SEAT INCLUDING A HEAD SENSOR

• US 20190381920A1
• Filed: 06/13/2018
• Published: 12/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC (Forvia SE)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC (Forvia SE)
• Inventors: BEHRENS, Dennis, BUYUKKOZ, Alper
• Granted Patent: US 10,532,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• 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 2/42727 involving substantially rigid displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

A vehicle seat for use in a vehicle comprises a seat body for engagement with a seated occupant'"'"'s body. The seat body including: a seat base for receiving a seated occupant and a backrest extending upward from the base for supporting the seated occupant'"'"'s back, and a headrest connected with the backrest and projecting upward from the backrest. The headrest includes a receiving face facing forward for engagement with the occupant'"'"'s head in the event of a sudden change in velocity to ease rearward movement of the occupant'"'"'s head.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat for use in a vehicle, the vehicle seat comprising

a seat body including a seat base and a backrest arranged to extend upward from the base, and a headrest connected with the backrest and to project upward from the backrest, the headrest including a receiving face facing forward and

a distal sensor assembly for detecting a head position of an occupant seated on the seat body, the assembly including at least one arm having a proximal end connected with the seat body and extending laterally from the proximal end to a distal end, and at least one head position sensor attached to the distal end of the at least one arm for sensing the head position of the occupant,

wherein the distal end of the at least one arm is positioned spaced apart from the headrest laterally relative to the receiving face of the headrest to minimize engagement with the occupant'"'"'s head while positioning the at least one head position sensor for accurate sensing of the head position.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm includes two arms each having a proximal end connected with opposite lateral sides of the seat body and extending from the proximal end to a distal end, and the at least one head position sensor includes at least two head position sensors, each of the two arms having one of the at least two head position sensor secured to its distal end of each arm.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 2, wherein the arms each extend laterally away from the headrest in opposing lateral directions and at downward angles.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 3, wherein the distal end of each arm is arranged laterally spaced apart from the headrest by a distance in a range of about 1 inch to about 7 inches.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein the distal end of each arm is arranged forward of the receiving face of the headrest by a distance in a range of about 0 inches to about 4 inches.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the headrest includes headrest padding arranged to define the receiving face, wherein the at least one arm does not include padding.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm is connected with the headrest.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm extends laterally away from the seat body and at a downward angle.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the at least one arm is arranged forward of a receiving face of the headrest by a distance in the range of about 0 to about 4 inches.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising a control system in communication with the at least one sensor to receive a communication of a sensed position of the occupant'"'"'s head and configured to send instructions to a headrest adjustment device to adjust a position of the headrest to accommodate the sensed position of the occupant'"'"'s head to ease movement of the occupant'"'"'s head in the event of a sudden change in velocity.