Method for adapting massage sequences to different types of seats
A parametric calculation model adjusts massage sequences based on seat type and component characteristics, ensuring consistent massage effects and preventing overload, enhancing adaptability and user customization.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2025007528
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-07-03
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing massage systems in vehicles require time-based control of pneumatic components without feedback, leading to inefficient adaptation to different seat types and components, resulting in varying massage effects and potential component overload.
A method using a parametric calculation model to determine the degree of filling of air cushions based on seat type, compressor power, and valve characteristics, allowing for continuous adjustment of massage sequences to achieve desired pressure levels and prevent component overload.
Enables seamless adaptation of massage sequences across different seat types, reducing development effort and preventing component overload, while allowing for user-defined programs and improved interchangeability.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Method for adapting massage sequences to different types of seats
[0001] In means of transport, refillable elastic cushions are increasingly used to mold the contours of seats. These allow for individual adaptation of the seats to the occupants. For this purpose, the elastic cushions are generally filled with air. However, any other fluid or gas is also possible. Originally available in expensive means of transport, this equipment is now found in the mid-range and lower price segments.
[0002] In the presence of such air cushions, which can be filled using compressors via controllable valves, it is also possible to control alternating filling and emptying processes to implement massage functions. Pneumatic massage functions generally use a plurality of air cushions in the seat back, which are cyclically filled and emptied to represent a dynamic force effect similar to a manual massage. The objective here is to obtain prespecified pressure sequences in the individual air cushions. Currently, the control is generally purely time-based, i.e., without feedback from a pressure sensor.If a new massage sequence is created, if an existing massage sequence is intended to be transferred to a different seat, or if the components used are changed (e.g., a compressor with a different power rating or valves with a different cross-section), the control times must be determined experimentally again in each case.
[0003] DE 10 2010 063 136 B4 describes a pneumatic system in which the pressure of the container is determined using a mathematical model.
[0004] DE 10 2011 122 392 Al describes a pressure model based on characteristic curves. The effect of all the components of an air filling, holding, and venting system is represented in a single characteristic curve. This means that it is not possible to affect individual components or to perform partial parameterization when changes are made to a part of the system.
[0005] DE 10 2018 209 386 B3 also describes a pressure model, which uses a simplified calculation of the physical behavior of pneumatic components.
[0006] DE 20 2020 105 243 U1 describes a massage system in which the sequence command is executed on a central computer in the vehicle and can also receive updates from an external server.
[0007] The drawback of this latter massage system is that the timing sequence of the massage command instructions must be precisely adapted to the type of seat installed in the vehicle. Otherwise, different integrated pneumatic components (compressor, valves, flexible hoses, air cushions, etc.) as well as seat characteristics (e.g., padding, cover, seams) would result in a different massage effect and, in some circumstances, also overload the components.
[0008] Furthermore, in the future, massage sequences should be booked as a service, for example, or created by end customers themselves and exchanged with other end customers. All of this increases the number of available massage sequences and consequently the (usually experimental) effort required to adapt each individual massage sequence to every possible type of seat.
[0009] The invention therefore aims to provide a simplified method for adapting massage sequences to different types of seats.
[0010] The objective is achieved by a process as defined below. Other advantageous developments and embodiments are also described below.
[0011] The objective is achieved by a method of adapting massage sequences to different types of seats, which have a number of airbags arranged at specified locations in the seat, each airbag being connected, via a controllable valve assigned to it, to a compressor for filling with a fluid and to the environment for deflation, each valve being connected to a control unit, which is designed to control the valve using control signals such that an assigned airbag is fluidly connected via the valve to the compressor for filling or to the environment for deflation, having a parametric calculation model, which can determine the properties of the airbags at least with regard to the time frame in which a specified degree of filling is reached, depending at least on their location in the vehicle seat,of the compressor power and their size, in order to then continuously determine the degree of filling of a cushion, the calculation model being connected to the control unit to receive the control signals for the valves as input variables and to provide the control unit with a signal that represents the degree of filling of a cushion, the control unit determining the control signals for a valve as a function of the signal for the degree of filling of the affected cushion determined by the calculation model, at least the following steps being carried out: ,
[0012] parameterization of the calculation model for a specific type of seat,
[0013] reading in the target values of each step of a massage sequence by the unit order and supply output of order instructions based on the the degree of infill estimated by the calculation model during the massage sequence, the target values of a step including at least the duration of a command instruction and the desired degree of infill of a cushion,
[0014] shortening the duration of a command instruction for filling a cushion, if necessary, relative to the target value for each step of a massage sequence, so as not to exceed a specified degree of filling.
[0015] A massage sequence consists of steps, which in turn contain at least one duration and one intensity (for example, the pressure to be applied to a cushion). Holding phases and pauses may also be specified. Optionally, a specific area or position of a cushion in a seat may also be included for each step.
[0016] All seats of a particular type use the same components such as cushions, compressors, valves, fluid lines, etc. for all components involved in the massage.
[0017] The calculation model is parameterized for the respective seat type. This model continuously estimates the degree of infill of the individual massage air chambers or cushions based on the control conditions and possibly environmental and usage conditions. The calculation model is designed to provide sufficiently accurate values even with a wide variety of seating loads (e.g., body sizes).
[0018] The target values of each step of the massage sequence are read by the control unit and the control instructions are provided as output to the valves for filling and emptying a cushion according to the degree of filling estimated by the calculation model, so that the target values are reached as best as possible.
[0019] The calculation is performed continuously during the execution of a massage sequence. In this case, according to the invention, the duration of the filling control instructions for each step is shortened, if necessary, so that a specified degree of filling is simply not exceeded.
[0020] In one design of the process, the calculation model continuously estimates the degree of filling of the individual massage air chambers also as a function of environmental and usage conditions, which allows for a higher degree of accuracy.
[0021] In a design of the process, in the case where, in a step, the degree of filling is reached in a period of time earlier than specified, a start of a subsequent step, which is intended to start at the instant in which the degree of filling is reached, is also started earlier.
[0022] This means that an air cushion can start to be filled earlier if a prior filling of a cushion is carried out more quickly, so that the compressor can operate without interruption.
[0023] In a development, this earlier start can only take place if the time period is less than a specified value.
[0024] In another design or development, in the case where, in a step, the degree of filling is reached earlier than specified, and the next step is not intended to start until after a pause, the pause may be extended until the specified start of the next step.
[0025] The attainment of the degree of filling may be followed by a maintenance phase which lasts until the specified time at which the specified degree of filling is reached.
[0026] In yet another design or development, in the case where, in a step, the degree of filling is reached in a period of time later than specified, a start of a subsequent step, which is intended to start at the moment when the degree of filling is reached, may also be started later.
[0027] In one design of the method, in the case where fewer cushions are present in a type of seat than those provided for in a massage sequence, massage steps can be applied to the nearest adjacent cushions.
[0028] In one design of the method, in the case where fewer cushions are present in a type of seat than those provided for in a massage sequence, massage steps for the excess cushions are omitted.
[0029] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to examples of embodiments using figures, in which
[0030] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] illustrates a schematic representation of a (vehicle) seat featuring the components necessary for a massage function,
[0031] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] illustrates a simple massage sequence according to specified target durations and target degrees of filling,
[0032] [Fig. 3] [Fig. 3] illustrates a simple massage sequence with filling and emptying times adapted to a different seat type using a calculation model and
[0033] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] illustrates an application for transmitting massage sequences to different types of seats.
[0034] Possible embodiments of the invention are described below. When reference is made here to the degree of filling of an air cushion, this also means the pressure or the volume, the mass of the air in the air cushion or the geometric stroke of the air cushion.
[0035] When the term positioning speed is used, this means, for example, a pressure gradient, a compressor speed / voltage / power, a volumetric or mass flow rate as well as an adjustable preliminary pressure.
[0036] Figure 1 illustrates the schematic diagram of a vehicle seat featuring a Komp compressor, which can pump air into the air cushions LK assigned to it via valves V. Where air is mentioned here, it can also refer to any gas or other fluid, or to a gas or other fluid. The valves V are controlled by a control unit SE with control instructions Bef and Ent, whereby a valve, or possibly a plurality of valves V, can receive a fill instruction Bef to connect an assigned air cushion LK to the Komp compressor via valve V, or a discharge instruction Ent to connect an air cushion LK to the environment via the assigned valve V. The control instructions represent the instructions actually executed.
[0037] The vehicle seat has a calculation model BM for calculating the degree of filling FG of, typically, a plurality of air cushions LK. This model can estimate the degree of filling FG based at least on the valve actuation times, which are determined from the control instructions Bef, Ent, and the seat parameters P, as well as from the compressor power KOMP. A single set of parameters P is predetermined for each seat type, which can then be used for all seats of the same type and is entered into the calculation model BM. The calculation model BM can also be part of the control unit SE and, in particular, be implemented by a program to be executed in a processor. A neural network or artificial intelligence can also be used.
[0038] The SE control unit can specify the target values of the pressure in the cushion and / or the times of filling and emptying, so that the Bef, Ent control instructions can also be executed accordingly depending on the degree of filling FG determined by the calculation model BM.
[0039] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a short massage sequence with four steps, in which, for each step, a target duration and a target degree of inflation are defined. Pauses can also be introduced. Different values can be specified for each step and each LK air cushion, depending on the typical or expected behavior of the seat, the LK air cushion, the V-valves, and the air supply (KOMP compressor), and depending on the desired massage effect.
[0040] The individual steps are as follows:
[0041] • Step A: at time (1), the air cushion X must begin to fill.
[0042] • Step B: as soon as the air cushion X has reached the target degree of filling (instant 2), it begins to empty due to activation by the SE control unit (until moment 3). Simultaneously, the Y air cushion begins to fill so that the KOMP compressor can operate without interruption.
[0043] • Pause: as soon as the air cushion Y has reached the target degree of filling (instant 4), it begins to empty due to activation by the SE control unit. A pause is inserted until the next step, during which, for example, the KOMP compressor is at rest (moments 4 to 5).
[0044] • Step C: The air cushion Z is filled to a lower target filling level specified (times 5 to 6).
[0045] • Step D: filling of air cushion Y begins immediately after (Time 6). At this time, it is not yet completely emptied. The time period (6 to 8) is therefore specified to be shorter than in step B (times 2 to 4).
[0046] In [Fig.3], an example is now illustrated, describing, for another type of seat and therefore for other values (parameters) for the cross-sections of the valves and air ducts, the compressor power, etc., how the degrees of filling estimated with a calculation model BM affect the control instructions derived from them by the control unit SE:
[0047] • Step A: Air cushion X is filled more rapidly than specified. This advances the end of the filling process from time (2) to time (2a).
[0048] • Step B: in order to avoid a pause that is far too short (from time 2a to time 2) for The KOMP compressor, the start of step B is also advanced to time (2a). The air cushion Y also fills faster than specified (up to time 4a).
[0049] • Pause: the pause is extended (from time 4a to time 5) in order to be synchronized again with the instant specified at instant (5).
[0050] • Step C: Air cushion Z fills more slowly than specified. This delays the end of the filling process from time (6) to time (6a).
[0051] • Step D: therefore, the air cushion Y can only be refilled at starting from time (6a). The BM calculation model takes into account that the air cushion Y is already completely depleted at this stage. This shifts the time at which the target filling level is reached from time (8) to time (8a) (despite a faster filling).
[0052] The filling and emptying sequences of the air cushions X, Y, Z illustrated in [Fig. 3], based on control instructions for the valves V assigned to the air cushions X, Y, Z, illustrate a possible behavior of the process in online operation. In this case, it is possible to react retrospectively to deviations in the seat type from the specified target values – after the calculation of the degree of filling FG by the calculation model BM - for example by time shift.
[0053] Using the aforementioned process, massage programs can be freely exchanged between seats that have the same number of air cushions and a similar arrangement.
[0054] By means of an optional zone or position specification (for example, by means of uniform coordinates within the seat) for each step, massage programs can also be executed on seats with a different number or arrangement of air cushions. All steps are assigned here to the air cushions located closest to their position. It is also possible to skip steps for non-existent positions.
[0055] For example, a wave massage sequence (i.e., the air cushions are filled vertically one after the other) can therefore be adapted to the actual number of air cushions. If 6 air cushions (numbers 1 to 6) are specified in such a massage sequence, but the seat only has 4 air cushions, the following assignment can be made, for example:
[0056] • Specification of air cushion 1 -> air cushion 1 in the seat
[0057] • Air cushion 2 specification -> Air cushion 2 in the seat
[0058] • Air cushion specification 3 -> jump
[0059] • Specification of air cushion 4 -> air cushion 3 in the seat
[0060] • Air cushion specification 5 -> jump
[0061] • Air cushion specification 6 -> air cushion 4 in the seat
[0062] It is possible to choose to keep the (average) duration of each step or the total duration of the sequence.
[0063] Figure 4 illustrates an example of a possible application of the method for different use cases. An external memory (or server) S in the form of a database is connected to a plurality of vehicles, in which seats of different types U, V, W are installed. The database S stores universally applicable massage programs.
[0064] For each U, V, W seat or each vehicle, there is a PS program memory for storing one or more universally applicable massage programs. In addition, each vehicle has a calculation model MU, MV, MW, which is parameterized for the respective U, V, W seat type. Finally, an ST controller executes the resulting control instructions on the respective seat.
[0065] Different use cases are described below:
[0066] • The user N of the vehicle with seat type U creates or edits his own massage program in its PS program memory and downloads it to upstream to the server S. On the individual seat, the massage program is adapted to the seat type U by the calculation model MU and is executed by the controller ST.
[0067] • The user of the vehicle with seat type V downloads programs The massage program is stored from the server S in its program memory PS (for example, the one created by user N). On the individual seat, the massage program is adapted to the seat type V by the calculation model MV and is executed by the controller ST.
[0068] • The user of the vehicle with seat type W also downloads massage programs from server S are downloaded to or uploaded to server S. On the individual seat, the massage program is adapted to the seat type W by the calculation model MW and is executed by the ST controller.
[0069] • The vehicle manufacturer E (or a fleet operator or a service provider of services) creates additional universal massage programs and stores them on the S server so that users of different vehicles can download them into their PS program memory.
[0070] The process described above has the advantage of improved interchangeability of massage programs between seats of different types and allows new configuration options for end customers, for their vehicles, thanks to individually selected massage programs.
[0071] It is no longer necessary to adjust the massage programs to the types of seats used (or to the vehicle / seat manufacturer). This significantly reduces the development effort for new massage programs.
[0072] This protects the pneumatic components against overload in the case of user-defined or third-party massage programs.
Claims
1. Demands A method for adapting massage sequences to different types of seats, which have a number of airbags (LK) arranged at specified locations in the seat, each airbag (LK) being connected, via an assigned controllable valve (V), to a compressor (Komp) for filling with a fluid and to the environment for deflation, each valve (V) being connected to a control unit (SE), which is designed to control the valve (V) using control signals (Bef, Ent) such that an assigned airbag (LK) is fluidically connected via the valve (V) to the compressor (Komp) for filling or to the environment for deflation, having a parametric calculation model (BM), which can determine the properties of the airbags (LK) at least with respect to the time interval in which a specified degree of filling (FG) is reached,based at least on their location in the vehicle seat, the compressor power (Komp) and their size, in order to then continuously determine the degree of fill (FG) of a cushion (LK), the calculation model (BM) being connected to the control unit (SE) to receive the control signals (Bef, Ent) for the valves (V) as input variables and to provide the control unit (SE) with a signal that represents the degree of fill (FG) of a cushion (LK), the control unit (SE) determining the control signals (Bef, Ent) for a valve (V) based on the signal for the degree of fill (FG) of the affected cushion (LK) determined by the calculation model, at least the following steps being carried out: parameterization of the calculation model (BM) for a specific seat type, reading of the target values (ZW) of each step of a massage sequence by the control unit (SE) and provision of the output control instructions (Bef,Ent) depending on the degree of filling (FG) estimated by the calculation model (BM) during the massage sequence, the target values (ZW) of a step comprising at least the duration of a command instruction (Bef, Ent) and the desired degree of filling (FG) of a cushion (LK), shortening the duration of a command instruction (Bef, Ent) for filling a cushion (LK), if necessary, relative to the target value (ZW) for each step of a massage sequence, so as not to exceed a specified degree of filling (FG).
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the calculation model (BM) continuously estimates the degree of filling (FG) of the individual massage air chambers also as a function of environmental and usage conditions.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the case where, in a step, the degree of filling (FG) is reached in a period of time earlier than specified, a start of a subsequent step, which is intended to start at the instant in which the degree of filling (FG) is reached, is also started earlier.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the earlier start-up only occurs if the time period is less than a specified value.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the case where, in a step, the degree of filling (FG) is reached earlier than specified, and where the next step is not intended to start until after a pause, the pause is extended until the specified start of the next step.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the attainment of the degree of filling (FG) is followed by a holding phase which lasts until the specified time at which the specified degree of filling (FG) is attained.
7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the event that, in a step, the degree of filling (FG) is reached in a period of time later than specified, a start of a subsequent step, which is intended to begin at the instant in which the degree of filling (FG) is reached, is also started later.
8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the case where fewer cushions (LK) are present in a type of seat than those provided for in a massage sequence, massage steps are applied to the nearest adjacent cushions (LK).
9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the case where fewer cushions (LK) are present in a type of seat than those provided in a massage sequence, massage steps for excess cushions (LK) are omitted.