Vehicle arrangement with cooperating power seat and vehicle occupant protection systems

• US 6,240,352 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: McCurdy, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/378,342
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/49, 280/734, 280/735, 280/731, 280/732, 296/68.1, 296/65.15
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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 2/0027 for detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/00 Sensor types, e.g. for passenger detection systems or for controlling seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

A vehicle arrangement (10) includes a power seat system (14) and an occupant protection system (40). The power seat system (14) includes a seat (18) provided for an occupant (16) and movable relative to a vehicle chassis (20). A motor (24) moves the seat (18) and a sensor (28) senses location of the seat. A seat controller (26) controls the motor (24), and contains a memory (34) for retaining an occupant predefined seat location. A recall switch (e.g., 30) causes movement to the predefined seat location. The protection system (14) includes an actuatable protection device (42), wherein location of the occupant (16) relative to the device is related to seat location. An override portion (72) of a protection system controller (52) automatically positions the seat (18) out of a range of seat locations that places the occupant (16) out of an optimum protection zone. Actuation of a manual override switch (60) permits movement of the seat (18) into the range of seat locations that places the occupant (16) out of the optimum protection zone. Preferably, actuation of the protection device (42) is based upon seat location provided by the seat system (14).

Claims

1. An arrangement for a vehicle, said arrangement comprising:

a power seat system comprising;

a vehicle seat provided for a vehicle occupant and movable relative to a chassis of the vehicle;

a sensor for sensing location of said seat;

a motor for moving said seat;

a seat controller for controlling said motor;

memory storage means for retaining an occupant predefined seat location; and

memory actuation means for causing said seat controller to control said motor to move said seat to the occupant predefined seat location; and

a vehicle occupant protection system comprising;

an actuatable occupant protection device, wherein location of the occupant relative to said occupant protection device being related to seat location;

automatic override means for positioning said seat out of a range of seat locations that places the occupant out of an optimum protection zone with regard to said occupant protection device; and

manual override means manually operable for permitting movement of said seat into the range of seat locations that places the occupant out of the optimum protection zone.

2. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said occupant protection system includes actuation control means for controlling actuation of said protection device, said actuation control means includes means for utilizing the sensed seat location from the power seat system and predefined seat location derived from said memory storage means to determine control of said protection device.

3. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said occupant protection system includes memory means for retaining information regarding the occurrence of operation of said manual override means.

4. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said occupant protection system includes means for detecting a child seat located upon said vehicle seat, and means for causing said seat controller to control said motor to move said seat to a location furthest from said occupant protection device.