Method for engaging an adjustable bolster on a seat

• US 6,629,715 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Funke, Scott A., Oh, Pahngroc, Pavlov, Kevin J., Stachowski, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/182,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 296/63, 296/65.01, 701/45, 297/452.6, 297/284.9, 297/284.11, 297/284.4, 297/452.53, 297/284.1, 280/755, 280/753
• US Class Current: 296/63
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for adjusting a bolster (22) on a seat (10) involves sensing upper and lower limits of several vehicle parameters to determine bolster condition.

Claims

1. A method for engaging an adjustable bolster on a seat of a vehicle, comprising:

sensing a first parameter of the vehicle;

sensing a second parameter of the vehicle;

retrieving a first threshold_low for the first parameter, a first threshold_high for the first parameter, a second threshold_low for the second parameter, and a second threshold_high for the second parameter, wherein the first threshold_low<

first threshold_high and wherein the second threshold_low<

second threshold_high; and

increasing the engagement of the adjustable bolster if the first parameter≧

first threshold_low and the second parameter≧

second threshold_high or if the first parameter≧

first threshold_high and the second parameter≧

second threshold_low.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining the engagement of the adjustable bolster if first threshold_low≦

first parameter<

first threshold_high and second threshold_low≦

second parameter<

second threshold_high.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said sensing a first parameter includes sensing a steering angle of a steering device of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said sensing a second parameter includes sensing a speed of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said sensing a first parameter includes sensing a lateral acceleration of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said sensing a second parameter includes sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving a first threshold_med for the first parameter and a second threshold_med for the second parameter, wherein the first threshold_low<

first threshold_med<

first threshold_high and wherein the second threshold_low<

second threshold_med<

second threshold_high.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising increasing the engagement of the adjustable bolster if the first parameter≧

first threshold_med and the second parameter≧

second threshold_med.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said sensing a first parameter includes sensing a steering angle of a steering device of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said sensing a second parameter includes sensing a speed of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said sensing a first parameter includes sensing a lateral acceleration of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said sensing a second parameter includes sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said retrieving includes retrieving from a memory device.

13. The method of claim further comprising retrieving a first deactivation threshold_high for the first parameter, a first deactivation threshold_low for the first parameter, a second deactivation threshold_high for the second parameter, and a second deactivation threshold_low for the second parameter, wherein the first deactivation threshold_low<

first threshold_low, the first deactivation threshold_high<

first threshold_high, the second deactivation threshold_low<

second threshold_low, and the second deactivation threshold_high<

second threshold_high.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising decreasing the engagement of the adjustable bolster if the first parameter≦

first deactivation threshold_low, or if the second parameter≦

second deactivation threshold_low, or if the first parameter≦

first deactivation threshold_high and the second parameter≦

second deactivation threshold_high.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said sensing a first parameter includes sensing a steering angle of a steering device of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said sensing a second parameter includes sensing a speed of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said sensing a first parameter includes sensing a lateral acceleration of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said sensing a second parameter includes sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle.