System for controlling a vehicle head restraint

• US 8,781,689 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Yetukuri, Arjun, Hein, David A., Locke, Gerald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLACK, THOMAS G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paige, Tyler
• Application Number:
  US13/049,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 701/36, 701/45
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0239 using movement detection or gesture recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/10 tiltable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2875 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/16 height-adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/224 Stepwise movement mechanisms, e.g. ratchets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/232 provided with memory locks
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/806 movable or adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/838 Tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/919 Positioning and locking mechanisms B60N2/16, B60N2/18, B60N2/22, B60N2/225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a support structure and a head restraint supported by the support structure and being movable relative to the support structure between a first position and a second position. An actuator is connected to the head restraint for moving the head restraint, and a controller is in communication with the actuator. A sensor array is supported by one of the support structure and the head restraint and in communication with the controller. The sensor array has a first region and a second region. The sensor array is configured to sense an input of the first region and second region being sequentially activated. The sensor array communicates the input to the controller, and the controller causing the actuator to move the head restraint.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a support structure;

a head restraint supported by the support structure and being movable relative to the support structure between a first position and a second position;

an actuator connected to the head restraint for moving the head restraint;

a controller in communication with the actuator for controlling the actuator; and

a planar sensor array in communication with the controller and accessible from an outer surface of the vehicle seat assembly, the sensor array having a first region and a second region adjoining the first region, wherein the sensor array is configured to sense a tactile input of the first region and second region being sequentially activated by a user, the sensor array communicating the tactile input to the controller, and the controller causing the actuator to move the head restraint in response to the tactile input by the user.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor array further comprises a capacitive sensor in the first region and a capacitive sensor in the second region.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the first position and second position of the head restraint are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle seat assembly.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the first position and second position of the head restraint are spaced apart along a fore/aft axis of the vehicle seat assembly.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the first position and second position are rotationally spaced apart about a lateral axis of the vehicle seat assembly such that the head restraint pivots about the lateral axis when moving between the first position and second position.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a trim cover supported by the head restraint, the trim cover covering the sensor array.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 6 wherein the trim cover includes indicia to show a location of the sensor array.

8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a trim cover supported by the head restraint, wherein the sensor array is integrated into the trim cover.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the input from the sensor array causes the actuator to move the head restraint at least a portion of the way between the first and second position.

18. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the first region and the second region of the sensor array are directly adjacent to one another.

20. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the head restraint body has a front surface adapted to receive the head of a user and a side surface extending at an angle away from the front surface;

wherein the sensor array is positioned on the side surface of the head restraint body.

10. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a support structure;

a head restraint supported by the support structure and being movable relative to the support structure for translation along a first axis, translation along a second axis, and rotation about a third axis;

an actuator connected to the head restraint for moving the head restraint;

a generally planar sensor array supported by the vehicle seat assembly and with a plurality of capacitive sensors arranged in at least one column and at least two rows; and

a controller in communication with the actuator and in communication with the sensor array, wherein the controller is configured to sense a user finger touch input from the sensor array and control the actuator to move the head restraint such that the movement of the head restraint corresponds with the input received by the sensor array.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the input activates at least two adjacent sensors.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the adjacent sensors are activated within a predetermined time limit.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the first, second, and third axes are nonparallel to one another.

14. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the first, second, and third axes are perpendicular to one another.

19. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to sense the user touch input from the sensor array as a path of activated sensors in the sensor array;

and

wherein the controller is further configured to control the actuator to move the head restraint along at least one of the first, second and third axes such that the movement of the head restraint follows the path of activated sensors.

15. A head restraint for a vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a head restraint body adapted to be supported by a vehicle seatback, the head restraint body movable along an axis between a first position and a second position;

an actuator connected to the head restraint body, the actuator being configured to move the head restraint body along the axis;

a sensor array having a plurality of sensors supported by the head restraint body, the plurality of sensors arranged in at least one column and at least two rows and positioned along an outer surface of the sensor array; and

a controller in communication with the actuator and in communication with the sensor array, wherein the controller is configured to receive a user touch input from the sensor array when a path of at least two adjacent sensors are activated by the user on the sensor array which corresponds with the axis, the controller configured to control the actuator to move the head restraint along the axis to correspond with the user touch input.

16. The head restraint of claim 15 wherein as the number of adjacent sensors activated in the input increases such that a length of the path increases, the head restraint travels a longer distance along the axis.

17. The head restraint of claim 15 wherein as a time of activation of one of the plurality of sensors increases, the head restraint travels a longer distance along the axis.