Vehicle control system

• US 6,339,302 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1998
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prince Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Prince Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Bambini, John S., Supanich, Michael A., Greenbank, Jonathan M., Hansen, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher, Marlon T.
• Application Number:
  US09/212,180
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 318/103, 318/653, 318/663, 318/446, 318/546-548, 318/549, 318/567, 318/443
• US Class Current: 318/103
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1803 with independent front and/or rear adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6673 with motor driven adjustments

Abstract

An automobile control system including at least one actuation device having a housing and control circuitry coupled to the housing, where the control circuitry and the housing create a unitary device.

Claims

1. An automotive seat control system for controlling the position of a seat, said automotive seat control system comprising:

a first motor operable to change the position of the seat;

a first controller structurally coupled to said first motor, said first controller being operable to control the operation and current polarity of said first motor in response to motor actuation instructions received by said first controller;

a second controller located remote from said first motor, said second controller electrically communicating with said first controller and being operable to generate the motor actuation instructions; and

a switch electrically communicating with said second controller, said switch being operable to cause said second controller to generate the motor actuation instructions in response to actuation of said switch;

whereby the position of the seat is changed upon actuation of said switch by causing said second controller to generate and deliver the motor actuation instructions to said first controller.

2. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a second motor in electrical communication with said second controller; and

a third controller for controlling the operation of said second motor, said third controller being located proximate to said second motor.

3. The automotive seat control system set as forth in claim 1, wherein said first motor includes a housing, said first controller being disposed within said housing.

4. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the actuation instructions generated by said second controller are operable to cause fore and aft adjustment of the seat, height adjustment of the seat, and tilt adjustment of the seat.

5. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first controller includes an integral microprocessor.

6. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first controller includes nonvolatile memory to store control parameters.

7. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor disposed within said first motor for generating a signal corresponding to an operational characteristic of said first motor; and

said first controller being operable to monitor the output of said sensor.

8. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch is disposed within said second controller.

9. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second controller includes a plurality of seat adjustment switches as well as communication circuitry, said communication circuitry operable to convert signals generated by said seat adjustment switches into a digital form suitable for serial communication with said first controller.

10. An automotive seat control system for controlling a characteristic of a seat, said automotive seat control system comprising:

a first actuator operable to change a characteristic of the seat;

a first controller structurally coupled to said first actuator, said first controller being operable to control the operation of said first actuator in response to actuation instructions received by said first controller;

a second controller located remote from said first actuator, said second controller communicating with said first controller via an automotive network interface, and being operable to generate the actuation instructions; and

a switch electrically communicating with said second controller, said switch being operable to cause said second controller to generate the actuation instructions in response to actuation of said switch;

whereby the characteristic of the seat is changed upon actuation of said switch by causing said second controller to generate and deliver the actuation instructions to said first controller.

11. The automobile seat control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first controller includes a microprocessor and communication circuitry to enable digital communications with said second controller.

12. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first controller includes nonvolatile memory to store control parameters.

13. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first actuator is a device selected from the group consisting of a motor, a seat heater, and a lumbar support massage module.

14. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a second actuator operable to control another characteristic of the seat, said second actuator being a device selected from the group consisting of a motor, a seat heater, and a lumbar support massage module.

15. The automotive seat control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first actuator includes a housing, said first controller being disposed within said housing of said first actuator.