System and method for controlling motor-driven child seat for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377762-B2
Application number	US-202218082383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2022
Priority date	Mar 16, 2022
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a motor-driven child seat for a vehicle, may easily allow a seat control unit to perform the power supply and drive control for various electric parts of the motor-driven child seat by connecting between the seat control unit configured to control various electric parts of a vehicle seat and various electric parts of the motor-driven child seat using a connector so that power supply and control signals may be exchanged therebetween when the motor-driven child seat is mounted on the vehicle seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for controlling a motor-driven child seat for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a seat controller of power supply and drive control for electric parts of a vehicle seat or electric parts of the motor-driven child seat, wherein the seat controller includes a processor;
a plurality of operation request units connected to an input terminal of the seat controller;
a first connector mounted on the vehicle seat, and connected to an output terminal of the seat control unit; and
a second connector mounted on the motor-driven child seat, and connected to an input terminal of an electric part of the motor-driven child seat,
wherein when the first connector and the second connector are fastened to each other, power supply and drive control signals are transmitted to the electric parts of the motor-driven child seat from the seat controller.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seat controller is configured for:
determining whether there is an operation request for the electric parts of the vehicle seat or the electric parts of the motor-driven child seat;
determining whether the first connector mounted on the vehicle seat and the second connector mounted on the motor-driven child seat are fastened when the seat controller concludes that there is the operation request;
applying the power supply and drive control signals to the electric parts of the motor-driven child seat when the seat controller concludes that the first connector and the second connector have been fastened to each other; and
applying the power supply and drive control signals to the electric parts of the vehicle seat when the seat controller concludes that the first connector and the second connector have not been fastened.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein when there is an operation request for a second heater mat or a second ventilation blower among the electric parts of the motor-driven child seat, the power supply and drive control signals are applied to the second heater mat or the second ventilation blower of the motor-driven child seat when the first connector and the second connector are in a state of being fastened, and the power supply and drive control signals are applied to a first heater mat or a first ventilation blower among the electric parts of the vehicle seat when the first connector and the second connector are in a state of not being fastened.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein when there is an operation request for a reclining adjustment motor among the electric parts of the motor-driven child seat, the power supply and drive control signals are applied to the reclining adjustment motor of the motor-driven child seat when the first connector and the second connector are in a state of being fastened, and the power supply and drive control signals are applied to a seatback reclining adjustment motor and a seat cushion tilting motor among the electric parts of the vehicle seat when the first connector and the second connector are in a state of not being fastened.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operation request units include:
a vehicle switch directly operable by a driver;
a CAN bus connected to the seat controller and configured to transmit a voice signal and a vehicle information detection signal to the seat controller; and
a smart device connected to the seat controller of wireless communication.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seat controller includes:
a first seat controller configured to transmit the power supply and drive control signals to a second heater mat and a second ventilation blower mounted on the motor-driven child seat among the electric parts of the motor-driven child seat in addition to a first heater mat and a first ventilation blower mounted on the vehicle seat among the electric parts of the vehicle seat, and determine whether the first connector and the second connector are fastened to each other; and
a second seat controller configured to transmit the power supply and drive control signals to a reclining adjustment motor and a swivel motor mounted on the motor-driven child seat among the electric parts of the motor-driven child seat in addition to a seat position adjustment motor mounted on the vehicle seat among the electric parts of the vehicle seat.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the seat position adjustment motor includes at least one of a reclining adjustment motor configured to adjust an angle of a seatback of the seat, a seat sliding motor configured to adjust a forward-rearward position of the seat, and a seat cushion tilting motor configured to tilt a seat cushion of the seat.

8. The system of claim 6 ,
wherein the first connector is provided with a 1-1st detection pin connected to the first seat controller by a conductive line and a 1-2nd detection pin connected to the first seat controller by a ground line, and
wherein the second connector is provided with a second detection pin conductively coming into contact with the 1-1st detection pin and the 1-2nd detection pin.

9. The system of claim 8 ,
wherein when the first seat controller detects a ground signal when the 1-1st detection pin and the 1-2nd detection pin of the first connector conductively come into contact with the second detection pin of the second connector, the first seat controller is configured to conclude that the first connector and the second connector have been conductively fastened.

10. The system of claim 6 ,
wherein the plurality of operation request units include a door switch and a vehicle speed sensor electrically connected to the second seat controller, and
wherein when the second seat controller receives a door opening signal from the door switch and receives a vehicle stop signal from the vehicle speed sensor, the second seat controller is configured to transmit the power supply and drive control signals for rotating the motor-driven child seat toward a door to the swivel motor.

11. The system of claim 10 ,
wherein when the second seat controller receives a door closing signal from the door switch and receives a vehicle speed detection signal of more than 0 km/h from the vehicle speed sensor, the second seat controller is configured to transmit the power supply and drive control signals for rotating the motor-driven child seat toward a front of the vehicle to the swivel motor.

12. A method of controlling a motor-driven child seat for a vehicle, the method comprising:
supplying power to a seat controller including a processor;
determining, by the seat controller, whether there is an operation request for electric parts of a vehicle seat or electric parts of the motor-driven child seat;
determining, by the seat controller, whether a first connector mounted on the vehicle seat and a second connector mounted on the motor-driven child seat are fastened when the seat controller concludes that there is the operation request;
applying, by the seat controller, power supply and drive control signals to the electric parts of the motor-driven child seat when the seat controller concludes that the first connector and the second connector have been fastened to each other; and
applying, by the seat controller, the power supply and drive control signals to the electric parts of the vehicle seat when the seat controller concludes that the first connector and the second connector have not been fastened.

13. The method of claim 12 ,
wherein when the seat controller detects a ground signal when a 1-1st detection pin and a 1-2nd detection pin of the first connector conductively come into contact with a second detection pin of the second connector, the seat controller is configured to conclude that

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Son Byeong Seon
• Lee Tae Hoon
• Kim Ji Hwan
• Na Seon Chae
• Kim Sang Ho
• Park Sang Hoon
• Chang Won Ho
• Lee Hyun Tae

Classifications

• B60N2/0268

  using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant · CPC title

• B60N2/0264 Primary

  characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB · CPC title

• B60N2/02246

  Electric motors therefor · CPC title

• B60N2/2875

  inclinable, as a whole or partially · CPC title

• B60N2/5678

  characterised by electrical systems · CPC title