Seat folding apparatus with a passive radio frequency link and foreign object detection system

• US 7,289,035 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Ghabra, Riad, Tang, Tom Q., Nathan, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US11/161,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20070018839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 340/667, 340/666, 340/5.61, 340/5.72, 340/425.5, 340/426.28, 340/438, 340/457.1, 280/734, 280/735, 280/268, 702/152, 702/153, 702/173
• US Class Current: 340/667
• 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 2/3002 back-rest movements

Abstract

A seat folding apparatus is provided with a passive Rf frequency link that requires that a person be within a certain limited distance from the vehicle to operate the seat folding mechanism. A foreign object detection system, such as a plurality of weight sensors, is provided in the seat to detect foreign objects on the seat.

Claims

1. A system for controlling movement of a seat disposed in a vehicle that has a power-driven folding apparatus that is controlled by an electronic seat control module, the system comprising:

a manually actuated switch that is actuated to initiate operation of the power-driven folding apparatus and may be released after actuation during operation of the power-driven folding apparatus without effecting operation of the power-driven folding apparatus;

a transponder that is carried by a user of the vehicle;

a transmitter/receiver that communicates with the transponder and provides a proximity signal to the electronic seat control module when the transponder is within a limited distance from the transmitter/receiver; and

the electronic seat control module preventing operation of the power-driven folding apparatus when no proximity signal is provided to the electronic seat control module.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transponder is part of a passive entry Rf system that is operative to unlock the vehicle when the proximity signal is received.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of the power-driven folding apparatus continues until completed unless the transponder is moved beyond the limited distance from the transmitter/receiver.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the transponder has a plurality of manually actuated switches and any one of the switches may be actuated to stop operation of the power-driven folding apparatus during operation of the power-driven folding apparatus.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the manually actuated switch is assembled to the vehicle and may be actuated to stop operation of the power-driven folding apparatus during operation of the power-driven folding apparatus.

6. In the system of claim 1, further comprising an operator perceptible output mechanism that communicates status information to the user regarding the status of the power-driven folding apparatus in the event the electronic seat control module prevents operation of the power-driven folding apparatus.