VEHICLE SEAT LUMBAR SYSTEM

• US 20100078974A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nathan, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.300
• 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 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/666 vertically adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6671 with cable actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6673 with motor driven adjustments

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a seat defining an outer seating surface. An adjustment mechanism is mounted on the seat and includes a member movable relative to the seating surface for altering the contoured shape of the seating surface. A sensor is mounted on the seat. The sensor detects the location of an applied force acting on the seating surface by an occupant seated on the seat back and detects an applied pressure distribution of the force exerted on the seating surface. The sensor supplies a signal indicative of the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force. A controller receives the signal and is operable by a seat occupant for storing information corresponding to the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force. The controller is operable to move the member by the adjustment mechanism from an initial position to a subsequent position dependent on a subsequent detection of a location of a second applied force and an applied pressure distribution of the force detected by the sensor.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat defining an outer seating surface;

an adjustment mechanism mounted on said seat and including a member movable relative to said seating surface for altering the contoured shape of said seating surface;

a sensor mounted on said seat, said sensor detecting the location of an applied force acting on said seating surface by an occupant seated on said seat back and detecting an applied pressure distribution of the force exerted on said seating surface, wherein said sensor supplies a signal indicative of the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force; and

a controller receiving said signal and operable by a seat occupant for storing information corresponding to the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force, wherein said controller is operable to move said member by said adjustment mechanism from an initial position to a subsequent position dependent on a subsequent detection of a location of a second applied force an applied pressure distribution of the force detected by said sensor.