Vehicle seat back haptic alert systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:
- a seat back member comprising;
a main seat back portion with a first side and a second side,a first back bolster positioned on the first side of the main seat back portion, wherein the first back bolster comprises a first foam body defining a first depression in a first top side of the first back bolster, the first depression being defined by first side walls and a first bottom wall formed by the first foam body,a second back bolster positioned on the second side of the main seat back portion, wherein the second back bolster comprises a second foam body defining a second depression in a second top side of the second back bolster, the second depression being defined by second side walls and a second bottom wall formed by the second foam body, anda seat frame supporting the main seat back portion, the first back bolster, and the second back bolster; and
a haptic alert assembly comprising a first actuator positioned within the first depression of the first back bolster of the seat back member and configured to generate at least a first portion of a haptic alert and a second actuator positioned within the second depression of the second back bolster and configured to generate at least a second portion of the haptic alert,wherein the first foam body of the first back bolster is disposed between the seat frame and the first actuator to attenuate vibrations between the first actuator and the seat frame, and wherein the second foam body of the second back bolster is disposed between the seat frame and the second actuator to attenuate vibrations between the second actuator and the seat frame such that the first portion and the second portion of the haptic alert are isolated from one another,wherein the first actuator includes a housing and a motor within the housing, and wherein the first motor operates at a frequency in a range of approximately 55 Hertz to 67 Hertz and selected to reduce interactions with road vibration frequencies.
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Abstract
A vehicle seat assembly is provided. The assembly includes a seat back member and a haptic alert assembly. The haptic alert assembly includes a first actuator incorporated into the seat back member. The first actuator is configured to generate at least a first portion of a haptic alert.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:
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a seat back member comprising; a main seat back portion with a first side and a second side, a first back bolster positioned on the first side of the main seat back portion, wherein the first back bolster comprises a first foam body defining a first depression in a first top side of the first back bolster, the first depression being defined by first side walls and a first bottom wall formed by the first foam body, a second back bolster positioned on the second side of the main seat back portion, wherein the second back bolster comprises a second foam body defining a second depression in a second top side of the second back bolster, the second depression being defined by second side walls and a second bottom wall formed by the second foam body, and a seat frame supporting the main seat back portion, the first back bolster, and the second back bolster; and a haptic alert assembly comprising a first actuator positioned within the first depression of the first back bolster of the seat back member and configured to generate at least a first portion of a haptic alert and a second actuator positioned within the second depression of the second back bolster and configured to generate at least a second portion of the haptic alert, wherein the first foam body of the first back bolster is disposed between the seat frame and the first actuator to attenuate vibrations between the first actuator and the seat frame, and wherein the second foam body of the second back bolster is disposed between the seat frame and the second actuator to attenuate vibrations between the second actuator and the seat frame such that the first portion and the second portion of the haptic alert are isolated from one another, wherein the first actuator includes a housing and a motor within the housing, and wherein the first motor operates at a frequency in a range of approximately 55 Hertz to 67 Hertz and selected to reduce interactions with road vibration frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 13, 18)
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5. A driver alert assembly, comprising:
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a vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat back member having a main seat back portion with a first side and a second side, a first back bolster positioned on the first side of the seat back portion, wherein the first back bolster comprises a first foam body defining a first depression in a first top side of the first back bolster, the first depression being defined by first side walls and a first bottom wall formed by the first foam body, and a second back bolster positioned on the second side of the seat back portion, wherein the second back bolster comprises a second foam body defining a second depression in a second top side of the second back bolster, the second depression being defined by second side walls and a second bottom wall formed by the second foam body, and a seat frame supporting the main seat back portion, the first back bolster, and the second back bolster; 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; 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 incorporated into the first depression of the first back bolster and configured to generate at least a first portion of the haptic alert, and a second actuator incorporated into the second depression of the second back bolster and configured to generate at least a second portion of the haptic alert, wherein the first foam body of the first back bolster is disposed between the seat frame and the first actuator to attenuate vibrations between the first actuator and the seat frame, and wherein the second foam body of the second back bolster is disposed between the seat frame and the second actuator to attenuate vibrations between the second actuator and the seat frame such that vibrations generated from the first and second portions of the haptic alert are decoupled from one another, wherein the control module commands the first actuator to operate at a frequency in a range of approximately 55 Hertz to 67 Hertz and selected to reduce interactions with road vibration frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification