Sensor assembly for a movable seat

• US 8,985,542 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Diemer, Rolf, Nienhaus, Gottfried, Grieser, Roland, Coles, Daniel, Grbler, Gnther
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US12/859,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20110043010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 248/420, 248/423, 248/424, 248/550, 248/429, 248/430, 297/344.1, 297/344.11, 297/341, 297/468, 297/217.3, 297/217.2, 324/207.2, 324/207.22, 324/207.24, 324/207.13, 280/735, 340/500, 340/667, 180/271
• US Class Current: 248/429
• 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 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/07 Slide construction

Abstract

A slide assembly includes a first member and a second member support for movement relative to the first member. The slide assembly also includes a sensor supported on one of the first member and the second member and a target supported on the other of the first member and the second member. The sensor generates a signal when the target is within a detection bounds. The slide assembly is characterized in that cooperating guides are supported relative to the sensor and the target and are engageable with one another to maintain a predetermined alignment between the sensor and the target.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a first member;

a second member supported for movement throughout first and second ranges of positions relative to the first member;

a sensor supported on one of the first member and the second member; and

a target supported on the other of the first member and the second member;

wherein the sensor generates a signal when the target is within a detection bounds;

characterized in that cooperating guides are supported relative to the sensor and the target and are engageable with one another when the first and second members are in the first range of positions to maintain a predetermined alignment between the sensor and the target and are not engageable with one another when the first and second members are in the second range of positions.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a resilient member that biases the sensor and the target out of the predetermined alignment.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the cooperating guides comprise a guide surface and a guided surface and the guide surface urges the guided surface against the force of the resilient member when the cooperating guides engage.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the guided surface moves pivotally in relation to one of the first member and the second member when the guided surface is urged by the guide surface.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the guide surface is mounted relative to the sensor, the guided surface is mounted relative to the target, and the target is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the one of the first member and the second member.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the guided surface is an edge of the target.

7. A movable seat assembly including an assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein a seat is supported for movement with the second member.

8. A movable seat assembly including an assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a seat is supported for movement with the second member.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cooperating guides include a first guide comprising two substantially parallel guide surfaces separated to define a channel and a second guide comprising a guided member, and wherein the guided member is disposed within the channel when the sensor and the target are in the predetermined proper alignment.

10. The assembly of claim 9, the first guide further comprising a funnel at an end of the channel.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein one of the first guide and the second guide is mounted for pivotal movement relative to one of the first member and the second member.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first guide is mounted relative to the sensor, the second guide is mounted relative to the target, and the target is mounted for pivotal movement relative to one of the first member and the second member.

13. A movable seat assembly including an assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein a seat is supported for movement with the second member.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the guided member is an edge of the target.

15. A movable seat assembly including an assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein a seat is supported for movement with the second member.

16. An assembly comprising:

a first member;

a second member supported for movement relative to the first member;

a sensor supported on the first member;

cooperating guides supported relative to the sensor and the target and engageable with one another to move the target relative to the second member in order to maintain a gap between the sensor and the target within a predetermined distance when the target is within a detection bounds; and

a target supported on the second member and able to move relative to the second member;

wherein the sensor generates a signal when the target is within the detection bounds.

17. The assembly of claim 16, further including cooperating guides that are supported relative to the sensor and the target and are engageable with one another to maintain a predetermined alignment between the sensor and the target.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the cooperating guides are engageable with one another to move to the target relative to the second member to position the target and the sensor in the predetermined alignment.