Method and device for controlling motor in powered seat

• US 5,254,924 A
• Filed: 05/22/1992
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Ogasawara, Hiromitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/888,556
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 318/567, 318/568.1, 318/590, 318/591, 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 318/286, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 364/424.05
• US Class Current: 318/590
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/14 Inductive; Magnetic field

Abstract

Method and device for controlling a motor in a powered seat, wherein a certain standard physique classification is set according to the height of an occupant on the seat, and on the basis of such physical classification, several predetermined standard positions are preset in a central processing unit, and wherein such standard positions may be selected and set temporarily by a mode selection switch and position switch for proper motor control, and further, a desired change of position may be made from the standard position by a manual switch.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a motor in a powered seat, in which said seat includes a seat cushion, and a seat back having a movable upper part, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting at least a location of said seat in a fore-and-aft direction thereof, a reclining angle of said seat back, and a tilt angle of said seat back upper part;

classifying a predetermined number of body sections for a physical constitution of an occupant on said seat;

defining a certain seat position fitting to each of average physiques obtained for each of said predetermined number of said body sections;

pre-setting said certain seat position on basis of an amount of displacement of said seat, seat back and seat back upper part from their set reference positions, and defining said seat position to be a standard position for each of said body sections;

permitting said standard position to be set temporarily by operation of position switch means;

and then permitting adjustment in position of said seat in said fore-and-aft direction, said reclining angle of said seat back, and said tilt angle of said seat back upper part, from the thus-temporarily set standard position, by operation of a manual switch means.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said physical constitution of said occupant is divided into two physical constitution sections, one of them being defined by a small height of said occupant, and another of them being defined by a tall height of said occupant, wherein there are provided an enjoy position where said occupant can enjoy sight-seeing over a window of automobile, and a relax position where said occupant can take rest or a nap, and wherein said method further includes the steps of:

permitting said enjoy and relax positions to be set in each of said two physical constitution sections; and

permitting a normal position to be set in each of said two physical constitution sections, said normal position being a common position for both of those two sections, where said occupant take an ordinary seating posture on said seat.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein there is further provided a memory position in addition to said standard position, which memory position is able to be set as desired by said occupant, and wherein said method further includes the step of permitting said memory position to be set as a desired preset position of said seat.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein there are provided devices for causing said seat to move in said fore-and-aft direction, for adjusting said reclining angle of said seat back, and for adjusting said tilt angle of said seat back upper part, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

detecting present positions respectively of movable parts of said devices;

permitting said standard position to be set for each of said movable part of said devices, thus providing their respective standard positions;

selecting a desired one of said standard positions;

providing memory positions respectively of said movable parts of said devices;

selecting a desired one of said memory positions;

permitting one of the thus-selected standard and memory positions to be compared with said present positions;

altering orders of operations for actuating said devices, depending upon a difference between said present positions and corresponding one of said selected standard and memory positions; and

thereby causing said seat to be set at said one of said selected standard and memory positions from said present positions.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein said method includes the steps of:

detecting a present reclining angle of said seat back;

ascertaining one of standard reclining angle and memory reclining angle from said selected standard and memory positions, with regard to said seat back;

comparing said one of standard and memory reclining angles with said present reclining angle; and

permitting for altering said steps of operations for actuating said devices, depending upon a difference between said one of standard reclining angle and memory reclining angle, and said present reclining angle.

6. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein when setting said seat at said relax position, said motor is only allowed to drive while keeping to turn on a corresponding position switch means.

7. A device for controlling motors in a powered seat, in which said seat includes a seat cushion, and a seat back having a movable upper part, said device comprising:

a motor for causing said seat to be adjustably moved in a fore-and-aft direction, thereby allowing adjustment in position of said seat in said fore-and-aft direction;

a motor for adjusting an reclining angle of said seat back;

a motor for adjusting a title angle of said upper part of said seat back;

a manual switch means for allowing said motors to be manually controlled for adjustment of said seat, seat back and seat back upper part;

a mode selection switch means for selecting one of predetermined plural modes divided according to physical constitution sections of an occupant on said seat;

a position switch means for selecting one of plural preset standard positions and controlling corresponding one of said motors;

a central processing unit for processing input data according to a predetermined program and properly controlling corresponding one of said motors; and

position detecting means for detecting said position of said seat in said fore-and-aft direction, said reclining angle of seat back, and said tilt angle of said seat back upper part,

wherein, by operating said position switch means, said standard positions may be temporarily for each of said modes divided according said physical constitution sections of said occupant.

8. The device as defined in claim 7, wherein said device further comprises a memory setting switch means for setting desired seat positions and storing them in memory, and a mode memory means which is provided in said mode selection switch means, and wherein said desired seat positions may be set and stored in said memory by operating said memory setting switch means, and further may be selected and set in a mode defined by said mode memory means, by operation of said position switch means.