LOCKING SYSTEM FOR A SEAT ARRANGEMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a locking system for a seat arrangement of a motor vehicle, which seat arrangement has an adjustment component which is adjustable manually into at least one locking position, wherein the locking system has a locking mechanism, and wherein the adjustment component is lockable and releasable in the locking position by means of the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism has an actuation drive by means of which the locking mechanism is releasable in a motorized manner, wherein the locking system has a proximity sensor which is triggerable by a predefined operator control event and wherein, by means of the triggering of the proximity sensor, the adjustment component is releasable in a motorized manner via the actuation drive.

Claims

1. A locking system for a seat arrangement of a motor vehicle, which seat arrangement has an adjustment component which is adjustable manually into at least one locking position, the locking system comprising a locking mechanism, wherein the adjustment component is lockable and releasable in the locking position by the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an actuation drive, wherein the locking mechanism is releasable in a motorized manner by the actuation drive, wherein the locking system has a proximity sensor which is triggerable by a predefined operator control event, and wherein the adjustment component is releasable in a motorized manner via the actuation drive by the triggering of the proximity sensor.

2. The locking system according to claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor has at least one capacitive proximity sensor element.

3. The locking system according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is designed as a latching mechanism, wherein an adjustment of the adjustment component into the locking position is associated with latching of the locking mechanism into a locking state.

4. The locking system according to claim 1, wherein the operator control event is defined as an approach of a body part of the operator to the proximity sensor.

5. The locking system according to claim 4, wherein the definition of the operator control event comprises the exceeding of a predefined residence period of the body part of the operator within a detection range of the proximity sensor.

6. The locking system according to claim 1, wherein the definition of the operator control event comprises contact of the proximity sensor or covering of the proximity sensor by a body part of the operator.

7. The locking system according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism in a release state automatically falls back under a fall back condition into a locking state.

8. The locking system according to claim 1, wherein the actuation drive has an actuation motor and a gearing connected downstream of the actuation motor.

9. A seat arrangement of a motor vehicle with a locking system according to claim 1, wherein the seat arrangement has an adjustment component which is adjustable manually into at least one locking position, and wherein the adjustment component is lockable and releasable in the locking position by the locking mechanism.

10. The seat arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the proximity sensor is arranged in or on the adjustment component.

11. The seat arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the adjustment component is designed as an adjustable backrest.

12. The seat arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the adjustment component is a longitudinally adjustable seat part, a depth-adjustable seat part, a foldable headrest, or an adjustable floor lock of the seat arrangement.

13. The seat arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the adjustment component is assigned a spring arrangement for assisting its manual adjustment.

14. A method for operating a seat arrangement according to claim 9, comprising triggering the proximity sensor to release the adjustment component in a motorized manner via the actuation drive.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the seat arrangement has a travel component which is movable in a motorized manner and is assigned a travel drive, and further comprising triggering the proximity sensor to move the travel component in a motorized manner via the travel drive.

16. The locking system according to claim 4, wherein the definition of the operator control event comprises the exceeding of a predefined approach speed.

17. The locking system according to claim 7, wherein the fall back condition is the expiry of a predefined period of time since the triggering of the proximity sensor.

18. The locking system according to claim 8, wherein the gearing is designed as a traction element gearing.

19. The seat arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the proximity sensor is arranged in a handle region of the adjustment component for the manual adjustment of the adjustment component.

20. The seat arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the motorized release of the locking mechanism brings about a spring-driven springing open of the adjustment component, at least from the locking position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0039] Implementations of various systems, arrangements, and methods are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows the rear region of a motor vehicle with a seat arrangement according to the proposal, in an entirely schematic illustration,

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the release of the backrest of the seat arrangement according to the proposal a) during a first phase of the operator control event, b) in a second phase of the operator control event, and c) during the manual adjustment of the backrest of the seat arrangement, and

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the locking mechanism of the locking system of the seat arrangement according to FIG. 1 in an entirely schematic illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The locking system 1 shown in the drawing is assigned to a seat arrangement 2 of a motor vehicle 3, which seat arrangement, in the embodiment which is illustrated, is part of a rear seat row. However, the seat arrangement 2 under discussion may be arranged at any location in the motor vehicle 3 and, for example, may provide a front seat of the motor vehicle 3.

[0044] The seat arrangement 2 has an adjustment component 4 which can be adjusted manually into at least one locking position, and in some embodiments between various locking positions. This can be gathered from the detailed illustration of FIG. 1. The adjustment component 4 can be any adjustable component of the seat arrangement 2. In the case of the embodiment which is illustrated, the adjustment component 4 is the backrest of the seat arrangement 2. All statements regarding the backrest of the seat arrangement 2 apply correspondingly to all other variants of the adjustment component 4.

[0045] The locking system 1 is equipped with a locking mechanism 5, the basic design of which can be gathered from the illustration according to FIG. 3. The function of the locking mechanism 5 consists in the adjustment component 4 being lockable and releasable in a mechanical respect in the locking positions. The locking mechanism 5 therefore ensures that the adjustment component 4 locked in a locking position remains in said locking position until the adjustment component 4 is released by means of the locking mechanism 5.

[0046] The locking mechanism 5 has an actuating drive 6 which is illustrated in FIG. 3 and by means of which the locking mechanism 5 is releasable in a motorized manner. In this connection, reference should be made to the fact that the release of the locking mechanism 5 is synonymous with the release of the adjustment component 4.

[0047] The locking system 1 has a proximity sensor 7 which is triggerable by a predefined operator control event. In the present case, the term proximity sensor should be understood within a wide meaning. It comprises not only at least one proximity sensor element 8 which is yet to be explained and which serves to generate sensor signals, but also an evaluation unit which may be present and in which a decision is taken about the presence of the predefined operator control event. In the present case, the triggering of the proximity sensor 7 corresponds to the state in which the predefined operator control event has been detected by the proximity sensor 7, in particular by the evaluation unit.

[0048] The adjustment component 4 is releasable in a motorized manner via the actuation drive 6 by the triggering of the proximity sensor 7. This can be provided via a direct coupling between the proximity sensor 7 and the actuation drive 6. However, in some embodiments a locking controller 9 is provided which is couplable in terms of control technology to the proximity sensor 7 on the one hand and to the adjustment drive 6 on the other hand The locking controller 9 undertakes a corresponding activation of the actuation drive 6 upon the triggering of the proximity sensor 7.

[0049] The operation of the proximity sensor 7 can be based on entirely different sensor principles. Here, the proximity sensor 7 is a capacitive proximity sensor which has at least one capacitive proximity sensor element 8.

[0050] In principle, it can be provided that not only is the release of the adjustment component 4, but also the locking of the adjustment component 4, undertaken in a motorized manner Here, however, the locking mechanism 5 is designed as a latching mechanism in such a manner that an adjustment of the adjustment component 4 into an adjustment position is associated with latching of the locking mechanism 5 into its locking state.

[0051] In the case of the embodiment which is illustrated, the locking mechanism 5 permits locking of the adjustment component 4 in more than two locking positions. This means that there are at least two adjustment regions which each lie between two locking positions. It can be gathered from the detailed illustration of FIG. 1 that the locking mechanism 5 permits locking of the adjustment component 4 in the three locking positions S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and S.sub.3. The locking position S.sub.1 is the front most convenience locking position and the adjustment position S.sub.2 is the rearmost convenience locking position, wherein the actual convenience locking position can be adapted to the operator's height. The locking position S.sub.3 is finally a loading position with which an additional loading surface can generally be produced.

[0052] In some cases a particularly intuitive operator control system is produced by the fact that the operator control event is defined as an approach of a body part, here a hand 10 of the operator, to the proximity sensor 7. The approach of the hand 10 of the operator to the proximity sensor 7 is revealed from the transition from FIG. 2a to FIG. 2b. The arrangement can be undertaken in such a manner that the release is terminated before the operator's hand 10 comes into contact with the adjustment component 4, and therefore the manual adjustment of the adjustment component 4, here from the loading position of the backrest, can take place without delay. The manual adjustment of the backrest is shown in FIG. 2c.

[0053] In order to avoid erroneous triggerings of the proximity sensor 7, the definition of the operator control event can comprise the exceeding of a predefined approach speed. It is therefore ensured, for example, that an inadvertent passage through the detection range of the proximity sensor 7 with a low approach speed is not detected as an operator control event.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the definition of the operator control event comprises the exceeding of a predetermined residence period of the body part, here the hand, of the operator with the detection range of the proximity sensor 7. Further safety has been provided by the fact that an inadvertent passage through the detection range of the proximity sensor 7 is not detected as an operator control event.

[0055] Furthermore alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the definition of the operator control event comprises contact of the proximity sensor 7 or covering of the proximity sensor 7 by a body part, here the hand, of the operator. Erroneous triggerings can therefore be substantially ruled out. However, it has to be ensured that the release of the adjustment component 4 takes place promptly in order not to obstruct the manual adjustment by the operator.

[0056] Depending on the mechanical configuration of the locking mechanism 5, it may be advantageous for the locking mechanism 5 in the release state to ultimately fall back under a fall back condition into the locking state. For example, the fall back condition can be the expiry of a predefined period of time since the triggering of the proximity sensor 7. Such a fall back of the locking mechanism 5 is advantageous in particular if the locking mechanism 5, as discussed above, is of latching design.

[0057] It can be gathered from the illustration according to FIG. 3 that the actuation drive 6 has an actuation motor 11 and a gearing 12 connected downstream of the actuation motor 11. Given an appropriate gearing transmission ratio, the actuation motor 11 can be designed to be comparatively low-powered and therefore cost-effective. A mechanically robust and at the same time cost effective configuration of the gearing is shown in the illustration according to FIG. 3. The gearing 12 here is designed as a traction element gearing with a flexible traction element 13, here in the form of a cable pull gearing. In the embodiment which is illustrated, the traction element gearing is designed in the manner of a block and tackle, here in the manner of a two-stage block and tackle.

[0058] However, very generally, the block and tackle can be a single- or multi-stage block and tackle.

[0059] The flexible traction element 13 can be designed as a cable. Alternatively, however, the flexible traction element may also be designed as a band with a flat cross section or as a chain with a plurality of chain links. In particular in the case of the configuration of the traction element as a cable or band, the running noises of the actuation drive 6 with a robust mechanical design can be kept low.

[0060] The locking mechanism 5 is equipped here with a release lever 14 which is deflected about the pivot axis 14a, in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3, by means of the actuation drive 6 in order to release the adjustment component 4.

[0061] A further teaching provides the seat arrangement 2 of the motor vehicle 3 equipped with a locking system 1 according to the proposal. Reference should be made to all statements regarding the locking system 1 according to the proposal.

[0062] In the case of the seat arrangement 2 according to the proposal, the arrangement of the proximity sensor 7 takes on very particular importance. Here it is provided that the proximity sensor 7 is arranged in or on the adjustment component 4 itself. As shown in FIG. 2, the proximity sensor 7 can be arranged in a handle region 15 of the adjustment component 4 for the manual adjustment of the latter. It is therefore the handle region 15 which the operator would in any case intuitively grasp for the manual adjustment of the adjustment component 4. In this respect, a particularly intuitive operator control methodology is produced.

[0063] As discussed further above, the adjustment component 4 is designed here as an adjustable backrest and the proximity sensor 7 is arranged on that end region 17 of the backrest which faces away from the seat part 16 of the seat arrangement 2.

[0064] This corresponds in turn to the basic concept of arranging the proximity sensor 7 at a point which the operator would in any case grasp for the manual adjustment of the adjustment component 4.

[0065] As likewise furthermore discussed above, the adjustment component 4 can be any adjustable component of a seat arrangement 2. Accordingly, the adjustment component 4 can be designed as a longitudinally adjustable seat part 16, as a depth-adjustable seat part 16, as a foldable headrest 18 or the like. It is also conceivable for the adjustment component 4 to be designed as an adjustable floor lock. Such a floor lock serves for the securing, which is releasable in a motorized manner, of the seat arrangement 2 on the floor of the motor vehicle 3. The adjustability of the floor lock permits the positioning of the seat arrangement 2 in the interior of the motor vehicle 3.

[0066] Particularly great operator control convenience can be achieved by the fact that the adjustment component 4 is assigned a spring arrangement (not illustrated) for assisting its manual adjustment. It is the case here that the release of the locking mechanism 5 in a motorized manner brings about a spring-driven springing open of the adjustment component 4 at least from a locking position.

[0067] In the case of the illustrated seat arrangement 2, the adjustment component 4, here the backrest, is freely adjustable by the spring arrangement only within the adjustment range shown in FIG. 1. In order to pass from the adjustment range into the locking position S.sub.3, the spring arrangement has to be tensioned over the adjustment range. During a subsequent release, the adjustment component 4 springs open in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, which simplifies the manual adjustment operation.

[0068] For the reaching of the locking position S.sub.1 and the locking position S.sub.2, the spring arrangement should be tensioned in turn over at least part of the adjustment range, which in turn leads to a corresponding springing open of the adjustment component 4 when the latter is released. Other configurations of the spring arrangement are conceivable.

[0069] A further teaching provides the method described for the operation of a seat arrangement 2 according to the proposal. Here, the adjustment component 4 is released in a motorized manner via the actuation drive 6 by the triggering of the proximity sensor 7, and therefore a subsequent manual adjustment of the adjustment component 4 is possible. Reference should be made in turn to all statements regarding the operation of seat arrangement 2 according to the proposal.

[0070] In some cases the seat arrangement 2 has a travel component which is movable in a motorized manner and is assigned a travel drive (not illustrated). The travel component is moved in a motorized manner via the travel drive by the triggering of the proximity sensor 7. In some cases, the adjustment component 4 is the backrest of the seat arrangement 2 while the travel component is a seat part of the seat arrangement 2. The easy-entry function already discussed further above can be realized in a particularly elegant manner by the synchronized release and movement of backrest, on the one hand, and seat part, on the other hand