ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE LUMBAR SUPPORT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT

Abstract

An operator control unit controls an electrically adjustable lumbar support of a motor vehicle seat, where the lumbar support is provided for performing a massage function. A four-way button for setting an inoperative position of the lumbar support and a three-way switching element for selecting a predetermined value for a massage parameter of the lumbar support are provided in the operator control unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising: an electrically adjustable lumbar support configured to perform a massage function; and an operator control unit controlling the lumbar support, the operator control unit including a four-way button configured to set an inoperative position of the lumbar support, and a three-way switching element configured to select a predetermined value for a massage parameter of the lumbar support.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the four-way button is a four-way navigation button with two button axes, which are oriented perpendicularly in relation to one another.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 2 wherein the four-way button and the three-way switching element are arranged next to one another on a side flank of the vehicle seat.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the massage parameter is a massage intensity.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 4 wherein one of the predetermined values for the massage intensity corresponds to a massage intensity of zero.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 5 wherein the predetermined value for the massage intensity of zero is selected by pushing-in the three-way switching element, which is in a central switching position.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the four-way button and the three-way switching element are arranged next to one another on a side flank of the vehicle seat.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 7 wherein three switching positions of the three-way switching element are arranged in a vertical direction.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 8 wherein the predetermined value for the massage parameter that is selected in an upper switching position of the three-way switching element is greater than the predetermined value for the massage parameter that is selected in a lower switching position of the three-way switching element.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein three switching positions of the three-way switching element are arranged in a vertical direction.

11. The vehicle seat of claim 10 wherein the predetermined value for the massage parameter that is selected in an upper switching position of the three-way switching element is greater than the predetermined value for the massage parameter that is selected in a lower switching position of the three-way switching element.

12. A vehicle seat comprising: an electrically adjustable and operable lumber support; a drive unit electrically adjusting the lumbar support; and an operator control unit including a four-way button configured to set an inoperative position of the lumbar support, and a three-way switching element configured to select a predetermined value for a massage parameter of the lumbar support.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the four-way button is a four-way navigation button with two button axes, which are oriented perpendicularly in relation to one another.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the four-way button and the three-way switching element are arranged next to one another on a side flank of the vehicle seat.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein three switching positions of the three-way switching element are arranged in a vertical direction.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 15 wherein the predetermined value for the massage parameter that is selected in an upper switching position of the three-way switching element is greater than the predetermined value for the massage parameter that is selected in a lower switching position of the three-way switching element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Further advantageous refinements of the invention are disclosed in the claims and the following description of the figures, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a motor vehicle seat comprising an operator control unit for controlling an electrically adjustable lumbar support,

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a schematic elevation view of the operator control unit, and

[0042] FIGS. 3-7 show schematic illustrations of alternative operator control units in the same view as FIG. 2, but with FIG. 7 showing a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols, and therefore said parts are generally described only once.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a motor vehicle seat 26, which is provided for use as a driver's seat in a left-hand drive motor vehicle, for example of a passenger car. The vehicle seat 26 has, in a manner which is known per se, a seat base 28, which can be displaced along a straight-ahead direction 46 (see direction arrow) of travel, for supporting a seat user at the bottom, a seat cushion 30 which is arranged on the seat base 28, a panel 32 which covers the seat base 28 and a portion of the seat cushion 30 in a partially surrounded manner on the door side and is composed of a plastic material, a pivotably mounted backrest 34 for supporting a back of the seat user, and a head support 36.

[0045] The seat base 28 and the backrest 34 can be adjusted by separate electric drives and by operating appropriate switching elements, not illustrated, in a manner which is known in the art.

[0046] The motor vehicle seat 26 further has an electrically adjustable and operable lumbar support 38 (lordosis support). The lumbar support 38 is integrated in the backrest 34 and is designed such that it can be adjusted in a direction 42 (see direction arrow) parallel to a center line of the backrest 34 (i.e., generally vertical) and also in a direction 44 (see direction arrow) perpendicular to the backrest 34 (i.e., generally horizontal) of the motor vehicle seat 26. The lumbar support 38 is provided for performing a massage function. Possible embodiments of lumbar supports of this kind are known to a person skilled in the art and therefore are not described in any detail herein.

[0047] For the purpose of electrically adjusting the lumbar support 38, the motor vehicle seat 26 is equipped with a drive unit 40 which includes one or more electric motors and a suitable drive electronics system, which may be conventional. On the door-side flank of the motor vehicle seat 26, the motor vehicle seat 26 has an operator control unit 10 for controlling the electrically adjustable lumbar support 38 integrated in the panel 32. To this end, the operator control unit 10 is connected, for control purposes, to the drive unit 40.

[0048] The switching elements for adjusting the seat base 28 and the backrest 34 are arranged at such a distance from the operator control unit 10 that inadvertent confusion between them is precluded.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a schematic elevation view of the operator control unit 10 according to FIG. 1. A three-way switching element 12 and a four-way button 20 are arranged next to one another in the operator control unit 10, where the three-way switching element 12 is arranged in front of the four-way button 20 as seen in the straight-ahead direction 46 of travel. Alternatively, the three-way switching element 12 may also be arranged behind the four-way button 20 as seen in the straight-ahead direction 46 of travel.

[0050] The four-way button 20 is configured as a four-way navigation button with two button axes 22, 24 which are oriented perpendicularly in relation to one another, where one button axis 22 is arranged in the vertical direction and the other button axis 24 is arranged parallel in relation to the straight-ahead direction 46 of travel (i.e., generally horizontal). The four-way button 20 is provided for setting an inoperative position of the lumbar support 38.

[0051] Each of the four buttons of the four-way button 20 is arranged on a common surface in a position by way of which a direction of action of a movement that is triggered by means of the drive unit 40 by pushing the respective button is specified. The movement is stopped when pressing on the respective button is discontinued. Continued pressing on the upper button 20a of the four switches shifts the lumbar support 38 upward. Continued pressing on the lower button 20b of the four buttons shifts the lumbar support 38 downward. Continued pressing on the left-hand-side (i.e., forward) button 20c of the four buttons shifts the lumbar support 38 forward, that is to say in the direction of the straight-ahead direction 46 of travel. Continued pressing on the right-hand-side (i.e., rearward) button 20d of the four buttons shifts the lumbar support 38 backward, that is to say opposite the straight-ahead direction 46 of travel. Although the four-way button 20 is arranged outside the field of vision of the seat user, the appropriate button for the direction of desired movement of the lumbar support 38 can be selected without visual monitoring.

[0052] The four buttons of the four-way button 20 can be formed, for example, by programmable buttons in the case of which pressing the button triggers transmission of a digital data signal by way of which one of the electric motors of the drive unit 40 can be addressed. Programmable buttons of this kind are known in the prior art and are available.

[0053] The three-way switching element 12 has three switching positions 14, 16, 18 which are arranged in the vertical direction. The three-way switching element 12 is equipped with a switching element in an upper switching position 14 and in a lower switching position 18. In a central switching position 16, the three-way switching element 12 is equipped with an unlatched touch-operated element with a pushbutton function. FIG. 2 shows the three-way switching element 12 in the central switching position 16.

[0054] The three-way switching element 12 is provided for selecting a predetermined value for a massage parameter of the lumbar support 38. In this specific embodiment, the massage parameter is formed by a massage intensity which is characterized, for example, by pre-specified amplitudes of a periodic movement of the lumbar support 38 in the direction 42 parallel in relation to the center line of the backrest 34 and/or in the direction 44 perpendicular in relation to the backrest 34. Alternatively, the massage parameter can be formed by a frequency of a periodic massage movement or a massage pattern, that is to say a pre-specified time profile of a massage amplitude.

[0055] When the three-way switching element 12 is moved to the upper switching position 14, an electrical connection is established within the drive unit 40 by the switch element located in said upper switching position, by way of which electrical connection a predetermined value for the massage intensity is selected. When the three-way switching element 12 is moved to the lower switching position 18, an electrical connection is established within the drive unit 40 by the switch element located in said lower switching position, by way of which electrical connection a further predetermined value for the massage intensity is selected, which further predetermined value is smaller than the predetermined value selected in the upper switching position 14.

[0056] When the three-way switching element 12 is moved to the central position 16, an electrical connection is established within the drive unit 40 by pressing on the non-latched touch-operated element 16a located in said central position in one position of the touch-operated element, so that a predetermined value of zero is selected for the massage intensity. Given this selection, the massage intensity remains at a value of zero even if the three-way switching element 12 is subsequently moved to the upper switching position 14 or to the lower switching position 18. The electrical connection within the drive unit 40 is re-established by once again pressing on the non-latched touch-operated element in the central switching position 16 of the three-way switching element 12, so that a massage intensity not equal to zero is possible by moving the three-way valve switching element 12 to the upper switching position 14 or to the lower switching position 18.

[0057] Alternatively, the three-way switching element 12 can be equipped with a unlatched touch-operated element in the upper switching position 14 and in a lower switching position 18, so that the high predetermined value for the massage intensity is selected by moving the three-way switching element 12 to the upper switching position 14 and the low predetermined value for the massage intensity is selected by moving the three-way switching element 12 to the lower switching position 18, where the three-way switching element 12 automatically assumes the central switching position 16 again owing to spring force biasing the element 12 toward the central position 16 after being moved to the upper switching position 14 or to the lower switching position 18.

[0058] Alternative embodiments of the operator control unit will be described below. In order to avoid repetition, only the differences from the above embodiment of the operator control unit 10 according to FIG. 2 will be described in the text which follows.

[0059] In the embodiment of the operator control unit 50 according to FIG. 3 (in view of FIG. 1), a three-way switching element 54 is integrated in a four-way button 52 which is designed as a four-way navigation button with two button axes 22, 24 which are oriented perpendicularly in relation to one another. The three-way switching element 54 is formed by an unlatched pushbutton 54a, which is arranged in a cutout in the center of the four-way button 52. Predetermined values for a massage parameter of the lumbar support 38, which massage parameter is designed as a massage intensity, are selected in succession by successively operating the pushbutton. The predetermined values for the massage intensity corresponds to a low intensity, a high intensity and an intensity of zero, where this order is cyclically continued with further operation of the pushbutton.

[0060] In the embodiment of the operator control unit 60 according to FIG. 4 (in view of FIG. 1), a switching element 66 of a three-way switching element 64 is integrated in a four-way button 62 which is designed as a four-way navigation button with two button axes 22, 24 which are oriented perpendicularly in relation to one another. The integrated switching element 66, which is arranged in a cutout in the center of the four-way button 62, is designed as a switch or button. The two other switching elements of the three-way switching element 64 are arranged in a vertical direction in a rocker switch 68 or, as an alternative, in a rocker button which is located in front of the four-way button 62 in the straight-ahead direction 46 of travel. By operating the integrated switching element 66, a massage intensity of zero can be selected in a first switching position. By operating the integrated switching element 66 again, a massage intensity which is determined by the position of the rocker switch 68 or rocker button of the three-way switching element 64 can be set in a second switching position

[0061] In the embodiment of the operator control unit 70 according to FIG. 5 (in view of FIG. 1), a four-way button 72 is designed as a four-way navigation button with two button axes 22, 24 which are oriented perpendicularly in relation to one another. A three-way switching element 74 is designed as a rocker button. A high predetermined value for a massage intensity is selected by moving the rocker button to an upper switching position 76. A low predetermined value for a massage intensity is selected by moving the rocker button to a lower switching position 78. A predetermined value of zero for the massage intensity is selected by moving the rocker button twice in succession to one of the switching positions 76, 78.

[0062] As an alternative, the three-way switching element 74 in the operator control unit 70 according to FIG. 5 can be designed as a rocker button with two integrated switching positions. By operating an unlatched touch-operated element of the rocker button, a predetermined value of zero for the massage intensity can be selected in one switching position of the touch-operated element. By operating the unlatched touch-operated element of the rocker button again, a predetermined value for a massage intensity which is determined by one of the two integrated, latched switching positions of the three-way switching element can be set in a second switching position.

[0063] In the embodiment of the operator control unit 80 according to FIG. 6 (in view of FIG. 1), a four-way button 82 is designed as a four-way navigation button with two button axes 22, 24 which are oriented perpendicularly in relation to one another. A three-way switching element 84 is formed by a rocker switch 86 with two latched switching positions and a pushbutton 88. A predetermined value of zero for the massage intensity is selected by moving the pushbutton 88 to a first switching position. A predetermined value for the massage intensity which is determined by one of the two switching positions of the rocker switch 86 of the three-way switching element 84 is selected by moving the pushbutton 88 to a second switching position.

[0064] In the embodiment of the operator control unit 90 according to FIG. 7 (in view of FIG. 1), a four-way button 92 and a three-way switching element 94 are formed in an integrated manner. The four-way button 92 is designed as a four-way navigation button with two button axes 22, 24 which are oriented perpendicularly in relation to one another. An integrated switching element 96 of the three-way switching element 94, which switching element 96 is arranged in a cutout in the center of the four-way button 92, is designed as a switch or button. The three-way switching element 94 further has a rotary wheel 98 which is designed such that it can rotate about a rotation axis 100, which is arranged perpendicularly in relation to a surface of the four-way button 92, and has two latched switching positions, a high value and a lower value for a massage intensity respectively being allocated to said switching positions.

[0065] By operating the switching element 96 of the three-way switching element 94, which switching element 96 is integrated in the four-way button 92, a predetermined value of zero for the massage intensity is selected in one switching position. By operating the integrated switching element 96 again, a predetermined value for a massage intensity which is determined by one of the two latched switching positions of the rotary wheel 98 can be set in a second switching position.

[0066] Alternatively, the rotary wheel 98 may be equipped with two unlatched switching positions in button function. After the integrated switching element 96 is operated, either a predetermined high value or a predetermined lower value for a massage intensity can be selected by moving the rotary wheel 98 to one of the two unlatched switching positions, where the rotary wheel 98 again automatically assumes a central position, as illustrated in FIG. 7, owing to spring force biasing the wheel 98 to the central position after being moved to one of the two unlatched switching positions.

[0067] Of course, the invention can also be used for motor vehicle seats in right-hand-drive motor vehicles.

[0068] While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.