Vehicle Seat Coordination Control for Interference-Free Movement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat control systems face challenges in preventing interference between seats, particularly in autonomous vehicles, due to limited network communication and the use of single controllers for each seat, leading to potential errors and difficulties in integrated control.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat control apparatus and method that calculates interference coordinates for each seat, determines potential collisions, and uses a centralized controller to selectively control seat movements, integrating all seats using a coordinate logic to prevent or avoid interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If CAN communication is used to share seat position information, then seat interference can be detected, but system reliability deteriorates due to network errors and single controller limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat control reliabilityVSAvoidcontroller architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual seat controllers into a single integrated controller that manages all seat positions centrally. This unified controller eliminates the need for complex CAN communication between multiple controllers, reducing network error risks and improving system reliability while simplifying the overall controller architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated controller serves multiple functions: it calculates interference coordinates for all seats, determines potential collisions, and selectively controls multiple seats simultaneously. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate controllers and communication protocols, enhancing reliability while managing complexity through consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If individual controllers are used for each seat, then each seat can be controlled independently, but integrated control becomes difficult and coordination between seats is problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat control operationVSAvoidintegrated control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual seat control functions into a single integrated controller that can independently control each seat while coordinating their movements. This unified approach maintains the ease of independent seat control while enabling integrated control capabilities for preventing interference and managing multiple seats simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated controller continuously monitors the positions of all seats and uses feedback to calculate interference coordinates and adjust seat movements in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables coordinated control of multiple seats while maintaining independent controllability, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and integrated control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Extent of automation

If seat positions are adjusted automatically in autonomous vehicles, then convenience is improved, but interference and collisions between seats increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat adjustment automationVSAvoidseat interference and collision
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent calculates interference coordinates for all seats in advance before automatic seat adjustment is executed. By determining potential collision zones beforehand and using this information to plan seat movements, the system can automatically adjust seats while preventing interference and collisions, thus maintaining automation convenience while eliminating harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated controller continuously monitors actual seat positions during automatic adjustment and compares them against calculated interference coordinates. This real-time feedback allows the system to detect and correct potential interference situations, enabling safe automatic seat adjustment in autonomous vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4403411A1Vehicle seat control apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 HYUNDAI TRANSYS INC
  • EP4403411A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4403411A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4403411A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle seat control apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a coordinate calculating unit which calculates an interference coordinate based on a current position of a motion seat, among a plurality of seats in a vehicle; a position determining unit which determines whether the motion seat and the other seat interfere with each other using the interference coordinate; and a controller which selectively controls the motion seat or the other seat depending on whether the motion seat and the other seat interfere with each other.