Modular system for a vehicle seat device, method for providing a vehicle seat device for a motor vehicle and vehicle seat device

Abstract

Modular system (1) for a vehicle seat device (2), which has at least two module levels (4), with at least two first seat modules (3) assigned to a first module level (5) and interchangeable with one another in the vehicle seat device (2), and with at least two second seat modules (3) assigned to the second module level (8), connectable to one of the first seat modules (3) and interchangeable with one another in the vehicle seat device (2), characterized in that all seat modules (3) of a same module level (4) have the same electronic interface, and seat modules (3) of different module levels (4) have corresponding electronic interfaces, via which one of the first seat modules (3) can be electrically connected to one of the second seat modules (3) in the vehicle seat device (2), - wherein the vehicle seat device (2) is divided into several functional levels, in this case the module levels (4), by means of which the vehicle seat device (2) can be divided horizontally, - and wherein a safety function of the vehicle seat device (2) can be provided via the at least one electronic interface across all seat modules (3) of all module levels (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a modular system for a vehicle seat device according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a method for providing a vehicle seat device for a motor vehicle and a vehicle seat device for a motor vehicle.

[0002] EP 0 308 374 A1 already discloses a method for providing a motor vehicle seat, in which a plurality of modular subunits of various designs are provided, which can be combined. In the method, several subunits are connected via respective connecting devices. For each subunit, several interchangeable versions are provided, each of which has a connecting device that is compatible with respective connecting devices of every other subunit, whereby the different variants of the respective subunits can be connected to one another in different combinations in order to be able to provide a plurality of different motor vehicle seats.

[0003] Furthermore, US 2019 / 0061562 A1 discloses a vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat frame supported by a vehicle floor and a seat trim coupled to the seat frame. The vehicle seat assembly further comprises a module assembly coupled to the seat frame, comprising one or more modules, each module adapted to be selectively exchanged with a separate replacement module, wherein one or more of the one or more modules may have a selected functional mechanism, such that the module assembly may be configured with one or more desired modules having desired functional mechanisms.

[0004] US 2017 / 0275851 A1 discloses a modular seating system for work vehicles, particularly agricultural or commercial vehicles, in which so-called work modules are inserted into a seat structure via a standardized mechanical-electrical interface. These work modules serve various functions such as control, display, or operation.

[0005] US 2019 / 0 061 562 A1 discloses an occupant support comprising a seat frame and a module assembly. The module assembly is arranged to cover the seat frame.

[0006] Finally, the document by Joachim Breidert: “Interface design for modular synthesis with examples from shape memory actuators, dissertation of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Ruhr University Bochum, 2006 (p.46ff)” reveals another modular system, in particular on interfaces of modular systems.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a modular system for a vehicle seat device, a method for providing a vehicle seat device for a motor vehicle and a vehicle seat device for a motor vehicle, which enables the provision of a particularly safe vehicle seat device with a particularly flexible design of the vehicle seat device.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by a modular system for a vehicle seat assembly having the features of patent claim 1, by a method for providing a vehicle seat assembly for a motor vehicle, and by a vehicle seat assembly for a motor vehicle. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent patent claims and the description.

[0009] A first aspect of the invention relates to a modular system for a vehicle seat assembly having at least two module levels. The module levels can be arranged one above the other in the vertical direction of the seat or can be defined abstractly based on a function of the respective module level. The modular system comprises at least two first seat modules assigned to a first module level and interchangeable with one another in the vehicle seat assembly. Furthermore, the modular system comprises at least two second seat modules assigned to the second module level, connectable to one of the first seat modules, and interchangeable with one another in the vehicle seat assembly. This means that the vehicle seat assembly can be provided by respectively selecting a first seat module of the modular system and a second seat module of the modular system by connecting the selected first seat module to the selected second seat module.The modular system thus allows for individual configuration of the vehicle seating system. The modular system divides the vehicle seating system into at least two module levels, with several different seat module variants available for each module level.

[0010] In order to be able to connect the respective seat modules of the modular system to one another in a particularly advantageous manner, the invention provides that all seat modules of the same module level have the same electronic interface and that seat modules of different module levels have corresponding electronic interfaces via which one of the first seat modules can be electrically connected to one of the second seat modules in the vehicle seat system. Configuring the respective seat modules of a common module level with the same electronic interface ensures the interchangeability of the seat modules within the respective module level. The corresponding design of the electronic interfaces of the respective seat modules of different module levels ensures the connectability of the respective seat modules of the different module levels to one another.This ensures particularly advantageous compatibility between the respective seat modules of the modular system. Furthermore, it is possible to design the modular system in such a way that safety electronics for the vehicle seat system can be provided via the electronic interface. A safety function of the vehicle seat system can thus be provided across all seat modules of all module levels via the at least one electronic interface. This safety function can particularly advantageously protect a vehicle occupant of the vehicle seat system from injury in the event of an accident.

[0011] Furthermore, it is provided according to the invention that the vehicle seat device is divided into a plurality of functional levels, in this case the module levels, by means of which the vehicle seat device can be divided horizontally, wherein, as previously mentioned, the one safety function of the vehicle seat device can be provided via the at least one electronic interface across all seat modules of all module levels, and wherein variants are permissible within the module levels.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, it has proven advantageous if at least one of the seat modules of at least one of the module levels comprises a fastening device by means of which the vehicle seat device can be fastened to a vehicle floor of a motor vehicle. In this case, respective different variants of seat modules of a module level can have different fastening devices from one another. By selecting a respective seat module of the respective module level, the fastening device by means of which the vehicle seat device is to be fastened to the vehicle floor of the motor vehicle can be selected. Thus, respective different variants of the seat modules of a module level can enable different fastening of the vehicle seat device to the vehicle floor of the motor vehicle.By selecting a respective variant of the seat module of this module level having the fastening device, the vehicle seat device can be adapted to a respective design of the vehicle floor of the motor vehicle, whereby the vehicle seat device can be adapted particularly easily to a respective variant of the motor vehicle.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one of the seat modules of at least one of the module levels comprises an adjusting device by means of which a seat surface and / or a backrest and / or a headrest of the vehicle seat device can be adjusted relative to a vehicle floor of the motor vehicle. By means of the adjusting device, the seat surface and / or the backrest and / or the headrest can be adjusted separately or jointly relative to the vehicle floor of the motor vehicle. In this case, the adjusting device enables a relative adjustment of the seat surface and / or the backrest and / or the headrest to one another and / or a translational movement of the seat surface and / or backrest and / or the headrest relative to the vehicle floor. In particular, it is provided that respective different seat modules of a common module level have adjusting devices of different designs.The respective adjustment device for the vehicle seat system can be selected by selecting a respective seat module of the assigned module level that has the adjustment device. A particularly large number of different variants of vehicle seat systems with different adjustment devices can be provided via the multiple interchangeable seat modules of the assigned module level, each of which has different adjustment devices.

[0014] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for providing a vehicle seat device for a motor vehicle, in which method a first seat module is selected for the first module level from a modular system, as has already been described in connection with the modular system according to the invention, a second seat module is selected for the second module level, the seat modules are arranged next to one another and the seat modules are connected to one another via the corresponding electronic interfaces. In the method, a particularly large number of different variants of vehicle seat devices can be provided by selecting the respective interchangeable seat modules for the respective module levels. In the method, the seat modules are electronically connected to one another via the respective electronic interfaces. The seat modules can therefore be electrically controlled together particularly easily via the electronic interfaces.

[0015] For example, it is possible for a safety device to be electrically connected to one of the seat modules, whereby the safety device is indirectly connected to the other seat module via the electronic interfaces. This means that the safety device is electronically connected to all seat modules of the vehicle seating system via the seat modules' electronic interfaces, whereby the vehicle seating system is connected to the safety device in a particularly comprehensive and therefore particularly secure manner. This makes it possible to provide a particularly comprehensive and secure vehicle safety concept for the vehicle safety system.

[0016] A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle seat device for a motor vehicle, comprising an interchangeably arranged first seat module of a first module level and an interchangeably arranged second seat module of a second module level, which is connected to the first seat module. The first seat module and the second seat module are each components of a modular system for the vehicle seat device. Thus, to provide the vehicle seat device, the first seat module and the second seat module are selected from a plurality of seat modules of the modular system and assembled to provide the vehicle seat device. To ensure a particularly advantageous connection of all seat modules of the vehicle seat device, the invention provides that the seat modules have a corresponding electronic interface, via which the first seat module is electronically connected to the second seat module.This means that all seat modules of the vehicle seat system are at least indirectly electronically connected to one another via the corresponding electronic interfaces. Thus, all seat modules of the vehicle seat system can advantageously be connected to a safety device of the vehicle seat system via the electronic interfaces. This safety device can be used to particularly advantageously protect a vehicle occupant sitting on the vehicle seat system from injury in the event of an accident involving a motor vehicle equipped with the vehicle seat system.

[0017] Advantages and advantageous developments of the modular system according to the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous developments of the method according to the invention and of the vehicle seat device according to the invention and vice versa.

[0018] Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own.

[0019] The invention will now be explained in more detail using a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawing. The single figure shows a schematic representation of a modular system with a plurality of seat modules, which are assigned to respective module levels of a vehicle seating system and which each have an electronic interface via which respective seat modules of different module levels can be connected to one another and via which respective seat modules of the same module level are designed to be interchangeable.

[0020] The single figure shows a modular system 1 for a vehicle seat assembly 2 of a motor vehicle. The vehicle seat assembly 2 is designed to be arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle. In order to be able to adapt the vehicle seat assembly 2 particularly easily to a particular design of the interior of the motor vehicle, the vehicle seat assembly 2 is composed of individual seat modules 3 of the modular system 1. The vehicle seat assembly 2 has several, in this case three, module levels 4. For each module level 4, the modular system 1 has several seat modules 3 which are interchangeable with one another. The respective seat modules 3 of different module levels 4 can be connected to one another to provide the vehicle seat assembly 2. A first module level 5 comprises respective seat modules 3, via which the vehicle seat assembly 2 can be held to a vehicle floor 6 of the motor vehicle.The first module level 5 is a connection level for connecting the vehicle seat assembly 2 in the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the respective seat modules 3 of the first module level 5 can each have fastening devices 7 of different configurations, via which the vehicle seat assembly 2 can be secured to the vehicle floor 6. The connection of the vehicle seat assembly 2 to the vehicle floor 6 of the motor vehicle can be selected by selecting one of the seat modules 3 from the first module level 5.

[0021] The modular system 1 further comprises a second module level 8, which comprises respective seat modules 3 with a first adjustment device 9. The second module level 8 is a functional level by means of which main adjustments for the vehicle seat device 2 can be provided. The vehicle seat device 2 can be moved translationally and / or rotationally relative to the vehicle floor 6 of the motor vehicle via the respective different configurations of the first adjustment device 9. In particular, the vehicle seat device 2 can be moved three-dimensionally relative to the vehicle floor 6 of the motor vehicle via the first adjustment device 9.

[0022] The modular system 1 further comprises a third module level 10, whose respective associated seat modules 3 each have a second adjustment device 11 in different embodiments. The third module level 10 is a comfort level, whose respective seat modules 3 enable a differentiation in the adjustability of a seat surface of a vehicle seat assembly 2. By means of the respective second adjustment devices 11, a seat surface and / or a backrest and / or a headrest of the vehicle seat assembly 2 can be moved separately or jointly relative to one another and / or relative to the vehicle floor 6 of the motor vehicle.

[0023] In order to provide the vehicle seat device 2, which comprises a plurality of interconnected seat modules 3 of different module levels 4, at least one seat module 3 is selected from the modular system 1 for each module level 4 of the vehicle seat device 2 to be installed, and the selected seat modules 3 are connected to one another via the mechanical and the electronic interface.

[0024] By selecting the respective seat modules 3 from the different module levels 4, a particularly large number of different variants of the vehicle seat device 2 can be provided by means of the modular system 1. One of the seat modules 3 from the first module level 5 is connected to one of the seat modules 3 from the second module level 8 and / or to one of the seat modules 3 from the third module level 10. In order to ensure interchangeability of the respective seat modules 3 of a common module level 4, each seat module 3 assigned to a common module level 4 has the same electronic interface and, if appropriate, additionally has the same mechanical interface. In order to enable each connection of seat modules 3 of different module levels 4, the seat modules 3 of different module levels 4 have corresponding electronic interfaces and, if appropriate, additional mechanical interfaces.This means that all seat modules 3 of the same module level 4 have the same electronic interface, and seat modules 3 of different module levels 4 have corresponding electronic interfaces, via which, in the vehicle seat device 2, a seat module 3 of the first module level 5 can be connected to a seat module 3 of the second module level 8 and / or the third module level 10 and / or a seat module 3 of the second module level 8 can be connected to a seat module 3 of the third module level 10. All seat modules 3 of the vehicle seat device 2 can be connected to one another at least indirectly via the electronic interfaces and the mechanical interfaces.The respective seat modules 3 of the vehicle seat system 2 can be connected at least indirectly to a safety device of the vehicle seat system 2 via the electronic interfaces, which is schematically identified in the single figure by a small box and the reference numeral 12. The safety device 12 enables safety electronics of the vehicle seat system 2 to be provided via the electronic interfaces of the seat modules 3 of the vehicle seat system 2. The safety electronics of the vehicle seat system 2 can provide safety functions by means of which a vehicle occupant sitting on the vehicle seat system 2 can be protected from injury in the event of a motor vehicle accident.

[0025] The modular system 1 enables a particularly advantageous modularity of the vehicle seating system 2. The electronic interface of the seat modules 3 is communal to such an extent that separation between the individual seat modules 3 can be performed not only at a supplier, but also in motor vehicle manufacturers' factories, in service, and even at the customer's site. Furthermore, this separation offers flexibility for a service center or vehicle owner, allowing the vehicle owner to configure the individual seat modules 3 of the vehicle seating system 2 themselves. By configuring the vehicle seating system 2, the vehicle owner can design the interior of the vehicle themselves without sacrificing functionality or safety aspects.

[0026] The invention is based on the finding that, currently in series vehicle construction, a seat in a vehicle is constructed on a complete structure, in particular a support frame, which is installed as a whole in the vehicle. In the event of modifications or adaptations, or the integration of the seat into another vehicle, a large part of the development process must be redone to ensure that the seat meets all requirements.

[0027] To provide the modular system 1, the vehicle seating system 2 is divided into several functional levels, in this case the module levels 4, by means of which the vehicle seating system 2 can be divided horizontally. The uniform electronic interface between the seat modules 3 enables the horizontal division of the module levels 4 with maximum variability. The vehicle seating system 2 is divided into several module levels 4, with variants being permitted within the module levels 4 in order to meet different requirements. The electronic interface of the respective seat modules 3 is kept uniform in this case, so that the individual seat modules 3 are both interchangeable and / or do not always have to be installed as a complete package.

[0028] The modular system 1 enables the development of individual seat modules 3 for the vehicle seating system 2 independently of other seat modules 3 of additional module levels 4. Furthermore, the modular system 1 enables the installation of individual module levels 4. Furthermore, the modular system 1 enables the installation of the vehicle seating system 2 in a wide variety of positions provided within the interior of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the modular system 1 enables vehicle-specific adaptations of the vehicle seating system 2 without having to adapt the entire structure of the vehicle seating system 2. Furthermore, the modular system 1 enables a seat-specific conversion of the vehicle seating system 2 by a vehicle owner.

[0029] Overall, the invention shows how a horizontal seat structure division can be achieved.

Claims

[1] Modular system (1) for a vehicle seat device (2), which has at least two module levels (4), with at least two first seat modules (3) assigned to a first module level (5) and interchangeable with one another in the vehicle seat device (2), and with at least two second seat modules (3) assigned to the second module level (8), connectable to one of the first seat modules (3) and interchangeable with one another in the vehicle seat device (2), characterized by that all seat modules (3) of a same module level (4) have the same electronic interface and seat modules (3) of different module levels (4) have mutually corresponding electronic interfaces, via which one of the first seat modules (3) can be electrically connected to one of the second seat modules (3) in the vehicle seat device (2), - wherein the vehicle seat device (2) is divided into several functional levels, in this case the module levels (4), by means of which the vehicle seat device (2) can be divided horizontally, - and wherein a safety function of the vehicle seat device (2) can be provided via the at least one electronic interface across all seat modules (3) of all module levels (4). [2] Modular system (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one of the seat modules (3) of at least one of the module levels (4) comprises a fastening device (7) by means of which the vehicle seat device (2) can be fastened to a vehicle floor (6) of a motor vehicle. [3] Modular system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat at least one of the seat modules (3) of at least one of the module levels (4) comprises an adjusting device (9, 11) by means of which a seat surface and / or a backrest and / or a headrest of the vehicle seat device (2) can be adjusted relative to a vehicle floor (6) of the motor vehicle. [4] Method for providing a vehicle seat device (2) for a motor vehicle, in which a first seat module (3) is selected for the first module level (5) from a modular system (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, a second seat module (3) is selected for the second module level (8), the seat modules (3) are arranged next to one another and the seat modules (3) are connected to one another via the corresponding electronic interfaces. [5] Vehicle seat device (2) for a motor vehicle, with an interchangeably arranged first seat module (3) of a first module level (5) and an interchangeably arranged second seat module (3) of a second module level (8) connected to the first seat module (3), characterized by that the seat modules (3) have a corresponding electronic interface via which the first seat module (3) is electrically connected to the second seat module (3), - wherein the vehicle seat device (2) is divided into several functional levels, in this case the module levels (4), by means of which the vehicle seat device (2) can be divided horizontally, - and wherein a safety function of the vehicle seat device (2) can be provided via at least one electronic interface across all seat modules (3) of all module levels (4).

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