Headrest system, seat with a headrest system, and vehicle including same

• US 8,296,018 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fundacion Robotiker
• Original Assignee: Fundacion Robotiker
• Inventors: Pedrero Iniguez, Juan Manuel, Ferros Presa, Mercedes, Murgoitio Larrauri, Jesus, Iglesias Aguinaga, Inaki, Sanchez Diaz, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US12/530,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 297/410, 297/216.1, 297/216.12, 297/217.3, 296/68.1, 280/735, 280/751, 280/753, 701/45, 701/49, 180/271
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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 2/821 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use

Abstract

The invention relates to a headrest system comprising:

• • a headrest device (1);
  • a plurality of sensors (2, 3); and
    • an electromechanical headrest device positioning system, associated to said sensors (2, 3). Data are recorded during an upward movement of the headrest device (1), relating to the distance between the headrest device (1) and the head in a plurality of positions of the headrest device (1) throughout said upward movement. The upward movement ends when, through the sensors, the system detects that the headrest is at a certain height. Based on this data recorded during the upward movement, the headrest device (1) is moved substantially horizontally until it is located at a certain distance from the head.

Claims

1. Headrest system comprising:

a headrest device configured to serve as a support for the rear part of the head of a user;

a plurality of sensors located in the headrest device and configured to record data relating to said head; and

an electromechanical headrest device positioning system, associated to said sensors and configured to locate the headrest device in a certain position, in a vertical and horizontal direction, according to information coming from said sensors;

characterized in that

the headrest device positioning system is configured to, as a response to an activation signal, carry out the following operations;

starting a single upward movement of the headrest device until detecting, by means of at least one of said sensors, that the headrest device has reached a certain height with respect to an upper edge of the head;

stopping said upward movement of the headrest device when the system detects that the headrest device is located at said certain height;

recording, during said upward movement and by means of at least one of said sensors, data relating to the distance between the headrest device and the head in a plurality of positions of the headrest device throughout said upward movement;

once said upward movement has stopped, moving the headrest device substantially horizontally, according to said data, to locate the headrest device at a certain distance from the head.

2. Headrest system according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of sensors comprises at least one sensor configured to detect the upper edge of the head.

3. Headrest system according to claim 2, characterized in that said sensor configured to detect the upper edge of the head is located at an upper end of the headrest device.

4. Headrest system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said sensor configured to detect the upper edge of the head is configured to generate a first output signal when it records a presence of an object in front of the sensor, and to generate a second output signal when it does not detect such presence of an object.

5. Headrest system according to any of claims 2-3, characterized in that said sensor configured to detect the upper edge of the head and said positioning system are configured to stop the upward movement when the upper edge of the headrest is substantially located at the height of the upper edge of the head.

6. Headrest system according to any of claims 2-3, characterized in that said sensor configured to detect the upper edge of the head is an infrared sensor.

7. Headrest system according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of sensors comprises at least one sensor configured to generate an output signal indicating a distance between the headrest device and a point of the head located in front of said sensor.

8. Headrest system according to claim 7, characterized in that said sensor configured to generate an output signal indicating a distance between the headrest device and a point of the head located in front of the sensor is an infrared sensor.

9. Headrest system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said sensor configured to generate an output signal indicating a distance between the headrest device and a point of the head located in front of the sensor is located in a central area of the headrest.

10. Headrest system according to claim 1, characterized in that the upward movement is a linear movement along a first shaft.

11. Headrest system according to claim 10, characterized in that said linear movement along said first shaft is a movement generated by a first motor forming part of the positioning system.

12. Headrest system according to claim 11, characterized in that said first motor is arranged to interact with at least one threaded rod parallel to said first shaft such that a rotational movement of the motor causes said linear movement along said first shaft.

13. Headrest system according to any of claims 10-11, characterized in that the substantially horizontal movement is a movement according to a second shaft.

14. Headrest system according to claim 13, characterized in that the substantially horizontal movement is a rotational movement about said second shaft, said second shaft being perpendicular to said first shaft.

15. Headrest system according to claim 13, characterized in that said substantially horizontal movement is a linear movement.

16. Headrest system according to claim 15, characterized in that said substantially horizontal movement is a linear movement substantially perpendicular to said first shaft.

17. Headrest system according to claim 13, characterized in that the positioning system comprises a second motor configured to cause said substantially horizontal movement.

18. Headrest system according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises at least one contact sensor located in the headrest device and configured to detect the contact of the head of the user with the headrest device, the positioning system being configured to change the position of the headrest device when said at least one contact sensor detects a contact force greater than a predetermined threshold.

19. Headrest system according to claim 1, characterized by comprising an electronic subsystem configured to control the position of the headrest device by means of said upward movement and said substantially horizontal movement according to signals received from the sensors.

20. Headrest system according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning system is configured to adjust the position of the headrest according to a readjustment frequency.

21. Vehicle seat comprising a seat part and a back part, characterized in that the back part incorporates a headrest system according to claim 1.

22. Automotive vehicle including at least one seat according to claim 21.