Vehicle 2nd and 3rd row seat adjustment based on anthropometric characteristics of 2nd and 3rd row rear passenger

• US 9,919,621 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lippman, Mark Allan, Gale, Allan Roy, Jayasuriya, Mangala A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwari, Maceeh
• Application Number:
  US14/854,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 701 49
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• 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

Abstract

A method may be performed by a sensor arrangement and a controller. The method may include capturing, by the sensor arrangement, data indicative of anthropometric characteristics of an expected 3rd row passenger prior to the passenger entering a vehicle. The method may also include deploying, by a controller, a 3rd row seat and moving a 2nd row seat prior to the expected 3rd row passenger entering the vehicle to a riding position that is based on the characteristics and 2nd row passenger data. The sensor arrangement may include an optical sensor arrangement such as used in a blind-spot detection system for a vehicle.

Claims

1. A blind-spot detection system for a vehicle comprising:

an optical sensor arrangement configured to, while the vehicle is moving, capture first data indicative of objects alongside the vehicle, and to, while the vehicle is stopped, capture second data indicative of an expected 3rd row passenger before the passenger enters the vehicle; and

at least one controller configured to output an alert in response to the first data, and to move a 2nd row seat to a riding position based on anthropometric characteristics of the passenger that are derived from the second data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to deploy, while the vehicle is stopped, a 3rd row seat.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor arrangement is further configured to, while the vehicle is stopped, capture third data indicative of an expected 2nd row seat passenger before the 2nd row seat passenger enters the vehicle, and the at least one controller is further configured to move the 2nd row seat to a riding position based on anthropometric characteristics of the 2nd row passenger and the 3rd row passenger that are derived from the second and third data.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the optical sensor arrangement is further configured to, while the vehicle is stopped, capture fourth data indicative of an expected 1st row seat passenger before the 1st row seat passenger enters the vehicle, and the at least one controller is further configured to move the 2nd row seat to a riding position based on anthropometric characteristics of the 1st row passenger, 2nd row passenger and the 3rd row passenger that are derived from the second, third and fourth data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to activate, while the vehicle is stopped, the optical sensor arrangement in response to a signal from a key fob or detected movement of a rear door handle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one controller further includes input channels configured to receive the first and second data, output channels configured to provide 2nd row seat position control commands to move the 2nd row seat, and control logic configured to generate the 2nd row seat position control commands based on the anthropometric characteristics of the expected 3rd row passenger.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein moving includes pivoting a seat back of the 2nd row seat or translating a base of the 2nd row seat.

8. A method comprising:

by a sensor arrangement, capturing data indicative of anthropometric characteristics of an expected 3rd row passenger prior to the passenger entering a vehicle; and

by a controller, deploying a 3rd row seat and moving a 2nd row seat prior to the expected 3rd row passenger entering the vehicle to a riding position that is based on the characteristics and 2nd row passenger data including anthropometric characteristics of a 2nd row passenger.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the 2nd row passenger data includes average 2mnd row passenger anthropometric characteristics.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein moving the 2nd row seat includes pivoting a seat back of the 2nd row seat or translating a base of the 2nd row seat.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the data includes measurements from a blind spot optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor or a lidar sensor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the capturing is in response to a signal transmitted from a key fob or indicative of movement of a rear door handle.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the 2nd row seat is a driver side 2nd row rear seat and the 3rd row seat is a driver side 3rd row seat.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a blind-spot detection system configured to output an alert in response to an object being detected alongside the vehicle while in motion, and to output data about an expected 3rd row passenger about to enter the vehicle while stopped; and

a controller configured to deploy a 3rd row seat and move a 2nd row seat to a riding position based on anthropometric characteristics of the passenger derived from the data.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the blind-spot detection system is configured to output the data based on a signal transmitted from a key fob.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the blind-spot detection system is configured to output the data in response to movement of a rear door handle.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the data includes measurements based on average rear seat passengers anthropometric characteristics.