LEAN-IN CORNERING PLATFORM FOR A MOVING VEHICLE

• US 20170129372A1
• Filed: 11/06/2015
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClearMotion Acquisition I LLC
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Hein, Travis Lee, Knox, Lawrence D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,902,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2/10 tiltable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2875 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/39 Seats tiltable to compensate for roll inclination of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/0212 the seat or seat part turning about or moving along a longitudinal axis

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving ride quality of an active payload support system. In one example, a seat system for a vehicle includes a seat, a support structure including an actuator configured to rotate the seat about an axis of a pivot, a first sensor positioned to detect movement of the vehicle, and a controller configured to receive a first input from the first sensor, determine a cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle in a direction perpendicular to an axis parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle around a turn, the cornering lateral acceleration determined based at least on the first input, generate a command signal based at least on the cornering lateral acceleration to instruct an actuator to rotate the seat about the axis of the pivot in a direction of the turn, and provide a force command to the actuator to move the seat.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the movement of a seat coupled to a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a first input from at least a first sensor positioned to measure movement of the vehicle;

determining a cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis extending parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle around a turn, the cornering lateral acceleration being determined based at least in part on the first input;

generating a command signal based at least in part on the cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle to instruct an actuator coupled to the seat to rotate the seat about a first axis of a pivot in substantially a direction of the turn; and

providing a force command to the actuator to move the seat based on the command signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second input from at least a second sensor positioned to measure movement of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first input includes a vehicle roll rate, and the second input includes a total lateral acceleration of the vehicle in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis extending parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle around the turn.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining a distance between the first axis and a second axis about which the vehicle may rotate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle includes determining the cornering lateral acceleration based at least in part on the total lateral acceleration, the vehicle roll rate, and the distance between the first axis and the second axis.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first input includes a vehicle yaw rate and the second input includes a vehicle speed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle includes determining the cornering lateral acceleration based at least in part on the yaw rate and the vehicle speed.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a gain of the command signal responsive to receiving a responsiveness command.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the responsiveness command includes a user input.

10. A seat system for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat;

a support structure coupled to the seat and including an actuator configured to rotate the seat about a first axis of a pivot;

a first sensor positioned to detect movement of the vehicle; and

a controller configured to;

receive a first input from the first sensor;

determine a cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis extending parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle around a turn, the cornering lateral acceleration being determined based at least in part on the first input;

generate a command signal based at least in part on the cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle to instruct an actuator coupled to the seat to rotate the seat about the first axis of the pivot in substantially a direction of the turn; and

provide a force command to the actuator to move the seat based on the command signal.

11. The seat system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a second input from a second sensor positioned to measure movement of the vehicle.

12. The seat system of claim 11, wherein the first input includes a vehicle roll rate, and the second input includes a total lateral acceleration of the vehicle in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis extending parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle around the turn.

13. The seat system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a distance between the first axis and a second axis about which the vehicle may rotate.

14. The seat system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to determine the cornering lateral acceleration based at least in part on the total lateral acceleration, the vehicle roll rate, and the distance between the first axis and the second axis.

15. The seat system of claim 11, wherein the first input includes a vehicle yaw rate and the second input includes a vehicle speed.

16. The seat system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine the cornering lateral acceleration based at least in part on the yaw rate and the vehicle speed.

17. The seat system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a gain of the command signal responsive to receiving a responsiveness command.

18. The seat system of claim 17, wherein the responsiveness command includes a user input.

19. A seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat; and

a controller configured to;

receive a first input of detected movement of the vehicle;

determine a cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis extending parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle around a turn, the cornering lateral acceleration being determined based at least in part on the first input;

generate a command signal based at least in part on the cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle to instruct an actuator coupled to the seat to rotate the seat about a first axis of a pivot in substantially a direction of the turn; and

provide a force command to the actuator to move the seat based on the command signal.

20. The seat of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a second input of detected movement of the vehicle.

21. The seat of claim 20, wherein the first input includes the vehicle roll rate, and the second input includes a total lateral acceleration of the vehicle in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis extending parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle around the turn.

22. The seat of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a distance between the first axis of the pivot and a second axis about which the vehicle may rotate.

23. The seat of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to determine the cornering lateral acceleration based at least in part on the total lateral acceleration, the vehicle roll rate, and the distance between the first axis of the pivot and the second axis.

24. The seat of claim 20, wherein the first input includes a vehicle yaw rate and the second input includes a vehicle speed.

25. The seat of claim 24, wherein the controller is configured to determine the cornering lateral acceleration based at least in part on the yaw rate and the vehicle speed.

26. The seat of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a gain of the command signal responsive to receiving a responsiveness command.