System and method for seat retraction during an autonomous driving mode
First Claim
1. A method for seat retraction in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode, the method comprising:
- detecting a user initiated command to perform seat retraction;
automatically retracting a front seat in a rearward direction in response to the user initiated command such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of at least one engaged driving control input device of the vehicle during an autonomous driving mode; and
automatically returning the front seat in a forward direction to an initial position when an end to the autonomous driving mode is expected or upon detection of a user initiated command.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a seat assembly, and corresponding method, for seat retraction in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode. Seat refraction is provided by detecting a user initiated input for the retraction. Thereafter, a front seat is refracted such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of at least one driving control input device, for example, a steering wheel, pedals or a gear shift, during an autonomous driving mode. Such seat retraction prevents the occupant from providing inadvertent driving inputs to the driving control input devices during the autonomous driving mode.
30 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for seat retraction in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode, the method comprising:
detecting a user initiated command to perform seat retraction; automatically retracting a front seat in a rearward direction in response to the user initiated command such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of at least one engaged driving control input device of the vehicle during an autonomous driving mode; and automatically returning the front seat in a forward direction to an initial position when an end to the autonomous driving mode is expected or upon detection of a user initiated command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A seat assembly for retracting a front seat in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode, the seat assembly comprising:
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a control unit configured to detect a user initiated command to perform seat retraction; and a front seat controllable by the control unit and configured to slide along at least one rail, the at least one rail being connectable to a floor surface of the vehicle, wherein the front seat is configured to automatically retract in a rearward direction along the at least one rail in response to the user initiated command such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of at least one driving control input device of the vehicle during an autonomous driving mode when the at least one driving control input device is engaged, and wherein the front seat is configured to automatically return in a forward direction to an initial position when an end to the autonomous driving mode is expected or upon detection of a user initiated command. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising stored program instructions for seat retraction in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode, the program instructions for execution by one or more processors to carry out steps of:
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detecting a user initiated command to perform seat retraction; automatically retracting a front seat in a rearward direction in response to the user initiated command such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of a steering wheel and foot pedals of the vehicle during an autonomous driving mode when the steering wheel and foot pedals are engaged; and automatically returning the front seat in a forward direction to an initial position when an end to an autonomous driving mode is expected or upon detection of a user initiated command. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification