Device for actuating a seat element

• US 6,441,576 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Precilec Co.
• Original Assignee: Labinal (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Nivet, Laurent, Marin-Martinod, Thierry
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duda, Rina I.
• Application Number:
  US09/722,501
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 318/567, 318/568.1, 318/652, 297/65, 297/68, 297/69, 297/188.04, 297/327
• US Class Current: 318/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0292 Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/34 into a bed
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06395 characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0641 Seats convertible into beds
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests

Abstract

A device for actuating a seat element includes an actuator fitted with a transducer delivering a state information representative of the current position of the actuator and a unit for controlling the actuator which includes a device for registering and for storing several reference state informations each representative of a position of the actuator for an identified position of the element and a device for driving the actuator so as to move the seat element towards several target positions. The control unit is adapted so as, when a movement towards a predetermined target position is commanded, to activate the actuator until the current reference state information delivered by the transducer is equal to the reference state information stored for the position of the commanded element.

Claims

1. An assembly of seats comprising:

at least two similar seats disposed side by side, each said seat comprising at least one movable element; and

at least one actuation device mechanically associated with the at least one movable element of each said seat, each said actuation device including

an actuator fitted with a transducer adapted so as to deliver a state information representative of a current position of the actuator as the actuator moves, and

a control unit for controlling said actuator, said control unit being linked to said transducer so as to receive the state information representative of the current position of the actuator, the control unit including

means for registering (a) a first reference state information delivered by the transducer of the actuator and representative of a position of the actuator for an identified reference position of the movable element, and (b) at least one additional reference state information representative of a position of the actuator for at least one predetermined target position of the movable element, the at least one additional reference state information being delivered by the transducer of the actuator,

means for storing said first reference state information and the at least one additional reference state information, and

means for driving the actuator so as to move the movable element towards the at least one predetermined target position of the movable element,

whereby said control unit is adapted so as, when a movement of the movable element towards the at least one predetermined target position or the identified reference position is commanded, to activate the actuator until the current reference state information delivered by said transducer is equal to the selected one of said first or the at least one additional reference state information stored for the associated said movable element position selected.

2. An assembly of seats according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is a potentiometer.

3. An assembly of seats according to claim 1, wherein said first reference state information and said at least one additional reference state information are three in number.

4. An assembly of seats according to claim 1, wherein each seat comprises at least two movable elements, each mechanically associated with an actuation device and in that each seat comprises a device adapted so as, under the action of a single command delivered by the user, to bring the seat into at least one predetermined configuration, and in that said predetermined target positions or said reference position of the movable elements are the positions of the movable elements in the or each predetermined configuration of the seat.

5. An assembly of seats according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined configurations of the seat comprise a mealtime configuration, a landing configuration, and a reclining configuration.

6. An assembly of seats according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined target positions and the reference positions of the corresponding movable elements are identical for all the seats of said assembly of seats.

7. An assembly of seats according to claim 1, further comprising means allowing the alteration of the at least one or each additional reference state information corresponding to predetermined configurations of the seat only by authorized persons other than the user of the seat.