Device for transmitting signals to one or more circuits integrated into the head rest of a motor vehicle seat

• US 6,424,055 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hambsch, Katja, Bauer, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIOS CUEVAS, ROBERTO JOSE
• Application Number:
  US09/581,491
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 297/464, 297/410, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 180/272, 280/735
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2074 in head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves

Abstract

A device that is easy to assemble and not subject to wear has an induction coil in the seat back of the motor vehicle seat. This induction coil is inductively coupled to the guide rod of the head restraint that is movably supported in the seat back.

Claims

1. A device for performing a transmission of a signal to at least one circuit device integrated in a head restraint of a motor vehicle seat, comprising:

at least one induction coil through which the signal transmission occurs and being arranged in a seat back of the vehicle seat; and

at least one guide rod arranged with respect to the head restraint and through which the signal transmission occurs, the at least one guide rod being movably supported in the seat back and being inductively coupled to the at least one induction coil.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary coil, wherein;

the at least one guide rod includes a first guide rod and a second guide rod,

at least one of the first guide rod and the second guide rod is wrapped around by the secondary coil,

the secondary coil and the at least one induction coil form a transmitter, and

the secondary coil is wound on one of the first guide rod and the second guide rod so as to be distributed over a length such that an inductive coupling between the at least one induction coil and the secondary coil arises in every position of the head restraint.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising:

an insulating sleeve surrounding the secondary coil on the one of the first guide rod and the second guide rod.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the at least one induction coil coaxially surrounds the one of the first guide rod and the second guide rod bearing the secondary coil.

5. The device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a ring core having a U-shaped cross-section and within which the at least one induction coil rests.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the first guide rod and the second guide rod are electrically connected to each other to form a conductor loop in which a current is capable of being induced by the at least one induction coil, and

the device further comprises an arrangement by which the induced current is capable of being decoupled from the conductor loop.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein:

the arrangement includes a resistor inserted into the conductor loop.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein:

the arrangement includes a coil coupled to the conductor loop.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a magnetic circuit;

a plurality of ferromagnetic pieces arranged in the head restraint and in the seat back; and

another coil arranged in the head restraint and coupled to the magnetic circuit, wherein;

the at least one guide rod includes a first guide rod and a second guide rod,

each one of the first guide rod and the second guide rod includes a ferromagnetic material, and

the first guide rod and the second guide rod are joined to the magnetic circuit by the plurality of ferromagnetic pieces.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit module arranged in the head restraint and corresponding to a driver stage for an airbag.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein:

the circuit module corresponds to a seat-occupancy sensor.