Memory seat module having integrated sensors

• US 5,751,129 A
• Filed: 10/04/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flextronics Automotive Inc
• Original Assignee: Invotronics Manufacturing (Flex, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Vergin, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US08/726,878
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 318/567, 318/568.1, 318/625, 318/626, 318/663, 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 388/907.5, 296/65.1, 297/330, 297/344.17, 297/344.2, 297/344.23
• US Class Current: 318/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/18 the front or the rear portion of the seat being adjustable, e.g. independently of each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/232 provided with memory locks

Abstract

An electronic memory seat module having integrated sensors is disclosed. The module is mounted on a seat frame which, in turn, is mounted on a fixed base member. Position sensors are mounted in or on the module. Mechanical linkages are provided between adjustable members belonging to the seat frame and the sensors. The linkages translate movement of the structural members into a motion which can be sensed by the sensors. This sensed position can then be stored by an electronic memory unit for later recall.

Claims

1. A power seat assembly comprising:

a base member having a longitudinal axis;

a seat frame mounted on said base member, said seat frame comprising at least one adjustable member arranged to move relative to said base member;

at least one motor, said motor operatively engaged to said adjustable member and arranged to move said adjustable member relative to said base member;

a memory seat module mounted on one of said seat frame and said base member, said memory seat module comprising;

at least one sensor arranged to detect a movement of said adjustable member, from a first position to a second position relative to said memory seat module, and output information reflective of said movement; and

electronic means connected to said at least one sensor and arranged to store said information, said electronic means further arranged to retrieve said information in response to an external signal to return said at least one adjustable member to said second position from said first position; and

a linkage having a first portion connected to said adjustable member and a second portion connected to said sensor, said linkage and said sensor arranged to translate said movement of said adjustable member relative to said memory seat module into said information.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising

a seatback provided on said seat frame;

wherein

said linkage is connected between said seatback and said at least one sensor and said at least one sensor is arranged to detect a change in an orientation of the seatback relative to said memory seat module.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a seat tilt member provided on said seat frame, said seat tilt member having a forward portion and a rearward portion;

first and second sensors; and

first and second linkages connected between respective said first and second sensors and said forward portion and said rearward portion, respectively, wherein

the first sensor and first linkage are arranged to detect a change in a vertical position of said forward portion relative to said memory seat module, and

the second sensor and second linkage are arranged to detect a change in a vertical position of said rearward portion relative to said memory seat module.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

a seatback provided on said seat frame;

a third sensor; and

a third linkage connected between said seatback and said third sensor;

wherein

said third sensor is arranged to detect a change in an orientation of the seatback relative to said base frame.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein

said first, second and third sensors are linear potentiometers, each potentiometer having a shaft, each shaft having a corresponding linkage connected thereto.

6. The assembly of claim 4 further comprising:

a gear rack mounted on the other of said seat frame and said base member;

a gear rotatably mounted on said memory seat module and engaged to said gear rack, said gear arranged to rotate when said seat frame moves along said longitudinal axis; and

a fourth sensor arranged to detect a rotation of said gear.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said fourth sensor comprises:

an encoder disk operatively connected to said gear and rotating therewith; and

an optical encoder arranged to detect a rotation of said encoder disk and output a signal reflective of a movement of said seat frame relative to said base member along said longitudinal axis.

8. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a gear rack mounted on the other of said seat frame and said base member;

a gear rotatably mounted on said memory seat module and engaged to said gear rack, said gear arranged to rotate when said seat frame moves along said longitudinal axis;

wherein

said at least one sensor is arranged to detect a rotation of said gear.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said at least one sensor comprises:

an encoder disk operatively connected to said gear and arranged to turn therewith; and

an optical encoder arranged to detect a rotation of said encoder disk and output a signal reflective of a movement of said seat frame relative to said base member along said longitudinal axis.

10. In a power seat assembly having

a base member having a longitudinal axis;

a seat frame mounted on said base member, said seat frame comprising a seat tilt member having a forward portion and a rearward portion and a seatback member, said seat tilt member and said seatback member arranged to move relative to said base member;

a first motor arranged to adjust an orientation of said seatback member relative to said base member; and

a second motor arranged to adjust a tilt of said seat tilt member relative to said base member;

the improvement comprising;

a memory seat module mounted on one of said seat frame and said base member, said memory seat module comprising first, second and third sensors;

first and second linkages connected between respective said first and second sensors and said forward portion and said rearward portion, respectively; and

a third linkage connected between said third sensor and said seatback member, wherein

the first sensor and first linkage are arranged to detect a change in a vertical position of said forward portion relative to said memory seat module,

the second sensor and second linkage are arranged to detect a change in a vertical position of said rearward portion relative to said memory seat module, and

the third sensor is arranged to detect a change in an orientation of the seatback relative to said memory seat module.

11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the assembly further comprises:

a gear rack mounted on the other of said seat frame and said base member;

a gear rotatably mounted on said memory seat module and engaged to said gear rack, said gear arranged to rotate when said seat frame moves along said longitudinal axis; and

a fourth sensor arranged to detect a rotation of said gear.

12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein said fourth sensor comprises:

an encoder disk operatively connected to said gear and rotating therewith; and

an optical encoder arranged to detect a rotation of said encoder disk and output a signal reflective of a movement of said seat frame relative to said base member along said longitudinal axis.

13. A power seat assembly comprising:

a base member having a longitudinal axis;

a seat frame mounted on said base member, said seat frame comprising at least one adjustable member arranged to move relative to said base member;

at least one motor, said motor operatively engaged to said adjustable member and arranged to move said adjustable member relative to said base member;

a memory seat module mounted on one of said seat frame and said base member, said memory seat module comprising;

at least one sensor arranged to detect a movement of said adjustable member, from a first position to a second position relative to said memory seat module, and output information reflective of said movement; and

a linkage having a first portion connected to said adjustable member and a second portion connected to said sensor, said linkage and said sensor arranged to translate said movement of said adjustable member relative to said memory seat module into said information.

14. A power seat assembly comprising:

a base member having a longitudinal axis;

a seat frame mounted on said base member;

at least one motor operatively engaged to said seat member and arranged to move said seat frame relative to said base member along said longitudinal axis;

a memory seat module mounted on one of said seat frame and said base member, said memory seat module comprising;

at least one sensor arranged to detect a movement of said seat frame from a first position to a second position relative to said base member along said longitudinal axis and output information reflective of said movement; and

electronic means connected to said at least one sensor and arranged to store said information, said electronic means further arranged to retrieve said information in response to an external signal to return said seat frame to said second position from said first position.

15. A memory seat module adapted to be mounted in a seat assembly, said memory seat module comprising:

at least one sensor arranged to detect a movement of an external member, from a first position to a second position relative to said memory seat module, and output information reflective of said movement; and

electronic means connected to said sensor and arranged to store said information, said electronic means further arranged to retrieve said information in response to a signal received from outside the memory seat module.

16. The memory seat module of claim 15 wherein said electronic means comprises:

a controller arranged to receive said information from said sensor; and

electronic memory means connected to said controller and arranged to store said information, and wherein

said electronic memory means provides said stored information to said controller in response to a signal received by said controller from outside the memory seat module.

17. The memory seat module of claim 16 comprising three such sensors, each sensor formed as a linear potentiometer having a shaft projecting from a housing of said memory seat module.

18. The memory seat module of claim 17 further comprising:

a gear rotatably mounted on said housing, at least a portion of said gear projecting from said housing; and

a fourth sensor integrated into said memory seat module and arranged to detect a rotation of said gear.

19. The memory seat module of claim 18 wherein

said fourth sensor comprises an encoder disk operatively connected to said gear and rotating therewith;

and

an optical encoder arranged to detect a rotation of said encoder disk and output a signal reflective of said rotation.

20. The memory seat module of claim 15 further comprising:

a gear rotatably mounted on a housing of said memory seat module, at least a portion of said gear projecting from said housing; and

wherein

said sensor is arranged to detect a rotation of said gear.

21. The memory seat module of claim 20 wherein

said sensor comprises an encoder disk operatively connected to said gear and rotating therewith;

and

an optical encoder arranged to detect a rotation of said encoder disk and output a signal reflective of said rotation.