Automatic vehicle seat adjuster

• US 5,822,707 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S., DuVall, Wilbur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/474,783
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.05, 296/65.1, 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 280/728, 280/730, 280/735, 280/753, 701/49
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• 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 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• 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 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4825 for sensing amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 : Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 : using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 : using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 : using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 : for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 : in combination with seat heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01542 : detecting passenger motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 : sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 : detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 : Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 : using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 : responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/433 : using reflection from the obstruction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 : Interior lids
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 : Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 : Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 : Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 : Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 : Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 : of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 : for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/417 : involving the use of neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/539 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1282 : Automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3219 : Geometry of the configuration

Abstract

An automatic seat adjustment system for a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment with a seat in which an occupant sits. The seat has power mechanisms for moving the seat relative to the passenger compartment from an initial position to an adjusted position, and control mechanisms connected to the power mechanisms for controlling the power mechanisms. Generally, the system includes measurement devices for measuring at least one morphological characteristic of the occupant and generating a first signal representative of the magnitude of that morphological characteristic, a processor including computational means for determining an adjusted seat position based on that measured morphological characteristic and which generates a second signal corresponding to the adjusted seat position, a first input device coupled to the measurement devices and to the processor for inputting the first signal into the processor; and a second input device coupled to the processor and the control mechanisms for inputting the second signal into the control mechanisms. In this manner, the control mechanism is able to affects the operation of the power mechanisms to move the seat to the adjusted position.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment, a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a steering wheel, a windshield and a rear view mirror, said passenger compartment having a driver'"'"'s seat in which an occupant sits, said seat having power means for moving said seat relative to said passenger compartment from an initial position to an adjusted position, and control means connected to said power means for controlling said power means, an automatic seat adjustment system comprising:

(a) a plurality of measurement means for measuring a respective one of at least two morphological characteristics of said occupant, each of said measurement means generating a first signal representative of the respective one of said at least two measured morphological characteristics;

(b) a processor comprising computational means for determining an optimum adjusted seat position for driving the vehicle based on said at least two morphological characteristics in which the occupant will be positioned in an optimum position with respect to at least one of the brake pedal, accelerator pedal, rear view mirror, steering wheel and windshield, said processor generating a second signal corresponding to said optimum adjusted seat position which is based on said first signal from each of said measurement means;

(c) first input means coupled to each said measurement means and to said processor for inputting said first signal from each of said measurement means into said processor; and

(d) second input means coupled to said processor and said control means for inputting said second signal into said control means such that said control means affects said power means to move said seat to said optimum adjusted seat position for driving the vehicle.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said at least two morphological characteristics is the height of the occupant from the seat.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said at least two morphological characteristics is the weight of the occupant.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said measurement means is attached to said seat.

5. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said seat further comprises a headrest and displacement means for moving said headrest, said measurement means for measuring the height of the occupant from the seat comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer arranged in and fixed relative to said headrest and structured and arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves and receive reflected ultrasonic waves from the head of the occupant, said displacement means being structured and arranged to move said headrest to a plurality of different positions at which said at least one ultrasonic transducer transmits and receives ultrasonic waves such that the distance of the head of the occupant from said headrest is determinable.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle has a headliner and at least one of said measurement means is attached to said headliner.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle has a roof including support pillars and at least one of said measurement means is attached to at least one of said support pillars.

8. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said seat returns to said initial position when said seat is unoccupied.

9. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said seat has manually operable seat position controls attached thereto.

10. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said seat has a seat back and said power means moves said seat to said adjusted position via angular movement of said seat back relative to said passenger compartment.

11. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said seat comprises means for changing the stiffness of said seat in response to at least one of said at least two measured morphological characteristics.

12. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said seat comprises means for changing the damping of said seat in response to at least one of said at least two measured morphological characteristics.

13. In a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment including a seat on which an occupant sits, said seat having power means for moving said seat relative to said passenger compartment from an initial position to an adjusted position, and control means connected to said power means for controlling said power means, an automatic seat adjustment system comprising:

(a) measurement means for measuring values of at least one morphological characteristic of said occupant, said measurement means generating a first signal proportional to said at least one measured morphological characteristic;

(b) adjustment means for enabling said occupant to adjust said seat to an adjusted position;

(c) memory means for retaining data on said adjusted position in association with said first signal proportional to said at least one measured morphological characteristic; and

(d) positioning means coupled to said measurement means and said memory means for positioning said seat at said adjusted position when said measurement means subsequently measure a value of said at least one morphological characteristic of an occupant of said seat having approximately the same measured value of said at least one morphological characteristic associated with said adjusted position.

14. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said at least one morphological characteristic is the height of the occupant from the seat.

15. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said at least one morphological characteristic is the weight of the occupant.

16. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said seat comprises a movable lumbar support and said power means are coupled to said lumbar support such that the movement of said seat to said adjusted position comprises the movement of said lumbar support.

17. In a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment including a driver'"'"'s seat on which a driver sits, said passenger comapartment also having an apparatus other than said seat operable by said driver and which is movable in relation to said driver, power means for moving said apparatus from an initial position to an adjusted position, and control means connected to said power means for controlling said power means, an automatic apparatus adjustment system comprising:

(a) a plurality of measurement means for measuring a respective one of at least two morphological characteristics of said occupant, each of said measurement means generating a first signal proportional to the respective one of said at least two measured morphological characteristics;

(b) a processor comprising computational means for determining an optimum adjusted apparatus position based on said at least two measured morphological characteristic in which the occupant will be positioned in an optimum position with respect to said apparatus, said processor providing a second signal corresponding to said optimum adjusted apparatus position which is based on said first signal from each of said measurement means;

(c) first input means coupled to each of said measurement means and said processor for inputting said first signal from each of said measurement means into said processor; and

(d) second input means coupled to said processor and said control means for inputting said second signal into said control means such that said control means affects said power means to move said apparatus to said optimum adjusted apparatus position.

18. The system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said apparatus is a vehicle steering column.

19. The system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said vehicle further comprises brake, clutch and accelerator pedals and said apparatus is at least one of the vehicle brake, clutch and accelerator pedals.