Vehicle Seat Control for Collision Avoidance During Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat control systems do not effectively prevent collisions between an occupant's body parts and vehicle components, such as the steering wheel or B-pillar, during seat rotation and longitudinal adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the storage of an initial seat position, sequential displacement and rotation of the seat shell in a controlled movement sequence to maximize clearance from the steering wheel and B-pillar, potentially incorporating steering wheel adjustment and integration with other vehicle drives like door openers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat shell is rotated to facilitate occupant entry and exit, then ease of operation is improved, but body parts may collide with vehicle parts such as the steering wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary actions by first displacing the seat shell in the longitudinal direction away from the steering wheel before rotating it. This preliminary longitudinal displacement creates sufficient clearance to prevent collision between the occupant's knees and the steering wheel during the subsequent rotation operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and collision risk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the seat shell is displaced longitudinally to avoid collision with the steering wheel, then collision risk is reduced, but the distance to the B-pillar increases reducing entry convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The control system employs dynamic motion planning that combines longitudinal displacement and rotation in a coordinated sequence. After the initial longitudinal displacement to avoid the steering wheel, the system rotates the seat shell while simultaneously adjusting the longitudinal position to optimize the distance to the B-pillar. This dynamic adjustment ensures minimal clearance to the B-pillar for entry convenience while maintaining sufficient clearance from the steering wheel to prevent collision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a complex movement sequence is implemented to prevent collisions, then collision risk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system utilizes feedback from position detection devices that monitor the real-time location of the seat shell and the spatial relationship with surrounding vehicle components. Based on this feedback, the control system automatically adjusts the movement sequence parameters, such as the extent of longitudinal displacement and rotation angle, to prevent collisions. This feedback mechanism enables the system to implement complex collision-prevention strategies without requiring manual intervention or overly complicated control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for controlling a longitudinally adjustable and rotatable vehicle seat with upper rails guided in lower rails, motors for respectively driving the upper rails and a seat shell. An aligned displacement of the upper rails relative to the lower rails displaces the seat shell in a straight line. A displacement of the first upper rail relative to the second upper rail rotates the seat shell about a vertical axis. An initial position is stored. The seat shell is moved in a straight line out of the initial position into a starting position. From the starting position the seat shell is rotated by a first angle into an intermediate position. The seat shell is moved in a straight line in the direction of travel into a first central position. The seat shell is rotated by a second angle into an end position.