance between the seating part component 10 and the floor component 13. To facilitate the adjustment, the height adjustment device 12 comprises (at least) one drive device 3 (with one or more drive motors).

[0047] The floor assembly, here the longitudinal adjustment device 13 , carries the seating part assembly 10 .

[0048] The vehicle seat 1 further comprises a control system 14 which is coupled to the drive device 3 and is configured to carry out the following steps: - activating the drive device 3 to adjust the distance between the seating part assembly 10 and the floor assembly 13 in a first direction R1; - detecting the value of a parameter of the drive device 3 when adjusting in the first direction R1; - activating the drive device 3 to adjust the distance between the seating part assembly 10 and the floor assembly 13 in a second direction R2 opposite to the first direction R1; - detecting the value of a parameter of the drive device 3 when adjusted in the second direction R2; and - The weight acting on the seating component 10 is known based on the value of the detected parameter.

[0049] according to Figure 1 , an adjustment in the first direction R1 increases the distance between the seating part component 10 and the floor component 13, and an adjustment in the second direction R2 reduces the distance between the seating part component 10 and the floor component 13. In order to determine the weight, only a minimum adjustment travel is required, for example an adjustment travel of at least a few millimeters with respect to the distance between the seating part component 10 and the floor component 13, so that the seat user does not notice or hardly notices the measurement.

[0050] Optionally, the measurement can be performed a plurality of times, for example three times, in succession and an average value of the weights can be determined. This can further increase the accuracy.

[0051] The drive device 3 can be activated at different adjustment speeds and has a minimum and a maximum adjustment speed. The control system 14 is set up to activate the drive device 3 in the first direction R1 and then in the second direction R2 at the minimum adjustment speed, alternatively at an adjustment speed that is less than the maximum adjustment speed. The weight measurement is thus hardly or not at all perceptible to the seat user.

[0052] The parameter is an electrical parameter at present, namely the current intensity of the power supply line through at least one drive motor 31 of the drive device 3. Alternatively or additionally, for example, the applied power can also be used as a parameter. The current intensity corresponds to the torque of the drive device 3 (one drive motor or multiple drive motors). Depending on the size of the weight applied, for example, by the passenger, a predetermined adjustment stroke, a larger or smaller torque is applied by the drive device 3 to make adjustments. Therefore, the control system 14 can use the predetermined relationship between the current intensity (the upper level is a parameter) and the weight applied (if necessary, depending on the instantaneous adjustment position of the height adjustment device 12) to obtain the weight. By performing measurements in two adjustment directions R1, R2, inaccuracies that have different effects in different directions can be eliminated, for example, by averaging the weight values ​​(optionally weighted) obtained from the two directions R1, R2. Inaccuracies caused by friction, tolerances, wear, etc. can be eliminated by measuring the empty seat when the vehicle seat 1 is not occupied. For example, the difference in the current intensity during the downward empty seat measurement and the weight measurement after the seat is occupied downward is formed and multiplied by the first factor in order to determine the weight when the measurement is adjusted downward. In addition, the difference in the current intensity during the upward occupied seat weight measurement and the upward empty seat measurement (superior: value of the parameter) is formed and multiplied by the second factor in order to determine the weight when the measurement is adjusted upward. The first factor and the second factor can be different or the same. The weight is then determined, for example, by the sum of the two weight values.

[0053] The current intensity (superordinate: value of the parameter) for the respective direction can be determined as an average value over the control path. In this case, starting of the drive motor can optionally be excluded.

[0054] The parameter may also specify, for example, the maximum rotational speed achieved during adjustment, the adjustment path covered within a certain time or the adjustment time required for a certain adjustment path.

[0055] The predetermined relationship is stored, for example, in the storage medium 140. The relationship may be a model that assigns a value of the weight to each possible value of the current intensity. Since these relationships depend on the adjustment direction in the example shown, the model also assigns a value of the weight to each possible value of the current intensity independently of each other with reference to the adjustment in the first direction R1 and with reference to the adjustment in the second direction R2. And since these relationships also depend on the adjustment position in the example shown, the model assigns a value of the weight to each possible value of the current intensity at all possible adjustment positions of the height adjustment device 12. The model may include a LUT and / or a trained machine model.

[0056] In order to create a LUT and / or training data for a machine learning model, test objects with different known weights (e.g., 0 kg, 10 kg, 20 kg, 40 kg, and 80 kg, optionally with a finer division) can be placed on the ride component 10 and the values ​​of the parameters (especially at a plurality of adjustment positions) can be determined in the above-described manner. Thus, a table with factors can be determined, which table assigns a value of the weight to each value of the parameter (e.g., the current intensity) for each adjustment position. This table can be stored in a storage medium. Interpolation can be performed between every two entries in the table.

[0057] In order to correct changes in efficiency and changes due to friction etc., the control system 14 is designed to regularly perform calibration runs. In this case, the control system 14 is set up to detect the values ​​of the parameters for calibration when no weight acts on the vehicle seat 1 .

[0058] The camera 4 (or another detection device such as a radar) is directed at the vehicle seat 1 in order to detect the size and position of the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat in the camera image. The camera 4 is directly or indirectly connected to the control system 14 in communication, so that the control system 14 obtains data about the seat occupancy of the vehicle seat 1 from the camera 4. These data can exist in the form of a captured image or in the form of evaluated descriptions for weight, positioning, etc. By combining the known weight with the description for size and positioning, the seat occupancy can be detected particularly accurately. It is also possible to correct the weight that is incorrectly known, for example due to an offset sitting position. For this purpose, a correction table can be stored in a storage medium, which assigns correction factors to different sitting positions (for example, further forward, further back). Since passenger cameras are increasingly installed in modern vehicles, this measure can be implemented particularly simply. The control system 14 is configured to receive data about the seat occupancy based on the camera image, for example, via an interface provided for this purpose.

[0059] An exemplary embodiment of the height adjustment device 12 is explained in more detail below.

[0060] The frame parts 100A, 100B of the seating part assembly 10 are connected to one another at the rear ends by a transverse tube 102. The transverse tube 102 is pivotably mounted on the frame parts 100A, 100B in this example and carries the associated rear pivot elements 121A, 121B.

[0061] In the front region, a seat mounting plate 101 is arranged at the frame parts 100A, 100B to constitute a seating surface of the seating part assembly 10 .

[0062] In the embodiment shown, the drive device 3 of the height adjustment device 12 is arranged, for example, at the rear pivot element 121A on one side of the guide rail pair 130A, 131A, as shown by Figure 2 and 3 Combination Figure 4 The drive device 3 is designed as a screw drive and is used to introduce an adjustment force into the pivot element 121A, so that the pivot elements 120A, 121A, 120B, 121B are pivoted as a whole by the pivot element 121A and the height position of the seating part component 10 can be adjusted, that is, the distance between the seating part component 10 and the floor component 13 can be adjusted.

[0063] At the set seat height, the seating part component 10 is held in position at the pivot element 121A by the drive device 3. The drive device 3 is designed to be loadable for this purpose, so that the forces acting on the seating part component 10 can be absorbed and dissipated.

[0064] Reference now Figures 2 to 4 The drive device 3 has a spindle 30, which is pivotably connected with one end to an associated guide rail 130A via a bearing element.

[0065] The pivot element 121A is coupled to an attachment part connected to the guide rail 130A and is pivotably supported on the guide rail 130A via a bearing bolt.

[0066] The threaded rod 30 extends substantially vertically from the end connected to the guide rail 130A with a threaded column 300 on which an external thread is formed. The adjustment drive 32 is in operative connection with the threaded rod 30, so that the adjustment drive 32 can be driven longitudinally along the longitudinal extension direction L relative to the threaded rod 30 to change the length of the threaded rod 30 between the adjustment drive 32 and the end pivotably supported on the guide rail 130A and thereby introduce an adjustment force into the pivot element 121A and thus adjust the distance between the seating part assembly 10 and the floor assembly 13.

[0067] The adjustment mechanism 32 has a spindle nut and a drive element in the form of a drive worm, which is in toothed engagement with the outer toothing of the spindle nut via the worm toothing. The drive element is driven by the drive motor 31, so that the spindle nut can be rotated by the drive motor 31. The spindle nut is in threaded engagement with the outer thread of the screw 30 via the internal thread, so that the spindle nut is advanced and retreated on the screw 30 by rotation and is thus adjusted longitudinally along the longitudinal direction L relative to the screw 30.

[0068] The height adjustment device 12 optionally includes a further drive motor 31 which can be arranged, for example, mirror-symmetrically to the drive motor 31 at the rear pivot element 121B on one side of the guide rails 130B, 131B. Figure 3 Based on the values ​​of the current intensity of the two drive motors, the weight acting can be determined particularly accurately.

[0069] The drive motor 31 is a brushless direct current motor (BLDC motor), the speed and torque of which can be adjusted particularly precisely.

[0070] The adjusting mechanism 32 is pivotably mounted on the pivot element 121A. Therefore, during an adjusting movement in which the length of the section of the threaded rod 30 extending between the adjusting mechanism 32 and the rail-side end changes, the adjusting mechanism 32 is pivoted on the pivot element 121A in order to compensate for changes in the position of the pivot element 121A relative to the floor module 13 in this way.

[0071] The drive motor 31 is pivotably supported on the pivot element 121A via an adjustment gear 32. Therefore, when the pivot element 121A is pivoted, the drive motor 31 and the adjustment gear 32 as well as the pivot element 121A move together.

[0072] Figure 5 The example shows the Figure 1 The driving device of an alternative design of the vehicle seat has a driving motor 31 installed at the seating part assembly 10, and the driving motor drives a pinion 33 via a transmission mechanism. The pinion 33 meshes with a curved tooth segment 34, and the curved tooth segment is fixed at the upper guide rail 130A. In addition, the working method is as described above.

[0073] Figure 6 A method for a vehicle seat 1 is shown, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

[0074] Step S100 : activating the drive device 3 of the height adjustment device 12 of the vehicle seat 1 to adjust the distance between the seating part component 10 and the floor component 13 of the vehicle seat 1 in the first direction R1 .

[0075] Step S101 : Detecting the value of a parameter (eg, current intensity or torque) of the driving device 3 when adjusting in the first direction R1 .

[0076] Step S102: activating the driving device 3 to adjust the distance between the seating portion assembly 10 and the floor assembly 13 in a second direction R2 opposite to the first direction R1.

[0077] Step S103: Detecting the value of the parameter of the driving device 3 when adjusting in the second direction R2.

[0078] Step S104: The weight acting on the seating component is obtained based on the detected parameter value.

[0079] Optionally, the method cyclically starts again at step S100 , possibly with a (for example predetermined) delay between steps S104 and S100 .

[0080] With regard to the special configuration of the method, in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description of the control system 14 . The method may include corresponding method steps, which correspond to the above-described mode of operation of the control system 14 .

[0081] A computer program product is stored in the storage medium 140 , and includes instructions which, when executed by the control system 14 , cause the control system to perform the above-described method.

[0082] Reference numerals list

[0083] 1 Vehicle Seat

[0084] 10 Ride Parts

[0085] 100A, 100B frame part

[0086] 101 Seat mounting plate

[0087] 102 Cross pipe

[0088] 11 Backrest Parts

[0089] 12 Height adjustment device

[0090] 120A, 120B Pivoting element

[0091] 121A, 121B Pivoting element

[0092] 13 Floor assembly (longitudinal adjustment assembly)

[0093] 130A, 130B Guide Rails

[0094] 131A, 131B Guide Rails

[0095] 14 Control System

[0096] 140 Storage Media

[0097] 2 Vehicle Floor

[0098] 3 Drive equipment

[0099] 30 Screw

[0100] 300 Threaded Post

[0101] 31 Drive motor

[0102] 32 Adjust the transmission mechanism

[0103] 33 Small gear

[0104] 34 tooth segments

[0105] 4 Cameras

[0106] L longitudinal extension direction

[0107] R1, R2 Direction

[0108] X vertical direction

[0109] Y horizontal direction

[0110] Z height direction

Claims

1. A vehicle seat (1), comprising: – Ride Part Components (10), - a floor assembly (13) carrying the seating assembly (10), and - a height adjustment device (12) for adjusting the distance between the seating part assembly (10) and the floor assembly (13) by means of a drive device (3), It is characterized in that A control system (14) coupled to the drive device (3), the control system being configured to perform the following steps: • activating the driving device (3) to adjust the distance between the seating portion assembly (10) and the floor assembly (13) in a first direction (R1); • detecting values ​​of parameters of the height adjustment device (12) and / or the drive device (3) when adjusting in the first direction (R1); • activating the drive device (3) to adjust the distance between the seating portion assembly (10) and the floor assembly (13) in a second direction (R2) opposite to the first direction (R1); • detecting the value of a parameter of the height adjustment device (12) and / or the drive device (3) when adjusting in the second direction (R2); and • The weight acting on the riding part assembly (10) is known based on the value of the detected parameter.

2. The vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The parameter is an electrical parameter, in particular an electric current, a voltage or a power, and / or the parameter specifies a torque, and / or the parameter specifies a maximum rotational speed that can be achieved during the control.

3. The vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The parameter indicates the adjustment path that is covered within a certain time or the adjustment time required for a certain adjustment path.

4. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that At least one value of a parameter in the first direction (R1) and / or in the second direction (R2) is detected within a period of one complete rotation of the transmission stage of the height adjustment device (12) and / or the drive device (3).

5. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) is designed to activate the drive device (3) in the first direction (R1) and in the second direction (R2) for a predetermined time and / or over a predetermined adjustment path.

6. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The drive device (3) can be activated at different adjustment speeds and has a maximum adjustment speed, wherein the control system (14) is configured to activate the drive device (3) in the first direction (R1) and in the second direction (R2) at an adjustment speed that is less than the maximum adjustment speed, in particular at a minimum adjustment speed of the drive device (3).

7. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) has a storage medium (140) in which a model is stored, which assigns a value of an acting weight to each possible value of a parameter.

8. The vehicle seat (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The model assigns a value of the acting weight to each possible value of the parameter at a plurality of possible setting positions of the height adjustment device (12).

9. The vehicle seat (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that The model independently of one another respectively assigns a value of the acting weight to each possible value of the parameter with reference to the adjustment in the first direction (R1) and with reference to the adjustment in the second direction (R2).

10. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) is designed to determine the weight acting on the basis of the value of the parameter detected for the first direction and on the basis of the value of the parameter detected for the second direction, respectively, and to determine the weight acting on the seating part component (10) from the two weight values ​​thus determined, in particular to form an average value.

11. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The drive device (3) comprises a plurality of drive motors (31), wherein the control system (14) is configured to detect a value of a parameter for each of the drive motors (31) during adjustment and to determine a weight acting on the ride component (10) based on the detected values ​​of the parameters of the plurality of drive motors (31).

12. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) is designed to detect the value of the parameter for calibration purposes when no weight acts on the vehicle seat (1).

13. The vehicle seat (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that The control system (14) is configured to automatically repeat the calibration after predetermined time intervals.

14. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) is designed to obtain data about the seat occupancy of the vehicle seat (1) from a detection device, in particular a camera (4).

15. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) is designed to take into account the vehicle inclination when determining the weight acting on the seating part component (10).

16. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) is designed to take the temperature into account when determining the weight acting on the seating component (10).

17. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) is designed to take into account the adjustment of further seat adjustment devices, in particular for adjusting the backrest angle and / or the seat inclination, when determining the weight acting on the seating part component (10).

18. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) is configured to detect whether the vehicle seat and / or a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat has moved due to another force, in particular a force that is independent of the height adjustment device (12) and / or the drive device (3) during detection of at least one value of a parameter of the height adjustment device (12) and / or the drive device (3) in the first direction (R1) and / or in the second direction (R2), preferably so that an analysis of the current distribution curve can be taken into account or taken into account, in particular wherein, when movement due to another force is detected, the detection of at least one value of a parameter of the height adjustment device (12) and / or the drive device (3) is repeated and / or the previously detected value of the parameter is discarded.

19. The vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control system (14) comprises a memory in which a model is stored in a callable manner, with which the model establishes at least one correlation between a weight acting on the seating component (10) and a position of an input value regulator and a value of a measured parameter.

20. System comprising a vehicle seat (1) according to any of the preceding claims, the system further comprising one or the detection device, in particular a camera (4). and / or an inclination sensor and / or a temperature sensor for detecting the inclination of the vehicle.

21. The system according to claim 20, comprising a measuring device for measuring the adjustment of further seat adjustment devices, in particular for adjusting the backrest angle and / or the seat inclination.

22. Method for determining the weight acting on a vehicle seat, in particular a vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: • activating ( S100 ) a drive device ( 3 ) of a height adjustment device ( 12 ) of the vehicle seat ( 1 ) to adjust a distance between the seating part assembly ( 10 ) and the floor assembly ( 13 ) in a first direction ( R1 ); • detecting ( S101 ) values ​​of parameters of the height adjustment device ( 12 ) and / or the drive device ( 3 ) when adjusting in the first direction ( R1 ); • activating ( S102 ) the driving device ( 3 ) to adjust the distance between the seating portion assembly ( 10 ) and the floor assembly ( 13 ) in a second direction ( R2 ) opposite to the first direction ( R1 ); • detecting (S103) the value of a parameter of the height adjustment device (12) and / or the drive device (3) when adjusting in the second direction (R2); and • The weight acting on the seating part assembly (10) is known (S104) based on the value of the detected parameter.

23. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the computers to implement the method of claim 22.

24. A non-volatile computer-readable storage medium (140) having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the computers to execute the method according to claim 22.

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