JP7049184B2 - How to control the vehicle seat - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle seat.

Conventionally, in the case of a vehicle seat, for example, an automobile seat, a lock mechanism provided on a seat back rotatably supported with respect to the automobile body is engaged with a striker fixed to the automobile body. There is one that makes it possible to change the backrest angle of the seat back in two stages. In the automobile seat described in Patent Document 1, the transition from the standing state of the seat back having a small backrest angle to the tilted state having a large backrest angle can be performed only by tilting the seat back, and vice versa. You can't just raise it. Therefore, in order to shift the seat back from the tilted state to the standing state, it is necessary to temporarily return the seat back to a position before the standing state and tilt it from there to bring it to the standing state.

On the other hand, another conventional technique is an automobile seat in which a seat back is configured to be foldable with respect to a seat cushion centering on a connecting portion, and this folding operation is performed by an electric mechanism. In the automobile seat described in Patent Document 2, the seat back that is in an upright state with respect to the seat cushion can be folded on the upper surface of the seat cushion or returned to the original upright state by an electric mechanism.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-215995 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-116

When the technique described in Patent Document 1 and the technique described in Patent Document 2 are simply combined, the seat back can be folded and returned to the upright state by electric power, but the upright state and the tilted state can be achieved. There was a problem that it was not possible to change the backrest angle between them by electric power.

In view of such a request, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling a vehicle seat in which the seat back is folded with respect to the seat cushion and the backrest angle of the seat back is adjusted by an electric mechanism.

The first invention of the present invention is a method for controlling a vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back rotatably attached to the seat cushion about a connecting shaft, and a seat back. It has an electric mechanism that rotates the seat back around the connecting shaft, and the seat back has a first position that stands upright with respect to the seat cushion and a second position that is tilted from the first position. It controls a lock mechanism that can selectively lock the vehicle body side at a position, an unlock mechanism that electrically unlocks the lock mechanism, and the electric mechanism and the unlock mechanism. When the seat back, which has a control device and is locked at the second position, is moved to the first position to be locked, the control device unlocks the seat back at the second position. The first step of operating the mechanism to unlock the state, and the second step of operating the electric mechanism to rotate the seat back from the second position to the front position closer to the seat cushion from the first position. It is characterized by having a third step of operating the electric mechanism to rotate the seat back from the front position to the first position to lock the lock mechanism.

According to the first invention, since the seat back is rotatably attached to the seat cushion by an electric mechanism around the connecting shaft, the movement between the first position and the folding position overlapping the seat cushion is possible. It is possible. Further, even if the lock mechanism can selectively lock the vehicle body side of the first position and the second position, the seat back is moved when moving from the second position to the first position. Since it is rotated to the front position and then to the first position, it can be locked. As a result, the seat back can be folded with respect to the seat cushion and the backrest angle of the seat back can be adjusted by the electric mechanism.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect of the present invention, the electric mechanism is an electric reclining device.

According to the second invention, since a general-purpose electric reclining device can be used, the structure is simplified, and the reclining device in addition to the rod-shaped member and the locking mechanism can also stop the rotation of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion. , The fixing strength of the seat back to the vehicle body is increased.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the automobile seat in the control method of the vehicle seat of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control system of the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control method of the said Embodiment. Indicates the operation in the direction of folding the seat back. It is a flowchart which shows the control method of the said Embodiment. Indicates the operation in the direction of raising the seat back. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the automobile seat in the control method of the vehicle seat of another embodiment of this invention.

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a seat back of an automobile seat. The automobile seat 1 according to the present embodiment includes a seat cushion 2 as a seating portion for an occupant, a seat back 3 as a backrest of the occupant, and a headrest 4 for supporting the head of the occupant. Here, the automobile seat 1 corresponds to the "vehicle seat" in the claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end side of the seat back 3 is connected to the rear side of the seat cushion 2 so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction around a rotation shaft 5 extending in the seat width direction. The seat back 3 is configured to be rotated back and forth with respect to the seat cushion 2 by the electric mechanism 6. This electric mechanism 6 is equivalent to the power assist mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-116. By operating the operation switch 12 arranged at a position where the seated occupant of the automobile body can easily operate, the seat back 3 is placed between the storage position P4 overlapped with the seat cushion 2 and the second lock position P2 described later. It is rotatable in the front-back direction. Inside the automobile seat 1, a position detection limit switch 13 for detecting the position of the seat back 3 with respect to the seat cushion 2 is arranged. Here, the rotating shaft 5 corresponds to the "connecting shaft" in the claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat cushion 2 of the seat back 3 is locked on the upper end side of the seat back 3 by engaging with a rod-shaped member arranged in the vehicle body in the width direction of the seat. A lock mechanism 7 for stopping the rotation with respect to the vehicle is arranged. Specifically, in the automobile body, a first rod-shaped member (not shown) is arranged at a position corresponding to the first lock position P1 in which the seat back 3 is in an upright state with respect to the seat cushion 2, and the seat cushion 2 is provided. On the other hand, a second rod-shaped member (not shown) is arranged at a position corresponding to the second lock position P2 in which the seat back 3 is tilted rearward from the first lock position P1. In front of the first lock position P1, the third position P3 in which the seat back 3 is tilted forward from the first lock position P1 and the seat back 3 are overlapped with respect to the seat cushion 2. Positions P4 and are set. This locking mechanism 7 is equivalent to the locking mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-215995. The lock mechanism 7 engages with the first rod-shaped member or the second rod-shaped member when it rotates in the direction from the storage position P4 to the second lock position P2, that is, in the clockwise direction about the rotation shaft 5 in FIG. It can be locked. Below the lock mechanism 7 of the seat back 3, a lock release mechanism 8 for electrically unlocking the lock mechanism 7 in the locked state is arranged. When the lock release mechanism 8 is operated by the control device 11 described later, the lock mechanism 7 in the locked state is unlocked. The lock mechanism 7 is provided with a lock detection limit switch 14 for detecting whether it is in a locked state or an unlocked state. Here, the first lock position P1, the second lock position P2, and the third position P3 correspond to the "first position", "second position", and "forward position" in the claims, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows a seat back control system 10 that controls the operation of the seat back 3 of the automobile seat 1. In the seat back control system 10, an operation switch 12, a position detection limit switch 13, a lock detection limit switch 14, an electric mechanism 6, and an unlock mechanism 8 are connected to a control device 11 arranged inside the automobile seat 1. It is composed of. The control device 11 operates the electric mechanism 6 and the unlock mechanism 8 in response to the input of signals from the operation switch 12, the position detection limit switch 13, and the lock detection limit switch 14. The operation switch 12 is a switch that controls the operation of the electric mechanism 6, and is normally in the OFF state, and in the ON state, the folding direction or the raising direction can be selectively selected. The position detection limit switch 13 is a limit switch capable of detecting the rotation position of the seat back 3 with respect to the seat cushion 2. The seat back 3 has a first lock position P1, a second lock position P2, and a third position P3 in FIG. It can be detected whether or not it is in the storage position P4.

A method of controlling the seat back 3 of the automobile seat 1 by the seat back control system 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the seat back control system 10 when the operation switch 12 is operated in the folding direction (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is operated in the counterclockwise direction about the rotation axis 5). be. Further, the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows the operation of the seat back control system 10 when the operation switch 12 is raised and the seat back 3 is operated in the clockwise direction with respect to the rotation axis 5 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows.

As shown in FIG. 3, in step 101, the operation switch 12 is turned on in the folding direction, and in step 102, the position detection limit switch 13 determines whether or not the seat back position is the storage position P4. If it is in the storage position P4 (YES in step 102), the process ends in that state. If it is not in the storage position P4 (NO in step 102), the process proceeds to step 103 to determine whether or not the seat back position is the second lock position P2. When the seat back position is at the second lock position P2 (YES in step 103), the process proceeds to step 104, when the seat back position is not at the second lock position P2, that is, at the first lock position P1 (step). NO) at 103 proceeds to step 113.

The unlocking mechanism 8 is operated in step 104, and the locking mechanism 7 is unlocked in step 105. Next, the process proceeds to step 106 to operate the electric mechanism 6 in the folding direction (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is operated in the counterclockwise direction about the rotation shaft 5). Then, when it is confirmed in step 107 that the seat back position has reached the third position P3 by the position detection limit switch 13, the operation of the electric mechanism 6 is stopped in step 108. Next, the process proceeds to step 109, the operation of the lock release mechanism 8 is stopped, and when the lock mechanism 7 turns clockwise with respect to the rotation shaft 5 in FIG. 1 together with the seat back 3, the first rod-shaped member or It is in a state where it can be engaged with the second rod-shaped member and locked. Then, the process proceeds to step 110, and the electric mechanism 6 is raised and operated in the raising direction (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is operated in the clockwise direction about the rotation shaft 5). Next, in step 111, the lock detection limit switch 14 determines whether or not the lock mechanism 7 is engaged with the first rod-shaped member at the first lock position P1 and is in the locked state. When the locked state is detected as a result of the determination (YES in step 111), the process proceeds to step 112 to stop the operation of the electric mechanism 6 and end the process. If the locked state is not detected as a result of the determination (NO in step 111), the process returns to step 110 and the electric mechanism 6 is raised in the raising direction (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is clockwise around the rotation shaft 5). Continues to operate. Here, steps 104 and 105 correspond to the "first step" of the claims, and steps 106 and 107 correspond to the "second step" of the claims, and steps 110 and 111. However, it corresponds to the "third step" of the claims.

In step 113, the lock release mechanism 8 of the seat back 3 at the first lock position P1 is operated, and in step 114, the lock mechanism 7 is unlocked. Next, the process proceeds to step 115 to operate the electric mechanism 6 in the folding direction (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is operated in the counterclockwise direction about the rotation shaft 5). Then, in step 116, when it is confirmed by the position detection limit switch 13 that the seat back position has reached the third position P3, the operation of the lock release mechanism 8 is stopped in step 117, and the lock mechanism 7 together with the seat back 3. In FIG. 1, when the rotation shaft 5 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the first rod-shaped member or the second rod-shaped member can be engaged and locked. Next, in step 118, the position detection limit switch 13 determines whether or not the seat back position is the storage position P4. If it is in the storage position P4 (YES in step 118), the process proceeds to step 119 to stop the operation of the electric mechanism 6 and end the process. If it is not in the storage position P4 (NO in step 118), it returns to step 115 and operates in the folding direction of the electric mechanism 6 (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is operated in the counterclockwise direction about the rotation shaft 5). continue.

As shown in FIG. 4, in step 201, the operation switch 12 is raised and turned on in the raising direction, and in step 202, the position detection limit switch 13 determines whether or not the seat back position is the second lock position P2. If it is in the second lock position P2 (YES in step 202), the process ends in that state. If it is not at the second lock position P2 (NO in step 202), the process proceeds to step 203 to determine whether or not the seat back position is the first lock position P1. If the seat back position is at the first lock position P1 (YES in step 203), the process proceeds to step 204, and if the seat back position is not at the first lock position P1, that is, at the storage position P4 (in step 203). NO) proceeds to step 211.

The unlocking mechanism 8 is activated in step 204, and the locking mechanism 7 is unlocked in step 205. Next, the process proceeds to step 206 to raise the electric mechanism 6 and operate it in the raising direction (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is operated in the clockwise direction about the rotation shaft 5). Then, in step 207, the operation of the lock release mechanism 8 is stopped, and when the lock mechanism 7 turns clockwise with respect to the rotation shaft 5 in FIG. 1 together with the seat back 3, the first rod-shaped member or the second rod-shaped member is formed. It is in a state where it can be engaged with the member and locked. When it is confirmed by the position detection limit switch 13 that the seat back position has reached the second lock position P2 in step 208, the process proceeds to step 209 and the lock mechanism 7 engages with the second rod-shaped member at the second lock position P2. The lock detection limit switch 14 determines whether or not the lock state has been achieved. When the locked state is detected as a result of the determination (YES in step 209), the process proceeds to step 210 to stop the operation of the electric mechanism 6 and end the process. If the locked state is not detected as a result of the determination (NO in step 209), the process returns to step 206 and the electric mechanism 6 is raised in the raising direction (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is clockwise around the rotation shaft 5). Continues to operate.

In step 211, while the seat back 3 is in the storage position P4, the electric mechanism 6 is raised and operated in the raising direction (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is operated in the clockwise direction about the rotation shaft 5). Then, in step 212, the lock detection limit switch 14 determines whether or not the lock mechanism 7 is engaged with the first rod-shaped member at the first lock position P1 and is in the locked state. When the locked state is detected as a result of the determination (YES in step 212), the process proceeds to step 213 to stop the operation of the electric mechanism 6 and end the process. If the locked state is not detected as a result of the determination (NO in step 212), the process returns to step 211 and the electric mechanism 6 is raised in the raising direction (in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 is clockwise around the rotation shaft 5). Continues to operate.

The above-described embodiment configured as described above has the following effects. Since the seat back 3 is rotatably attached to the seat cushion 2 by the electric mechanism 6 around the rotation shaft 5, it is between the first lock position P1 and the storage position P4 overlapping the seat cushion 2. It is possible to move. Further, the seat back 3 is moved in the raising direction (clockwise with respect to the rotation shaft 5 in FIG. 1) in either the first rod-shaped member or the second rod-shaped member fixed to the vehicle body side. Even if the lock mechanism 7 can be locked, when the seat back 3 is moved from the second lock position P2 to the first lock position P1, the seat back 3 is once moved to the third lock position P1 in front of the first lock position P1. Since it is rotated to the first lock position P1 after being rotated to the position P3, it can be in the locked state. As a result, the electric mechanism 6 can fold the seat back 3 with respect to the seat cushion 2 and adjust the backrest angle of the seat back 3.

FIG. 5 shows an automobile seat 1A according to another embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to the drawings for the configuration overlapping with the above embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. The difference from the above embodiment is that a general-purpose electric reclining device 6A is used instead of the electric mechanism 6. This reclining device 6A is equivalent to the reclining device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-18055. As a result, a general-purpose electric reclining device 6A can be used, so that the structure is simplified, and in addition to the first rod-shaped member or the second rod-shaped member and the lock mechanism 7, the reclining device 6A also has the seat back 3 with respect to the seat cushion 2. Since the rotation can be stopped, the fixing strength of the seat back 3 to the automobile body is increased. Here, the automobile seat 1A corresponds to the "vehicle seat" in the claims.

Although the specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to their appearance and configuration, and various changes, additions, and deletions can be made without changing the gist of the present invention. For example, the following can be mentioned.

1. 1. In the above embodiment, the backrest angle of the seat back 3 can be adjusted at two positions, the first lock position P1 and the second lock position P2, but the back is configured at three or more positions. It may be configured so that the leaning angle can be adjusted. For example, a third lock position and a third rod-shaped member may be additionally provided.

2. 2. In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a car seat, but it may be applied to a seat mounted on an aircraft, a ship, a train, or the like.

3. 3. Further, the position detection of the seat back 3 may be performed by detecting the position of the seat back itself by the limit switch or by detecting the rotation speed of the motor that drives the electric reclining device 6A.

1 Automotive seats (vehicle seats)
1A Automotive seats (vehicle seats)
2 Seat cushion 3 Seat back 5 Rotating shaft (connecting shaft)
6 Electric mechanism 6A Reclining device 7 Lock mechanism 8 Unlock mechanism 10 Seat back control system 11 Control device 12 Operation switch 13 Position detection limit switch 14 Lock detection limit switch 104 Step (1st step)
105 steps (first step)
106 steps (second step)
107 steps (second step)
110 steps (third step)
111 steps (3rd step)
P1 1st lock position (1st position)
P2 2nd lock position (2nd position)
P3 3rd position (front position)
P4 storage position

Claims (2)

It is a control method for vehicle seats.
The vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back rotatably attached to the seat cushion around a connecting shaft, and an electric mechanism that rotates the seat back around the connecting shaft. Have and
The seat back can be selectively locked with respect to the vehicle body side at the first position standing upright with respect to the seat cushion and the second position on the side tilted backward from the first position. It has a mechanism, an unlocking mechanism that electrically unlocks the locking mechanism, and a control device that controls the electric mechanism and the unlocking mechanism.
In moving the seat back, which is locked at the second position, to the first position to lock the seat back,
The first step in which the control device operates the unlocking mechanism at the second position to bring it into an unlocked state.
A second step of operating the electric mechanism to rotate the seat back from the second position to a front position closer to the seat cushion from the first position.
A method for controlling a vehicle seat having a third step of operating the electric mechanism to rotate the seat back from the front position to the first position to lock the lock mechanism. In claim 1, the electric mechanism is a method for controlling a vehicle seat, which is an electric reclining device.

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