Seating position adjustment system

Abstract

This system allows users to know in advance whether they can achieve a seating position that corresponds to their preferred driving position data in their desired vehicle model. [Solution] The seating position adjustment system includes a seating position adjustment device equipped with a seat, steering wheel, and pedals whose respective positions can be adjusted, as well as a display for showing a simulated view of the driver; a database storing package information representing the layout of each vehicle model; a determination device that determines whether the seating position corresponding to the driving position data can be taken in the vehicle model desired by the user, based on a combination of driving position data representing the adjustment results of the seat, steering wheel, and pedals obtained by the user using the seating position adjustment device and the package information of the vehicle model desired by the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seating position adjustment system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a driving position adjustment device for an automobile that automatically adjusts the driving position so that the view seen from the driver's seat of an automobile equipped with a driver's seat, a steering wheel, and driving operation pedals is substantially common regardless of the driver's physique, and the joint angles of the driver are stable without difficulty.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the prior art, depending on the physique and body shape of the driver, it may not be possible to secure a sufficiently comfortable view or take a driving position. In particular, for a small-sized occupant, it may not be possible to secure a forward view mainly at low speeds or just before stopping, and for a large-sized occupant, it may be forced into a cramped driving position.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a seating position adjustment system that can know in advance whether a seating position corresponding to driving position data suitable for a user can be taken in a vehicle type desired by the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The seating position adjustment system according to claim 1 includes a seating position adjustment device equipped with a seat, steering wheel, and pedals whose respective positions can be adjusted, and a display for displaying a simulated view of the driver; a database storing package information representing the layout of a vehicle for each vehicle model; a determination device that determines whether the user can take a seating position corresponding to the driving position data in a vehicle desired by the user, based on a combination of driving position data representing the adjustment results of the seat, steering wheel, and pedals obtained by the user using the seating position adjustment device and the package information of the vehicle desired by the user.

[0007] In the seating position adjustment system described in claim 1, the user sits on the seat of the seating position adjustment device and adjusts the seat, steering wheel, and pedals to a position suitable for the user. The determination device acquires driving position data from the seating position adjustment device that represents the adjustment results of the seat, steering wheel, and pedals.

[0008] The determination device obtains the package information for the vehicle model desired by the user from the database. The determination device determines, based on the combination of the driving position data and the package information for the vehicle model desired by the user, whether or not the user can assume the seating position corresponding to the driving position data in the vehicle model desired by the user.

[0009] The seating position adjustment system determines whether the user can achieve a seating position corresponding to the driving position data in the vehicle they desire, based on a combination of driving position data representing the adjustment results of the seat, steering wheel, and pedals acquired by the user using the seating position adjustment device, and package information of the vehicle they desire. Therefore, the system allows the user to know in advance whether they can achieve a seating position corresponding to their preferred driving position data in the vehicle they desire. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to know in advance whether a user can assume a seating position corresponding to driving position data suited to the user in the vehicle model they desire. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows a schematic configuration of the seating position adjustment system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the processing flow performed in the seating position adjustment system of this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is an illustrative diagram showing how to adjust the seating position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] (Overall structure) As shown in Figure 1, the seating position adjustment system 100 of this embodiment comprises a seating position adjustment device 10, a determination device, a server 40, and an on-board unit 52 mounted on a vehicle 50. The seating position adjustment device 10 and the determination device are connected by wire or wireless. The determination device 20, the server 40, and the on-board unit 52 are interconnected via a network N. In Figure 1, one vehicle 50 and one on-board unit 52 are shown for one server 40, but the number of vehicles 50 and on-board units 52 is not limited to this.

[0013] The seating position adjustment device 10, the determination device, and the server 40 are installed, for example, at the manufacturer of the vehicle 50, the car dealer, or any other business operator.

[0014] (Seat position adjustment device) The seating position adjustment device 10 includes a seat 12, a steering wheel 14, and pedals 16, each of which can be adjusted to different positions, as well as a display 18 for displaying a simulated view of the driver.

[0015] The seating position adjustment device 10 includes a control unit 19, and the control unit 19 adjusts the positions of the seat 12, the steering wheel 14, and the pedals 16 based on a position adjustment instruction from the user.

[0016] The display 18 is, for example, a touch panel display and can receive user input. The display 18 displays an input screen for inputting the user's physical information and receives the user's physical information by user operation.

[0017] (Determination device) The determination device 20 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage, and a communication I / F (Interface).

[0018] The determination device 20 determines whether the user can take a seating position corresponding to the driving position data from a combination of the driving position data representing the adjustment results of the seat 12, the steering wheel 14, and the pedals 16 obtained by the user using the seating position adjustment device 10 and the package information of the vehicle model desired by the user in the vehicle model desired by the user.

[0019] Specifically, the determination device 20 includes a package information database (DB) 22, an acquisition unit 24, an extraction unit 26, an information providing unit 28, a selection unit 30, a projection unit 32, and a storage unit 34.

[0020] The package information database (DB) 22 stores package information representing the layout of each vehicle model for each vehicle model.

[0021] The acquisition unit 24 acquires driving position data representing the adjustment results of the seat, the steering wheel, and the pedals obtained by the user using the seating position adjustment device 10.

[0022] The extraction unit 26 extracts candidate vehicles corresponding to the acquired driving position data based on the package information stored in the package information database 22.

[0023] The information providing unit 28 provides the user with the parts that become problems when the acquired driving position data is taken in the candidate vehicle, together with the extraction result by the extraction unit 26.

[0024] The selection unit 30 selects the vehicle type desired by the user from the extracted candidate vehicles by user operation.

[0025] The projection unit 32 projects the simulated field of view in the selected desired vehicle type onto the display 18 of the seating position adjustment device 10.

[0026] The storage unit 34 stores the finally obtained driving position data in the server 40.

[0027] (Server) The server 40 is configured to include a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a storage, and a communication I / F.

[0028] The server 40 transmits the stored driving position data to the in-vehicle device 52. In the in-vehicle device 52, based on the acquired driving position data, the positions of the seat, the steering wheel, and the pedals of the vehicle 50 are adjusted.

[0029] (Flow of control) The flow of the process executed by the seating position adjustment system 100 of the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 2.

[0030] First, in the seating position adjustment device 10, each process of steps S100 to S112 is executed. Assume that the user is sitting on the seat 12 of the seating position adjustment device 10. Also assume that physical information (for example, height, weight) indicating the user's physique is input to the seating position adjustment device 10.

[0031] In step S100, the control unit 19 accepts a general vehicle type selection from the user. Specifically, the control unit 19 displays a screen on the display 18 for accepting the selection of a general vehicle type (such as sedan / coupe / SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle)), and accepts the user's selection of the desired vehicle type.

[0032] In step S102, the control unit 19 makes a preliminary adjustment to the position of the seat 12 according to the selected vehicle type. Specifically, the control unit 19 adjusts the position of the seat 12 so that it has a predetermined seat angle and seat back angle according to the selected vehicle type.

[0033] In step S104, the control unit 19 adjusts the size of the seat 12 according to the input body size information. Specifically, the control unit 19 adjusts the size of the seat 12 so that the seat height, headrest height, and backrest shape are predetermined according to the input body size information.

[0034] In step S106, the control unit 19 adjusts the height of the seat 12 according to the selected vehicle type. Specifically, the control unit 19 adjusts the height of the seat 12 so that the hip point relative to the floor surface is at a predetermined height according to the selected vehicle type.

[0035] In step S108, the control unit 19 adjusts the position of the pedal 16 according to the input body size information. Specifically, the control unit 19 adjusts the position of the pedal 16 so that it is in a predetermined position according to the input body size information.

[0036] In step S110, the control unit 19 adjusts the position of the steering wheel 14 according to the adjustment instructions for the steering wheel 14 input by the user. Specifically, the user inputs adjustment instructions for the steering wheel 14 using the adjustment instruction unit (not shown) to achieve a comfortable driving posture, and the control unit adjusts the position of the steering wheel 14.

[0037] In step S112, the control unit 19 adjusts the position of the seat back and headrest of the seat 12 according to the adjustment instructions for the seat 12 input by the user. Specifically, the user inputs adjustment instructions for the seat back and headrest of the seat 12 using the adjustment instruction unit (not shown) to achieve a comfortable driving posture, and the control unit 19 adjusts the position of the seat back and headrest of the seat 12.

[0038] Next, the determination device 20 executes each of the processes in steps S114 to S126.

[0039] In step S114, the acquisition unit 24 acquires driving position data representing the adjustment results of the seat 12, steering wheel 14, and pedals 16, which were obtained by the user using the seat position adjustment device 10.

[0040] In step S116, the extraction unit 26 extracts candidate vehicles corresponding to the acquired driving position data based on the package information stored in the package information database 22.

[0041] In step S118, the information provision unit 28 provides the user with the extraction results from the extraction unit 26, along with the problematic areas in the candidate vehicle when acquiring driving position data.

[0042] In step S120, the selection unit 30 selects the vehicle model desired by the user from the extracted candidate vehicles based on user operation.

[0043] In step S122, the projection unit 32 projects a simulated view of the selected desired vehicle onto the display 18 of the seat position adjustment device 10. At this time, as shown in Figure 3, a simulated view of the vehicle in front, seen through the hood, is projected onto the display 18. Figure 3 shows an example where a driver with a height of 149 cm adjusts the position of the steering wheel 14 so that the waist is not cramped and the position of the pedals 16 so that the knees are not cramped, and the distance from the front of the vehicle to the point where the contact point between the tire and road surface of the vehicle in front is visible through the hood is approximately 7.2 m (0.5 s at 36 km / h), and when stopped at a traffic light, the upper edge of the bumper of the vehicle in front is visible. This shows an example where the driver judges that there is no discomfort because a wider following distance is maintained while driving. Furthermore, it shows an example where the position of the seat 12 is adjusted to raise the viewpoint in order to see closer objects more easily, and as a result, the contact point between the tire and road surface of the vehicle in front at a following distance of approximately 2.0 m is visible.

[0044] In step S124, the determination device 20 determines whether or not to terminate the process. For example, if the user inputs an instruction to terminate the process, it determines to terminate the process and proceeds to step S126. If the user inputs an instruction to change the desired vehicle, it returns to step S120. Also, if the user inputs an instruction to readjust the driving position, it returns to step S104.

[0045] In step S126, the storage unit 34 stores the finally obtained driving position data in the server 40.

[0046] Then, in the user's vehicle 50, when the user requests the driving position data stored for that user from the in-vehicle unit 52 to the server 40, the server 40 transmits the stored driving position data to the in-vehicle unit 52. Based on the acquired driving position data, the in-vehicle unit 52 adjusts the positions of the seat, steering wheel, and pedals in the vehicle 50.

[0047] (Summary of the embodiments) In the seating position adjustment system according to this embodiment, the system determines whether a seating position corresponding to the driving position data can be achieved in the vehicle desired by the user, based on a combination of driving position data representing the adjustment results of the seat, steering wheel, and pedals acquired by the user using a seating position adjustment device, and package information of the vehicle desired by the user. Therefore, it is possible to know in advance whether a seating position corresponding to the driving position data that suits the user can be achieved in the vehicle desired by the user. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 10. Seat position adjustment device 12 sheets 14 Steering 16 pedals 18 displays 20 Judgment device 50 vehicles 52 Onboard equipment 100 Seating position adjustment system

Claims

[Claim 1] A seating position adjustment device equipped with a seat, steering wheel, and pedals whose respective positions can be adjusted, and a display for showing a simulated view of the driver, A database containing package information representing the layout of each vehicle model, A determination device that determines whether the user can assume a seating position corresponding to the driving position data in the vehicle desired by the user, based on a combination of driving position data representing the adjustment results of the seat, steering wheel, and pedals obtained by the user using the seating position adjustment device and package information of the vehicle desired by the user. A seating position adjustment system including the seating position adjustment system.

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