SEAT FOLDING SYSTEM WITH RADIO FREQUENCY LIMITED TARGETED ZONES FOR VERIFYING OPERATOR PRESENCE

• US 20070018840A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Ghabra, Riad, Tang, Tom, Nathan, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,460,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/667
• 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 2/0025 by using weight measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0279 for detecting objects outside the vehicle, e.g. for user identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3031 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3056 along longitunal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3079 in a recess
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/16 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/10 Wired data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission

Abstract

A folding system for a vehicle seat is disclosed that includes a Rf transmitter that is associated with the seat and a receiver that polls a portable transmitter/receiver whenever it is within a targeted zone near the rear door, right side door, or left side door. Weight sensing sensor arrays in the folding seat are used to prevent folding the seat when a foreign object is disposed in the seat. A Rf receiver may be provided either as part of the vehicle seat or the Rf receiver of a remote keyless entry system can be used that communicates with the seat through a vehicle bus.

Claims

1. A system for controlling movement of a seat disposed in a vehicle that has a power driven folding apparatus with a motor that is controlled by an electronic control module, the system comprising:

a radio frequency (Rf) transmitter having at least one antenna located near the seat that establishes at least one targeted zone;

an Rf receiver system associated with the seat;

a portable Rf transmitter and receiver unit that communicates with the Rf transmitter and the Rf receiver system when the portable Rf transmitter and receiver unit is within one of the targeted zones;

wherein the Rf transmitter and Rf receiver unit polls the portable RF transmitter and receiver system and provides a signal to the electronic control module during operation of the power driven folding apparatus that only permits the power driven folding apparatus to continue to operate as long as the portable Rf transmitter and receiver unit is in communication with the Rf transmitter and Rf receiver system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the Rf transmitter and the Rf receiver system are both assembled to the seat.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the portable Rf transmitter and receiver unit is polled by the Rf transmitter sending a low frequency signal to the portable Rf transmitter and receiver unit that responds to the Rf receiver system with a UHF response signal.

4. In the system of claim 1, further comprising at least one manually actuated switch that is actuated to initiate operation of the power driven folding apparatus and wherein the operation of the power driven folding apparatus continues until completed unless the portable Rf transmitter and receiver unit is moved out of the targeted zone.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the portable Rf transmitter and receiver unit has a plurality of manually actuated switches and wherein any one of the switches may be actuated to interrupt or prevent operation of the power driven folding apparatus.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein at least one of the manually actuated switches or a vehicle mounted switch may be actuated to override the power driven folding seat operation and allow manual folding of the seat.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is provided with a manually actuated switch that may be actuated during operation of the power driven folding apparatus to stop operation of the folding apparatus.

8. In the system of claim 1, further comprising an operator perceptible output mechanism that in the event operation of the power driven folding apparatus is interrupted communicates information regarding the status of the folding apparatus.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the operator perceptible output mechanism is a display panel on the key fob Rf transmitter and receiver system.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the operator perceptible output mechanism is a display panel on the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the operator perceptible output mechanism is an audio output.

12. A system for controlling movement of a seat disposed in a vehicle that has a power driven folding apparatus with a motor that is controlled by an electronic control module, the system comprising:

a radio frequency (Rf) transmitter having a right side antenna secured to the seat adjacent to a right side door to establish a right side targeted zone, a left side antenna secured to the seat adjacent to a left side door to establish a left side targeted zone, and a rear antenna secured to the seat adjacent the rear door to establish a rear area targeted zone;

an Rf receiver system disposed in the vehicle;

a portable Rf transmitter/receiver that may be removed from the vehicle and that communicates with the Rf transmitter and the Rf receiver system only when the key fob Rf transmitter and receiver system is within one of the targeted zones;

wherein the portable Rf transmitter/receiver provides a signal to the Rf receiver that is communicated to the electronic control module during operation of the power driven folding apparatus that permits the power driven folding apparatus to continue to operate.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the Rf receiver system also provides remote keyless entry that may be controlled by the portable Rf transmitter/ receiver in an active mode from a distance that is outside the targeted zone.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the Rf receiver system also provides passive communication between the portable Rf transmitter/receiver and the Rf receiver system.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the Rf receiver system is disposed at a location that is remote from the seat.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a weight sensing system provided on the seat that detects the presence of a foreign object on the seat and that prevents operation of the power driven folding apparatus if a foreign object is detected.