FR3081408A1 - VEHICLE SEAT WITH AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat (1) comprising at least one seat element (2, 3) which has at least one bearing zone (21, 22) adapted to support a user (U). seated on the vehicle seat (1), said bearing zone having a certain shape and certain mechanical characteristics, the vehicle seat (1) further comprising at least one inflatable pocket (51, 52) adapted to adjust the shape and / or the mechanical characteristics of the at least one bearing zone (21, 22), an inflation system (4) for inflating and deflating said at least one inflatable bag (51, 52), a control device (6) which controls the inflation system (4) adapted to control the inflation system (4) automatically according to at least one morphological parameter of the user (U).

Description

Auto-adjusting vehicle seat

TECHNICAL AREA

The present description relates to a vehicle seat with automatic adjustment.

More specifically, the present description relates to a vehicle seat comprising:

- at least one seat element which has at least one support zone adapted to serve as support for a user seated on the vehicle seat, said support zone having a certain shape and certain mechanical characteristics,

- at least one inflatable pocket adapted to adjust the shape and / or the mechanical characteristics of the support zone,

an inflation system making it possible to inflate and deflate said at least one inflatable pocket,

- a control device adapted to control the inflation system automatically as a function of at least one morphological parameter of T user.

STATE OF THE ART

It is known in the art to manually adjust the shape of a seat element support area using an inflatable pocket. Document US4938528 describes an example of such a system.

Such manual adjustments can sometimes be unsuitable for the morphology of the seat user.

OBJECTS

The present description aims in particular to overcome this drawback.

To this end, the control device is adapted to control the inflation system automatically as a function of at least one morphological parameter of T user U.

Thanks to these provisions, the adjustment made by the inflatable pocket is always adapted to the morphology of the seat user.

In some embodiments, one and / or the other of the following provisions can optionally be used:

said at least one morphological parameter is chosen from the genre, mass, size of the user, said at least one morphological parameter of the user is measured by at least one morphological parameter sensor, a memory is associated with said device controls and contains said at least one morphological parameter of the user, said control device is adapted to control the inflation system also as a function of at least one position parameter of the user, said at least one position parameter of the user is determined by at least one user position sensor, said control device is adapted to control the inflation system also as a function of at least one seat position parameter, the vehicle seat comprises a backrest and said at least a seat position parameter comprises an angle of inclination of the backrest, said at least one seat position parameter e st determined by at least one seat position sensor, said at least one seat element comprises several inflatable pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages will appear during the following description of an embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to one embodiment;

- Figure 2 is a side view of the seat of Figure 1, showing inflatable pockets integrated into the backrest.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be noted that, in the figures, the structural and / or functional elements common to the various embodiments may have the same references. Thus, unless otherwise stated, such elements have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

Unless specified otherwise, the expressions approximately, substantially, approximately, of the order of, etc. mean that a slight variation from the nominal value considered is possible, in particular by a small percentage, in particular to within 10%.

In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" and their synonyms are understood to refer to the front and rear of the seat when the seat is in its usual position, the rear edge of the seat being the edge which is extended vertically by the seat back, and the front edge being the edge opposite the rear edge.

The terms "top", "bottom", "upper" and "lower" and their synonyms are defined with respect to the seat of the seat in its usual horizontal position.

For the sake of clarity, only the steps and elements useful for understanding the embodiments described have been detailed. In particular, the seat adjustment mechanisms themselves have not been detailed, the embodiments described being compatible with the usual electrically adjustable seats.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle seat 1, in particular a motor vehicle seat with automatic adjustment.

The seat 1 is divided into several support zones and comprises, in a longitudinal direction, from front to back:

- at least one front zone 21, which corresponds approximately to a zone located at the level of a seat nose of the seat 1,

- at least one intermediate zone 22, which corresponds approximately to a support zone of the thighs of a user U seated on the seat 1, and

at least one rear zone 23, which corresponds approximately to a support zone for the buttocks of the user U of the seat 1.

In addition, the seat may include at least one lateral zone 24, 25, preferably two lateral zones 24, 25 arranged on each side to the left and to the right of the seat cushion 1. The lateral zones 24, 25 correspond to the padding side of the seat element corresponding to the seat base 1.

The seat has a backrest D which can be tilted by an angle of tilt A, measured for example with respect to the vertical. The backrest D can have several support zones and can present, in a vertical direction, from top to bottom:

at least one upper zone, which advantageously corresponds to a support zone for the shoulders of the user U of the motor vehicle seat 1,

at least one intermediate zone, which advantageously corresponds to a support zone of the rib cage of Γ user U of the seat 1, and

at least one lower zone 31 of the backrest, which advantageously corresponds to a zone located approximately at the level of the pelvis of the user U of the seat 1.

The intermediate zone can include:

a first intermediate zone 32, which advantageously corresponds to a zone located approximately at the level of the bottom of the rib cage of the user U of the seat 1, and

- A second intermediate zone 34, which corresponds to a lumbar support zone for the user U of the seat 1. In addition, the support zone corresponding to the backrest may include at least one lateral zone 35, 36, preferably two lateral zones 35, 36 arranged on each side of the backrest D. The lateral zones 35, 36 correspond to the lateral padding of the seat element 3 corresponding here to the backrest D of the seat 1.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the seat 1 of Figure 1 and the morphology of a user U occupying the seat 1. The seat 1 comprises a first seat element 2 corresponding to the seat of the seat 1 and a second element of seat 3 corresponding to the backrest D of seat 1, the seat element 2 and the seat element 3 comprising at least the support zones described in FIG. 1. The seat 1 comprises a first morphological parameter sensor 7 and a second morphological parameter sensor 8, which morphological parameter sensors are intended to detect at least one morphological parameter of Γ user U. The at least one morphological parameter of Γ user U can be, for example and without limitation: the size T of user U, the weight denoted P of user U, the gender G of user U (female or male respectively denoted E or M), the height Hv of the vertebrae V of user U, the length r of the bust of user U, the spacing of the shoulder blades of user U, the bone age of user U, the body mass index of user U ...

A first inflatable pocket 51 is placed in the seat 1 in correspondence with the support area 31 of the backrest D and a second inflatable pocket 52 is placed in the seat 1 in correspondence with the support area 32 of the backrest D. According to d other embodiments, one or more other pockets can be placed in one or more of the described support zones 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of the seat element 2 or in one or more of the support zones described 32, 34, 35, 36 of the seat element 3, or in any other part of the seat not described to which corresponds a support area of the user U.

By the term inflatable bag is meant a flexible, waterproof, deformable envelope, capable of containing a fluid such as air to adjust its volume and shape, made of an elastic material. Such a flexible material is for example the thermoplastic polyurethane "TPU", an elastomer, a flexible synthetic material, etc. We can also speak of a "bladder", a "bubble" or a "bag" having an inflatable nature.

An inflation system 5 is provided and serves as the sole means of action for inflating the at least one inflatable pocket 51, 52 and forcing it to remain in the desired inflation state. By inflation system means a set of electropneumatic elements allowing the distribution and the routing of a desired quantity of air inside the at least one inflatable pocket 51, 52 of seat element 2, 3, in this case here inside the first inflatable pocket 51 and / or inside the second inflatable pocket 52 of the seat element 3. The inflation system 5 can perform an air suction , an air supply or a combination of alternating or simultaneous suction and supply of air. The air may be ambient air or air in a closed circuit throughout the inflation system and of the bags, and may be replaced by a different fluid with physical characteristics relevant for the inflation of said inflatable bags 51, 52 of this embodiment. The inflation system 5 is connected directly to the inflatable bag 51 to inflate it. According to different embodiments, the inflation system 5 of a seat element 2,3 can be independent or connected to one or more inflation system 5 of at least one other seat element 2,3, or even centralized for all the inflatable pockets 51, 52 of the seat 1. An inflation system 5 presents for example accessories known from the pneumatic connection technique and in a nonlimiting and optional manner, in sufficient dimensions and quantities, one to several pneumatic actuators, one to several electronic actuators, one or more electric motors, one or more air distributor blocks, pneumatic connectors (eg L, U, T, Y connectors, tubes, pipes), pneumatic couplers and distributors, etc. . Thus, the at least one support zone 21, 22 of seat element 2, 3 may see, for example, its shape, its size or even its hardness modified under the effect of partial or total inflation or deflation, at least one inflatable pocket 51, 52.

A control device 6 enables the inflation system 5 to be controlled. The control device 6 can for example be an electronic control device comprising, in particular, an electronic control circuit. The control device 6 consists of an electronic unit which typically comprises an electronic processor card and a memory 62, whereby the control device 6 stores at least one morphological parameter of the user U and uses it to determining the inflation adjustment to be provided to the at least one pocket 51, 52 to ensure an inflation adapted to the morphology of the user U. For example, if the user is small, the control device 6 may control the inflation system 5 for deflating the pockets included in the upper part of the backrest D which do not correspond to support zones effectively serving to support the user U. The control device 6 allocates an inflation control C the inflation system 5 as a function of the at least one morphological parameter of the user U stored in the memory 62. For example, the control device 6 has in memory a weight of the user U lower r at 50kg and deduces that the pocket 51 corresponding to the bearing surface 31 of the seat element 2 must be inflated accordingly. The control device 6 can associate said morphological parameter of the user U with an inflation control C according to a continuous or non-continuous function or by referring to data tables. According to another embodiment not illustrated here, the seat 1 does not include a sensor 7, 8 for the morphological parameter of the user U, in which case the seat provides a man-machine interface allowing the user U of the seat 1 to enter at least one characteristic parameter of its morphology; the man-machine interface can be an autonomous electronic device structurally dissociated from the vehicle and / or structurally dissociated from the seat 1 and integrating a system of communication towards the control device 6 and modification of said at least one morphological parameter stored in memory 62 .

Also, if the inflation control C is empty or in the absence of an inflation control C from the control device 6 to the inflation system 5, the inflation system 5 does not inflate the at least one inflatable pocket 51 , 52. For example in the event of a malfunction of the energy supply, or when the motor vehicle is switched off or in the absence of a user U on the seat, the inflation system 5 is not controlled by the control 6. In the absence of air injected by the inflation system 5, the inflatable bags 51, 52 are in a deflated state.

The control device 6 of a seat element 2, 3 can be autonomous and / or independent in its operation or connected to the control device 6 of another seat element 2, 3, or even centralized for all the systems of seat control 1. The control device 6 can thus be specific to a motor vehicle seat 1, or manage the control of several motor vehicle seats. The control device 6 can also be associated or integrated with a control unit managing the entire motor vehicle. Thus, the control device 6 is adapted to control inflation systems 5 advantageously independently of each other.

Below is a part of a data table that the control device 6 can use to associate the at least one morphological parameter of the user U with an inflation control C for the inflation system 5.

H v G = F G = M V T P VS 1 1 C7 > 140 > 50 5.6 <50 1,3,5 <140 > 50 1, 2, 3, 4 <50 1, 2, 3, 4 0.93 0.931 T2 > 140 > 50 1,5,6 <50 1,3,5 <140 > 50 L 2, 3, 4 <50 1, .5,6 0.843 0.847 14 > 140 > 50 1,5,6 <50 1.2 <140 > 50 1, 2, 3, 4 <50 1,3,5 0.752 0.753 T6 > 140 > 50 <5, 6 <50 1,2,4,5,6 <140 > 50 1,2,3,4,5,6 <50 3.4 0.671 0.662 T8 > 140 > 50 1.2 <50 1,2,4,5,6 <140 > 50 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 <50 4, 5, 6 0.611 0.587 T10 > 140 > 50 vs 1,2,3 <50 3, 4 <140 > 50 1, 2, 3, 4 <50 1,2,3,4,5,6 0.549 0.519 T12 > 140 > 50 1,2,3 <50 1,2,3,4 <140 > 50 1, 2, 3, 4 <50 1,2,3

According to the gender G feminine F or masculine M of user U, the vertebrae V of user U are arranged differently along the vertical. The vertebrae of a user U are named successively from the top to the bottom of his spinal column 5: C7, T2, T4, T6, T8, T10, T12. For example if a user's gender G

U is male M, the height Hv of its vertebra T8 is 0.662 compared to the total height Hv while the height Hv of its vertebra T8 is 0.671 compared to the total height Hv if the gender G of the user U was feminine F. According to one embodiment, the control device 6 takes into account a plurality of morphological parameters of the user to issue an inflation command C to the inflation system 5. For example, the data table above takes into account the size of the user U and his weight P in addition to the genre G of the user U, to which parameters is associated an inflation control C best suited so that an inflation adjustment is provided to the user U adapted to its morphology. The command C comprises for example an identifier of the inflatable pocket 51, 52 on which to operate, such as a numbering, for example from 1 to 6 for an embodiment of said seat 1 comprising 6 inflatable pockets. The command C can also be made up of all the appropriate information allowing the inflation system 5 to provide an appropriate inflation to the user U, in particular the distribution of the pressure and / or the volume of fluid to be injected into Lan minus a bag inflatable 51, 52. For example, to support the vertebra V named T4 of a user U of gender G female P, with a size T <140 and a weight P> 50, the data table above makes it possible to determine that said vertebra T4 is located at a height of 0.843 relative to the total height Hv and an inflation control C for inflating the bags 1, 2, 3, 4 will be delivered to the inflation system 5 by the control device 6. In l 'species, such a data table can decline thousands of configurations of inflation controls C according to a plurality of variable morphological parameters from one user U to another.

The control device 6 controls the inflation system 5 as a function of the at least one morphological parameter of the user U, which morphological parameter of the user U is preferably chosen from the gender G (M for masculine or P for feminine ) of user U, the weight P of user U, the size T of user U. According to other embodiments, at least one morphological parameter of user U can be, for example and of non-limiting way: the height Hv of its vertebrae V, the length of its bust, the spacing of its shoulder blades, its bone age, its body mass index, etc. The at least one morphological parameter can be associated with an inflation command C by a data table or by the correspondence between said morphological parameter and an inflation command C according to a continuous or non-continuous mathematical function or according to a mathematical series.

In view of the problem of accompanying the passenger towards an adequate posture, which is intended to be solved by the present description, it must be taken into account that Γ user U can change the seat and that he can see some of his own characteristics changed. morphological, in particular its size, its weight or the length of its torso. An embodiment of the present invention therefore proposes that the control device 6 for the at least one seat element 2, 3 has at least one sensor for the morphological parameter 7, 8 of the user U. This morphological parameter is captured automatically by the morphological parameter sensor 7, 8 in order to be stored in memory 62 and associated via the control device 6 with an inflation control C intended for the inflation system 5, thus allowing automatic adjustment of the seat 1 to the morphology of the user U. The at least one sensor 7, 8 can be of the pneumatic, resistive, capacitive, inductive, magnetic field type. The at least one sensor 7, 8 can be autonomous in its operation and its supply or not. The at least one sensor 7, 8 is connected with or without wire to the control device 6. The at least one sensor 7, 8 can be integrated structurally in part or completely in at least one inflatable pocket 51, 52 and / or at least one support zone 21, 22 of the seat element 2, 3. Other types of sensor can naturally be envisaged by those skilled in the art to improve the detection of the morphological parameter of the occupant of the motor vehicle seat 1. Furthermore, each sensor, whatever its type, can be combined in a single or different support zones 2, 3 in the same motor vehicle seat 1.

Under certain conditions of use of the vehicle seat, the seat occupant may need to adjust their position on the seat. This is particularly the case when the seat occupant remains in the same position for a long time. When in a driver's seat, for example, the seat occupant maintains a substantially static position and naturally comes to feel the need to move. An altered position, for example slumped, implies a particular adaptation of the adjustment of the seat 1 with respect to the morphology and said position of the user by an adapted swelling of the at least one inflatable pocket 51, 52. In another mode embodiment, at least one position parameter of the user U on the seat 1 is taken into account by the control device 6 in addition to the at least one morphological parameter of the user U. In particular, the position of the user's pelvis U on the at least one support zone 21, 22 of a seat element 2, 3, particularly on the support zone 23 of the seat element 2 corresponding to the seat of the seat 1, makes it possible to determine whether the user U is well seated, that is to say at the bottom of the seat 1, or poorly seated, for example by being slouched on the seat 1 relative to the at least one support zone 21, 22 of seat element 2,3. A position parameter of the user U on the seat 1 can for example be the distance of the user's buttocks to the backrest D or even the location of all or part of the legs of the user U on the seat element 2 corresponding to the seat of seat 1, or the height of the shoulders of the user U relative to the backrest D of seat 1.

The present description also aims to give the user U of the seat 1 the possibility of regularly changing the sitting position to prevent, for example, an overload of weight on his intervertebral discs due to an inappropriate adjustment of the seat 1. According to another mode embodiment of the present invention, the control device 6 will automatically take into account any new position of the user U relative to the at least one support zone 21, 22 and act on the inflation system 5 so always promulgate an adjustment of the seat 1 adapted to the morphology and posture of the user U, whether or not the user U is in a position to adjust his seat himself. The at least one position sensor 9, 10 of the user U is placed in at least one of the support zones 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 provided for the occupant of the seat to support his pelvis, and can detect the presence and / or the weight of the occupant to deduce its position. In the embodiment presented in FIG. 2, the backrest 3 comprises two sensors 7, 8 of the morphological parameter of the user U. The seat element 2 corresponding to the seat of the seat 1 comprises two sensors 9, 10 of position of the user U. Nevertheless, the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 2 is purely illustrative and the backrest 3 and / or the seat 2 are likely to include a different number or location of sensors in the seat 1. In particular, each support zone or certain support zones of the seat 1 can comprise a sensor. The distribution of sensors in seat 1 can make it possible to determine the position of the occupant in seat 1, it being considered that local detection of a sensor in a support area 3, 4 indicates the presence of a part of the occupant's body in contact with the seat 1. The possibility of thus detecting individually, in different locations of the seat or at least in certain locations of the seat, for example the rear zone 23 of the seat 2 or the lower zone 31 of the backrest 3, the presence of a contact with the occupant of the seat 1 makes it possible to obtain an indication of the presence of the occupant and / or an indication of the position of the occupant, for example that the bust is straight or that the position is reduced, thanks to the distribution of the sensors in different areas of the seat, and to the individualization for each area of measurements obtained by these different sensors. The control devices 6 of several seat elements 2, 3 can then be controlled according to the measurements provided by the sensors, and any control device 6 of a seat element 2, 3 not requiring any specific action is inactive .

In another embodiment, at least one positional parameter of the vehicle seat is taken into account by the control device 6 in addition to the at least one morphological parameter of the user U and / or the at least a positional parameter of the user on the seat 1. Said at least one positional parameter of the seat 1 is preferably an inclination A of the backrest D of the seat

1. A is an angle of inclination of the backrest D of the seat 1, in FIG. 1 taken with respect to a vertical ascending axis, but the angle A can be chosen with respect to another frame of reference, such as a horizontal axis or a seat element 1, to describe the inclination of the backrest D. Said at least one positional parameter of the seat 1 can be chosen from the spatial position of the seat 1, namely the longitudinal and / or transverse and / or height position from seat 1 in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

According to one embodiment of the seat 1, a seat position sensor 1 is proposed for automatically sensing said at least one positional parameter of the seat 1. This sensor can be of the mechanical or electronic type and integrated directly into an adjustment element of said seat position 1, the adjustment element being for example a handle for tilting the backrest D or a translation rail from front to rear of the seat.

Obviously, the present seat with automatic adjustment is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided only by way of example.

It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variants which a person skilled in the art may envisage within the framework of the present invention and in particular any combination of the different operating modes described above, which can be taken separately or in combination.

Claims (12)

1. Vehicle seat (1) comprising: - at least one seat element (2,3) which has at least one support zone (21, 22) adapted to serve as support for a user (U) seated on the vehicle seat (1), said zone support having a certain shape and certain mechanical characteristics, - at least one inflatable pocket (51,52) adapted to adjust the shape and / or the mechanical characteristics of the at least one support zone (21, 22), - an inflation system (4) making it possible to inflate and deflate said at least one inflatable pocket (51, 52), - a control device (6) which controls the inflation system (4), characterized in that the control device (6) is adapted to control the inflation system (4) automatically as a function of at least one morphological parameter of the user (U). 2. Motor vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1, for which said at least one morphological parameter is chosen from the genre, mass and size of the user (U). 3. Motor vehicle seat (1) according to claim 2, wherein said at least one morphological parameter is a combination of at least the mass and size of the user (U). 4. Motor vehicle seat (1) according to claim 3, wherein said at least one morphological parameter is the user body mass index (U). 5. Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said at least one morphological parameter of User (U) is measured by at least one sensor (7,8) of morphological parameter. 6. Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a memory (62) is associated with said control device (6) and contains said at least one user morphological parameter (U). 7. Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control device (6) is adapted to control the inflation system (5) also as a function of at least one position parameter of the 'user (U). 8. Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one user position parameter (U) is determined by at least one position sensor (9,10) user (U). 9. vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control device (6) is adapted to control the inflation system (5) also as a function of at least one parameter of the seat position. (1). 10. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle seat (1) comprises a backrest (D) and said at least one seat position parameter comprises an angle of inclination (A) of the backrest ( D). 11. Vehicle seat (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein said at least one seat position parameter is determined by at least one seat position sensor (1). 12. Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one seat element (2,3) comprises several inflatable pockets (51,52).