Vehicle seating system having seat with individually controllable electromagnetic coils

• US 10,363,846 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Gallagher, David, Migneco, Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): Cox, Thaddeus B
• Application Number:
  US15/607,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20180345833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5678 characterised by electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/015 with mechanical sensing element not covered by groups G05D23/02 and G05D23/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/303 : using a sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 : characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A seating system for a vehicle includes a vehicle seat, individually selectable and controllable electromagnetic coils individually positioned at respective locations within the seat corresponding to anatomical locations of a person sitting in the vehicle seat, and a controller. The electromagnetic coils to generate electromagnetic fields when activated. The controller to individually activate a subset of the electromagnetic coils to deliver electromagnetic energy to the anatomical locations of the person corresponding to the respective locations within the vehicle seat of the activated electromagnetic coils.

Claims

1. A seating system for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat;

a plurality of individually selectable and controllable electromagnetic coils individually positioned at respective locations within the seat corresponding to anatomical locations of a person sitting in the vehicle seat, the electromagnetic coils to generate electromagnetic fields when activated;

a plurality of air bladders disposed within the vehicle seat;

at least some of the electromagnetic coils are respectively positioned against at least some of the bladders; and

a controller to individually activate a subset of the electromagnetic coils to deliver electromagnetic energy to the anatomical locations of the person corresponding to the respective locations within the vehicle seat of the activated electromagnetic coils.

2. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:

a human-machine interface to receive from the person a selection of the electromagnetic coils to activate; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils selected by the person.

3. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:

a biometric sensor to detect locations of discomfort of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of discomfort of the person.

4. The seating system of claim 3 wherein:

the biometric sensor includes at least one of a EMG-based device, a localized oxygen level detector, and a pressure detector.

5. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:

a fidget sensor to detect locations of fidgeting of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of fidgeting of the person.

6. The seating system of claim 5 wherein:

the fidget sensor includes at least one of a piezo-electric sensor, a radar sensor, a Doppler based sensor, a piezo-resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, a pressure-based sensor, and a camera.

7. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic coils include sewn conductive fibers.

8. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic coils are integrated into sub-components of the vehicle seat.

9. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic coils are between trim components and foam components of the vehicle seat.

10. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic coils are part of an independent structure separately removable from the seat.

11. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:

a current generator to generate electrical currents; and

the controller to control electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the subset of the electromagnetic coils to individually activate the subset of the electromagnetic coils.

12. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the controller to control inflating and deflating of the air bladders having the activated electromagnetic coils positioned thereon in conjunction with activating the activated electromagnetic coils.

13. A seating system for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat;

a current generator to generate electrical currents;

a plurality of individually selectable and controllable electromagnetic coils individually positioned at respective locations within the vehicle seat corresponding to anatomical locations of a person sitting in the vehicle seat, the electromagnetic coils to generate electromagnetic fields having characteristics in correspondence with characteristics of electrical currents supplied to the electromagnetic coils;

a plurality of air bladders disposed within the vehicle seat;

at least some of the electromagnetic coils are respectively positioned against at least some of the bladders;

a controller to individually activate a subset of the electromagnetic coils and control electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils for the activated electromagnetic coils to deliver electromagnetic energy in correspondence with the electrical currents to the anatomical locations of the person corresponding to the respective locations within the vehicle seat of the activated electromagnetic coils; and

the controller to control inflating and deflating of the bladders having the activated electromagnetic coils positioned thereon in conjunction with activating the activated electromagnetic coils and controlling the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils.

14. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a human-machine interface; and

the controller is programmed with one or more treatment plans each having unique electromagnetic coil activation and electromagnetic field characteristics settings;

the human-machine interface to receive from the person a selection of one of the treatment plans; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils and control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils in accordance with the selected treatment plan.

15. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a biometric sensor to detect locations of discomfort of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils and control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of discomfort of the person.

16. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a fidget sensor to detect locations of fidgeting of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils and control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of fidgeting of the person.

17. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a biometric sensor to detect locations of discomfort of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils, control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils, and control inflating and deflating of the bladders having the activated electromagnetic coils positioned thereon in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of discomfort of the person.

18. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a fidget sensor to detect locations of fidgeting of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils, control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils, and control inflating and deflating of the bladders having the activated electromagnetic coils positioned thereon in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of fidgeting of the person.