Vehicle seat with seat operating device

Abstract

A vehicle seat having a seat operating device, wherein the seat operating device has a touch screen for displaying control panels for setting a value of an operating parameter assigned to the respective control panel and for detecting user input, wherein one can toggle between control panels via at least one first user input, wherein the control panels are arranged in a fixed order, wherein each a individual control panel is displayed by the touch screen and the value of the operating parameter can be changed by at least a second user input in the control panel.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat, comprising: a plurality of mechanical actuators within the vehicle seat, each actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators responsive to an operating parameter of the vehicle seat; and a seat operating device, wherein the seat operating device includes a touch screen for displaying control panels for setting a value of the operating parameter of the vehicle seat, wherein the operating parameter is assigned to a respective control panel, and for detecting user input, wherein a user can switch between control panels by at least one first user input, wherein the control panels are arranged in a fixed sequence, wherein a single control panel at a time is displayed by the touch screen, wherein the value of the operating parameter assigned to a displayed control panel can be changed by providing an actuation signal to an actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators that is operable to respond to a change in the operating parameter assigned to the displayed control panel in response to at least one second user input entered using the control panel, wherein the seat operating device further includes an electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit links the displayed control panel to the actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators associated with the displayed control panel and a corresponding operating parameter, wherein, in response to a switching between control panels, an identification signal is transmitted from the touch screen to the electronic control unit to identify a currently displayed control panel, and wherein after receipt of the identification signal by the electronic control unit, and prior to receipt of an instance of a second user input entered using the currently displayed control panel, the electronic control unit sends an activation signal to the actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators associated with the currently displayed control panel to briefly activate the actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators associated with the currently displayed control panel.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the first user input is a swiping movement.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the second user input is a tapping movement.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat operating device comprises an activation button, and wherein by actuation of the activation button a first activation signal can be sent to the touch screen, whereby the touch screen can be unlocked and a first control panel selected from a group of control panels is displayed on the touch screen.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein after pressing the activation button, the touch screen is illuminated.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein after a predetermined second duration, a deactivation signal has been sent to the touch screen by the electronic control unit, whereby the touch screen is automatically deactivated.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein after a predetermined third duration a reset signal has been sent to the touch screen by the electronic control unit, whereby the first control panel is displayed.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat operating device is constantly activated, and wherein the touch screen is constantly illuminated.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen is arranged in or on an armrest of the vehicle seat or in a seat section of the vehicle seat.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the operating parameter is at least one of a seat height, a spring rate, a seat before and after position, and a seat back angle.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 10, wherein the actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators controls at least one of the seat height, the spring rate, the seat before and after position, and the seat back angle.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the user can select one of the control panels for display by the touch screen in response to at least one first user input.

13. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the identification signal identifies a control panel that is displayed by the touch screen after switching between control panels.

14. A method, comprising: activating a seat operating device by pressing an activation button and displaying a first control panel selected from a group of various control panels on a touch screen; using the first control panel or selecting a second control panel by at least a first user input and displaying the second control panel on the touch screen; and changing a value of an operating parameter associated with the seat operating device assigned to the first or second control panel by at least one second user input, wherein the seat operating device includes an electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit links the first control panel to a first mechanical actuator disposed within a vehicle seal, wherein the first mechanical actuator is associated with the first control panel and responsive to the first operating parameter corresponding to the first control panel, wherein, in response to a switching from the first control panel to the second control panel and after a predetermined first duration, an identification signal is transmitted from the touch screen to the electronic control unit, wherein after receipt of the identification signal by the electronic control unit, and prior to receipt of a second user input, an activation signal is sent to a second mechanical actuator disposed within the vehicle seat and associated with the second control panel to briefly actuate the second mechanical actuator to cause a change in the vehicle seat.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the operating parameter is at least one of a seat height, a spring rate, a seat before and after position, and a seat back angle.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first mechanical actuator controls at least one of the seat height, the spring rate, the seat before and after position, and the seat back angle.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the touch screen is arranged in or on an armrest of the vehicle seat or in a seat section of the vehicle seat.

18. A vehicle seat, comprising: a seat operating device, wherein the seat operating device has a touch screen for displaying a plurality of control panels for setting a value of a respective control panel associated with an operating parameter of the vehicle seat and for detecting user inputs, wherein one can toggle between the plurality of control panels in response to at least one first user input, wherein the plurality of control panels are arranged in a fixed sequence, wherein a single control panel at a time is displayed by the touch screen and the value of the operating parameter associated with the displayed control panel can be changed by at least one second user input via at least one input button of the vehicle seat, wherein the seat operating device includes an electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit links the displayed control panel to a first mechanical actuator of a plurality of mechanical actuators, each of the plurality of mechanical actuators located within the vehicle seat and are associated with the displayed control panel and are responsive to a corresponding first operating parameter, wherein the displayed control panel is the respective control panel of the plurality of control panels, each of the plurality of control panels associated with at least one mechanical actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators, wherein, in response to and a predetermined time after switching between each of the plurality of control panels, an identification signal uniquely associated with the respective control panel displayed after the switching is sent from the touch screen to the electronic control unit, and wherein, after receipt of the identification signal by the electronic control unit, and prior to receipt of a second user input, the electronic control unit sends an activation signal to briefly activate the first mechanical actuator associated with the displayed control panel.

19. The vehicle seat according to claim 18, wherein the operating parameter is at least one of a seat height, a spring rate, a seat before and after position, and a seat back angle.

20. The vehicle seat according to claim 19, wherein the first mechanical actuator controls at least one of the seat height, the spring rate, the seat before and after position, and the seat back angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Additional objects, advantages and expedient uses of the present invention can be found in the following description in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a seat operating device according to one preferred embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a switching between the control panels;

(4) FIG. 3A shows a first arrangement of the touch screen;

(5) FIG. 3B shows a second arrangement of the touch screen;

(6) FIG. 3C shows a third arrangement of the touch screen;

(7) FIG. 4 shows an alternative display of an control panel;

(8) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the seat operating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a seat operating device 2 according to one particularly preferred embodiment. It can also be seen how the respective components are interconnected by signals.

(10) As can be seen, the seat operating device 2 comprises a touch screen 3, a control unit 9, an activation button 7 and at least one actuator 10.

(11) By means of a user 17, an input can be made on the touch screen 3 by means of user inputs 5, 6. Depending on how this user input is formed, another function is controlled. If the user input is a first user input 5, the user 17 preferably executes a swiping movement. If the user input is a second user input 6, then the user 17 preferably executes a tapping movement.

(12) Due to an operation 18 of the activation button 7, a first activation signal 8 is transmitted to the touch screen 3, whereby the touch screen 3 is unlocked, meaning activated, and an control panel 4 (not shown here) is displayed on the touch screen 3.

(13) Due to user inputs 5, 6 of the user 17 on the touch screen 3, a first control signal 15 is transmitted from the touch screen 3 to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 is thereby informed as to which user input 5, 6 it is and how often or to what extent such a user input 5, 6 is made.

(14) Further, after switching between control panels 4, an identification signal 11 can be transmitted from the touch screen 3 to the control unit 9, in particular after a predetermined first duration, wherein after receipt of the identification signal 11 at the control unit a second activation signal 19 is sent to the actuator 10 associated with the selected control panel 4 to activate this actuator 10 for a short time and to thus transmit to the user a haptic response about the currently selected control panel 4 or the operating parameters currently to be adjusted.

(15) It is also conceivable that only one connection from the control unit 9 is made to the actuator 10, and a control of the actuator 10 is performed by the control unit 9 based on the corresponding second user inputs.

(16) In addition, it is conceivable that upon actuation 18 of the activation button 7, a test signal 20 is transmitted from the activation button 7 to the control unit 9 to carry out a check when transmitting a signal, in particular a first control signal 15 from the touch screen 3 to the control unit 9, wherein it is determined by the check whether the first control signal 15 actually comes from the touch screen 3 or not.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a change or a toggling between different control panels 4, wherein a first control panel 41, a second control panel 42, a third control panel 43 and a fourth control panel 44 can be seen. Of course, fewer control panels 4 or more control panels 4 may be present, wherein at least two control panels 4 are advantageous.

(18) As can further be seen, the control panels 4, 41, 42, 43, 44 are displayed by means of a touch screen 3, wherein in the present case the activation button 7 is designed as part of the touch screen 3.

(19) A seat height adjustment is displayed by the first control panel 41, a vertical seat cushioning by the second control panel 42, a seat longitudinal adjustment by the third control panel 43, and a backrest tilt by the fourth control panel 44.

(20) It can also be seen in FIG. 4 that the respective control panels 4, 41, 42, 43, 44 have at least one sensitive area 21, in particular a sensitive key area 21, wherein a corresponding change of the operating parameter is made with a second user input 5, in particular a tapping movement on a key area 21.

(21) It can also be seen that it is possible to switch back and forth between the control panels 4, 41, 42, 43, 44 by means of first user inputs 5, wherein the first user input 5 in the present case is a swiping movement.

(22) It is also conceivable that the second user input 6 is also a swiping movement.

(23) FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C also show various attachment possibilities for the touch screen 3 with or on a vehicle seat 1, as shown in more detail below.

(24) In FIG. 3A, the touchscreen 3 is arranged on an armrest 13, in particular on a lateral surface 22 of the armrest 13.

(25) In FIG. 3B, the touchscreen 3 is arranged on a seat section 14, in particular on a lateral surface of the seat section 14, and particularly preferably below the armrest 13.

(26) In FIG. 3C, the touch screen 3 is integrated in the armrest 13, and it is conceivable that the touch screen 3 is recessed in the armrest, so that a vehicle driver is not disturbed by it.

(27) FIG. 4 shows an alternative representation of a control panel 4, in which values of two different operating parameters can be set. In the present case, this is a seat height adjustment, represented by the up and down arrows, and a seat longitudinal adjustment, represented by arrows to the left and to the right.

(28) FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the seat operating device 2, wherein various input buttons 45, 46, 47 can be seen, wherein, for example, a first input button 45 is provided for setting a seat inclination, a second input button 46 for increasing the seat height and a third input button 47 for reducing the seat height. The functions are exemplified by the respective arrows.

(29) All the features disclosed in the application documents are claimed as being essential to the invention, provided that, individually or in combination, they are novel over the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(30) 1 Vehicle seat

(31) 2 Seat operating device

(32) 3 Touch screen

(33) 4 Operating field

(34) 5 First user input

(35) 6 Second user input

(36) 7 Activation button

(37) 8 First activation signal

(38) 9 Control unit

(39) 10 Actuator

(40) 11 Identification signal

(41) 12 Deactivation signal

(42) 13 Armrest

(43) 14 Seat section

(44) 15 First control signal

(45) 16 Second control signal

(46) 17 User

(47) 18 Actuation

(48) 19 Second activation signal

(49) 20 Test signal

(50) 21 Sensitive area

(51) 22 Lateral surface

(52) 41 First control panel

(53) 42 Second control panel

(54) 43 Third control panel

(55) 44 Fourth control panel

(56) 45 Input button

(57) 46 Input button

(58) 47 Input button