Systems and methods for controlling automotive seat adjustments using electromagnetic rail technology

• US 10,479,227 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2017
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Nolte, Jason J., Zhang, Chao, Fallon, Lisa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Application Number:
  US15/645,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20190009694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/08 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/24 for particular purposes or particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database

Abstract

A method for adjusting a vehicle seat onboard a vehicle is provided. The method obtains vehicle status data, by a processor communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle; detects a current actuation state of the vehicle seat based on the vehicle status data, by the processor, wherein the current actuation state comprises at least one of a user input actuation state and an emergency actuation state; calculates seat adjustments, by the processor, based on the current actuation state; and actuates the vehicle seat based on the seat adjustments, via an electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device communicatively coupled to the processor.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a vehicle seat onboard a vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining vehicle status data, by a processor communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle, wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting a current seat position and a current seat orientation;

detecting a current actuation state of the vehicle seat based on the vehicle status data, by the processor, wherein the current actuation state comprises at least one of a user input actuation state and an emergency actuation state;

calculating seat adjustments, by the processor, based on the current actuation state, wherein calculating the seat adjustments further comprises;

determining a potential seat position and a potential seat orientation;

calculating a time duration for actuating the vehicle seat from the current seat position and the current seat orientation to the potential seat position and the potential seat orientation; and

calculating power requirements for actuating the vehicle seat from the current seat position and the current seat orientation to the potential seat position and the potential seat orientation; and

actuating the vehicle seat based on the seat adjustments and using the power requirements and the time duration, via an electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device communicatively coupled to the processor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

unlocking a locking mechanism of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device, via a power source communicatively coupled to the processor;

actuating the vehicle seat after unlocking the locking mechanism; and

locking the locking mechanism of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device to secure the vehicle seat after actuating.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting first vehicle data comprising internal vehicle sensor data, a passenger weight, vehicle mass data, and system power data;

and

wherein the method further comprises calculating the time duration and the power requirements based on the first vehicle data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting second vehicle data comprising external vehicle sensor data, parallel park assist sensor data, front radar data, side blind radar data, wheel alignment data, vehicle acceleration data, vehicle heading data, vehicle speed data, laser-based vision system data, visible light based vision system data, and rear threat detection system data;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

identifying a potential vehicle threat, using the second vehicle data; and

when the potential vehicle threat is identified, determining that the current actuation state comprises an emergency actuation state.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting third vehicle data comprising presence of a passenger in the vehicle seat, a weight of the passenger in the vehicle seat, a current vehicle seat position, and a current vehicle seat orientation;

wherein the method further comprises computing an emergency vehicle seat position and an emergency vehicle seat orientation; and

wherein the vehicle seat is actuated based on the emergency vehicle seat position and the emergency vehicle seat orientation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting whether a vehicle onboard airbag is currently deployed;

and

wherein, when the vehicle onboard airbag is currently deployed, the method further comprises;

identifying a potential vehicle threat, based on the vehicle onboard airbag currently being deployed; and

when the potential vehicle threat is identified, determining that the current actuation state comprises an emergency actuation state.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input request for adjustment of the vehicle seat, via a user interface communicatively coupled to the processor;

evaluating the user input request to identify a potential vehicle seat position and a potential vehicle seat orientation, wherein the user input actuation state comprises the potential vehicle seat position and the potential vehicle seat orientation;

calculating the seat adjustments, based on the potential vehicle seat position and the potential vehicle seat orientation.

8. A system for adjusting a vehicle seat onboard a vehicle, the system comprising:

system memory;

a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle, the plurality of sensors comprising internal vehicle sensors and external vehicle sensors;

an electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device, comprising locking mechanisms, friction surfaces, and electromagnetic rail elements, wherein the electromagnetic rail elements comprise permanent magnets positioned on one of a seat rod and seat adjustment tracks, and electromagnets positioned on a second one of the seat rod and the seat adjustment tracks, wherein the permanent magnets and the electromagnets are configured to actuate the vehicle seat based on an electromagnetic field generated by toggling current, wherein as the permanent magnets travel forward, the electromagnets toggle the electromagnetic field such that the electromagnets alternate between pulling the permanent magnets from a front of the vehicle seat to pushing the permanent magnets from a back of the vehicle seat;

a power source configured to generate electromagnetic forces that cause seat actuation along track rails; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the system memory, the plurality of vehicle sensors, the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device, and the power source, the at least one processor configured to;

obtain vehicle status data, via the plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle;

detect a current actuation state of the vehicle seat based on the vehicle status data, wherein the current actuation state comprises at least one of a user input actuation state and an emergency actuation state;

calculate seat adjustments, based on the current actuation state; and

actuating the vehicle seat based on the seat adjustments, via the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic rail elements comprise electromagnetic coils positioned in a seat rod and seat adjustment tracks;

and

wherein the electromagnetic coils are configured to receive an electric current generating an electromagnetic field that magnetically actuates the vehicle seat, wherein an electric current direction determines an electromagnetic field direction.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the friction surfaces of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device comprise rail slide guide positioned on electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device;

and

wherein the rail slide guide is configured to provide a smooth motion path for the vehicle seat during actuation using the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the friction surfaces of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device comprise seat rail rollers positioned inside a seat rail roller groove of a seat rail channel;

and

wherein the seat rail rollers are configured to provide smooth motion for the vehicle seat during actuation using the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanisms comprise at least one seat position lock port and a seat lock actuator;

wherein the at least one seat position lock port and the seat lock actuator are configured to prevent actuation of the vehicle seat by securing the vehicle seat in place in the absence of user seat adjustment commands and during power failure; and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to;

unlock the locking mechanisms of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device, via the power source;

actuate the vehicle seat after unlocking the locking mechanism; and

lock the locking mechanisms of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device to secure the vehicle seat after actuating.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to obtain the vehicle status data by detecting a current seat position and a current seat orientation;

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to calculate the seat adjustments by;

determining a potential seat position and a potential seat orientation;

calculating a time duration for actuating the vehicle seat from the current seat position and the current seat orientation to the potential seat position and the potential seat orientation; and

calculating power requirements for actuating the vehicle seat from the current seat position and the current seat orientation to the potential seat position and the potential seat orientation; and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to actuate the vehicle seat using the power requirements and the time duration.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to obtain the vehicle status data by detecting first vehicle data comprising internal vehicle sensor data, a passenger weight, vehicle mass data, and system power data;

and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to calculate the time duration and the power requirements based on the first vehicle data.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to obtain the vehicle status data by detecting second vehicle data comprising external vehicle sensor data, parallel park assist sensor data, front radar data, side blind radar data, wheel alignment data, vehicle acceleration data, vehicle heading data, vehicle speed data, laser-based vision system data, visible light based vision system data, and rear threat detection system data;

and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to;

identify a potential vehicle threat, using the second vehicle data; and

when the potential vehicle threat is identified, determine that the current actuation state comprises an emergency actuation state.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to obtain the vehicle status data by detecting third vehicle data comprising presence of a passenger in the vehicle seat, a weight of the passenger in the vehicle seat, a current vehicle seat position, and a current vehicle seat orientation;

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to compute an emergency vehicle seat position and an emergency vehicle seat orientation; and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to actuate the vehicle seat based on the emergency vehicle seat position and the emergency vehicle seat orientation.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to obtain the vehicle status data by detecting whether a vehicle onboard airbag is currently deployed;

and

wherein, when the vehicle onboard airbag is currently deployed, the at least one processor is further configured to;

identify a potential vehicle threat, based on the vehicle onboard airbag currently being deployed; and

when the potential vehicle threat is identified, determine that the current actuation state comprises an emergency actuation state.

18. A system for adjusting a vehicle seat onboard a vehicle, the system comprising:

system memory;

a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle, the plurality of sensors comprising internal vehicle sensors and external vehicle sensors;

an electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device, comprising locking mechanisms, friction surfaces, and electromagnetic rail elements;

a power source configured to generate electromagnetic forces that cause seat actuation along track rails;

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the system memory, the plurality of vehicle sensors, the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device, and the power source, the at least one processor configured to;

obtain vehicle status data, via the plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle;

detect a current actuation state of the vehicle seat based on the vehicle status data, wherein the current actuation state comprises at least one of a user input actuation state and an emergency actuation state;

calculate seat adjustments, based on the current actuation state; and

actuating the vehicle seat based on the seat adjustments, via the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device; and

a back-up power source communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the back-up power source is configured to;

maintain a charged status for back-up use by the processor and the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device to perform actuation of the vehicle seat;

provide power to the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device during failure of the power source; and

provide burst power for rapid adjustment during a crash event or airbag deployment.