Method for controlling an adjuster on a motor vehicle

• US 20040257019A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Inventors: Rosch, Thomas, Fuchs, Thorsten, Steiner, Michael, Carl, Ingo, Woller, Alexander, Schiegel, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 6,943,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0226 User interfaces specially adapted for seat adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0277 characterised by the calculation method or calculation flow chart of sensor data for adjusting the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/14 Inductive; Magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling an adjuster on a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle seat adjustment, with at least one adjustment range between a first stop and a second stop. An adjustment position for the adjuster may be set within the adjustment range by means of a user action, said adjustment position determined within the adjustment range and a protective stop set in the adjustment path, which, depending on the adjuster position, triggers a reduction in the adjustment energy, in particular to stop the adjustment movement in the vicinity of a mechanical block for the adjustment movement. According to the invention, in order to correct the position of the protective stop, a new protective stop is set, which may not be inactivated by a user action, when a condition, dependent on the adjuster motion of the adjuster device is fulfilled.

Claims

1. Method for controlling an adjuster in a motor vehicle, more particularly a vehicle seat adjuster which has at least one adjusting path between a first mechanical stop and a second mechanical stop, wherein

an adjustment position of the adjuster can be set inside the adjusting path through a user action

the relevant adjustment position inside the adjusting path is determined and

a protective stop is set in the adjusted path which in dependence on the adjustment position triggers a reduction in the adjusting energy, more particularly for stopping the adjusting motion in the region of a mechanical block of the adjusting motion

characterised in that

in order to correct the position of the protective stop a new protective stop which cannot be inactivated by the user action is set when a condition which is dependent on the adjusting motion of the adjuster is met.

2. Method according to claim 1 characterised in that the protective stop can be inactivated through an evaluator logic which evaluates the individual adjusting results of the adjusting motion.

3. Method according to claim 2 characterised in that the inactivation of the protective stop is undertaken on the basis of the evaluation of the history of the adjusting results.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that as adjusting results of the adjusting motion are evaluated those results which cause stopping of the adjusting motion.

5. Method according to claim 1 characterised in that as adjusting results of the adjusting motion are evaluated those results which correspond to a starting of the adjusting motion and/or those adjusting results which correspond to a change in the direction of the adjusting motion.

6. Method according to claim 1 characterised in that the location, time and/or number of individual adjusting results of the adjusting motion are used as the conditions dependent on the adjusting motion.

7. Method according to claim 1 for stopping the adjusting motion of the adjuster in the region of a mechanical block of the adjusting motion, more particularly for stopping the adjusting motion of the adjuster in the region of the protective stop, characterised in that in addition to setting the protective stop a learning region is determined which is associated with this protective stop in that the range limits of the learning region are determined in dependence on a position characteristic, more particularly on the position of at least one of the stops, and in the event of a need for correction of the position of this protective stop the setting of a new protective stop is permitted, if a position value which is associated in particular with the new protective stop or the associated mechanical stop lies within this learning range.

8. Method according to claim 7 characterised in that in order to determine the learning range a blocking of the adjusting motion at one of the mechanical stops is determined and the range limits of the learning range are calculated in dependence on the adjusting position associated with the blocking of the adjusting motion.

9. Method according to claim 8 characterised in that the range limits are calculated so that the blocking position lies on or within the range limits.

10. Method according to one of claims 7 and 9 characterised in that a first learning range is assigned to the first mechanical stop and a second learning range is assigned to the second mechanical stop, and between the first learning range and the second learning range is a locking range whereby the setting of a new protective stop assigned to one of the mechanical stops is prevented in the locking range.

11. Method according to claim 10 characterised in that at least one of the set protective stops is deactivated if a blocking of the adjusting motion is determined within the locking range.

12. Method according to claim 8 characterised in that learning ranges and set protective stops are deactivated if an adjustment position is determined outside of the hitherto learning ranges and the locking range.

13. Method according to claim 10 characterised in that the distance between a first protective stop of the first mechanical stop and a second protective stop of the second mechanical stop is compared with a minimum distance and at least one of the protective stops is changed if the distance is equal to or less than the minimum distance.

14. Method according to claim 13 characterised in that both protective stops and the associated learning ranges are deactivated if the distance is equal to or less than the minimum distance.

15. Method according to claim 13 characterised in that the minimum distance is predetermined for an adjuster and is retrieved for the comparison from a non-volatile memory.

16. Method according to claim 13 characterised in that the minimum distance is calculated from a measured maximum adjusting path.

17. Method according to claim 7 characterised in that the adjusting speed is reduced at least inside the learning ranges.

18. Method according to claim 7 characterised in that protective stops and learning ranges are calculated in a computer unit and then stored in a non-volatile memory.

19. Method according to claim 7 characterised in that in dependence on determining a first position of the first protective stop assigned to the first mechanical stop a second position is determined of the second protective stop assigned to the second mechanical stop.

20. Method according to claim 19 characterised in that in the event of a need to correct the position of one of the protective stops

the error in the position of this protective stop is determined

the desired position of this protective stop is determined and this is corrected and

in dependence on this actual position the position of the other protective stop assigned to the other mechanical stop is determined and corrected.

21. Method according to claim 19 characterised in that the adjustment position is assigned to a position value which is changed for association in dependence on the adjustment of the adjuster, the position value is corrected if a shift in the position value relative to the actual adjustment position is determined, and for correction the actual position value changed in position relative to the position of at least one protective stop is set to this actual adjustment position.

22. Method according to one of claims 19 and 21 characterised in that for correction the actual position value is set to this actual adjustment position whereby the position value is changed relative to the positions of the first protective stop and second protective stop which are dependent on each other.

23. Method according to claim 21 characterised in that to assign the adjustment position to the position value the position value is a numerical value which is incremented or decremented in dependence on the drive motion of a drive of the adjuster.

24. Method according to claim 21 characterised in that the position of the first protective stop and the position of the second protective stop are stored as values which are invariable for the correction.

25. Method according to claim 21 characterised in that the correction of the position value is calculated in dependence on an adjustment position belonging to the blocking of the adjusting motion so that the first protective stop is positioned in the region of the first mechanical stop and the second protective stop is positioned in the region of the second mechanical stop.

26. Method according to claim 21 characterised in that at least one of the protective stops is deactivated if a shift of the position value in relation to the actual mechanical adjustment position in the adjusting path is determined.

27. Method according to claim 19 characterised in that the first protective stop and the second protective stop are arranged positioned dependent on each other about a predeterminable or detectable minimum distance.

28. Method according to claim 19 characterised in that the adjusting path is copied onto a virtual position axis, the position of the first protective stop and the position of the second protective stop which is dependent on the first protective stop are arranged fixed on this virtual position axis, the actual adjustment position is assigned to a position value on the virtual position axis, and this virtual position axis is aligned with the adjusting path if a shift in the virtual position axis relative to the adjusting path is determined.

29. Method according to claim 28 characterised in that the shift in the position axis relative to the adjusting path is calculated in dependence on an adjustment position belonging to the blocking of the adjusting motion so that the first protective stop is positioned in the region of the first mechanical stop and the second protective stop is positioned in the region of the second mechanical stop.

30. Method according to one of claims 28 and 29 characterised in that at least one of the protective stops is deactivated if a shift in the virtual position axis relative to the adjusting path is determined.

31. Method according to claim 19 characterised in that at least one of the protective stops is deactivated at least temporarily if after a stopping of the adjusting motion conditioned by a protective stop the adjuster is controlled again once or several times in the preceding adjusting direction.

32. Method according to claim 19 characterised in that at least one of the protective stops is deactivated at least temporarily if a predetermined number of adjustments of the adjuster is reached.

33. Method according to claim 19 characterised in that a first learning range is assigned to the first mechanical stop and a second learning range is assigned to the second mechanical stop, a blocking range is provided between the first learning range and the second learning range, and at least one of the protective stops is deactivated if a blocking of the adjusting motion is determined within the blocking range.

34. Method according to claim 1 characterised in that in the event of detecting a mechanical blocking a protective stop which can be inactivated through user action is set, and the protective stop which can be inactivated is replaced through a protective stop which is independent of this user action if a condition dependent on the adjusting motion is met.

35. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that the condition is dependent on an adjusting motion into one of the mechanical stops.

36. Method according to claim 35 characterised in that as a condition the position of the mechanical stop opposite the blocking in the adjusting path is determined.

37. Method according to claim 35 characterised in that the opposing mechanical stop is determined from a minimum spacing of the two blocks.

38. Method according to one of claims 35 to 37 characterised in that for blocking the path of an adjusting value is evaluated, and as condition this path is associated with a path of the adjusting value which is characteristic for a mechanical stop.

39. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that as condition the blocking at one of the mechanical stops is sensed.

40. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that the inaccuracy of the specific adjustment position is determined, and as condition the inaccuracy meets a criterion , more particularly does not exceed a maximum value.

41. Method according to claim 40 characterised in that the inaccuracy is determined through a number of adjustments, and as condition the number of adjustments does not exceed a maximum value.

42. Method according to one of claims 40 or 41 characterised in that the inaccuracy is determined through a number of direction changes of the adjustment and as condition the number of direction changes of the adjustment does not exceed a maximum value.

43. Method according to claim 40 characterised in that the inaccuracy is determined by determining a detected break in the supply voltage of the adjuster, and as condition the break in the supply voltage is not detected during an adjustment.

44. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that as condition an adjustment position independent of a blocking in the adjusting position between the mechanical stops is sensed.

45. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that jamming of objects and/or persons through the adjuster in the vehicle is detected by means of a jamming detector, and as condition before resetting no jamming has been detected.

46. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that the adjuster is operated in a calibrating mode and as condition in this calibrating mode the blocking is carried out at the mechanical stops.

47. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that the user action is undertaken through manual actuation of an operating device for controlling the adjuster.

48. Method according to claim 47 characterised in that the user action is carried out through the renewed manual actuation of the actuating element of the operating device assigned to the direction of the adjusting motion after setting the protective stop which can be inactivated.

49. Method according to claim 48 characterised in that the user action is undertaken by manual actuation of an (additional) release actuating element.

50. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that the user action is undertaken interactively by means of an input unit and an output unit between the adjuster device and the user.

51. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that to replace the protective stop which can be inactivated by the protective stop which is independent of the user action this protective stop is changed from protective stop which can be inactivated to protective stop which is independent of user action.

52. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that to replace the protective stop which can be inactivated by the protective stop which is independent of the user action, the protective stop which can be inactivated is cancelled and the protective stop which is independent of user action is activated.

53. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that when setting the (first) protective stop as a result of detection of the mechanical blockage a second protective stop is set which is associated with the mechanical stop which opposes the blocking in the adjusting path, and on reaching this second protective stop both protective stops are replaced by protective stops independent of user action.

54. Method according to claim 53 characterised in that on not reaching this second protective stop in the event of renewed blockage a second protective stop is again set opposite the actual blockage in the adjusting path.

55. Method according to one of claims 53 and 54 characterised in that the set protective stop is a protective stop which can be inactivated by user action whereby the condition dependent on the adjusting motion is the reaching of the second protective stop.

56. Method according to claim 53 characterised in that the second protective stop is set a predeterminable or preset minimum distance in the adjusting path away from the blockage or the set first protective stop whereby the minimum distance is dependent on a desired travel path.

57. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that the adjustment position is associated with a position value which for association is changed in dependence on the adjustment of the adjuster, the position value is corrected when a shift of the position value relative to the actual adjustment position is determined, and for correction the actual position value is set to this actual adjustment position.

58. Method according to claim 57 characterised in that the position value is corrected when the condition dependent on the adjusting motion is fulfilled.

59. Method according to claim 34 characterised in that in addition to the protective stop a learning range is determined which is associated with this protective stop and whose range limits are set in dependence on the position of the same protective stop, and in the event of a need to correct the position of the said protective stop the setting of a new protective stop is permitted if a position value associated in particular with the new protective stop or the blockage lies within this learning range.

60. Method according to claim 59 characterised in that the range limits of this learning range are set if the learning range is associated with the protective stop which is independent of the user action.

61. Method according to claim 7 characterised in that in the event of detecting a mechanical blockage a first protective stop which can be inactivated by user action is set, a second protective stop which can be inactivated by a user action is set which is associated with the mechanical stop set opposite the blockage in the adjusting path and is removed from the first protective stop through a predeterminable or calculated minimum distance, and the first and second protective stops which can be inactivated are each replaceable by a protective stop independent of this user action when the adjustment position reaches the position of the second protective stop which can be inactivated.

62. Method according to claim 61 characterised in that one or more memory positions which serve for automatically moving the adjuster in to these memory positions are set in relation to the protective stops and in the event of blockage are updated with the renewed setting of the protective stops.

63. Method according to one of claims 61 and 62 characterised in that in the event of an adjustment position outside of the range between the first protective stop and the second protective stop the protective stop which is independent of user action or the protective stops which can be inactivated by user action are deactivated and the adjustment position is set to a value between the two protective stop positions.

64. Method according to claim 62 characterised in that the memory positions are in this case deactivated or set to the actual value of the adjustment position.

65. Method according to claim 61 characterised in that the minimum distance is calculated from the distance between the mechanical stops during original calibration.