JP7020138B2 - Vehicle seat control device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat control device.

Conventionally, there is known a seat control device that drives a vehicle seat in the front-rear direction when a user gets off to facilitate getting off (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 5640563

By the way, in the vehicle seat control device as described above, the idea of retracting the vehicle seat, for example, to facilitate disembarkation at the time of disembarkation is disclosed, but the time of boarding (at the time of boarding) is not mentioned, and it is easy. It is desired to develop a vehicle seat control device that is easy to get on.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat control device that makes it easy to get into a vehicle.

The vehicle seat control device that solves the above problems includes a seat drive unit that drives the vehicle seat in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a sensor that detects the user's approach information to the vehicle, and the user's approach information detected by the sensor. A movement amount determining unit that determines the movement amount of the vehicle seat based on the above, and a control unit that controls the seat drive unit so that the movement amount of the vehicle seat is determined by the movement amount determination unit. , The sensor detects the direction in which the user approaches the vehicle as the approach information of the user .

According to the above aspect, since the movement amount of the vehicle seat is appropriately determined based on the approach information of the user, the position of the vehicle seat is appropriately adjusted when getting into the vehicle, and it is possible to easily get into the vehicle.

According to the above aspect, since the direction in which the user approaches the vehicle is detected as the approach information of the user, the movement amount of the vehicle seat is determined in the approach direction selected by the user according to the parking situation of the vehicle. .. Therefore, when getting into the vehicle, the position of the vehicle seat is appropriately adjusted, and it is possible to easily get into the vehicle.

In the vehicle seat control device, the sensor estimates the first virtual line set along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and the approach direction of the user as the direction in which the user approaches the vehicle. It is preferable to detect the angle information formed by the two virtual lines.

According to the above aspect, in order to detect the angle information of the first virtual line set along the front-rear direction and the second virtual line estimated along the approach direction of the user, the user determines the parking status of the vehicle. The amount of movement of the vehicle seat will be determined in the approach direction selected accordingly. Therefore, when getting into the vehicle, the position of the vehicle seat is appropriately adjusted, and it is possible to easily get into the vehicle.

In the vehicle seat control device, it is preferable that the movement amount determining unit determines that the smaller the angle information is, the larger the amount of movement of the vehicle seat to the rear is.
According to the above aspect, the movement amount determining unit determines that the smaller the angle information, the larger the amount of movement of the vehicle seat to the rear. Here, when the angle information is small, it is assumed that there is no space for opening the vehicle door widely (the opening amount is small). In such a case, it is assumed that the user is located near the opening of the vehicle door, that is, relatively rearward. Therefore, by moving the vehicle seat significantly to the rear, it is possible to move the seat cushion (seat portion) of the vehicle seat to a position closer to the user, and it is possible to easily get in.

In the vehicle seat control device, it is preferable that the movement amount determining unit determines that the smaller the angle information is, the smaller the amount of movement of the vehicle seat to the rear is.
According to the above aspect, it is determined that the smaller the angle information, the smaller the amount of movement of the vehicle seat to the rear. Here, when the angle information is small, it is assumed that there is no space for opening the vehicle door widely (the opening amount is small). In such a case, it is assumed that the user is located near the opening of the vehicle door, that is, relatively rearward. Therefore, by reducing the amount of movement of the vehicle seat to the rear, the user can easily get on the vehicle by hooking the legs in front of the seat cushion (seat) of the vehicle seat.

In the vehicle seat control device, the movement amount determining unit determines the amount of movement S of the vehicle seat to the rear when the predetermined reference angle is α and the angle information obtained by the sensor is θ. , S = A + (θ−α) × K (where A is the reference movement amount and K is the coefficient).

According to the above aspect, the amount of movement of the seat to the rear can be quantitatively determined by calculating the amount of movement of the seat based on the above-mentioned formula.
The vehicle seat control device that solves the above problems includes a seat drive unit that drives the vehicle seat in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a sensor that detects the user's approach information to the vehicle, and the user's approach information detected by the sensor. A movement amount determining unit that determines the movement amount of the vehicle seat based on the above, and a control unit that controls the seat drive unit so that the movement amount of the vehicle seat is determined by the movement amount determination unit. The control unit detects the open / closed state of the door of the vehicle after the movement amount of the vehicle seat is determined based on the approach information of the user detected by the sensor by the movement amount determination unit. After the door is determined to be in the open state by the unit, the seat drive unit is controlled so that the movement amount of the vehicle seat is determined by the movement amount determination unit .
According to the above aspect, since the movement amount of the vehicle seat is appropriately determined based on the approach information of the user, the position of the vehicle seat is appropriately adjusted when getting into the vehicle, and it is possible to easily get into the vehicle.

According to the above aspect, when it is determined that the door is in the open state, the seat drive unit is controlled by the control unit so that the movement amount of the vehicle seat is determined by the movement amount determination unit. That is, when the door is not opened, it can be determined that the user has no intention of getting into the vehicle, and unnecessary seat movement can be suppressed.

According to the vehicle seat control device of the present invention, it is possible to easily get into the vehicle.

The control block diagram of the vehicle seat control device in one embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the detection method by the approach sensor of the vehicle seat control device in the same embodiment. A flowchart for explaining a control example of the vehicle seat control device. An explanatory diagram for explaining a detection method by an approach sensor of a vehicle seat control device in a modified example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the vehicle seat control device will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle seat control device 10 of the present embodiment is mounted in the vehicle C to control the vehicle seat CS.

The vehicle seat control device 10 is a control unit that controls a seat drive unit 11 that drives the vehicle seat CS in the front-rear direction of the vehicle C, an approach sensor 12 that detects user approach information to the vehicle C, and a seat drive unit 11. It has a power seat control ECU 13 as a vehicle.

The seat drive unit 11 slides the vehicle seat CS in the front-rear direction by driving the motor M in response to a control signal from the power seat control ECU 13.
The proximity sensor 12 detects, for example, the position of the portable device 21 possessed by the user, and detects the approaching direction (the approaching direction of the user) of the portable device 21. For example, the proximity sensor 12 has a predetermined detection area set, detects the position of the portable device 21 in the detection area, and detects the approaching direction of the portable device 21 (the approaching direction of the user). The proximity sensor 12 may be provided, for example, in the vicinity of the vehicle door C1 or the vehicle seat CS, and may be provided according to the number of the vehicle seat CS or the vehicle door C1, for example.

As a method of detecting the approaching direction of the portable device 21 by the approach sensor 12, a second estimated along the approaching direction of the portable device 21 with reference to the first virtual line L1 set along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The angle formed by the virtual line L2 is detected as the angle information θ. It is preferable that the proximity sensor 12 and the portable device 21 perform mutual authentication in advance. By performing mutual authentication, it is possible to prevent false detection of other devices. The mutual authentication method includes, for example, an authentication method (pairing) using Bluetooth (registered trademark), but is not limited to this. Further, examples of the portable device 21 include, but are not limited to, a key of the vehicle C, a smartphone, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the approaching direction of the portable device 21 is detected by the approach sensor 12 at the position P1, the angle formed by the first virtual line L1 and the second virtual line L2 is small. On the other hand, when the approach sensor 12 detects the approaching direction of the portable device 21 at the position P2, the angle formed by the first virtual line L1 and the second virtual line L2 is large. Here, it can be estimated that the structures such as adjacent vehicles and buildings are close to each other in the position P1, and it can be estimated that the structures such as adjacent vehicles and buildings are distant or nonexistent in the position P2.

The power seat control ECU 13 determines the amount of rearward movement of the vehicle seat CS based on the angle information θ obtained by the approach sensor 12. In this example, the power seat control ECU 13 determines that the smaller the angle information, the smaller the amount of movement of the vehicle seat CS to the rear.

The power seat control ECU 13 is electrically connected to the courtesy switch 22 for determining the open / closed state of the vehicle door C1, and the courtesy switch 22 outputs a signal indicating whether the vehicle door C1 is in the open state or the closed state. That is, the power seat control ECU 13 can determine whether the vehicle door C1 is in the open state or the closed state by the signal output from the courtesy switch 22.

Next, a control example (operation) of the vehicle seat control device 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the proximity sensor 12 detects whether or not the user possessing the portable device 21 is approaching the proximity sensor 12 within the detection area by the proximity sensor 12 (step S100). The proximity sensor 12 repeats step S100 when the user possessing the portable device 21 is not close to the proximity sensor 12 (step S100: NO).

Next, the approach sensor 12 calculates the approach angle (angle information θ) of the user when the user possessing the portable device 21 approaches the approach sensor 12 (step S100: YES) (step S101). At this time, the approach sensor 12 obtains angle information about the angle formed by the second virtual line L2 estimated along the approaching direction of the portable device 21 with reference to the first virtual line L1 set along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Detect as θ.

Next, the power seat control ECU 13 determines the amount of rearward movement of the vehicle seat CS according to the angle information θ obtained by the approach sensor 12 (step S102).
Next, the power seat control ECU 13 determines whether or not the vehicle door C1 is in the open state based on the signal output from the courtesy switch 22 (step S103). The power seat control ECU 13 repeats step S103 when the vehicle door C1 is in the closed state (step S103: NO).

Next, when the vehicle door C1 is opened (step S103: YES), the power seat control ECU 13 controls the seat drive unit 11 to drive the vehicle seat CS rearward (step S104).

Then, the power seat control ECU 13 drives the vehicle seat CS rearward, that is, repeats step S104 until the rearward movement amount of the vehicle seat CS becomes the movement amount determined in step S102 (step S105: NO).

Then, when the amount of movement of the vehicle seat CS to the rear reaches the amount of movement determined in step S102 (step S10: YES), the power seat control ECU 13 ends driving the vehicle seat CS.

The effect of this embodiment is described.
(1) Since the movement amount of the vehicle seat CS is appropriately determined based on the approach information of the user, the position of the vehicle seat CS is appropriately adjusted when getting into the vehicle C, and it is possible to easily get into the vehicle C.

(2) Since the direction in which the user approaches the vehicle C is detected as the approach information of the user, the movement amount of the vehicle seat CS is determined in the approach direction selected by the user according to the parking situation of the vehicle C. Therefore, when the vehicle C is boarded, the position of the vehicle seat CS is appropriately adjusted, and the vehicle C can be easily boarded.

(3) In order to detect the angle information θ between the first virtual line L1 set along the front-rear direction and the second virtual line L2 estimated along the approach direction of the user, the user parks the vehicle C. The amount of movement of the vehicle seat CS will be determined in the approach direction selected according to the above. Therefore, when the vehicle C is boarded, the position of the vehicle seat CS is appropriately adjusted, and the vehicle C can be easily boarded.

(4) The power seat control ECU 13 determines that the smaller the angle information θ, the smaller the amount of movement of the vehicle seat CS to the rear. Here, when the angle information θ is small, it is assumed that there is no space for opening the vehicle door C1 widely (the opening amount is small). In such a case, it is assumed that the user is located near the opening of the vehicle door C1, that is, relatively rearward. Therefore, by reducing the amount of movement of the vehicle seat CS to the rear, the user can easily get on by hooking his / her legs in front of the seat cushion (seat) of the vehicle seat CS. ..

(5) When it is determined that the vehicle door C1 is in the open state, the power seat control ECU 13 controls the seat drive unit 11 so as to have the determined movement amount of the vehicle seat CS. That is, when the vehicle door C1 is not opened, it can be determined that the user has no intention of boarding the vehicle C, and unnecessary operation of the seat CS can be suppressed. This makes it possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
-In the above embodiment, the power seat control ECU 13 has determined that the smaller the angle information θ, the smaller the amount of movement of the vehicle seat CS to the rear, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be determined that the smaller the angle information θ is, the larger the amount of movement of the vehicle seat CS to the rear is. Here, when the angle information θ is small, it is assumed that there is no space for opening the vehicle door C1 widely (the opening amount is small). In such a case, it is assumed that the user is located near the opening of the vehicle door C1, that is, relatively rearward. Therefore, by greatly moving the vehicle seat CS to the rear, it is possible to move the seat cushion (seat portion) of the vehicle seat CS to a position closer to the user, and it is possible to easily get in.

Further, in order to cope with the diversity of users, a configuration in which the control method of the above-mentioned modification and the control method of the above-described embodiment can be selected may be adopted.
As shown in FIG. 4, as a method of determining the movement amount by the power seat control ECU 13, when the predetermined reference angle is α and the angle information obtained by the sensor is θ, the vehicle seat is moved backward. The movement amount S of may be S = A + (θ−α) × K (where A is a reference movement amount and K is a coefficient). In this way, the amount of movement of the vehicle seat CS to the rear can be quantitatively determined by calculating the amount of movement to the rear based on the above equation.

-In the above embodiment, the determination is made based on the signal output from the courtesy switch 22 as the determination of the open state of the vehicle door C1, but the determination is not limited to this. For example, the open / closed state of the door may be estimated from the locked / unlocked state of the door. More specifically, it is estimated that the door changes from the closed state to the open state when the door changes from the locked state to the unlocked state. Since the door unlock signal is normally output when the locked body is unlocked, it can be estimated that the door is changed to the open state when the door unlock signal is output.

-In the above embodiment, the vehicle seat CS is driven rearward when the vehicle door C1 is in the open state, but the vehicle seat CS is driven rearward regardless of whether the vehicle door C1 is in the open / closed state. It may be configured.

-The above embodiment and each modification may be combined as appropriate.

10 ... Vehicle seat control device, 11 ... Seat drive unit, 12 ... Approach sensor (sensor), 13 ... Power seat control ECU (movement amount determination unit and control unit), C ... Vehicle, CS ... Vehicle seat, L1 ... First Virtual line, L2 ... Second virtual line, θ ... Angle information.

Claims (6)

A seat drive unit that drives the vehicle seat in the front-rear direction of the vehicle,
A sensor that detects the user's approach information to the vehicle, and
A movement amount determining unit that determines the movement amount of the vehicle seat based on the approach information of the user detected by the sensor, and
A control unit that controls the seat drive unit so that the movement amount of the vehicle seat is determined by the movement amount determination unit.
Equipped with
The sensor is a vehicle seat control device, characterized in that it detects a direction in which the user approaches the vehicle as approach information of the user . The sensor is an angle formed by a first virtual line set along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and a second virtual line estimated along the approach direction of the user as a direction in which the user approaches the vehicle. The vehicle seat control device according to claim 1 , wherein the information is detected. The vehicle seat control device according to claim 2 , wherein the movement amount determining unit determines that the smaller the angle information is, the larger the amount of movement of the vehicle seat to the rear is. The vehicle seat control device according to claim 2 , wherein the movement amount determining unit determines that the smaller the angle information is, the smaller the amount of movement of the vehicle seat to the rear. When the predetermined reference angle is α and the angle information obtained by the sensor is θ, the movement amount S of the vehicle seat to the rear is S = A + (θ−). The vehicle seat control device according to claim 2 , wherein α) × K (where A is a reference movement amount and K is a coefficient). A seat drive unit that drives the vehicle seat in the front-rear direction of the vehicle,
A sensor that detects the user's approach information to the vehicle, and
A movement amount determining unit that determines the movement amount of the vehicle seat based on the approach information of the user detected by the sensor, and
A control unit that controls the seat drive unit so that the movement amount of the vehicle seat is determined by the movement amount determination unit.
Equipped with
The control unit
After the movement amount of the vehicle seat is determined based on the approach information of the user detected by the sensor by the movement amount determination unit, the door is opened by the door open / close detection unit that detects the open / closed state of the door of the vehicle. After being judged to be in a state
A vehicle seat control device, characterized in that the seat drive unit is controlled so as to have a movement amount of the vehicle seat determined by the movement amount determination unit.

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