Interactive, individually controlled, multiple bladder seating comfort adjustment system and method
First Claim
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1. A process for detecting occupancy of a seat in an apparatus for adjusting the contour of a seat by pneumatically controlling the comfort of the seat wherein the seat includes:
- a. a plurality of inflatable air cells mounted in operative association with a seat contour including an ischial air cell on the seat;
b. a distribution system providing independent passages connected to each of the air cells;
c. a manifold connected to each passage of the distribution system through an individual output valve actuated by an electrical signal;
d. a source of pressurized fluid activated by an electrical signal and connected to the fluid distribution system through the manifold;
e. one or more pressure transducer(s) for sensing the pressure within said air cells when each of said individual output valves is actuated so as to communicate each of said air cells with said manifold;
said one or more pressure transducer(s) generating a pressure signal indicating the pressure within each of the air cells;
including the ischial air cell andf. a microcomputer connected to transmit an actuation signal to each of the manifold valves;
to receive the signal from said one or more pressure a microcomputer including an analog to digital converter;
transducer(s) via said analog to digital converter and to transmit an activation signal to the source of pressurized fluid in accordance with the signal from said pressure transducer;
said microcomputer being programmed to store predetermined comfort data relative to comfort including a desired pressure to be maintained in each of said air cells;
to transmit actuation signals to each of the manifold valves;
to compare said force signal to the predetermined comfort data;
to generate a valve activation signal relative to the comparison between said pressure signal and said comfort data and further programmed to transmit said activation signal to the source of pressurized fluid to adjust the pressure in each air cell to the desired pressure in each of said air cells the process comprising;
providing said microcomputer with a system off mode operative only when the ignition is on and no occupant is present on the seat and a system on mode operative for occupant detection when an occupant is present on the seat;
programming said microcomputer to store and compare predetermined occupant sensing data; and
continually monitoring for vehicle occupancy during said off mode of operation by measuring pressure in the ischial air cell and automatically initiating the on-mode of operation without operator interaction with the microcomputer when seat occupancy is detected.
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Abstract
An occupant sensing system for a vehicle with of inflatable air cells is provided for allowing automatic sensing of the presence or absence of a seat occupant so as to eliminated unnecessary adaptive adjustment of air cell pressures and to allow the adaptive system to function without operator interaction via operating switches.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A process for detecting occupancy of a seat in an apparatus for adjusting the contour of a seat by pneumatically controlling the comfort of the seat wherein the seat includes:
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a. a plurality of inflatable air cells mounted in operative association with a seat contour including an ischial air cell on the seat; b. a distribution system providing independent passages connected to each of the air cells; c. a manifold connected to each passage of the distribution system through an individual output valve actuated by an electrical signal; d. a source of pressurized fluid activated by an electrical signal and connected to the fluid distribution system through the manifold; e. one or more pressure transducer(s) for sensing the pressure within said air cells when each of said individual output valves is actuated so as to communicate each of said air cells with said manifold;
said one or more pressure transducer(s) generating a pressure signal indicating the pressure within each of the air cells;
including the ischial air cell andf. a microcomputer connected to transmit an actuation signal to each of the manifold valves;
to receive the signal from said one or more pressure a microcomputer including an analog to digital converter;
transducer(s) via said analog to digital converter and to transmit an activation signal to the source of pressurized fluid in accordance with the signal from said pressure transducer;
said microcomputer being programmed to store predetermined comfort data relative to comfort including a desired pressure to be maintained in each of said air cells;
to transmit actuation signals to each of the manifold valves;
to compare said force signal to the predetermined comfort data;
to generate a valve activation signal relative to the comparison between said pressure signal and said comfort data and further programmed to transmit said activation signal to the source of pressurized fluid to adjust the pressure in each air cell to the desired pressure in each of said air cells the process comprising;providing said microcomputer with a system off mode operative only when the ignition is on and no occupant is present on the seat and a system on mode operative for occupant detection when an occupant is present on the seat;
programming said microcomputer to store and compare predetermined occupant sensing data; and
continually monitoring for vehicle occupancy during said off mode of operation by measuring pressure in the ischial air cell and automatically initiating the on-mode of operation without operator interaction with the microcomputer when seat occupancy is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification