Vehicle seat

• US 6,731,088 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Actuation Systems
• Original Assignee: Labinal Montigny-Le-Bretonneux
• Inventors: Nivet, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDA, RINA I
• Application Number:
  US10/005,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 318/548, 318/552, 318/265, 318/266, 318/286, 297/61, 297/68-70, 297/311, 297/313, 297/330, 297/391
• US Class Current: 318/548
• 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 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• 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

The vehicle seat (10) comprises at least one electrically powered functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 38). This functional member comprises an active element (24E, 26E, 28E, 30E, 31E, 32E, 34E) designed to perform a unique elemental function; a local control unit (24D, 26D, 28D, 30D, 31D, 32D, 34D) for controlling an active element (24E, 26E, 28E, 30E, 31E, 32E, 34E); units (24B, 26B, 28B, 30B, 31B, 32B, 34B) of receiving commands; and units (24F, 26F, 28F, 30F, 31F, 32F, 34F, 38F) for collecting operational status data from the functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34). The seat comprises a communication bus (42) to which each of the receiving units (24B, 26B, 28B, 30B, 31B, 32B, 34B). At least one functional member comprises operational status data transmission units (24C, 26C, 28C, 30C, 31C, 32C, 34C) which transmission units (24C, 26C, 28C, 30C, 31C, 32C, 34C) are incorporated into the functional member (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34) and are each directly connected to the communication bus (42) for transmitting operational status data on the communication bus (42).

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

at least one electrically powered functional member comprising;

an active element adapted to perform a unique elemental function;

a local control unit for controlling the active element of the at least one functional member from commands;

receiving means for receiving commands, said receiving means being incorporated into the at least one functional member; and

means for collecting operational status data from the at least one functional member; and

a communication bus, to which the receiving means of the at least one functional member is directly connected, for transmitting commands,

the at least one said functional member comprising operational status data transmission means and said data transmission means being connected to the communication bus for transmitting operational status data on the communication bus.

2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising a central data processing unit which central data processing unit comprises, on the one hand, transmitting means for transmitting commands, said transmitting means being connected to the communication bus for transmitting at least one command to at least one functional member and, on the other hand, operational status data receiving means for receiving operational status data, said operational status data receiving means being connected to the communication bus for receiving operational status data transmitted by the at least one functional member.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein said central data processing unit comprises means for analyzing the operational status data received and means for formulating commands for the at least one functional member.

4. A vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein said at least one functional member comprises at least two functional members and said analysis means are designed to analyze jointly operational status data from said at least two functional members.

5. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the at least one functional member is one of members selected from the group consisting of:

an actuator, a heating member, a message device, an inflatable cushion, a lighting device, a keypad and an item of audiovisual equipment.

6. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the communication bus is a serial bus.

7. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the at least one functional member includes at least one non-active member having no active element adapted to exert an element function, the at least one non-active functional member comprising means for collecting operational status data from the non-active functional member.

8. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one functional member comprises a plurality of electrically powered functional members.