Automatic adjustable seat

• US 5,263,765 A
• Filed: 08/21/1992
• Issued: 11/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kishi, Yoichi, Nagashima, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US07/931,518
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.1, 297/284.2, 297/284.3, 297/284.4, 297/284.6, 297/DIG. 3, 297/284.11
• US Class Current: 297/284.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/467 adjustable by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• 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 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0274 movement of the seat following a virtual reality simulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/03 Pneumatic

Abstract

A seat comprises a plurality of air mats which are arranged inside a seat cushion and a seat back. The contour of each of the air mats is automatically variable by a pump and a valve according to an automatic mode of variation. When a manual switch is turned on to control the valve, an initial mode of variation is altered by incorporating a manual command so as to determine a second mode of variation. The seat contour is then varied according to the second mode.

Claims

1. A seat for a seat occupant comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back extending from said seat cushion;

a support disposed within said seat cushion or said seat back;

an actuator operatively connected to said support;

fatigue sensing means for sensing fatigue of the seat occupant;

manually operable command generating means for generating a manual command for said actuator; and

a control system comprising;

means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in while the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to an initial mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses fatigue of the seat occupant; and

means responsive to a command from the command generating means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation upon the generation of the manual command.

2. A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing a flicker value of the seat occupant.

3. A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing the amount of eyeball motion of the seat occupant.

4. A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing the myoelectric potential of the seat occupant.

5. A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing the blood pressure of the seat occupant.

6. A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing the dermal temperature of the seat occupant.

7. A seat for a seat occupant, comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back extending from said seat cushion;

a support disposed within said seat cushion or said seat back;

an actuator operatively connected to said support for varying a characteristic of said support;

manually operable command generating means for generating a manual command for said actuator; and

a control system comprising;

means for automatically selecting a first operating state for said actuator a controlling said actuator to operate in said first operating state, said actuator cyclically varying a characteristic of said support according to a first mode of variation in said first operating state; and

means responsive to a command from the command generating means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state corresponding to the command from the command generating means, the actuator varying a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation different from the first mode of variation in said second operating state.

8. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises an air mat.

9. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a lumbar support disposed in said seat back so as to support the occupant'"'"'s lumbar.

10. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a buttock support disposed in said seat cushion so as to support the occupant'"'"'s buttocks.

11. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a thigh support disposed in said seat cushion so as to support a thigh of the occupant.

12. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a cushion side support disposed in said seat cushion so as to support a leg of the occupant.

13. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a back side support disposed in said seat back so as to support an arm of the occupant.

14. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control system includes a microcomputer based control unit and a plurality of sensors.

15. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first mode of variation is a function of the length of time passing after the occupant has sat on the seat cushion.

16. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control system comprises means for controlling said actuator to maintain said second operating state for a predetermined period of time after generation of said manual command by said command generating means and thereafter automatically return to said first operating state.

17. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second mode of variation results from superimposing a mode indicated by said manual command on said first mode of variation.

18. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second mode of variation results from replacing said first mode of variation with a mode indicated by said manual command.

19. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second mode of variation is maintained at least until the seat occupant leaves said seat cushion.

20. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said manual command from said command generating means is indicative of magnitude of variation of said characteristic of said support.

21. A seat as claimed in claim 19 wherein said second mode differs from said first mode with respect to the magnitude of variation of said characteristic of said support.

22. A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said actuator comprises a pump, conduit means for establishing fluid communication between said pump and said support, and valve means disposed in said conduit means for controlling supply of air to and discharge of air from said support.

23. A seat as claimed in claim 22 wherein said command generating means includes a manual switch operatively connected to said valve means.

24. A seat for a seat occupant comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back extending from said seat cushion;

a plurality of supports disposed within the seat cushion or the seat back;

an actuator operatively connected to the plurality of supports for varying a characteristic of the supports;

selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to manually select an operating state of the actuator and for generating a command indicating the selected mode; and

a control system comprising;

means for automatically selecting a first operating state for the actuator and controlling the actuator to operate in the first operating state in which the actuator cyclically varies a characteristic of the supports according to a first mode of variation; and

means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator cyclically varies a characteristic of the supports according to a second mode of variation different from the first mode of variation with respect to the location or magnitude of variation.

25. A seat for a seat occupant, comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back extending from said seat cushion;

a support disposed within said seat cushion or the seat back;

an actuator operatively connected to the support for controlling a characteristic of the support;

selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to select a mode of operation of the actuator from a plurality of different modes of operation and for generating a command indicating the selected mode;

fatigue sensing means for sensing fatigue of the seat occupant; and

a control system comprising;

means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for automatically controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to an initial mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses fatigue of the seat occupant; and

means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to automatically switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation corresponding to a manual command generated by the selecting means upon generation of the manual command by the selecting means.

26. A seat for a seat occupant, comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back extending from the seat cushion;

a support disposed within the seat cushion or the seat back;

an actuator operatively connected to the support for controlling a characteristic of the support;

selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to select a mode of operation of the actuator and for generating a command indicating the selected mode;

a control system comprising;

means for controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a first mode of variation;

means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation; and

means for returning the actuator to the first operating state when the selecting means has not generated a command for a prescribed length of time.

27. A seat for a seat occupant comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back extending from the seat cushion;

a support disposed within the seat cushion or the seat back;

an actuator operatively connected to the support for controlling a characteristic of the support;

selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to select a mode of operation of the actuator and for generating a command indicating the selected mode;

fatigue sensing means for sensing fatigue of the seat occupant when the amount of movement of a portion of the body of the seat occupant exceeds a prescribed level; and

a control system comprising;

means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a first mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses fatigue of the seat occupant; and

means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation when a command is generated by the selecting means.

28. A seat for a seat occupant, comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back extending from said seat cushion;

a seat belt system operatively associated with said seat cushion and said seat back to secure the seat occupant with respect to said seat cushion and said seat back;

a support disposed within said seat cushion or said seat back;

an actuator operatively connected to said support;

displacement sensing means for detecting a displacement of a portion of said seat belt system;

command generating means manually operable by the seat occupant for generating a manual command for said actuator; and

a control system comprising;

fatigue sensing means to responsive to the displacement sensing means for sensing when the seat occupant is fatigued based on the displacement detected by the displacement sensing means;

means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for controlling the actuator to operating in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to an initial mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses that the seat occupant is fatigued; and

means responsive to a manual command from the command generating means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation.

29. A method of controlling an actuator operatively connected to a support disposed within a seat in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

repeatedly checking whether the motor vehicle is travelling;

generating a manual command indicative signal when a manual command for the actuator is generated;

repeatedly checking whether said manual command indicative signal is generated while the motor vehicle is travelling;

automatically selecting an initial mode of variation of the support;

controlling the actuator to cyclically vary a characteristic of the support according to the initial mode of variation until said manual command indicative signal is generated; and

automatically controlling the actuator to vary the characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation upon generation of said manual command indicative signal.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein varying the characteristic according to the second mode of variation comprises superimposing a mode indicated by the manual command indicative signal upon the initial mode of variation.

31. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein said manual command indicative signal is indicative of the magnitude of variation of the characteristic of the support, and the second mode of variation differs from the initial mode of variation with respect to the magnitude of the variation of the characteristic of the support.

32. A method as claimed in claim 29 further comprising the step of:

automatically controlling the actuator to vary the characteristic of the support according to said initial mode of variation upon elapse of a predetermined period of time after generation of said manual command indicative signal.

33. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein varying the characteristic according to the second mode of variation comprises replacing the initial mode of variation with a mode indicated by the manual command indicative signal.