Apparatus for controlling seat of vehicle, system having the same, and method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11208011-B2
Application number	US-202016802761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2020
Priority date	Oct 15, 2019
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a seat of a vehicle, a system having the same, and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus for controlling a seat of a vehicle includes a digital key positioning device to measure a position of a digital key inside the vehicle and the number of the digital key, an occupant sensor to sense an occupant condition inside the vehicle, a controller to determine a target for seat-controlling based on the position of the digital key, the number of the digital key, and the occupant condition, and a seat controller to control a position of a seat using seat control information, which is received from the digital key, for each user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for controlling a seat of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a digital key positioning device configured to measure a position of a digital key inside the vehicle and a number of digital keys;
an occupant sensor configured to sense an occupant condition inside the vehicle;
a controller configured to determine a target for seat-controlling based on the position of the digital key, the number of digital keys, and the occupant condition; and
a seat controller configured to control a position of a seat using seat control information, which is received from the digital key, for a user;
wherein the seat controller is configured to:
when the number of digital keys in the vehicle is two or more, control a first seat in which a first digital key is positioned using a first seat control information which is received from the first digital key, and control a second seat in which a second digital key is positioned using a second set control information which is received from the second digital key.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the occupant condition includes:
at least one of the number of an occupant, a position of the occupant, or classification information of the occupant.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
control, based on seat control information received from each digital key, a position of each seat at which the digital key is positioned,
when the number of the digital keys inside the vehicle is equal to the number of an occupant inside the vehicle, and
when the position of the digital key inside the vehicle is matched to a position of the occupant inside the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when one digital key is provided inside the vehicle, and one occupant is present inside the vehicle, start the vehicle using the digital key inside the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine whether a seat belt of a seat, on which the occupant is seated, is fastened after the vehicle is started; and
control a position of the seat, on which the occupant is seated, based on seat control information received from the digital key.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when the number of occupants inside the vehicle is larger than the number of the digital keys inside the vehicle,
determine whether the occupant is one of an object, an adult, and a kid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when at least two digital keys are provided inside the vehicle,
when the number of occupants inside the vehicle is larger than the number of the digital keys inside the vehicle, and
when the occupants are all adults, control a position of an occupant seat at which the digital key is positioned.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when at least two digital keys are provided inside the vehicle,
when the number of occupants inside the vehicle is larger than the number of the digital keys inside the vehicle, and
when a kid is included in the occupants, determine the target for seat-controlling based on the position of the digital keys.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when the digital key is positioned in a seat on which an adult of the occupants is seated,
control a position of the seat on which the adult is seated.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when the digital key is positioned in a seat on which the kid of the occupants is positioned,
control the position of the seat on which an adult is positioned, when the number of the digital keys is equal to the number of adults.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when the number of the digital keys is larger than the number of adults,
control a position of a driver seat.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when occupants are seated on a driver seat, a passenger seat, and one side of seats in a rear row,
when digital keys are provided in the driver seat and the passenger seat, and
when adults are seated on the driver seat and the passenger seat,
control a position of the driver seat based on seat control information received from a digital key positioned in the driver seat; and
control a position of the passenger seat based on seat control information from a digital key positioned in the passenger seat.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when occupants are seated on a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a seat positioned at one side of seats in a rear row,
when digital keys are provided in the driver seat and the passenger seat,
when adults are seated on the driver seat and the passenger seat, and
when a kid is seated on the one side of the seats in the rear row,
control a position of the driver seat based on seat control information received from the digital key positioned in the driver seat; and
control a position of the passenger seat based on seat control information from the digital key positioned on the one side of the seats in the rear row.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
when occupants are seated on a driver seat, a passenger seat, and opposite seats in a rear row,
when digital keys are provided at the driver seat and at one side of the seats in the rear row,
when adults are seated on the driver seat and the passenger seat, and
when a kid is seated at the one side of the seats in the rear row,
control a position of the driver seat based seat control information received from a digital key positioned in the driver seat.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the occupant sensor determines whether an occupant is an adult or a kid, based on one of a weight, a sitting height, and a breathing rate.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
perform user authentication to open a door of the vehicle in access of the digital key.

17. A vehicle system comprising:
a digital key configured to make communication with a vehicle to transmit or receive information on opening a vehicle door and information on starting the vehicle; and
a vehicle seat controlling apparatus configured to:
measure a position of a digital key inside the vehicle and a number of digital keys inside the vehicle;
sense an occupant condition in the vehicle;
determine a target for seat-controlling based on the position of the digital key, the number of the digital keys, and the occupant condition; and
control a position of the seat using seat control information, which is received from a digital key user;
wherein the vehicle seat controlling apparatus is configured to:
when the number of digital keys in the vehicle is two or more, control a first seat in which a first digital key is positioned using a first seat control information which is received from the first digital key, and control a second seat in which a second digital key is positioned using a second seat control information which is received from the second digital key.

18. The vehicle system of claim 17 , wherein the digital key downloads, from an external server, the seat control information for the digital key user.

19. The vehicle system of claim 17 , wherein the digital key makes Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communication with the vehicle and the vehicle seat-controlling apparatus.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Jo Sung Jin

Classifications

• B60R25/01 Primary

  operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens · CPC title

• B60N2/0279 Primary

  for detecting objects outside the vehicle, e.g. for user identification · CPC title

• B60N2/0235

  Joysticks · CPC title

• B60N2/0035

  characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information · CPC title

• B60N2/0026

  for distinguishing between humans, animals or objects · CPC title