Vehicle seat with operating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11247585-B2
Application number	US-201916510421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2019
Priority date	Jul 13, 2018
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

The invention relates to a seat, in particular a vehicle seat, with an operating device for setting seat parameters, wherein the operating device comprises at least one multifunction operating element having at least one selection element, by means of which at least two operating levels can be selected, wherein the multifunction operating element is movable in at least five switching directions, wherein each switching direction can be assigned to a specific function which is associated with the selected operating level and changes a seat parameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An operating device for setting seat parameters of a seat the operating device comprising:
a multifunction operating element mechanically connected to the seat, the multifunction operating element having a touch screen arranged on a first surface of the multifunction operating element,
wherein the touch screen enables a selection of an operating level,
wherein the multifunction operating element is moveable in at least five switching directions, and
wherein each switching direction of the at least five switching directions is assignable to a particular function associated with the selected operating level and changing a seat parameter.

2. The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating device comprises two or more multifunction operating elements.

3. The operating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the multifunction operating element is moveable in six switching directions,
wherein the multifunction operating element has three axes of movement,
wherein a first and a second switching direction correspond to a translational movement of the multifunction operating element along a first axis of movement in a first and a second direction, respectively,
wherein a third and a fourth switching direction correspond to a translational movement of the multifunction operating element along a second axis of movement in a third and a fourth direction, respectively or a first and a second rotational movement of the multifunction operating element about the first axis of movement, and
wherein a fifth and a sixth switching direction correspond to a third and a fourth rotational movement of the multifunction operating element about a third axis of movement.

4. The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein both an operating level is selectable and a specific function is operateable directly by at least one selection element.

5. The operating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the touch screen displays at least two control panels for selection by a user,
wherein a first control panel of the at least two control panels represents the operating level,
wherein the first control panel is selectable by at least one first user input,
wherein the at least two control panels are arranged in a fixed sequence,
wherein the touch screen indicates a single control panel in each case, and
wherein the at least one first user input is a swiping or a tapping movement.

6. The operating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operating device comprises a control unit receiving a control signal from the multifunction operating element, and
wherein the control unit controls at least one of at least one actuator of the seat, at least one spring of the seat, a cushioning device of the seat, or at least one seat comfort device.

7. The operating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein, after the selection of the operating level, an identification signal is transmittable from the touch screen to a control unit after a predetermined first duration, and
wherein the control unit briefly activates at least one actuator assigned to the operating level after receipt of the identification signal.

8. The operating device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the operating device is deactivatable manually or automatically after a predetermined first duration,
wherein the operating device is activatable by a movement of at least one of the multifunction operating element or an activation element, and
wherein, after a predetermined second duration, the touch screen displays the first control panel.

9. The operating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein, after selecting the operating level or actuation of a function by the multifunction operating element, a confirmation signal is presentable to a user, and
wherein the confirmation signal is a haptic signal.

10. The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating device is connectable with a mobile device by a wireless technology, so that a data exchange is enabled.

11. The operating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the multifunction operating element is designed in a tabular form,
wherein at least one of the multifunction operating element is equipped with at least one of haptic elements or a grip layer, or an illumination is provided on the multifunction operating element.

12. The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein the multifunction operating element is provided with at least one identification element that enables identification of the at least five switching directions.

13. A seat with an operating device for setting seat parameters according to claim 1 .

14. The seat according to claim 13 , wherein the multifunction operating element is arranged on at least one of a seat section or an armrest.

15. The seat according to claim 13 , wherein an actuator changes one or more seat parameters relating to at least one of a position or an orientation of at least one component of the seat.

16. The seat according to claim 14 , wherein the multifunction operating element is arranged on a lateral section of the seat.

17. The seat according to claim 1 ,
wherein a first set of seat functions are controllable by moving the multifunction operating element in a first direction when a first operating level is selected, and
wherein a second set of seat functions are controllable by moving the multifunction operating element in the first direction when a second operating level is selected.

Assignees

• Grammer Ag

Inventors

• Frohriep Susanne
• Coppejans Laurent
• Kolb Jens

Classifications

• B60R25/014 Primary

  comprising means for locking the seat or parts thereof in a driving prevention position · CPC title

• B60N2/0237 Primary

  using portable terminals, e.g. smartphones · CPC title

• B60N2/0233

  Touchscreens · CPC title

• B60N2230/20

  Wireless data transmission · CPC title

• B60N2/0229

  characterised by the shape, e.g. switches having cushion or backrest shape · CPC title