ALERT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VEHICLE WITH IMPROVED ACTUATOR PLACEMENT

• US 20130342334A1
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: MCQUEEN, DIANE K., KIEFER, RAYMOND J., STEBBINS, MARK A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,421,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/16 operating with systems involving rotary unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• 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: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly is provided. The assembly includes a bottom seat member and a haptic alert assembly. The haptic alert assembly includes a first actuator incorporated into the bottom seat member. The first actuator is configured to generate at least a first portion of a haptic alert.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a bottom seat member; and

a haptic alert assembly comprising a first actuator incorporated into the bottom seat member, the first actuator configured to generate at least a first portion of a haptic alert.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottom seat member comprises a seat pan with a first side and a second side, a first bolster positioned on the first side of the seat pan, and a second bolster positioned on the second side of the seat pan, and wherein the first actuator is incorporated into the first bolster.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the haptic alert assembly further comprises a second actuator incorporated into the second bolster, the second actuator configured to generate at least a second portion of the haptic alert.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are respectively positioned in the first bolster and the second bolster such that the first portion and the second portion of the haptic alert are isolated.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the bottom seat member defines a hip point, and wherein the first actuator is laterally aligned with the hip point.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the bottom seat member defines a hip point, and wherein the first actuator is positioned approximately 25 cm forward of the hip point.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the bottom seat member defines a hip point, and wherein the first actuator is positioned between approximately 0 cm and approximately 25 cm forward of the hip point.

8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the first bolster comprises a foam body defining a depression for accommodating the first actuator.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the depression is formed in a top side of the bolster.

10. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the first actuator includes a housing and a motor within the housing.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10, wherein the motor comprises a rotatable eccentric mass configured to produce the first portion of the haptic alert.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a top wall with an extended surface.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 12, wherein the housing further comprises a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls coupling the top wall to the bottom wall, and wherein the top wall is at least approximately 50% larger in area than the bottom wall.

14. A driver alert assembly, comprising:

a vehicle seat assembly comprising a bottom seat member having a seat pan with a first side and a second side, a first bolster positioned on the first side of the seat pan, and a second bolster positioned on the second side of the seat pan; 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 bolster and configured to generate at least a first portion of the haptic alert, and

a second actuator incorporated into the second bolster and configured to generate at least a second portion of the haptic alert.

15. The driver alert assembly of claim 14, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are respectively positioned in the first bolster and the second bolster such that vibrations generated from the first and second portions of the haptic alert are decoupled from one another.

16. The driver alert assembly of claim 14, wherein the bottom seat member defines a hip point, and wherein the first actuator is positioned between approximately 0 cm and approximately 25 cm forward of the hip point.

17. The driver alert assembly of claim 14, wherein the depression is formed in a top side of the first bolster.

18. The driver alert assembly of claim 14, wherein the first actuator includes a housing and a motor within the housing, and wherein the housing comprises a top wall with an extended surface.

19. The driver alert assembly of claim 18, wherein the housing further comprises a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls coupling the top wall to the bottom wall, and wherein the top wall is at least approximately 50% larger in area than the bottom wall.

20. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a bottom seat member comprising a seat pan with a first side and a second side, a first bolster positioned on the first side of the seat pan, and a second bolster positioned on the second side of the seat pan, the bottom seat member defining a hip point; and

a haptic alert assembly comprising a first actuator incorporated into the first bolster and a second actuator incorporated into the second bolster to isolate a second actuator vibration from a first actuator vibration, and wherein the first actuator and second actuator are laterally aligned relative to the hip point.