DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADAPTING A SITTING POSITION

• US 20130218420A1
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH (Adient plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH (Adient plc)
• Inventors: Jendritza, Daniel J., Lange-Mao, Wei
• Granted Patent: US 9,150,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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 2/02 the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash

Abstract

A method and device adapt a sitting position of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle with at least one driver assistance system that includes at least one optical sensor unit, and with a vehicle seat with a drive unit for adjusting the sitting position. At least one physical parameter of a vehicle occupant and/or a hazardous situation is sensed by the optical sensor unit, and on the basis of the sensed physical parameter automatic setting and/or pre-setting of the sitting position of the vehicle seat are/is carried out.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a sitting position of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle having at least one driver-assist system that comprises at least one optical sensor unit and having a vehicle seat that comprises a drive unit for adjusting the sitting position the method comprising:

sensing, via of the optical sensor unit, at least one physical parameter of a vehicle occupant and/or a hazardous situations; and

performing, on the basis of the sensed physical parameter, a procedure of automatically adjusting and/or pre-setting the sitting position of the vehicle seat.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one physical parameter is sensed outside the vehicle as a potential vehicle occupant approaches.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one physical parameter of a vehicle occupant that is seated on the vehicle seat is sensed inside the vehicle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a body height and a length of the extremities of the vehicle occupant are sensed as physical parameters.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-set sitting position of the vehicle seat is changed or adjusted by the vehicle occupant.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a change or adjustment of the pre-set sitting position of the vehicle seat is controlled and/or regulated by the vehicle occupant via a weight displacement.

7. A device for adjusting a sitting position of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle having at least one driver-assist system that comprises at least one optical sensor unit and having a vehicle seat that comprises a drive unit for adjusting the sitting position, the device comprising:

a control unit that causes actuation of the drive unit to automatically adjust and/or pre-set the sitting position of the vehicle seat, based on at least one physical parameter of a vehicle occupant and/or a hazardous situation sensed by the optical sensor unit.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a vehicle exterior zone can be sensed by a first sensor unit.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a vehicle interior zone and/or a sitting position of the vehicle seat can be sensed by a second sensor unit.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and/or second sensor unit comprise in each case a plurality of sensors.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and/or second sensor unit comprise in each case a multi-focus optical sensor.

12. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and/or second sensor unit comprise electro-magnetic waves in the visible and/or non-visible range.

13. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a control unit is coupled to at least one driver-assist system and to the drive unit for adjusting the sitting position.

14. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein adaptive materials for adjusting the sitting position are integrated in the vehicle seat.

15. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein an operating element for activating or deactivating the device is arranged in a vehicle interior zone.