Method for operating a motor vehicle seat, motor vehicle seat and motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for operating a motor vehicle seat is described, wherein the motor vehicle seat has a seat surface and / or a backrest which has a seat surface upholstery and / or backrest upholstery, wherein at least one volume-variable bladder is provided in the seat surface and / or backrest, wherein a seating process is detected by means of a sensor system, wherein a volume of the at least one volume-variable bladder is gradually reduced by a motor vehicle seat control when sitting down.

Description

A method for operating a motor vehicle seat, a motor vehicle seat and a motor vehicle are described.Methods for operating a motor vehicle seat, motor vehicle seats and motor vehicles of the type mentioned at the beginning are known in the prior art.A very important aspect of the subjective feeling of comfort of a motor vehicle seat is created when first seated on the motor vehicle seat. The reaction of the motor vehicle seat to the passenger's seating process is often referred to as seating behavior. The feeling of comfort depends primarily on how far a passenger can sink into the motor vehicle seat during the seating process. The softer and more compliant the motor vehicle seat appears, the more comfortable the motor vehicle seat is perceived.It is therefore known to design the motor vehicle seat by means of the most comfortable possible construction of its cushion layers. This is achieved on the one hand by the use of suitable materials which do this, for example PUR foam with low press-in hardness and additional cut foam. On the other hand, the distance of the seat surface from a seat frame is an important factor. The higher this distance, the more comfortable a motor vehicle seat is experienced. In some motor vehicles, therefore, maximum foam thicknesses to be realized are used. In some motor vehicles, this is not possible due to installation space, costs and height of the interior, for example in sport motor vehicles. Thinner, harder upholstery must be used there.From DE 10 2013 211 979 A1 an integrated seat and an active cushion for a motor vehicle for protecting an occupant of the seat during an impact event is known, comprising: a substantially rigid seat frame; an inflatable bladder connected to the seat frame and consisting of a gas chamber, the inflatable bladder having a ready state and an deployed state; an outer cushion layer overlying the inflatable bladder and providing an outer contour along a seat support surface; and a gas generator responsive to the occurrence of an impact event by discharging an inflation gas into the gas chamber to expand the inflatable bladder from the ready state to the deployed state; wherein the gas chamber is disposed between the seat frame and the outer cushion layer, and wherein the gas chamber is configured to support the load in the ready state such that the inflatable bladder elastically deforms to support a load applied to the outer cushion layer; and wherein the seat frame provides a reaction surface when the inflatable bladder expands from the ready state to the deployed state, and wherein the deployed state expands the seat support surface to increase occupant coverage.The object is thus to further develop methods for operating a motor vehicle seat, motor vehicle seats and motor vehicles of the type mentioned at the beginning, such that the seating comfort of the occupant can be increased in motor vehicles in which high seat cushion structures are not possible, despite thin seat cushions.The object is achieved by a method for operating a motor vehicle seat according to claim 1, a motor vehicle seat according to independent claim 6 and a motor vehicle according to independent claim 10.A method for operating a motor vehicle seat is described, wherein the motor vehicle seat has a seat surface and / or a backrest which has a seat surface padding and / or backrest padding, wherein at least one variable-volume bladder is provided in the seat surface and / or backrest, wherein a seating process is detected by means of a sensor system, wherein a volume of the at least one variable-volume bladder is gradually reduced during seating by a motor vehicle seat controller.The at least one variable volume bubble may be filled with water or air or another suitable gas. The gas must be non-reactive and non-flammable under normal conditions.As soon as the occupant begins the seating process, this is detected by the sensor system and the motor vehicle seat can give the feeling that the occupant sinks particularly far by gradual volume reduction in the at least one volume-variable bladder.In this case, in one configuration, provision can be made for the at least one variable-volume bladder to be pumped up further shortly before the seating operation, for example when a motor vehicle door adjacent to the seat is opened. Thus, the seating level is increased by the at least one variable volume bladder. The total sinking depth of the occupant thereby increases, which significantly increases the perceived seating comfort.In a first further embodiment, it is provided that the seating process is detected by means of a seat occupancy sensor.Such a seat occupancy sensor can be configured mat-like and comprise a foil with contact switches. Seat occupancy sensors are known in most motor vehicles at least on the passenger side for activating an airbag system.In a further development, it is provided that the seating process is detected by means of an interior camera.Such interior cameras are provided in any case in some vehicles and can be used for the purposes mentioned here.In a further development, it is provided that the at least one volume-variable bladder is equipped with a controllable or regulable valve which is opened by the motor vehicle seat controller for the volume reduction of the at least one volume-variable bladder.The valve can be driven by a motor.In a further development, it is provided that after leaving the motor vehicle seat, the at least one volume-variable bladder is pumped up by means of a pump device.Such a pumping device may be a compressor which may be used for one or more appropriately equipped seats. The pumping device may have a pressure accumulator.In a further development, it is provided that the at least one variable-volume bladder is operated by the motor vehicle seat controller as a massage system during a trip.Thus, a comfort-enhancing additional benefit can be achieved.A first independent subject matter relates to a computer program product having a computer-readable storage medium on which instructions are embedded which, when executed by at least one arithmetic unit, cause the at least arithmetic unit to be configured to execute the method of the aforementioned type.The method can be carried out distributed on one or more computing units, so that certain method steps are carried out on the one computing unit and other method steps are carried out on at least one further computing unit, wherein calculated data can be transmitted between the computing units if necessary.A further independent object relates to a motor vehicle seat having a seat surface and / or a backrest which has a seat surface padding and / or a backrest padding, wherein at least one variable-volume bladder is provided in the seat surface and / or backrest, wherein a motor vehicle seat controller is provided which is configured to carry out the method of the type described above.In a first further embodiment, it is provided that the sensor system has a seat occupancy sensor.In a further development, it is provided that the at least one variable-volume bubble has a controllable or regulable valve.In a further development, it is provided that a pump device connected to the at least one volume-variable bladder is provided, with which the volume of the at least one volume-variable bladder can be increased.A further independent subject matter relates to a motor vehicle having a motor vehicle seat of the type described above.Further advantages, features and details are evident from the following description, in which--possibly with reference to the drawing--at least one exemplary embodiment is described in detail. Identical, similar and / or functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals.They show schematically: FIG. 1 is a top view of a motor vehicle seat; FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration through the motor vehicle seat from FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3A-3C are sectional views through the motor vehicle seat from FIG. 1 during different operating phases.FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a motor vehicle seat 2. of the motor vehicle seat 2, only one seat surface 4 is shown, a backrest is not shown, but the principle explained below can be applied to these accordingly.A variable volume bladder 6 is provided in the seat surface 4 to hold air and to be inflated and deflated. Inflation of the volume-variable bladder 6 causes the seating surface 4 to be raised out of the plane of illustration, and venting of air from the volume-variable bladder 6 causes the volume-variable bladder 6 to descend and with it the seating surface 4. The volume variable bladder 6 is made of an elastic material, e.g., rubber.For inflating the volume-variable bladder 6, a pumping device 8 is provided, which can have a compressor and an air accumulator. The pumping device 8 may be disposed in the vicinity of or remote from the vehicle seat 2. In some configurations, a pump device 8 can supply a plurality of motor vehicle seats which are then connected to the pump device 8 via corresponding compressed air lines.A controllable valve 10 is provided for draining air from the variable-volume bladder 6. The variable valve 10 may be gradually opened and closed in an engine-driven manner. If the controllable valve 10 is opened, air escapes through the controllable valve 10 as a result of the overpressure in the variable-volume bubble 6 and can be discharged to the environment.A motor vehicle controller 12 is provided in order to actuate the pump device 8 and the controllable valve 10. As an input signal, the motor vehicle controller 12 can be connected to a seat occupancy sensor 14 and / or to an interior camera 16. The seat occupancy sensor 14 may be a, for example, foil-like pressure sensor integrated in the seat surface 4 or an air pressure sensor which may be arranged in the volume variable bladder 6 or on the adjustable valve 10.If a passenger sits on the motor vehicle seat 2, the pressure at the seat occupancy sensor 14 and in the volume-variable bladder 6 increases. This can be detected by the motor vehicle seat controller 12 and further measures described below can be taken starting from certain limit pressures.A corresponding seating event can also be achieved by the interior camera 16. The interior camera 16 can be integrated, for example, in a dashboard or a rearview mirror of a corresponding motor vehicle.As will be explained in more detail in connection with FIGS. 3A-3C, the variable-volume bladder 6 is in an inflated state when the seat is not in the seated position, so that the seat surface 4 is raised. When a person who gets into the motor vehicle is recognized, the variable-volume bladder can be inflated before the seating process, provided it is not already inflated.FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the seat surface 4.The seat surface 4 consists of several layers of seat cushion 18, which can consist of different materials and can have depressions 20 in part to increase the elasticity. Between two layers of seat cushion 18 lying one on top of the other, an intermediate layer 22 is provided in which the volume-variable bladder 6 is arranged.The volume-variable bladder 6 does not necessarily have to be arranged between the two layers of seat cushion 18 lying one on top of the other. In other embodiments, the volume-variable bladder 6 can also be arranged further above or further below, i.e. be placed closer to the occupant or closer to a seat frame structure, usually a metal structure. For example, the volume variable bladder 6 may be placed directly against the seat frame structure or under a seat trim.FIGS. 3A to 3C show different phases of a passenger's seating operation.In FIG. 3A, the passenger sits down with his thigh and buttocks 24 on the seat surface 4. Once the seating operation is detected with the seat occupancy sensor of FIG. 1, the motor vehicle seat controller 12 opens the variable valve 10 and air slowly escapes from the volume variable bladder 6.As can be seen in FIG. 3B, the thigh and the buttocks 24 slowly sink deeper into the seat surface 4, while the volume-variable bladder 6 gradually discharges more air to the outside.In FIG. 3C, the volume-variable bladder 6 is then fully compressed, the thigh and the buttocks 24 lie on the seat surface 4 of the motor vehicle seat 2 in the driving position.For the passenger, the seating process feels as if the seat cushion 18 had been significantly more strongly released than was actually the case and as if this had been felt without the variable-volume bladder 6, whereby the motor vehicle seat 2 is perceived as particularly comfortable.Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in more detail by preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that a large number of possible variations exist. It is also clear that embodiments mentioned by way of example represent only examples which are not to be understood in any way as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the possible applications or the configuration of the invention. Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, wherein the person skilled in the art, having knowledge of the disclosed inventive idea, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as a further explanation in the description.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2013 211 979 A1

[0005]

Claims

Method for operating a motor vehicle seat (2), wherein the motor vehicle seat (2) has a seat surface (4) and / or a backrest which has a seat surface padding (18) and / or backrest padding, wherein at least one variable-volume bladder (6) is provided in the seat surface (4) and / or backrest, characterized in that a seating process is detected by means of a sensor system (14, 16), wherein a volume of the at least one variable-volume bladder (6) is gradually reduced during seating by a motor vehicle seat controller (12).Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the seating process is detected by means of a seat occupancy sensor (14).Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seating process is detected by means of an interior camera (16).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one variable-volume bladder (6) is equipped with a controllable or regulable valve (10) which is opened by the motor vehicle seat controller (12) for the volume reduction of the at least one variable-volume bladder (6).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, after leaving the motor vehicle seat (2), the at least one variable-volume bladder (6) is pumped up by means of a pump device (8).Motor vehicle seat (2) having a seat surface (4) and / or a backrest which has a seat surface padding (18) and / or a backrest padding, wherein at least one variable-volume bladder (6) is provided in the seat surface (4) and / or backrest, characterized in that a motor vehicle seat controller (12) is provided which is configured to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims.Motor vehicle seat (2) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the sensor system (14, 16) has a seat occupancy sensor (14).Motor vehicle seat according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the at least one variable-volume bladder (6) has a controllable or regulable valve (10).Motor vehicle seat (2) according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that a pump device (8) is provided which is connected to the at least one variable-volume bladder (6) and by means of which the volume of the at least one variable-volume bladder (6) can be increased.Motor vehicle having a motor vehicle seat (2) according to one of Claims 6 to 9.

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