POSTURE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR DRIVER

• US 20130069402A1
• Filed: 04/17/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Kang, Seong Gyu, Kim, Soo Hwan, Lee, Seung Hwan
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor

Abstract

A posture control apparatus is provided. More specifically, a memory stores positional information of a seat corresponding to a sex, a stature, a sitting stature and a body type of a driver. An information collector receives the sex, the stature, the sitting stature and a weight of the driver and a sitting stature section determinator determines a sitting stature section of the driver based on the received stature and sitting stature of the driver. A Body Mass Index section determinator determines a body type section of the driver based on the received sex, stature, and weight of the driver. A controller then determines a position of the seat corresponding to the sex, the stature, the sitting stature section and the body type section of the driver based on the positional information of the seat stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A driver posture control apparatus equipped in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing positional information of a seat corresponding to a sex, a stature, a sitting stature and a body type of a driver;

an information collector receiving the sex, the stature, the sitting stature and a weight of the driver;

a sitting stature section determinator configured to determine a sitting stature section of the driver based on the received stature and sitting stature of the driver;

a Body Mass Index section determinator configured to determine a body type section of the driver based on the received sex, stature, and weight of the driver; and

a controller configured to determine a position of the seat corresponding to the sex, the stature, the sitting stature section and the body type section of the driver based on the positional information of the seat stored in the memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position of the seat is a linear distance from a center of a brake pedal of the vehicle to an intersection between the seat and a seat back.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the seat position is expressed by a predetermined section.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sitting stature section determinator is configured to determine a section of the sitting stature corresponding to the driver based on a value obtained by dividing the received sitting stature of the driver by the stature of the driver.

5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1, wherein the controller determines the position of the seat corresponding to the sex, the stature, the sitting stature section, and the body section based on the positional information of the seat stored in the memory, and then sets a location of a mirror and a location of a steering wheel corresponding to the determined position of the seat.

6. A driver posture control apparatus equipped in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing positional information of a seat corresponding to a sex, a stature, a sitting stature and a body type of a driver;

an information collector configured to receive the sex, the stature, the sitting stature and a weight of the driver;

a sitting stature section determinator configured to determine a sitting stature section of the driver based on the received stature and sitting stature of the driver;

a Body Mass Index section determinator configured to determine a body type section of the driver based on the received sex, stature, and weight of the driver;

a data collector configured to collect travel environment information; and

a controller configured to determine a position of a seat corresponding to the sex, the stature, the sitting stature, and the body section of the driver based on the positional information of the seat stored in the memory and the travel environment information collected by data collector in the position of the seat to determine a final position and height of the seat.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the position of the seat is a linear distance from a center of a brake pedal of the vehicle to an intersection between the seat and a seat back.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the seat position is expressed by a predetermined section.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sitting stature section determinator determines a section of the sitting stature of the driver based on a value obtained by dividing the received sitting stature of the driver the driver'"'"'s stature.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 6, wherein the controller moves the position of the seat by a first reference value and increases a stature of the seat by a second reference value when the vehicle is located in a congested area.

11. A driver posture control apparatus equipped in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing positional information of a seat corresponding to a sex, a stature, a sitting stature and a body type of a driver;

an information collector configured to receive the sex, the stature, the sitting stature and a weight of the driver;

a sitting stature section determinator determining a sitting stature section of the driver based on the received stature and sitting stature of the driver;

a Body Mass Index section determinator configured to determine a body type section of the driver based on the received sex, stature, and weight of the driver;

a data collector configured to collect vehicle type information and health information related to the driver; and

a controller configured to determine a position of a seat corresponding to the driver'"'"'s sex, stature, sitting stature, and body section based on the positional information of the seat stored in the memory, the travel environment information collected by data collector, and the health information to determine a final position and height of the seat and an angel of backrest.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the position of the seat is a linear distance from a center of a brake pedal of the vehicle to an intersection between the seat and a seat back.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the seat position is expressed by a predetermined section.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sitting stature section determinator determines a section of the sitting stature of the driver based on a value obtained by dividing the received sitting stature of the driver by the stature of the driver.

15. The apparatus of any one of claims 11, wherein the controller moves the position of the seat by a first reference value and increases a height of the seat by a second reference value.