SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTUATION OF A HEAD RESTRAINT

• US 20070114822A1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Yetukuri, Nagarjun, Locke, Gerald, Jammalamadaka, Sai Prasad
• Granted Patent: US 7,441,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.300
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/859 specially adapted for rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/876 specially adapted for rear seats B60N2/835, B60N2/859 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for remote actuation of a vehicle head restraint includes an actuator arrangement configured to effect movement of a head restraint from a raised position to a lowered position. A sensor defines a first area, and is configured to output signals to the actuator arrangement to facilitate movement of the head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position when an object comes within a predetermined distance of the first area. The sensor is disposed proximate a rearview mirror in the vehicle such that a vehicle operator can simultaneously view the head restraint in the mirror and the first area.

Claims

1. A system for remote actuation of at least one vehicle head restraint movable from a respective raised position to a respective lowered position, the vehicle including a rearview mirror, the system comprising:

a first head restraint;

a first actuator arrangement configured to effect movement of the first head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position; and

a first sensor defining a first area and configured to output signals to the first actuator arrangement to facilitate movement of the first head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position when an object comes within a predetermined distance of the first area, the first sensor being disposed proximate the mirror such that a vehicle operator can simultaneously view the first head restraint in the mirror and the first area.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second head restraint;

a second actuator arrangement configured to effect movement of the second head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position; and

a second sensor defining a second area and configured to output signals to the second actuator arrangement to facilitate movement of the second head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position when an object comes within a predetermined distance of the second area, the second sensor being disposed proximate the mirror such that the vehicle operator can simultaneously view the first and second head restraints in the mirror and the first and second areas.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second sensors are configured to be actuated independently of each other, thereby facilitating independent movement of the first and second head restraints from their respective raised positions to their respective lowered positions.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second areas correspond to predetermined head restraint locations on the mirror such that a respective sensor can be actuated to facilitate movement of a respective head restraint when an object comes within a predetermined distance of a respective head restraint location on the mirror.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second sensors are capacitive sensors configured to be actuated when a vehicle operator'"'"'s finger comes within the predetermined distance of a respective head restraint location on the mirror.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a switch having a first setting for facilitating actuation of the first and second sensors, and a second setting for prohibiting actuation of the first and second sensors.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the switch is disposed proximate the mirror such that the vehicle operator can simultaneously view the first and second head restraints in the mirror, the first and second areas, and the switch.

8. A system for remote actuation of a plurality of vehicle head restraints movable from a respective raised position to a respective lowered position, the vehicle including a rearview mirror, the system comprising:

a plurality of head restraints visible in the mirror to a vehicle operator;

a plurality of actuator arrangements, each of the actuator arrangements being configured to effect movement of a respective head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position; and

a plurality of sensors configured to be independently actuated by the vehicle operator, each of the sensors being associated with a respective head restraint such that actuation of any one of the sensors effects actuation of a respective actuator arrangement, thereby facilitating movement of a respective head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position independently from the movement of any of the other head restraints, each of the sensors defining a respective sensor area and being disposed proximate the mirror such that the vehicle operator can simultaneously view the head restraints in the mirror and the sensor areas.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the sensors is configured for wireless communication with a respective actuator arrangement.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the sensors is configured to be actuated when an object comes within a predetermined distance of a respective sensor area.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the sensor areas is disposed on a portion of the mirror.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a switch having a first setting for facilitating actuation of the sensors, and a second setting for prohibiting actuation of the sensors.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the switch is disposed proximate the mirror such that the vehicle operator can simultaneously view the head restraints in the mirror and the switch.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the sensor areas is mapped to a respective head restraint location on the mirror where a respective head restraint is visible to the vehicle operator.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein there are at least three head restraints and three respective head restraint locations visible in the mirror to the vehicle operator.

16. A method for remote actuation of at least one vehicle head restraint from a respective raised position to a respective lowered position, the vehicle including a sensor and an actuator arrangement for each of the at least one head restraints to facilitate movement of a respective head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position, the vehicle further including a rearview mirror, the method comprising:

viewing an image of a first head restraint at a first location in the mirror; and

disposing an object within a predetermined distance of the first location to actuate a first one of the sensors, thereby sending a signal from the first sensor to a first one of the actuator arrangements to effect movement of the first head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

viewing an image of a second head restraint at a second location in the mirror;

disposing an object within a predetermined distance of the second location to actuate a second one of the sensors, thereby sending a signal from the second sensor to a second one of the actuator arrangements to effect movement of the second head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the signals from the first and second sensors are sent wirelessly to the first and second actuator arrangements.

19. The method of claim 18, the vehicle further including a switch having a first setting for facilitating actuation of the first and second sensors, and a second setting for prohibiting actuation of the first and second sensors, the method further comprising actuating the switch to the first setting prior to actuating the first or second sensors.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the switch is configured to automatically return to the second setting after it has been in the first setting for a predetermined amount of time.