Method for providing a pubic bone brake, vehicle seat and vehicle

Abstract

A pubic bone brake control system extends a cushion (20) in at least two stages. In a first stage, an electric motor and / or pneumatics are used. In a second stage, which is provided in the event of a vehicle collision, either the electric motor and / or the pneumatics, and optionally pyrotechnics, are also used. The cushion is extended higher during the collision than before.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing a pubic bone brake for a vehicle occupant sitting on a vehicle seat, it relates to a vehicle seat and a vehicle.

[0002] A so-called pubic bone brake is known for preventing the so-called "submarining." Particularly when a vehicle seat is tilted sharply, the vehicle occupant may experience a kind of diving motion under the restraint belt during sudden braking, which can then exert forces on the neck and internal organs of the vehicle occupant.

[0003] A particularly simple device according to US 2020 / 353 849 A1 describes the extension of a cushion between the legs of a vehicle occupant when the backrest of the vehicle seat is moved backwards.

[0004] DE 10 2016 007 491 A1 also discloses a possible coupling of the inclination of the backrest surfaces on the one hand and the inclination of the seat surfaces on the other hand for a vehicle seat.

[0005] Airbags are also used: DE 10 2013 007 710 A1 describes a method for controlling an airbag arranged on the seat cushion of a vehicle seat depending on the angle of inclination of the vehicle seat backrest. When the seat backrest is tilted flat, a seat ramp may be formed by the airbag deploying. The deployment occurs when a collision is imminent or the vehicle is about to occur. This builds on known technology whereby the vehicle's sensors can detect whether a collision is imminent or imminent. These and possibly completely different sensors can detect the occurrence of the collision. The situation before the collision occurs is also referred to as "pre-crash," and the collision as a "crash" or "crash situation." For the purposes of the present disclosure, it is assumed that known technologies for detecting a pre-crash or a crash are used.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 11 2021 003 774 T5 discloses a seat cushion airbag which is partially deployed in a first operating scenario (for example during bumpy driving) and fully deployed in a second operating scenario (unavoidable collision).

[0007] WO 2006 / 076 898 A1 describes a safety device for a motor vehicle seat with a securing element which is extended into a securing position in the event of a crash, wherein there is an adjusting device for moving the securing element into an intermediate position between a rest position and the securing position.

[0008] The disadvantage of the state-of-the-art approach is that the procedures are not flexible enough.

[0009] It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide an improved method for providing a pubic bone brake, an improved vehicle seat and an improved motor vehicle.

[0010] The object is achieved by the method having the features according to claim 1, the vehicle seat having the features according to claim 7 and the motor vehicle according to claim 10 having the vehicle seat.

[0011] The method according to the invention for providing a pubic bone brake for a vehicle occupant sitting on a vehicle seat includes activating a pubic bone brake control from a minimum backrest inclination of the vehicle seat (and not at a smaller backrest inclination), which causes: - when stationary and / or during normal driving and / or in the situation of an impending collision (pre-crash), a cushion for providing the pubic bone brake is moved to a first or a second height by means of an electric motor and / or pneumatically, and - in the event of a collision of the vehicle, the cushion is moved by means of the electric motor and / or pneumatically and / or using pyrotechnics (in particular in the case of airbags) to a third height which is greater than the first and / or the second height.

[0012] The method according to the invention thus provides for at least two-stage extension of the cushion (before and during a crash). This is made possible by using an electric motor or pneumatics (compressed air, preferably provided by a pump). In this way, in the event of no collision at all, the extension of the cushion can be designed to be particularly easily reversible. In the event of a collision, the cushion is then already extended slightly beforehand, so that protection for the occupant can be reached more quickly in the event of a collision. This has the advantage that an electric motor or pneumatics can even be used here. If necessary, pyrotechnics (airbag) do not need to be designed with any complexity, since the first or second height has already been reached beforehand by the electric motor and pneumatics.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pubic bone brake control moves the cushion to the first height when stationary and / or during normal driving. In the event of an impending collision, the cushion moves to the second height, which is greater than the first height. In the event of a collision, the cushion moves to the third height, which is greater than the second height. This three-stage configuration is particularly advantageous because the first height is comfortable for normal situations (with the vehicle occupant reclined), and by extending to a second height during the pre-crash phase, the third height can be reached more quickly in the event of an actual collision.

[0014] According to a first preferred embodiment, the cushion is rectangular, with a longer side of the rectangular shape extending parallel to the legs of the vehicle occupant (in the area between the legs). Preferably, the longer side is at least twice as long as the shorter side, resulting in the shape of a capital "I."

[0015] Alternatively, the cushion is T-shaped, with the foot of the T-shape (like the I in the I-shape, although the foot can be slimmer if necessary) preferably extending between the legs of the vehicle occupant and the head of the T-shape extending along a front edge of a seating surface of the vehicle seat.

[0016] In a third alternative embodiment, the cushion extends at least over the front half of a vehicle seat's seat surface in the direction of travel (with the seat facing forward, i.e., on the side of the vehicle occupant's knees) and / or in the front area of ​​the seat surface over between 80% and 100% of the width of the vehicle seat's seat surface. Thus, when raised, the cushion will lift the vehicle occupant's legs, preferably in the area behind the back of the knees.

[0017] In all of the aforementioned embodiments and optionally also other shapes such as triangular shapes for the cushion and the like, it can be provided that the cushion is raised in a ramp-like manner in the position with the third height and preferably also previously in the position with the first and / or second height such that it rises from the hip area of ​​the vehicle occupant (i.e. before the transition between the backrest and the seat surface of the vehicle seat) towards the front. The ramp is formed in particular with respect to the body of the vehicle and thus the vehicle surface (the road) so that in the event of a collision, "submarining" is prevented by the incline of the ramp initially with little effect, but is all the more effective as the collision progresses if "submarining" has already begun. It can be provided that this ramp shape has a straight cross-section, i.e. that an inclined plane is formed.The inclination of the inclined plane can be designed in such a way that it depends on the backrest inclination in the first and / or the second and / or the third position, ie that, for example, an angle of between 85° and 95°, i.e. essentially a right angle, is formed between the backrest and the surface of the ramp.

[0018] The vehicle seat according to the invention comprises an adjustable backrest and means for detecting whether the backrest exceeds a minimum backrest inclination. It comprises an extendable cushion in the region of a seat surface of the vehicle seat for providing a pubic bone brake, wherein the cushion can be extended by means of an electric motor of the vehicle seat or pneumatically (pump or other compressed air device of the vehicle seat) and / or optionally using pyrotechnics. The vehicle seat furthermore has a control which is coupled to the means for detecting and is designed, when the minimum backrest inclination is exceeded, to cause the cushion to be adjusted to a first or second position by means of the electric motor or pneumatically, when the vehicle is stationary and / or during normal driving and / or in the situation of an impending collision.a second height is extended, and in the event of a collision, to cause the cushion to be extended by means of the electric motor, pneumatically and / or using pyrotechnics / using pyrotechnics to a third height that is greater than the first and / or the second height. (As already explained above, second means for detecting that a situation of an impending collision exists and / or that a collision is currently occurring are required anyway. Sensors for this purpose are generally provided outside the vehicle seat, so that the control coupled to these second means for detecting should in the present case only be capable of being coupled to such sensors.).

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the cushion is I-shaped, triangular and / or T-shaped and / or extends over at least half of the seat surface of the vehicle seat and preferably between 80% and 100% of the width of the front seat surface of the vehicle seat.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, as already described above with regard to the method, it is provided that the cushion is raised in a ramp-like manner in the position with the third height and preferably also previously at the first height and / or the second height such that it rises from a hip region of the vehicle occupant towards the front.

[0021] The vehicle according to the invention comprises the vehicle seat as described above.

[0022] For use cases or application situations that may arise during the method and which are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, in accordance with the method, an error message and / or a request to enter user feedback is issued and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set.

[0023] The invention also includes the control device for the motor vehicle. The control device can have a data processing device or a processor device (processor circuit) that is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). In particular, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) can be used as the microprocessor. Furthermore, the processor device can have program code that is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device.The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor device can be based, for example, on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0024] The invention also includes further developments of the vehicle seat and motor vehicle according to the invention, which have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

[0025] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0026] As a further solution, the invention also encompasses a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code which, when executed by a computer or computer network, causes the computer to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can be provided at least partially as a non-volatile data memory (e.g. as a flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data memory (e.g. as a RAM - random access memory). The storage medium can be arranged in the computer or computer network. However, the storage medium can also be operated on the Internet, for example, as a so-called app store server and / or cloud server. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with, for example, at least one microprocessor.The program code can be provided as binary code and / or as assembly code and / or as source code of a programming language (e.g., C) and / or as a program script (e.g., Python). Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium can be implemented as a signal containing computer-readable data, e.g., a time-variant voltage signal and / or a radio signal.

[0027] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each comprise a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle seat in several positions, in which a cushion is extended when the backrest is reclined; Fig. 2a, Fig. 2b and Fig. 2c shows a driver with a first embodiment of the cushion from different perspectives; Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b and Fig. 3c shows a driver with a second embodiment of the cushion from different perspectives; and Fig. 4a, Fig. 4b and Fig. 4c shows a driver with a third embodiment of the cushion from different perspectives; and Fig. 5 a flow chart to illustrate the method according to the invention.

[0029] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0030] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0031] One in Fig. The section of a vehicle 100 shown in Figure 1 shows the vehicle seat, which essentially consists of a backrest 10 and a seat surface 12. If the backrest is moved backward according to arrow P1, a cushion 20 is simultaneously extended according to arrow P2. The cushion can have three positions, which depend on driving situations, namely the positions 20s1, 20s2 and 20s3. The illustration in Fig. 1 is merely schematic.

[0032] The cushion can be extended with a substantially rectangular contour in plan view, for which Fig. 2a, Fig. 2b and Fig. 2c provide illustration. In particular, the illustration according to Fig. 2c shows that the rectangle can extend parallel to the legs 2 and 3 of a vehicle occupant 1.

[0033] In the case of Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b and Fig. 3c, however, the cushion is T-shaped. In particular, it is provided that the base of the T-shaped cushion 20b is located between the legs 2 and 3 of the vehicle occupant 1. In contrast, the head part of the T-shape can be arranged in a basic position substantially at the front of the seat surface 12 and can be raised when the cushion is extended.

[0034] In the case of Fig. 4a, Fig. 4b and Fig. 4c, the cushion 20c encompasses approximately the front half of the seat surface 12, which is raised over its entire surface so that the cushion is pressed upwards under the backs of the knees 4 and 5 of the legs 2 and 3, whereby the vehicle occupant 1 is protected by the position thus created.

[0035] The method begins in step S10 with a vehicle occupant getting into the vehicle and adjusting the seat backrest backwards in step S12. This can be particularly useful if the vehicle is driving autonomously or semi-autonomously and / or the vehicle occupant is not the driver, allowing them to relax with the backrest reclined backwards. The method can also begin with step S14 if the vehicle is started later. After adjusting the backrest in step S12, a check is made in step S14 to determine whether the backrest inclination has exceeded a minimum angle. If this is not the case, the system returns to step S12 and, if necessary, the backrest is reclined further or even moved back. The check is then performed again in step S14.If, however, the backrest is tilted beyond a minimum angle at any time, after step S14, according to "Y" for "YES", the cushion 20 (this also includes the above-mentioned cushions 20a, 20b and 20c) is extended into a first position (first height) in step S16, using an electric motor or a pump (pneumatic). In step S18, based on known, continuous evaluation of sensor signals, a check is carried out to determine whether a collision with another vehicle or an object ("wall" or the like) is imminent. As long as this is not the case ("N" for "NO"), the system returns to the previous situation and then checks again. If it has been detected in any situation that a collision could be imminent ("Y" for "YES"), the cushion is then moved into a second position (second height) in step S20, in which it is further extended (higher) than in the first position achieved in step S16.This can be done using the electric motor or the aforementioned pump. In step S22, a check is then made to determine whether a collision has occurred in the meantime. If this is not the case (“N” for “NO”), the system returns to the situation prior to step S18. However, if a collision has actually occurred (“Y” for “YES”), then in step S24 the cushion is moved to a third position (frit height), in which it is further extended than the second position achieved in step S20, and thus also further extended than the first position achieved in step S16. The extension in step S24 can again be done by the electric motor or the pump, but to achieve high speed, it can also be done pyrotechnically (in particular, triggering an airbag to raise the cushion).

[0036] The invention is also realized if only a pre-activation occurs in step S16 and no extension occurs, and if the cushion is extended in step S20. Alternatively, steps S20 and S24 can coincide, so that after step S16, in which the cushion has been extended to the first position, a check is made to determine whether a collision has occurred, and the cushion is then extended further.

[0037] Overall, the examples show how a pubic bone brake, which is / can be correlated to the seat inclination (active and passive safety variant), can be provided.

Claims

[1] Method for providing a pubic bone brake for a vehicle occupant sitting on a vehicle seat, in which a pubic bone brake control is activated from a minimum backrest inclination of a backrest (10) of the vehicle seat, which causes - when stationary and / or during normal driving and / or in the situation of an impending collision, a cushion (20) for providing the pubic bone brake is moved to a first or a second height by means of an electric motor and / or pneumatically, and - in the event of a collision of the vehicle, the cushion (20) is moved by means of the electric motor, pneumatically and / or using pyrotechnics to a third height which is greater than the first and / or the second height. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the pubic bone brake control moves the cushion (20) to the first height when stationary and / or during normal driving, in the situation of an impending collision the cushion (20) moves to the second height which is greater than the first height, and in the event of a collision the cushion (20) moves to the third height which is greater than the second height. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cushion (20a) is rectangular, with a longer side of the rectangular shape extending in a direction parallel to the legs (2, 3) of the vehicle occupant. [4] A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cushion (20b) is T-shaped, the foot of the T-shape extending between the legs (2, 3) of the vehicle occupant and the head of the T-shape extending along a front edge of a seat surface (12) of the vehicle seat. [5] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cushion (20c) extends over at least the front half of a seat surface of the vehicle seat in the direction of travel and / or extends in the front region of the seat surface (12) over between 80% and 100% of the width of the seat surface of the vehicle seat. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cushion is raised in a ramp-like manner in the position with the third height and preferably also previously at the first height and / or the second height, such that it rises from a hip region of the vehicle occupant towards the front. [7] Vehicle seat with adjustable backrest (12), with means for detecting whether the backrest exceeds a minimum backrest inclination, and with an extendable cushion (20) in the region of a seat surface of the vehicle seat for providing a pubic bone brake, wherein the cushion is extendable by an electric motor of the vehicle seat and / or pneumatically and optionally extendable using pyrotechnics, and wherein the vehicle seat has a control which is coupled to the means for detecting and is designed, when the minimum backrest inclination is exceeded, to cause the cushion (20) to be adjusted to a first or second position by means of the electric motor and / or pneumatically when the vehicle is stationary and / or during normal driving and / or in the situation of an impending collision.a second height is extended, and in the event of a collision, to cause the cushion (20) to be extended by means of the electric motor, pneumatically and / or using pyrotechnics to a third height which is greater than the first and / or the second height. [8] Vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein the cushion (20a, 20b, 20c) is I-shaped, triangular and / or T-shaped and / or extends over at least half of the seat surface (12) of the vehicle seat and preferably extends between 80% and 100% of the width of the front seat surface (12) of the vehicle seat. [9] Vehicle seat according to claim 7 or 8, wherein it is provided that the cushion (20) is raised in a ramp-like manner in the position with the third height and preferably also previously at the first height and / or the second height, such that it rises from a hip region of the vehicle occupant towards the front. [10] Vehicle (100) with the vehicle seat according to one of claims 7 to 9.

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