Recliner adjustment utilizing active material sensors

• US 7,823,972 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Carter, William B., Martin, Artie J, Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Khoury, James Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US12/274,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20090072604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.2, 297/330, 297/362.11, 297/378.1
• US Class Current: 297/217.2
• 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 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/00 Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles B60R22/00; devices, apparatus or methods for life-saving in general A62B; safety devices for propulsion unit control specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles B60K28/00; seats constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats, B60N2/42; energy-absorbing arrangements for hand wheels for steering vehicles B62D1/11; energy-absorbing arrangements for vehicle steering columns B62D1/19; harnessing in aircraft B64D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A recliner including a power adjustment system operable at a first rate, and at least one sensor including an active material element, wherein the sensor is configured to determine an obstacle to adjustment and selectively retard the rate when the obstacle is determined.

Claims

1. A recliner adapted for supporting an object, and to autonomously determine an obstacle to a fore or aft reclining adjustment, said recliner comprising:

a base configured to support the object;

a structural member configured to further support the object, and pivotally connected to the base, such that the base and member cooperatively define an angle of inclination therebetween;

a power adjustment system configured to autonomously adjust the angle, when actuated; and

at least one sensor secured relative to the base or member, operable to detect the presence of the object, and including an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change in at least one attribute when exposed to an activation signal or when exposure to the signal is discontinued, wherein detection of the object is caused by the change,

said sensor being communicatively coupled to, and configured to selectively prevent actuation of the system, when the object is detected,

wherein said at least one sensor further includes an RF transmitter, the system includes an RF receiver and controller, the transmitter is configured to send a data signal having an amplitude based on the change to the receiver, and the receiver further conveys the data signal to the controller.

2. The recliner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element consists essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of electrorestrictives, magnetorestrictives, electroactive polymers, ionic polymer metal composites, multiferroic materials, Ferroelectret foams;

resonant magnet/coil combinations, and shape memory materials.

3. The recliner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element is in the shape of a patch presenting a lateral surface area of engagement between 3 to 20 cm².

4. The recliner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element is in the shape of a longitudinal strip presenting a lateral dimension and a longitudinal dimension greater than five times the lateral dimension, and the strip is longitudinally pre-tensioned.

5. The recliner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of sensors is secured to the base and member, the base and member define engaging surfaces, and each sensor is configured to detect engagement between the respective engaging surface and object, as a result of deformation or displacement of the element by the object.

6. The recliner as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a headrest attached to the member and defining an engaging surface.

7. The recliner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the member defines opposite first and second engaging surfaces each communicatively coupled to a separate one of the sensors, so as to be configured to detect objects fore and arrear the member when the angle is decreased and increased respectively.

8. The recliner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base and member define engaging surfaces, and the element is in the shape of a sheet generally coextending with each surface.

9. The recliner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor further includes an energy storage and conversion unit intermediate and communicatively coupled to the sensor and RF transmitter.

10. The recliner as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor further includes an amplifier communicatively coupled to the transmitter and configured to selectively increase the amplitude of the signal.

11. The recliner as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor, unit, and transmitter are confined and operable within the member or base, so as to present a stand-alone configuration.

12. A recliner adapted for supporting an object, and to autonomously determine an obstacle to a fore or aft reclining adjustment, said recliner comprising:

a base configured to support the object;

a structural member configured to further support the object, and pivotally connected to the base, such that the base and member cooperatively define an angle of inclination therebetween;

a power adjustment system configured to autonomously adjust the angle, when actuated; and

at least one sensor secured relative to the base or member, operable to detect the presence of the object, and including an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change in at least one attribute when exposed to an activation signal or when exposure to the signal is discontinued, wherein detection of the object is caused by the change,

said sensor being communicatively coupled to, and configured to selectively prevent actuation of the system, when the object is detected,

wherein said at least one sensor further includes an encoder and an energy storage and conversion unit communicatively coupled to the encoder, and the system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the encoder.

13. A recliner adapted for supporting an object, and to autonomously determine an obstacle to adjustment, said recliner comprising:

a base configured to support the object;

a structural member configured to further support the object, and pivotally connected to the base, such that the base and member cooperatively define an angle of inclination therebetween;

a power adjustment system configured to autonomously adjust the angle, when actuated, and including RF receiver and a controller communicatively coupled to the receiver; and

at least one sensor secured to the base or member, operable to detect the presence of the object, and including an RF transmitter and a piezoelectric polymer element operable to generate a charge when caused to be deformed by the object, wherein detection of the object is based on measuring a deformation over a period,

said transmitter being communicatively coupled to the RF receiver, such that the sensor is communicatively coupled to the system,

said sensor, transmitter, receiver and controller being cooperatively configured to prevent actuation of the system, when the object is detected.