Adjustable seat assembly

• US 9,845,026 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Pereny, Michelle A., Henn, Karl, Hanlon, Samuel R., Patrick, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Luo, David S
• Application Number:
  US14/716,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20160339801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 318 3, 318 34, 318558
• 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 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/665 using inflatable bladders
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45022 Auto seat, dentist chair, roll wheel chair

Abstract

A seat assembly is provided with a seat cushion adapted to be mounted for translation. A seat back is adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent the seat cushion. At least one actuator is operably connected to at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly. A controller is in electrical communication with the at least one actuator and configured to: receive a data input indicative of occupant anthropometry data, receive a mode selection input indicative of a selected seat positioning mode, compare the data input with predetermined data ranges for the selected seat positioning mode, and adjust at least one of the plurality of settings of the at least one actuator to a predetermined setting based on the predetermined data range.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion adapted to be mounted for translation;

a seat back adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent the seat cushion;

at least one actuator operably connected to at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly; and

a controller in electrical communication with the at least one actuator and configured to;

receive a data input indicative of occupant anthropometry data,

receive a mode selection input indicative of a selected seat positioning mode,

compare the data input with predetermined data ranges for the selected seat positioning mode, and

adjust at least one of the plurality of settings of the at least one actuator to a predetermined setting based on the predetermined data range.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the mode selection input is indicative of a wellness mode;

and

wherein the predetermined data ranges for the wellness mode comprise wellness positioning ranges preselected for posture alignment of ranges of occupant anthropometry data.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the mode selection input is indicative of a comfort mode;

and

wherein the predetermined data ranges for the comfort mode comprise comfort positioning ranges surveyed and tabulated for ranges of occupant anthropometry data.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the mode selection input is indicative of at least one of a wellness mode and a comfort mode;

and

wherein the predetermined data ranges comprise;

wellness mode positioning ranges preselected for posture alignment of ranges of occupant anthropometry data, and

comfort mode positioning ranges surveyed and tabulated for ranges of occupant anthropometry data.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising an interactive user interface in electrical communication with the controller, the interactive user interface being configured to receive the mode selection input from the occupant.

6. The seat assembly of claim 5 further comprising a media device in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the media device provides the interactive user interface.

7. The seat assembly of claim 5 wherein the interactive user interface is configured to:

provide a questionnaire to receive the occupant anthropometry data from the occupant; and

provide a mode selector to receive the selected seat positioning mode from the occupant.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7 wherein the interactive user interface is further configured to:

provide a comfort mode selector; and

provide a wellness mode selector.

9. The seat assembly of claim 8 further comprising:

a plurality of sensors in electrical communication with the controller and operably connected to at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back to detect a seating position of the occupant;

wherein the interactive user interface comprises a display;

wherein the controller is configured to incrementally update the display to provide a visual feedback of a detected seating position; and

wherein the controller is configured to compare the data from the sensors to determine if the occupant is seated evenly, and adjust the at least one actuator to balance an occupant posture seating position when the wellness mode is selected.

10. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion;

a seat back adapted to be mounted adjacent the seat cushion;

a plurality of sensors operably connected to the seat back to detect a seating position of an occupant;

at least one actuator operably connected to the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly; and

a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the at least one actuator, the controller being configured to;

receive detection data from the plurality of sensors,

compare the detection data to predetermined wellness positioning ranges preselected for posture alignment of ranges of occupant anthropometry data to determine if the occupant is seated according to a prescribed wellness position, and

adjust the at least one actuator to adjust an occupant seating position to the prescribed wellness position.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine if the occupant is seated in a slouch position; and

adjust at least one actuator to inflate the seat back to adjust the occupant seating position to the prescribed wellness position.

12. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine if the occupant is seated in a hunch position; and

adjust at least one actuator to deflate the seat back to adjust the occupant seating position to the prescribed wellness position.

13. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine if the occupant is seated in a lean position; and

adjust at least one actuator on a lateral side of the seat to adjust the occupant seating position to the prescribed wellness position.

14. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a data input indicative of occupant anthropometry data;

receive a mode selection input indicative of a selected wellness seat positioning mode;

compare the data input with the predetermined wellness positioning data ranges for the selected seat positioning mode; and

adjust at least one of the plurality of settings of the at least one actuator to a predetermined setting based on the predetermined data range.

15. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion adapted to be mounted for translation;

a seat back adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent the seat cushion;

a plurality of sensors operably connected to at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back to detect a seating position of an occupant;

at least one actuator operably connected to at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly; and

a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the at least one actuator, the controller being configured to;

receive an occupant data input indicative of occupant anthropometry data,

receive a mode selection input indicative of a selected wellness seat positioning mode,

compare the occupant data input with predetermined wellness positioning ranges preselected for posture alignment of ranges of occupant anthropometry data for the selected seat positioning mode,

adjust at least one of the plurality of settings of the at least one actuator to a predetermined setting for a prescribed seating position based on the predetermined wellness positioning range,

receive occupant position data from the plurality of sensors,

compare the occupant position data to determine if the occupant is seated according to the prescribed seating position, and

adjust the at least one actuator to modify the occupant seating position.

16. The seat assembly of claim 15 wherein the at least one actuator comprises:

a compressor in electrical communication with the controller;

a plurality of valves in electrical communication with the controller and in fluid communication with the compressor; and

a plurality of air bladders in fluid communication with the plurality of valves.

17. The seat assembly of claim 15 wherein the plurality of sensors comprise:

at least one left side sensor; and

at least one right side sensor.

18. The seat assembly of claim 15 further comprising a media device in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the media device comprises an interactive user interface with a display;

wherein the controller is configured to;

incrementally update the display to provide a visual feedback of a detected seating position, and

provide a message upon the display in response to determining that the occupant is not seated in the prescribed seating position.

19. The seat assembly of claim 15 wherein the controller is further configured to wait a predetermined period of time after adjusting the at least one actuator before receiving updated occupant position data from the plurality of sensors.

20. The seat assembly of claim 15 wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine if the occupant is seated in a lean position; and

adjust at least one actuator on a lateral side of the seat to adjust the occupant seating position to the prescribed wellness position.