ADAPTIVE ENERGY ABSORPTION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20080015753A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovital LLC, University of Maryland
• Original Assignee: University of Maryland
• Inventors: Chen, Peter, Wang, Gang, Hiemenz, Gregory, Wereley, Norman, Choi, Young-Tai
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4242 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/522 characterised by dampening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/055 Padded or energy-absorbing fittings , e.g. seat belt anchors sun visors B60J3/00; head rests B60N2/80
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0619 with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0689 specially adapted for pilots
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/002 characterised by the control method or circuitry control of mechanical oscillations per se G05D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/02 Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems F16F15/005 takes precedence ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2222/06 Magnetic or electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/043 electrorheological
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/045 magnetorheological

Abstract

An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat is disclosed, utilizing an adaptive energy absorber or variable profile energy absorber (VPEA) for mitigating occupant injury due to extreme vehicle movement (e.g., during a vehicle shock event), and/or for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of the vehicle seat during normal vehicle operating conditions. The adaptive energy absorption system achieves the aforementioned objectives for a wide range of occupant weights and load levels. Various configurations of dual-goal energy absorption apparatuses that enable both shock mitigation and vibration isolation are disclosed.

Claims

1. An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat for mitigating injury to an occupant of the vehicle seat during a vehicle shock event, the system comprising:

a variable profile energy absorber operatively connected to a vehicle and to the vehicle seat;

a sensor; and

a controller;

that determines a load injury threshold for a part of the occupant'"'"'s body;

that determines an occurrence of a vehicle shock event based in part on at least one measurement received from the sensor that exceeds a predetermined value; and

that adjusts the variable profile energy absorber in real-time, via a control signal, such that an actual load experienced by the occupant'"'"'s body part is maintained at or below the determined load injury threshold during the vehicle shock event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller determines a load injury threshold for at least one of the occupant'"'"'s pelvis, viscera, spine, neck, or head.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the variable profile energy absorber so as to bring the actual load experienced by the occupant'"'"'s body part up to, but not in excess of, the determined load injury threshold while minimizing stroking distance of the variable profile energy absorber.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the variable profile energy absorber comprises at least one of an active valve damper, a magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper, an electrorheological (ER) fluid damper, a magnetic energy absorber, or a servo-hydraulic actuator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the load injury threshold is determined based in part on an occupant weight value.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the occupant weight value is a fixed occupant weight value that will be used for occupants of the vehicle seat, regardless of the occupants'"'"' actual weight.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the fixed occupant weight value is selected from statistical data.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the occupant weight value is obtained from a weight indication mechanism.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the weight indication mechanism comprises a control for manually selecting the weight of the occupant.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the weight indication mechanism comprises a sensor for measuring the weight of the occupant.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller determines the load injury threshold for the part of the occupant'"'"'s body by utilizing statistical data gathered from a range of body types to determine a correlation between a range of acceptable load limits for the body part and the occupant weight value.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the statistical data is stored in a data table accessible by the controller.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller determines a load injury threshold for the part of the occupant'"'"'s body by utilizing a minimum load limit from the range of acceptable load limits.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller utilizes a gain schedule to adjust the variable profile energy absorber, the gain schedule receiving as input statistical data that is selected based in part on the occupant weight value.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller utilizes output from a biodynamic model when generating the control signal to adjust the variable profile energy absorber, the biodynamic model receiving as input at least one measurement from the sensor and statistical data that is selected based in part on the occupant weight value.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors for measuring one or more of position, velocity, acceleration, or jerk of the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors for measuring loads experienced by the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a sensor associated with the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors for measuring one or more of position, velocity, acceleration, or jerk of the vehicle seat.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors for measuring loads experienced by the vehicle seat.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more occupant-mounted sensors for providing real-time occupant body load measurements to the controller.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more occupant-mounted sensors for providing real-time occupant body motion measurements to the controller.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor for measuring occupant attitude within the vehicle seat.

24. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power source, independent from a power source associated with the vehicle, that provides power to the variable profile energy absorber, sensor, and controller.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the variable profile energy absorber, sensor, and controller are powered by a power source associated with the vehicle.

26. In an adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat, wherein a variable profile energy absorber is operatively connected to a vehicle and to the vehicle seat, a method for mitigating injury to an occupant of the vehicle seat during a vehicle shock event, the method comprising:

determining a load injury threshold for a part of the occupant'"'"'s body; and

upon determining an occurrence of a vehicle shock event based in part on at least one measurement received from a sensor that exceeds a predetermined value, generating a control signal to adjust the variable profile energy absorber in real-time such that an actual load experienced by the occupant'"'"'s body part is maintained at or below the determined load injury threshold during the vehicle shock event.

27. An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of the vehicle seat during normal vehicle operation, and for mitigating injury to the occupant during a vehicle shock event, the system comprising:

an energy absorber operatively connected to a vehicle and to the vehicle seat;

a stiffness element that is releasably coupled to the energy absorber via a coupling mechanism, and that is oriented to provide resistance to a stroke of the energy absorber, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to fail when a force resulting from the stroke of the energy absorber exceeds a predetermined value;

a sensor; and

a controller that determines a load injury threshold for a part of the occupant'"'"'s body, and that operates in a first mode until at least one measurement received from the sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value indicating an occurrence of a vehicle shock event, at which time the controller switches to a second mode;

wherein, in the first mode, the controller adjusts the energy absorber in real-time via a control signal to reduce resonance of the vehicle seat, and wherein the stiffness element provides resistance to the stroke of the energy absorber to further reduce resonance of the vehicle seat; and

wherein, in the second mode, the controller adjusts the energy absorber in real-time via a control signal such that the force of the stroke of the energy absorber exceeds the predetermined value causing the coupling mechanism to fail resulting in elimination of the resistance to the stroke of the variable profile energy absorber provided by the stiffness element, and such that an actual load experienced by the occupant'"'"'s body part is maintained below the determined load injury threshold during the vehicle shock event.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the stiffness element comprises a variable stiffness element.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the stiffness element comprises a fixed stiffness element.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the stiffness element comprises at least one of a coil spring, leaf spring, torsional spring, or gas spring.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the energy absorber comprises at least one of an active valve damper, a magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper, an electrorheological (ER) fluid damper, a magnetic energy absorber, or a servo-hydraulic actuator.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein:

the energy absorber includes a rod coupled to a piston within a housing;

wherein the stiffness element comprises a coil spring; and

wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a shear pin coupling the coil spring to the rod.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the controller determines a load injury threshold for at least one of the occupant'"'"'s pelvis, viscera, spine, neck, or head.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein, in the second mode, the controller adjusts the energy absorber so as to bring the actual load experienced by the occupant'"'"'s body part up to, but not in excess of, the determined load injury threshold while minimizing stroking distance of the energy absorber.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the load injury threshold is determined based in part on an occupant weight value.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the occupant weight value is a fixed occupant weight value that will be used for occupants of the vehicle seat, regardless of the occupants'"'"' actual weight.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the fixed occupant weight value is selected from statistical data.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the occupant weight value is obtained from a weight indication mechanism.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the weight indication mechanism comprises a control for manually selecting the weight of the occupant.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the weight indication mechanism comprises a sensor for measuring the weight of the occupant.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the controller determines the load injury threshold for the part of the occupant'"'"'s body by utilizing statistical data gathered from a range of body types to determine a correlation between a range of acceptable load limits for the body part and the occupant weight value.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the statistical data is stored in a data table accessible by the controller.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the controller determines a load injury threshold for the part of the occupant'"'"'s body by utilizing a minimum load limit from the range of acceptable load limits.

44. The system of claim 35, wherein the controller utilizes a gain schedule to adjust the variable profile energy absorber, the gain schedule receiving as input statistical data that is selected based in part on the occupant weight value.

45. The system of claim 35, wherein the controller utilizes output from a biodynamic model when generating the control signal to adjust the variable profile energy absorber, the biodynamic model receiving as input at least one measurement from the sensor and statistical data that is selected based in part on the occupant weight value.

46. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors for measuring one or more of position, velocity, acceleration, or jerk of the vehicle.

47. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors for measuring loads experienced by the vehicle.

48. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor comprises a sensor associated with the vehicle.

49. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors for measuring one or more of position, velocity, acceleration, or jerk of the vehicle seat.

50. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors for measuring loads experienced by the vehicle seat.

51. The system of claim 27, further comprising one or more occupant-mounted sensors for providing real-time occupant body load measurements to the controller.

52. The system of claim 27, further comprising one or more occupant-mounted sensors for providing real-time occupant body motion measurements to the controller.

53. The system of claim 27, further comprising at least one sensor for measuring occupant attitude within the vehicle seat.

54. The system of claim 27, further comprising a power source, independent from a power source associated with the vehicle, that provides power to the variable profile energy absorber, sensor, and controller.

55. The system of claim 27, wherein the variable profile energy absorber, sensor, and controller are powered by a power source associated with the vehicle.

56. A method for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of a vehicle seat during normal vehicle operation, and for mitigating injury to the occupant during a vehicle shock event, the method comprising:

determining a load injury threshold for a part of the occupant'"'"'s body;

operating in a first mode to adjust an energy absorber, operatively connected to a vehicle and to the vehicle seat, in real-time via a control signal to reduce resonance of the vehicle seat, the energy absorber releasably coupled to a stiffness element, via a coupling mechanism, that is oriented to provide resistance to a stroke of the energy absorber to further reduce resonance of the vehicle seat; and

upon determining an occurrence of a vehicle shock event based in part on at least one measurement received from a sensor that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, operating in a second mode to adjust the energy absorber in real-time via a control signal such that a force resulting from the stroke of the energy absorber exceeds a predetermined value causing the coupling mechanism to fail resulting in elimination of the resistance to the stroke of the energy absorber provided by the stiffness element, and such that an actual load experienced by the occupant'"'"'s body part is maintained below the determined load injury threshold during the vehicle shock event.

57. An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat for mitigating injury to an occupant of the vehicle seat during a vehicle shock event, the system comprising:

a variable profile energy absorber operatively connected to a vehicle and to the vehicle seat;

a sensor; and

a controller;

that determines an occurrence of a vehicle shock event based in part on at least one measurement received from the sensor that exceeds a predetermined value; and

that adjusts, via a control signal, the variable profile energy absorber based in part on the at least one measurement received from the sensor, such that an actual load experienced by a part of the occupant'"'"'s body is minimized during the vehicle shock event by utilizing substantially an entire stroke of the variable profile energy absorber.

58. In an adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat, wherein a variable profile energy absorber is operatively connected to a vehicle and to the vehicle seat, a method for mitigating injury to an occupant of the vehicle seat during a vehicle shock event, the method comprising:

receiving one or more measurements from a sensor; and

upon determining an occurrence of a vehicle shock event based in part on at least one measurement received from the sensor that exceeds a predetermined value, generating a control signal to adjust the variable profile energy absorber based in part on the at least one measurement received from the sensor, such that an actual load experienced by a part of the occupant'"'"'s body is minimized during the vehicle shock event by utilizing substantially an entire stroke of the variable profile energy absorber.

59. An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of the vehicle seat during normal vehicle operation, and for mitigating injury to the occupant during a vehicle shock event, the system comprising:

an energy absorber operatively connected to a vehicle and to the vehicle seat;

a stiffness element that is releasably coupled to the energy absorber via a coupling mechanism, and that is oriented to provide resistance to a stroke of the energy absorber, wherein the coupling mechanism is designed to fail when a force resulting from the stroke of the energy absorber exceeds a predetermined value;

a sensor; and

a controller that operates in a first mode until at least one measurement received from the sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value indicating an occurrence of a vehicle shock event, at which time the controller switches to a second mode;

wherein, in the first mode, the controller adjusts the energy absorber in real-time via a control signal to reduce resonance of the vehicle seat, and wherein the stiffness element provides resistance to the stroke of the energy absorber to further reduce resonance of the vehicle seat; and

wherein, in the second mode, the controller adjusts the energy absorber in real-time via a control signal such that the force of the stroke of the energy absorber exceeds the predetermined value causing the coupling mechanism to fail resulting in elimination of the resistance to the stroke of the energy absorber provided by the stiffness element, and such that, based in part on the at least one measurement received from the sensor, an actual load experienced by a part of the occupant'"'"'s body is minimized during the vehicle shock event by utilizing substantially an entire stroke of the energy absorber.

60. A method for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of a vehicle seat during normal vehicle operation, and for mitigating injury to the occupant during a vehicle shock event, the method comprising:

receiving one or more measurements from a sensor;

operating in a first mode to adjust an energy absorber, operatively connected to a vehicle and to the vehicle seat, in real-time via a control signal to reduce resonance of the vehicle seat, the energy absorber releasably coupled to a stiffness element, via a coupling mechanism, that is oriented to provide resistance to a stroke of the energy absorber to further reduce resonance of the vehicle seat; and

upon determining an occurrence of a vehicle shock event based in part on at least one measurement received from the sensor that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, operating in a second mode to adjust the energy absorber in real-time via a control signal such that a force resulting from the stroke of the energy absorber exceeds a predetermined value causing the coupling mechanism to fail resulting in elimination of the resistance to the stroke of the energy absorber provided by the stiffness element, and such that, based in part on the at least one measurement received from the sensor, an actual load experienced by a part of the occupant'"'"'s body is minimized during the vehicle shock event by utilizing substantially an entire stroke of the energy absorber.