Multiple speed vehicle seat memory control apparatus

• US 6,195,603 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1995
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Gauger, Derek K., Rees, Richard W. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/514,180
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.059, 318/466, 318/568.1, 296/65.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms

Abstract

A vehicle seat memory control apparatus includes motor driven adjustment mechanisms for various seat component adjustments for movement of various seat adjustments to a predefined easy entry seat position and movement of the seat from the easy entry position back to the last user selected displacement position of the seat component adjustments. Each motor drive provides multiple speeds of output shaft rotation, a higher speed selected by a controller for movement to the easy entry position and a lower speed for user selected seat adjustments and for movement from the easy entry seat position back to the last user selected seat displacement position. End of travel limits are provided for each seat component adjustment. The controller continually compares the current displacement position of each seat component adjustment with the respective end of travel limits to deactivate a drive motor when any end of travel limit is reached by a seat component adjustment.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat control apparatus comprising:

a motor having first and second ends operative to position a first seat component relative to a second seat component, the motor having a movable output member extending from the first end;

means, connected to the motor, for generating a first seat component displacement signal indicative of the position of the first seat component relative to the second seat component;

memory means for storing a first seat component recall displacement signal and a preset easy entry displacement position of the first seat component;

easy entry select means for selecting the easy entry displacement position of the first seat component;

recall select means for selecting the recall displacement signal of the first seat component;

control means, connected to the memory and responsive to the easy entry select means and the recall select means, for respectively repositioning the first seat component to the preset easy entry position and to the recall displacement position upon respective activation of the easy entry select means and the recall select means; and

a housing carried on the second end of the motor, the control means and the memory means mounted in the housing.

2. The vehicle seat control apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control means further comprises:

means for generating at least first and second speeds of movement of the motor output member, the first speed being faster than the second speed;

the control means activating the means for generating the first speed of movement of the motor output member in response to activation of the easy entry select means; and

the control means activating the means for generating the second speed of movement of the motor output member in response to activation of the recall select means.

3. The vehicle seat control apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

preset first and second end limits of travel of the first seat component relative to the second seat component, the first and second end limits of travel being stored in the memory means; and

the control means, responsive to the first and second end limits of travel and the displacement signal, for deactivating the motor when the displacement signal equals one of the preset first and second end limits of travel.

4. The vehicle seat control apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the motor output member is a bidirectionally rotatable output shaft.

5. The vehicle seat control apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of motors, each operative to position a different one portion of the vehicle seat relative to a different second portion of the vehicle seat, each of the plurality of motors having a movable output member;

a plurality of means, one connected to each of the plurality of motors, for generating seat positional displacement signals indicative of the position of the different one portion of the seat relative to the different second portion of the seat;

the memory means storing seat positional recall displacement signals and preset easy entry position signals for each of the motors.

6. The vehicle seat control apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

first and second end limits of travel stored in the memory means for each different portion of the seat.

7. A vehicle seat control apparatus comprising:

a motor operative to position a first seat component relative to a second seat component, the motor having a movable output member;

means, connected to the motor, for generating a first seat component displacement signal indicative of the position of the first seat component relative to the second seat component;

memory means for storing a first seat component recall displacement position and a preset easy entry displacement position of the first seat component;

means for storing a maximum motor current in the memory means;

motor current sensor means for providing an output signal indicating actual motor current during activation of the motor;

easy entry select means for selecting the preset easy entry displacement position of the first seat component;

recall select means for selecting the recall displacement position of the first seat component; and

control means, connected to the memory means and responsive to the easy entry select means and the recall select means, for respectively repositioning the first seat component to a preset easy entry position and to the recall displacement position upon respective activation of the easy entry select means and the recall select means, the control means further including;

means for generating at least first and second speeds of movement of the motor output member, the first speed being faster than the second speed;

the control means activating the means for generating the first speed of movement of the motor output member in response to activation of the easy entry select means, and

the control means comparing the stored maximum motor current with the output signal of the motor current sensor means and changing operation of the motor to the second speed when the actual motor current exceeds the stored maximum current after activation of the easy entry select means.

8. A method for controlling vehicle seat positioning comprising the steps of:

providing a motor operative to position a first seat component relative to a second seat component, the motor having a movable output member;

generating a first seat component displacement signal indicative of the displacement position of the first seat component relative to the second seat component;

storing first seat component recall displacement position and a preset easy entry displacement position of the first seat component in a memory;

providing easy entry select means for selecting the easy entry displacement position of the first seat component;

providing recall select means for selecting the recall displacement position of the first seat component;

generating at least first and second speeds of movement of the motor output member, the first speed being faster than the second speed;

activating the motor at the first speed of movement of the motor output member in response to activation of the easy entry select means;

repositioning the first seat component to the easy entry position and to the recall displacement position upon respective activation of the easy entry select means and the recall select means;

prestoring a maximum motor current value in the memory;

measuring the actual motor current during activation of the motor; and

whenever the actual motor current exceeds the stored maximum motor current value, automatically switching the speed of movement of the motor output member to the second speed after activation of the easy entry select means.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

storing preset first and second end limits of travel of the first seat component relative to the second seat component in the memory means; and

deactivating the motor when the displacement signal equals one of the preset first and second end limits of travel.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

forming the first and second seat components as an upper track and a lower track of a vehicle power seat adjuster, respectively, the upper track being slidably movable relative to the lower track;

defining the preset easy entry displacement position of the upper track as being a full forward displaced position relative to the lower track;

activating the motor output member at the first speed to move the upper track to the preset easy entry displacement position.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

activating the motor output member at the first speed to move the upper track from the preset easy entry displacement position to the recall displacement position of the upper track in response to activation of the recall select means.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

forming the first and second seat components as an upper track and a lower track of a vehicle power seat adjuster, respectively, the upper track being slidably movable relative to the lower track;

defining the preset easy entry displacement position of the upper track as being a full rearward position of the upper track relative to the lower track; and

activating the motor output member to move the upper track to the easy entry displacement position at the first speed in response to the easy entry select means.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

activating the motor output member at the second speed to move the upper track from the easy entry displacement position to the recall displacement position at the second speed in response to activation of the recall select means.