METHOD FOR ACTIVATING MOTORS OF A MASSAGE DEVICE, WHICH IS PROVIDED IN A SEAT, IN PARTICULAR IN A VEHICLE SEAT, CONTROL DEVICE, AND SEAT ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for activating motors of a massage device provided in a seat, in particular a vehicle seat, wherein the activation of the motors is performed by a control unit on the basis of an acoustic entertainment signal, wherein a first motor and a second motor are activated as a pair, and wherein the activation of the motors of the pair is performed alternately. The invention further relates to a control unit, which is designed to control at least one pair of motors according to a method according to the invention, and to a seat arrangement for carrying out such a method.

Claims

1. A method for activating motors of a massage device provided in a seat, wherein the activation of the motors is performed by a control unit on the basis of an acoustic entertainment signal, wherein a first motor and a second motor are activated as a pair, and wherein the activation of the motors of the pair is performed alternately.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the entertainment signal is based on a musical piece and the activation of the motors of the pair is performed alternately to the beat and to the rhythm of the musical piece.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the activation of the motors alternates with every beat of the bar or the rhythm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation of the motors of the pair is performed alternately according to a predetermined time interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a third and a fourth motor are activated as a further pair and the pairs of motors are each activated alternately in the same manner.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the motors are activated alternately such that the alternation of the motors is undetectable for a passenger.

7. A control unit which is designed for activating at least one pair of motors according to a method: wherein the activation of the motors is performed by a control unit on the basis of an acoustic entertainment signal, wherein a first motor and a second motor are activated as a pair, and wherein the activation of the motors of the pair is performed alternately.

8. A seat arrangement for carrying out a method for activating motors of a massage device provided in a seat, wherein the activation of the motors is performed by a control unit on the basis of an acoustic entertainment signal, wherein a first motor and a second motor are activated as a pair, and wherein the activation of the motors of the pair is performed alternately, the seat arrangement comprising: a seat, in particular a vehicle seat; a massage device provided in the seat; a first motor of the massage device; at least a second motor of the massage device; and a control unit which is designed for activating at least one pair of motors according to said method, wherein the first motor and the second motor are provided to be activated alternately as a pair by means of the control unit.

9. The seat arrangement of claim 12, wherein a third and at least a fourth motor of the massage device are provided which are provided to be activated alternately as a further pair similar to the first and second motor.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the alternation of the motors is undetectable for a passenger in the context of the entertainment signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the motors are activated alternately such that the alternation of the motors is imperceptible for a passenger.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the alternation of the motors is imperceptible for a passenger in the context of the entertainment signal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the massage device provided in a vehicle seat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In the following the present invention will be described in more detail based on the exemplary embodiments specified in the schematic figures of the drawing, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a seat arrangement;

[0039] FIG. 2 is an exemplary acoustic entertainment signal;

[0040] FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart of an activation sequence;

[0041] FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of a motor of a massage unit when acceleration from an initial position;

[0042] FIG. 4B is a motor according to FIG. 2A when decelerating;

[0043] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a seat arrangement according to a further embodiment with a passenger;

[0044] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the location of a first and a second motor in a massage device according to a further embodiment; and

[0045] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a further embodiment of a seat arrangement.

[0046] The accompanying figures of the drawing should convey a further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments, and in connection with the description, help to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the mentioned advantages arise in view of the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale to each other.

[0047] In the figures of the drawings, elements, features and components which are alike, functionally identical and have the same effect are each provided with the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a seat arrangement 1.

[0049] The seat arrangement 1 has a seat 10 which is designed as a vehicle seat. The seat 10 has a massage device 2 comprising a first motor 3A and a second motor 3B.

[0050] The shape and the positioning of the massage device 2 in the seat back 11 of the seat 10 as well as the arrangement of the motors 3A, 3B in the massage device 2 are to be understood merely schematically here. Various configurations and positioning of the massage device 2 as well as arrangements of the motors 3A, 3B are conceivable. More particularly, the massage device 2 can also be long or high instead of wide. Furthermore, instead of the motors 3A, 3B being arranged next to each other, an arrangement on top of each other or behind each other is conceivable as well. Moreover, the massage device 2 can extend into a seat base of the seat 10, optionally or in addition to the seat back 11.

[0051] Moreover, the seat arrangement 1 comprises a control unit 6, which is coupled to the first motor 3A and the second motor 3B of the massage device 2 for activation so that the first and the second motor 3A, 3B can be activated alternately as a pair 8 by means of the control unit 6.

[0052] The control unit 6 is configured such that the activation of the motors 3A, 3B based on an acoustic entertainment signal 4 can be performed as an input signal of the control unit 6. For example, the acoustic entertainment signal 4 may come from an entertainment device or playback means not shown, particularly an entertainment system of a vehicle.

[0053] During operation, the control unit 6 activates the motors 3A, 3B each with an output signal 7A, 7B based on levels of the entertainment signal 4. For example, the control unit 6 activates a motor 3A; 3B at a deflection of the level within a predetermined frequency range of the entertainment signal 4 for acceleration and a drop in the level when decelerating. Accelerating and decelerating the motor respectively leads to a resulting force at the massage device 2 which can be felt by a passenger of the seat 10 and causes a massage.

[0054] For reinforcement of the forces acting during acceleration and deceleration a motor 3A; 3B has a flywheel not shown herein in detail. This can be an unbalanced mass or a mass without balance. Due to the mass inertia thus increased, heightened reaction forces are caused when accelerating and decelerating which are used for massage.

[0055] The control unit is further configured such that the first motor 3A and the second motor 3B are always activated alternately as a pair 8. For this purpose, the activation of the motors 3A, 3B of the pair 8 is performed by means of alternate output signals 7A, 7B of the control unit 6.

[0056] For example, the activation of the motors is based on a musical piece as an entertainment signal 4. In this case the motors 3A, 3B of the pair 8 are activated such that they alternate to the beat or to the rhythm of the musical piece. While one of the motors 3A, 3B is accelerated or decelerated, the other motor is resting.

[0057] Beside from a musical piece, other types of entertainment signals 4 come into consideration for the activation. In further embodiments these can be, for example, a signal of a video clip, a movie, a console game or the like.

[0058] Particularly in the case of a vehicle seat 10, i.e. the application of the method for activating the motors in a vehicle, the playback means 5 can be, or can be coupled to, an entertainment system, e.g. containing a radio, a CD player, a DVD player, a Blu-ray player, an MP3 source, a game console or an on-board computer of the vehicle in question.

[0059] Finally, the acoustic entertainment signal 4, particularly regardless of an output volume adjusted at the playback means 5, can be used as primary signal or input variable for the activation. Needless to say that the acoustic entertainment signal 4 can also be adapted depending on the output volume of the playback means 5.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows the exemplary acoustic entertainment signal 4.

[0061] The entertainment signal 4 is the signal of a musical piece. Furthermore, the illustration of an exemplary activation sequence based on the levels of the signal is marked with the letters A and B.

[0062] The signal of a musical piece shown herein has a plurality of levels A, B. Such a signal is processed by the control unit 6 in one embodiment such that the motors 3A, 3B are activated alternately at each of the levels A, B. For this purpose, the level is converted into an output signal 7A, 7B, for example a motor current, for the motors 3A, 3B.

[0063] The levels are each marked alternately as A and B. Based hereupon the first motor 3A is activated particularly at every level A and the second motor 3B is activated at every level B.

[0064] A level A, B can each be a beat in the rhythm of the musical piece, for example. Hence an alternation of the activation of the motors 3A, 3B is performed with each beat to the rhythm of the music.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary flowchart of an activation sequence.

[0066] The activation sequence comprises an alternating output of the output signals 7A, 7B which are each shown as a box. An output signal 7A is followed by an output signal 7B which in turn is followed again by the output signal 7A. This alternating signal sequence continues endlessly, as suggested by the dots, particularly as long as an entertainment signal 4 is present as an input signal and/or as long as the control unit is active or activated.

[0067] The output signals 7A, 7B can be alternated, as derived from the rhythm of the music of an entertainment signal, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0068] Yet in a further embodiment the motors 3A, 3B can also be activated alternately within predetermined time intervals. In this case the output signals 7A, 7B are alternating, particularly on a regular basis, within predetermined time intervals.

[0069] As already suggested with reference to FIG. 2 the output signals 7A, 7B are activation signals for the motors 3A, 3B, particularly a motor current or a motor control current.

[0070] FIG. 4A shows a schematic illustration of a motor 3 of a massage device 2 during acceleration from an initial position.

[0071] The motor 3 shown here can be employed particularly as a first motor 3A or as a second motor 3B or as a further motor of a massage device 2.

[0072] The motor 3 is designed to be an electric motor, wherein one embodiment is shown herein as a permanently excited direct current machine merely by way of example. Other embodiments of an electric motor are possible as well. The motor 3 has a stator with two magnetic poles 13, 14 and a commutator 15 with sliding contacts which are not shown here for better clarity. The motor 3 generates a drive torque MA at a motor shaft 12 in a manner known to a person skilled in the art. To this end coils 16 which are provided on a rotor 17 or anchor connected to the motor shaft 12 are suitably supplied with current via the commutator 15.

[0073] For better clarity the drive torque MA is drawn here with two opposing arrows relative to the motor shaft 12 rather than directly at the motor shaft 12.

[0074] The position shown as an initial position is to be understood purely for illustration. In particular the initial position is not necessarily a position perpendicularly oriented to the poles but can also be another position.

[0075] After acceleration and subsequent deceleration, the motor 3 can be stopped so that it is at a standstill. At a standstill, the motor 3 is undriven and can cool down.

[0076] Furthermore, the motor 3, if activated by the control unit 6 in short intervals one after the other for accelerating and decelerating, can be stopped after completing a predetermined number of rotations or after a predetermined first length of time and can remain undriven for a predetermined second length of time. Should the motor 3, for example, be a first motor 3A of a pair 8 of motors 3A, 3B the second motor 3B of the pair 8 is activated during this second length of time.

[0077] A rotational direction of the motor 3 can be changed following a stop or with each new alternating activation of the first motor and the second motor. To this end a respective last rotational direction of the motor is stored and retrieved before accelerating so that the motor can be accelerated in the opposite rotational direction.

[0078] For activating the motor 3 an output signal 7 issuing from a control unit 6 is provided for accelerating to the rotational velocity v, here in the form of a motor current converted into an anchor current at the commutator.

[0079] FIG. 4B shows the motor according to FIG. 4A when decelerating from a rotational velocity v.

[0080] By accelerating the motor 3 or its rotor has a velocity or revolution per minute or rotational velocity v. For decelerating the motor 3 the anchor current applied to the coils 16 of the motor 3 can be commutated. That way the commutated current generates a brake moment MB which counteracts rotation.

[0081] Accordingly, a decelerating output signal 7 issuing from the control unit 6 for decelerating the motor 3 can be provided by commutating the motor current.

[0082] For better clarity the brake moment MB is drawn here with two opposing arrows relative to the motor shaft 12 rather than directly at the motor shaft 12.

[0083] In a further embodiment the motor 3 can also be short-circuited instead of being commutated for decelerating. In this case the control unit is designed to enable such a short-circuit temporarily, for decelerating a motor 3. Due to the short-circuit a current induced by the magnetic field of the stator in the coils 16 of the rotating rotor 17 generates a Lorentz force counteracting the rotation so that a braking moment MB is also applied to the motor shaft.

[0084] FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a seat arrangement 1 according to a further embodiment with a passenger.

[0085] The seat arrangement 1 comprises a seat 10 as well as a massage device 2. The seat has a seat base 20 at a seat back 11.

[0086] A plurality of massage units 2-1 to 2-n, integrated in the seat 10, of a massage device are provided in the seat back 11 which are activated accordingly by the control unit 6 which is not shown here for better clarity.

[0087] The massage units 2-1 to 2-n of the seat arrangement 1 are disposed herein by way of example over the seat back 11. Alternatively or additionally, massage units 2-1 to 2-n can also be disposed over the seat base 20 of the seat 10.

[0088] One of the massage units 2-1 to 2-n contains a first pair 8 of motors 3A, 3B of the massage device 2 which are not individually shown by symbols herein but each as part of the massage device. Another one of the massage units 2-1 to 2-n contains a further pair 9 of motors 3C, 3B of the massage device 2. The remaining massage units similarly contain further pairs of motors.

[0089] The control unit 6 distributes the levels for activating the motors 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D such that not all motors 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D of the massage units 2-1 to 2-n provided in the seat 10 react simultaneously to a level. Instead the control unit 6 distributes the levels such that the motors 3A, 3B; 3C, 3D of a pair 8; 9 alternate and can thus be stopped regularly for cooling down. Preferably the cooling phases of individual motors 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D are harmoniously integrated into the massage sequence so that the alternation of the motors 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D is imperceptible for the passenger.

[0090] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of the location of a first and a second motor 3A, 3B of a massage device 2 according to a further embodiment.

[0091] Here as well as in the object of FIG. 1 the massage unit 2 is arranged in a seat back of a seat 10. Here, too, there are two motors 3A, 3B activated as a pair 8.

[0092] As opposed to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, however, the motors 3A, 3B of the massage device 2 are arranged on top of each other. Also, the arrangement of the motors 3A, 3B shown herein is to be understood merely schematically. In particular arrangements of the motors 3A, 3B which are offset or adjacent or directly located adjacent to one another in other ways are conceivable.

[0093] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of a seat arrangement 1.

[0094] The seat arrangement 1 has a seat 10, a playback means 5 and a control unit 6.

[0095] In the seat 10 a number of, i.e. one or more, massage units 2-1 to 2-n are arranged, herein specifically four, merely by way of example. In FIG. 4 the massage units 2-1 and 2-2 are arranged in the seat back 11 and the massage units 2-3 and 2-n in the seat base 20 merely by way of example. Further massage units 2 are indicated by three dots. The number and arrangement of the massage units 2 can be varied depending on the application.

[0096] Here, too, the control unit 6 is provided for the activation of the massage units 2-1 to 2-n. The control unit generates an output signal 7 from an entertainment signal 4 provided by the playback means 5, for example a musical piece, and derived from the playback means 5, for the motors of the massage units 2-1 to 2-n and transmits it to said massage units.

[0097] The output signal 7 comprises suitable control signals for pairs of motors contained in the massage units 2-1 to 2-n for the alternating activation of the same.

[0098] For example, the playback means 5 can be an audio system with a radio, CD player, MP3 player, video/DVD/Blu-ray player or the like installed in a vehicle. Yet the playback means 5 can be e.g. the audio system which receives the entertainment signal 4 via Bluetooth from e.g. a smartphone.

[0099] The control unit 6 can be provided integrated in the seat 10 either as an internal control unit 6 or it can merely be connected to the seat 10 as an external control unit 6. In the case of an external control unit 6 said unit can be provided, for example, integrated as a software module in an on-board network control unit, particularly a so-called body control unit, of a vehicle.

[0100] More particularly, the control unit 6 and the playback means 5 can also be grouped or integrated in one single control unit. For example, the control unit 6 can already be integrated in the vehicle audio system. Both the playback means 5 and the control unit 6 can at least in part be designed to be computer programme modules which are executed by a computing device of the audio system. In this case the motors of the massage units 2-1 to 2-n can likewise be coupled directly to the playback means 5.

[0101] Although the present invention has been fully described with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto but can be modified in many different ways.

[0102] In particular an activation of motors as a pair does not necessarily mean a spatial arrangement of the motors in pairs. In fact, motors arranged at different locations of a seat can be motors activated as a pair. In particular the object of FIG. 7 can be provided as a pair 8, 9 of motors in different massage units 2-1 to 2-n.

[0103] The motors 3A, 3B can be activated alternately within predetermined time intervals in each of the embodiments rather than to the beat or to the rhythm of an entertainment signal 4.