USING RESTING LOAD TO AUGMENT ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATOR DEMAND IN POWER SEATS

• US 20120267928A1
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: MANKAME, NILESH D., LAWALL, JENNIFER P., SKURKIS, RICHARD J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,998,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.4
• 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 2/0024 for identifying, categorising or investigation of the occupant or object on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0284 Adjustable seat-cushion length B60N2/0224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/919 Positioning and locking mechanisms B60N2/16, B60N2/18, B60N2/22, B60N2/225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/924 using electric or hydraulic energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/48 Piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/10 Wired data transmission

Abstract

A power seat adjustment assembly comprising an active material actuator, adapted for use when a resting load is present within the seat, and configured to reduce actuator demand, and therefore actuator size and/or rating, by modifying the load to augment performance.

Claims

1. A power adjusted seat assembly composing a seat, and adapted for use when a resting load is present within the seat, said assembly comprising:

at least one reconfigurable seat structure shiftable between first and second permanent dimensions, orientations, positions, or conditions;

an active material actuator drivenly coupled to the structure; and

a mechanical transmission drivenly coupled to the structure, so as to act in concert with the actuator, and configured to receive and modify at least a portion of the load,

said actuator and transmission being cooperatively configured to cause the structure to shift between the first and second permanent dimensions, orientations, positions, or conditions, when the resting load is present and the actuator is activated.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structure defines a pivot axis, and the transmission is configured to convert the load into rotational displacement about the axis.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load presents a force vector, and the transmission is configured to redirect the force vector.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load presents a force vector, and the transmission is configured to amplify the force vector, so as to produce mechanical advantage.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structure presents a resistance to shifting, and the load and actuator are cooperatively configured to overcome the resistance.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission is intermediate the structure and actuator, and is driven by both the load and the actuator.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission is further configured to cause simultaneous shifting of a plurality of reconfigurable structures.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes a flexible member presenting a first raised position that defines the first length, the actuator is drivenly coupled to the member, and the member is configured, so as to be bowed by the load and actuator to define the length.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and operable to activate the actuator;

and

a sensor communicatively coupled to the controller and operable to detect the resting load,

said controller and sensor being cooperatively configured to autonomously activate the actuator, when the resting load is detected.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structure is a seat upright structure selected from the group consisting of a frame defining an angle of inclination, and an adjustably tensioned lumbar support.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structure is a seat base structure.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism operable to selectively engage the structure, when the structure is in the first and/or second dimension, orientation, position, or condition,

wherein the structure is shiftable only when the mechanism is disengaged.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission further includes a stored energy element drivenly coupled to the structure, the stored energy element is operable to release stored energy when the actuator is activated, and the energy and actuator are cooperatively configured to cause the structure to shift between the first and second dimensions, orientations, positions, or conditions.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the seat further includes internal supports, the stored energy element is defined by a flexible member, and the flexible member is limited by the supports.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, and the structure is caused or enabled to shift as a result of the change.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the element is comprised of material selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory alloys, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, electroactive polymers, and piezoelectric composite.

17. The assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the active material element is a shape memory alloy wire, ribbon, cable, braid, or tube.

18. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structure is a lateral bolster shiftable between first and second orientations, and defining a pivot axis.

19. The assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the transmission includes a folding mechanism manipulable between collapsed and extended conditions and pivotally connected to the structure, the actuator is configured so as to cause the mechanism to shift between the conditions, and the structure is caused to shift between the orientations as a result of shifting the assembly between conditions.

20. The assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the transmission includes a vertical rack and pinion, a linkage mechanism driven by the pinion, and a platform fixedly connected to the top of the rack and configured to receive the resting load.