Method of matching component for vehicle head restraint actuation system

• US 8,600,624 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2008
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Mattson, Keith E., Hein, David A., Yetukuri, Arjun V., Krulek, Kimberly Dawn, Jammalamadaka, Sai Prasad
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALHARBI, ADAM MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US12/058,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,075 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/859 specially adapted for rear seats

Abstract

A remote rearview mirror system for actuating a vehicle head restraint includes a transmitting module and receiving module that operate at a distance. The transmitting module is included in a rear view mirror. These modules require a matching that need to be preserved until the components are installed in a vehicle. The steps of such matching include the incorporation of the transmitting module into a mirror-transmitting module combination that is associated with its respective receiving module.

Claims

1. A method of matching controller components in a system for remote actuation of at least one vehicle head restraint, the system comprising:

a first head restraint;

a first actuator configured to effect movement of the first head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position;

a rearview mirror;

a first sensor defining a first area proximate to the rearview mirror and configured to output signals to the first actuator to facilitate movement of the first head restraint from its raised position to its lowered position when an object comes within a predetermined distance of the first area, the first sensor being disposed proximate the rearview mirror such that a vehicle operator can simultaneously view the first head restraint in the rearview mirror and the first area,

a transmitting module in communication with the first sensor; and

a receiving module in communication with the first actuator, the method comprising;

a) assembling the rearview mirror and the transmitting module together to form a transmitting module/mirror combination;

b) installing the receiving module in a vehicle;

c) installing a seat in the vehicle;

d) installing the transmitting module/mirror combination; and

e) associating the receiving module with the transmitting module after the receiving module, seat, and transmitting module/mirror combination are installed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

step a) is performed at a mirror manufacture or at a first assembly station.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

steps b) and e) are performed at a seat assembly plant or a second assembly station; and

step c) and d) are performed at a vehicle assembly plant or a third assembly station.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein:

step e) is performed at the mirror manufacture or at the first assembly station; and

steps b), c) and d) are performed at a vehicle assembly plant or a third assembly station.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein:

steps b), c), d) and e) are performed at a vehicle assembly plant or a second assembly station.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein:

steps b) and e) are performed at a seat assembly plant or a second assembly station; and

steps c) and d) are performed at a vehicle assembly plant or a third assembly station.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein:

steps b) is performed at a seat assembly plant or a second assembly station; and

steps c) and d) are performed at a vehicle assembly plant or a third assembly station.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

step e) is performed at the vehicle assembly plant or the third assembly station.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:

step e) is performed by a consumer.