VEHICLE WITH PIEZO FIRING SPRING ASSEMBLY

• US 20080197988A1
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nathan, John F.
• Application Number:
  US11/675,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20080197988A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558

Abstract

An impulse detector includes a piezoelectric component and a resilient component. The resilient component has a predetermined resistance to deformation during an impact. The piezoelectric component is associated with the resilient component so that an impulse of a predetermined magnitude causes deformation of the piezoelectric component thereby generating a resulting electrical signal. An impulse responsive vehicle seat assembly incorporates the impulse detector to detect vehicle collisions.

Claims

1. An impulse detector for inclusion in an automobile, the impulse detector comprising:

a piezoelectric component; and

a resilient component having a predetermined resistance to deformation during an impact, the piezoelectric component associated with the resilient component so that an impulse of a predetermined magnitude cause deformation of the piezoelectric component thereby generating a resulting electrical signal.

2. The impulse detector of claim 1 wherein the resilient component is a spring.

3. The impulse detector of claim 1 wherein the spring has one or more windings.

4. The impulse detector of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the piezoelectric component is interposed between adjacent windings of the spring.

5. The impulse detector of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric component is attached to the resilient component such that the resilient component at least partially imparts resistance to the piezoelectric component.

6. The impulse detector of claim 1 further comprising a base component that remains relatively stationary as compared to the resilient component during the impulse.

7. The impulse detector of claim 1 adapted to be placed in a vehicle seat, a vehicle bumper, a vehicle door, or combinations thereof.

8. The impulse detector of claim 1 in communication with a head restraint actuator.

9. The impulse detector of claim 1 wherein the flexible piezoelectric component comprises piezoelectric ceramic fibers.

10. The impulse detector of claim 9 wherein the flexible piezoelectric component comprises a material selected from the group BaTiO₃, SrTiO₃, Pb(ZrTi)O₃, KNbO₃, LiNbO₃, LiTaO₃, BiFeO₃, Ba₂NaNb₅O₅, Pb₂KNb₅O₁₅, and combinations thereof.

11. An impulse responsive vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seat back proximate to the seat bottom;

a head restraint attached to the seat back, the head restraint having a forward surface, the head restraint being adjustable in a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration positioning the forward surface in a first position and the second configuration positioning the forward surface in a second position, the second position being more forward than the first position;

an actuator in communication with the head restraint, the actuator is able to adjust the head restraint from a first configuration to a second configuration; and

an impulse detector comprising;

a piezoelectric component; and

a resilient component having a predetermined resistance to deformation during an impact, the piezoelectric component associated with the resilient component so that an impulse of a predetermined magnitude causes deformation of the piezoelectric component thereby generating a resulting electrical signal that causes the actuator to adjust the head restraint when at least a portion of the flexible piezoelectric component is deflected in a vehicle impact.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the head restraint comprises a forward component and a rear component, the forward component including the forward surface, the forward component moveably attached to the rear component.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 12 wherein the forward component is configured to move forward during the vehicle impact.

14. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the head restraint is pivotably attached to the head restraint.

15. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the head restraint pivots forward during the vehicle impact.

16. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the resilient component comprises a spring.

17. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 further comprising a pelvic catch assembly that incorporates the piezoelectric component.

18. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the flexible piezoelectric component comprises piezoelectric ceramic fibers.

19. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the flexible piezoelectric component comprises a material selected from the group BaTiO₃, SrTiO₃, Pb(ZrTi)O₃, KNbO₃, LiNbO₃, LiTaO₃, BiFeO₃, Ba₂NaNb₅O₅, Pb₂KNb₅O₁₅, and combinations thereof.

20. A impulse responsive vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seat back proximate to the seat bottom;

a head restraint attached to the seat back, the head restraint having a forward surface, the head restraint being adjustable in a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration positioning the forward surface in a first position and the second configuration positioning the forward surface in a second position, the second position being more forward than the first position;

an actuator in communication with the head restraint, the actuator able to adjust the head restraint from a first configuration to a second configuration;

a pelvic catch assembly comprising a piezoelectric ceramic fiber, the piezoelectric ceramic fiber component being in communication with the actuator, the piezoelectric component generating a signal that causes the actuator to adjust the head restraint when at least a portion of the flexible piezoelectric component is deflected in a vehicle impact.