Self-adjusting vehicle seat
First Claim
1. A seat unit comprising:
- a seat pan coupled to a seat back;
a plurality of inflatable cushions positioned proximate at least one of the seat pan and the seat back;
a plurality of inflatable airbags positioned proximate at least one of the plurality of inflatable cushions;
a pressure sensor positioned over at least one of the seat pan and the seat back so that the plurality of inflatable cushions and the plurality of inflatable airbags are substantially covered by the pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to generate a pressure map; and
a control unit communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to analyze the pressure map for at least one pressure irregularity within a pressure distribution, and configured to adjust a pressure inside at least one of the plurality of inflatable cushions or the plurality of inflatable airbags to minimize the at least one pressure irregularity within the pressure distribution,wherein the plurality of inflatable cushions of at least one of the seat pan and the seat back comprises a first underlying layer having a substantially flat support surface and the plurality of inflatable airbags form a second overlying layer supported on the support surface, wherein the second overlying layer comprises a plurality of tubular compartments connected to each other in a laterally extending array having decreasing tubular diameters from a laterally outer edge of the second overlying layer toward a center of the second overlying layer, and wherein each of the tubular compartments is not in fluid communication with another of the tubular compartments such that the tubular compartments are inflated or deflated independently of each other via separate connections.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described are seat units with a seat pan (2) coupled to a seat back (3), inflatable cushions (5) positioned proximate the seat pan and/or the seat back, inflatable airbags (6) positioned proximate the inflatable cushions (5), and a pressure sensor (9) positioned over at least one of the seat pan (2) and the seat back (3) so that the inflatable cushions (5) and the inflatable airbags (6) are substantially covered by the pressure sensor (9). The pressure sensor (9) is configured to generate a pressure map, and a control unit (11) is configured to analyze the pressure map for at least one pressure irregularity within a pressure distribution, and adjust a pressure inside at least one of the inflatable cushions (5) and/or the inflatable airbags (6) to minimize the pressure irregularity within the pressure distribution.
29 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A seat unit comprising:
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a seat pan coupled to a seat back; a plurality of inflatable cushions positioned proximate at least one of the seat pan and the seat back; a plurality of inflatable airbags positioned proximate at least one of the plurality of inflatable cushions; a pressure sensor positioned over at least one of the seat pan and the seat back so that the plurality of inflatable cushions and the plurality of inflatable airbags are substantially covered by the pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to generate a pressure map; and a control unit communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to analyze the pressure map for at least one pressure irregularity within a pressure distribution, and configured to adjust a pressure inside at least one of the plurality of inflatable cushions or the plurality of inflatable airbags to minimize the at least one pressure irregularity within the pressure distribution, wherein the plurality of inflatable cushions of at least one of the seat pan and the seat back comprises a first underlying layer having a substantially flat support surface and the plurality of inflatable airbags form a second overlying layer supported on the support surface, wherein the second overlying layer comprises a plurality of tubular compartments connected to each other in a laterally extending array having decreasing tubular diameters from a laterally outer edge of the second overlying layer toward a center of the second overlying layer, and wherein each of the tubular compartments is not in fluid communication with another of the tubular compartments such that the tubular compartments are inflated or deflated independently of each other via separate connections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification