Patent ID: 12221045

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “unit”, “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation, and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

Further, the control logic of the present disclosure may be embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor, controller or the like. Examples of computer readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed in network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is stored and executed in a distributed fashion, e.g., by a telematics server or a Controller Area Network (CAN).

A specific structural or functional description of embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed in the specification or application is given merely for the purpose of describing the embodiment according to the present disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments according to the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms, and the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described in the specification or application.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments according to the present disclosure, and therefore particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification or application. However, it should be understood that embodiments according to the concept of the present disclosure are not limited to the particular disclosed embodiments, but the present disclosure includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Such terms as “a first” and/or “a second” may be used to described various elements, but the elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are intended merely to distinguish one element from other elements. For example, a first element may be named a second element and similarly a second element may be named a second element without departing from the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

In the case where an element is referred to as being “connected” or “accessed” to other elements, it should be understood that not only the element is directly connected or accessed to the other elements, but also another element may exist between them. Contrarily, in the case where a component is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly accessed” to any other component, it should be understood that there is no component therebetween. The other expressions of describing a relation between structural elements, i.e. “between” and “merely between” or “neighboring” and “directly neighboring”, should be interpreted similarly to the above description.

The terms used in the present disclosure are merely used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. A singular expression may include a plural expression unless they are definitely different in a context. As used herein, the expression “include” or “have” are intended to specify the existence of mentioned features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, and should be construed as not precluding the possible existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as those commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Such terms as those defined in a generally used dictionary may be interpreted to have the meanings equal to the contextual meanings in the relevant field of art, and are not to be interpreted to have ideal or excessively formal meanings unless clearly defined in the present disclosure.

A control unit (controller) according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by a non-volatile memory (not shown) which is configured to store data pertaining to an algorithm configured to control operations of various vehicle components or software instructions for reproducing the algorithm, and a processor (not shown) which is configured to perform the operations as described below by using the data stored in the corresponding memory. Here, the memory and the processor may be implemented as individual chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented as an integrated single chip. The processor may be in the form of one or more processors.

Hereinafter, a device for restraining a passenger in a relaxed position for a vehicle seat according to a preferable embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1toFIG.11are views of a restraining device for a passenger seated in a relaxed position according to the present disclosure, and illustrate an embodiment wherein a support foam is configured to vertically erect upward in a case of an initial state before a restraining device operates, and the support foam, which has been vertically erected upward, is configured to rotate and then be positioned in a transversal direction when operation of the restraining device has completed.

FIG.1is a view showing an initial state before operation of a restraining device according to the present disclosure, andFIG.2is a view showing a state after operation of a restraining device.

A restraining device for a passenger in a relaxed position according to the present disclosure includes: a rod member700coupled to a seat cushion10and configured to have a variable length; and a support foam400coupled to one end of the rod member700and positioned in front of a seated passenger1to restrain the leg of the passenger1.

The rod member700includes a carriage guide100coupled to the seat cushion10and configured to have a rail groove110which is formed to extend along a lengthwise direction of the seat cushion10, and a carriage bar200coupled to the carriage guide100and configured to move along the rail groove110.

An embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a driving mechanism300which is configured to connect the carriage guide100and the carriage bar200to move the carriage bar200when operating.

The support foam400is connected to one end of the carriage bar200, and is positioned in front of the leg2of the seated passenger1to restrain the leg of the seated passenger when the carriage bar200moves, in a full stroke, in a direction (the front) in which the carriage bar200protrudes from the carriage guide100.

The carriage guide100is fixedly installed on one side surface of the seat cushion10so as to extend frontward and backward by the use of multiple mounting brackets120.

In addition, the restraining device according to the present disclosure further includes a controller500which is configured to control operation of the driving mechanism300, and the controller500is configured to receive signals from a driving mechanism operation switch510, a relaxed mode switch520, and a vehicle speed sensor530so as to control operation of the driving mechanism300.

The driving mechanism operation switch510may be provided on one side surface of a seat cover20in order to allow easy and comfort operation by the seated passenger1, and may be a switch which allows an on or off operation by operation of a passenger.

An autonomous vehicle is provided with a driving mode switch which can select an autonomous driving mode in vehicle driving and is provided with a relaxed mode switch520which enable a passenger to select a relaxed mode in a state of autonomous driving.

When a passenger operates the relaxed mode switch520, a signal by operating the relaxed mode switch is transferred to a controller500, and the controller500controls driving of the driving mechanism300by using the signal from the relaxed mode switch520.

The signal from the relaxed mode switch520may be used as a determination for entering the relaxed mode, but, as necessary, the information on a reclining angle of a seat back may be used as well. A reclining angle of a seat back may be defined as an angle in which a seat back is tilted backward, an angle which is formed by a seat back and a seat cushion according to the frontward-backward rotation of the seat back, or the like.

A movable block210is provided at a rear end of the carriage bar200and is inserted in the rail groove110so as to move along the rail groove110, and a support arm220is provided at a front end of the carriage bar200. The support arm220is configured to surround the support foam400and thus to form a structure to which the support foam is coupled.

The support foam400is a component in contact with the leg2of the passenger1. Therefore, it is preferable to form the support foam as a material having a cushion feeling in order to buffer an impact.

The carriage bar200further includes a support bracket230which is configured to surround an upper surface of the carriage guide100and to move in a state of being supported on the upper surface of the carriage guide100when the carriage bar200moves.

The support bracket230is configured to function to increase a supporting force of the carriage bar200when the restraining device of the present disclosure does not operate, and the support arm220is configured to function to support the leg2of the passenger1after the restraining device operates. In addition, the support foam400is mounted on the support arm220and is configured to function to disperse the weight through a cushion when the leg2of the passenger1is in contact therewith after the restraining device operates.

The driving mechanism300includes a motor310which is fixedly coupled to the rear end of the carriage guide100, a lead screw320which is positioned in the rail groove110and arranged along a lengthwise direction of the lead screw320, multiple gear members330which are configured to connect the motor310and the lead screw320, and a gear cover340which is fixed to the carriage guide100and configured to cover the gear members330.

The motor310is fixedly installed at the rear end of the carriage guide100by the motor bracket311.

A front end of the lead screw320is supported to a front end of the carriage guide100in a rotatable structure, and a rear end of the lead screw320is connected to the gear members330through the movable block210of the carriage bar200which is inserted in the rail groove110.

The rear end of the lead screw320is screw-coupled to the movable block210while extending through the movable block210of the carriage bar200, and thus the movable block210moves along the lengthwise direction of the lead screw320in a state of being guided the rail groove110when the lead screw320rotates. Therefore, the carriage bar200moves in the front-back direction along a lengthwise direction of the carriage guide100together with the movable block210.

The gear members330may include a driving gear coupled to the motor310, a driven gear coupled to the lead screw320, and an idle gear for connecting the driving gear and the driven gear.

A plurality of first stopper protrusions240are arranged on a front surface of the movable block210of the carriage bar200along the circumferential direction thereof, a rotating plate600is integrally coupled to the front end of the lead screw320, and a plurality of second stopper protrusions610are be arranged on one surface of the rotating plate600along the circumferential direction thereof.

The first stopper protrusions240and the second stopper protrusions610are formed to have a structure of facing each other.

Accordingly, when the carriage bar200moves, in a full stroke, in a direction (the front) in which the carriage bar protrudes from the carriage guide100, the first stopper protrusions240formed on the movable block210move to the front end of the carriage guide100to be positioned between the second stopper protrusions610, and the first and the second stopper protrusions240and610are in contact with each other by the rotating plate600which rotates together with the lead screw320by power of the motor310. Therefore, the rotation force of the lead screw320and the rotating plate600is transferred to the carriage bar200through the movable block210by the contact between the first and the second stopper protrusions240and610so that the carriage bar200rotates in one direction. Accordingly, through the rotation of the carriage bar200, the support foam400, which is coupled to the carriage bar200, is positioned in front of the leg2of the seated passenger1to restrain the leg2of the seated passenger1(seeFIGS.12A and12B).

An opening130, which is configured to enable rotation of the movable block210, is formed at the front end of the carriage guide100to be open upward.

Accordingly, in an initial state (a state before operation of the restraining device) in which the movable block210is positioned at the rear end of the carriage guide100, the support foam400, which is coupled to the front end of the carriage bar200, is positioned to protrude upward (seeFIG.1), and when the movable block210rotates through the opening130after moving to the front end of the carriage guide100, the support foam400rotates, in a state of protruding upward, to be positioned in the transversal direction thereof so at to restrain the leg2of the seated passenger1(seeFIG.1andFIG.2).

In addition, when the rotation of the movable block210is completed through the opening130, the movable block210is configured to be in contact with the carriage guide100so as to restrain the excessive rotation thereof, and driving of the motor310is terminated in accordance with increasing resistance of the motor310due to the continuous rotation of the lead screw320. Therefore, the support foam400can continuously maintain a condition in which the leg2of the seated passenger1is restrained.

Another embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure, illustrated inFIG.13toFIG.16, has a structure in which the opening130that is configured to enable rotation of the movable block210is formed at the front end of the carriage guide100to be open downward.

Accordingly, in the initial state (the state before operation of the restraining device) in which the movable block210is positioned at the rear end of the carriage guide100, the support foam400, which is coupled to the front end of the carriage bar200, is positioned to protrude downward (seeFIG.13andFIG.14). Therefore, it is possible to maximally hide a portion in which the support foam400protrudes upward to improve the beauty of the appearance thereof.

In addition, when the movable block210moves to the front end of the carriage guide100and then rotates through the opening130, the support foam400rotates, in a state of protruding downward, to be positioned in a transversal direction so as to restrain the leg2of the seated passenger1(seeFIG.15, andFIG.16).

A method for controlling operation of a device for restraining a passenger in a relaxed position for a vehicle seat according to the present disclosure is explained with reference toFIG.17.

When a vehicle enters a driving state (step S1) after starting ON of the vehicle, the controller500performs a first determination step of determining whether the driving mechanism operation switch510is an operation ON state (step S2).

When the driving mechanism operation switch510is determined as the operation ON state as a result of the determination in the step S2, a second determination step of determining whether a relaxed mode signal caused by the relaxed mode switch520occurs is performed (step S3).

When the state is determined as a state in which the relaxed mode signal has occurred as a result of the determination in the step S3, a third determination step of determining whether the current speed of a vehicle is greater than or equal to a reference speed of the vehicle is performed (step S4).

A reference speed of a vehicle is a minimum speed that a passenger is subject to injuries due to an accident during driving, and for example, may be defined as 26 kilometers per hour (kph) but is not limited thereby.

When the current speed of the vehicle is determined as greater than or equal to the reference speed of the vehicle as a result of the determination in the step S4, a passenger restraint step in which the motor310is driven by the controller500, the carriage bar200moves forward along the carriage guide100and then rotates in one direction by rotation of the lead screw320by driving of the motor310, and the support foam400, which is coupled to the carriage bar200, is positioned, by rotation of the carriage bar200, in front of the leg2of a seated passenger1to restrain the leg2of the seated passenger1is performed (step S5).

The state after operation of the restraining device according to the present disclosure corresponds to the passenger restraint step and is the same as that ofFIG.12A, and at this time, the passenger1is in a state of wearing a seat belt30.

As illustrated inFIG.12A, when, according to the leg of the passenger, which is in a relaxed position, being supported by the support foam400, an accident occurs in a state in which the leg2of the passenger1is restrained, as illustrated inFIG.12B, a forward rotation of the upper body of the passenger1can be induced due to the restraint of the leg2. However, since the seat belt30is worn on the upper body of the passenger1, the passenger may be subjected to high restraint force by the seat belt30. Accordingly, it can prevent a phenomenon that the passenger is released from the seat belt30due to sliding of the lower body of the passenger1. Therefore, consequently, there may be an advantage that the passenger1positioned in the relaxed position is effectively protected.

Meanwhile, by a control logic according to the present disclosure, when the driving mechanism operation switch510is determined as an OFF state as a result of the determination in the first determination step (step S2), the motor310is not driven by the controller500, the carriage bar200does not move in front of the carriage guide100, and accordingly the support foam400, which is coupled to the carriage bar200, continuously maintains the initial position of not restraining the leg2of the seated passenger1(step S6).

In addition, by the control logic according to the present disclosure, even if the driving mechanism operation switch510is determined as the operation ON state through the determination in the first determination step (step S2), when the state is determined as a state in which the relaxed mode signal, through the determination in the second determination step (step S3), is not occurred, also, the support foam400continuously maintains the initial position of not restraining the leg2of the seated passenger1by the controller500(step S6).

In addition, by the control logic according to the present disclosure, even if the driving mechanism operation switch510is determined as the operation ON state through the determination in the first determination step (step S2) and it is determined that the relaxed mode signal, through the determination in the second determination step, occurs (step S3), when it is determined that the current speed of the vehicle is equal to or less than the reference speed of the vehicle through the determination in the third determination step (step S4), also, the support foam400continuously maintains the initial position of not restraining the leg2of the seated passenger1by the controller500(step S6).

In addition, after preforming the passenger restraint step (step S5), the control logic according to the present disclosure is fed back to the first determination step (step S2), and the first determination step (step S2) to the third determination step (step S4) are thus sequentially and continuously performed. Furthermore, in the process of performing the first determination step to the third determination step, when at least one condition among the condition in which the driving mechanism operation switch510is the operation ON state, the condition in which the relaxed mode signal has occurred, and the condition in which the current speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the reference speed of the vehicle is not satisfied, the carriage bar200moves backward along the carriage guide100by driving of the motor310and rotation of lead screw320by the controller500, and the support foam400thus returns to the initial position before the operation thereof while releasing the state of restraining the leg2of the seated passenger1.

As described above, the vehicle seat restraining device for a passenger in a relaxed position according to the present disclosure is configured to automatically operate so as to enable the leg2of the seated passenger1to be restrained when the seated passenger1in an autonomous vehicle enters into the relaxed mode and the vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined speed. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the passenger1which is positioned in the relaxed position can be effectively protected when an accident occurs.

Although the present disclosure has been described and illustrated in conjunction with particular embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various improvements and modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the technical idea of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims.