FR3120026A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A SYSTEM FOR LOCKING A VEHICLE REAR SEAT BACKREST - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a locking system of a backrest (201) of a rear seat (200) of a vehicle. To this end, a request for activation of a service providing authorization to access the trunk (20) of the vehicle is received. Upon detection of the opening of the trunk door (20) giving access to the trunk (20), a command to lock the backrest locking system (201) of the bench seat (200) is transmitted, for example from a vehicle computer to the locking system blocking means. Figure 2

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A SYSTEM FOR LOCKING A VEHICLE REAR SEAT BACKREST

The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a system for locking a seat backrest or rear bench seat of a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a method and a device for controlling the locking/unlocking of a seat back or rear bench seat of a vehicle.

Technology background

Motor vehicles generally include in the rear part of their passenger compartment a bench seat intended to accommodate several passengers and comprising one or more folding backrests along a transverse pivot axis in order to allow modularity of the loading space. Folding the backrest(s) onto the cushions of the rear seat(s) thus provides an increase in loading space for transporting long or bulky objects in the vehicle.

Each folding backrest is associated with a locking system or device which makes it possible to secure the backrest to a structural element of the vehicle, such as for example the rear parcel shelf crossmember, in order to prevent the backrest from accidentally folding down on a passenger. seated on the seat in the event of a vehicle impact.

Such a locking system conventionally comprises a support intended to be fixed to the frame of the backrest, a lock mounted on the support, a striker provided to be fixed to the structure of the vehicle and comprising a hooking member intended to come into engagement with a bolt that includes the lock to secure the backrest to the structure of the vehicle. The locking system also includes a manual release lever pivotally mounted on the support, which makes it possible to disengage the bolt from the striker plate so as to release the backrest from the structure of the vehicle to fold the backrest down on the seat cushion and thus increase the loading space.

The support and the release lever are thus generally accessible from the trunk of the vehicle. In addition, some contemporary vehicles are equipped with a second support with release lever located in the boot, for example on an interior side wall of the boot, to facilitate access to the release lever of the backrest(s) from the boot to fold the files.

One of the problems associated with such an arrangement is that a person who has access to the trunk can easily access the release lever, fold down one or more seatbacks and then gain access to the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to improve the safety of vehicles against theft.

Another object of the present invention is to secure access to the passenger compartment of a vehicle from the trunk of the vehicle.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for controlling a locking system of a rear seat backrest of a vehicle, the method being implemented by at least one computer on board the vehicle, the method comprising the following steps:

- receipt of a request to activate a service configured to allow access to the interior of a vehicle boot;

- detection of the opening of a door giving access to the interior of the boot;

- transmission of a locking control for the vehicle's rear bench seatback locking system to prevent any unlocking of the rear bench seatback.

According to a variant, the method further comprises the following steps:

- detection of closing of the door giving access to the interior of the boot;

- transmission of a command to release the vehicle's rear bench seatback locking system to authorize unlocking of the rear bench seatback.

According to another variant, the request is received from a mobile communication device via a wireless link between the vehicle and the mobile communication device.

According to an additional variant, the blocking command is transmitted to blocking means of the locking system.

According to yet another variant, the blocking means comprise an electric actuator and a rotary jack, the blocking command controlling the electric actuator to actuate the rotary jack until a blocking position of the rotary jack adapted to block the locking system is reached. and prevent any unlocking of the file.

According to an additional variant, the release command is transmitted to locking means of the locking system.

According to another variant, the locking means comprise an electric actuator and a rotary actuator, the release command controlling the electric actuator to actuate the rotary actuator until it reaches a rest position of the rotary actuator adapted to release the locking system and authorize an unlocking of the folder.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for controlling a locking system of a rear seat backrest of a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for the implementation of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automotive type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for the execution of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the invention, this in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

Such a computer program can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for the execution of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a ROM memory of the microelectronic circuit type, or even a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

On the other hand, this recording medium can also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other ways. The computer program according to the invention can in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the method in question.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description of the non-limiting embodiments of the invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 4, in which:

schematically illustrates a communication system comprising a vehicle and a mobile communication device, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates part of the trunk of the vehicle of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a device configured to control a locking system of a rear seat backrest of the vehicle of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for checking a locking system of a rear seat backrest of the vehicle of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

A method and a device for controlling a locking system of a rear seat backrest of a vehicle will now be described in the following with reference in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 4. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the following description.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the control of a system for locking one or more backrests of a rear seat of a vehicle comprises receiving an activation request from a service providing for authorization of access to the trunk of the vehicle. Upon detection of the opening of the boot door (boot door or tailgate) giving access to the boot, a command to block the locking system of the seat backrest(s) is transmitted, for example from a vehicle computer intended for blocking means.

The locking means prevent any unlocking of the locking system and prevent anyone with access to the boot from folding down the backrest(s) and thus gaining access to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The security of the vehicle against intrusions is improved.

schematically illustrates a communication environment 1 between a mobile communication device 11 and a vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle 10 is a vehicle with a combustion engine, with an electric motor(s) or else a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine and one or more electric motors.

The device 11 is a mobile telecommunications device, for example an intelligent telephone or “smartphone”, a tablet, a connected watch, a computer or a portable computer.

The vehicle 10 and the mobile device 11 are connected to each other, for example via a radio link, either directly or via a land mobile network infrastructure, such as a cellular type network by example. The network infrastructure comprises one or more antennas 12. The data exchanged between the vehicle 10 and the mobile device 11 pass for example through one or more servers, for example in the "cloud" (or "cloud" in French), this or servers responsible for managing the cellular network. The mobile network corresponds for example to a 4G network (or LTE Advanced according to 3GPP release 10 – version 10) or 5G.

When the vehicle 10 is in direct communication with the mobile device 11, the connection is for example of the Wifi® or Bluetooth® type.

schematically illustrates a part of the trunk 20 of the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

There illustrates a part of the trunk 20 seen from the rear of the vehicle 10, the opening allowing access to the trunk being open. The vehicle 10 thus comprises a folding rear seat 200, the rear seat corresponding to a so-called 2/3, 1/3 seat according to the example of the , i.e. a split bench seat allowing the folding of a single seat (1/3 part of the bench seat), of two seats (2/3 part of the bench seat), or of the three seats by folding the two parts 1/3 and 2/3 forming the bench seat 200.

The example shown on the shows the backrest 201 of the seat of the so-called 1/3 part of the bench seat 200 in the folded position, that is to say that the backrest 201 of the seat of the 1/3 part pivots in the direction of the arrow to go s press on the seat base of the 1/3 part of the bench seat 200.

A first locking/unlocking system for the backrest 201 advantageously comprises a handle 201 and a mechanism formed in particular by parts 2010, 2011 cooperating with each other. Such a system makes it possible to manually unlock the backrest 201 of the structure of the vehicle 10 to fold the backrest 201 onto the seat cushion.

The folding of the backrest 201 is advantageously obtained by acting on the unlocking handle 202 (also called unlocking lever of the backrest locking system 201) arranged in the trunk 20 at the level of the right internal wall dressing the trunk, according to the example particular of the .

The actuation of the handle 202 makes it possible to unlock a mechanism configured to secure the backrest 201 to the structure of the vehicle 10, such a mechanism comprising a first part 2010 fixed to the backrest 201 on which a second part 2011 is attached connected to the structure of the vehicle 10. In the locked position of the backrest 201, the second part 2011 is attached to the first part 2010 to hold the backrest 201 fixed to the structure of the vehicle 10. In the unlocked position, the second part 2011 releases the first part 2010 to allow the file to separate from the structure of the vehicle 10 and fall back on the seat.

Such a locking/unlocking system is well known to those skilled in the art and is not described in more detail in this description. Such a mechanism is for example described in French patent application No. 3 034 723 A1 published on October 14, 2016.

A second locking/unlocking system, not illustrated on the , is also provided in a similar manner for the backrest of the so-called 2/3 part of the seat.

Of course, the positioning of the handle 202 is not limited to that described with regard to the , the handle 202 being able to be positioned at any other place in the boot or close to the bench seat 200.

According to a variant embodiment, the folding system for the seat backrests 200 corresponds to an electrical system with electronic control. According to this variant, one or more control buttons are provided in the boot to control the folding of the backrests by pressing this or these buttons. Pressing a button first releases the lock securing the backrest to the vehicle structure and then lowers the backrest onto the seat cushion. Pressing another button raises the backrest to its vertical position until the backrest is locked with the structure.

A process for checking the locking system of a backrest, for example the backrest 201, of the rear seat 200 of the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more computers of the on-board system of the vehicle 10, for example a computer of the type VSM (from the English "Vehicle Supervisor Module" or in French "Vehicle Supervision Module") in charge of coordinating the vehicle electronic functions of the cabin and in charge of providing the interconnection network infrastructure of the whole other vehicle computers 10.

In a first operation, a request is received by the computer. This request corresponds to a request ordering the activation of a service including an authorization to open the opening of the safe. Such authorization corresponds for example to a command to unlock the trunk door to allow a person to open the trunk to access the interior of the trunk (for example to deposit a parcel there).

Such a service corresponds for example to a “delivery in the trunk” type service allowing the owner or the driver of the vehicle 10 to authorize delivery of a parcel in the trunk of the vehicle 10 to be possible, including absence of the owner or the driver in the vehicle 10.

According to a first example, such a request is for example received from the mobile communication device 11 via a wireless link of the LTE-Advanced, Wifi® or Bluetooth® type established between the mobile communication device 11 and the vehicle 10. This request is for example transmitted by the device 11 via a direct link between the mobile device 11 and the vehicle 10 (for example if the distance between the mobile device 11 and the vehicle 10 is less than a threshold depending on the radio technology used) or via the network infrastructure comprising the antenna 12. The request is for example received by a telematic control unit, called TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit”), which unit TCU transmits the request to the computer VSM. The TCU is advantageously connected to one or more antennas of the vehicle 1 and is configured to control the various communication systems of the vehicle, such as for example the GPS-type location system (from the English “Global Positioning System” or in French “Global Positioning System”) and/or the mobile communication system (e.g. GSM, GPRS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE). The TCU and the VSM are for example part of a multiplexed architecture for the realization of various useful services for the correct operation of the vehicle 10. The TCU and VSM computers communicate and exchange data between them via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the CAN data bus type (from the English "Controller Area Network" or in French "Réseau de Contrôleurs"), CAN FD (from the English "Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate or in French “Flexible Data Rate Controller Network”), FlexRay (according to ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (according to ISO/IEC 802-3 standard).

According to this first example, the generation and the transmission of the request are for example triggered by a user action, that is to say by the entry of the touch or voice command. The request is for example generated by a mobile application installed on the mobile communication device 11, the owner or the driver of the vehicle 10 activating the service by pressing a button or an icon of a man-machine interface, called HMI, of the mobile application displayed on a screen of the device 11, the request then being generated and transmitted automatically to the vehicle 10.

The request includes, for example, data or parameters associated with the unlocking command for the rear door of the vehicle 10, for example data representative of an instant and of a duration during which the rear door remains unlocked before locking. automatically again.

According to a second example, the request is generated from an MMI displayed on a screen arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10, for example at the level of the dashboard. According to this second example, the driver of vehicle 10 controls the activation of the service from vehicle 10, for example before leaving vehicle 10.

In a second operation, the opening of the rear opening (trunk door or tailgate) of the vehicle 10 is detected by the computer in charge of the process, for example the VSM computer. The rear door is, for example, opened by a deliverer of a package ordered by the owner or the driver of the vehicle 10 who has authorized the unlocking of the rear door, for example over a determined time slot comprising the scheduled delivery time. , as part of the “delivery in the trunk” service. Opening the sash triggers, for example, the transmission of data representing the opening of the rear sash to the computer. Such data is for example transported in or corresponds to an electrical signal emitted by a sensor arranged in the locking mechanism of the rear door to the computer.

Information representative of the detection of the opening of the rear opening is for example transmitted, according to an optional variant embodiment, to the destination of the mobile communication device 11 to alert/inform the owner or the driver of the vehicle 10. Such information takes, for example, the form of a message or graphic content displayed on the screen of the device 11 and/or of sound or voice content rendered by a loudspeaker of the device 11.

In a third operation, following the detection of the opening of the rear opening of the vehicle 10 in the second operation, the computer transmits a command to block the locking system(s) of the backrest(s) of the rear seat of the vehicle 10. Such a command is transmitted to locking means of the locking system(s) configured to lock the locking mechanism(s) of the backrest(s) 201 in the locked position, thus preventing any unlocking of the backrest(s) 201 and any folding down of the backrest(s) 201. Thus, access to the passenger compartment for the person having access to the trunk is prevented by maintaining the backrest(s) 201 of the rear seat 200 in the vertical position.

According to a particular embodiment, the blocking means comprise:

- an electric actuator controlled by the computer in charge of the control process, for example the VSM computer, and

- a rotary actuator whose translation from a rest position to a blocking position (and vice versa) is controlled by the electric actuator.

The blocking means are for example provided in the mechanism comprising the parts 2010 and 2011 to block these parts in the locked position by preventing the movement of the part 2011 hooking onto the part 2010 when the cylinder is in the blocking position. According to a variant embodiment, the locking means are included in the unlocking handle 202 to prevent the actuation of the handle 202, thus preventing the release of the backrest 201 from the structure of the vehicle 10.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the locking means correspond to electronic locking means when the locking/unlocking system corresponds to an electrical system with electronic control. According to this example, the blocking means correspond for example to an inhibition of the electric control buttons or to an inhibition of the electric locking means of the backrest 201 with the structure of the vehicle 10.

As long as the rear leaf remains open, the blocking means maintain the locking system in the blocked position, preventing any unlocking of the backrest 201 from the structure of the vehicle 10.

In a fourth operation, the closing of the rear opening (boot door or tailgate) of the vehicle 10 is detected by the computer in charge of the process, for example the VSM computer. The rear door is, for example, closed by the delivery person who delivered the package as part of the “delivery in the trunk” service. Closing the sash triggers, for example, the transmission of data representative of closing the rear sash to the computer. Such data is for example transported by or corresponds to an electrical signal emitted by a sensor arranged in the locking mechanism of the rear door to the computer.

Information representative of the detection of closure of the rear opening is for example transmitted, according to an optional variant embodiment, to the destination of the mobile communication device 11 to alert/inform the owner or the driver of the vehicle 10. Such information takes for example the form of a message or of a graphic content displayed on the screen of the device 11 and/or of a sound or voice content rendered by a loudspeaker of the device 11.

In a fifth operation, following the detection of the closure of the rear opening of the vehicle 10 in the fourth operation, the computer transmits a command to release the locking system(s) of the backrest(s) 201 of the rear seat 200 of the vehicle 10 Such a command is transmitted to the locking means of the locking system(s) to release the locking mechanism(s) of the backrest(s) 201, authorizing the unlocking of the backrest(s) 201 and the folding down of the backrest(s). 201 records, manually or electrically. Thus, access to the passenger compartment for the person having access to the boot is again authorized by allowing the backrest(s) 201 of the rear bench seat 200 to be folded down onto the bases of the corresponding rear seat(s).

When the blocking means correspond to the means comprising the electric actuator and the rotary actuator, the release control controls the electric actuator so that the latter brings the actuator back to the rest position. In such a rest position, the cylinder no longer prevents the movement of the part 2011 hooking onto the part 2010 or no longer prevents the actuation of the handle 202. Thus, the release of the backrest 201 from the structure of the vehicle 10 is again permitted to allow folding of the backrest 201 into a horizontal position.

schematically illustrates a device 3 configured to control a locking system of a rear seat backrest of a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The device 3 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer, for example a computer of the VSM type.

There also illustrates a device 3 corresponding to a mobile communication device such as device 11.

The device 3 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to the and 2 and/or steps of the process described with regard to the . Examples of such a device 3 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as a vehicle's on-board computer, an electronic computer such as an ECU ("Electronic Control Unit"), a telephone smart phone, tablet, laptop. The elements of device 3, individually or in combination, can be integrated in a single integrated circuit, in several integrated circuits, and/or in discrete components. The device 3 can be made in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or else a combination of electronic circuits and software modules. According to various particular embodiments, the device 3 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and/or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Unité Telematics Control"), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input/output ports.

The device 3 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 30 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and/or for executing the instructions of the software or software embedded in the device 3. The processor 30 can include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 3 further comprises at least one memory 31 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which can comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the onboard software or software comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored on the memory 31.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 3 comprises a block 32 of interface elements for communicating with external devices, for example a remote server or the “cloud”, other nodes of the ad hoc network. Block 32 interface elements include one or more of the following interfaces:

- RF radio frequency interface, for example of the Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® type, LTE (from English "Long-Term Evolution" or in French "Evolution à long terme"), LTE-Advanced (or in French LTE-advanced );

- USB interface (from the English "Universal Serial Bus" or "Universal Serial Bus" in French);

- HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface”, or “Interface Multimedia Haute Definition” in French);

- LIN interface (from English “Local Interconnect Network”, or in French “Réseau interconnecté local”).

Data are for example loaded to the device 3 via the interface of block 32 using a Wi-Fi® network such as according to IEEE 802.11, an ITS G5 network based on IEEE 802.11p or a mobile network such as a 4G network (or LTE Advanced according to 3GPP release 10 – version 10) or 5G, in particular an LTE-V2X network.

According to another particular embodiment, the device 3 comprises a communication interface 33 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 330. The interface communication interface 33 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and/or data via the communication channel 330. The communication interface 33 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN type (from the English “ Controller Area Network" or in French "Network of controllers"), CAN FD (from English "Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate" or in French "Network of controllers with flexible data rate"), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by ISO/IEC 802-3 standard).

According to an additional particular embodiment, the device 3 can supply output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen, one or more loudspeakers and/or other peripherals respectively via interfaces output not shown.

illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a locking system of a rear seat backrest of a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10 or by the device 3 of the .

In a first step 41, a request for activation of a service configured to allow access inside a trunk of the vehicle is received.

In a second step 42, an opening of a door giving access to the interior of the trunk is detected.

In a third step 43, a command to lock the rear seat backrest locking system of the vehicle is transmitted, for example to locking means, to prevent any unlocking of the rear seat backrest.

According to a variant embodiment, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2 apply to the steps of the method of .

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for locking/unlocking one or more backrests of a rear seat of a vehicle, as well as to the device or to the system configured for the implementation of such a method.

The invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land motor vehicle, comprising the device 3 of the .

Claims (10)

Method for controlling a system for locking a backrest (201) of a rear seat (200) of a vehicle (10), said method being implemented by at least one computer on board said vehicle (10), said process comprising the following steps:
- reception (41) of a request for activation of a service configured to allow access to the interior of a trunk (20) of said vehicle (10);
- detection (42) of an opening of an opening giving access to the interior of said trunk (20);
- Transmission (43) of a locking control of said backrest locking system (201) of the rear seat (200) of said vehicle (10) to prevent any unlocking of said backrest (201) of said rear seat (200). A method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps:
- detection of a closure of said opening giving access to the interior of said trunk (20);
- transmission of a command to release said backrest locking system (201) of the rear seat (200) of said vehicle (10) to authorize unlocking of said backrest of said rear seat. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said request is received from a mobile communication device (11) via a wireless link between said vehicle (10) and said mobile communication device (11). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, for which said locking command is transmitted to locking means of said locking system. Method according to claim 4, wherein said blocking means comprises an electric actuator and a rotary actuator, said blocking command controlling said electric actuator to actuate said rotary actuator until reaching a blocking position of said rotary actuator adapted to block said system lock and prevent any unlocking of said backrest (201). Method according to claim 2, for which said release command is transmitted to locking means of said locking system. Method according to claim 6, wherein said blocking means comprise an electric actuator and a rotary actuator, said release command controlling said electric actuator to actuate said rotary actuator until reaching a rest position of said rotary actuator adapted to release said system lock and authorize unlocking of said folder (201). Device (3) for controlling a locking system of a rear seat backrest of a vehicle, said device (3) comprising a memory (31) associated with at least one processor (30) configured for the implementation process steps according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (3) according to claim 8. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, when these instructions are executed by a processor.