Driving position adjusting device for automotive vehicle

• US 7,437,229 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Uemura, Hiroki, Ohtsubo, Tomonori
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/167,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/164 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1695 with simultaneous height and inclination adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/063 with adjustment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/40 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

The pedal adjusting devises and the floor adjusting device control pedals and the movable floor respectively according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected, with first adjusting characteristic such that the pedals become closer to the driver and the movable floor goes up further, as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small, and with second adjusting characteristics, which are different from the first characteristics, for the driver having the relatively small body size whose body size detected is smaller than the specified body size. Accordingly, the arrangement positions of the pedals and the going-up-and-down position of the floor can be properly adjusted for drivers having different body sizes.

Claims

1. A driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle which adjusts a driving position of a driver in a driver'"'"'s seat, comprising:

a driver'"'"'s body size detecting device operative to detect a body size of the driver;

a driving operational system including a pedal operated by the driver;

an adjusting device operative to adjust a position of said driving operational system;

a control device operative to control said adjusting device,

wherein said control device controls said adjusting device with a first adjusting characteristic and a second adjusting characteristic according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device, said first adjusting characteristic being such that the position of said driving operational system adjusted by said adjusting device becomes closer to the driver as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small, said second adjusting characteristic being to control said adjusting device for the driver having a relatively small body size whose body size detected is smaller than a specified body size, said second adjusting characteristic having a different characteristic with respect to the driver'"'"'s body size from said first adjusting characteristic.

2. A driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle which adjusts a driving position of a driver in a driver'"'"'s seat, comprising:

a driver'"'"'s body size detecting device operative to detect a body size of the driver;

at least one pedal operated by the driver;

a pedal adjusting device operative to adjust an arrangement position of said at least one pedal; and

a control device operative to control said pedal adjusting device,

wherein said control device controls said pedal adjusting device with a first adjusting characteristic and a second adjusting characteristic according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device, said first adjusting characteristic being such that the pedal arrangement position adjusted by said pedal adjusting device becomes closer to the driver as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small, said second adjusting characteristic being to control said pedal adjusting device for the driver having a relatively small body size whose body size detected is smaller than a specified body size, said second adjusting characteristic having a different characteristic with respect to the driver'"'"'s body size from said first adjusting characteristic.

3. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said second adjusting characteristic is such that said pedal arrangement position adjusted by said pedal adjusting device becomes closer to the driver as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small, and such that a changing amount of adjusting said pedal arrangement position with respect to the driver'"'"'s body size is restrained compared with said first adjusting characteristic.

4. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said second adjusting characteristic is such that said pedal arrangement position adjusted by said pedal adjusting device does not change substantially according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device.

5. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said second adjusting characteristic is such that said pedal arrangement position adjusted by said pedal adjusting device becomes further away from the driver as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small.

6. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 2, wherein there is provided a movable floor which is disposed near the pedal of said driving operational system and arranged so as to go up and down, said adjusting device further comprises a floor adjusting device operative to adjust a going-up-and-down position of said movable floor according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device.

7. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 2, wherein there are provided a seat adjusting device operative to adjust a position of a sitting face of the driver'"'"'s seat and a seat position detecting device operative to detect the position of the sitting face of the driver'"'"'s seat which is adjusted by said seat adjusting device, and said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device comprises said seat position detecting device.

8. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 7, wherein said seat adjusting device adjusts a longitudinal position, a vertical position and an angle of the sitting face of the seat together such that the driver is located in a mode position corresponding to the driver'"'"'s body size and the driver in the mode position is rotated around a specified rotational axis extending in a vehicle width direction, whereby driver'"'"'s eyes can be located substantially at the same position regardless of the body size of the driver, and said pedal adjusting device adjusts the arrangement position of the pedal, in cooperation with the adjusting of the sitting face by said seat adjusting device.

9. A driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle which adjusts a driving position of a driver in a driver'"'"'s seat, comprising:

a driver'"'"'s body size detecting device operative to detect a body size of the driver;

a brake pedal operated by the driver;

an accelerator pedal operated by the driver;

a brake pedal adjusting device operative to adjust a position of said brake pedal;

an accelerator pedal adjusting device operative to adjust a position of said accelerator pedal; and

a control device operative to control said brake pedal adjusting device and accelerator pedal adjusting device,

wherein said control device controls said brake pedal adjusting device with a first adjusting characteristic and controls said accelerator pedal adjusting device with another first adjusting characteristic and a second adjusting characteristic, said first and another first adjusting characteristics being such that respective pedal positions of the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal that are adjusted by said brake pedal adjusting device and accelerator pedal adjusting device become closer to the driver as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small, said second adjusting characteristic being to control said accelerator pedal adjusting device for the driver having a relatively small body size whose body size detected is smaller than a specified body size, said second adjusting characteristic having a different characteristic with respect to the driver'"'"'s body size from said another first adjusting characteristic.

10. A driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle which adjusts a driving position of a driver in a driver'"'"'s seat, comprising:

a driver'"'"'s body size detecting device operative to detect a body size of the driver;

a brake pedal operated by the driver;

an accelerator pedal operated by the driver;

a brake pedal adjusting device operative to adjust a position of said brake pedal;

an accelerator pedal adjusting device operative to adjust a position of said accelerator pedal; and

a control device operative to control said brake pedal adjusting device and accelerator pedal adjusting device,

wherein said control device controls said brake pedal adjusting device and said accelerator pedal adjusting device according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device such that a relative position of the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal becomes closer as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small.

11. A driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle which adjusts a driving position of a driver in a driver'"'"'s seat, comprising:

a driver'"'"'s body size detecting device operative to detect a body size of the driver;

a pedal operated by the driver;

a movable floor provided near said pedal and arranged so as to go up and down;

a floor adjusting device operative to adjust a going-up-and-down position of said movable floor; and

a control device operative to control said pedal adjusting device, wherein said control device controls said floor adjusting device with a first adjusting characteristic and a second adjusting characteristic according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device, said first adjusting characteristic being such that the going-up-and-down position of said movable floor adjusted by said floor adjusting device becomes higher as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small, said second adjusting characteristic being to control said floor adjusting device for the driver having a relatively small body size whose body size detected is smaller than a specified body size, said second adjusting characteristic having a different characteristic with respect to the driver'"'"'s body size from said first adjusting characteristic.

12. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein said second adjusting characteristic is such that said going-up-and-down position of said movable floor adjusted by said floor adjusting device becomes closer to the driver as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small, and such that a changing amount of adjusting said going-up-and-down position of said movable floor with respect to the driver'"'"'s body size is restrained compared with said first adjusting characteristic.

13. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein said second adjusting characteristic is such that said going-up-and-down position of said movable floor adjusted by said floor adjusting device does not change substantially according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device.

14. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein said second adjusting characteristic is such that said going-up-and-down position of said movable floor adjusted by said floor adjusting device becomes lower as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small.

15. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein there is further provided a pedal adjusting device operative to adjust an arrangement position of the pedal of said driving operational system according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device.

16. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein there are provided a seat adjusting device operative to adjust a position of a sitting face of the driver'"'"'s seat and a seat position detecting device operative to detect the position of the sitting face of the driver'"'"'s seat which is adjusted by said seat adjusting device, and said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device comprises said seat position detecting device.

17. The driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle of claim 16, wherein said seat adjusting device adjusts a longitudinal position, a vertical position and an angle of the sitting face of the seat together such that the driver is located in a mode position corresponding to the driver'"'"'s body size and the driver in the mode position is rotated around a specified rotational axis extending in a vehicle width direction, and said floor adjusting device is configured to adjust at least both the going-up-and-down position and an angle of the movable floor, whereby driver'"'"'s eyes can be located substantially at the same position regardless of the body size of the driver, and said floor adjusting device adjusts the going-up-and-down position and the angle of the movable floor, in cooperation with the adjusting of the sitting face by said seat adjusting device.

18. A driving position adjusting device for an automotive vehicle which adjusts a driving position of a driver in a driver'"'"'s seat, comprising:

a driver'"'"'s body size detecting device operative to detect a body size of the driver;

a pedal operated by the driver;

a movable floor which is disposed near said pedal and arranged so as to go up and down;

a floor adjusting device operative to adjust a going-up-and-down position of said movable floor; and

a control device operative to control said floor adjusting device,

wherein said control device controls said floor adjusting device with a first adjusting characteristic and a second adjusting characteristic according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device, said first adjusting characteristic being such that the going-up-and-down position of said movable floor adjusted by said floor adjusting device becomes higher as the driver'"'"'s body size detected becomes small, said second adjusting characteristic being to control said floor adjusting device for the driver having a relatively small body size whose body size detected is smaller than a specified body size, said second adjusting characteristic being such that the going-up-and-down position of said movable floor adjusted by said floor adjusting device does not change substantially according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device,

wherein there are further provided a pedal adjusting device operative to adjust an arrangement position of said pedal according to the driver'"'"'s body size detected by said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device, a seat adjusting device operative to adjust a position of a sitting face of the driver'"'"'s seat, and a seat position detecting device operative to detect the position of the sitting face of the driver'"'"'s seat which is adjusted by said seat adjusting device,

wherein said driver'"'"'s body size detecting device comprises said seat position detecting device, and

wherein said seat adjusting device adjusts a longitudinal position, a vertical position and an angle of the sitting face of the seat together such that the driver is located in a mode position corresponding to the driver'"'"'s body size and the driver in the mode position is rotated around a specified rotational axis extending in a vehicle width direction, and said floor adjusting device is configured to adjust at least both the going-up-and-down position and an angle of the movable floor, whereby driver'"'"'s eyes can be located substantially at the same position regardless of the body size of the driver, and said floor adjusting device adjusts the going-up-and-down position and the angle of the movable floor, in cooperation with the adjusting of the sitting face by said seat adjusting device.