Comfort Element for a Vehicle and Comfort Arrangement

Abstract

A comfort element for a vehicle includes an actuator for carrying out a comfort function, a comfort-element-internal store configured to drive the actuator and/or a coupling device for coupling to a comfort-element-external store configured to drive the actuator. The comfort element further includes a data interface for coupling to an operating unit.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A comfort element for a vehicle, comprising: an actuator for carrying out a comfort function; a comfort-element-internal store configured to drive the actuator and/or a coupling device for coupling to a comfort-element-external store configured to drive the actuator; and a data interface for coupling to an operating unit.

12. The comfort element according to claim 11, further comprising a control unit for controlling the actuator.

13. The comfort element according to claim 11, further comprising a reversibly and non-destructively detachable fastening device for mechanical fastening to a structure.

14. The comfort element according to claim 11, wherein the actuator is mechanically movable and/or can be acted upon by a working fluid in order to generate the comfort function.

15. The comfort element according to claim 11, wherein the comfort-element-internal store comprises an energy store and/or a working fluid store.

16. The comfort element according to claim 11, wherein the data interface is configured for wireless and/or wired coupling to the operating unit.

17. The comfort element according to claim 11, wherein the coupling device is configured for wireless and/or wired coupling to the comfort-element-external store.

18. A comfort arrangement, comprising: the comfort element according to claim 11; and an operating unit for operating the comfort element.

19. The comfort arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the operating unit is a mobile terminal or an operating unit of a vehicle.

20. The comfort arrangement according to claim 18, further comprising a comfort-element-external store configured to drive the actuator of the comfort element, wherein the comfort-element-external store comprises an energy store and/or a working fluid store and/or a mains store.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a comfort arrangement; and

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a comfort arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference signs in all figures.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a possible exemplary embodiment of a comfort arrangement 1, wherein the comfort arrangement 1 is formed in a vehicle 2. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another possible exemplary embodiment of such a comfort arrangement 1.

[0024] The comfort arrangement 1 comprises, for example, three comfort elements 3, 4, 5 which can be arranged in a vehicle rear, in exemplary embodiments not shown also in other vehicle regions, wherein a first comfort element 3 is, for example, a neck cushion with a massage and/or heating function, a second comfort element 4 is a cushion with a massage and/or heating function, and a third comfort element 5 is a calf support with a massage and/or heating function. In an embodiment not shown in greater detail, the comfort arrangement 1 can also have further comfort elements 3, 4, 5 or a smaller number of comfort elements 3, 4, 5.

[0025] The comfort elements 3, 4, 5 comprise here at least one actuator 6.1 to 6.n, in the shown exemplary embodiments a plurality of actuators 6.1 to 6.n, wherein each actuator 6.1 to 6.n is set up to perform a comfort function. For example, at least one of the actuators 6.1 to 6.n is a vibration motor for performing a mechanically generated movement for generating a massage function. For example, alternatively or additionally, at least one of the actuators 6.1 to 6.n can be acted upon by a working fluid, for example a gas or a liquid, to execute a movement for generating a massage function. For example, such an actuator 6.1 to 6.n is formed as a fillable bladder or as a fillable balloon. For example, alternatively or additionally at least one of the actuators 6.1 to 6.n is formed as a heating device for performing a heating function. For example, alternatively or additionally at least one of the actuators 6.1 to 6.n is formed as a cooling device for performing a cooling function.

[0026] The comfort element 5 formed as a calf support or calf rest is designed, for example, to perform a calf massage for a vehicle occupant and can be positioned in a corresponding region in the vehicle 2. To carry out this calf massage, the calf support comprises in particular a plurality of actuators 6.1 to 6.n formed as vibration motors.

[0027] The comfort elements 3, 4, 5 are formed here in such a way that they can be subsequently integrated and, if necessary, retrofitted into a vehicle 2 without any conversion work and can be removed from the vehicle 2 in a simple manner in order to be used outside the vehicle, for example in a home area, an office area, a workplace or any other areas.

[0028] In order to make this possible, the comfort elements 3, 4, 5 each comprise at least one comfort-element-internal store 7 set up to drive the at least one actuator 6.1 to 6.n. Depending on the design and function of the corresponding actuator 6.1 to 6.n, this store 7 comprises an energy store, for example an electric accumulator, and/or a working fluid store. Alternatively or additionally, the comfort elements 3, 4, 5 each comprise at least one coupling device 8 for wireless and/or wired coupling to at least one comfort-element-external store, for example an energy store, for example an electric accumulator, and/or at least one working fluid store, for example a gas and/or liquid store, and/or at least one mains store, for example an electrical mains, set up to drive the at least one actuator 6.1 to 6.n. For example, the coupling device 8 can comprise a charging unit and/or a power supply unit, by means of which an electrical charging of the comfort-element-internal store 7, in particular both in the vehicle 2 and in an area located outside the vehicle 2, and/or a direct operation of the at least one actuator 6.1 to 6.n is possible. For example, such a charging unit and/or such a power supply unit can be coupled to a mains store or the vehicle 2 by means of a conventional mains plug. In this case, the mains plug can be an integral part of the particular comfort element 3, 4, 5. For example, the coupling device 8 can alternatively or additionally also comprise a pneumatic and/or hydraulic connection for supplying an actuator 6.1 to 6.n operable with a working fluid.

[0029] Furthermore, the comfort elements 3, 4, 5 for independent execution of the comfort functions inside the vehicle 2 and outside the same comprise in particular in each case at least one control unit 9 for controlling the at least one actuator 6.1 to 6.n. In this case the control can be effected directly or indirectly, for example by corresponding control of a driver circuit 10, for example a motor driver, if the actuator 6.1 to 6.n comprises an electric motor. The control unit 9 is formed as a microcontroller, for example.

[0030] Furthermore, the comfort elements 3, 4, 5 for independent execution of the comfort functions inside the vehicle 2 and outside the same comprise in particular at least one data interface 11 for wireless and/or wired coupling to at least one operating unit 12 to 15. The data interface 11 is for example a component of the control unit 9, wherein the control unit 9 forms for example a web server, in particular a radio web server with a radio interface. With such a configuration of the radio interface, a coupling of an operating unit 12 to 15 can take place, for example in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard, forming a radio connection 16. If the data interface 11 is configured for a wired coupling to an operating unit 12 to 15, a wired connection 17 is created.

[0031] The operating units 12 to 14 are formed as mobile terminals and are provided, for example, for operating the comfort elements 3, 4, 5 in an area outside the vehicle 2. For example, the operating unit 12 is a tablet computer, the operating unit 13 is a laptop, and the operating unit 14 is a mobile phone, for example a smartphone. The comfort elements 3, 4, 5 are operated here in particular via a user interface, voice input and/or gesture input of an application program, also referred to as an app for short, installed on the relevant operating unit 12 to 14. The application program can be a vehicle manufacturer's own application program.

[0032] The operating unit 15 is an operating unit of the vehicle 2, for example a so-called head unit of the vehicle 2.

[0033] In order to allow a secure fastening of the comfort elements 3, 4, 5 to a structure formed inside the vehicle 2 or outside the vehicle 2, for example a seat element, in a predetermined position and, on the other hand, an easy detachment from this structure, the comfort elements 3, 4, 5 each comprise, for example, a reversible and non-destructively detachable fastening device 18, which comprises, for example, a clip, a bracket, a latch, a snap fastener, a push button and/or other suitable fastening structures.