Method for operating and electrically adjustable vehicle seat
View Patent ↗In a method for operating an electrically adjustable vehicle seat which has at least one electrically adjustable upholstered seat element and a sitting weight measuring device for sensing the weight of a vehicle occupant sitting on the vehicle seat, prior to an initial sensing of the weight by the sitting weight measuring device, the upholstered seat element is automatically moved into a measuring position. An adjustment range of the upholstered seat element is predefined as a function of the current sensed weight value.
1. A method for operating an electrically adjustable vehicle seat which has at least one electrically adjustable seat element and a sitting weight measuring device for sensing a weight of a vehicle occupant sitting on the vehicle seat comprising:
automatically moving the adjustable seat element of the electrically adjustable vehicle seat into a measuring position;
sensing the weight by the sitting weight measuring device after the adjustable seat element of the electrically adjustable vehicle seat is automatically moved into the measuring position; and
adjusting the adjustable seat element from the measuring position to a comfort position after the sensing step.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the measuring position the adjustable seat element acts on the vehicle occupant to one of a restricted degree and not at all.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensing of the weight takes place within a predetermined time interval after opening of a door of the vehicle, which is sensed by means of a door contact switch.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensing of the weight is carried out after occupation of the seat has been detected.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adjustable seat element comprises as an inflatable air cushion.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sitting weight measuring device comprises a sensor mat.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adjustable seat element can be adjusted by the vehicle occupant only after the weight has been sensed.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an adjustment range of the adjustable seat element is predefined as a function of sensed weight value.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
a value range for the sensing of the weight is divided into weight classes; and
an individual adjustment range for the adjustable seat element is predefined for each weight class.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a lower threshold value above which adjustment of the adjustable seat element is possible is predefined for the sensing of the weight.
11. A method for operating an electrically adjustable vehicle seat which has at least one electrically adjustable seat element and a weight sensing system for sensing a weight of a vehicle occupant sitting on the vehicle seat comprising:
sensing the weight of the vehicle occupant sitting on the vehicle seat;
defining an adjustment range of the adjustable seat element as a function of the sensed weight;
restricting a movement of the adjustable seat element to a position located within the defined adjustment range; and
moving the adjustable seat element to the position located within the defined adjustment range.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
the adjustment range is divided into weight classes; and
an individual adjustment range for the adjustable seat element is predefined for each weight class.
13. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
a lower weight sensing threshold value is predefined; and
the adjustable seat element can be adjusted in the case of sensed weight values that exceed the lower weight sensing threshold.
14. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
the adjustable seat element can be adjusted by the vehicle occupant only after the weight has been sensed.
15. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the electrically adjustable seat element comprises an inflatable airbag.
16. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the weight sensing system comprises a sitting weight measuring device.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the sitting weight measuring device comprises a sensor mat.
18. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
the sensing of the weight occurs within a predefined time interval after a door of the vehicle is opened, which is sensed by means of a door contact switch.
19. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
the sensing of the weight is carried out after a seat occupation detection process has taken place.
20. A method of operating an adjustable vehicle seat having at least one adjustable seat element and a device for measuring a weight of a seat occupant comprising:
reducing an effect of the at least one adjustable seat element on a measurement of the weight of the seat occupant by automatically moving the at least one adjustable seat element of the adjustable vehicle seat into a measuring position;
measuring the weight by a sitting weight measuring device after the adjustable seat element of the adjustable vehicle seat is automatically moved into the measuring position; and
adjusting the at least one adjustable seat element from the measuring position to a comfort position after the measuring step.
21. The method according to claim 20 , further comprising a step for limiting a permissible adjustment of said seat elements as a function of sensed weight of said seat occupant.