Vehicle seat arrangement with an electric adjustment mechanism

• US 20070080657A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rainer Gerding, Thomas Bethge
• Original Assignee: Rainer Gerding, Thomas Bethge
• Inventors: Bethge, Thomas, Gerding, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash

Abstract

Vehicle seat arrangement includes an electric adjustment mechanism, a direct current motor for adjusting a vehicle seat component, with direct current terminals configured to receive a motor current. a control device for controlling or regulating direct current motor, which applies direct current to the direct current terminals based upon adjustment speed to be set. upon receiving a comfort adjustment signal control device actuates direct current motor for a gradual comfort adjustment of vehicle seat component, upon receiving a pre-crash signal control device actuates direct current motor for a rapid pre-crash adjustment of vehicle component from a current initial position to a safe pre-crash position. Adjustment data for safe pre-crash position and initial position are stored in a memory device prior to pre-crash adjustment, and rapid pre-crash adjustment is implemented at a load and acceleration that are the maximum permissible for direct current motor at the respective operating point.

Claims

1. Vehicle seat arrangement, comprising:

a) at least one electric adjustment mechanism;

b) at least one vehicle seat component;

c) at least one direct current motor provided for the adjustment of the at least one vehicle seat component, the direct current motor including direct current terminals configured for receiving a motor current;

d) a control device for controlling or regulating the at least one direct current motor, and the control device applies a direct current to the direct current terminals, in use, based upon the adjustment speed to be set;

e) the control device actuates the at least one direct current motor device upon receiving a comfort adjustment signal, in use, for providing a gradual comfort adjustment of the at least one vehicle seat component;

f) the control device activates the at least one direct current motor upon receiving a pre-crash signal, in use, for providing a rapid pre-crash adjustment of the at least one vehicle seat component from an initial position to a safe pre-crash position;

g) a memory device provided for storing adjustment data for the safe pre-crash position and the initial position, the memory device being configured for storing adjustment data prior to the pre-crash adjustment, in use; and

h) the control device activates the at least one direct current motor upon receiving a pre-crash signal, in use, and implements the rapid pre-crash adjustment at a load and an acceleration that are the maximum permissible load and acceleration for the at least one direct current motor at a respective operating point, in use.

2. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the memory device is integrated into the control device or connected to it.

3. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a) if a collision is avoided, in use, the at least one vehicle seat component is reset to its most recently set initial position automatically or upon receipt of an actuation signal.

4. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the at least one direct current motor includes at least one winding which is connected to the direct current terminals, and a permanent magnet unit; and

b) a family of characteristic curves of the at least one direct current motor has at least one range, in which motor currents occur that are greater than a limiting current intensity which is critical for maintaining the magnetization of the permanent magnet unit; and

c) current-limiting circuitry is provided for the purpose of limiting the motor current that flows through the at least one winding at the critical limiting current intensity or below the critical limiting current intensity.

5. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 4, wherein:

a) an unacceptable range of the at least one range, in which motor currents occur that are greater than a limiting current intensity, occurs at low motor speeds and at high motor torque.

6. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 5, wherein:

a) the unacceptable range is relevant during the start-up of the at least one direct current motor in the event of a pre-crash adjustment, in use, and is excluded by the current-limiting circuitry.

7. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 6, wherein:

a) during the start-up, the at least one direct current motor is operated at a constant motor current, below the limiting current intensity, until it reaches a limiting speed, above which the motor current runs in the family of characteristic curves below the limiting current intensity.

8. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a) a motor speed is adjusted via a control with pulse-width modulation (PWM).

9. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a) one of the at least one direct current motor is provided for the purpose of adjusting at least one of the following;

i) a longitudinal adjustment of the seat;

ii) a forward folding or tilting of the backrest;

iii) a shifting of the seat cushion; and

iv) a height adjustment of the headrest.

10. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a) multiple ones of the at least one direct current motor are actuated simultaneously at high adjustment speeds upon receiving the pre-crash signal.

11. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the control device is integrated into the at least one direct current motor.

12. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the control device is integrated into another control device.

13. Vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 12, wherein:

a) the other control device is the central control device of the vehicle seat.