Adjusting system for moving a vehicle seat in a vehicle cabin

• US 7,712,831 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Buhler Motor GmbH
• Original Assignee: Buhler Motor GmbH
• Inventors: Schieweck, Arno, Troelenberg, Wolfgang, Abt, Hans-Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US11/812,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 700 28- 31, 700 11- 13, 700 56- 58, 700/66, 701/36, 701/49, 702/94, 702150-152, 702/95, 702/153, 244/117.R, 244/118.5, 244/118.6, 244/119, 244/120, 244/122.R, 297/19, 297/21, 297 63- 71, 297/232, 297/240, 297/248, 297/249, 297/301.1, 297/302.1, 297/311, 297/354.1, 297/354.12, 297/354.13, 297/257
• US Class Current: 297/257
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0601 Arrangement of seats for non-standard seating layouts, e.g. seats staggered horizontally or vertically, arranged in an angled or fishbone layout, or facing in other directions than the direction of flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0605 including tables or desks
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0641 Seats convertible into beds
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0642 Adjustable headrests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests

Abstract

A vehicle seat, an adjusting system and a method for moving at least one vehicle seat arranged in a vehicle cabin, particularly an aircraft seat, comprising seat components that are coupled or guided together, such as a seat part, a backrest and a leg rest, the location and/or inclination of which can be adjusted by means of at least one or more adjusting units. The adjusting system allows a separation of the basic functions from driving devices, with an electronic device for collision-free movement and for adjusting custom-designed functions and facilitating the adaptation of the custom-designed functions. The movement sequences and movements of the respective individual seat components and the seat components in relation to one another and the movements of the components or seats within an environment or group of seats are accomplished by means of a movement model in a coordinate system.

Claims

1. A system for three dimensional movement of at least one vehicle seat arranged in a cabin-oriented, three dimensional environment including an x, y, and z coordinate system with x, y, and z directions, the system comprising:

one or more adjustable vehicle seats each being part of an arrangement of a plurality of vehicle seats within a spatial boundary, each vehicle seat including seat components that are coupled or guided together and moveable in a predetermined number of directions;

a movement model completely describing movement sequences and movements of individual seat components and of the seat components in relation to one another, and movements of the seat components and the one or more vehicle seats within the three dimensional environment or within a group of vehicle seats;

one or more driving devices for moving and adjusting the one or more vehicle seats in the x, y, and z directions in relation to the coordinate system in a collision-free manner relative to the remaining vehicle seats and the spatial boundary; and

one or more control units for controlling the one or more driving devices, using the movement model.

2. The adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein parameters for the movement model are generated automatically based on defined environmental descriptions.

3. The adjusting system according to claim 2, wherein the environmental descriptions can change during operation.

4. The adjusting system according to claim 1, further comprising:

actuators for moving the seat components;

path sensors and angle sensors for detecting movements of the seat components; and

means for directing the detected movements of the seat components to the one or more control units.

5. The adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein the movement model can be simulated on a rotation axis, which is perpendicular to a cabin floor.

6. The adjusting system according to claim 1, further comprising:

limit means for providing limit parameters to the movement model; and

environmental means for providing environmental descriptors to the movement model; and

means for checking for a violation of the limit parameters and/or the environmental descriptions.

7. The adjusting system according to claim 6, wherein the limit parameters for the movement model are generated automatically based on the defined environmental descriptions.

8. The adjusting system according to claim 6, further comprising means for performing a check for the violation of the limit parameters and the environmental descriptions.

9. The adjusting system according to claim 8, further comprising means for executing definable actions in the case of a violation of the limit parameters and the environmental descriptions.

10. The adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein each control unit comprises an operating system, which can differ depending on a user application and wherein the control unit provides primary control functions and comprises a processing section, which includes software and hardware working with the movement model to allow the movement model to be embedded flexibly into each control unit.

11. The adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein each control unit provides the primary control functions and comprises a processing section including software and hardware.

12. The adjusting system according to claim 11, wherein the processing section works with the respective movement model and allows the movement model to be embedded flexibly into the control unit.

13. The adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein the movement model comprises a three-dimensional movement.

14. The adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein an information exchange takes place between the seats or their control units for adjusting to changes in the spatial boundaries.

15. The adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate system is a spherical coordinate system.

16. The adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate system refers to a cabin in which at least one seat is disposed.

17. The adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein the movement of a seat and the components thereof within a spatial boundary is characterized by a spatial three-dimensional flat or curved enveloping surface.

18. The adjusting system according to claim 17, further comprising means for changing the spatial boundary during operation, wherein the change can be detected and taken into account by the adjusting system.

19. The adjusting system according to claim 18, further comprising:

actuators for moving the seat components and path sensors and angle sensors for detecting movements of the seat components, the actuators, the path sensors, and the angle sensors together with the one or more control units defining control systems; and

means for accomplishing an information exchange between the seats or their control systems for adjusting the changed spatial boundaries.