METHOD FOR PRE-ADJUSTING VEHICLE SEATS

Abstract

A method for pre-adjusting a vehicle seat (1) for a passenger (2) using the vehicle seat (1) includes providing the vehicle seat (1) in a first vehicle seat configuration. A communication device (4) is integrated into a vehicle (6) and is activated. After activation, information relating to the passenger (2) is input into the communication device (4). The input information is then transmitted to a control unit (5). A second vehicle seat configuration is ascertained on the basis of the transmitted information. The vehicle seat (1) is then automatically converted from the first vehicle seat configuration to the second vehicle seat configuration.

Claims

1. A method for pre-adjusting a vehicle seat for a passenger using the vehicle seat, the method comprising: providing the vehicle seat in a first vehicle seat configuration; activating a communication device integrated into a vehicle that has the vehicle seat; entering information relating to the passenger into the activated communication device; transmitting the entered information to a control unit; determining a second vehicle seat configuration depending on the transmitted information; and moving the vehicle seat from the first vehicle seat configuration into the second vehicle seat configuration.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising moving the vehicle seat manually or via further inputs into the communication device from the second vehicle seat configuration into a third vehicle seat configuration.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the third vehicle seat configuration, preferably together with an ID, is stored in a storage unit, particularly in a memory for vehicle seat configurations.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the step of entering information comprises entering an individual numerical value describing the information into the communication device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an algorithm based on simulations and/or on empirical values is used to determine the second vehicle seat configuration.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein further information describing the vehicle seat or an environment thereof is used along with the information describing the passenger for determining the second vehicle seat configuration.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: subsequent to the step of moving the vehicle seat manually or via further inputs into the communication device, re-entering the information describing the passenger; moving the vehicle seat from the first vehicle seat configuration into the third vehicle seat configuration, and/or offering the passenger a selection between the second vehicle seat configuration and the third vehicle seat configuration, whereby a pre-adjustment, comprising moving the vehicle seat from the first vehicle seat configuration into the second vehicle seat or a further movement from the second vehicle seat configuration into a third vehicle seat configuration is further simplified for the passenger to a movement of the vehicle seat directly to the selected second vehicle seat configuration or third vehicle seat configuration.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passenger is informed if a tolerance threshold for a deviation from the second vehicle seat configuration is exceeded.

9. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein, in the movement from the second vehicle seat configuration into the third vehicle seat configuration, a modification of partial areas of the vehicle seat specific vehicle seat components, is not allowed.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a step in which a further component of the vehicle assumes a first component configuration or is moved into the first component configuration on the basis of the information entered into the communication device or the second or third vehicle configuration, wherein the adjustment of the further components is similarly individually adjustable by the passenger in a further method step.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of moving the vehicle seat from the first vehicle seat configuration into the second vehicle seat configuration comprises an electrical adjustment of the vehicle seat can be stopped or paused or interrupted by means of an emergency shutdown functionality.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of entering information relating to the passenger into the activated communication device occurs with the passenger seated in the vehicle for input into the communication device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information describing the passenger is information relating to the body height of the passenger or relating to the body proportions of the passenger or relating to the preferred sitting position type.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat and/or the environment of the vehicle is/are monitored by means of a sensor unit.

15. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a movement of the vehicle seat from the second vehicle seat configuration into the third vehicle seat configuration is controlled and/or adjusted with a weight transfer of the passenger during a predefined time window.

16. A device for pre-adjusting a vehicle seat for a passenger using the vehicle seat, the device comprising: a communication device integrated into a vehicle, the communication device comprising a activating feature for activating the communication device and an input for an input of information describing the passenger into the activated communication device; a control unit for receiving and further processing the information, the communication device having a communication connection with the control unit for transmitting input information to the control unit, the control unit being configured to, with an initial first vehicle seat configuration, determine a second vehicle seat configuration based on the transmitted information; and an adjuster controllable by the control unit for adjusting a vehicle seat component to move the vehicle seat from the first vehicle seat configuration into the second vehicle seat configuration.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the device has a storage unit for storing vehicle seat configurations.

18. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein subsequent to the vehicle seat being moved from the first vehicle seat configuration into the second vehicle seat configuration subsequent manual movement or a further input into the communication device allows movement of the vehicle seat from the second vehicle seat configuration into a third vehicle seat configuration.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the third vehicle seat configuration alone or with an ID, is stored in the storage unit, wherein the storage unit comprises a memory for vehicle seat configurations.

20. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the information is input as an individual numerical value describing the information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In the drawings:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a view showing a method for pre-adjusting a vehicle seat for a passenger using the vehicle seat according to one example embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Referring to the drawings, same parts are always denoted with the same reference numbers and are therefore normally also specified or mentioned in each case once only.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a method for pre-adjusting a vehicle seat 1 for a passenger 2 using the vehicle seat, for example a driver or passenger, according to one example embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle seat 1 of a vehicle 6 is preferably supplied to the passenger 2 in a first method step in a first vehicle seat configuration. For example, the vehicle seat is left by a previous user in the first vehicle seat configuration which, in particular, differs from a comfortable vehicle seat configuration for the passenger 2. In order to pre-adjust the vehicle seat 1, it is then provided that the passenger 2 enters the vehicle 6 in a second method step, sits on the vehicle seat 1 and activates a communication device 4, for example an infotainment system or a program stored on the infotainment system. It is conceivable for the communication device 4 to be activated automatically by a door opening of the vehicle 6, a turning of the ignition key or by means of a weight sensor integrated into the vehicle seat 1, or indirectly by the passenger 2. It is then provided in a third method step that a body height 3 of the passenger 2 is entered, for example, by the passenger 2 himself or by a different passenger, as a numerical value into the communication device 4. It is provided, in particular, that the numerical value is entered via a keypad or rotary dial. In addition, it is conceivable for the passenger 2 to be given the facility in an intermediate step to perform a pre-categorization from individual lists. For example, one list relates to the gender and another list to different weight classes and, in the preselection undertaken in the intermediate step, the element most relevant to the passenger 2 is in each case selected. Following the input in the third method step, it is provided that the entered information is transmitted to the communication device 4, wirelessly or via a cable connection, to a control unit 5. It is also conceivable for the control unit 5 to be part of the communication device 4.

[0032] It is furthermore provided that the body height 3 received by the control unit 5 is used by the control unit 5 to determine a second vehicle seat configuration. It is provided here, in particular, that an algorithm based on simulations and/or empirical values is used to determine a second vehicle seat configuration adapted to the passenger 2. Along with the body height 3 as the single entered numerical value when determining the second vehicle seat configuration, it is conceivable for further information relating to the vehicle seat 1 or its environment and/or the pre-categorization undertaken in the intermediate step also to be taken into account. The further information relating to the vehicle seat 1 or its environment comprises, for example, details relating to the position of a steering wheel of the vehicle 6, the position of a wing mirror or a rearview mirror of the vehicle 6 and the position of an image area of a head-up display of the vehicle 6 relative to the vehicle seat. It is furthermore conceivable for a specific algorithm to be selected from a multitude of algorithms, wherein the specific algorithm is used in the fifth method step to determine the second vehicle seat configuration by means of the body height 3 as the single entered numerical value. It is also conceivable for the passenger 2 to be able to make an optional preselection in the intermediate step between different options relating to the driving style for the pre-adjustment of the vehicle seat. For example, the passenger 2 may opt for a sport or economy driving style and the corresponding pre-adjustment of the vehicle seat 1 is selected and adopted on the basis of the choice of the passenger 2. It is also conceivable for a start-up of the vehicle 6 not to be allowed in a safety mode, or for a warning signal to be emitted on start-up if the information, in particular the body height, is not entered into the communication device during the start-up or attempted start-up.

[0033] It is furthermore provided, in a sixth method step, that the vehicle seat is moved from the first vehicle seat configuration into a second vehicle seat configuration. An adjuster controlled by the control unit 5 and, in particular, motor-controlled, is preferably used which preferably communicates wirelessly or via cable with the control unit 5. The adjuster is preferably motor-controlled and manually actuatable. In a seventh method step, the vehicle seat 1 is then preferably moved manually by means of the adjuster or plurality of adjusters from a second vehicle seat configuration into a third vehicle seat configuration, whereby the passenger 2 is advantageously given the facility to make a fine adjustment by means of which the vehicle seat configuration can be adjusted according to his individual comfort requirements. For example, a length adjuster for adjusting a length position of the vehicle seat 1, a height adjuster for adjusting the vehicle seat 1, a backrest tilt adjuster, an armrest height adjuster, a seat area height adjuster, a seat area tilt adjuster, a headrest height adjuster and/or a headrest tilt adjuster are used as adjusters.

[0034] It is furthermore provided, in an eighth method step, that the third vehicle seat configuration is stored in a storage unit, in particular in a memory for vehicle seat configurations. The vehicle seat 1 can thereby be moved directly and without further effort from the first vehicle seat configuration into the third vehicle seat configuration when the information, in particular the numerical value, is re-entered into the communication device 4. However, it is also conceivable for the passenger 2 to be given a facility to select between the second and third vehicle seat configuration when the information is re-entered.

[0035] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.