Electronic architecture for controlling a motor vehicle seat
First Claim
1. An electronic architecture for conrolling a vehicle seat, said seat comprising:
- a seat cushion;
a seat back mounted to said seat cushion;
a plurality of electronic devices secured to said seat cushion and said seat back, each of said plurality of electronic devices being designed to perform a specific function;
a plurality of sensors secured to said seat cushion and said seat back providing feedback on a status of each of said plurality of electronic devices and said seat back and said seat cushion; and
a control unit for receiving instructions for each of said plurality of electronic devices and for receiving the feedback from each of said plurality of sensors, said control unit creating command signals to be distributed to each of said plurality of electronic devices;
and the architecture comprising at least one serial bus having a predetermined length electrically connecting said plurality of electronic devices and said plurality of sensors to said control unit such that said control unit sends all of the command signals and receives all of the feedback signals over said serial bus; and
a plurality of smart connectors electrically connected between said serial bus and each of said plurality of electronic devices and between said serial bus and each of said plurality of sensors to transmit communication signals from said control unit to each of said plurality of electronic devices and to transmit communication signals from each of said plurality of sensors to said control unit bi-directionally over said serial bus.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle seat is disclosed including a seat cushion and a seat back. The vehicle seat includes a plurality of electronic devices secured to both the seat cushion and the seat back. These electronic devices allow the occupant of the vehicle seat to control the features of the vehicle seat that are electronically modified, i.e., position, orientation, temperature, and the activation of lumbar support and/or massage devices, if any. The vehicle seat also includes a plurality of sensors associated with each of the electronic devices. Each of the sensors determines the condition or status of the electronic device to which the sensor is associated. At least one serial bus connects all of the electronic devices and sensors to a single control unit that receives all of the data from the sensors and, depending on the instructions input by the occupant of the vehicle seat, controls the electronic devices. The control unit can be integrated into the occupant position switch assembly. A smart connector is used between each of the sensors, electronic devices and the serial bus. The smart connectors retrieve the portions of the signals being transmitted over the serial bus that are to be utilized by the electronic devices. In addition, the smart connectors also allow the proper flow of data from the sensors along the serial bus to ensure the control unit receives the data.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An electronic architecture for conrolling a vehicle seat, said seat comprising:
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a seat cushion;
a seat back mounted to said seat cushion;
a plurality of electronic devices secured to said seat cushion and said seat back, each of said plurality of electronic devices being designed to perform a specific function;
a plurality of sensors secured to said seat cushion and said seat back providing feedback on a status of each of said plurality of electronic devices and said seat back and said seat cushion; and
a control unit for receiving instructions for each of said plurality of electronic devices and for receiving the feedback from each of said plurality of sensors, said control unit creating command signals to be distributed to each of said plurality of electronic devices;
and the architecture comprising at least one serial bus having a predetermined length electrically connecting said plurality of electronic devices and said plurality of sensors to said control unit such that said control unit sends all of the command signals and receives all of the feedback signals over said serial bus; and
a plurality of smart connectors electrically connected between said serial bus and each of said plurality of electronic devices and between said serial bus and each of said plurality of sensors to transmit communication signals from said control unit to each of said plurality of electronic devices and to transmit communication signals from each of said plurality of sensors to said control unit bi-directionally over said serial bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electronic control assembly comprising:
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a mechanism to be monitored and controlled by said electronic control assembly;
a plurality of electronic devices adapted to be secured to a mechanism to be monitored and controlled by said electronic control assembly, each of said plurality of electronic devices being designed to perform a specific function;
a plurality of sensors adapted to be secured to said mechanism providing feedback on a status of each of said plurality of electronic devices and said mechanism;
a control unit for receiving instructions for each of said plurality of electronic devices and for receiving the feedback from each of said plurality of sensors, said control unit creating command signals to be distributed to each of said plurality of electronic devices; and
a serial bus having a predetermined length electrically connecting said plurality of electronic devices and said plurality of sensors to said control unit such that said control unit sends all of the command signals and receives all of the feedback signals over said serial bus. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling a mechanism using a control unit, a serial bus, a plurality of sensors and a plurality of electronic devices to act on the mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
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electrically connecting the serial bus to the control unit;
electrically connecting each of the plurality of sensors and each of the plurality of electronic devices to the serial bus in series; and
arranging the serial bus, the plurality of sensors and the plurality of electronic devices such that the length of the serial bus is as short as required to operate the mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification