FR2668620A1 - Method and device for controlling an electric motor of a seat, especially vehicle seat, which is motor-actuated - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling an electric motor of a seat, especially vehicle seat, which is motor-actuated, which method is designed so that a seat (20) may be automatically moved from a current position to a pushed-back position, with the aid of a simple switching operation, the pushed-back position being stored in memory in advance, and so that it can be leaned forwards by a given angle, in the pushed-back position, to enable the driver to get into the seat (20) and to leave it easily. …<??>The invention also relates to a device (10) intended for applying this method. … …

Description

_ 11/2668620

The present invention relates to an electric motor control device for a motor vehicle seat, powered by a motor, and more particularly to a method and a device. to control said motor in order to actuate a device for adjusting

driving position provided in the seat.

In a conventional motor-operated seat, the position of said seat, once it has been adjusted, is stored in a memory contained in a microcomputer, so that the seat can automatically switch from an arbitrary moment position to the position thus memorized, and this in a reproducible manner In this type of seat, it is provided that, when the driver wants to leave his seat, he actuates a switch to move the seat from the driving position to a retracted position which allows him to allows you to sit on the seat or

exit easily, without being hindered by the steering wheel.

However, in conventional seats of this type, while the driving position may be stored in a memory for the seat to adopt it automatically, the retracted position must be adjusted by actuation of several switches corresponding to the positions. various moving parts of the driving position adjustment devices, this

which makes the switching not very functional.

In addition, the design of the seat cushion according to which the driver's pelvis is at a lower level means that the driver has to exert a greater effort in order to sit or stand up than in the case of a seat cushion. current plan, and if it does

not be careful, he may fall suddenly on the seat.

Taking into account the aforementioned drawbacks, the main object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for controlling a motor in a motor-operated vehicle seat which facilitates the operations intended to move the seat from

the current position to the retracted position.

To achieve this goal, according to the present invention, a suitable rearward position allowing the driver to sit in and out of the seat can be memorized in advance and the seat is forced to automatically shift from the current position to the current position. retracted position memorized, under the effect of the actuation by single pressure of a

seat recoil switch.

Consequently, there is no need to operate several switches, unlike the prior art, and the operation of the switch.

ccmmutateur is thus improved.

The second object of the present invention is to allow the driver to get into the seat and to leave it easily. To this end, according to the invention, the seat is tilted forward at a given angle, in the retracted position, which prevents the driver from having to be careful not to fall suddenly on

a common seat of the type mentioned above.

One aspect of the invention provides a seat belt detector for detecting the attached position of the belt on the driver's body Under the action of the introduction of the clip of a seat belt in its anchoring member. , the motor is forced to be driven so as to move the seat to a driving position which has been memorized Thus, there is no actuation step

switch.

According to another aspect of the invention, a neutral position is determined for each of the movable elements in a seat sliding and tilting device, for example, and there is provided a neutral position detector by which the driver's seat is provided. placed in the rearward position, its rear position and the angle of inclination of the backrest being limited to avoid any contact with a seated occupant

behind said driver's seat.

The above and other purposes, advantages and features

of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description

following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings

wherein -

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric motor control device according to the present invention, in which a central processing unit is provided as a main control element; Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical connection between the engine control device and movable elements associated with the seats, Figure 3 is a diagram showing the movements of the seat and Figures 4 and 5, which include Figures 4 A, 4 B and 5 A, 5 B, respectively, are flowcharts showing the execution steps

of the engine control method of the present invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show an electric motor controller 10 provided in a motor-operated seat 20, which includes a manual switch 12, a memory switch 14, a seat recoil switch 16, a central processing unit 18. , a sliding motor M1 for operating a seat slide device 24, first and second elevator motors M 2, M 3 for operating a seat elevator 26, and a tilt motor M 4 for operating a device tilt 28 Motors are preferably motors

direct current.

The seat sliding device 24 is arranged between a seat 20 and the floor 30 of a motor vehicle, and actuated by the sliding motor M1 which causes its longitudinal displacement by sliding With reference to FIG. 3, the seat 20 is thus moved between a driving position, indicated in solid lines, in which the driver is installed to drive, and a rearward position, indicated in phantom lines, in which the seat 20 is moved back towards

the rear at a rear limit point.

The seat lifting device 26 is disposed between the seat and the seat sliding device 24, and actuated by the first and second elevator motors M 2, M 3, so that the front part of the seat 20 is raised or lowered under the action of the first elevator motor M 2 and the rear part of the seat 20 is raised or lowered under the action of the second elevator motor M 3 In other words, the first motor M 2 causes a vertical displacement of the front part of the seat relative to the rear part, while the second motor M 3 causes the same vertical displacement of the rear part of the seat relative to the front part Thus, the operation of the two motors M 2, M 3 causes the raising or lowering of any

seat 20.

The inclination device 28 is actuated by the inclination motor M 4 to adjust the seat back 22 of the seat in an adjustable manner.

20 at a desired angle.

The sliding device 24, the seat lift 26 and the reclining device 28 are known devices, and they are not available.

therefore not described in detail.

Each of the motors M 1, M 2, M 3, M 4 is provided with position detectors, respectively 34, 36, 38, 40 which are rotation detectors each comprising a disk-shaped magnet 42 fixed to an output shaft of the motor (not shown), and a conductive switch 44 provided near the magnet 42 Thanks to these rotation detectors, several inm-pulses are generated for each rotation of the motor, which pulses are transmitted from the conductive switch 44 to the central processing unit 18, designated by the term "CPU", the conductive switch being connected to said CPU 18 As indicated below, the CPU 18 counts and stores the pulses emitted from the rotation detectors 34, 36 , 38, 40 and detects the vertical and longitudinal positions of the seat 20 as well as the angle of inclination of the backrest 22 from the number of pulses counted A progressive counting of the pulses is operated when the motors M 1, M 2, M 3, M 4 are driven d in a normal direction and a declining count is

operated when said motors are driven in reverse.

The CPU 18 comprises a microcomputer 56 which processes an input data, according to a predetermined program, and outputs a signal of

appropriate order.

The manual switch 12 shown in Figure 1 comprises a slide switch 46 for controlling the slide motor M 1, a first elevator switch 48 for the first elevator motor M 2, a second elevator switch 50 for the second elevator motor M 3 and a tilt switch 52 for the tilt motor M 4 The manual switch 12, shown in the figure

Figure 2, is arranged on the lateral face of the cushion 54 of the seat 20.

Each of the switches 46, 48, 50, 52 provided in the manual switch 12 is a toggle type self-closing switch, comprising a non-contact central zone and two contact points for switching the drive in the normal direction and in the direction. inverse of the respective motors M 1, M 2, M 3, M 4 These four switches 46, 48, 50, 52 are connected to the CPU 18 and, respectively, to a first relay RL 1 comprising two elements forming relays 60, 61 and two relay contacts 60 a, 61 a, to a second relay RL 2 comprising two relay elements 62, 63 and two relay contacts 62 a, 63 a, to a third relay RL 3 comprising two relay elements 64, 65 and two relay contacts 64 a, 65 a, and a fourth relay RL 4 comprising

two relay elements 66, 67 and two relay contacts 66 a, 67 a.

Between the CPU 18 and these four relays is provided a control circuit

relay 58.

Reference numeral 74 denotes a battery which serves as a power source and which is connected to the CPU 18, to the motors M1, M 2,

M 3, M 4 and to relay control circuit 58.

When the sliding switch 46 is actuated, the seat being placed in an arbitrary position, the CPU 18 then activates the associated series of relays 58, RL 1 to drive the sliding motor M1 in a chosen direction, so as to cause the displacement. longitudinal position of the seat 20 by means of the seat sliding device 24 By virtue of this operation, the seat 20 changes from the driving position to the retracted position, or can be adjusted with

precision for a desired driving position.

When the seat 20 is in an arbitrary position, actuation of the first elevator switch 48 causes the CPU 18 to activate the associated series of relays 58, RL 2, to drive the first elevator motor M 2 in a chosen direction. , while actuation of the second elevator switch 50 causes the CPU 18 to activate the associated series of relays 58, RL 3 to drive the second elevator motor M 3 in a selected direction, whereby the seat 20 is placed adjustable to a desired height or can be tilted to a desired angle

relative to the vehicle floor.

When the inclination switch 52 is actuated, the seat back 22 being inclined at a certain angle, the CPU 18 then activates the associated series of relays 58, RL 4 to drive the inclination motor M 4, so as to force the seat back 22 to be tilted at a desired angle by means of the device

tilt 28-

The memory switch 14 is a self-closing push-button switch which is connected to the CPU 18 I 1 has a setting switch 70 and a memory call switch 72 The setting switch 70 is used to set and store in memory data corresponding to the vertical and longitudinal positions of the seat 20, and to the tilt angle of the seat back 22, and the memory call switch 72 is used to call this data to reproduce the movements

corresponding devices.

When the seat 20 has been adjusted vertically and longitudinally to a certain position, with the seat back 22 tilted at an angle, actuation of the adjustment switch 70 allows storage within the CPU 18. , data relating to the number of pulses detected from the rotation detectors 34, 36, 38, 40, namely the details of the driving positions and the angle

backrest, in the form of a memorized position.

In this situation, the actuation of the memory call switch 72 of the memory switch 14 causes an automatic displacement of the seat 20 to the mentioned driving position.

previous (memorized position).

The setting and memory call switches 70, 72 are

connected to the CPU 18.

By actuating the memory call switch 72, a current position is first detected in each of the motors M 1, M 2, M 3, M 4 by a memory (not shown) contained in the CPU 18 , which then recognizes said position as a number of counted pulses, then the memory compares the detected value (i.e. the number of pulses corresponding to the current position) with a driving value nm memorized (i.e. the number of pulses corresponding to the driving position or memorized position) If a difference is observed between the detected value and the memorized driving value, the motors M1, M 2, M 3, M 4 continue to be trained until the difference reaches zero; the seat 20 is then moved to the memorized position. Like the manual switch 12, the memory switch

14 is arranged on the side face of the seat cushion 54.

The seat reverse switch 16 serves to automatically move the seat 20 from the driving position to a rearward position which allows the driver to get into or out of the seat 20 easily, without being hampered by the steering wheel 32. 'action of the switch 16, the CPU 18 stores in memory, as a memorized retraction value, a datum corresponding to the number of pulses counted from the motors M 1, M 2, M 3, M 4, with a view to moving the seat to the retracted position When actuating the cammutator 16 with the seat in the driving position, the CPU 18 activates the series of relays 58, RL 1, RL 2, RL 3, RL 4 to drive the motors M1, M 2, M 3, M 4 until the position of the mrment (detected value) is equal to the stored retraction value. In this way, the seat 20 is set in the retracted position. It should be noted that, as shown in Figure 3, the retracted position is the position in which not only has the seat 20 been moved rearward, but it is tilted forward at a given angle (preferably three degrees), as well as the seat back 22 More precisely, when the seat back switch 16 is actuated, the first and second elevator motors M 2, M 3 are first driven to lower the front parts and seat 20 to the lower limit point, then the sliding motor M1 is driven to move the seat 20 rearward to the rear limit point (sliding limit position), after which the second elevator motor M 3 is driven to raise the rear portion of the seat cushion 54, thereby tilting the seat 20 forward at an angle of 3 degrees. Accordingly, this tilting the seat 20 forward reduces the depth of the point of contact with the seat bottom clean for ord seats in which the driver's pelvis is at a lower level, and allows the driver to sit in the seat

or leave it easily and effortlessly.

Reference numeral 76 denotes a voltage control circuit for controlling a voltage supplied by the battery 74 to transform it into low or high voltage and thus obtain a slow or fast speed of rotation of the motors M1 to M 4. upon actuation of manual switch 12, circuit 76 applies low voltage to these motors while, upon actuation of memory call switch 72 or other automatic mode switches, high voltage is applied to these motors. motors, so that the seat can be moved quickly, in the latter case, and slowly, in the former

case, to allow precise adjustment of the seat position.

In the control device of the present invention, there is provided a seat belt detector 82 at a seat belt anchor 80, intended to be connected to a seat belt 78. the seat belt 78 in

the anchoring member 80, the detector 82 immediately switches to an "active" state.

The detector 82 is preferably formed by a self-closing pushbutton switch which is electrically connected to the CPU 18 When the driver seated in the seat 20 in the retracted position puts on his seat belt 78, the detector 82 causes the CPU 18 to activate. relays 58, RL 1, RL 2, RL 3, RL 4 to drive motors M 1 to M 4 so as to automatically move seat 20 from the retracted position to the memorized position This arrangement eliminates switching operations and makes

the more functional device.

There is also provided, in the control device 10, a neutral position detector 88 and a rear seat occupancy detector 90 intended to protect a passenger installed in the rear seat 86 against movements of the seat. The neutral position control 88 has a neutral slide switch 92 which serves as a neutral position for the seat slide device 24, and a neutral tilt switch 94 which serves as a neutral position for the tilt device 28 The neutral position designates the position in which the seat 20 and the seat back 22 are kept away from the passenger occupying the rear seat 86, for its safety. The rear seat occupancy sensor 90 is preferably a pressure sensitive controller disposed in the rear seat. cushion 96 of the rear seat 86 These two detectors 88, 90 are connected to the CPU 18 Thanks to this device, if a passenger is seated in the rear seat 86 and thus activates the dice seat occupancy sensor 90, the CPU 18 detects the respective positions of the seat 20 and the seat back 22 with reference to a predetermined neutral position, through the two neutral switches 92, 94, then adjusts the longitudinal position of the seat 20 and the angle of inclination of the seat back 22 to adjust them to their respective neutral positions, thus ensuring that the seat 20 does not interfere with the occupant of the rear seat 86 In this way, if the rear seat 86 does not is not occupied, actuation of the seat back switch 16 causes automatic movement to the rear limit position of the seat 20 without changing the angle of inclination of the backrest

seat 22.

Also provided in the control device 10 is a door sensor 98 and a handbrake sensor 100, which serve as protection for the driver seated in the seat 20 The door sensor 98 serves to detect an open state of the front door 102, and it is connected to the CPU 18 If the door 102 is open, the sensor 98 is "active" so as to drive the sliding motor M1 to cause the seat 20 to move backwards, in a retracted position It should be noted that, once the driver has got out of the car, the seat 20 remains in the retracted position; when it opens the door 102 to get into the car again, the CPU, in response to the "active" state of the door sensor 102, drives the second elevator motor M 3 to raise the rear part of the seat 20 by view of tilting it forward, at a given angle, which allows the driver to sit more easily However, it is obvious that closing the door 102 does not cause tilting

from the seat 20 towards the front, in order to ensure a stable seat for the driver.

The handbrake detector 100 is provided on a handbrake 104 and adapted to detect a locked state of the handbrake 104 If the detector 100 detects the locked state of the handbrake 104, the CPU 18 records the stopped state of the vehicle and allows the seat to be moved

in the retracted position.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a method for cc-commanding the motors M1, M 2, M 3, M 4 in the control device

engine 10 described above will now be described.

Suppose first that the seat 20 is in the driving position (memorized position), as shown in Figure 3, and that the driver wants to move it from said driving position to the rearward position in order to get out of the car The brake hand brake 104 is then in a locked state (fig 4) and the handbrake detector in an "active" state, which allows the actuation of the switch

seat recoil 16.

Under these conditions, when the seat recoil switch 16 is actuated, as indicated in block 112, the first and second elevator motors M 2, M 3 are driven to lower the seat to its lower limit position. (block 114) Then (block 116), the rear seat occupancy detector 90 detects the presence or absence of an occupant in this rear seat 86 by virtue of its "active" or "rest" state If the detector 90 is "at rest", or in the "NO" case on block 116, the sliding motor M1 is driven to move the seat 20 to the sliding limit position (i.e. the rear limit position) as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 3 (118) At this point, the tilt angle of the seat back 22 is not detected and the seat 20 is therefore moved to the position limit of sliding, without modification of the angle of inclination of the seat backrest 22 On the other hand, if the sensor 90 is " active ", or in the case" OR It "at block 116, the flow of operations goes to block 120, where it is determined whether the seat 20 is in front of the neutral position in the longitudinal direction, or not If the answer is "YES", the sliding motor Mi is driven to move the seat 20 backwards, to the neutral position 122 Then, at the level of the block 124, it is determined whether the seat back 22 is tilted forward. its neutral position, or not If the seat back 22 is located just in the neutral position or behind it, or "NO ', it is then adjusted to the sliding limit position without modifying the angle of inclination of the seat back 22, and the next step is at block 128 On the other hand, if the answer at this block 124 is "YES", the tilt motor M 4 is driven to tilt the seat back towards

rear, in neutral position (block 126).

In the next step, it is decided whether the door 102 is open or closed; in other words, detector 98 is "active" or "at rest" If detector 98 is "active" at block 128, the second elevator motor M 3 is driven to raise the rear part of the seat 20 , with a view to tilting it forward at an angle of 3 degrees (block 130), whereby the seat 20 is adjusted in the retracted position, as indicated by the dashed line and double dots on the

figure 3, and the driver leaves the seat.

From the above description, it can be seen that

single-press actuation of the seat reverse switch 16 causes the seat 20 to move automatically to a rearward position of optimum safety, thus making it easier to get out of the car and protecting both the driver in the front seat and the seated passenger on the rear seat 86 It is also noted that in the retracted position, the seat 20 is tilted forward and thus

driver to get into or out of seat 20 at low pelvic point.

Figure 5 (which coeprendre Figures 5A and SB) shows the course of movement of the seat 20 to the sliding limit position when the door 102 is closed, before the driver

do not get into the car.

More precisely, at the level of the first block 140, when the

door 102 is open, the door detector 98 becomes "active".

Then, camoe it is indicated at the level of the block 142, the second elevator motor M 3 is driven to tilt the seat 20 forward in order to put it in the retracted position, after which, at the level of the block 144, the door 102 is closed and the detector 98 is "at rest" The next step is at block 146, where the second elevator motor M 3 is driven to lower the rear part of the seat 20 to the lower limit position , whereby the seat 20 is set in the sliding limit position The driver then sits on the seat 20 and fastens his seat belt 78 by inserting the clip 84 thereof into the associated anchoring member 80. seat belt detector 82 then becomes active (block 148) The next step is located at block 150, where the sliding motor M 1 is first of all driven to move the seat 20 forward, into position drive (the number of pulses reaching the stored drive value). Then, if the angle of inclination of the seat back 22 is not set to a predetermined angle corresponding to the stored driving value, the inclination motor M 4 is driven to incline the seat back 22 to said angle. , or in the stored position (block 152), it should be noted that if this tilt angle is already in the stored position, the drive of the tilt motor M 4 is not

not authorized.

Once the seat 20 is placed in the pre-positioned position in the longitudinal direction, the next step is at the level of the block 154, where the first and second motors M 2, M 3 are each driven until the The respective corresponding pulse count reaches the memorized driving value, so as to raise the seat 20 to the memorized position Thus, the seat 20 is set in the position

memorized in terms of height and tilt angle.

Finally, as can be seen from block 156, once the above-mentioned steps of moving the seat 20 to the stored position are completed, the driver releases the handbrake

104 to drive, which puts the handbrake sensor 100 to rest.

Consequently, the fact of fastening the seat belt 78 has the effect of driving the motors M1, M 2, M 3, M 4 until their respective pulses reach the stored driving value, from so that the seat 20 is automatically moved and adjusted to a given stored position This eliminates tedious switching operations and allows the driver to get in and out of the seat more easily This also avoids incorrect maneuvers to move the seat 20.

When the driver gets into the car, the seat moves from the retracted position to the memorized position In other words, the seat is moved from the retracted position which has been determined from the neutral position, which not only ensures to the driver a good driving position but also protects the occupant of the seat

back against movement of the seat 20.

Even if the driver, who has his seat belt 78 fastened, opens the door 102, the seat belt detector 82 remains in the "active" state and the motors M1, M 2, M 3, M 4 are driven according to this. the steps of blocks 150, 152, 154, whereby the seat 20 is moved to the memorized position without false maneuvers of

switching.

Although the foregoing description has focused on a mode of

preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is understood that this

This is not limited to the example described and illustrated here, and those skilled in the art will easily understand that it is possible to make various other changes and modifications to it without departing from the scope of the invention For example, the steps, described above, of driving the motors M1, M 2, M 3, M 4 and adjusting the seat 20 in the desired driving positions constitute a simple example for describing the characteristics of the present invention, but they can be modified for greater efficiency The device proposed for the seat 20 can also be applied to a front passenger seat, etc. In the embodiments indicated above, the driving position adjustment device comprises the sliding device seat 24, seat lift 26 and tilt device 28, but it may be a side support device

or a movable headrest.

Claims (7)

Method for controlling an electric motor of a motor-operated vehicle seat, in which a driving position adjusting device is operated to adjust said seat to a desired position, characterized in that it comprises the steps of determining a suitable position for the seat so that it is disposed in the longitudinal direction and inclined forward, at a predetermined angle, so as to allow the driver to get into or out of the seat without being obstructed by any surrounding part of the motor vehicle; storing this appropriate position in memory, in advance, in the form of a retracted position; detecting, by means of a switching operation, data corresponding to the distance which separates a position of the mind and said retracted position of the seat; and causing the motor to be driven according to said distance, whereby the seat is moved automatically from the noment's position to the back position. 2 The method of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of determining in advance, comnie neutral position, a position of the seat, in the longitudinal direction, which keeps the seat away from a passenger seated on the rear seat, behind said seat; determining in advance, as the neutral position of the seat back, an angle of inclination of said back that keeps it away from the passenger seated in the rear seat; and detecting the presence or absence of said passenger in the rear seat, whereby, if said passenger is seated in the rear seat, the seat and the seat back are moved so as not to exceed rearwardly a neutral position . 3 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of detecting an open state of the door, in which case the seat is tilted forward, in the retracted position, when the driver leaves the seat, while the forward tilt of the seat is suppressed by lowering the rear part of the seat, in response to the opening of the door when the driver sits on the seat. 4 The method of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of determining an appropriate position in which the driver is seated commie he wishes; store in memory, ccmne memorized position, this appropriate position; detecting whether or not the seat belt is attached; move the seat from the rearward position to the memorized position, in response to the seat belt fastening when the driver gets into the seat. A device (10) for controlling an electric motor of a motor-operated vehicle seat (20), whereby the seat (20) is adjusted into a position by means of a movable member of a seat adjuster. driving position, characterized in that it comprises a manual switch (12) under one action of which the motor is driven to adjust a position of the movable member of the driving position adjustment device; a seat recoil switch 16 of the push-actuated type, under the action of which the motor is driven to automatically move the seat (20) from a current position to a retracted position allowing the driver to sit on the seat (20) or to leave it easily, without being obstructed by a surrounding part of the car; position detector means (88) for detecting a position of the movable member; and means for counting data relating to a distance between the current position and the retracted position of the seat (20) and for driving the motor according to said distance, thereby to automatically move the seat (20) to the retracted position. 6 Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it also comprises a memory switch 14 comprising an adjustment switch 70 for adjusting a position of the movable element which has been adjusted, and storing in memory said position as stored position. ; and a memory call switch 72 under the action of which the seat (20) is moved from an arbitrary position to said position. memorized, in a reproducible manner. 7 Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises, among other movable elements, a seat lifter (26) designed to tilt the seat (20) forward at a given angle. 8 Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises detector means (90) for detecting the presence or absence of a passenger in the rear seat (86) located behind the seat (20); and neutral position detector means (88) for detecting at least a neutral position of the seat (20) in the longitudinal direction and a neutral position of the backrest (22) of the seat (20), said neutral position preventing any contact between the seat (20) and the seat back (22), on the one hand, and the passenger seated in the rear seat (86), on the other hand. 9 Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it also comprises at least seat belt detection means (82) for detecting whether the passenger has fastened his seat belt (78) or not; door sensor means (98) for detecting whether the vehicle door (102) is open; and handbrake sensing means (100) for sensing a locked state of the hand brake (104).