MOVING BODY CONTROL DEVICE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-077488 filed on Apr. 30, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for controlling a moving body such as an electric seat equipped in a vehicle, and particularly to a moving body control device having a function of detecting pinching of foreign matter.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle such as an automatic four-wheeled vehicle is equipped with electric seats that move back and forth by a rotation of a motor. In a case where a front-back position of such an electric seat is adjusted, in the related art, the seat position has been adjusted by manually operating an operation unit provided near the seat and moving the seat forward or backward. On the other hand, in recent years, a vehicle has appeared, which has a function of registering a seat position that suits a user's preference in advance, identifying the user at a time of boarding, and automatically moving the seat to a seat position corresponding to the user.

In the vehicle having the automatic adjustment function of the seat position as described above, if the front seat automatically moves backward in a state where a person or an object exists between the front seat and the back seat, the person or the object may be pinched between the front and back seats, thereby threatening safety. The same thing can happen in a manual electric seat. Therefore, the seat control device is required to have a function of promptly detecting pinching, stopping or reversing a motor, and eliminating the pinching state in a case where the pinching has occurred.

When pinching occurs, a current flowing through the motor increases and a rotation speed of the motor decreases as the load applied to the motor increases. Therefore, by detecting a change (difference) in a physical quantity such as a motor current or a rotation speed in a predetermined period and comparing the detected value with a threshold value, it is possible to determine whether the pinching has occurred. JP-A-2019-027247, JP-A-2005-290691, JP-A-2016-014292, and JP-A-2007-056620 disclose techniques for detecting pinching based on such changes in physical quantities.

By the way, since a flexible cushioning material is generally used for a vehicle seat, it takes time from the occurrence of the pinching to the detection of the pinching. This will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 illustrates a state where a leg F of an occupant is pinched between a front seat S1 and a back seat S2. Such pinching occurs, for example, in a case where a backward movement of the seat S1 and a forward movement of the seat S2 are performed at the same time, and the like. When the front seat S1 moves backward by a distance d1 from an initial position indicated by a one-dotted dash line to a position indicated by a solid line, the leg F is pinched between the seats S1 and S2. In addition to the person's leg, a person's body, luggage, animals, or the like may be pinched.

However, since the seat S1 is flexible, the load of the motor is insufficient at the position of the solid line in FIG. 11, and the pinching is not detected. After that, a dent is formed in the seat S1 at a pinched portion indicated by K, and the seat S1 further moves backward by a distance d2 and stops at a position indicated by a broken line. At this position, the load of the motor increases, a difference value of the motor current becomes equal to or greater than the threshold value, and the pinching is detected.

As described above, in FIG. 11, the pinching cannot be detected at the solid line position where the seat S1 has moved the distance d1 and the pinching can be detected at the broken line position where the seat S1 has moved the distance d1+d2. Therefore, in order to accurately detect the pinching, it is necessary to set a long period for calculating the difference value of the motor current. However, if this calculation period becomes long, it becomes easier to detect the pinching, but on the other hand, a possibility of erroneously detecting the pinching due to the disturbance increases.

Although a case where the seat has flexibility has been described here, the same thing as described above may occur when a soft object is pinched even if the seat has rigidity. JP-A-2007-131138 discloses a seat control device capable of appropriately detecting pinching in a case where an object is pinched by a soft portion of the seat. Further, JP-A-2010-119210, JP-A-H08-149871, JP-A-H08-004416, JP-A-2001-248358, and JP-A-H07-158338 disclose a power window device capable of accurately detecting pinching of a soft object in a vehicle window.

On the other hand, when the front seat moves backward and hits the leg of the occupant in the back seat, the occupant may perform an operation of twisting the lower body in an attempt to avoid pinching (hereinafter referred to as “escaping operation”). This will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic view of an occupant seated on a seat as viewed from above. In a normal state (the state XIIa), a leg F of an occupant P seated on a back seat S2 is separated from a front seat S1. From this state, as illustrated in the state XIIb, when the front seat S1 moves backward and hits the leg F of the occupant P, as illustrated in the state XIIc, the occupant P twists his/her lower body promptly to avoid pinching, and the leg F is tilted with respect to the seat S1. After that, as illustrated in the state XIId, the seat S1 further moves backward with the displacement of the leg F while still in contact with the leg F, and the leg F is in the pinched state, and since the seat S1 follows the displacement of the leg F, the load of the motor is insufficient and the pinching cannot be detected as in the case of FIG. 11.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of the present invention are provided to a moving body control device capable of accurately detecting pinching even in a case where a moving body or an object is soft or in a case where an escaping operation for avoiding pinching is performed.

A moving body control device of one or more embodiments of the present invention is a device that controls a moving body that moves by a rotation of a motor, the moving body control device including a pinching detecting unit that detects pinching of an object due to a movement of the moving body based on a change in a physical quantity indicating a rotation state of the motor; and a control unit that controls an operation of the motor based on a detection result of the pinching detecting unit. The pinching detecting unit is configured to determine that pinching of the object has occurred in a case in which a first difference of the physical quantity in a predetermined first period is equal to or greater than a first threshold value (first condition) and a tendency of a change in the physical quantity in the first period is a monotonous increase or a monotonous decrease (second condition). Further, the pinching detecting unit is configured to lower a value of the first threshold value in a case in which the tendency of the monotonous increase or the monotonous decrease of the physical quantity continues for a period longer than the first period.

In this way, for example, in a case of pinching by a flexible seat, both the first condition and the second condition are satisfied, and the pinching can be detected, while in a case of disturbance, the second condition is not satisfied, so that It is possible to avoid erroneous determination as pinching. Further, even in a case where an escaping operation is performed in an attempt to avoid pinching, it is possible to detect the pinching by lowering the value of the first threshold value.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the pinching detecting unit may return the first threshold value to an original value in a case in which the physical quantity does not indicate the tendency of the monotonous increase or the monotonous decrease after lowering the first threshold value.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the pinching detecting unit may calculate a difference between a physical quantity at a beginning of the first period and a physical quantity at an end of the first period as the first difference, may calculate, for each of a plurality of second periods obtained by dividing the first period, a difference between a physical quantity at a beginning of a second period and a physical quantity at an end of the second period as each of a plurality of second differences, and may determine that the tendency of the change in the physical quantity in the first period is the monotonous increase or the monotonous decrease in a case in which a ratio of the second differences equal to or greater than a second threshold value among the plurality of second differences is equal to or greater than a third threshold value.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, where the first difference is denoted by ΔI, the second difference is denoted by ΔIs(m), the first threshold value is denoted by a, the second threshold value is denoted by R, the third threshold value is denoted by γ, and the number of ΔIs(m) that is equal to or greater than 0 among M ΔIs(m) in the first period is denoted by N, the pinching detecting unit may calculate a tendency score SC, which indicates the tendency of the change in the physical quantity in the first period, by SC=N/M, and may determine that the pinching of the object has occurred in a case in which ΔI≥α and SC≥γ are satisfied.

In this case, the pinching detecting unit may determine that the pinching of the object has occurred in a case in which a relationship between M and N is M=N, and ΔI≥α and SC=1 are satisfied.

The physical quantity in one or more embodiments of the present invention may be a current flowing through the motor or a rotation speed of the motor.

The moving body in one or more embodiments of the present invention may be a seat of a vehicle or a window of the vehicle.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide to accurately detect pinching even in a case where a moving body or an object is soft or in a case where an escaping operation is performed to avoid the pinching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric seat system including a seat control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams for explaining a principle of distinguishing between pinching and disturbance;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs for explaining a current difference, a tendency difference, a tendency score, and their threshold values;

FIG. 4 is a graph for explaining a method of calculating the current difference and the tendency difference;

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a change in each tendency difference;

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating changes in motor current, current difference, and tendency score in a case where there is disturbance;

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating changes in motor current, current difference, and tendency score in a normal case;

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating changes in motor current, current difference, and tendency score in a case where an escaping operation is performed;

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a change in current difference threshold value in a case where the escaping operation is performed;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an electric seat system including a seat control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state of being pinched by a flexible seat; and

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state of pinching due to an escaping operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same parts or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. In the following, a vehicle seat as a moving body will be taken as an example, and a case where the present invention is applied to a seat control device will be described.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a seat control device 50 and an electric seat system 100 using the same according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The electric seat system 100 is equipped in a vehicle such as an automatic four-wheeled vehicle and includes the seat control device 50, an operation unit 5, a motor current detecting unit 6, a motor speed detecting unit 7, a motor 8, a slide mechanism 9, and a seat 20. The seat 20 is an electric seat driven by the motor 8 and the slide mechanism 9.

The operation unit 5 is configured of a switch for manually operating an operation of the seat 20, and the like. The motor current detecting unit 6 detects a motor current flowing through the motor 8. The motor speed detecting unit 7 detects a rotation speed of the motor 8. The motor 8 is a motor for moving the seat 20 in a direction a (front-and-rear direction). The slide mechanism 9 is coupled to the motor 8 and the seat 20, converts the rotational motion of the motor 8 into a linear motion, and moves the seat 20 in the direction a by a predetermined distance.

The seat control device 50 includes a control unit 1, a motor drive unit 2, and a threshold value storage unit 3. The control unit 1 is configured of a CPU and the like, and controls an overall operation of the seat control device 50.

The control unit 1 is provided with a pinching detecting unit 4. A function of the pinching detecting unit 4 is actually realized by software. A method of detecting the pinching will be described in detail later. The motor drive unit 2 is configured of a circuit that generates a drive signal (for example, a PWM signal) for rotating the motor 8, and the like. The threshold value storage unit 3 stores threshold values α, α′, β, and γ for the pinching detecting unit 4 to determine the presence or absence of pinching between seats. These threshold values will be described in detail later.

Next, a basic principle of the pinching detection according to one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A illustrates an example of changes in a motor current and a current difference in a case where pinching has occurred, and FIG. 2B illustrates an example of changes in the motor current and the current difference in a case where a disturbance has occurred. A horizontal axis of each drawing is a count value of a pulse output from a rotation sensor (not illustrated) attached to the motor 8, and corresponds to a moving distance of the seat 20 (the same applied to FIGS. 3A to 9 described later). Although the motor current and the current difference actually fluctuate finely as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, they are illustrated in a simplified manner in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In FIG. 2A, a period T is a unit section for pinching determination, and the presence or absence of the pinching is determined based on a state of a change in the motor current within the period T. This period T gradually shifts to a right direction in the drawing in time, and each time, the presence or absence of the pinching in the period T is determined. The period T corresponds to a “first period” in one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Now, assuming that the pinching has occurred at a beginning time point n′ in the period T, the load of the motor 8 starts to increase from this time point, and the motor current also increases accordingly. Further, as a rate of an increase in the motor current increases with time, the current difference indicating the change in the motor current at regular intervals also increases. Therefore, a current difference ΔIa at an end time point n in the period T is equal to or greater than the current difference threshold value α, which is a first condition for the pinching determination. However, under this first condition alone, in a case where disturbance has occurred in the period T as illustrated in FIG. 2B, if a current difference ΔIb at the time point n is equal to or greater than the current difference threshold value α, even though the disturbance occurs, it is erroneously determined that the pinching has occurred.

Therefore, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the case of the pinching, the motor current monotonically increases in the period T as illustrated in FIG. 2A, whereas in the case of the disturbance, the motor current monotonically increases in the period T as illustrated in FIG. 2B, thereby being used as a second condition of the pinching determination focusing on the fact that the motor current does not monotonically increase (fluctuate) in the period T. Then, in a case where both the first condition and the second condition are satisfied, it is determined that the pinching has occurred.

Therefore, in the case of the disturbance illustrated in FIG. 2B, since the first condition is satisfied but the second condition is not satisfied, it is not determined to be pinched, and an erroneous determination can be avoided. Further, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is determined whether the change in the motor current in the period T is monotonically increased by using a unique method described below, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the pinching.

Next, a specific method for the pinching detection according to one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 5.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs for explaining parameters used for determining the pinching. In FIG. 3A, the motor current I, the current difference ΔI, the current difference threshold value α, and the period T are the same as those described in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The current difference threshold value α corresponds to the “first threshold value” in one or more embodiments of the present invention. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, in addition to these, new parameters such as a tendency difference ΔIs(m), a tendency difference threshold value β, a tendency score SC, and a tendency score threshold value γ are used.

The tendency difference ΔIs(m) is calculated as the difference in each motor current I at the beginning time point and the end time point of the period W for each of a plurality of periods (only one period W is illustrated in FIG. 3A) obtained by dividing the period T. This detail will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, the period T is divided into seven, and a plurality of (here, six) periods W1 to W6 is set within the period T. These periods W1 to W6 correspond to the “second period” in one or more embodiments of the present invention. A width of each of the periods W1 to W6 is the same, which is twice the division width Z (W1 to W6=2Z). Further, each of the periods W1 to W6 is set to be offset by Z. The tendency difference ΔIs(m) is a general term for the six tendency differences ΔIs(1) to ΔIs(6) calculated for each period, and is calculated by the following equation.

ΔIs(m)=I(n−[m−1]×Z)−I(n−[m−1]×Z−W) (1)

The tendency difference ΔIs (1) is a tendency difference in the period W1, and is calculated as a difference between the motor current (current at point c) at the beginning time point (n−2Z) of the period W1 and the motor current (current at point a=I (n)) at the end time point (n) of the period W1. That is, where m=1 and W=W1 in the above equation (1), the tendency difference ΔIs(1) is expressed as the following equation.

ΔIs(1)=I(n)−I(n−W1)

The tendency difference ΔIs(2) is a tendency difference in the period W2, and is calculated as a difference between the motor current (current at point d) at the beginning time point (n−3Z) of the period W2 and the motor current (current at point b) at the end time point (n−Z) of the period W2. That is, where m=2 and W=W2 in the above equation (1), the tendency difference ΔIs(2) is expressed as the following equation.

ΔIs(2)=I(n−Z)−I(n−Z−W2)

The tendency difference ΔIs (3) is a tendency difference in the period W3, and is calculated as a difference between the motor current (current at point e) at the beginning time point (n−4Z) of the period W3 and the motor current (current at point c) at the end time point (n−2Z) of the period W3. That is, where m=3 and W=W3 in the above equation (1), the tendency difference ΔIs(3) is expressed as the following equation.

ΔIs(3)=I(n−2Z)−I(n−2Z−W3)

The tendency difference ΔIs(4) is a tendency difference in the period W4, and is calculated as a difference between the motor current (current at point f) at the beginning time point (n−5Z) of the period W4 and the motor current (current at point d) at the end time point (n−3Z) of the period W4. That is, where m=4 and W=W4 in the above equation (1), the tendency difference ΔIs(4) is expressed as the following equation.

ΔIs(4)=I(n−3Z)−I(n−3Z−W4).

The tendency difference ΔIs(5) is a tendency difference in the period W5, and is calculated as a difference between the motor current (current at point g) at the beginning time point (n−6Z) of the period W5 and the motor current (current at point e) at the end time point (n−4Z) of the period W5. That is, where m=5 and W=W5 in the above equation (1), the tendency difference ΔIs(5) is expressed as the following equation.

ΔIs(5)=(n−4Z)−I(n−4Z−W5)

The tendency difference ΔIs(6) is a tendency difference in the period W6, and is calculated as a difference between the motor current (current=I(n′) at point h) at the beginning time point (n′) of the period W6 and the motor current (current at point f) at the end time point (n−5Z) of the period W6. That is, where m=6 and W=W6 in the above equation (1), the tendency difference ΔIs(6) is expressed as the following equation.

ΔIs(6)=I(n−5Z)−I(n−5Z−W6)

As described above, when the six tendency differences ΔIs(1) to ΔIs(6) are calculated in the period T, the period T is shifted to the right direction by a predetermined amount in FIG. 4, and in the new period T after the shift, six tendency differences ΔIs(1) to ΔIs(6) are calculated in the same manner as described above. FIG. 3B illustrates a state of a change in the tendency difference ΔIs(m) sequentially calculated in this way. The tendency difference threshold value β is a threshold value set for this tendency difference ΔIs(m) and corresponds to the “second threshold value” in one or more embodiments of the present invention. In the graphs Va to Vf shown in FIG. 5, the tendency difference of FIG. 3B is illustrated as independent tendency differences ΔIs(1) to ΔIs(6). In FIG. 5, scales on the vertical axis and the horizontal axis are different from those in FIG. 3B.

By comparing each of the tendency differences ΔIs(1) to ΔIs(6) with the tendency difference threshold value β, it is possible to grasp the tendency of the change in the motor current I in the period T. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in a case where the tendency differences ΔIs(1) to ΔIs(6) are all equal to or greater than the threshold value R at the time point n, it indicates that the motor current I monotonically increases in the period T (ignoring small fluctuations in current). On the other hand, if, for example, among the tendency differences ΔIs(1) to ΔIs(6), the number of differences which are equal to or greater than the threshold value β is three and the number of differences which are less than the threshold value β is three, it indicates that the motor current I fluctuates in the period T.

Therefore, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, as the parameter indicating the tendency of the change in the motor current I in the period T, the tendency score SC calculated for each period T based on the tendency difference ΔIs(m) is used. Among the M tendency differences ΔIs(m) in the period T, when the number of ΔIs(m) which are equal to or greater than the threshold value β is denoted by N, the tendency score SC is calculated by the following equation.

SC=N/M (2)

The tendency score threshold value γ in FIG. 3A is a threshold value set for this tendency score SC and corresponds to the “third threshold value” in one or more embodiments of the present invention.

In a case where the above-described tendency differences ΔIs(1) to ΔIs(6) are all equal to or greater than the threshold value β, M=6 and N=6 in the above equation (2), so that the tendency score SC is SC=1. On the other hand, in a case where there are three tendency differences which are equal to or greater than the threshold value β, M=6 and N=3 in the above equation (2), so that the tendency score SC is SC=0.5. Further, in a case where there is no tendency difference which is equal to or greater than the threshold value β, M=6 and N=0 in the equation (2), so that the tendency score SC is SC=0.

As described above, the tendency score SC is in the range of 1≥SC≥0, and the closer the SC is to 1, the stronger the monotonous increase tendency of the motor current I is illustrated. Therefore, the tendency score SC is compared with the tendency score threshold value γ, and if SC≥γ, the motor current monotonically increases in the period T as illustrated in FIG. 2A and it can be considered that the second condition of the above-described pinching determination is satisfied. In the example of FIG. 3A, since the current difference ΔI is equal to or greater than the threshold value α (ΔI≥α) and the tendency score SC is equal to or greater than the tendency score threshold value γ (SC≥γ) at time point n, it is determined that both the first condition and the second condition are satisfied, and the pinching has occurred.

In a case where the pinching is detected, the control unit 1 eliminates the pinching state by stopping or reversing the motor 8 by the motor drive unit 2.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of changes in the motor current I, the current difference ΔI, and the tendency score SC when there is a disturbance. The disturbance occurs due to an increase in the load applied to the motor through the seat, for example, in a case where an occupant sitting in the seat shakes his or her body. In FIG. 6, the current difference ΔI exceeds the threshold value α due to the disturbance, but the tendency score SC does not exceed the threshold value γ because the change in the motor current I is not monotonically increased. Therefore, although the above-described first condition is satisfied, the second condition is not satisfied, so that it is not erroneously determined that the pinching has occurred even if the load of the motor increases.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of changes in the motor current I, the current difference ΔI, and the tendency score SC in a normal case without pinching or disturbance. In this case, since the fluctuation of the motor current I is small, the current difference ΔI does not exceed the threshold value α. Further, since the motor current I does not monotonically increase over a long period of time, the tendency score SC also does not exceed the threshold value γ. Therefore, since neither the first condition nor the second condition is satisfied, the pinching is not detected.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in a case where the current difference ΔI is equal to or greater than the current difference threshold value α (first condition) and the tendency score SC is equal to or greater than the tendency score threshold value γ (second condition), it is determined that the pinching has occurred. The tendency score SC indicates the tendency of the change in the motor current I in the period T, and the value of the tendency score SC differs between a case where the disturbance has been applied and a case where the pinching has occurred. Therefore, in the case of the disturbance, even if the first condition is satisfied, the second condition is not satisfied, and thereby even in a case where the motor current I fluctuates greatly due to the disturbance, it is possible to avoid erroneously determining that the pinching has occurred. As a result, even if the period T for calculating the difference ΔI of the motor current I is set long in order to ensure the detection of the pinching by the flexible seat 20, the disturbance and the pinching are clearly distinguished and it is possible to suppress that the pinching is erroneously detected.

However, with only the above-described determination criteria, in a case where the “escaping operation” as illustrated in FIG. 12 is performed, there remains a problem of no guarantee that the pinching can be reliably detected. This will be described below.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of changes in the motor current I, the current difference ΔI, and the tendency score SC in a case where the escaping operation is performed. In this case, in FIG. 12, when the occupant P tilts the leg F in order to avoid the pinching, the seat S1 moves backward while following the displacement of the leg F, so that the reaction force received by the seat S1 from the leg F does not rapidly increase. Therefore, since the load applied to the motor 8 does not rapidly increase, the motor current I gradually increases as illustrated in the range of Q in FIG. 8. As a result, the increase in the current difference ΔI also becomes gradual.

In the example of FIG. 8, in the period T, the motor current I tends to monotonically increase (ignoring small fluctuations in current), and the tendency score SC maintains SC=γ, so that the above-described second condition (SC 27) is satisfied. However, since the increase of the current difference ΔI is gradual, the current difference ΔI does not reach the threshold value α in the period T, and the above-described first condition (ΔI≥α) is not satisfied. Therefore, even though the pinching due to the escaping operation has occurred, the pinching cannot be detected.

Therefore, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, in a case where a state of the second condition SC≥γ, that is, the monotonous increase tendency of the motor current I continues for a period longer than the period T, the value of the current difference threshold value α used in the first condition is lowered. Therefore, it is possible to detect the pinching due to the escaping operation.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when the state where the tendency score SC is SC=γ continues for the period X from the time t1 to the time t2, the pinching detecting unit 4 lowers the value of the current difference threshold value at the time t2 from a to α′(α>α′). Time t1 is a time point when the tendency score SC becomes SC=γ, and the period X is a period longer than the period T (X>T). As the current difference threshold value lowers from α to α′ at time t2, the current difference ΔI exceeds the threshold value α′, so that both the first condition (ΔI≥α′) and the second condition (SC≥γ) are satisfied at this time point, and the pinching is detected. Therefore, the motor 8 is stopped or reversed, and the pinching state is eliminated. After that, when time elapses and the tendency score SC becomes γ>SC at time t3, the pinching detecting unit 4 returns the current difference threshold value from α′ to the original value α.

In this way, according to the present embodiment, even in a case where the occupant P performs the escaping operation in an attempt to avoid pinching, it is possible to detect the pinching by lowering the value of the current difference threshold value α. The motor current I may indicate a gradual increasing tendency not only in the escaping operation but also in a case where the seat is flexible or in a case where a soft object is pinched. Therefore, one or more embodiments of the present invention are also effective in such cases.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a seat control device 60 and an electric seat system 200 using the same according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, two pinching detecting units 4a and 4b, two motor current detecting units 6a and 6b, two motor speed detecting units 7a and 7b, two motors 8a and 8b, and a reclining mechanism 10 are provided. Since other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 1, the description of the part overlapping with FIG. 1 will be omitted.

In FIG. 10, the seat portion 20a of the electric seat 20 is moved in the direction a by the first motor 8a and the slide mechanism 9, and the backrest 20b of the seat 20 is tilted in the direction b by the second motor 8b and the reclining mechanism 10.

The first motor drive unit 2a and the second motor drive unit 2b drive the first motor 8a and the second motor 8b, respectively. The first motor current detecting unit 6a and the second motor current detecting unit 6b detect motor currents flowing through the first motor 8a and the second motor 8b, respectively. The first motor speed detecting unit 7a and the second motor speed detecting unit 7b detect rotation speeds of the first motor 8a and the second motor 8b, respectively. The first pinching detecting unit 4a detects the pinching of the object in a case where the seat 20 moves in the direction a based on the current detected by the first motor current detecting unit 6a. The second pinching detecting unit 4b detects the pinching of the object in a case where the backrest 20b is tilted in the direction b based on the current detected by the second motor current detecting unit 6b.

Also in such a second embodiment, based on the same principle as in the first embodiment, the first pinching detecting unit 4a detects the pinching of the object due to the movement of the seat 20, and the second pinching detecting unit 4b detects the pinching of the object due to the tilt of the backrest 20b. Further, in a case where any of the pinching detecting units 4a and 4b detects the pinching, the first motor 8a or the second motor 8b is stopped or reversed by the motor drive units 2a and 2b, and thereby the control unit 1 eliminates the pinching state.

In the case of the second embodiment, the threshold values α, α′, β, and γ stored in the threshold value storage unit 3 may be set separately corresponding to the first pinching detecting unit 4a and the second pinching detecting unit 4b, respectively.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to employ various embodiments in addition to the above-described embodiments.

For example, in FIG. 9, the current difference threshold value α is lowered by one stage to α′, but the current difference threshold value α is may be lowered in two stages such that when the state of SC≥γ (monotonous increase tendency) continues for a certain period of time, the current difference threshold value is lowered from a to α′, after that, when the state of SC≥γ further continues for a certain period of time, the current difference threshold value is lowered from α′ to α″ (α>α′>α″). Further, the current difference threshold value α may be lowered in three or more stages.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, an example in which the pinching is detected based on the motor current detected by the motor current detecting units 6, 6a, and 6b is given, but the pinching may be detected based on a frequency of a ripple included in the motor current.

Further, the physical quantity for pinching detection is not limited to the current and frequency, but may be the rotation speeds of the motors detected by the motor speed detecting units 7, 7a, and 7b. In this case, when the pinching occurs, the rotation speed of the motor decreases, and the difference in rotation speed indicates the tendency of the monotonous decrease in the period T of FIG. 2A.

Further, in determining whether the current or the rotation speed is monotonically increased or monotonically decreased in the period T, other mathematical methods may be used instead of the above equations (1) and (2).

Further, in the above-described embodiments, in FIGS. 1 and 10, an example in which the motor drive units 2, 2a, and 2b are provided in the seat control devices 50 and 60 is given, but these motor drive units 2, 2a, and 2b may be provided outside the seat control devices 50 and 60.

Further, in FIGS. 1 and 10, the motors 8, 8a, and 8b are provided outside the seat control devices 50 and 60, but these motors 8, 8a, and 8b may be provided in the seat control devices 50 and 60.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, an example in which the seat control device is equipped in the vehicle is given, but the present invention may also be applied to a power window device that opens and closes a window of the vehicle by a motor, and further, to a moving body control device used in a field other than the vehicle.

While one or more embodiments of the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. According, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.

MOVING BODY CONTROL DEVICE

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