System and method for controlling vehicle seat movement

• US 9,333,880 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Farquhar, Mark A., Hein, David A., Yetukuri, Arjun
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US13/834,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 180/274, 180/272, 180/273, 280/735, 297/342, 297/361.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2/0028 of a body part, e.g. of an arm or a leg
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• 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 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle. A sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor. A control unit is configured to receive the sensor output signal and to generate a control signal for use in controlling movement of the seat.

Claims

1. A system for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor assembly comprising a sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor;

a control unit configured to receive the sensor output signal and to generate a control signal for use in controlling movement of the seat; and

a switch adapted to receive user input, the switch for use in generating an override signal for use in overriding the control signal to allow adjustment of a position of i) a non-seat vehicle surface supporting the sensor or ii) a seat member supporting the object, to thereby permit additional controlled movement of the seat by a seat movement controller configured to receive the control signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control signal is for use in halting movement of the seat based on the proximity of the object to the sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the control signal is for use in reversing movement of the seat based on the proximity of the object to the sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the control signal is for use in providing a warning to a user based on the proximity of the object to the sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor, the output signal generated represents a gap between the object and the sensor, and the control unit compares the gap to a threshold value.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is adapted for attachment to an adjustable non-seat surface of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a seat movement controller configured to control movement of the seat, the seat movement controller adapted to receive the control signal generated by the control unit for use in controlling movement of the seat.

8. A system for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor assembly comprising a conductive sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor; and

a control unit configured to receive the sensor output signal and to generate a control signal for use in halting or reversing movement of the seat based on a proximity of the object to the sensor;

a switch adapted to receive user input, the switch for use in generating an override signal for use in overriding the control signal to allow adjustment of a position of i) a non-seat member supporting the sensor or ii) a seat member supporting the object, to thereby permit additional controlled movement of the seat.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a seat movement controller configured to control movement of the seat, the seat movement controller adapted to receive the control signal generated by the control unit for use in controlling movement of the seat.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a capacitive sensor, the output signal generated represents a gap between the object and the sensor, and the control unit compares the gap to a threshold value.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensor assembly is adapted for attachment to an adjustable non-seat vehicle surface.

12. A method for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a gap between a sensor and an object when the seat is moving;

controlling movement of the seat based on a comparison of the gap to a threshold value;

overriding, in response to user input, the controlled movement of the seat; and

adjusting a position of i) a non-seat member supporting the sensor or ii) a seat member supporting the object, to thereby permit further controlled movement of the seat after halting or reversing movement of the seat.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein determining a gap between the sensor and an object comprises activating a seat movement controller comprising a sensor assembly configured to sense a presence of an object.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein controlling movement of the seat comprises generating a control signal for use in halting or reversing movement of the seat.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein overriding comprises generating an override signal in response to user input, the override signal for use in overriding the control signal to permit further movement of the seat after one of halting and reversing movement of the seat.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a capacitive sensor adapted for attachment to an adjustable non-seat vehicle surface.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein activating a seat movement controller comprises determining whether the seat is moving.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein controlling movement of the seat comprises generating a control signal for use in providing a warning to a user.