Vehicle seat and seating arrangement in a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat (3) with a tilt-adjustable backrest (9) and / or with longitudinal seat adjustment. According to the invention, a sensor device (21) is integrated into the backrest (9) of the vehicle seat (3), which detects an approach to or collision with an obstacle (19), such as an object or a person, in the rear area of ​​the vehicle seat (3) when the backrest is tilted towards a lying position and / or when the seat is longitudinally adjusted backwards, and which, upon such detection, emits a signal (S K ) to interrupt the seat adjustment.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a tilt-adjustable backrest and / or with a seat longitudinal adjustment according to the preamble of claim 1 and a seat arrangement according to claim 9.

[0002] In a vehicle seat of this type with a tilt-adjustable backrest and longitudinal seat adjustment, the backrest can be adjusted to a comfortable position, particularly towards a reclining position. However, with such vehicle seats, there is a risk that the backrest may collide with an obstacle behind the seat during adjustment, such as a child seat, luggage, or a person. To prevent an unintentional collision with an obstacle located behind the vehicle, the vehicle seat of this type is equipped with an overload limiter. This device monitors the current draw of the backrest adjustment motor, so that if excessive resistance is encountered, further adjustment is stopped or reversed.

[0003] One problem with this type of vehicle seat is that the overforce detection only reacts indirectly to resistance and is therefore prone to malfunction. The current increase in the drive motor can also be caused by external factors, such as the vehicle's incline or the weight of the occupant. This makes reliable obstacle detection difficult and can lead to obstacles either not being detected in time or the seat adjustment being unnecessarily blocked. Furthermore, the overforce limitation requires that a considerable mechanical force is already being applied.

[0004] US Patent 11,623,597 B1 discloses a vehicle seat that has a backrest with one or more inflatable bladders. These bladders serve, on the one hand, to adjust the lumbar support during normal vehicle operation and, on the other hand, to pre-tension the backrest's comfort foam in the event of a collision, thus enabling earlier energy absorption by the underlying energy-absorbing material. The use of the bladders therefore primarily serves to protect the occupant in an accident and to improve seating comfort, but not to detect obstacles behind the backrest during recline adjustment.

[0005] From DE 10 2015 217 989 A1, a backrest is known that is equipped with a massage device implemented via an air chamber. This air chamber can also be used to influence the support properties of the backrest. Here, too, no sensor device is disclosed that serves to detect an impending collision with an object located behind the vehicle seat.

[0006] US patent 2017 / 0349068 A1 discloses a device for increasing the comfort of a vehicle seat, in which a sensor is integrated into the seat surface to detect the presence of a passenger. The integration of a sensor device into the backrest for detecting obstacles during a tilt adjustment is not disclosed therein.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle seat which, compared to the prior art, enables reliable and early detection of obstacles behind the backrest.

[0008] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1 or 9. Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0009] The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a tilt-adjustable backrest and / or with longitudinal seat adjustment. The backrest is designed such that it can be adjusted to a comfortable position, in particular towards a reclining position. According to the characterizing part of claim 1, the following measure is provided to enable reliable and early detection of obstacles in the rear area of ​​the backrest: A sensor device is integrated into the backrest which detects an approach to or collision with an obstacle located behind the vehicle seat when the backrest is tilted towards a reclining position and / or when the seat is longitudinally adjusted backwards. Furthermore, it is provided that the sensor device generates a signal upon such detection that prevents further tilt adjustment.

[0010] This measure enables the early detection of objects or people behind the seat back, thus preventing collisions. This significantly reduces the risk of damage to objects or injuries to people. Furthermore, reliable obstacle detection is ensured regardless of external factors such as vehicle tilt or the weight of the seat occupant. Integrating the sensor unit into the seat back allows for a compact design that requires no additional installation space.

[0011] In one design variant, the sensor can be positioned on the back of the backrest and / or extend across its entire surface. This results in particularly effective obstacle detection, as the back of the backrest defines the area that could potentially collide with objects when the backrest is tilted towards a reclining position. The sensor's surface area ensures uniform monitoring across the entire backrest, thus increasing detection reliability.

[0012] In another embodiment, the sensor system can include a control unit that, upon detecting an obstacle, generates a signal to stop or reverse the backrest adjustment. This enables an active response to a detected hazard. This not only prevents further advancement of the backrest but, if necessary, also initiates an automatic reversal to increase the distance to the obstacle.

[0013] In one technical implementation, the sensor device can be designed as a pressure sensor that detects mechanical deformation resulting from a collision with an obstacle in the rear area of ​​the vehicle seat. Such a pressure sensor enables particularly robust and reliable obstacle detection, as it reacts immediately to a force and therefore operates independently of electrical interference.

[0014] In another version, the sensor device can be designed as a force or pressure sensor. This allows for flexible adaptation of the sensor technology to different vehicle concepts and seat designs. Depending on the requirements, either point-based force sensors or area-based pressure sensors can be used to ensure reliable obstacle detection.

[0015] In another variation, the sensor unit can be integrated directly into or beneath the backrest cover. This results in a particularly space-saving arrangement of the sensors, eliminating any additional installation space requirements in the backrest area. Furthermore, the cover protects the sensor unit, making it less susceptible to mechanical damage.

[0016] In one specific embodiment, the sensor device can be designed as a bladder mat that detects a pressure increase in the event of mechanical deformation resulting from a collision with an obstacle in the rear area of ​​the seat back. The bladder mat enables particularly broad and sensitive obstacle detection. It reacts even to minor deformations, thus allowing early detection before greater forces are applied. The bladder mat can have a fluid-filled cavity coupled to a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor can be designed to detect a pressure change in the cavity when the seat back encounters or approaches an obstacle located in the rear area of ​​the vehicle seat during a tilt adjustment.In this way, a particularly precise and fast detection of pressure changes within the cavity is provided, so that obstacle detection works with high reliability.

[0017] The invention further relates to a seating arrangement in a vehicle, with at least two vehicle seats arranged one behind the other, wherein the front vehicle seat is a vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims. In this configuration, the sensor device according to the invention is integrated into the front seat, so that a collision of the backrest with an object or a small child located in the footwell between the two vehicle seats can be avoided.

[0018] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0019] They show: Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 views each, illustrating the structure and function of the seating arrangement according to the invention.

[0020] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a seating arrangement in the interior of a vehicle 1, to the extent necessary for understanding the invention. The seating arrangement consists of a front vehicle seat 3 and a rear vehicle seat 5, arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. Each of the two vehicle seats 3, 5 has a seat section 7 and a backrest 9.

[0021] In the figure, the front vehicle seat 3 is equipped with an electric seat adjustment 11, which includes a tilt adjustment of the backrest 9 and a longitudinal seat adjustment. An electronic control unit 13 is in signal communication with an adjustment motor 15 integrated into the vehicle seat 3. A user input signal S EThe electronic control unit 13 controls the adjustment motor 15 to adjust the backrest tilt in the front vehicle seat 3 and / or to adjust the seat longitudinally backwards. As shown in the Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 1, an object 19 is arranged in the footwell 17 between the two vehicle seats 3, 5.

[0022] A key aspect of the invention is that a sensor device 21 is integrated into the backrest 9 of the front vehicle seat 3. When the backrest 9 is tilted towards a reclining position, the sensor device 21 detects an unintentional collision with the object 19 at an early stage. The sensor device 21 is in signal communication with a signal generation unit 23. If the sensor device 21 detects such a collision hazard, a collision signal S is generated in the signal generation unit 23. Kgenerated and forwarded to the electronic control unit 13. This interrupts the tilt adjustment or the seat longitudinal adjustment, thereby protecting the object 19 located in the footwell 17 from damage.

[0023] A key aspect of the invention relates to the design of the sensor device 21 as a planar measuring mat in the form of a so-called bladder mat. This extends, like a surface sensor, over the entire rear surface 25 of the backrest 9 of the front vehicle seat 3. By means of the bladder mat 21, a pressure increase can be detected in the event of mechanical deformation resulting from a collision with the object 19 in the footwell 17.

[0024] The bladder mat 21 is integrated directly into or immediately beneath the cover 22 of the backrest 9 in the figure. As can be seen from the schematic detail view of the Fig.As can be seen from Figure 2, the bladder mat 21 has at least one fluid-filled cavity 27. This cavity is coupled to a pressure sensor 29. The pressure sensor 29 is designed such that a pressure change in the cavity 27 is detected when the backrest 9 comes into contact with the object 1) located in the footwell 17 during the tilt adjustment.

[0025] The bladder mat 21 is a component typically filled with gel, the upper and lower layers of which may be welded together for stabilization. The gel located in the cavity 27 of the bladder mat 21 is typically connected to the pressure sensor 29 via a pressure hose 28. The pressure at the pressure sensor 29 is evaluated in the evaluation unit 23 to draw conclusions about a possible collision with an object located behind the vehicle seat 3. REFERENCE MARK LIST: 1 Vehicle interior 3. Front vehicle seat 5 rear vehicle seat 7 Seat section 9 Backrest 11 electric tilt adjustment 13 electronic control unit 15 Adjustment motor 17 Footwell 19 Item 21 Sensor device (bladder mat) 22 Reference 23 Signal generation unit 25 Back of the backrest 27 fluid-filled cavity 28 Pressure hose 29 Pressure sensor S E user input-side signal S K Collision signal x Vehicle longitudinal direction QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 11,623,597 B1

[0004] DE 10 2015 217 989 A1

[0005] US 2017 / 0349068 A1

[0006]

Claims

[1] Vehicle seat (3) with a tilt-adjustable backrest (9) and / or with a seat longitudinal adjustment, characterized by , that a sensor device (21) is integrated into the backrest (9) of the vehicle seat (3), which detects an approach to or collision with an obstacle (19), such as an object or a person, in the rear area of ​​the vehicle seat (3) when the seat is tilted towards a lying position and / or when its longitudinal position is adjusted backwards, and which emits a signal (S) upon such detection K ) to interrupt the seat adjustment. [2] Vehicle seat (3) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the sensor device (21) is located on the back (25) of the backrest (9). [3] Vehicle seat (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, in particular the sensor device (21) is designed as a surface sensor or as a flat measuring mat which extends over the back (25) of the backrest (9). [4] Vehicle seat (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the sensor device (21) is designed as a pressure sensor device by means of which a mechanical deformation resulting from a collision with an obstacle (19) in the rear area of ​​the vehicle seat (3) is detected. [5] Vehicle seat (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensor device (21) is designed as a force or pressure sensor. [6] Vehicle seat (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensor device (21) is integrated directly in or immediately under the cover (22) of the backrest (9). [7] Vehicle seat (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the sensor device (21) is designed as a bladder mat which detects a pressure increase in the rear area of ​​the vehicle seat (3) in the event of mechanical deformation as a result of a collision with an obstacle (19). [8] Vehicle seat (3) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the bladder mat (21) has at least one fluid-filled cavity (27) coupled to a pressure sensor (29), and that the pressure sensor (29) is designed such that a change in pressure in the cavity (27) is detected when the backrest (9) encounters an obstacle (19) located in the rear area of ​​the vehicle seat (3) during an adjustment of the tilt. [9] Seating arrangement in a vehicle, comprising at least two vehicle seats (3, 5) arranged one behind the other, the front vehicle seat (3) being a vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims

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