Method and apparatus for controlling massage functions of a motor vehicle seat

• US 10,300,823 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lem, Jeroen, Michell, Steve, Golm, Florian, Wolter, Stefan, Line, Johnathan Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiltey, Nicholas K
• Application Number:
  US13/948,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems

Abstract

A method for controlling and selecting massage functions of a motor vehicle seat and include the steps of: switching the system to a selection mode and starting the selection mode; scrolling through massage functions that are organized in a block-by-block manner, wherein the massage functions that are organized in a block-by-block manner include a specific massage zone per block; confirming a selection of the massage block by way of a user selection; and terminating the selection mode.

Claims

1. A method for implementing massage functions of a motor vehicle seat having a plurality of massage zones disposed on at least one of a seat and a seat back, the method comprising the steps of:

starting a selection mode;

while in the selection mode;

scrolling through designation of a plurality of massage functions organized in a block-by-block manner as a selectable massage function, wherein each of the massage functions includes a specific massage zone per block;

receiving a selection of the selectable massage function and adding the selectable massage function to a massage sequence; and

resuming scrolling through designation of the plurality of massage functions as the selectable massage function;

terminating the selection mode; and

operating at least one massage device within at least one of the plurality of massage zones according to the massage sequence;

wherein the massage functions are automatically scrolled through, after a predetermined time interval, in designation as a selectable massage function and the selectable massage function is previewed for a predetermined amount of time by physical implementation thereof before one of further automatic scrolling and receiving the selection from the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the massage functions organized in a block-by-block manner include at least one specific massage option for the massage zone, which massage option is selected from the group comprising:

massage intensity, massage shape, massage duration, and massage pattern.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the massage functions organized in a block-by-block manner are scrolled through for designation as the selectable massage function in a recursive manner such that multiple ones of the massage functions can be added to the massage sequence when respectively designated as the selectable massage function.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein

the massage functions are scrolled through for designation as a selectable massage function cyclically.

5. The method of claim 2, further including:

receiving an edit command from the user relating to the selectable massage function;

scrolling through designation of a plurality of variations of the specific massage option as a selectable edit; and

receiving a selection of the selectable edit as a selected edit from a user and associating the selected edit with the respective massage zone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the massage functions organized in a block-by-block manner are scrolled through in a recursive manner.

7. A method implementing massage functions of a motor vehicle seat comprising the steps of:

starting a selection mode;

scrolling through designation of a plurality of massage functions organized in a block-by-block manner as a selectable massage function while in the selection mode, wherein the massage functions include a specific massage zone per block; and

receiving a first selection of the selectable massage function and adding the first selection to a massage sequence;

resuming scrolling through designation of the plurality of massage functions as the selectable massage function;

receiving a second selection of the selectable massage function from a user selection and adding the selectable massage function to the massage sequence;

terminating the selection mode; and

operating at least one massage device within one of a plurality of massage zones of the vehicle seat according to the massage sequence;

wherein the massage functions are scrolled through cyclically and are previewed for a predetermined amount of time before being receiving the selection from the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the massage functions organized in a block-by-block manner include at least one specific massage option for the massage zone, which massage option is selected from the group comprising:

massage intensity, massage shape, massage duration, and massage pattern.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the massage functions organized in a block-by-block manner are scrolled through for designation as a selectable massage function in a recursive manner such that multiple ones of the massage functions can be added to the massage sequence when respectively designated as the selectable massage function.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the massage functions are scrolled through for designation as a selectable massage function automatically, upon lapse of a predetermined time interval.

11. The method of claim 9, further including:

receiving an edit command from the user relating to the selectable massage function;

scrolling through designation of a plurality of variations of the specific massage option as a selectable edit; and

receiving a selection of the selectable edit as a selected edit from a user and associating the selected edit with the respective massage zone.

12. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat;

a seatback;

a plurality of inflatable cushions within the seat and the seatback;

a compressor coupled with the cushions; and

a control;

previewing a designated selectable massage function for a predetermined period of time by causing the compressor to inflate and deflate one of the cushions corresponding to the massage function and receiving a selection of the selectable massage function for addition to a massage sequence;

automatically scrolling through a plurality of massage functions corresponding to respective ones of the cushions as the designated selectable massage function; and

adding a first one of the massage functions corresponding to the selectable massage function to a massage sequence upon receiving a first selection of the selectable massage function.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 12, wherein the control further provides for editing of the designated selectable massage function by way of an edit command received by the interface.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 12, wherein the control provides at least one specific massage option for each of a plurality of massage zones including at least one cushion, which massage option is selected from the group comprising:

massage intensity, massage shape, massage duration, and massage pattern.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 14, wherein:

the control further includes an edit sub-mode within the selection mode that provides a scrollable block list of variations in the specific massage option; and

the interface is further configured to receive an input pertaining to a massage edit function.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 12, wherein the selection mode further includes:

continuing to automatically scroll through designation of massage functions as the selectable massage function and automatically previewing the selectable massage function; and

adding a second one of the massage functions corresponding to the selectable massage function to the massage sequence upon receiving a second selection of the selectable massage function.