Headrest control apparatus for vehicle and method of controlling headrest control apparatus for vehicle
First Claim
1. A headrest control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
- a headrest rear portion supported by a seatback;
a headrest front portion movable relative to the headrest rear portion between a first position, at which the headrest front portion is in contact with the headrest rear portion, and a second position, at which the headrest front portion is distant from the headrest rear portion;
driving means for moving the headrest front portion relative to the headrest rear portion between the first position and the second position;
a head detecting sensor provided at the headrest front portion and outputting a predetermined detection signal when a head of an occupant is proximate to the headrest front portion or when the head of the occupant is in contact with the headrest front portion;
a head detecting circuit detecting one of a proximity of the head towards, and a contact of the head with, the headrest front portion based upon the detection signal of the head detecting sensor;
controlling means controlling the driving means to move the headrest front portion towards the second position when a proximity of an object from a rear of the vehicle is detected and to stop a movement of the headrest front portion towards the second position when the head detecting circuit detects the one of a proximity of the head towards, and a contact of the head with, the headrest front portion, the controlling means operating the head detecting circuit only when the headrest front portion moves towards the second position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A headrest control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a headrest rear portion; a headrest front portion movable relative to the headrest rear portion between a first position and a second position; driving means for moving the headrest front portion relative to the headrest rear portion and controlling means controlling the driving means to move the headrest front portion towards the second position when a proximity of an object from a rear of the vehicle is detected and stop a movement of the headrest front portion towards the second position when the head detecting circuit detects the one of a proximity of the head towards, and a contact of the head with, the headrest front portion. The controlling means operates the head detecting circuit when the headrest front portion moves towards the second position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A headrest control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
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a headrest rear portion supported by a seatback; a headrest front portion movable relative to the headrest rear portion between a first position, at which the headrest front portion is in contact with the headrest rear portion, and a second position, at which the headrest front portion is distant from the headrest rear portion; driving means for moving the headrest front portion relative to the headrest rear portion between the first position and the second position; a head detecting sensor provided at the headrest front portion and outputting a predetermined detection signal when a head of an occupant is proximate to the headrest front portion or when the head of the occupant is in contact with the headrest front portion; a head detecting circuit detecting one of a proximity of the head towards, and a contact of the head with, the headrest front portion based upon the detection signal of the head detecting sensor; controlling means controlling the driving means to move the headrest front portion towards the second position when a proximity of an object from a rear of the vehicle is detected and to stop a movement of the headrest front portion towards the second position when the head detecting circuit detects the one of a proximity of the head towards, and a contact of the head with, the headrest front portion, the controlling means operating the head detecting circuit only when the headrest front portion moves towards the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling a headrest control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
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a headrest movement step of moving a headrest front portion, which is movable between a first position and a second position, towards the second position when a proximity of an object from a rear of the vehicle is detected, the first position at which the headrest front portion is in contact with a headrest rear portion supported by a seatback of the vehicle, and the second position at which the headrest front portion is distant from the headrest rear portion; a headrest stop step of stopping a movement of the headrest front portion towards the second position when a proximity of the head of the occupant towards the headrest front portion is detected; and a circuit operation step of operating a head detecting circuit of a head detecting sensor provided at the headrest front portion only when the headrest front portion moves towards the second position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification