Patent Description:
In some motor vehicles, at least one of the seats, for example the driver's seat, is adjustable or configurable.

In particular, a user, i.e., the person sitting in the seat, may adjust the height of the seat vertically, the longitudinal position of the seat, as well as the respective inclinations of the backrest and the base, i.e., the portion of the seat designed to support the lower limbs of the seated user.

Normally, the user uses a plurality of controls, such as levers or handles, to make possible adjustments.

The controls are typically located in respective distinct areas or positions that are typically reachable by the peripheral limbs, i.e., hands and feet, of the user sitting in the seat. Document <CIT> discloses a motor vehicle comprising a structural element and a seat.

Generally, there is a need to improve the adjustment or configurability of known seats.

More specifically, there is a need to increase the versatility of the adjustment or the ergonomics of the seats.

Furthermore, there is also a need to simplify the operations necessary to configure or adjust the seats completely.

The object of the invention is to meet at least one of the above needs, preferably in a simple and reliable way.

The object is achieved by means of a motor vehicle as defined in claim <NUM>.

The dependent claims define particular embodiments of the invention.

To better understand the invention, one embodiment thereof is described hereinafter by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

In <FIG>, reference number <NUM> is used to indicate a motor vehicle as a whole.

The motor vehicle <NUM> has a forward direction or longitudinal direction, indicated in <FIG> by an axis X, also known as the roll axis of the motor vehicle <NUM>.

The drawings also show two other axes Y, Z of the motor vehicle <NUM>, also known as the pitch axis and yaw axis of the motor vehicle <NUM>.

The axis Y is a horizontal axis orthogonal to the forward direction of the motor vehicle <NUM>, i.e., orthogonal to the axis X. The axis Z is orthogonal to the axes X, Y and has at least one vertical component. In general, the axis Z is orthogonal to the road surface travelled by the motor vehicle <NUM>.

The motor vehicle <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> defining a passenger compartment <NUM>.

As well known, the body <NUM> includes the chassis, understood as the structural part of the motor vehicle <NUM>, and the bodywork, that is, the part aesthetically visible from the outside of the motor vehicle <NUM>.

In particular, the body <NUM> comprises a roof <NUM> and a floor <NUM>, more specifically defining a top cover and a floor, respectively, of the passenger compartment <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the motor vehicle <NUM>, inside the passenger compartment <NUM>, comprises a dashboard <NUM>, for example including an instrument panel <NUM>.

In addition, with reference to <FIG>, the motor vehicle <NUM>, inside the passenger compartment <NUM>, comprises a pair of seats <NUM>, one of which is for a driver and the other for a passenger of the motor vehicle <NUM>.

The seats <NUM> are each arranged next to the lateral ends or sides of the motor vehicle <NUM>, i.e., the ends according to the axis Y.

Moreover, the motor vehicle <NUM>, inside the passenger compartment <NUM>, comprises a pillar <NUM> located in an intermediate position between the lateral ends of the motor vehicle <NUM> according to the axis Y. In particular, the pillar <NUM> is a central pillar.

The pillar <NUM> is fixed in relation to the body <NUM> or can also be considered as an integral part of the body <NUM>.

In greater detail, the pillar <NUM> extends between the floor <NUM> and the roof <NUM>, in particular from the floor <NUM> to the roof <NUM>; in addition, independently of this, the pillar <NUM> is arranged between the seats <NUM> according to the axis Y.

In the case shown in the attached figures, the pillar <NUM> has a base portion <NUM> extending along the axis X and a top portion <NUM> extending from the base portion <NUM> towards the roof <NUM>, for example up to the roof <NUM>. More precisely, the upper portion <NUM> forks towards the roof <NUM> from the base portion <NUM>.

In particular, as shown in <FIG>, the motor vehicle <NUM> comprises a control device <NUM> at the base portion <NUM>. The control device <NUM> can be operated by a user, such as the passenger or driver, to adjust the configuration of at least one of the seats <NUM>, as will be clearer below.

The control device <NUM> could have had a different location; for example, the control device <NUM> could have been arranged at the dashboard <NUM>.

The seats <NUM> are preferably identical, so the following description will refer to only one of the seats <NUM>, in particular the driver seat, since all the features described will also be applicable to the other seat <NUM>.

The seat <NUM> comprises a plurality of separate and independent seat portions <NUM>.

Each one of the portions <NUM> is configured to support a part of the user's body.

Moreover, as a whole, the seat portions <NUM> make up, in particular, the seat <NUM>.

For example, one of the portions <NUM> defines or is part of a headrest; alternatively or additionally, some of the portions <NUM> define or are part of a backrest of the seat <NUM>; alternatively or additionally, some of the portions <NUM> define or are part of a base portion of the seat <NUM>, where the base portion serves to support the lower limbs of the user.

In <FIG>, there are seven portions <NUM> in total. More generally, the portions <NUM> are at least four or more than two. Even more generally, the seat <NUM> must comprise at least two portions <NUM>.

Each of the portions <NUM> is coupled to a structural element of the motor vehicle <NUM>, in this case to the pillar <NUM>, in a movable manner relative thereto with at least three degrees of freedom, or more precisely, with exactly three degrees of freedom.

The specific example of the pillar <NUM> is not to be necessarily understood as limiting; on the contrary, the structural element could be different and be part, for example, of the body <NUM> or be an additional chassis component fixed relative to the body <NUM>. More precisely, the structural element could be a fixed frame in relation to the body <NUM>, for example fixed to the floor <NUM>, and arranged in such a way as to surround the seat <NUM>. Optionally, the frame could even be coupled in a movable manner relative to the body <NUM>, instead of being fixed relative thereto, for example by means of a system of guides allowing the translation of the frame relative to the body <NUM>, in particular along the axes X, Z, and one or more rotations, in particular in the plane defined by the axes X, Z.

Therefore, although the following description will refer specifically to the pillar <NUM>, nevertheless the latter could be replaced by another suitable structural element.

Each of the portions <NUM> is preferably constrained to translate in a translation plane, in particular defined by the axes X, Z, by means of a corresponding guide device <NUM>.

<FIG> shows only one guide device <NUM> for the sake of simplicity, but the corresponding guide device for each of the portions <NUM> can be identical to the guide device <NUM>, which is therefore the only one that is described in detail.

The guide device <NUM> is part of the seat <NUM> and is carried by the pillar <NUM>.

In greater detail, the guide device <NUM> comprises a Cartesian kinematic mechanism <NUM> with two orthogonal axes belonging to the translation plane.

In particular, the guide device <NUM> comprises one or more supports <NUM>, which are fixed in relation to the pillar <NUM>, and a first straight guide <NUM> carried by the supports <NUM> in a fixed position in relation to the supports <NUM> and extending according to one of the axes of the mechanism <NUM>.

Furthermore, the guide device <NUM> comprises a first slide <NUM> coupled to the guide <NUM> in a slidable manner along the guide <NUM>. The guide <NUM> is configured to guide the slide <NUM> along one of the axes of the mechanism <NUM>.

Moreover, the guide device <NUM> comprises a second straight guide <NUM> carried by the slide <NUM> in a fixed position in relation to the slide <NUM> and extending according to the other of the axes of the mechanism <NUM>.

Furthermore, the seat <NUM> comprises a second slide <NUM> coupled to the guide <NUM> in a slidable manner along the guide <NUM>. The guide <NUM> is configured to guide the slide <NUM> along the other of the axes of the mechanism <NUM>. More generally, the slide <NUM> is functionally guided by the guide device <NUM> regardless of the particular constructive form of the guide device <NUM> itself.

Therefore, in general, the guide device <NUM> is configured to guide the slide <NUM> in the translation plane. In fact, the slide <NUM> is constrained to translate in the translation plane by means of the guide device <NUM>. More precisely, the slide <NUM> translates along one of the axes of the mechanism <NUM> by sliding directly along the guide <NUM> and translates along the other of the axes of the mechanism <NUM> indirectly because the guide <NUM> and the slide <NUM> translate together along the guide <NUM>.

Optionally, the seat portion <NUM> guided by the corresponding guide device <NUM> is coupled to the slide <NUM> in a pivotal manner around an axis H orthogonal to the translation plane. In this way, the seat portion <NUM> can rotate around the axis H and also rotate, in particular, relative to the slide <NUM>.

Specifically, the seat <NUM> comprises an arm or rod <NUM>, in particular tubular in shape, having an end 23a fixed in relation to the seat portion <NUM>, in particular guided by the guide device <NUM>, and an end 23b hinged to the slide <NUM>. As will be more clearly apparent from the following, the presence of the rod <NUM> is independent of the presence of the guide device <NUM>. In other words, the rod <NUM> could be present even if the guide device <NUM> were absent or structured differently, in particular with its end 23a fixed to the seat portion <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown, the rod <NUM> crosses the pillar <NUM> parallel to the axis Y, whereby the pillar <NUM> has a through hole <NUM> along the axis Y.

The ends 23a, 23b and accordingly the slide <NUM> and the seat portion <NUM> are on opposite sides of the hole <NUM> and of the pillar <NUM>, according to the axis Y.

In addition, each of the seat portions <NUM> is fixed to a corresponding rod <NUM> which, in particular, passes through a corresponding through hole <NUM> in the pillar <NUM>, according to the axis Y.

In turn, each rod <NUM> can be hinged to a corresponding slide <NUM> guided by a respective guide device <NUM>, although, for the sake of simplicity, the figures show only one slide <NUM> and only one guide device <NUM>.

In general, each of the seat portions <NUM> moves similarly to the other seat portions <NUM>, i.e., it has the same degrees of freedom, albeit in distinct areas of the translation plane. In this way, the seat portions <NUM> cannot overlap or penetrate each other.

The hole <NUM> delimits an area in which the corresponding seat portion <NUM> can translate, i.e., it sets the limits or boundaries for the translations of the corresponding seat portion <NUM> in the translation plane.

Conveniently, the motor vehicle <NUM> comprises an actuator assembly <NUM> for one or each of the seat portions <NUM>, although the figures, for the sake of simplicity, show only one actuator assembly <NUM>; the other actuator assemblies <NUM>, for example, may be identical to the actuator assembly <NUM> shown. Still alternatively, the motor vehicle <NUM> may comprise respective actuator assemblies <NUM> for some of the seat portions <NUM>.

The actuator assemblies <NUM> can even be considered as part of a single overall actuator assembly <NUM> for moving the relevant seat portions <NUM>.

In other words, the motor vehicle <NUM> could comprise an actuator assembly <NUM> configured, as a whole, to move some or each of the seat portions <NUM> according to its respective degrees of freedom.

For the sake of brevity, only the actuator assembly <NUM> shown will be described in detail, although its features can be individually applied to other actuator assemblies, not shown.

The actuator assembly <NUM> can be controlled to move the corresponding seat portion <NUM> in the configuration space determined by the three degrees of freedom of the same seat portion <NUM>. The configuration space is a Euclidean space of all vectors, here specifically three-dimensional, which fully and sufficiently describe the pose of the seat portion <NUM>. Here, in particular, each vector of the configuration space is defined by two Cartesian coordinates of a point in the translation plane and by an angle of rotation around the axis orthogonal to the translation plane. Thus, each element of the vector corresponds to one of the three degrees of freedom of the seat portion <NUM>.

In the art, although the idea of adopting the actuator assembly <NUM> to move the corresponding seat portion <NUM> is in itself innovative from a functional point of view, actuator assemblies which can structurally perform a translation in one plane plus a rotation in the same plane are many and well known.

Here, in particular, the actuator assembly <NUM> comprises three linear actuators <NUM> and a platform <NUM>, which is fixed relative to the corresponding seat portion <NUM>.

More specifically, the platform <NUM> extends parallel to the translation plane.

For example, the platform <NUM> is fixed to the rod <NUM>. More precisely, the platform <NUM> is fitted on the rod <NUM>; in other words, the platform <NUM> is drilled and crossed by the rod <NUM> parallel to the axis Y.

In particular, the platform <NUM> is arranged between the slide <NUM> and the pillar <NUM>, according to the axis Y.

The linear actuators <NUM> can be schematised or represented as rod elements or rods that can extend in three distinct straight directions R, S, and T.

In other words, the linear actuators <NUM> comprise respective support bodies <NUM> and respective movable bodies <NUM> guided, respectively, by the support bodies <NUM> in a translational manner along the corresponding straight directions R, S, and T.

In particular, the linear actuators <NUM> can be electric linear actuators or more preferably hydraulic cylinders of a known type and therefore not described in detail.

Conveniently, the directions R, S, and T are coplanar with each other.

In greater detail, the support bodies <NUM> are hinged to the pillar <NUM>, whereas the movable bodies <NUM> are hinged at three respective points of the platform <NUM>.

Alternatively, each of the extendable rods schematising the linear actuators <NUM> has a first end hinged to the pillar <NUM> and a second end hinged to a corresponding point of the platform <NUM>.

Therefore, the directions R, S, and T ideally rotate around the hinge points at the pillar <NUM>.

In particular, the points of the platform <NUM> are arranged to ideally form the vertices of an equilateral triangle. Furthermore, specifically, but not necessarily, when the lengths of the extendable rods, i.e., the distances between the hinge points are equal to each other, the directions R, S, and T are respectively orthogonal to the sides of the equilateral triangle.

Alternatively or additionally, the points at which the support bodies <NUM> or the first ends are hinged to the pillar <NUM> ideally form the vertices of an additional equilateral triangle.

In general, the actuator assembly <NUM> could also support the weight of the platform <NUM> and/or of the rod <NUM> and/or of the corresponding seat portion <NUM> on its own, keeping them in their current position. Hence, the guide device <NUM> can be considered optional, albeit advantageous. This confirms that the presence of the rod <NUM> is independent of the presence of the guide device <NUM>.

Preferably, the user-operable control element <NUM> has a plurality of distinct configurations.

The control element <NUM> in each of the configurations allows the user to control a corresponding actuator assembly <NUM> to adjust the pose of the respective seat portion <NUM> in the configuration space.

Alternatively, the motor vehicle <NUM> may comprise a plurality of separate user-operable controls for adjusting the pose of some or all of the respective seat portions <NUM>.

The control element <NUM> may be arranged in any position that the user can reach while sitting in the seat <NUM>; for example, the control element <NUM> may be arranged at the dashboard <NUM> or at the base portion <NUM> of the pillar <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> in a non-limiting manner.

Specifically, the control element <NUM> comprises a movable body <NUM> that can move along a straight direction W, for example parallel to the axis Z, between a plurality of positions corresponding to the configurations of the control element <NUM>. The positions of the movable body <NUM> are equal in number to the seat portions <NUM> that can be moved by the respective actuator assemblies <NUM> or by the overall actuator assembly, for example formed by the actuator assemblies <NUM>. For example, the positions of the movable body <NUM> are equal in number to the seat portions, namely seven.

Possibly, the control element <NUM> comprises a plurality of seats, not shown, along the direction W corresponding to the positions of the body <NUM> and to which the body <NUM> snap locks in the respective positions, so that it stops when it reaches the same positions, for example, due to a push or lift by the user along the direction W. In other words, the body <NUM> is configured to snap lock to the seats in the respective positions.

Preferably, in each of the positions or configurations, the body <NUM> can be moved manually along each of a bundle of directions orthogonal to the direction W, i.e., a bundle of directions forming a plane orthogonal to the direction W, and/or rotated around the direction W.

Thus, the seat portion <NUM> corresponding to the position or configuration of the body <NUM> moves by means of the respective actuator assembly <NUM> in accordance with the movement of the body <NUM>.

More precisely, the control element <NUM> is configured to emit one or more signals relating to the movement of the body <NUM> in one of its positions or configurations.

Thus, the motor vehicle <NUM> comprises an ECU control unit configured to receive signals from the control element <NUM> and to control the actuator assembly <NUM> so that the latter moves the seat portion <NUM> corresponding to the position or configuration of the body <NUM> as a function of the movement or correspondingly to the movement of the body <NUM> in the same position or configuration.

In particular, the correspondence between the movement of the body <NUM> and the resulting movement of the seat portion <NUM> may be linear. That is, in other words, if the body <NUM> is moved along a direction orthogonal to the direction W, then the seat portion <NUM> will translate along a corresponding direction in the translation plane proportionally to the movement of the body <NUM>. Also, if the body <NUM> is rotated around the direction W, then the seat portion <NUM> will rotate proportionally to the rotation of the body <NUM>.

Conveniently, the motor vehicle <NUM> may further comprise a storage device, for example a memory unit of the ECU control unit, configured to store the current arrangement of the seat portions <NUM>.

Alternatively or additionally, the motor vehicle <NUM> may comprise a detection device configured to detect the current arrangement of the seat portions <NUM>.

For example, the detection device could be the ECU control unit itself; in fact, the ECU control unit knows the current arrangement of the seat portions <NUM> because it controls the same current arrangement via the actuator assemblies <NUM> or the overall actuator assembly, for example, formed by the actuator assemblies <NUM>.

Alternatively, the detection device may comprise a camera <NUM> arranged so as to provide images representative of the current arrangement of the seat portions <NUM>, and an image processing unit <NUM>, for example forming part of the ECU control unit, configured to determine the current arrangement from the images provided by the camera <NUM>.

Additionally, the detection device may comprise one or more position sensors for each of the seat portions <NUM>.

Therefore, the storage device can store the current arrangement detected by the detection device.

In addition, the storage device may optionally be controllable by the user to store the current arrangement, possibly but not necessarily detected by the detection device. For example, the user may command the storage of the current arrangement via a known command, not shown, such as a key or voice command, or the like.

For the sake of clarity, the arrangement of the seat portions <NUM> is understood as the overall arrangement of the seat portions <NUM>, i.e., more precisely as the set of poses, i.e., the positions and orientations of all the seat portions <NUM>, for example relative to the pillar <NUM>.

The motor vehicle <NUM> also comprises a selection device, not shown, such as an on-board computer, a keyboard, a touchpad, and the like, in particular arranged on the dashboard <NUM>, on the base portion <NUM> of the pillar <NUM> or in any position that the user can reach. The selection device is operable by the user to select an arrangement stored by the storage device.

Actually, the storage device may not necessarily store the current arrangements of the seat portions <NUM> as described above, but rather it could just store one or more predefined arrangements. Moreover, the predefined arrangements may be provided to the storage device in addition to the stored current arrangements, for example detected by the detection device.

The ECU control unit is configured to control the actuator assemblies <NUM> or the overall actuator assembly, for example formed by the actuator assemblies <NUM>, so as to arrange the seat portions <NUM> in the arrangement selected by the user by means of the selection device.

In this way, the user can save his or her favourite arrangements and then set them using the selection device at the most convenient time.

In addition, the motor vehicle <NUM> preferably comprises a detection device, for example including the camera <NUM> and the image processing device <NUM>, to detect a posture of the user in the seat <NUM>.

For example, the image processing device may compare the images of the user's posture from the camera <NUM> with a postural model in order to determine, for example by means of artificial intelligence algorithms, the user's posture.

Therefore, the ECU control unit is configured to control the actuator assemblies <NUM> or the overall actuator assembly, for example formed by the actuator assemblies <NUM>, so as to arrange the seat portions <NUM> according to an arrangement corresponding or adapted to the detected posture.

For example, the ECU control unit can store a mapping, for example in the form of interpolable tables, which links the arrangements of the seat portions <NUM> to the postures that can be assumed by the user.

In this way, the arrangement of the seat portions <NUM> would automatically adapt in real time to the posture of the user in the seat <NUM>.

The advantages of the motor vehicle <NUM> according to the invention are clear from the foregoing.

In fact, the seat <NUM> can be adjusted in an extremely versatile way, up to fully adapting to every possible posture chosen by the user.

The seat portions <NUM> are completely independent of each other and can each move with three degrees of freedom. In this way, the possible arrangements of the seat portions <NUM> are manifold. Therefore, the level of customization of the configuration of the seat <NUM> is high.

Moreover, although the seat <NUM> is divided into the multiple independent seat portions <NUM>, the overall dimensions of the seat <NUM> remain substantially unchanged compared to the traditional solutions.

Furthermore, the components for moving the seat portions <NUM> are simple and readily available on the market.

Claim 1:
A motor vehicle (<NUM>) comprising a structural element (<NUM>) and a seat (<NUM>) comprising at least two separate and independent seat portions (<NUM>), each of the seat portions (<NUM>) being configured to support a part of a user's body and being independently coupled to the structural element (<NUM>) in a movable manner relative to the structural element (<NUM>) with three degrees of freedom including two translations in a plane along respective orthogonal axes (X, Z) and a rotation around a further axis (Y) orthogonal to said plane.