System and Method for Controlling Vehicle Seat Movement

• US 20140277952A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Farquhar, Mark A., Hein, David A., Yetukuri, Arjun
• Granted Patent: US 9,333,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle. A sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor. A control unit is configured to receive the sensor output signal and to generate a control signal for use in controlling movement of the seat.

Claims

1. A system for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor assembly comprising a sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor; and

a control unit configured to receive the sensor output signal and to generate a control signal for use in controlling movement of the seat.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control signal is for use in halting movement of the seat based on the proximity of the object to the sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the control signal is for use in reversing movement of the seat based on the proximity of the object to the sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the control signal is for use in providing a warning to a user based on the proximity of the object to the sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor, the output signal generated represents a gap between the object and the sensor, and the control unit compares the gap to a threshold value.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is adapted for attachment to a surface of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a switch adapted to receive user input, the switch for use in generating an override signal for use in overriding the control signal to permit additional movement of the seat.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a seat movement controller configured to control movement of the seat, the seat movement controller adapted to receive the control signal generated by the control unit for use in controlling movement of the seat.

9. A system for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor assembly comprising a conductive sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor; and

a control unit configured to receive the sensor output signal and to generate a control signal for use in one of halting and reversing movement of the seat based on a proximity of the object to the sensor.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a seat movement controller configured to control movement of the seat, the seat movement controller adapted to receive the control signal generated by the control unit for use in controlling movement of the seat.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a capacitive sensor, the output signal generated represents a gap between the object and the sensor, and the control unit compares the gap to a threshold value.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor assembly is adapted for attachment to a vehicle surface.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising a switch adapted to receive user input, the switch for use in generating an override signal for use in overriding the control signal to permit additional movement of the seat.

14. A method for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a gap between a sensor and an object when the seat is moving; and

controlling movement of the seat based on a comparison of the gap to a threshold value.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein determining a gap between the sensor and an object comprises activating a seat movement controller comprising a sensor assembly configured to sense a presence of an object.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein controlling movement of the seat comprises generating a control signal for use in one of halting and reversing movement of the seat.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising generating an override signal in response to user input, the override signal for use in overriding the control signal to permit further movement of the seat after one of halting and reversing movement of the seat.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a capacitive sensor adapted for attachment to a vehicle surface.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein activating a seat movement controller comprises determining whether the seat is moving.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling movement of the seat comprises generating a control signal for use in providing a warning to a user.