Seat control device and seat control method

A seat control device configured to control an operation of an electric seat, the electric seat comprising a seat portion and a backrest portion, the seat control device comprising:

• a first control unit configured to control an operation of the seat portion;
• a second control unit configured to control an operation of the backrest portion;
• and
• a pinching detection unit configured to detect pinching of an object caused by an operation of one of the seat portion and the backrest portion,
• wherein in response to the pinching detection unit detecting pinching during operations of one of the seat portion and the backrest portion which are not operated simultaneously,
• the first control unit performs control to bring the seat portion into a pinching-free state in accordance with a direction of the operation of the seat portion before the pinching occurs, and
• the second control unit performs control to bring the backrest portion into a pinching-free state in accordance with a direction of the operation of the backrest portion before the pinching occurs, and
• wherein in response to the direction of the operation of the seat portion before the pinching occurs being a third direction opposite to a first direction in which pinching is likely to occur and the direction of the operation of the backrest portion before the pinching occurs being a second direction in which pinching is likely to occur,
• the first control unit performs control such that the seat portion continues to operate in the third direction, and
• the second control unit performs control such that the backrest portion operates in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction.

A seat control method for controlling an operation of an electric seat, the electric seat comprising a seat portion and a backrest portion, the seat control method comprising:

• detecting pinching of an object during operations of one of the seat portion and the backrest portion which are not operated simultaneously;
• performing control to bring the seat portion into a pinching-free state in accordance with a direction of the operation of the seat portion before the pinching occurs in response to the pinching being detected;
• performing control to bring the backrest portion into a pinching-free state in accordance with a direction of the operation of the backrest portion before the pinching occurs in response to the pinching being detected;
• and
• performing control such that the seat portion continues to operate in a third direction and performing control such that the backrest portion operates in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction, in response to determining the direction of the operation of the seat portion before the pinching occurs being the third direction opposite to a first direction in which pinching is likely to occur and the direction of the operation of the backrest portion before the pinching occurs being a second direction in which pinching is likely to occur.