ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE SEAT WITH HORIZONTAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT AND/OR SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT AND/OR SEAT DEPTH ADJUSTMENT AND NECK-REST THAT CAN BE DISPLACED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND GUIDED BY A SENSOR SYSTEM INFLUENCED BY THE SIZE OF THE USER

• US 6,573,673 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Inventors: Juerjens, Gerhard, Kliose, Anja, Kaesling, Heinz, Hampel, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US09/701,028
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/286, 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 388/907.5
• US Class Current: 318/265
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/16 height-adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable motor vehicle seat with at least one of a horizontal seat adjustment, a seat height adjustment, a seat depth adjustment, and a seat back adjustment, as well as with a neck rest that is adjustable by an electric motor and guided by at least one sensor unit which is influenced by the size of the user, wherein the neck rest adjustment is controlled by an electronics unit which evaluates the sensor signals. An object of the present invention is to provide an economical vehicle seat which is independent of the level of equipment of the vehicle, wherein the neck rest is moved automatically in dependence on sensed parameters which take into account the body size of the user. This is achieved in that the electronics unit is mounted in the region of the neck rest which is adjustable by electric motor.

Claims

1. An adjustable motor vehicle seat comprising:

at least two seat adjustment devices of the group consisting of a horizontal seat adjustment device, a seat height adjustment device, a seat depth adjustment device, and a seat back incline adjustment device, the at least two seat adjustment devices are adjustable in dependence on a body size of a seat user;

a plurality of sensor units influenced by the body size of a seat user, wherein the sensor units detect parameters of the at least two seat adjustment devices;

a neck rest which is controlled in dependence on signals of the sensor units;

a neck rest adjustment device having a motor combined with a gearing; and

an electronics unit which evaluates the sensor signals of the sensor units and controls the neck rest adjustment device motor;

wherein the electronics unit is mounted on the vehicle seat, is integrated into the neck rest adjustment device, and is connected mechanically to the motor through a supporting element;

the electronics unit is configured to control a plurality of different electronic seat adjustment devices; and

the electronics unit detects which electronic seat adjustment devices are present.

2. The adjustable motor vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the electronics unit controls all seat adjustment devices which are to be controlled.

3. The adjustable motor vehicle seat according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the sensor units is a constituent part of a manually adjustable seat adjustment device.

4. The adjustable motor vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein at least one sensor unit is a constituent part of a seat adjustment device which can be adjusted by electric motor;

and at least another sensor unit is a constituent part of a manually adjustable seat adjustment device.

5. The adjustable motor vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the electronics unit for the neck rest has at least two adjustment speeds;

and wherein a faster speed serves for lowering the neck rest completely and a slower speed serves for adjusting the neck rest.

6. The adjustable motor vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the electronics unit comprises power semi-conductors.

7. The adjustable motor vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the electronics unit is coupled to a seat occupancy detection system.

8. The adjustable motor vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the at least two seat adjustment devices are a horizontal seat adjustment device and a seat height adjustment device.

9. An adjustable motor vehicle seat comprising:

at least one seat adjustment device of the group consisting of a horizontal seat adjustment device, a seat height adjustment device, a seat depth adjustment device, and a seat back incline adjustment device, the at least one seat adjustment device is adjustable in dependence on a body size of a seat user;

a sensor unit influenced by the body size of a seat user, wherein the sensor unit detects a parameter of the at least one seat adjustment device;

a neck rest which is controlled in dependence on signals of the sensor unit;

a neck rest adjustment device having a motor combined with a gearing; and

an electronics unit which evaluates the sensor signals of the sensor unit and controls the neck rest adjustment device motor;

wherein the electronics unit is mounted on the vehicle seat, is integrated into the neck rest adjustment device, and is connected mechanically to the motor through a supporting element;

the electronics unit for the neck rest has at least two adjustment speeds, a faster speed serves for lowering the neck rest completely and a slower speed serves for adjusting the neck rest; and

the electronics unit moves the neck rest of a forward-folding seat or seat back down at a maximum available speed when the seat or seat back is folded forwards, and wherein the electronics unit moves the neck rest back into the original position when the seat is folded back.

10. An adjustable motor vehicle seat comprising:

at least one seat adjustment device of the group consisting of a horizontal seat adjustment device, a seat height adjustment device, a seat depth adjustment device, and a seat back incline adjustment device, the at least one seat adjustment device is adjustable in dependence on a body size of a seat user;

a sensor unit influenced by the body size of a seat user, wherein the sensor unit detects a parameter of the at least one seat adjustment device;

a neck rest which is controlled in dependence on signals of the sensor unit;

a neck rest adjustment device having a motor combined with a gearing; and

an electronics unit which evaluates the sensor signals of the sensor unit and controls the neck rest adjustment device motor;

wherein the electronics unit is mounted on the vehicle seat, is integrated into the neck rest adjustment device, and is connected mechanically to the motor through a supporting element;

the electronics unit for the neck rest has at least two adjustment speeds, a faster speed serves for lowering the neck rest completely and a slower speed serves for adjusting the neck rest; and

the electronics unit provides a soft stop when the neck rest is rapidly lowered.

11. A motor vehicle comprising:

an adjustable motor vehicle seat having;

at least one seat adjustment device of the group consisting of a horizontal seat adjustment device, a seat height adjustment device, a seat depth adjustment device, and a seat back incline adjustment device, the at least one seat adjustment device is adjustable in dependence on a body size of a seat user;

a sensor unit influenced by the body size of a seat user;

wherein the sensor unit detects a parameter of the at least one seat adjustment device;

a neck rest which is controlled in dependence on signals of the sensor unit;

a neck rest adjustment device having a motor combined with a gearing; and

an electronics unit which evaluates the sensor signals of the sensor unit and controls the neck rest adjustment device; and

at least one of the group consisting of a mirror adjustment, a height adjustment of a seat belt point, a steering wheel adjustment, and a sensor detecting the position of the head; and

wherein the electronics unit is mounted on the vehicle seat, is integrated into the neck rest adjustment device, and is connected mechanically to the motor through a supporting element;

wherein the neck rest is adjustable in dependence on a plurality of seat adjustment devices; and

wherein the neck rest adjustment device is adjustable in dependence on the at least one of the group consisting of a mirror adjustment, a height adjustment of a seat belt point, a steering wheel adjustment, and a sensor detecting the position of the head.

12. An adjustable motor vehicle seat comprising:

at least one seat adjustment device of the group consisting of a horizontal seat adjustment device, a seat height adjustment device, a seat depth adjustment device, and a seat back incline adjustment device, the at least one seat adjustment device is adjustable in dependence on a body size of a seat user;

a sensor unit influenced by the body size of a seat user, wherein the sensor unit detects a parameter of the at least one seat adjustment device;

a neck rest which is controlled in dependence on signals of the sensor unit;

a neck rest adjustment device having a motor combined with a gearing; and

an electronics unit which evaluates the sensor signals of the sensor unit and controls the neck rest adjustment device motor;

wherein the electronics unit is mounted on the vehicle seat, is integrated into the neck rest adjustment device, and is connected mechanically to the motor through a supporting element;

the electronics unit moves the neck rest of a forward-folding seat or seat back down at a maximum available speed when the seat or seat back is folded forwards, and wherein the electronics unit moves the neck rest back into the original position when the seat is folded back; and

the electronics unit provides a soft stop when the neck rest is rapidly lowered.