US 12,065,161 B2
Method and apparatus for automatically arranging seats of autonomous vehicle
Eun Sue Kim, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Seung Hyeok Chang, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Dae Ig Jung, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Hong Heui Lee, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Han Dong Yuk, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Sang Chul Jung, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Dong Kyu Lee, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Han Jin Kim, Gangwon-do (KR); and Sun Ho Hur, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); Kia Motors Corporation, Seoul (KR); and ITOPSAUTOMOTIVE CO., LTD., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Filed by Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); Kia Motors Corporation, Seoul (KR); and ITOPSAUTOMOTIVE CO, LTD., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/034,105.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0039900 (KR), filed on Apr. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0309247 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. B60W 60/00 (2020.01); B60K 35/00 (2024.01); B60K 35/10 (2024.01); B60K 35/22 (2024.01); B60N 2/12 (2006.01); B60N 2/14 (2006.01); B60N 2/16 (2006.01); B60N 2/75 (2018.01); B60W 50/08 (2020.01)
CPC B60W 60/00 (2020.02) [B60K 35/00 (2013.01); B60N 2/12 (2013.01); B60N 2/14 (2013.01); B60N 2/1635 (2013.01); B60N 2/763 (2018.02); B60W 50/08 (2013.01); B60K 35/10 (2024.01); B60K 35/22 (2024.01); B60K 2360/143 (2024.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of automatically arranging seats of an autonomous vehicle by remotely controlling positions and postures of the seats, the method comprising the steps of:
generating, by a manipulation device, a signal corresponding to a target arrangement mode of the seats;
determining, by seat controllers, current positions and postures of the seats and then moving the seats, by seat motors respectively provided in the seats, to change an arrangement of the seats to a standard arrangement mode upon generation of the signal corresponding to the target arrangement mode;
controlling, by the seat controllers, the positions and postures of the seats to change the arrangement of the seats to the target arrangement mode after the arrangement of the seats is changed to the standard arrangement mode; and
determining whether the seats interface with a peripheral component when the arrangement of the seats is changed to the standard arrangement mode by detecting current positions and postures of the seats when the determining step is carried out;
wherein when the interferences is determined to occur, the seats and the peripheral component are controlled so as to be moved to a safety zone in which the interference does not occur, and the seats are moved so as to changed the arrangement of the seats to the standard arrangement mode;
wherein the standard arrangement mode of the seats is configured such that all of first-row seats including a driver seat and a front passenger seat and second-row seats positioned behind the first-row seats face forward while the first-row seats and the second-row seats are aligned in a front and rear direction of the vehicle; and
wherein controlling the seats and the peripheral component to be moved to the safety zone in which the interference does not occur when the arrangement of the seats is changed to the standard arrangement mode includes swiveling of the seat, linear movement of the seat along a seat rail, reclining movement of a seat back, and height-adjusting movement of the seat.