Memory features for a manually adjustable apparatus

• US 9,073,575 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bryant, Wade W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adnan, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US12/778,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 3406861-6866
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/16 height-adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/187 with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence

Abstract

A system is disclosed for manually pre-selecting and retrieving a position of an apparatus arranged inside a vehicle. The system includes an adjustment device operatively connected to the apparatus and configured to manually pre-select and lock the position of the apparatus relative to the vehicle. The system additionally includes a sensory signaling device operatively connected to the apparatus and selectively moveable within a predetermined range with respect to the vehicle. The sensory signaling device is configured to identify the pre-selected position of the apparatus and provide a sensory signal indicative of the pre-selected position, thereby facilitating the manual retrieval of the position without trial and error experimentation. A method for manually pre-selecting and retrieving a position of an apparatus arranged inside a vehicle is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system of a vehicle for manually pre-selecting and retrieving a position of an apparatus by an occupant of the vehicle, the system comprising:

a non power-assisted adjustment device operatively connected to the apparatus and configured to manually pre-select and lock the position of the apparatus relative to the vehicle solely by a force from the occupant, wherein the apparatus is integrated into the vehicle; and

a sensory signaling device operatively connected to the apparatus, integrated into the vehicle, and selectively moveable within a predetermined range with respect to the vehicle and to the apparatus, the sensory signaling device configured to identify the pre-selected position of the apparatus and provide a sensory signal to the occupant indicative of the pre-selected position, thereby facilitating the manual retrieval of the position by the occupant without trial and error experimentation;

wherein the sensory signaling device includes a reference feature fixed relative to one of the apparatus and the vehicle, and at least one of an audible and a tactile indicator, such that the at least one of an audible and a tactile indicator is adapted to be selectively moveable relative to, and to interact with the reference feature to thereby identify the pre-selected position and provide the sensory signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, including the audible indicator, wherein the audible indicator is arranged moveably on a track and adapted to interact with the reference feature by establishing a detent for clicking against the feature to generate an audible signal indicative of the position of the apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 1, including the tactile indicator, wherein the tactile indicator is arranged moveably on a track and adapted to interact with the reference feature by varying interference therewith to generate a tactile signal indicative of the position of the apparatus.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is at least one of a manual seat fore-aft position adjuster, a manual seat height position adjuster, and a manual seat-back angle adjuster for a seat arranged in the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a rearview mirror positioned in the vehicle.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a steering wheel having its position adjustable by at least one of tilting and telescoping.

7. A vehicle comprising:

an apparatus integrated into the vehicle and configured to selectively adopt a position relative to the vehicle for accommodating an occupant in the vehicle;

a non power-assisted adjustment device operatively connected to the apparatus and configured to manually pre-select and lock the position of the apparatus relative to the vehicle solely by a force from the occupant; and

a sensory signaling device operatively connected to the apparatus, integrated into the vehicle, and selectively moveable within a predetermined range with respect to the vehicle and to the apparatus, the sensory signaling device configured to identify the pre-selected position of the apparatus and provide a sensory signal to the occupant indicative of the pre-selected position, thereby facilitating the manual retrieval of the position by the occupant without trial and error experimentation;

wherein the sensory signaling device includes a reference feature fixed relative to one of the apparatus and the vehicle, and at least one of an audible and a tactile indicator, such that the at least one of an audible and a tactile indicator is adapted to be selectively moveable relative to, and to interact with the reference feature to thereby identify the pre-selected position and provide the sensory signal.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the audible indicator is arranged moveably on a track and adapted to interact with the reference feature by establishing a detent for clicking against the feature to generate an audible signal indicative of the position of the apparatus.

9. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the tactile indicator is arranged moveably on a track and adapted to interact with the reference feature by varying interference therewith to generate a tactile signal indicative of the position of the apparatus.

10. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is at least one of a manual seat fore-aft position adjuster, a manual seat height position adjuster, and a manual seat-back angle adjuster for a seat arranged in the vehicle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 7,wherein the apparatus is a rearview mirror positioned in the vehicle.

12. The vehicle according to claim 7,wherein the apparatus is a steering wheel having its position adjustable by at least one of tilting and telescoping.

13. A method for manually pre-selecting and retrieving a position of an apparatus arranged inside a vehicle by an occupant of the vehicle, the method comprising:

manually pre-selecting and locking the position of the apparatus relative to the vehicle solely by a force from the occupant by operating a non power-assisted adjustment device operatively connected to the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is integrated into the vehicle;

identifying the pre-selected position of the apparatus via a sensory signaling device operatively connected to the apparatus, integrated into the vehicle, and selectively moveable within a predetermined range with respect to the vehicle and to the apparatus;

providing a sensory signal indicative of the pre-selected position via the sensory signaling device to the occupant, wherein the sensory signaling device includes a reference feature fixed relative to one of the apparatus and the vehicle, and at least one of an audible and a tactile indicator, such that said identifying the pre-selected position of the apparatus is accomplished by selectively moving the at least one of an audible and a tactile indicator relative to the reference feature, and said providing a sensory signal is accomplished by the at least one of an audible and a tactile indicator interacting with the reference feature; and

manually retrieving the pre-selected position by using the sensory signaling device without trial and error experimentation.