Apparatus and method for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to the adjustment of vehicle seat and steering wheel positions, and in particular relates to an apparatus and method for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture. The method for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to the present invention comprises the following steps: determining an ergonomic parameter corresponding to a user; calculating a seat position parameter according to the ergonomic parameter; adjusting a seat position according to the seat position parameter; calculating a steering wheel position parameter according to the ergonomic parameter; and adjusting a steering wheel position according to the steering wheel position parameter.

Claims

1. A method for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture, the method comprising: determining, via a control unit, an ergonomic parameter corresponding to a user; calculating a seat position parameter based on the ergonomic parameter; adjusting a seat position based on the seat position parameter; calculating a steering wheel position parameter based on the ergonomic parameter; and adjusting a steering wheel position based on the steering wheel position parameter, wherein a position of a heel of a standard human model on a vehicle floor is taken as a reference point, the vehicle floor is taken as a reference plane, and the seat position parameter comprises the horizontal distance from the reference point to a junction point of a trunk and a thigh of the standard human model, the height of the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model relative to the reference plane, the height of the head of the standard human model relative to the reference plane, and the ergonomic parameter includes determining an included angle between a thigh and calf of the standard human model.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ergonomic parameter corresponding to the user is determined in the following manner: receiving, at the control unit, an individual parameter associated with the user, the individual parameter being at least one selected from the group consisting of gender, height, weight and age; and searching in a memory of the control unit for an ergonomic parameter set of a standard human model corresponding to the individual parameter.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal distance Sheet from the reference point to the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model, the height H.sub.H of the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model relative to the reference plane, and the height H.sub.head of the head of the standard human model relative to the reference plane, are calculated in the following manner:
S.sub.heel=L.sub.Tibia*sin(θ.sub.5+θ.sub.7−90°)+L.sub.UL*cos θ.sub.7
tan θ.sub.9=[H.sub.eye−H.sub.shoulder+(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*cos θ.sub.1+H.sub.H−H.sub.dashboard]/S.sub.dashboard
H.sub.head=(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*cos θ.sub.1+H.sub.H+H−H.sub.shoulder where L.sub.Tibia is a length from a knee to the heel of the standard human model, L.sub.UL is a length of the thigh of the standard human model, H.sub.eye is a height from an eye to the heel of the standard human model, H.sub.shoulder is a height from a shoulder to the heel of the standard human model, H.sub.pelvis is a height from a pelvis to the heel of the standard human model, H is a height of the standard human model, θ.sub.1 is an included angle between a back of the standard human model and a vertical line, θ.sub.5 is an included angle between the thigh and a calf of the standard human model, θ.sub.7 is the included angle between the thigh of the standard human model and a horizontal line, and θ.sub.9 is an included angle between a lower line of sight of the standard human model and a horizontal line.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the steering wheel position parameter comprises a horizontal distance S.sub.steer from a steering wheel centre to the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model, and a height H.sub.steer of the steering wheel centre relative to the reference plane.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal distance S.sub.steer from the steering wheel centre to the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model, and the height H.sub.steer of the steering wheel centre relative to the reference plane, are calculated in the following manner:
S.sub.steer.sup.=L.sub.UA*sin θ.sub.2+L.sub.LA*sin(θ.sub.3−θ.sub.2)−S.sub.head
S.sub.head=(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*sin θ.sub.1
H.sub.steer=(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*cos θ.sub.1−L.sub.UA*cos θ.sub.1+L.sub.LA*sin(θ.sub.3−θ.sub.2)+H.sub.H where H.sub.shoulder is a height from the shoulder to the heel of the standard human model, H.sub.pelvis is a height from the pelvis to the heel of the standard human model, L.sub.UA is a length of an upper arm of the standard human model, L.sub.LA is a length of a lower arm of the standard human model, θ.sub.1 is an included angle between the back of the standard human model and a vertical line, θ.sub.2 is an included angle between the upper arm of the standard human model and a vertical line, and θ.sub.3 is an included angle between the upper arm and lower arm of the standard human model.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the following steps: calculating a straight-line distance D.sub.nose2steer from a tip of a nose of the standard human model to the steering wheel centre in the following manner:
D.sub.nose2steer≈√{square root over ((H.sub.eye−H.sub.shoulder).sup.2+S.sub.steer.sup.2)} outputting, to an airbag control unit, the calculated straight-line distance D.sub.nose2steer from the tip of the nose of the standard human model to the steering wheel centre.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the airbag control unit determines an airbag firing time TTF.sub.passenger in the following manner:
TTF.sub.passengerTTF.sub.50+a*(D.sub.nose2steer−D.sub.nose2steer_standard) where TTF.sub.50 is an airbag firing time required when the straight-line distance from the tip of the nose of the standard human model to the steering wheel centre is D.sub.nose2steer_standard in a safety specification, and “a” is a constant related to vehicle speed.

8. An apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture, comprising: an electric motor; an executing mechanism configured to adjust positions of a seat and a steering wheel; a drive mechanism coupled to the electric motor and the executing mechanism and configured to transfer motive power of the electric motor to the executing mechanism; and a control unit coupled to the electric motor and configured to: determine an ergonomic parameter corresponding to a user; calculate a seat position parameter based on the ergonomic parameter; adjust a seat position based on the seat position parameter by controlling the electric motor; calculate a steering wheel position parameter based on the ergonomic parameter; and adjust a steering wheel position based on the steering wheel position parameter by controlling the electric motor, wherein a position of a heel of a standard human model on a vehicle floor is taken as a reference point, the vehicle floor is taken as a reference plane, and the seat position parameter comprises the horizontal distance from the reference point to a junction point of a trunk and a thigh of the standard human model, the height of the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model relative to the reference plane, the height of the head of the standard human model relative to the reference plane, and the ergonomic parameter includes determining an included angle between a thigh and calf of the standard human model.

9. The apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to claim 8, wherein the control unit determines the ergonomic parameter corresponding to the user in the following manner: receiving, at the control unit, an individual parameter associated with the user, the individual parameter being at least one selected from the group consisting of gender, height, weight and age; and searching in a memory of the control unit for an ergonomic parameter set of a standard human model corresponding to the individual parameter.

10. The apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to claim 9, wherein the control unit calculates the horizontal distance Sheet from the reference point to the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model, the height H.sub.H of the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model relative to the reference plane, and the height H.sub.head of the head of the standard human model relative to the reference plane, in the following manner:
S.sub.heel.sup.=L.sub.Tibia*sin(θ.sub.5+θ.sub.7−90°)+L.sub.UL*Cosθ.sub.7
tan θ.sub.9=[H.sub.eye−H.sub.shoulder+(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*cos θ.sub.1H.sub.H−H.sub.dashboard]/S.sub.dashboard
H.sub.head=(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*cos θ.sub.1+H.sub.H+H−H.sub.shoulder where L.sub.Tibia is a length from a knee to the heel of the standard human model, L.sub.UL is a length of the thigh of the standard human model, H.sub.eye is a height from an eye to the heel of the standard human model, H.sub.shoulder is a height from a shoulder to the heel of the standard human model, H.sub.pelvis is a height from a pelvis to the heel of the standard human model, H is a height of the standard human model, θ.sub.1 is an included angle between a back of the standard human model and a vertical line, θ.sub.5 is the included angle between the thigh and a calf of the standard human model, θ.sub.7 is an included angle between the thigh of the standard human model and a horizontal line, and θ.sub.9 is an included angle between a lower line of sight of the standard human model and a horizontal line.

11. The apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to claim 10, wherein the steering wheel position parameter comprises a horizontal distance S.sub.steer from the steering wheel centre to the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model, and a height H.sub.steer of the steering wheel centre relative to the reference plane.

12. The apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to claim 11, wherein the control unit calculates the horizontal distance S.sub.steer from the steering wheel centre to the junction point of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model, and the height H.sub.steer of the steering wheel centre relative to the reference plane, in the following manner:
S.sub.steer=L.sub.UA*sin θ.sub.2+L.sub.LA*sin(θ.sub.3−θ.sub.2)−S.sub.head
S.sub.head=(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*sin θ.sub.1
H.sub.steer(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*cos θ.sub.1−L.sub.UA*cos θ.sub.2L.sub.LA*sin(θ.sub.3−θ.sub.2)+H.sub.H where H.sub.shoulder is a height from the shoulder to the heel of the standard human model, H.sub.pelvis is a height from the pelvis to the heel of the standard human model, L.sub.UA is a length of an upper arm of the standard human model, L.sub.LA is a length of a lower arm of the standard human model, θ.sub.1 is an included angle between the back of the standard human model and a vertical line, θ.sub.2 is an included angle between the upper arm of the standard human model and a vertical line, and θ.sub.3 is an included angle between the upper arm and lower arm of the standard human model.

13. The apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to: calculate a straight-line distance D.sub.nose2steer from a tip of a nose of the standard human model to the steering wheel centre in the following manner:
D.sub.nose2steer≈√{square root over (H.sub.eye−H.sub.shoulder).sup.2+S.sub.steer.sup.2)} output, to an airbag control unit, the calculated straight-line distance D.sub.nose2steer from the tip of the nose of the standard human model to the steering wheel centre.

14. The apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to claim 13, wherein the airbag control unit determines an airbag firing time TTF.sub.passenger in the following manner:
TTF.sub.passenger=TTF.sub.50+a*(D.sub.nose2steer−D.sub.nose2steer_standard) where TTF.sub.50 is an airbag firing time required when the straight-line distance from the tip of the nose of the standard human model to the steering wheel centre is D.sub.nose2steer_standard in a safety specification, and “a” is a constant related to vehicle speed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The abovementioned and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be made clearer and easier to understand by the following description of various aspects, which makes reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical or similar units are indicated by identical labels. The drawings comprise the following:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a standard human model in a driving state.

(4) FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The present invention is explained more comprehensively below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which schematic embodiments of the present invention are shown. However, the present invention can be implemented in different forms, and should not be interpreted as being restricted to the embodiments given herein. The embodiments given are intended to make the disclosure herein comprehensive and complete, to communicate the scope of protection of the present invention more comprehensively to those skilled in the art.

(6) In this description, terms such as “contain” and “comprise” indicate that in addition to having units and steps directly and explicitly mentioned in the description and claims, the technical solution of the present invention does not rule out scenarios in which there are other units and steps which are not mentioned directly or explicitly.

(7) FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to an embodiment of the present invention. A system 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an electric motor 110, a drive mechanism 120, an executing mechanism 130 and a control unit 140. The drive mechanism 120 is coupled to the electric motor 110, and transfers motive power of the electric motor to the executing mechanism 130 (e.g. a seat adjustment apparatus and a steering wheel adjustment apparatus). The control unit 140 is coupled to the electric motor 110 to control the operation of the latter.

(8) As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 140 comprises an input module 141, a controller 142, a memory 143 and an output module 144, wherein the controller 142 is coupled to the input module 141, the memory 143 and the output module 144. The operating principles of the control unit are described below.

(9) The input module 141 can receive user data inputted by a user or sent by an external device (e.g. a mobile terminal), e.g. individual parameters associated with the user. Individual parameters may comprise one or more of the following: gender, height and age. The memory 143 stores an ergonomic parameter set, e.g. GB 10000-1988 Human Dimensions of Chinese Adults. The parameter set may be stored according to user category. Table 1 shows by way of example an ergonomic parameter subset of a standard human model of a Chinese male of height 1780 mm.

(10) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Parameter name Meaning Value H height 1780 mm L.sub.UA upper arm length  338 mm L.sub.LA lower arm length  258 mm L.sub.UL thigh length  505 mm L.sub.LL calf length  403 mm L.sub.Tibia length from knee to heel  481 mm H.sub.pelvis height from pelvis to heel  856 mm H.sub.shoulder height from shoulder to 1455 mm heel H.sub.eye height from eye to heel 1664 mm

(11) The controller 142 accesses the memory 143, and searches for ergonomic parameters corresponding to the user data. The controller 142 can calculate seat position parameters and steering wheel position parameters according to the ergonomic parameters found.

(12) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a standard human model in a driving state, and will be of assistance in understanding the meaning of the seat position parameters and steering wheel position parameters described below; the meanings of the various labels used in the figure are as stated in table 2 below.

(13) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 No. Label Meaning Notes 1 θ.sub.1 included angle between back of 14° < θ.sub.1 <16°, standard human model and vertical line default value 15° 2 θ.sub.2 included angle between upper arm of 15° < θ.sub.2 < 35°, standard human model and vertical line default value 25° 3 θ.sub.3 included angle between upper arm and lower 110° < θ.sub.3 < 130°, arm of standard human model default value 120° 4 θ.sub.4 included angle between trunk and thigh of 90° < θ.sub.4 < 115°, standard human model default value 100° 5 θ.sub.5 included angle between thigh and calf of 100° < θ.sub.5 < 120°, standard human model default value 110° 6 θ.sub.6 included angle between calf and foot 85° < θ.sub.6 < 95°, of standard human model default value 90° 7 θ.sub.7 included angle between thigh of standard 4° < θ.sub.7 < 8°, human model and horizontal line value 6° 8 θ.sub.8 included angle between steering wheel constant rod and horizontal line determined by vehicle model 9 θ.sub.9 included angle between lower line of sight θ.sub.9 > 15°, default of standard human model and horizontal line value 20° 10 H.sub.H height of junction point (H-point) of trunk and seat position thigh of standard human model relative to parameter vehicle floor (reference plane) 11 H.sub.dashboard height of top of vehicle dashboard relative to constant reference plane determined by vehicle model 12 H.sub.steer height of steering wheel centre relative to steering wheel reference plane position parameter 13 H.sub.head height of head of standard human seat position model relative to reference plane parameter 14 S.sub.heel horizontal distance between heel of standard seat position human model and H-point parameter 15 S.sub.head horizontal distance between head of standard human model and H-point 16 S.sub.steer horizontal distance between steering wheel steering wheel centre and H-point position parameter 17 P.sub.brake position of heel of standard human model on constant vehicle floor (reference point P) determined by vehicle model 18 D.sub.nose2steer distance from tip of nose of standard human used to amend model to steering wheel centre airbag firing time

(14) In this embodiment, seat position parameters comprise the horizontal distance S.sub.heel from reference point P to the junction point (H-point) of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model, the height H.sub.H of the H-point relative to the reference plane, and the height H.sub.head of the head of the standard human model relative to the reference plane.

(15) Preferably, the controller 142 calculates these seat position parameters according to the following formulae:
S.sub.heel=L.sub.Tibia*sin(θ.sub.5+θ.sub.7−90°)+L.sub.UL*cos θ.sub.7  (1)
tan θ.sub.9=[H.sub.eye−H.sub.shoulder+(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*cos θ.sub.1+H.sub.H−H.sub.dashboard]/S.sub.dashboard   (2)
H.sub.head=(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*cos θ.sub.1+H.sub.H+H−H.sub.shoulder  (3)

(16) The meanings of the items in formulae (1)-(3) above are the same as in table 1 and table 2, i.e. L.sub.Tibia is the length from the knee to the heel of the standard human model, L.sub.UL is the length of the thigh of the standard human model, H.sub.eye is the height from the eye to the heel of the standard human model, H.sub.shoulder is the height from the shoulder to the heel of the standard human model, H.sub.pelvis is the height from the pelvis to the heel of the standard human model, H is the height of the standard human model, θ.sub.1 is the included angle between the back of the standard human model and a vertical line, θ.sub.5 is the included angle between the thigh and the calf of the standard human model, θ.sub.7 is the included angle between the thigh of the standard human model and a horizontal line, and θ.sub.9 is the included angle between the lower line of sight of the standard human model and a horizontal line.

(17) The controller 142 will generate an electric motor drive command according to the abovementioned seat position parameters, and output the drive command to the electric motor 110 via the output module 144; thus the controller 142, by controlling the electric motor 110, causes the seat to be adjusted to the required position. In this embodiment, the controller 142 can calculate steering wheel position parameters according to ergonomic parameters. Steering wheel position parameters comprise for example the horizontal distance S.sub.steer from the steering wheel centre to the H-point, and the height H.sub.steer of the steering wheel centre relative to the reference plane.

(18) Preferably, the controller 142 calculates these steering wheel position parameters according to the following formulae:
S.sub.steer=L.sub.UA*sin θ.sub.2+L.sub.LA*sin(θ.sub.3−θ.sub.2)−S.sub.head  (4)
S.sub.head=(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)*sin θ.sub.1  (5)
H.sub.steer=(H.sub.shoulder−H.sub.pelvis)cos θ.sub.1−L.sub.UA*cos θ.sub.2L.sub.LA*sin(θ.sub.3−θ.sub.2)+H.sub.H   (6)

(19) The meanings of the items in formulae (4)-(6) above are the same as in table 1 and table 2, i.e. H.sub.shoulder is the height from the shoulder to the heel of the standard human model, H.sub.pelvis is the height from the pelvis to the heel of the standard human model, L.sub.UA is the length of the upper arm of the standard human model, L.sub.LA is the length of the lower arm of the standard human model, θ.sub.1 is the included angle between the back of the standard human model and a vertical line, θ.sub.2 is the included angle between the upper arm of the standard human model and a vertical line, and θ.sub.3 is the included angle between the upper arm and lower arm of the standard human model.

(20) The controller 142 will generate an electric motor drive command according to the abovementioned steering wheel position parameters, and output the corresponding drive command to the electric motor 110 via the output module 144, thereby causing the steering wheel to be adjusted to the required position by controlling the electric motor 110.

(21) In this embodiment, the controller 142 is also configured to calculate the straight-line distance D.sub.nose2steer from the tip of the nose of the standard human model to the steering wheel centre according to ergonomic parameters, and output a calculation result to an airbag control unit via the output module 144. Preferably, this parameter may be calculated using the following formula:
D.sub.nose2steer≈(H.sub.eye−H.sub.shoulder).sup.2+S.sub.steer.sup.2   (7)

(22) By way of example, the airbag control unit may amend airbag firing time TTF.sub.passenger according to the abovementioned straight-line distance D.sub.nose2steer in the following manner:
TTF.sub.passenger=TTF.sub.50+a*(D.sub.nose2steer−D.sub.nose2steer_standard)  (8)

(23) Here, TTF.sub.50 is the airbag firing time required when the straight-line distance from the tip of the nose of the standard human model to the steering wheel centre is D.sub.nose2steer_standard in a safety specification, and a is a constant related to vehicle speed and determined by experiment.

(24) FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture according to another embodiment of the present invention. To facilitate explanation, the above apparatus for automatic adjustment of driver sitting posture shown in FIG. 1 is used to realize the method of this embodiment, but it must be pointed out that the method of this embodiment is not dependent on an apparatus with a specific structure.

(25) As shown in FIG. 3, in step S311, the input module 141 receives individual parameters associated with a user, and as stated above, these individual parameters comprise one or more of the following: gender, height, weight and age. Step S312 is then performed: the controller 142 accesses the memory 143 to search for ergonomic parameters corresponding to user data; these ergonomic parameters may for example take the forms shown in table 1.

(26) Step S313 is then performed: the controller 142 calculates seat position parameters according to the ergonomic parameters found. Seat position parameters comprise for example the horizontal distance Shed from reference point P to the junction point (H-point) of the trunk and thigh of the standard human model, the height H.sub.H of the H-point relative to the reference plane, and the height H.sub.head of the head of the standard human model relative to the reference plane. As stated above, the controller 142 may calculate these seat position parameters according to formulae (1)-(3) above.

(27) Then in step S314, the controller 142 generates an electric motor drive command according to the abovementioned seat position parameters, and outputs the drive command to the electric motor 110 via the output module 144, thereby causing the seat to be adjusted to the required position.

(28) Then step S315 is performed: the controller 142 calculates steering wheel position parameters according to ergonomic parameters. Steering wheel position parameters comprise for example the horizontal distance S.sub.steer from the steering wheel centre to the H-point, and the height H.sub.steer of the steering wheel centre relative to the reference plane. As stated above, the controller 142 may calculate these steering wheel position parameters according to formulae (4)-(6) above.

(29) Then in step S316, the controller 142 generates an electric motor drive command according to the abovementioned steering wheel position parameters, and outputs the drive command to the electric motor 110 via the output module 144, thereby causing the steering wheel to be adjusted to the required position.

(30) Finally, step S317 is performed: the controller 142 calculates the straight-line distance D.sub.nose2steer from the tip of the nose of the standard human model to the steering wheel centre according to formula (7) above, and outputs a calculation result to the airbag control unit via the output module 144.

(31) The embodiments and examples set out herein are provided in order to explain, in the best way possible, embodiments according to the present technology and specific applications thereof, and thereby enable those skilled in the art to implement and use the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will know that the descriptions and examples above are provided merely to facilitate explanation and demonstration. The descriptions set out are not intended to cover all aspects of the present invention or to restrict the present invention to the precise forms disclosed.

(32) In view of the above, the scope of the present disclosure is determined by the following claims.