Method of operating a multi-position vehicle seat

• US 9,463,715 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Inventors: Rawlinson, Peter Dore, Muir, Daniel Jefferson
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US14/706,014
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.07, 296/65.08, 296/65.12, 296/65.13, 296/65.15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0256 Arrangements for facilitating the occupant to get in or out of the vehicle, e.g. stowing a seat forward
• 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 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0742 rotated about the vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/0208 the seat or seat part turning about or moving along an inclined axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/0216 the seat or seat part turning about or moving along a transversal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/022 the seat or seat part turning about or moving along a vertical axis

Abstract

A method of positioning a vehicle seat is provided that allows a vehicle passenger seat, preferably a rear passenger seat mounted within the rear portion of the passenger cabin, to move laterally (i.e., side-to-side), fore-aft (i.e., forwards-backwards), and rotationally. As a result, an occupant of the passenger seat can optimize their seat position for the task at hand, e.g., relaxing, obtaining additional leg and/or shoulder room, rotating inwards during a conversation with others in the car, rotating outwards to aid vehicle egress, etc.

Claims

1. A method of positioning a vehicle seat, comprising:

monitoring a seat position selector, wherein said seat position selector is configured to accept selection of a particular seat position for said vehicle seat from a plurality of available seat positions;

detecting selection of said particular seat position from said plurality of available seat positions;

automatically moving said vehicle seat from a current seat position to said particular seat position after completion of said detecting step, wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat is performed by a controller and a drive system coupled to said vehicle seat via a seat positioning system, wherein said seat positioning system is configured to provide repositioning of said vehicle seat via said drive system in a forward direction and a backward direction within a first range of motion, wherein said drive system is configured to provide repositioning of said vehicle seat via said drive system in a lateral-left direction and lateral-right direction within a second range of motion, and wherein said drive system is configured to provide repositioning of said vehicle seat via said drive system in a clockwise rotational direction and a counter-clockwise rotational direction within a third range of motion;

monitoring a vehicle speed sensor; and

comparing a current vehicle speed to a preset vehicle speed, wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat further comprises automatically moving said vehicle seat from said current seat position to a preset seat position when said current vehicle speed exceeds said preset vehicle speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said seat position selector is comprised of at least one multi-positional switch, wherein said step of detecting selection of said particular seat position further comprises determining a direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch, wherein said direction of movement is selected from a plurality of available switch movement directions, and wherein each of said plurality of available switch movement directions corresponds to a preset direction of motion of said vehicle seat via said seat positioning system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a first direction, wherein said first direction is selected from said plurality of available switch movement directions, and wherein said first direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said forward direction, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a second direction, wherein said second direction is selected from said plurality of available switch movement directions, and wherein said second direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said backwards direction.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a third direction, wherein said third direction is selected from said plurality of available switch movement directions, and wherein said third direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said lateral-left direction, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a fourth direction, wherein said fourth direction is selected from said plurality of available switch movement directions, and wherein said fourth direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said lateral-right direction.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a fifth direction, wherein said fifth direction is selected from said plurality of available switch movement directions, and wherein said fifth direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said clockwise rotational direction, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a sixth direction, wherein said sixth direction is selected from said plurality of available switch movement directions, and wherein said sixth direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said counter-clockwise rotational direction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said seat position selector is comprised of at least one multi-positional switch, wherein said step of detecting selection of said particular seat position further comprises determining a direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch, wherein said direction of movement is selected from a plurality of available switch movement directions, wherein each of said plurality of available switch movement directions corresponds to a preset direction of motion of said vehicle seat via said seat positioning system, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a first direction, wherein said first direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said forward direction, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a second direction, wherein said second direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said backwards direction, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a third direction, wherein said third direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said lateral-left direction, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a fourth direction, wherein said fourth direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said lateral-right direction, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a fifth direction, wherein said fifth direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said clockwise rotational direction, wherein said step of determining said direction of movement of said at least one multi-positional switch further comprises determining if said direction of movement is in a sixth direction, and wherein said sixth direction corresponds to movement of said vehicle seat in said counter-clockwise rotational direction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said seat position selector is comprised of a plurality of switches, wherein said plurality of switches corresponds to a plurality of seat movement directions, wherein a first switch of said plurality of switches corresponds to said forward direction, wherein a second switch of said plurality of switches corresponds to said backward direction, wherein a third switch of said plurality of switches corresponds to said lateral-left direction, wherein a fourth switch of said plurality of switches corresponds to said lateral-right direction, wherein a fifth switch of said plurality of switches corresponds to said clockwise rotational direction, and wherein a sixth switch of said plurality of switches corresponds to said counter-clockwise rotational direction.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of detecting selection of said particular seat position further comprises:

determining when a particular switch of said plurality of switches is activated;

identifying said particular switch from said plurality of switches; and

wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat further comprises;

determining a particular seat movement direction corresponding to said particular switch of said plurality of switches, wherein said particular seat movement direction corresponds to one of said plurality of seat movement directions; and

moving said vehicle seat in said particular seat movement direction.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining when said particular switch of said plurality of switches is deactivated; and

terminating said step of moving said vehicle seat in said particular seat movement direction when said particular switch of said plurality of switches is deactivated.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said seat position selector is comprised of a plurality of switches, wherein said plurality of switches corresponds to a plurality of preset vehicle seat positions, wherein said step of detecting selection of said particular seat position further comprises:

determining when a particular switch of said plurality of switches is activated;

identifying said particular switch from said plurality of switches; and

wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat further comprises;

determining a particular preset vehicle seat position corresponding to said particular switch of said plurality of switches, wherein said particular preset vehicle seat position corresponds to one of said plurality of preset vehicle seat positions; and

moving said vehicle seat from said current seat position to said particular preset vehicle seat position.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a door handle sensor coupled to a vehicle door handle, wherein said vehicle door handle is selected from an internal vehicle door handle and an external vehicle door handle;

detecting when said vehicle door handle is touched; and

wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat further comprises automatically moving said vehicle seat from said current seat position to a predetermined position when said vehicle door handle is touched.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said predetermined position corresponds to a vehicle seat entrance/egress position.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a door handle sensor coupled to a vehicle door handle, wherein said vehicle door handle is selected from an internal vehicle door handle and an external vehicle door handle;

detecting when said vehicle door handle is activated; and

wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat further comprises automatically moving said vehicle seat from said current seat position to a predetermined position when said vehicle door handle is activated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined position corresponds to a vehicle seat entrance/egress position.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a door lock sensor coupled to a vehicle door;

determining when said vehicle door is unlocked based on output from said door lock sensor; and

wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat further comprises automatically moving said vehicle seat from said current seat position to a predetermined position when said vehicle door is unlocked.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said predetermined position corresponds to a vehicle seat entrance/egress position.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a vehicle drive system;

determining when said vehicle is placed into a park configuration; and

wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat further comprises automatically moving said vehicle seat from said current seat position to a predetermined position when said vehicle is placed into said park configuration.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said predetermined position corresponds to a vehicle seat entrance/egress position.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a vehicle status sensor, wherein an output from said vehicle status sensor indicates a vehicle on status and a vehicle off status;

determining when said vehicle status sensor indicates a change from said vehicle on status to said vehicle off status; and

wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat further comprises automatically moving said vehicle seat from said current seat position to a predetermined position when said vehicle status sensor indicates said change from said vehicle on status to said vehicle off status.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said predetermined position corresponds to a vehicle seat entrance/egress position.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining when said vehicle status sensor indicates a second change from said vehicle off status to said vehicle on status; and

wherein said step of automatically moving said vehicle seat further comprises automatically moving said vehicle seat from said vehicle seat entrance/egress position to a normal driving seat position when said vehicle status sensor indicates said second change from said vehicle off status to said vehicle on status.