Alert systems and methods for a vehicle with improved actuator installation

• US 9,286,773 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: McQueen, Diane K., Kiefer, Raymond J., Stebbins, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US13/894,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20130342335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/575, 340/576, 340/903, 340/435, 297/217.1, 297/217.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly is provided. The vehicle seat assembly includes a bottom seat member with a seat pan with a first side and a second side, a first bolster positioned on the first side of the seat pan, and a second bolster positioned on the second side of the seat pan. The first bolster defines a first depression. The vehicle seat assembly further includes a haptic alert assembly with a first actuator having a first housing and a first motor within the first housing. The first housing is mounted within the first depression.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a bottom seat member comprising a seat pan with a first side and a second side, a first bolster positioned on the first side of the seat pan, and a second bolster positioned on the second side of the seat pan, the first bolster defining a first depression, wherein the bottom seat member defines a first wire passage and a second wire passage; and

a haptic alert assembly comprising a first actuator with a first housing and a first motor within the first housing, the first housing being mounted within the first depression, and

wherein the haptic alert assembly further comprises a second actuator with a second housing and a second motor, the second housing being mounted within the second bolster,

wherein the haptic alert assembly further comprises a wiring harness and a controller, wherein the controller includes a first output for sending first commands to the first actuator and a second output for sending second commands to the second actuator such that the first and second actuators independently generate selected directional haptic signals,

wherein the wiring harness comprises a first wire extending between the first actuator and the first output of the controller through the first wire passage and a second wire extending between the second actuator and the second output of the controller through the second wire passage,

wherein the first wire is a first length and the second wire is a second length, the first length being shorter than the second length, and

wherein the first wire passage has a third length and the second wire passage has a fourth length, the fourth length being longer than the third length and the first length being shorter than the fourth length,

whereby the first wire cannot be extended for connection to the second actuator through the second wire passage ensuring that the first and second wires are correctly connected to their respective actuator to provide correct directional haptic signaling.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first housing comprises a top wall with an extended surface, a bottom wall, and side walls coupling the top wall to the bottom wall;

wherein the first depression includes a plurality of layers, including a first layer defining of a bottom of the first depression and a second layer adjacent the first layer, the second layer having an extended cross-sectional area relative to the first layer, wherein the first bolster, the first depression, and the first and second layers are formed by a foam body, wherein the first layer of the depression is sized to accommodate the bottom wall and the side walls of the housing, and wherein the second layer of the depression is sized to accommodate the top wall of the housing.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the top wall is at least approximately 50% larger in area than the bottom wall.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of layers further includes a third layer adjacent the second layer, the third layer having a larger cross-sectional area than the second layer.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 4, further comprising a topper pad arranged within the third layer to cover the first housing.

6. A driver alert assembly, comprising:

a vehicle seat assembly comprising a bottom seat member having a seat pan with a first side and a second side, a first bolster positioned on the first side of the seat pan, and a second bolster positioned on the second side of the seat pan, the first bolster defining a first depression, the bottom seat member including a first wire passage and a second wire passage; and

a control module configured to declare a collision condition based on input signals received from one or more collision avoidance systems and to generate alert command signals based on the collision condition, the control module including a first output and a second output; and

a haptic alert assembly coupled to the control module and configured to generate a haptic alert based on the alert command signals, the haptic alert assembly including a first actuator comprising a first housing and a first motor within the first housing, the first housing being mounted within the first depression,

wherein the haptic alert assembly further comprises a second actuator with a second housing and a second motor, the second housing being mounted within the second bolster, the haptic alert assembly further comprising a wiring harness, the wiring harness comprising a first wire extending between the first actuator and the first output of the control module through the first wire passage such that the first actuator receives a first selected portion of the alert command signals from the control module and a second wire extending between the second actuator and the second output of the control module through the second wire passage such that the second actuator receives a second selected portion of the alert command signals, and

wherein the first wire has a first length, the second wire has a second length greater than the first length, the first wire passage has a third length, and the second wire passage has a fourth length that is greater than the third length and the first length,

whereby the first wire cannot be extended for connection to the second actuator through the second wire passage ensuring that the first and second wires are correctly connected to their respective actuator to provide correct directional haptic signaling.

7. The driver alert assembly of claim 6, wherein the first depression includes a plurality of layers, including a first layer defining of a bottom of the first depression and a second layer adjacent the first layer, the second layer having an extended cross-sectional area relative to the first layer, wherein the first and second layers of the first depression are formed by a foam body.

8. The driver alert assembly of claim 7, wherein the first housing comprises a top wall with an extended surface, a bottom wall, and side walls coupling the top wall to the bottom wall, wherein the first layer of the depression is sized to accommodate the bottom wall and the side walls of the housing.

9. The driver alert assembly of claim 8, wherein the second layer of the depression is sized to accommodate the top wall of the housing.

10. The driver alert assembly of claim 9, wherein the top wall is at least approximately 50% larger in area than the bottom wall.

11. A driver alert assembly, comprising:

a vehicle seat assembly comprising a bottom seat member having a seat pan with a first side and a second side, a first bolster positioned on the first side of the seat pan, and a second bolster positioned on the second side of the seat pan, the first bolster defining a first depression and a first wire passage and the second bolster defining second depression and a second wire passage; and

a control module configured to declare a collision condition based on input signals received from one or more collision avoidance systems and to generate first and second alert command signals based on the collision condition, the control module having a first output and a second output;

a wire harness coupled to the control module, the wire harness including a first wire with a first length extending through the first wire passage and a second wire with a second length extending through the second wire passage, the first length being shorter than the second length; and

a haptic alert assembly coupled to the control module via the wire harness and configured to generate a haptic alert based on the alert command signals, the haptic alert assembly including a first actuator mounted within the first depression and coupled to the first output of the control module via the first wire to receive the first alert command signals and a second actuator mounted within the second depression and coupled to the second output of the control module via the second wire to receive the second alert command signals,

wherein the first wire passage has a third length and the second wire passage has a fourth length, and wherein the fourth length is greater than the first length and the third length,

whereby the first wire cannot be extended for connection to the second actuator through the second wire passage ensuring that the first and second wires are correctly connected to their respective actuator to provide correct directional haptic signaling.