Active image generation and selective remote actuation of head restraint

• US 8,396,625 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Locke, Gerald S., Yetukuri, Arjun V., Hein, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US12/631,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20110137529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/45, 701/48, 701/49, 701/51, 340/901, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/457, 340/457.1, 340/461, 340/462, 340/463, 340/500, 340/815.4, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 180/268, 180/271, 180/281, 180/282, 180/269, 280/727, 280/734, 280/735, 297/391, 296/65.01, 296/68.1
• 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 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/859 specially adapted for rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/40 characterised by the details of the power supply or the coupling to vehicle components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A head restraint actuation system is provided having a receiver configured for receiving an image signal, a transmission status signal, a head restraint request signal and a seat information signal. A mirror controller is configured for communicating with the receiver for analyzing the received signals and selecting a rearview mirror mode. A user interface is configured for communicating with the mirror controller for displaying the image signal based on the selection of a first mode, and for enabling transmission of a head restraint request to the mirror controller based on the selection of a second mode. A transmitter is configured for communicating with the mirror controller for transmitting the head restraint request to a seat controller based on the selection of the second mode. A head restraint actuator receives the head restraint request and actuates a corresponding head restraint.

Claims

1. A head restraint actuation system comprising:

a mirror controller in communication with a seat having a head restraint actuator, a vehicle network, a camera and a user interface, the mirror controller being configured to;

receive a transmission status signal indicative of a gear selection of a transmission from the vehicle network,

receive an image signal indicative of a rearward image from the camera,

receive a head restraint request signal indicative of a desired change in a position of the head restraint from the user interface;

enable remote activation of the head restraint at the user interface, based on the transmission status;

display the rearward image upon a rearview mirror assembly, based on the transmission status; and

transmit a head restraint instruction signal to the head restraint actuator corresponding to the head restraint request signal, based on the enablement of the remote activation of the head restraint.

2. The head restraint actuation system of claim 1 further comprising:

a head restraint actuator coupled to a passenger seat for actuating a head restraint; and

a seat controller in electrical communication with the head restraint actuator.

3. The head restraint actuation system of claim 2 wherein the user interface is provided upon the rearview mirror assembly.

4. The head restraint actuation system of claim 3 wherein the minor controller is further configured to:

disable remote actuation of the head restraint based on a reverse gear selection of the transmission; and

display the rearward image upon the rearview mirror, based on the reverse gear selection of the transmission.

5. The head restraint actuation system of claim 3 further comprising a head restraint sensor for providing a head restraint position signal indicative of a position of the head restraint, to the seat controller.

6. The head restraint actuation system of claim 5 further comprising a seat sensor for providing a seat occupancy signal indicative of an occupancy of the passenger seat, to the seat controller.

7. The head restraint actuation system of claim 6 wherein the seat controller is configured to:

receive the head restraint instruction signal;

receive the head restraint position signal;

receive the seat occupancy signal;

determine a head restraint status based on the head restraint position signal;

determine a seat status based on the seat occupancy signal; and

transmit the head restraint status and the seat status to the minor controller.

8. The head restraint actuation system of claim 7 wherein the minor controller is further configured to:

receive the head restraint status;

receive the seat status;

enable remote activation of the head restraint at the rearview minor assembly, based on at least one of the transmission status, the head restraint status and the seat status; and

display the rearward image upon the rearview mirror assembly, based on at least one of the transmission status, the head restraint status and the seat status.

9. The head restraint actuation system of claim 8 wherein the minor controller is further configured to enable illumination of a seat graphic upon the rearview minor assembly, indicative of the enablement of remote activation of the head restraint, based on at least one of the transmission status, the head restraint status and the seat status.

10. A head restraint actuation system comprising:

a receiver for receiving an image signal from a camera, a transmission status signal from a vehicle network, and a head restraint request signal from a user interface;

a minor controller in communication with the receiver for selecting a rearview mirror mode based on the transmission status signal;

a user interface in communication with the mirror controller for displaying the image signal based on the selection of a first rearview minor mode, and for enabling transmission of a head restraint request to the mirror controller based on the selection of a second rearview minor mode; and

a transmitter communicating with the mirror controller for transmitting the head restraint request to a passenger seat controller based on the selection of the second rearview minor mode.

11. The head restraint actuation system of claim 10 further comprising a second receiver in communication with the mirror controller, for receiving a seat occupancy signal and a head restraint position signal from the passenger seat controller;

wherein the minor controller analyzes at least one of the transmission status, the seat occupancy signal and the head restraint position signal for selecting the rearview mirror mode.

12. The head restraint actuation system of claim 11 wherein the minor controller and the passenger seat controller are configured for wireless communication.

13. A method for controlling a head restraint actuation system, the method comprising:

receiving a transmission status signal indicative of a gear selection of a transmission;

receiving an image signal indicative of a rearward image;

receiving at least one head restraint request signal indicative of a desired change in a position of a corresponding at least one head restraint;

analyzing the transmission status signal;

enabling a remote activation of at least one head restraint actuator corresponding to the at least one head restraint, at a rearview minor assembly, based on the transmission status signal;

displaying the rearward image upon the rearview mirror assembly, based on the transmission status; and

transmitting a head restraint command signal to the at least one head restraint actuator corresponding to the head restraint request signal, based on the enabling of remote activation.

14. The method for controlling a head restraint actuation system of claim 13 wherein the display of the rearward image is based on a reverse gear selection transmission status.

15. The method for controlling a head restraint actuation system of claim 13 wherein the remote activation of at least one head restraint actuator is enabled based on a non-reverse gear selection transmission status.

16. The method for controlling a head restraint actuation system of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving at least one head restraint position signal indicative of a position of the at least one head restraint;

receiving at least one seat occupancy signal indicative of an occupancy of a corresponding at least one passenger seat; and

enabling the remote activation of the at least one head restraint actuator at the rearview mirror assembly, based on at least one of the transmission status signal, the at least one head restraint position signal and the at least one seat occupancy signal.

17. The method for controlling a head restraint actuation system of claim 16 wherein the display of the rearward image is based on a reverse gear selection transmission status.

18. The method for controlling a head restraint actuation system of claim 16 further comprising:

disabling remote activation of at least one head restraint actuator based on an at least one downward head restraint position; and

enabling the display of a rearward image based on a non-reverse gear selection transmission status;

wherein the display of the rearward image is activated by manually pressing an active image generation switch on a user interface.

19. The method for controlling a head restraint actuation system of claim 16 wherein the remote activation of the at least one head restraint actuator is enabled based on an at least one upward head restraint position, and a corresponding unoccupied seat occupancy signal.

20. The method for controlling a head restraint actuation system of claim 16 wherein the remote activation of at least one head restraint actuator is disabled based on an at least one upward head restraint position, and a corresponding occupied seat occupancy signal.