# US 11,307,751 B2 · Vehicle seat with seat operating device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,751 B2 - Document ID: US11307751B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/510,155 - Filed: 2019-07-12 - Published: 2020-01-16 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-13 - Assignees: Grammer AG - Applicants: Grammer AG - Inventors: Jens Kolb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307751B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60N 2/0228: {Hand-activated mechanical switches (B60N2/0229 takes precedence)} - B60N 2/0233: {Touchscreens} - B60N 2/0239: {using movement detection or gesture recognition} - B60N 2/0296: {Central command actuator to selectively switch on or engage one of several special purpose circuits or mechanisms} - G06F 3/023: Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle seat having a seat operating device, wherein the seat operating device has a touch screen for displaying control panels for setting a value of an operating parameter assigned to the respective control panel and for detecting user input, wherein one can toggle between control panels via at least one first user input, wherein the control panels are arranged in a fixed order, wherein each a individual control panel is displayed by the touch screen and the value of the operating parameter can be changed by at least a second user input in the control panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle seat, comprising: a plurality of mechanical actuators within the vehicle seat, each actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators responsive to an operating parameter of the vehicle seat; and a seat operating device, wherein the seat operating device includes a touch screen for displaying control panels for setting a value of the operating parameter of the vehicle seat, wherein the operating parameter is assigned to a respective control panel, and for detecting user input, wherein a user can switch between control panels by at least one first user input, wherein the control panels are arranged in a fixed sequence, wherein a single control panel at a time is displayed by the touch screen, wherein the value of the operating parameter assigned to a displayed control panel can be changed by providing an actuation signal to an actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators that is operable to respond to a change in the operating parameter assigned to the displayed control panel in response to at least one second user input entered using the control panel, wherein the seat operating device further includes an electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit links the displayed control panel to the actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators associated with the displayed control panel and a corresponding operating parameter, wherein, in response to a switching between control panels, an identification signal is transmitted from the touch screen to the electronic control unit to identify a currently displayed control panel, and wherein after receipt of the identification signal by the electronic control unit, and prior to receipt of an instance of a second user input entered using the currently displayed control panel, the electronic control unit sends an activation signal to the actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators associated with the currently displayed control panel to briefly activate the actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators associated with the currently displayed control panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the first user input is a swiping movement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the second user input is a tapping movement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat operating device comprises an activation button, and wherein by actuation of the activation button a first activation signal can be sent to the touch screen, whereby the touch screen can be unlocked and a first control panel selected from a group of control panels is displayed on the touch screen. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein after pressing the activation button, the touch screen is illuminated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein after a predetermined second duration, a deactivation signal has been sent to the touch screen by the electronic control unit, whereby the touch screen is automatically deactivated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein after a predetermined third duration a reset signal has been sent to the touch screen by the electronic control unit, whereby the first control panel is displayed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat operating device is constantly activated, and wherein the touch screen is constantly illuminated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen is arranged in or on an armrest of the vehicle seat or in a seat section of the vehicle seat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the operating parameter is at least one of a seat height, a spring rate, a seat before and after position, and a seat back angle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle seat according to claim 10, wherein the actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators controls at least one of the seat height, the spring rate, the seat before and after position, and the seat back angle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the user can select one of the control panels for display by the touch screen in response to at least one first user input. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the identification signal identifies a control panel that is displayed by the touch screen after switching between control panels. ### Claim 14 A method, comprising: activating a seat operating device by pressing an activation button and displaying a first control panel selected from a group of various control panels on a touch screen; using the first control panel or selecting a second control panel by at least a first user input and displaying the second control panel on the touch screen; and changing a value of an operating parameter associated with the seat operating device assigned to the first or second control panel by at least one second user input, wherein the seat operating device includes an electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit links the first control panel to a first mechanical actuator disposed within a vehicle seal, wherein the first mechanical actuator is associated with the first control panel and responsive to the first operating parameter corresponding to the first control panel, wherein, in response to a switching from the first control panel to the second control panel and after a predetermined first duration, an identification signal is transmitted from the touch screen to the electronic control unit, wherein after receipt of the identification signal by the electronic control unit, and prior to receipt of a second user input, an activation signal is sent to a second mechanical actuator disposed within the vehicle seat and associated with the second control panel to briefly actuate the second mechanical actuator to cause a change in the vehicle seat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the operating parameter is at least one of a seat height, a spring rate, a seat before and after position, and a seat back angle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the first mechanical actuator controls at least one of the seat height, the spring rate, the seat before and after position, and the seat back angle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the touch screen is arranged in or on an armrest of the vehicle seat or in a seat section of the vehicle seat. ### Claim 18 A vehicle seat, comprising: a seat operating device, wherein the seat operating device has a touch screen for displaying a plurality of control panels for setting a value of a respective control panel associated with an operating parameter of the vehicle seat and for detecting user inputs, wherein one can toggle between the plurality of control panels in response to at least one first user input, wherein the plurality of control panels are arranged in a fixed sequence, wherein a single control panel at a time is displayed by the touch screen and the value of the operating parameter associated with the displayed control panel can be changed by at least one second user input via at least one input button of the vehicle seat, wherein the seat operating device includes an electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit links the displayed control panel to a first mechanical actuator of a plurality of mechanical actuators, each of the plurality of mechanical actuators located within the vehicle seat and are associated with the displayed control panel and are responsive to a corresponding first operating parameter, wherein the displayed control panel is the respective control panel of the plurality of control panels, each of the plurality of control panels associated with at least one mechanical actuator of the plurality of mechanical actuators, wherein, in response to and a predetermined time after switching between each of the plurality of control panels, an identification signal uniquely associated with the respective control panel displayed after the switching is sent from the touch screen to the electronic control unit, and wherein, after receipt of the identification signal by the electronic control unit, and prior to receipt of a second user input, the electronic control unit sends an activation signal to briefly activate the first mechanical actuator associated with the displayed control panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle seat according to claim 18, wherein the operating parameter is at least one of a seat height, a spring rate, a seat before and after position, and a seat back angle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicle seat according to claim 19, wherein the first mechanical actuator controls at least one of the seat height, the spring rate, the seat before and after position, and the seat back angle.