Vehicle seat

• US 20020070591A1
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Actuation Systems
• Original Assignee: Messier-Bugatti (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Nivet, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 6,731,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0292 Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06395 characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0641 Seats convertible into beds
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests

Abstract

The vehicle seat (10) comprises at least one electrically powered functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 38). This functional member comprises an active element (24E, 26E, 28E, 30E, 31E, 32E, 34E) designed to perform a unique elemental function; a local control unit (24D, 26D, 28D, 30D, 31D, 32D, 34D) for controlling an active element (24E, 26E, 28E, 30E, 31E, 32E, 34E) ; means (24B, 26B, 28B, 30B, 31B, 32B, 34B) of receiving commands; and means (24F, 26F, 28F, 30F, 31F, 32F, 34F, 38F) for collecting operational status data from the functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34). The seat comprises a communication bus (42) to which each of the receiving means (24B, 26B, 28B, 30B, 31B, 32B, 34B). At least one functional member comprises operational status data transmission means (24C, 26C, 28C, 30C, 31C, 32C, 34C) which transmission means (24C, 26C, 28C, 30C, 31C, 32C, 34C) are incorporated into the said functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34) and are each directly connected to the communication bus (42) for transmitting operational status data on the communication bus (42).

Claims

1. Vehicle seat (10) comprising:

at least one electrically powered functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 38), which functional member comprises;

an active element (24E, 26E, 28E, 30E, 31E, 32E, 34E) designed to perform a unique elemental function;

a local control unit (24D, 26D, 28D, 30D, 31D, 32D, 34D) for controlling an active element (24E, 26E, 28E, 30E, 31E, 32E, 34E) of the functional member from commands;

means (24B, 26B, 28B, 30B, 31B, 32B, 34B) of receiving commands, which receiving means are incorporated into the said functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34); and

means (24F, 26F, 28F, 30F, 31F, 32F, 34F, 38F) for collecting operational status data from the functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34); and

a communication bus (42) to which each of the receiving means (24B, 26B, 28B, 30B, 31B, 32B, 34B) of the or of each functional member (24, 26, 28 30, 31, 32, 34) is directly connected for transmitting commands, characterized in that at least one functional member comprises operational status data transmission means (24C, 26C, 28C, 30C, 31C, 32C, 34C) which transmission means (24C, 26C, 28C, 30C, 31C, 32C, 34C) are incorporated into the said functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34) and are each directly connected to the communication bus (42) for transmitting operational status data on the communication bus (42).

2. Vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a central data processing unit (40) which central data processing unit (40) comprises, on the one hand, means (42C) of transmitting commands which means are connected to the communication bus for transmitting at least one command to at least one functional member and, on the other hand, means (42B) of receiving operational status data, which means are connected to the communication bus (42) for receiving operational status data transmitted by the or each functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34).

3. Vehicle seat according to claim 2, characterized in that the said central data processing unit (40) comprises means (50) of analysing the operational status data received and means (50) of formulating commands for at least one functional member.

4. Vehicle seat according to claim 3, characterized in that the said analysis means (50) are designed to analyse jointly operational status data from at least two functional members (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34).

5. Vehicle seat according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or each functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34) is one of the members chosen from the group consisting of:

an actuator (24, 26, 28), a heating member (30), a massage device (31), an inflatable cushion (32), a lighting device (34), a keypad (38) and an item of audiovisual equipment.

6. Vehicle seat according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication bus (42) is a bus of the serial type.

7. Vehicle seat (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one functional member (38) which has no active element designed to exert an elemental function, the or each functional member comprising means (38F) of collecting operational status data from the functional member.