Method and Device for Controlling a Seat

• US 20080197677A1
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precilec Co.
• Original Assignee: Precilec Co.
• Inventors: NIVET, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 7,911,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/68
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06395 characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats

Abstract

The seat which is provided with at least two elements which can be moved relative to each other and an actuator for manoeuvring a movable element, a unit for controlling the actuator for the movement of the movable element comprises:

• • means for measuring a force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by a user,
  • the control unit comprises:
    • means for calculating the theoretical force (C_th) which must be applied by the actuator to the movable element in the direction of the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user; and
    • means for controlling the actuator for the movement of the movable element in accordance with the theoretical force (C_th).

Claims

1. Method for controlling a seat which is provided with an actuator for manoeuvring a movable element of the seat, wherein the method involves:

measuring a force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by a user;

controlling the actuator for the movement of the movable element in the direction of the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user.

2. Seat which is provided with at least two elements which can be moved relative to each other and an actuator for manoeuvring a movable element, a unit for controlling the actuator for the movement of the movable element, wherein the seat comprises:

means for measuring a force (C_u) applied manually by a user to the movable element,

the control unit comprises;

means for calculating the theoretical force (C_th) which must be applied by the actuator to the movable element in the direction of the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user; and

means for controlling the actuator for the movement of the movable element in accordance with the theoretical force (C_th).

3. Seat according to claim 2, wherein the means for measuring the force (C_u) applied manually by a user to the movable element comprise:

means for measuring a total force (C_m) applied to the movable element, and

means for calculating the force (C_u) applied manually by a user based on the total force (C_m) measured and a prior theoretical force (C_th) applied by the actuator to the movable element.

4. Seat according to claim 3, wherein the means for calculating the force (C_u) applied by the user are suitable for correcting the value obtained based on the total force (C_m) measured and the theoretical force (C_th) applied by the actuator to the movable element based on a static force (C_stat) specific to the seat for the movable element.

5. Seat according to claim 4, wherein the seat comprises means for estimating the static force (C_stat) specific to the seat for the movable element by estimating the currents consumed by the actuator during the movement of the movable element in two opposing directions.

6. Seat according to claim 2, wherein the means for measuring the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user comprise means for measuring the current consumed by the actuator.

7. Seat according to claim 3, wherein the means for measuring the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user comprise means for measuring the current consumed by the actuator.

8. Seat according to claim 4, wherein the means for measuring the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user comprise means for measuring the current consumed by the actuator.

9. Seat according to claim 5, wherein the means for measuring the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user comprise means for measuring the current consumed by the actuator.

10. Seat according to claim 2, wherein the means for calculating the theoretical force (C_th) are capable of determining the theoretical force (C_th) as a function of the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user.

11. Seat according to claim 3, wherein the means for calculating the theoretical force (C_th) are capable of determining the theoretical force (C_th) as a function of the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user.

12. Seat according to claim 4, wherein the means for calculating the theoretical force (C_th) are capable of determining the theoretical force (C_th) as a function of the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user.

13. Seat according to claim 5, wherein the means for calculating the theoretical force (C_th) are capable of determining the theoretical force (C_th) as a function of the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user.

14. Seat according to claim 6, wherein the means for calculating the theoretical force (C_th) are capable of determining the theoretical force (C_th) as a function of the force (C_u) applied manually to the movable element by the user.

15. Seat according to claim 2, wherein the seat has no keypad for controlling the manoeuvring actuator.

16. Seat according to claim 3, wherein the seat has no keypad for controlling the manoeuvring actuator.

17. Seat according to claim 4, wherein the seat has no keypad for controlling the manoeuvring actuator.

18. Seat according to claim 5, wherein the seat has no keypad for controlling the manoeuvring actuator.

19. Seat according to claim 6, wherein the seat has no keypad for controlling the manoeuvring actuator.

20. Seat according to claim 10, wherein the seat has no keypad for controlling the manoeuvring actuator.