Haptic feedback for dynamic seating system

• US 10,059,228 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Aikin, Randol W., Ilievski, Filip
• Primary Examiner(s): Ingram, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/269,208
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42727 involving substantially rigid displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger

Abstract

A dynamic seating system includes one or more vehicle sensors that output information describing one or more operating characteristics of a vehicle; a calculation unit configured to determine a feedback level based on a degree of deviation of the one or more operating characteristics of the vehicle from a predetermined state; and a seating assembly configured to actuate based on the feedback level.

Claims

1. A dynamic seating system, comprising:

one or more vehicle sensors that output information describing one or more operating characteristics of a vehicle;

one or more occupant sensors that output occupant information;

a calculation unit configured to;

determine a feedback level based on deviation of the one or more operating characteristics of the vehicle and deviation of the occupant information from predetermined states,

select a haptic feedback type from predefined haptic feedback types, and

adjust characteristics of the selected feedback type based on the feedback level; and

a seating assembly configured to actuate based on the characteristics of the selected feedback type.

2. The dynamic seating system of claim 1, wherein the seating assembly actuates by moving from a first position to a second position.

3. The dynamic seating system of claim 2, wherein the first position corresponds to absence of feedback and the second position corresponds to presence of feedback and is determined by the characteristics of the selected feedback type.

4. The dynamic seating system of claim 3, wherein the first position is a user-defined position.

5. The dynamic seating system of claim 2, wherein:

the seating assembly includes an adjusting mechanism that is operable to reposition at least a portion of the seating assembly during movement from the first position to the second position based on the characteristics of the selected feedback type.

6. The dynamic seating system of claim 2, wherein:

the seating assembly includes an adjustable bolster that is operable to change a bolster level of the seating assembly during movement from the first position to the second position based on the characteristics of the selected feedback type.

7. The dynamic seating system of claim 2, wherein the seating assembly includes a restraint and a restraint tensioner that is operable to change a tension level of the restraint during movement from the first position to the second position based on the characteristics of the selected feedback type.

8. The dynamic seating system of claim 2, wherein the seating assembly includes a restraint and an inflation system that is operable to change a restraint inflation level of the restraint during movement from the first position to the second position based on the characteristics of the selected feedback type.

9. The dynamic seating system of claim 1, wherein the seating assembly actuates by vibrating one or more components of the seating assembly, and an intensity level of the vibration is based on the feedback level.

10. The dynamic seating system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating characteristics of the vehicle include at least one of vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, vehicle yaw rate, wheel slip, engine throttle state, or braking state.

11. The dynamic seating system of claim 1, wherein:

the seating assembly actuates by moving from a first position to a second position,

the first position is a user-defined position that corresponds to absence of feedback and the second position corresponds to presence of feedback,

the seating assembly includes an adjusting mechanism that is operable to reposition at least a portion of the seating assembly during movement from the first position to the second position,

the seating assembly includes an adjustable bolster that is operable to change a bolster level of the seating assembly during movement from the first position to the second position,

the seating assembly includes a restraint and a restraint tensioner that is operable to change a tension level of the restraint during movement from the first position to the second position,

the seating assembly includes an inflation system that is operable to change a restraint inflation level of the restraint during movement from the first position to the second position,

the one or more operating characteristics of the vehicle include at least one of vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, vehicle yaw rate, wheel slip, engine throttle state, or braking state, and

the occupant information includes at least one of an occupant age, reaction time, distraction level, drowsiness, gaze-direction, breathing rate, temperature, height, or weight.

12. A method for providing haptic feedback, comprising:

receiving information describing one or more operating characteristics of a vehicle;

receiving external information relating to conditions that are external to the vehicle;

determining that feedback is to be applied based on based on the one or more operating characteristics of the vehicle and the external information;

calculating a feedback level based on deviation of the one or more operating characteristics of the vehicle and deviation of the external information from a predetermined state;

selecting a haptic feedback type from predefined haptic feedback types;

adjusting characteristics of the selected feedback type based on the feedback level; and

actuating a seating assembly based on the characteristics of the selected feedback type.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the external information describes at least one of weather conditions, time of day, visibility, or road conditions.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the external information describes at least one of traffic information or crash information.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein actuating the seating assembly comprises moving the seating assembly from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to absence of feedback and the second position corresponds to presence of feedback and is determined by the characteristics of the selected feedback type.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the seating assembly actuates by vibrating one or more components of the seating assembly.

17. A method for controlling a seating system, comprising:

receiving information describing one or more notifications;

calculating a feedback command based on the one or more notifications;

selecting a haptic feedback type from predefined haptic feedback types wherein each of the predefined haptic feedback types corresponds to a respective seat component;

adjusting characteristics of the selected feedback type based on the feedback command; and

actuating a seat component corresponding to the selected haptic feedback type based on the characteristics of the selected feedback type by transmitting the feedback command to the seat component.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more notifications describe at least one of arrival at a destination, presence of a location of interest, an email message, a text message, or a phone call.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein actuating the seat component causes movement of at least a portion of the seat component from a first position to a second position based on the feedback command, wherein the first position corresponds to absence of feedback and the second position corresponds to presence of feedback and is determined by the characteristics of the selected feedback type.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the seat component actuates by vibrating.