Patent Application
20250019075
This nonprovisional application claims the benefit of priority of Indian patent application Ser. No. 20/2311046248 filed Jul. 10, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates generally to adjustable passenger seats, and more particularly, to a passenger seat motion controller with tunable seat motion speed.
Aircraft seats may be highly adjustable, particularly business class and premium class passenger seats. Seat adjustments may be actuator driven. In some cases, highly adjustable seats may include more than a dozen actuators. Adjustable seat components may include, but are not limited to, the seat pan, backrest, leg rest, armrests, headrest, and lumbar. Each seat component may be segmented to provide further adjustment capability.
Each individual actuator drives component adjustment by, for example, rotational and/or linear motion. Actuators may be independent or dependent, wherein an independent actuator operates as a primary driver and a dependent actuator operates considering the operation of its respective independent actuator(s). Actuators may move at different speeds, and may operate separately or in groups to achieve preset sitting positions, for instance upright for taxi, takeoff, and landing (TTOL), and bed mode during flight, through various intermediate sitting positions.
Motion planning is the process whereby actuators are coordinated to transition the seat between different predefined sitting positions. For example, one motion plan may transition the seat from upright to flat bed, whereas another motion plan may transition the seat from upright to cradle recline. Motion plans consider the available actuators and their performance capabilities in order to program a plan to transition the seat in a smooth, timely, ergonomic, and orchestrated manner.
Different passengers may have different preferences as to how a seat transitions, and also the speed at which the seat transitions. For example, some passengers may feel more comfortable with a slow transition between extreme sitting positions, e.g., full upright to full flat bed, whereas other passengers may be comfortable with faster transitions. Currently, no highly-adjustable passenger seat offers a tunable seat motion speed.
Therefore, what is needed is a seat motion controller that offers the ability for a choice of the seat motion speed, at the start of seat motion and/or during seat motion, to optimize comfortable seat transitions.
In one aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a system for seat motion control. In embodiments, the system includes a seat including actuators coupled to movable seat components, a seat controller operatively coupled to the actuators, a motion planner communicatively coupled to the seat controller, and an interface operable for entering a sitting position change. In embodiments, the motion planner includes a processor configured to receive a request for a sitting position change from the interface, retrieve from memory a motion plan corresponding to the requested sitting position change, the motion plan including a plurality of way points, wherein each way point includes definite positions of the actuators, receive a request for a transition speed associated with the requested sitting position change, and instruct the seat controller to operate the actuators to execute the requested sitting position change at the requested transition speed.
In some embodiments, wherein the motion planner, during sitting position change motion of the seat, is further configured to receive a request for a new transition speed from the interface, and instruct the seat controller to operate the actuators to continue executing the sitting position change at the requested new transition speed.
In some embodiments, the instruction to the seat controller to operate the actuators to continue executing the sitting position change at the requested new transition speed includes determining a next way point of the actuators and linearly ramping up or down the speed of the actuators to the new transition speed until the determined next way point is reached, and thereafter continuing at the new transition speed until through completion of the motion plan.
In some embodiments, the transition speed corresponds to a first predefined time interval and the new transition speed corresponds to a second predefined time interval different from the first predefined time interval.
In some embodiments, the movable seat components include a seat pan, a backrest, and a leg rest, and the actuators include a seat pan actuator, a backrest actuator, and a leg rest actuator.
In some embodiments, the system further includes at least one sensor configured to monitor an environment in which the seat operates, the motion planner is communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, and the motion planner is further configured to receive outputs from the at least one sensor regarding sensed objects affecting the motion plan, and responsive to the outputs received from the at least one sensor, modify the motion plan and instruct the seat controller to operate the actuators according to the modified motion plan.
In some embodiments, the at least one sensor includes at least one of a millimeter wave (mmWave) radar configured to output to the motion planner a map of an environment in which the seat operates, and a camera configured to output to the motion planner images of the environment in which the seat operates.
In some embodiments, the at least one sensor is configured to detect a transient object affecting the motion plan and modify the motion plan by changing an instruction to the seat controller corresponding to an operating parameter of at least one of the actuators.
In some embodiments, the operating parameter includes at least one of activation, deactivation, power supplied to, and speed.
In some embodiments, the motion planner is a component of the interface.
According to another aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a motion planner for use with a seat including movable components, actuators coupled to the movable components, and a seat controller operatively coupled to the actuators, the motion planner configured to be communicatively coupled to the seat controller and to an interface for selecting predefined sitting positions and predefined transition speeds for completing sitting position changes. In embodiments, the motion planner includes a processor configured to receive a request for a sitting position change from the interface, retrieve from memory a motion plan corresponding to the requested sitting position change, the motion plan including a plurality of way points, wherein each way point includes definite positions of the actuators, receive a request for a transition speed associated with the requested sitting position change, and instruct the seat controller to operate the actuators to execute the requested sitting position change at the requested transition speed.
In some embodiments, the motion planner, during motion of the seat, is further configured to receive a request for a new transition speed from the interface, and instruct the seat controller to operate the actuators to continue executing the sitting position change at the requested new transition speed.
This summary is provided solely as an introduction to subject matter that is fully described in the following detailed description and drawing figures. This summary should not be considered to describe essential features nor be used to determine the scope of the claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the subject matter claimed.
Implementations of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description refers to the included drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, and in which some features may be exaggerated and some features may be omitted or may be represented schematically in the interest of clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings may represent and refer to the same or similar element, feature, or function. In the drawings:
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure. The inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As used herein, a letter following a reference numeral is intended to reference an embodiment of the feature or element that may be similar, but not necessarily identical, to a previously described element or feature bearing the same reference numeral (e.g., 1, 1a, 1b). Such shorthand notations are used for purposes of convenience only, and should not be construed to limit the inventive concepts disclosed herein in any way unless expressly stated to the contrary.
Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concepts, and “a” and “an” are intended to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “some embodiments” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The appearances of the phrase “in some embodiments” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, and embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed may include one or more of the features expressly described or inherently present herein, or any combination of sub-combination of two or more such features, along with any other features which may not necessarily be expressly described or inherently present in the instant disclosure.
Broadly, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a system for dynamic seat motion and a dynamic seat motion controller. In embodiments, the seat is configured to adjust between different predefined sitting positions, for instance upright for taxi, takeoff, and landing (TTOL), bed mode or “lie-flat” during flight, and various intermediate sitting positions. The seat includes a plurality of actuators for moving physical seat components, and for each predefined sitting position the involved actuators have definite positions. Actuator positions are known and tracked by the seat controller operable for activating the actuators to transition the seat from one sitting position to another sitting position according to instructions from the motion planner as discussed in detail below.
The motion planner considers way points for transitioning between each predefined sitting position. For example, for a seat transition from full upright to full bed mode, the motion plan for achieving the transition may include a predefined number of way points, wherein each way point includes defined positions of the actuators involved in the particular seat transition. The motion planner is configured to achieve the sitting position transition by operating the actuators according to an orchestrated programming such that each actuator is at its predefined position at each of the respective way points. For example, a seat transition may include up to about a dozen way points to complete a transition, wherein each of the involved actuators may operate according to different sequences during the transition, may operate continuously or intermittently during the transition, may operate during only part of the transition, and may operate at different speeds during the different parts of the transition.
The motion planner is tunable in that the passenger, or the carrier, has the ability to choose the transition speed at the start of the seat transition and/or change the speed of the seat transition after the seat transition is already underway. For example, a user may wish to select an initially slow seat transition or an initially fast transition. The user may allow that seat transition to continue at the selected speed until completion. In the event the user determines the transition speed to by uncomfortable or undesirable as being too fast or too slow, the user can change the transition speed on the fly and the motion planner is able to cause the seat controller to execute the change. In embodiments, each predefined speed corresponds to a predefined time interval to complete a transition. As such, changing the speed changes the time to transition the seat.
In some embodiments, the motion planner may be communicatively coupled to sensors and may utilize outputs from the sensors to adjust a motion plan. For example, motions may be adjustable in real-time to account for transient objects entering and exiting the travel path of a physical seat component. The system may include sensors of different types configured to monitor the environment in which the seat operates. The sensors may function to map the environment and detect obstacles present in the travel path of the seat in order to control actuator performance in real-time, and modify actuator parameters as necessary.
In embodiments, the highly-adjustable passenger seat includes a number of actuators, each coupled to at least one seat component. Actuators may be categorized as independent or dependent, wherein independent actuators operate without consideration of another actuator, and dependent actuators operate considering an independent actuator. In embodiments, the motion controller is configured to control actuator performance in real-time to complete the transition from one predefined sitting position to another predefined sitting position by transitioning the seat through the various way points.
In some embodiments, independent actuators 104 are the primary driving members that initiate seat motions, whereas dependent actuators 106 are secondary drivers whose motion depends on the motion of at least one independent actuator. For example, for a seat including a seat pan, a backrest, and a leg rest, each of which are adjustable, seat pan adjustment may be controlled by an independent actuator whereas backrest and leg rest adjustment may be controlled by separate dependent actuators. As such, when the seat transitions between different predefined sitting positions, the primary driver of the seat adjustment may be the seat pan actuator, and the secondary drivers may include the backrest actuator and the leg rest actuator. Actuators may be grouped to coordinate movements of the various seat components. The seat 102 may include any number of independent and dependent actuators organized into any number of predetermined actuator grouping(s).
The seat 102 is configured to adjust between different predefined sitting positions. Each predefined sitting position corresponds to definite actuator positions for the actuators involved with each respective sitting position. For example, the first definite positions of the involved actuators (e.g., seat pan actuator, backrest actuator, leg rest actuator) may correspond to a first sitting position (e.g., TTOL), whereas different definite positions of the involved actuators (e.g., seat pan actuator, backrest actuator, leg rest actuator) may correspond to a different sitting position (e.g., lie-flat), while intermediate definite positions of the involved actuators may correspond to the different way points along the motion path for achieving the transition from the first sitting position to the second sitting position. The present state of the seat 102, or a position of a particular physical component, may be determined from the current definite position of the involved actuator(s). A seat controller 108 operates to access current definite actuator positions and physically operate the actuators to move each actuator to its next definite actuator position for each successive way point along the motion path. The various predefined sitting positions, motions paths, and way points for each motion path are stored in a motion planner 110. The motion planner 110 is communicatively coupled to the seat controller 108 and instructs the seat controller 108 how to operate the actuators. Predefined sitting positions are selectable by the seat occupant, for instance via a sitting position selector provided on an interactive device communicatively coupled or integral with the motion planner 110.
The seat 102 is configured to be installed in a seat environment 112, for instance an aircraft passenger cabin. The environment may include fixed structures positioned proximate the seat that may affect the movements of the physical seat components, for instance, a seat shell affecting movement of the backrest, ottoman affecting movement of the leg rest, side console, desk, etc. The seat 102 may operate in an environment in which obstacles may be considered. Transient obstacles may also enter and leave the seat environment, for instance people and luggage. These obstacles may also be considered as they affect the travel path of the physical seat components. The environment may include various entrapment zones that may be monitored. For example, entrapment zones may exist between the backrest and the seat shell, between the leg rest and a forward ottoman, between the side of the seat and a console, etc. Obstacles may enter and leave these entrapment zones, and the presence of such obstacles may also be considered.
In embodiments in which the motion planner 110 further monitors the environment, the system 100 may further include at least one sensor 114 of a predefined type. The at least one sensor 114 may be positioned in the immediate seat environment. In some embodiments, the at least one sensor 114 is positioned apart/separate from the seat 102, for instance overhead with respect to the seat 102 such that the field of view of the at least one sensor 114 includes at least the seat 102 and immediately surrounding environment.
In some embodiments, the at least one sensor 114 may include a millimeter wave (mmWave) radar configured to output a map of an environment in which the seat 102 operates, and/or may include a camera or other vision sensor configured to output images of the environment in which the seat 102 operates. In use, the at least one sensor 114 is configured to continuously monitor the environment for objects and object movements. In some embodiments, the at least one sensor 114 is configured to monitor the physical seat components and the seat occupant. In some embodiments, the camera may capture frames to determine object and seat component movements.
In embodiments including at least one sensor 114, the motion planner 110 is communicatively coupled to each of the seat controller 108 and the at least one sensor 112. In some embodiments, the motion planner 110 may be an element or component of the seat controller 108. In embodiments, the motion planner 110 includes a processor configured to access current positions of seat actuators, such as obtained from the seat controller 108, corresponding to a current sitting position of the seat, access future positions of the seat actuators corresponding to a future sitting position of the seat, receive outputs from the at least one sensor 114, and instruct dynamic motion considering the reconciled outputs to be executed by the seat controller 108 to transition the seat 102 from a current sitting position to the selected future sitting position. In some embodiments, reconciling may include considering each of the outputs separately or together/fused.
The current sitting position of the seat 102 corresponds to the seat configuration at the time the seat occupant selects another predefined sitting position. The future sitting position is the selected sitting position different from the current sitting position. For example, a current sitting position may be upright for TTOL, and during flight the seat occupant may wish to change to a different sitting position for more comfort. In embodiments, the system includes a plurality of predefined sitting positions stored in memory, wherein each of the plurality of predefined sitting positions includes definite actuator positions corresponding to that respective defined sitting position. In some embodiments, the transition from the current sitting position to the future sitting position may be preprogrammed to occur at different predefined speeds, e.g., slow, medium, fast, corresponding to different one predefined time intervals, e.g., 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, respectively. The dynamic seat motion controls the necessary actuators to complete the transition from the current sitting position to the future sitting position according to the selected predefined speed. The sequence, speed, etc. by which the actuators operate may be dynamic considering the environment, objects in the environment, and capabilities of the actuators.
The memory may be an example of tangible, computer-readable storage medium that provides storage functionality to store various data and/or program code associated with operation of the processor, such as software programs and/or code segments, or other data to instruct the processor, and possibly other components of the controller, to perform the functionality described herein. Thus, the memory can store data, such as a program of instructions for operating the motion planner 110, including its components (e.g., processor, communication interface, etc.), and so forth. It should be noted that while a single memory is described, a wide variety of types and combinations of memory (e.g., tangible, non-transitory memory) may be employed. The memory may be integral with the processor, may comprise stand-alone memory, or may be a combination of both. Some examples of the memory may include removable and non-removable memory components, such as random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory (e.g., a secure digital (SD) memory card, a mini-SD memory card, and/or a micro-SD memory card), solid-state drive (SSD) memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, universal serial bus (USB) memory devices, hard disk memory, external memory, and so forth.
The communication interface may be operatively configured to communicate with components of the motion planner 110. For example, the communication interface may be configured to retrieve data from the processor or other devices, transmit data for storage in the memory, retrieve data from storage in the memory, and so forth. The communication interface may also be communicatively coupled with the processor to facilitate data transfer between components of the motion planner 110 and the processor. It should be noted that while the communication interface is described as a component of the motion planner 110, one or more components of the communication interface may be implemented as external components communicatively coupled to the motion planner 110 via a wired and/or wireless connection. The motion planner 110 may also include and/or connect to one or more input/output (I/O) devices (e.g., human machine interface (HMI) devices) via the communication interface. In embodiments, the communication interface may include a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, physical connection interface, or any combination thereof.
Referring to
Referring to
Assume, for example, a change of speed is entered at around the 10th second of seat motion as shown at 136, and the change is to increase the speed, for example, from preset speed 1 to present speed 2. Upon receipt of the command, the motion planner 110 processes the command and instructs the seat controller 108 to change the speed through a ramp rate controlled speed as shown at 138 (e.g., quantified rate at which power output varies between two adjacent time intervals) for a smooth transition to the increased speed. Once the increased speed for the new speed selection is reached, the seat motion continues at that speed until completion of the motion or until another different speed is selected. In embodiments, a speed may be saved by the passenger as a speed preset which can be recalled by the passenger if in between the passenger changes to other speeds. In embodiments, a speed preset can be added to a passenger profile and loaded for use on any different flight.
In some embodiments, the motion planner 110 may determine from the monitored environment if any actuator motion will cause a collision or entrapment. If no collision or entrapment is determined, the actuator may continue to move to its next definite way point position. If a collision or entrapment is determined from the environment, the actuators may pause or slow while other actuators not involved with the entrapment may continue. In embodiments, one goal of the motion planner 110 is to complete the transition within the predetermined time period corresponding to the selected predefined speed by adjusting actuator stops, starts, sequences, speeds, etc. (i.e., performance parameters) to accommodate objects affecting seat components motions, while completing the transition in a smooth, comfortable, and ergonomic manner for the seat occupant. Adjustments to actuator performance may be made considering the capabilities of the actuators, type of object detected, continued presence of objects, etc.
It is to be understood that embodiments of the methods according to the inventive concepts disclosed herein may include one or more of the steps described herein. Further, such steps may be carried out in any desired order and two or more of the steps may be carried out simultaneously with one another. Two or more of the steps disclosed herein may be combined in a single step, and in some embodiments, one or more of the steps may be carried out as two or more sub-steps. Further, other steps or sub-steps may be carried in addition to, or as substitutes to one or more of the steps disclosed herein.
From the above description, it is clear that the inventive concepts disclosed herein are well adapted to achieve the objectives and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the inventive concepts disclosed herein. While presently preferred embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the broad scope and coverage of the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202311046248 | Jul 2023 | IN | national |
