Method and device for controlling speed of a motor in a powered seat

• US 5,097,185 A
• Filed: 10/23/1990
• Issued: 03/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Ogasawara, Hiromitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US07/603,874
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 318/590, 318/592, 318/599, 318/603, 318/625, 318/626, 318/628, 318/638, 318/648, 318/652, 318/653, 318/280-286, 318/369, 318/366, 318/374, 318/256-263, 318/265 , 318/266, 318/269, 318/277, 318/278, 318/268, 318/68, 318/54, 318/55, 318/446, 318/447, 318/461, 318/568.1, 318/484, 388/804, 388/815, 388/821, 388/908, 388/932, 388/838, 307/10.1-10.9, 180/170, 280/808
• US Class Current: 318/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/285 controlling armature supply only

Abstract

A method and device for controlling a motor in a powered seat, wherein, in an automatic control mode, a rated voltage is applied to the motor, thereby causing a constant high rotation of the motor, and in a manual control mode, firstly the rated voltage is applied to the motor and secondly after a given time, the voltage is changed into a low voltage, causing the motor to be driven at a low rotation rate. Thus, the movable parts of seating posture adjustment device in the seat are moved rapidly in the automatic mode, while in the manual mode, they are firstly moved rapidly and then slowly for permitting an accurate adjustment of position thereof.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a motor in a powered seat, in which a seating posture adjustment means is actuated by controlling a drive of motor, so as to move a movable member associated with said seating posture adjustment means at a desired point, said method comprising the steps of:

permitting selective choice between a manual control mode to be effected by a manual switch and an automatic control mode to be effected by a memory switch capable of storing data for position of said movable member and calling said data;

applying a high voltage, in said manual control mode, to said motor, so that, at an initial motion of said movable member, said motor is driven at a high rotation rate sufficient to overcome a frictional or an inertia force inherent in said movable member, and then after lapse of a predetermined time, changing said high voltage over to a low voltage, whereby said motor is caused to firstly be moved quickly, and secondly, after said time, said motor is caused to be moved slowly for manual control thereof; and

applying a high voltage in said automatic control mode, to said motor, whereby said motor is driven constantly at a high rotation rate.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said movable member comprises a seat slide device for causing fore-and-aft motion of said seat and a reclining device for inclining a seat back of said seat at a desired angle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said motor is applied a rated voltage from a power source.

4. A device for controlling a motor in a powered seat, comprising:

at least one motor for causing a given motion of a movable member of a seating posture adjustment means provided in said seat;

a manual switch capable of causing said motor to drive so as to effect adjustment of position for said movable member of said seating posture adjustment means;

a memory switch for storing in memory data for positions of said movable member which has been adjusted, as a memory position, and calling said data;

a central processing unit which processes data being input thereinto according to a predetermined program, to thereby control a drive of said motor and voltage being applied to said motor;

a power source connected electrically with said motor, manual switch, memory switch and central processing unit;

a low-voltage power source for lowering a voltage supplied from said power source at a given low level; and

a means associated electrically with said manual switch, said means being so arranged as to firstly allow said voltage from said power source to be flowed to said motor, and to secondly, after lapse of a given time, change said voltage into a low voltage through said low-voltage power source,

wherein operation of said memory switch effects an automatic control mode for applying said voltage from said power source to said motor, thereby causing said motor to be driven at a constant rotation rate, and operation of said manual switch effects a manual control mode for activating said means and said low-voltage power source to thereby automatically change said voltage into said low voltage through said means and said low-voltage power source; and

wherein said means includes a pair of first and second electric lines arranged in parallel with each other, which are electrically connected with said power source, one of said two electric lines having said low-voltage power source disposed midway therein, and the other of them having, disposed midway therein, a relay contact means of a voltage control relay connected with said central processing unit, whereby, when said relay contact means is turned on, said voltage from said power source is applied to said motor, thus causing said motor to be driven at a high rotation rate, whereas, when turning off said relay contact means, said low voltage is applied from said low-voltage power source to said motor, thus causing said motor to be driven at a low rotation rate.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein two motors are connected with a manual switch which includes a slide switch for driving said first motor to cause fore-and-aft sliding motion of said seat and a reclining switch for driving said second motor to cause inclining of said seat back of said seat, wherein a relay means is arranged for permitting said CPU to cause respective drives of said two motors through said relay means.