Seat adjusting system having motor with integrated sensor and control electronics

• US 6,590,354 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Hein, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, TYRONE W
• Application Number:
  US09/973,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20020047675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 318/34, 318/286, 318/468, 318/568, 318/280, 318/283
• US Class Current: 318/34
• 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 2/0248 with memory of positions

Abstract

A seat adjusting system having a motor assembly with an integrated sensor and control electronics assembly for adjusting a vehicle seat. The integrated electronics assembly performs electronic memory seat module functions. The integrated electronics assembly includes a multiplex link for communicating data between the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly and an external switch. The integrated electronics assembly further includes motor control relays positioned between the motors of the motor assembly for controlling the motors to adjust the seat. The integrated electronics assembly also includes seat position sensors for monitoring the position of the seat. In contrast to typical seat adjusting systems having an external electronic memory seat module, the seat adjusting system needs only a minimal set of wires connecting the seat adjusting system to an external switch as the integrated electronics assembly performs electronic memory seat module functions.

Claims

1. A seat adjusting system for adjusting the position of a seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a motor assembly having a plurality of motors for moving respective seat members; and

an integrated sensor and control electronics assembly integrated with the motor assembly, the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly including a plurality of sensors for monitoring respective motors to generate sensor position signals indicative of the positions of the seat members, and a processor operable for processing the sensor position signals to determine the position of the seat, the processor further operable for controlling the motors to adjust the position of the seat;

wherein the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly includes a plurality of motor controllers for activating the motors, wherein the processor is operable with the motor controllers to control the motors;

wherein the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly includes a connector having at least three wires in which a first wire connects to an external switch for communicating signals between the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly and the external switch, a second wire connects to a power ground for providing a power ground to the motor controllers and the processor, and a third wire connects to a power supply for providing power to the motor controllers and the processor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the first wire of the connector of the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly provides a multiplex link for communicating the signals between the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly and the external switch, the external switch being accessible to a vehicle operator.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly performs electronic memory seat module functions.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein:

the processor is further operable for storing preset seat positions, wherein the processor controls the motor controllers to control the motors to adjust the position of the seat to a desired preset seat position in response to a corresponding vehicle operator command triggered via the external switch, the external switch being accessible to a vehicle operator.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

at least one motor controller is positioned between a pair of motors.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly is positioned adjacent the motor assembly.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a seat heater for heating the seat, wherein the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly further includes a temperature sensor for monitoring the seat to generate a sensor temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the seat, wherein the processor is further operable for processing the sensor temperature signal to determine the temperature of the seat and to control the heater to adjust the temperature of the seat.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a ventilation unit for ventilating the seat, wherein the processor is further operable for controlling the ventilation unit to adjust the ventilation of the seat.

9. A seat adjusting system for adjusting the position of a seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a motor assembly having a plurality of motors for moving respective seat members; and

an integrated sensor and control electronics assembly integrated with the motor assembly for performing electronic memory seat module functions, the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly including a plurality of sensors for monitoring the motors to generate sensor position signals indicative of the positions of the seat member, and a processor operable for processing the sensor position signals to determine the position of the seat, the processor further operable with the motor controllers for controlling the motors to adjust the position of the seat, the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly further including a multiplex link for communicating data with an external switch accessible to a vehicle operator;

wherein the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly includes a plurality of motor controllers for activating the motors, wherein the processor is operable with the motor controllers to control the motors;

wherein the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly includes a connector having at least three wires in which a first wire connects to an external switch for communicating signals between the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly and the external switch, a second wire connects to a power ground for providing a power ground to the motor controllers and the processor, and a third wire connects to a power supply for providing power to the motor controllers and the processor.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly performs electronic memory seat module functions.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein:

the processor is further operable for storing preset seat positions, wherein the processor controls the motor controllers to control the motors to adjust the position of the seat to a desired preset seat position in response to a corresponding vehicle operator command triggered via the external switch.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a seat heater for heating the seat, wherein the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly further includes a temperature sensor for monitoring the seat to generate a sensor temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the seat, wherein the processor is further operable for processing the sensor temperature signal to determine the temperature of the seat and to control the heater to adjust the temperature of the seat.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a ventilation unit for ventilating the seat, wherein the processor is further operable for controlling the ventilation unit to adjust the ventilation of the seat.