System and method for vehicle seat monitoring

• US 9,994,125 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Magaa, Mauricio, Cepeda Rode, Paul Fernando, Palencia, Juan, Gutirrez Torres, Alfredo, Reyes Chacalco, Leonardo D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Ana D
• Application Number:
  US14/993,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 2/0278 using sensors external to the seat for measurements in relation to the seat adjustment, e.g. for identifying the presence of obstacles or the appropriateness of the occupants position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2213 Gear wheel driven mechanism B60N2/2231, B60N2/225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/10 Wired data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission

Abstract

Embodiments include a vehicle comprising a seat, a first sensor coupled to the seat for detecting a seat angle, and a processor communicatively coupled to the first sensor and the seat, and configured to output a control signal for correcting the seat angle if the seat angle is not within a predetermined range of values. Embodiments also include a method of correcting a position of a vehicle seat having an occupant seated therein. The method comprises receiving, at a processor, an output detected by a sensor unit coupled to the seat; comparing, using the processor, the output to a predetermined threshold to determine whether an alarm condition exists; if it does, outputting a control signal for correcting the seat position, wherein the sensor unit includes an angular position sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a seat;

a first sensor coupled to the seat for detecting a seat angle;

a processor communicatively coupled to the first sensor and the seat, and configured to output a control signal for correcting the seat angle if the seat angle is not within a predetermined range of values; and

a gear selector communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the control signal deactivates the gear selector.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range of values is approximately 100 to 110 degrees.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a seat back and a seat cushion, and the seat angle is an angular relation between the seat back and the seat cushion.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the first sensor is coupled to the seat back and configured to detect an angle of the seat back.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, further comprising a second sensor, the second sensor being coupled to the seat cushion and being configured to detect an angle of the seat cushion, wherein the processor is further configured to calculate the seat angle based on the angle detected by the first sensor and the angle detected by the second sensor.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a display communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the control signal causes the display to present a notification comprising a recommended seat angle adjustment for adjusting the seat angle to within the predetermined range of values.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the notification graphically depicts the recommended seat angle adjustment.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a contact sensor coupled to the seat for detecting an occupant contact with the seat, wherein the control signal causes the display to present a second notification if the occupant contact is not detected at a seat location.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the notification graphically depicts the seat location where the occupant contact is not detected.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control signal causes the seat to automatically adjust the seat angle to within the predetermined range of values.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor reactivates the gear selector once the seat angle is within the predetermined range of values.

12. A method of correcting a position of a vehicle seat having an occupant seated therein comprising:

receiving, at a processor, an output detected by a sensor unit coupled to the seat;

comparing, using the processor, the output to a predetermined threshold to determine whether an alarm condition exists; and

if it does, outputting a control signal for correcting the seat position, wherein;

the sensor unit includes an angular position sensor; and

outputting the control signal comprises deactivating a gear selector of a vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the output includes a seat angle detected by the angular position sensor, a range of values includes the predetermined threshold, and the alarm condition exists if the seat angle is not within the range of values.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein outputting the control signal comprises displaying, on a vehicle display, a notification comprising a recommended seat angle adjustment.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the notification includes a graphical depiction of the recommended seat angle adjustment.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor unit further includes a contact sensor positioned at a seat location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the output includes an occupant contact status detected by the contact sensor, the predetermined threshold is a positive occupant contact status, and the alarm condition exists upon receiving a negative occupant contact status for the seat location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein outputting the control signal comprises displaying, on the vehicle display, a second notification comprising a recommended posture adjustment including a graphical depiction of the seat location.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein outputting the control signal comprises automatically adjusting the seat position to resolve the alarm condition.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising reactivating, using the processor, the gear selector when the alarm condition is resolved.