US 11,912,284 B2
Alighting assistance device and method
Yoshito Hirata, Aki-gun (JP); Tomonori Ohtsubo, Aki-gun (JP); Hiroki Uemura, Aki-gun (JP); Kengo Iwata, Aki-gun (JP); Masato Maeda, Aki-gun (JP); Hiroaki Matsuda, Aki-gun (JP); Masahito Kashihara, Aki-gun (JP); and Chieko Nakagami, Aki-gun (JP)
Assigned to MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, Hiroshima (JP)
Filed by Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima (JP)
Filed on Jan. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/568,753.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-001406 (JP), filed on Jan. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0212674 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. B60W 40/08 (2012.01); B60N 2/04 (2006.01); B62D 1/18 (2006.01)
CPC B60W 40/08 (2013.01) [B60N 2/04 (2013.01); B62D 1/18 (2013.01); B60W 2040/0872 (2013.01); B60W 2540/221 (2020.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An alighting assistance device moving a driver seat rearward in a case where a determination is made that an occupant seated on the driver seat of a vehicle alights, the alighting assistance device comprising:
a height changer which changes a height of a steering wheel;
a sitting height acquirer which acquires a sitting height of the occupant; and
a height controller which controls the height changer such that the height of the steering wheel becomes lower as the sitting height acquired by the sitting height acquirer is higher in the case where a determination is made that the occupant alights.