Method and Apparatus for Controlling Seat Position Based on Seatbelt Usage

• US 20080023245A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Morris, Steven E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/268
• 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 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A method of controlling the position of a front seat having an unbelted rearmost position forward of a belted rearmost position within a vehicle is provided. The method includes determining if a seatbelt associated with the front seat is fastened and allowing movement of the front seat rearward of the unbelted rearmost position if the seatbelt is fastened. Alternately, movement of the front seat rearward of the unbelted rearmost position is prevented if the seatbelt is not fastened. The front seat may be either a driver seat or a passenger seat. A vehicle apparatus operable to carry out the disclosed method is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the position of a front seat having an unbelted rearmost position forward of a belted rearmost position within a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining if a seatbelt associated with the front seat is fastened;

allowing movement of the front seat rearward of the unbelted rearmost position if the seatbelt is fastened; and

preventing movement of the front seat rearward of the unbelted rearmost position if the seatbelt is not fastened.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the front seat is a passenger seat, the method further comprising determining if the passenger seat is occupied prior to determining if said seatbelt is fastened.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the front seat is a passenger seat, the method further comprising:

determining if the passenger seat is rearward of the unbelted rearmost position if said seatbelt is not fastened;

moving the passenger seat to the unbelted rearmost position if the passenger seat is rearward of the unbelted rearmost position; and

maintaining the position of the passenger seat and preventing movement of the passenger seat rearward of the unbelted rearmost position if the passenger seat is at, or forward of, the unbelted rearmost position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the front seat is a driver seat, the method further comprising moving the driver seat to the rearmost belted position to facilitate entry into the vehicle prior to determining if said seatbelt is fastened.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the front seat is a driver seat, the method further comprising:

actuating an ignition switch;

moving a transmission selector out of park; and

wherein it is determined if said seatbelt is fastened after actuating the ignition switch and before moving the transmission selector out of park.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

moving the driver seat to the furthest forward of a preselected seating position and the unbelted rearmost position if said seatbelt is unfastened; and

moving said driver seat to a preselected position at one of a position forward of, rearward of, and at the unbelted rearmost position if said seatbelt is fastened.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the front seat is a driver seat, the method further comprising:

moving a transmission selector out of park; and

wherein it is determined if said seatbelt is fastened after moving the transmission selector out of park.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining if the driver seat is rearward of the unbelted rearmost position.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing a warning; and

moving the driver seat to the unbelted rearmost position if the driver seat is rearward of the unbelted rearmost position if said seatbelt is not fastened.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said warning is at least one of an audible warning and a visual warning.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a front seat movably mounted and movable in a fore and aft direction with respect to the vehicle;

a power drive mechanism operable to move said front seat;

a seatbelt assembly;

a seatbelt monitoring system operable to determine if said seatbelt assembly is fastened;

wherein said front seat has an unbelted rearmost position and a belted rearmost position disposed rearward of said unbelted rearmost position;

a controller operatively connected with said power drive mechanism and said seatbelt monitoring system;

wherein said controller is sufficiently programmed to establish whether said seatbelt is fastened from said seatbelt monitoring system and command said power drive system to move said front seat rearward of said unbelted rearmost position if said seatbelt is fastened and to move said front seat forward of said unbelted rearmost position if said seatbelt is not fastened.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said front seat is one of a driver seat and a passenger seat.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

a first sensor operatively connected to said controller; and

wherein said first sensor is operable to determine the position of said front seat.

14. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

a second sensor mounted with respect to said front seat and operatively connected to said controller;

wherein said second sensor is operable to determine whether said front seat is occupied.

15. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

a warning system operable to indicate when said controller is commanding said power drive system to move said front seat; and

wherein said warning system is at least one of a visual warning system and an audible warning system.

16. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

an ignition switch;

a third sensor mounted with respect to said ignition switch and in communication with said controller;

wherein said third sensor is operable to determine the state of said ignition switch;

a transmission selector;

a fourth sensor mounted with respect to said transmission selector and in communication with said controller; and

wherein said third sensor is operable to determine the state of operation of said transmission selector.

17. A method of controlling the position of a driver seat and a passenger seat each having an unbelted rearmost position forward of a belted rearmost position within a vehicle having a transmission selector and ignition switch, the method comprising:

determining if a seatbelt associated with the driver seat is fastened;

moving the driver seat to the furthest forward position of a preselected position and the unbelted rearmost position if said seatbelt associated with the driver seat is not fastened;

moving the driver seat to said preselected position either forward or rearward of said unbelted rearmost poison if said seatbelt associated with the driver seat is fastened;

determining if the passenger seat is occupied;

determining if a seatbelt associated with the passenger seat is fastened;

allowing the passenger seat to be adjusted to any position if said seatbelt associated with the passenger seat is fastened;

determining if the passenger seat is rearward of the unbelted rearmost position; and

moving passenger seat to the unbelted rearmost position if the passenger seat position is rearward of the unbelted rearmost position.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising maintaining the position of the passenger seat and preventing movement of the passenger seat rearward of the unbelted rearmost position if the passenger seat is forward of the unbelted rearmost position.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising at least one of actuating the ignition switch and moving the transmission shifter from park prior to determining if said seatbelt associated with the driver seat is fastened.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing at least one of a visual and audible warning prior to moving the driver seat to the unbelted rearmost position.