Programmable adjusting seat control apparatus

A seat attitude control apparatus for adjusting a seat with respect to forward/backward position, reclining angle and others so that the attitudes of the seat appropriate to the figures of a plurality of specified occupants can be realized individually and separately. Seat attitude data thus obtained are registered in a microcomputer so as to be utilized for controlling the seat attitude appropriate to the actual occupant as specified, as occasion requires. The seat attitude data is erasble and fresh seat attitude data can be registered for another occupant. The seat attitude control is performed with the aid of one memory switch and four control switches disposed in an array convenient for manipulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for controlling or 
adjusting the configuration or attitude of a seat and more particularly to 
a seat attitude control apparatus for a motor vehicle which is capable of 
controlling a multiplicity of aspects or features of the seat. DESCRIPTION 
OF THE PRIOR ART 
With remarkable progress in the electronics technology in recent years, 
there exists an increasing tendency of adopting electronic control 
techniques in adjusting automatically the attitude or posture of a seat 
particularly for a motor vehicle. In reality, such a multi-aspect 
controllable seat has been already developed and used in practical 
applications in which many aspects of the seat such as, for example, 
position of the seat relative to the environment, inclination of the back, 
height of the cushion or others, positions of air-bag lumbar support, side 
supports, thigh support and others can be electrically controlled by using 
a seat slide mechanism, a reclining mechanism, height adjusting mechanism 
and aerodynamic systems and others. 
In the hitherto known multi-aspect control system for a seat, a 
multiplicity of switches are provided on a side member of the seat in 
correspondence with the number of the aspects or parts of the seat to be 
controlled, wherein a desired control is performed by selecting and 
manipulating the associated one of the plural switches, relying on tactual 
selection in most cases, as is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application 
Laid-Open No. 53524/1983 (JP-A-58-53524). The number of these switches is 
increased in proportion to that of the objects to be controlled, which 
gives rise to many problems such as mentioned below. 
As will be readily appreciated, provision of a large number of switches 
naturally involves troublesome procedure for selecting the desired one, 
involving the possibility that erroneous control operation might be 
performed by selecting unintentionally an inappropriate switch. When an 
occupant of the seat is replaced by another, the latter will have to 
selectively manipulate many switches one by one in order to reconfigure 
the seat conformable to him or her by relying on the bodily sensation, 
which requires very troublesome procedure. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a seat control apparatus which comprises a 
plurality of seat attitude control means, means for storing seat attitude 
data appropriate to figures of specified occupants separately for each of 
the occupants, the seat attitude data being obtained through the seat 
attitude control means, means for reconfiguring the attitude of the seat 
on the basis of the seat attitude data stored in the storage means, means 
for erasing the seat attitude data stored separately for each of the 
occupants, display means for displaying actions of the seat attitude 
control means and indicating the specified occupants, and manipulation 
means for controlling the various means in a centralized manner. 
With the arrangement of the seat control apparatus according to the 
invention, the control for adjusting various parts of the seat as well as 
registration of the seat attitude data appropriate to specified occupants 
of the seat derived from the adjusting control for each of the occupants, 
reconfiguration of the seat attitude for the actual occupant and erasure 
of the seat attitude data can be performed with a minimum number of 
switches in a centralized manner, whereby erroneous control (and hence 
erroneous operation) and troublesome procedure ascribable to the use of a 
large number of switches can be evaded, while the desired control 
operation can be conducted rapidly and reliably through much simplified 
procedure. 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a seat 
control apparatus capable of controlling a multiplicity of aspects of the 
seat with high reliability in a facilitated manner without involving 
erroneous operation. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide the seat control 
apparatus of the type mentioned above which allows the objects for control 
to be visually monitored. 
These and other objects, novel features and advantages of the present 
invention will be more apparent upon consideration of the following 
detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof made by 
reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Now, the present invention will be described in detail in conjunction with 
exemplary embodiment thereof by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
Referring to FIG. 1 which shows schematically a general arrangement of the 
seat control apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, a 
reference numeral 1 denotes a central control unit (hereinafter referred 
to a CPU in abbreviation) which performs overall control of the apparatus. 
A memory unit 2 and an input/output interface 3 are connected to the CPU 
1. The input/output interface 3 serves to allow various signals and data 
to be transferred between the CPU 1 and various devices and mechanisms 
which may include a display device 4 of a liquid crystal type or CRT type, 
a control switch array 5, sensors 6 and a drive unit 7 for driving motors 
M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3 and M.sub.4 and a solenoid valve in respose to 
commands issued by the CPU 1, as will be described in more detail 
hereinafter. 
The control switch array 5 serves for commanding various control operations 
such as the sliding control of forward/backward position of the seat S 
(referred to as SLIDE control mode), adjustment of reclining angle 
(referred to as REC control mode), adjustment of height of the seat S 
(referred to as LIFT control mode) and angular adjustment of foot rest 
(referred to as FOOT control mode), wherein the SLIDE control, REC 
control, LIFT control and FOOT controls are performed by driving the 
associated reversible motors M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3 and M.sub.4 in 
either one or the other direction. The control switch array 5 further 
serves to control the degree of projection of a lumbar support (referred 
to as LUMB control mode) which is performed through 
activation/deactivation of the solenoid valve V. Finally, the control 
switch array 5 is made use of for establishing the attitude of the seat on 
the basis of the seat attitude data obtained from these controls or 
adjustments as well as erasure of the data. To this end, the seat control 
switch array 5 includes five touch switches (e.g. panel switches, flat 
keyboard switches or the like) 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5e. Each of these 
switches 5a to 5e is allotted with two or more different functions. As 
will be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the individual switches are arrayed 
such that four control switches 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d enclose the switch 5e 
(referred to as the memory switch) which is disposed at the center so that 
they are arrayed compactly in a rectangular form as a whole. 
The control switch array 5 is combined with a display device 4 in a unit as 
shown in FIG. 2, which unit is referred to as the display/control unit and 
denoted generally by a reference numeral 8. The display/control unit 8 may 
be installed at a location where it can be visually observed and 
manipulated most conveniently by an occupant (e.g. driver or passenger 
sitting on the seat S). By way of example, the display/control unit 8 may 
be installed on an instrument panel of a motor vehicle or a side portion 
of the seat S. 
There can be displayed on the image screen of the display device 4 
incorporated in the display/control unit 8 a variety of information in the 
form of characters/graphic patterns which may include a control mode menu 
9 indicating the various control modes of the individual parts of the seat 
S such as "SLIDE", "REC", "LIFT", "LUMB" and "FOOT" mode as mentioned 
hereinbefore and generally designated by a reference numeral 9, a 
picturesque seat attitude graphic 10, double-arrow marks generally denoted 
by 11 and positioned around the seat attitude graphic 10 in a number 
corresponding to that of the items included in the control mode menu 9 for 
indicating the directions in which the associated parts of the seat are 
adjusted (e.g. forward/backward adjustment or movement of the seat, 
increment and decrement of the seat attitude determining quantities), a 
message "MEMORY" 12 indicating storage of the seat attitude data in the 
memory unit 2, and a driver identification (ID) menu 13 including ID 
messages "DRIVER 1", "DRIVER 2" and "DRIVER 3". In the case of the 
illustrated embodiment, it is assumed that the display device 4 is 
constituted by a liquid crystal display. The variety of information 
mentioned above are selectively displayed under the control of the 
individual control switches included in the control switch array 5. 
Now, operation of the seat control apparatus of the structure described 
above will be elucidated by referring to the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, 
in which reference symbols ST1 to ST16 designates individual steps 
involved in the operation. 
At the start of operation of the seat control apparatus (step ST1), there 
is displayed on the screen of the display device 4 of the display/control 
unit 8 the character information or message of the control mode selected 
from the mode menu 9 in the preceding operation. By way of example, it is 
assumed that the character information "SLIDE" is displayed. Additionally, 
there are displayed the double-arrow mark 11a associated with this control 
mode "SLIDE" and the seat graphic pattern 10 representing schematically 
the seat as a whole. In the case of the illustrative example now under 
consideration, it is assumed that the seat graphic 10 representing the 
seat is continuously displayed throughout the seat control operation and 
made to disappear upon completion thereof. 
Subsequently, when the upper control switch 5a of the control switch array 
5 is pushed, the "SLIDE" mode of the control mode menu 9 is changed over 
to the "REC" mode, whereupon the character string "REC" is displayed and 
at the same time the double arrow mark 11b associated with the "REC" mode 
is displayed. Through repetitive operation of this control switch 5a, the 
individual modes of the control mode menu 9 are sequentially changed over 
in the order from high to low rank mode (e.g. from the "SLIDE" mode to the 
"FOOT" mode in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2) to be displayed 
in the corresponding order. Being interlocked with the sequential 
change-over of the control or adjustment modes, the associated double 
arrow marks 11 to be displayed simultaneously with the associated control 
modes are also changed over sequentially starting from the double-arrow 
mark 11a to the mark 11e in this order in the case of the illustrated 
arrangement. On the other hand, when the lower control switch 5b is 
operated repeatedly, the mode items of the control mode menu 9 are 
sequentially changed over to be individually displayed in the direction 
reverse to the case of the repeated actuation of the upper control switch 
5a described above, that is, in the order from the "FOOT" mode to the 
"SLIDE" mode, being accompanied with the change-over of the associated 
double-arrow marks in the order from the mark 11e to the mark 11a (refer 
to steps ST2 and ST3 in FIG. 3). 
Now assuming that a driver or occupant A desires to select the "SLIDE" mode 
from the mode menu 9. On the assumption, if the character information 
"SLIDE" is displayed together with the associated double-arrow mark 11a on 
the image screen of the display device 4 in succession to the start of 
operation of the seat control apparatus, it is then unnecessary to actuate 
both control switches 5a and 5b. Otherwise, either the control switch 5a 
or 5b has to be repeatedly pushed until the described character 
information "SLIDE" is displayed together with the associated double-arrow 
mark 11a. 
When the display of the "SLIDE" mode message and the corresponding 
double-arrow mark 11a has been confirmed, the occupant A can then push, 
for example, the right-hand control switch 5c as viewed in the FIG. 2 
(step ST14). In response thereto, the CPU 1 of the seat control apparatus 
causes the continuous display of the whole double-arrow mark 11a to be 
changed over to the flashing or flickering display only of the right-hand 
side arrow portion, whereupon the seat S is slidingly moved to the right 
(backward) under the control of CPU 1. This can be accomplished by 
rotating the motor M.sub.1 in the reverse direction through the drive unit 
7 in response to the detection of actuation of the control switch 5C under 
the control of the CPU 1 (step ST15). In this manner, adjustment of the 
horizontal disposition of the seat S in the rightward direction is carried 
out. 
On the other hand, when the control switch 5d located at the left-hand side 
as viewed in FIG. 2 is actuated, only the left arrow of the double-arrow 
mark 11a is displayed in the flickering state, and at the same time the 
sliding adjustment of the horizontal disposition of the seat is carried 
out to the left as viewed in the figures (i.e. in the forward direction). 
Through the similar procedure, the occupant of the seat S can select the 
adjustment or control mode "SLIDE", "REC", "LIFT", "LUMB" or "FOOT" by 
pushing the control switch 5a or 5b and adjust the attitude of the seat S 
so as to conform with the figure of the occupant by operating the other 
control switch 5c or 5d. 
The attitude data of the various adjustable parts constituting the seat S 
obtained everytime each part is adjusted is detected by the sensors 6 
provided in association with these seat parts, respectively, to be 
supplied to the CPU 1 through the imput/output interface 3. The CPU 1 then 
stores once the seat attitude data as fetched in a RAM (random access 
memory) constituting a part of the storage unit 2 (step ST16). 
Subsequently, when the occupant A pushes the memory switch 5e (step ST4), 
the character information "MEMORY" 12 is displayed on the screen of the 
display device 4, and at the same time one of the ID messages "DRIVER 1", 
"DRIVER 2" AND "DRIVER 3" is displayed in the flickering state (step ST5). 
This flickering display of the driver ID messages of the driver menu 13 
can be sequentially changed over by operating repeatedly the control 
switch 5a or 5b in the order from the low to high rank (in the case of the 
illustrated example, from "DRIVER 3" to "DRIVER 1") or vice versa (steps 
ST6, ST7). In this manner, any one of the occupants, e.g. driver or 
passenger A, B and C, can select the desired one of the driver ID 
information "DRIVER 1", "DRIVER 2" and "DRIVER 3" by pushing first the 
memory switch 5e (step ST4) and then operating the control switch 5a or 5b 
(step ST6), whereby the selected one of the driver information is 
displayed flickering on the display screen 4 (step ST5). 
By way of example, it is now assumed that the driver A desires to select 
the item "DRIVER 1" from the driver menu 13. In that case, when the item 
"DRIVER 1" is displayed flickering on the display screen 4 as the 
currently registered driver upon pushing of the memory switch 5e, it is 
then unnecessary to operate the control switch 5a or 5b. Otherwise, the 
driver A is required to operate repeatedly the control switch 5a or 5b 
until the menu item "DRIVER 1" makes appearance on the display. 
Subsequently, after having confirmed that the item "DRIVER 1" is displayed 
on the screen 4, the driver or occupant A again pushes the memory switch 
5e (step ST12). In response thereto, the CPU 1 transfers the seat attitude 
data stored precedently to another RAM provided in association with the 
menu item "DRIVER 1" now being displayed flickering on the display device 
4, whereby the seat attitude data of concern is stored in the 
abovementioned RAM (step ST13). In this manner, the seat attitude data for 
the driver or occupant A is registered in the memory allocated to the item 
"DRIVER 1" of the driver menu 13, whereupon the message "DRIVER 1" is 
changed over to the constant display in the steady state. 
In the similar manner, the seat attitude data of another driver can be once 
stored previously in a RAM and then transferred for registration to 
another RAM or memory area allocated to the driver menu item DRIVER 2" or 
"DRIVER 3" as selected, if that RAM or memory area is available for the 
registration. 
Now, description will be turned to the procedure through which the seat 
attitude data registered in association with the menu items "DRIVER 1", 
"DRIVER 2" and "DRIVER 3", respectively, of the driver menu 12 is utilized 
for controlling or adjusting the attitude of the seat S. 
At first, the memory switch 5e is pushed (step ST4). Subsequently, either 
the control switch 5a or 5b is operated to cause that driver ID item of 
the driver menu 12 to be displayed in the flickering state for which the 
seat attitude data is to be retrieved (steps ST5 to ST7). In this 
connection, it is assumed that the driver item "DRIVER 1" corresponding to 
the seat attitude data for the driver A is selected and displayed 
flickering on the display device 4. 
Next, the control switch 5d is pressed (step ST10). In response thereto, 
the CPU 1 reads out the seat attitude data corresponding to the "DRIVER 1" 
displayed on the screen 4 from the associated RAM, whereupon the motors 
M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3 and M.sub.4 as well as the solenoid valve V are 
correspondingly driven on the basis of the seat attitude data as read out 
under the control of the CPU 1. 
In this way, the individual parts of the seat S are adjusted in respect to 
the position and/or orientation by means of the motors M.sub.1, M.sub.2, 
M.sub.3 and M.sub.4 and the solenoid valve V on the basis of the seat 
attitude data for the driver ID item "DRIVER 1" under the control of the 
CPU 1, whereby the attitude of the seat S conforming to the figure of the 
driver or occupant A is reconstituted (step ST11). The setting of the seat 
attitudes for the other registered drivers identified by the driver menu 
items "DRIVER 2" and "DRIVER 3" can be accomplished through the similar 
procedure. 
Next, procedure for erasing the seat attitude data registered under the 
driver ID items "DRIVER 1", "DRIVER 2" and "DRIVER 3" will be described. 
First, the memory switch 5e is pressed (step ST4), being followed by 
actuation of the control switch 5a or 5b to display in flickering the 
driver ID item (e.g. "DRIVER 1" for which the seat attitude data is to be 
erased) (steps ST5, ST6 and ST7). Subsequently, the control switch 5c is 
pressed (step ST8). In response, the CPU 1 erases the seat attitude data 
for the driver ID item "DRIVER 1" flickering currently on the display 
device 4 from the associated RAM, whereupon the flickering display "DRIVER 
1" is changed over to other driver ID item (step ST9). Through similar 
procedure, the seat attitude data for the menu items "DRIVER 2" and 
"DRIVER 3" can be erased. The memory areas or RAMs from which the seat 
attitude data have been erased in the manner described above can be loaded 
with fresh seat attitude data to be registered for new occupants or 
drivers through the aforementioned procedure (steps ST1 - ST3, ST14 - 
ST16, ST4 - ST7, ST12 and ST13) with the aid of the switches 5a to 5e. 
In the foregoing description of the embodiment of the invention, it has 
been assumed that the control or adjustment modes selected from the 
control mode menu 9 as well as the driver ID item selected from the driver 
menu 13 through manipulation of the control switch array 5 are displayed 
in the form of character messages on the liquid crystal display device. It 
should however be understood that such a modification is possible in which 
LEDs or the like elements are provided at the beginnings of the character 
messages inscribed permanently and the LEDs are selectively energized 
through manipulation of the control switch array 5. Further, the seat 
control apparatus is not restricted to the application for the seat of 
motor vehicle, but can be applied to the seat in more general sense. 
Further, the number of the specified occupants which can be registered at 
one time is never restricted to that described above. 
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with what is 
believed to be the preferred embodiment thereof, it goes without saying 
that numerous modifications and variations will be readily occur to those 
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention set forth in the appended claims.