METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AN ACTUATOR FOR A LOADING AREA ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON A MOTOR VEHICLE BODY

• US 20160243964A1
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: FROMMANN, Markus, MAZUR, Oleg
• Granted Patent: US 10,434,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4214 longitudinal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means

Abstract

A method and a system are provided to control an actuator for exerting forces upon a loading area, particularly a vehicle seat, in an adjusting direction, especially a longitudinal vehicle direction extending from a front end of the vehicle to a tail end of the vehicle. The loading area is mounted on a body of a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car, such that it can be adjusted in the adjusting direction. An imminent collision of the motor vehicle is detected, and an actuator is driven in order to accelerate the loading area in the adjusting direction prior to the imminent collision in the event an imminent collision is detected.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method for controlling an actuator for exerting forces upon a loading area in an adjusting direction, wherein the loading area is mounted on a body of a motor vehicle, such that it can be adjusted in the adjusting direction, the method comprising:

detecting an imminent collision of the motor vehicle; and

driving the actuator in order to accelerate the loading area in the adjusting direction prior to the imminent collision in the event an imminent collision is detected.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising driving the actuator subsequent to a motion of the loading area relative to the vehicle body in the adjusting direction in order to decelerate a collision-related motion opposite to the adjusting direction of the loading area relative to the vehicle body.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising driving the actuator past a standstill of the motor vehicle during a subsequent acceleration of the vehicle body in the adjusting direction in order to decelerate, a motion of the loading area relative to the vehicle body.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising determining a permissible resetting distance of the loading area in the adjusting direction, and driving the actuator on the basis of the determined permissible resetting distance.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising driving the actuator on the basis of the determined permissible resetting distance in order to minimize an absolute speed of the loading area in the instant of the collision.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising driving the actuator on the basis of the determined permissible resetting distance in order to maximize an extended resetting distance in the instant of the collision.

22. The method according to claim 16, further comprising determining a weight of a live load on the loading area, and driving the actuator on the basis of the determined weight of the live load.

23. The method according to claim 16, further comprising driving the actuator on the basis of a predefined permissible acceleration.

24. The method according to claim 16, further comprising determining an initial position of the loading area, and driving the actuator on the basis of the determined initial position.

25. A motor vehicle with a vehicle body, a loading area, which is mounted on the vehicle body such that the loading area can be adjusted in an adjusting direction and, an actuator for exerting forces upon the loading area in the adjusting direction, and a controller configured to control the actuator according to claim 16.

26. A computer program product with program code, which is stored on a non-transitory machine-readable medium, and which when executed on an electronic control unit is configured to carry out the method according to claim 16.

27. A system for exerting forces upon a vehicle seat in an adjusting direction, wherein the vehicle seat is mounted on a body of a motor vehicle, such that the vehicle seat can be adjusted in the adjusting direction, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an imminent collision of the motor vehicle;

an actuator configured to exert forces upon the vehicle seat in the adjusting direction; and

a controller configured to drive the actuator in order to accelerate the vehicle seat in the adjusting direction prior to the imminent collision in the event an imminent collision is detected.

28. The system according to claim 27, the controller is configured to drive the actuator subsequent to a motion of the vehicle seat relative to the vehicle body in the adjusting direction in order to decelerate a collision-related motion of the loading area relative to the vehicle body opposite to the adjusting direction.

29. The system according to claim 28 wherein the controller is configured to drive the actuator subsequent to a motion of the vehicle seat past a standstill of the motor vehicle, during a subsequent acceleration of the vehicle body in the adjusting direction.

30. The system according to claim 27, further comprising a sensor configured to determine a permissible resetting distance of the loading area in the adjusting, wherein the controller is configured to drive the actuator on the basis of the determined permissible resetting distance.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the controller is configured to drive the actuator in order minimize an absolute speed of the loading.

32. The system according to claim 30, wherein the controller is configured to drive the actuator in order to maximize an extended resetting distance in the instant of the collision.

33. The system according to claim 27, further comprising a sensor configured to determine the weight of a load on the vehicle seat, wherein the controller is configured to drive the actuator on the basis of the determined weight of the load.

34. The system according to claim 27, further comprising a sensor configured to determine an initial position of the vehicle seat, wherein the controller is configured to drive the actuator on the basis of the determined initial position.