CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20130249266A1
• Filed: 10/06/2011
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Maeda, Toshiro, Kino, Hiroki, Hozumi, Soichiro, Fujii, Yuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,880,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/344.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0256 Arrangements for facilitating the occupant to get in or out of the vehicle, e.g. stowing a seat forward
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/245 for handicapped persons

Abstract

A control device for a vehicle seat is provided. This control device for the vehicle seat is provided with a control unit. In order to improve the performance of getting into and out of a vehicle, the control unit executes an away movement for moving the vehicle seat to the rear of the vehicle when a preset away condition is satisfied, and when a preset return condition is satisfied in this state, executes a return movement for moving the vehicle seat to the front of the vehicle. The return condition includes, as a first return condition, a vehicle door being closed with a portable key in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat controller comprising:

a control unit that performs an away operation, which moves a vehicle seat toward the rear of a vehicle when a preset away condition is satisfied to improve a vehicle entering property, and in this situation performs a return operation, which moves the vehicle seat toward the front of the vehicle when a preset return condition is satisfied,

wherein the return condition includes, as a first return condition, a vehicle door having been closed when a carried key is in the vehicle,

the return condition includes, as a second return condition, at least one of an engine switch having been switched to an accessory mode, an engine having been started, and a seatbelt having been fastened,

an operation for starting the engine includes operating a brake operation member, and

the control unit invalidates the first return condition and validates only the second return condition when the position of the vehicle seat prior to the away operation is located behind a set position that is set in advance.

2. The vehicle seat controller according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit moves the vehicle seat toward the rear of the vehicle by a preset stroke in the away operation,

an operation for starting the engine includes operating a brake operation member, and

the control unit invalidates the first return condition and validates only the second return condition when a distance from the position of the vehicle seat prior to the away operation to a rearmost position in a movable range of the vehicle seat is less than the preset stroke.

5. The vehicle seat controller according to claim 2, further comprising a condition setting operation member that invalidates the first return condition and validates only the second return condition.

3. A vehicle seat controller comprising:

a control unit that performs an away operation, which moves a vehicle seat toward the rear of a vehicle when a preset away condition is satisfied to improve a vehicle entering property, and in this situation performs a return operation, which moves the vehicle seat toward the front of the vehicle when a preset return condition is satisfied,

wherein the return condition includes, as a first return condition, a vehicle door having been closed when a carried key is in the vehicle,

the return condition includes, as a second return condition, at least one of an engine switch having been switched to an accessory mode, an engine having been started, and a seatbelt having been fastened,

an operation for starting the engine includes operating a brake operation member, and

the control unit validates both of the first and second return conditions when the position of the vehicle seat prior to the away operation is located at or in front of a set position that is set in advance.

4. A vehicle seat controller comprising:

a control unit that performs an away operation, which moves a vehicle seat toward the rear of a vehicle when a preset away condition is satisfied to improve a vehicle entering property, and in this situation performs a return operation, which moves the vehicle seat toward the front of the vehicle when a preset return condition is satisfied,

wherein the return condition includes, as a first return condition, a vehicle door having been closed when a carried key is in the vehicle,

the return condition includes, as a second return condition, at least one of an engine switch having been switched to an accessory mode, an engine having been started, and a seatbelt having been fastened,

an operation for starting the engine includes operating a brake operation member,

the control unit moves the vehicle seat toward the rear of the vehicle by a preset stroke in the away operation, and

the control unit validates both of the first and second return conditions when a distance from the position of the vehicle seat prior to the away operation to a rearmost position in a movable range of the vehicle seat is greater than or equal to the preset stroke.