SELF-ADJUSTING VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20180264974A1
• Filed: 03/12/2018
• Published: 09/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Boshoku America, Inc. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Boshoku America, Inc. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ramachandran, Vijayavel, Muniz, Ron, Shokry, Amr
• Application Number:
  US15/918,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20180264974A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/643 shape of the back-rests B60N2/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

A method of adjusting a vehicle seat includes detecting one of a current position of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat with one of a pressure sensitive fabric, a sound transmitter and transducer, and an electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer. A comfortable position is determined of the vehicle occupant. The vehicle seat is adjusted from the current position to the comfortable position. A vehicle seat assembly is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting a vehicle seat, the method comprising:

detecting one of a current position of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat with one of a pressure sensitive fabric, a sound transmitter and transducer, and an electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer;

determining a comfortable position of the vehicle occupant; and

adjusting the vehicle seat from the current position to the comfortable position.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle seat includes a back insert, a cushion insert, back bolsters, cushion bolsters, and a sensor that detects the current position of the vehicle occupant, wherein the sensor is located in one of the back insert, the cushion insert, the back bolsters, and the cushion bolsters.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein a control module determines the comfortable position of the occupant.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 including sending a first signal about the current position of the vehicle occupant from the sensor to the control module and sending a second signal from the control module to motors to move at least one of the back insert, the cushion insert, the back bolsters, and the cushion bolsters to position the vehicle seat in the comfortable position.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting comprises employing the pressure sensitive fabric, the vehicle seat includes foam and an outer trim cover external to the foam, and the pressure sensitive fabric is located between the outer trim cover and the foam.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting comprises employing the pressure sensitive fabric, the vehicle seat includes foam and an outer trim cover external to the foam, and the pressure sensitive fabric is an integral part of the outer trim cover.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting comprises employing a sound transmitter and transducer, wherein the sound transmitter and transducer is embedded in foam of the vehicle seat or attached to a back frame of the vehicle seat.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting comprises employing a sound transmitter and transducer, wherein the sound transmitter and transducer transmits sound waves that travel through the vehicle occupant and measures a reflected echo.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting comprises employing the electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer, wherein the electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer is embedded in foam or an outer trim cover of the vehicle seat or is attached to a back frame of the vehicle seat to determine a pressure distribution of the occupant.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer generates a small electromagnetic field that moves around the vehicle occupant.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting comprises determining a pressure distribution or biometrics of the vehicle occupant.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 including running an algorithm to determine the comfortable position of the vehicle occupant.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 including repeating the steps of detecting the current position of the vehicle occupant and adjusting the vehicle seat until the vehicle seat is in the comfortable position.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein when the vehicle occupant is in the comfortable position, a weight of the vehicle occupant is equally distributed.

15. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a sensor that detects the current position of the vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat and sends a first signal to a control module;

a component that is one of a pressure sensitive fabric, a sound transmitter and transducer, and an electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer; and

the control module that determines the comfortable position of the occupant and sends a second signal to adjust the vehicle seat from the current position to a comfortable position.

16. The vehicle seat assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein the vehicle seat assembly includes a back insert, a cushion insert, back bolsters, and cushion bolsters, wherein the sensor is located in one of the back insert, the cushion insert, the back bolsters, and the cushion bolsters.

17. The vehicle seat assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein the control module sends the second signal to activate motors to move at least one of the back insert, the cushion insert, the back bolsters, and the cushion bolsters to position the vehicle seat in the comfortable position.

18. The vehicle seat assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein the component is the pressure sensitive fabric, the vehicle seat includes foam and an outer trim cover external to the foam, and the pressure sensitive fabric is located between the outer trim cover and the foam.

19. The vehicle seat assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein the component is the pressure sensitive fabric, the vehicle seat includes foam and an outer trim cover external to the foam, and the pressure sensitive fabric is an integral part of the outer trim cover.

20. The vehicle seat assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein the component is the sound transmitter and transducer transmits sound waves that travel through the vehicle occupant and measures a reflected echo, wherein the sound transmitter and transducer is embedded in foam of the vehicle seat or attached to a back frame of the vehicle seat.

21. The vehicle seat assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein the component is the electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer that generates a small electromagnetic field that moves around the vehicle occupant, wherein the electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer is embedded in foam or an outer trim cover of the vehicle seat or is attached to a back frame of the vehicle seat to determine a pressure distribution of the occupant.