Seat adjustment for a seat on board a motor vehicle

Abstract

A seat adjustment device for a seat (115) on board a motor vehicle (105) comprises an adjustment device (130) for moving the seat (115) between a first and a second position relative to a chassis (110) of the motor vehicle (105); an input device (140) on the chassis (110) for controlling a movement of the seat (115); and a device (145) for moving the input device (140) relative to the chassis (110) such that a position of the input device (140) corresponds to the position of the seat (115).

Description

The present invention relates to a seat adjuster, in particular for a seat on board a motor vehicle.A motor vehicle includes a seat for a driver or a passenger. The seat can be adjusted into different positions with respect to a chassis of the motor vehicle, for example in the longitudinal direction. For this purpose, a person in the seat can actuate an input element. If the input element is located on the seat, the person usually cannot see it with difficulty and must touch it. If the input element is on the chassis, it can get outside a reach of the person depending on the position of the seat, so that the person must erect or stand up in order to actuate the input element.It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved technique for controlling a position of a seat on board a motor vehicle. The invention achieves this object by means of the subject matter of the independent claims. Dependent claims represent preferred embodiments.According to a first aspect of the present invention, a seat adjuster for a seat on board a motor vehicle comprises an adjusting device for moving the seat between a first and a second position with respect to a chassis of the motor vehicle; an input device on the chassis for controlling a movement of the seat; and a device for moving the input device with respect to the chassis such that a position of the input device corresponds to the position of the seat.The input device can always remain visible to a person in the seat, regardless of the position of the seat. Thus, intuitive and sensitive control may be enabled. At the same time, the input device can always be accessible to the person, even without the person being erected in the seat or leaving the seat. The adjustment of the seat can be effected ergonomically in an improved manner. The adjustment device is preferably designed electrically and can be integrated with the seat. In one embodiment, a control device is provided for controlling seat adjustment. The control device may control the position of the input device, detect an operation of the input device, and control the seat reclining according to the operation.The seat may be moved from the first seating position to the second seating position along a predetermined curve, and the input device may be moved from a first input position to a second input position along a predetermined curve. The first input position corresponds to the first seat position and the second input position corresponds to the second seat position. A path between the first and second seating positions may correspond to a path between the first and second input positions. The curves may be in a predetermined relationship to each other. For example, the input position along the curve assigned to it may lead or lag the seat position along the curve assigned to it. Furthermore, a linear, a sectionally linear or a nonlinear relationship between positions of the seat and the input device can be realized. This relationship may depend on the direction of movement of the seat.The input device can be mounted on the chassis, for example in the form of a switch, a button or an operating panel. Alternatively, a virtual input device can be used, the position of which is fixed with respect to the chassis. A virtual input device can be projected, for example, onto the chassis or an element fixedly attached to the chassis, as is explained in more detail below.The seat may comprise a longitudinally adjustable seat surface and a backrest adjustable in inclination relative to the seat surface. A position of the seat may include a position of the seat surface in the longitudinal direction and / or an inclination of the backrest with respect to the seat surface. The longitudinal direction of the seat may coincide with a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. The input device can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the seat surface. Optionally, a height of the input device on the chassis can be varied depending on the inclination of the backrest of the seat. Thus, a good accessibility of the input device depending on the position of the seat can be achieved.The position of the seat may be related to a shoulder area for a person located in the seat. In this case, a predetermined, usually relaxed, seat posture of the person can be assumed. Depending on the position of the seat, the input device can always be brought into a position in which it can be touched by the person with a finger by the person extending an arm. Raising or raising from the seat may not be necessary. The input device can be moved relative to the chassis in such a way that it is within reach of a person in the seat, depending on the position of the seat.In one embodiment, the input device is moved in proportion to the position of the seat. The movement or a position of the input device can be controlled continuously.In another embodiment, the input device is brought into one of a plurality of predetermined positions. For this purpose, the input device can comprise a first operating element assigned to the first position of the seat and a second operating element assigned to the second position of the seat; the operating elements being spaced apart from one another. A movement of the input device can be realized by deactivating one operating element and activating another operating element.This embodiment makes it possible, for example, to attach a plurality of buttons, switches, touch areas or similar operating elements fixedly to the chassis. Positions of the control elements may lie along a predetermined, assigned curve. Of the operating elements, only one of the operating elements can always be active. An adjustment of the seat can be controlled only by means of an active operating element. Alternatively, a predetermined maximum number of adjacent operating elements may be active. The active operating element or elements can be moved along the curve by activation and deactivation.An active operating element can be optically emphasized. Emphasis can be effected in particular by illumination, a dynamically controllable color, brightness or animation.In a particularly preferred embodiment, the input device comprises a projector which is configured to project an operating element onto the chassis. For detecting an actuation of the projected operating element, a camera can be provided, for example. The projector and / or camera may be associated with the seat; if multiple seats described herein are on board the motor vehicle, each seat may be associated with a dedicated projector or camera, respectively.According to another aspect of the present invention, a motor vehicle includes a seat having a seat adjuster described herein. The motor vehicle can in particular comprise a passenger car, for example a sedan. The seat with the seat adjuster can be provided for a passenger and installed in a second row of seats or in a row of seats located even further back. In a further embodiment, the seat can also be provided for a passenger or a driver of the motor vehicle.According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of adjusting a seat on board a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: determining a position of the seat relative to a chassis of the motor vehicle; and moving an input device for controlling a movement of the seat to a position relative to the chassis that corresponds to the position of the seat relative to the chassis.The method may be carried out by means of a seat adjuster described herein. For this purpose, the seat adjustment can comprise a processing device which is configured to carry out the method partially or completely. The processing device is preferably designed electronically and comprises, for example, an integrated circuit, a programmable logic module or a programmable microcomputer. The method can be realized in the form of a configuration or as a computer program product having program code means for the processing device. The configuration or the computer program product can be stored on a computer-readable data carrier. Features or advantages of the method can be transferred to the device or vice versa.In one embodiment, the input device comprises a plurality of controls mounted on the chassis along a predetermined curve; the input device being moved by one control being deactivated and another being activated.In another embodiment, the input device can be moved relative to the chassis. For example, a physical operating element can be moved mechanically. Alternatively, a virtual operation element may be displayed at a desired position.The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a system with an adjustable seat on board a motor vehicle; FIG. 2 shows an example seat on board a motor vehicle; FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a method; and FIG. 4 shows exemplary relationships between a position of a seat and a position of an input device for controlling the position of the seatillustrated.FIG. 1 shows a system 100 with a motor vehicle 105. The motor vehicle 105 comprises a chassis 110 to which an adjustable seat 115 is attached. FIG. 1 ashows the seat 115 in a first seating position P 1 and FIG. 1 bshows it in a second seating position P 2 with respect to the chassis 110.The seat 115 comprises, for example, a seat surface 120 which can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction and a backrest 125 whose inclination can be adjusted with respect to the seat surface 120 (or the chassis 110). For this purpose, an adjustment device 130 is provided, which preferably operates electrically and can be embodied as integrated with the seat 115.For determining a position of the seat 115, a section 135 can be considered, on which a shoulder of a person who has placed in or on the seat 115 is usually located. In this case, a usual seat position is assumed, in which the person leans against the backrest 125 in the seat 115.An input device 140 is mounted on the chassis 110 or fixed in position relative to the chassis 110. In FIG. 1 a, the input device 140 is in a first position E 1 and in FIG. 1 b, in a second position E 2.In one embodiment, the input device 140 comprises a physical control element that can be moved relative to the chassis 110. In a further embodiment, the input device 140 comprises a plurality of operating elements which are fixedly mounted on the chassis 110 and are mounted on the chassis 110 along a predetermined curve, wherein the operating elements can be individually activated or deactivated. A position of the input device 140 may be determined based on the position of an active operating element.In yet another embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, the input device 140 can be virtual and can be projected, for example, by means of a projector 145 to a location determined with respect to the chassis 110. A touch of the projected input device 140 by the person can be detected, for example, by means of a camera, which in one embodiment can be embodied as integrated with the projector 145. The camera can in particular comprise a depth camera; alternatively, a radar or LiDAR sensor can also be used, for example.In yet another embodiment, the input device 140 is locally attached to the chassis 110 in the form of a physical switch, a button, a touch-sensitive surface, or another sensor. The input device 140 can be moved physically relative to the chassis 110 of the motor vehicle 105 by means of a corresponding mechanical arrangement. Alternatively, it may comprise a series of operating elements which are mounted on the chassis 110 at a distance from one another and which can be activated or deactivated individually in order to realize practically a movement with respect to the chassis 110. In these embodiments, the input device 140 can be integrated with an element for visual display or feedback. In general, an acoustic output device for providing feedback to an actuation can also be provided.In the present case, it is assumed for the sake of simplicity that an adjustment of the seat surface 120 is coupled to an adjustment of the backrest 125. A curve followed by the section 135 during the adjustment can thereby be defined. In other embodiments, independent adjustment may be possible, such that different curves and / or different positions P 1 and P 2 may result. A technique described herein may be used in connection with any positions P 1, P 2 or intermediate curves.FIG. 2 shows an example seat 115 on board a motor vehicle 105. The seat 115 shown is in a first position P 1, wherein the seat surface 120 is set forward in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle 105 and an angle between the backrest 125 and the seat surface is relatively small. On the chassis 110 of the motor vehicle 105, more precisely on an inner surface of a door, the input device 140 is shown in the form of a first operating element 205 and a second operating element 210. The first operating element 205 is assigned to the first position P 1 of the seat 115 and the second operating element 210 is assigned to a second position P 2 of the seat 115.In a preferred embodiment, as few as possible only one operating element 205, 210 can be seen for a person on the seat 115, which can be actuated in order to move the seat 115 into another position. A usable operating element 205, 210 can be illuminated, for example, while a non-usable operating element 205, 210 is not illuminated. In the case of a projected operating element 205, 210, it is possible to dispense with a representation of an unusable operating element 205, 210.In the embodiment shown, the control element 205, 210 additionally signals graphically in which position the seat 115 is located. The seat 115 may be adjusted from the first position P 1 to the second position P 2 by touching, displacing, or otherwise actuating an associated operating member 205, 210.It is proposed that a position of the operating element 205, 210 on the chassis 110 is determined as a function of a position of the seat 115. If the seat 115 is adjusted, the operating element 205, 210 can be moved correspondingly with respect to the chassis 110.Note that a position of the seat 115 may lead or lag a position of the input device 140. In yet another embodiment, the operating element 205, 210 can be brought into a predetermined position relative to the chassis 110 by actuation and the seat 115 can then be brought into a position corresponding thereto.FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an example method 300 for controlling a position of a seat 115 or an adjustment of the seat 115 between different positions. In a step 305, an actuation of the input device 140 may be detected, which indicates a desired adjustment of the position of the seat 115. In a step 310, the seat 115 can be moved accordingly. If the detected intention of the person comprises a predetermined position of the seat 115, the seat 115 can be moved into this position.In a step 315, a desired or a current position of the seat 115 may be determined. In a step 320, a position of the input device 140 corresponding thereto can be determined based thereon. The input device 140 can then be displayed at the determined position or moved to the determined position in a step 325.FIG. 4 shows exemplary relationships in FIGS. 4 a, 4 band 4 cbetween a position of a seat 115 and a position of an input device 140 for controlling the position of the seat 115. A position of the seat 115 is shown in a horizontal direction and a position of the input device 140 is shown in a vertical direction.FIG. 4 ashows a first relationship 405 which maps a seat position linearly to an input position. When the seat 115 is moved from the first position P 1 to the second position P 2 at a constant speed, the input device 140 is also moved from the first position E 1 to the second position E 2 at a constant speed.A second relationship 410 shows a run-ahead of the input device 140 with respect to the seat 115. As the seat 115 starts moving from the first position P 1 to the second position P 2, the position of the input device 140 jumps by a predetermined amount and then develops linearly with the position of the seat 115.Conversely, a third context 415 shows a tracking of the input device 140 with respect to the seat 115. Only when the seat 115 has completed a predetermined portion of the path from the first position P 1 to the second position P 2 does the input device 140 follow with a linear movement from the first position E 1 to the second position E 2.In a further embodiment, a non-linear relationship is provided between the positions P 1 / P 2 and E 1 / E 2. The above-described run-ahead and run-behind can of course also be used on a non-linear course.FIG. 4 bshows a discrete movement of the input device 140 depending on the position of the seat 115. By way of example, two positions are provided for the input device 140, while the position of the seat 115 can be continuously adjusted between P 1 and P 2, as is generally preferred. A position range of the seat 115 is assigned to a position of the input device 140.A first active area 420 indicates that the input device 140 is in a first position E 1, while the seat 115 is in an area between the first position P 1 and the middle between the positions P 1 and P 2. A second active area 425 indicates that the input device 140 is in a second position E 2 when the seat 115 is between the center and the second position P 2. The input device 140 can be realized by two operating elements 205, 210, wherein the first operating element 205 is assigned to the first position range and the second operating element 210 is assigned to the second position range of the seat 115.Here too, a division other than the one shown can be carried out. In particular, the range of movement of the seat 115 can also be divided unequally.The idea can be extended by providing multiple discrete positions for the input device 140. FIG. 4 cshows a corresponding relationship. Active areas 430- 445 show an example relationship between portions of the range of motion of the seat 115 and associated positions E 1-E 4 of the input device 140. It should also be noted here that the uniform division shown is purely exemplary and both movement regions can also be divided non-uniformly.Reference numerals denote reference numerals100 System 105 Motor vehicle 110 Chassis 115 Seat 120 Seat surface 125 Backrest 130 Adjusting device 135 Section 140 Input device 145 Projector, camera P 1 First position of the seat, first seat position P 2 Second position of the seat, second seat position E 1 First position of the input device, first input position E 2 Second position of the input device, second input position E 3 Further position of the input device, further input position E 4 Further position of the input device, further input position 205 first operating element 210 second operating element 300 method 305 actuation input device capture 310 seat move 315 desired or current position of the seat determine 320 corresponding position of the input device determine 325 input device into assigned position 405 first context 410 second context 415 third context 420 first active region 425 second active region 430 third active region 435 fourth active region 440 fifth active region 445 sixth active region

Claims

Seat adjuster for a seat (115) on board a motor vehicle (105), wherein the seat adjuster comprises the following elements: - an adjusting device (130) for moving the seat (115) between a first and a second position with respect to a chassis (110) of the motor vehicle (105); - an input device (140) on the chassis (110) for controlling a movement of the seat (115); - a device (145) for moving the input device (140) with respect to the chassis (110) such that a position of the input device (140) corresponds to the position of the seat (115).The seat adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the seat (115) comprises a longitudinally adjustable seat surface (120) and a backrest (125) adjustable in inclination relative to the seat surface (120), and a position of the seat (115) comprises a position of the seat surface (120) in the longitudinal direction and / or an inclination of the backrest (125) relative to the seat surface (120).The seat adjuster of claim 1 or 2, wherein the position of the seat (115) is related to a shoulder area (135) for a person located in the seat (115).Seat adjuster according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device (140) is moved relative to the chassis (110) in such a way that it is within reach of a person in the seat (115) depending on the position of the seat (115).Seat adjuster according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device (140) is moved in proportion to the position of the seat (115).Seat adjuster according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device (140) comprises a first operating element (205) assigned to the first position of the seat (115) and a second operating element (210) assigned to the second position of the seat (115); wherein the operating elements (205, 210) are spaced apart from one another; and a movement of the input device (140) is realized by deactivating one operating element (205, 210) and activating another operating element (205, 210).Seat adjustment according to Claim 6, wherein an active operating element (205, 210) is visually emphasized.Seat adjuster according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the input device (140) comprises a plurality of operating elements (205, 210) which are arranged along a predetermined curve.Seat adjuster according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device (140) comprises a projector (145) which is configured to project an operating element (205, 210) onto the chassis (110); and a camera (145) for detecting an actuation of the projected operating element (205, 210).Motor vehicle (105) comprising a seat (115) with a seat adjuster according to one of the preceding claims.Method (300) for adjusting a seat (115) on board a motor vehicle (105), the method comprising the following steps: - determining (315) a position of the seat (115) relative to a chassis (110) of the motor vehicle (105); - moving (325) an input device (140) for controlling a movement of the seat (115) to a position relative to the chassis (110), which corresponds to the position of the seat (115) relative to the chassis (110).The method of claim 11, wherein the input device (140) comprises a plurality of controls (205, 210) attached to the chassis (110) along a predetermined curve; and the input device (140) is moved by disabling one control (205, 210) and enabling another.

Images