Seat assemblies for vehicles

• US 7,729,828 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Gandhi, Umesh N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kim T
• Application Number:
  US12/185,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 180268-271, 180273-274
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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 2/0024 for identifying, categorising or investigation of the occupant or object on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/026 varying hardness or support of upholstery, e.g. for tuning seat comfort when driving curved roads
• 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 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors

Abstract

Seat assemblies for a vehicles include seat panels in communication with a controller and having a fiber optic sensing device that measures pressure exerted at various locations of the seat panels and cushioning materials comprising active materials, wherein upon receipt of pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, the controller generates activation signals that adapt physical characteristics of the active materials.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a first panel;

a cushioning material on the first panel comprising an active material;

a sensing device having a fiber optic sensor that measures pressure exerted at the first panel, wherein the fiber optic sensor is located along the cushioning material such that the fiber optic sensor generates pressure signals in response to the measured pressure; and

a controller in communication with the sensing device having preprogrammed comfort profiles corresponding to varying pressures exerted on the first panel, wherein upon receipt of the pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, a comfort profile corresponding to the pressure signals is determined.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein upon receipt of the pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, the controller generates activation signals that adapt a physical characteristic of the active material.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the active material is arranged in parallel.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the active material comprises electroactive polymers.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second panel having a fiber optic sensor that measures pressure exerted on the second panel.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the pressure signals correspond to a pressure profile, wherein upon receipt of the pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, a comfort profile corresponding to the pressure profile is automatically implemented.

7. A seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a first panel in communication with a controller, the first panel having a sensing device comprising a fiber optic sensor that measures pressure exerted at the first panel, wherein the sensing device generates pressure signals in response to the measured pressure;

a cushioning material on the first panel comprising an active material, wherein upon receipt of the pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, a comfort profile corresponding to the pressure signals is determined; and

a cover material, the fiber optic sensor extending along the cushioning material, the fiber optic sensor and the cushioning material being at least partially covered by the cover material, the fiber optic sensor located in a space between a front, rear and sides of the first panel to measure pressure exerted at the first panel.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7 wherein the controller comprises preprogrammed comfort profiles corresponding to varying positions of the first panel.

9. The seat assembly of claim 7 wherein upon receipt of the pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, a comfort profile corresponding to the pressure signals is implemented.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9, wherein upon receipt of the pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, the controller generates activation signals corresponding to a comfort profile to adapt the active material.

11. The seat assembly of claim 7 wherein the active material is arranged in parallel.

12. The seat assembly of claim 7 wherein the active material is arranged in series.

13. A seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a first panel in communication with a controller, the first panel having a fiber optic sensing device that measures pressure exerted at various locations of the first panel, wherein the sensing device generates pressure signals corresponding to a pressure profile in response to the measured pressure; and

a cushioning material on the first panel comprising an active material, wherein upon receipt of the pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, the controller generates activation signals that adapt a physical characteristic of the active material;

wherein the fiber optic sensing device comprises a fiber optic sensor located along the cushioning material such that a change in the physical characteristic of the active material changes pressure signals generated by the sensing device.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13 wherein the controller comprises preprogrammed comfort profiles corresponding to varying positions of the first panel.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein upon receipt of the pressure profile by the controller from the sensing device, a comfort profile corresponding to the pressure profile is determined.

16. The seat assembly of claim 13 wherein the active material is arranged in parallel.

17. The seat assembly of claim 13 wherein the active material is arranged in series.

18. The seat assembly of claim 13 wherein the active material comprises electroactive polymers.