Patent Grant
10059232
The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat, and particularly to a vehicle seat which may be moved relative to a floor of a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat including electronic components.
According to the present disclosure, a vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom. The vehicle seat further includes a seat-bottom foundation arranged to interconnect the seat bottom and seat back to translate back and forth relative to a vehicle floor.
In illustrative embodiments, the vehicle seat further includes a manual-memory system. The manual-memory system is configured to provide means for infinitely adjusting a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat relative to a floor included in a vehicle without the use of powered motors and locking the vehicle seat in a stored position as the vehicle seat moves into the stored position.
In illustrative embodiments, the vehicle seat further includes a smart-height system. The smart-height system is configured to provide means for moving the vehicle seat to a predetermined vertical position relative to the floor of the floor based on the longitudinal position of the vehicle seat relative to the floor of the vehicle so that comfort and safety of a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat are maximized.
In illustrative embodiments, the vehicle seat further includes an easy-entry system. The easy-entry system is configured to provide means for moving the vehicle seat between a predetermined entry arrangement which maximizes space formed between a rear seat and the vehicle seat so that ease of entry into the rear seat is maximized and one of a previously stored arrangement.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
An occupant support system 8 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown diagrammatically in
Manual-memory system 12 and easy-entry system 16 are accessed, for example, through use of a remote interface 22 as shown in
Manual-memory system 12 is a manual-memory system configured to provide means for adjusting infinitely a longitudinal position of vehicle seat 10 relative to floor 18 without the use of powered motors in response to application of a user-applied force F1 to 10 vehicle seat and locking vehicle seat 10 in a stored position as vehicle seat 10 moves into the stored position as suggested in
As shown in
Remote-actuation unit 34 includes remote interface 22, a longitudinal infinite-lock actuator 44, and a seat-back actuator 46 as shown in
Longitudinal infinite-lock actuator 44 causes longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 to move between the engaged position in which longitudinal movement of vehicle seat 10 is blocked and the disengaged position in which longitudinal movement of vehicle seat 10 is allowed. As suggested in
Seat-back actuator 46 causes seat back 32 to pivot back and forth relative to a seat bottom 40. Seat-back actuator 46 is coupled to one side of seat back 32 as shown in
Position-sensor unit 36 is coupled to controller 42 and configured to sense the longitudinal position of vehicle seat 10, the vertical position of vehicle seat 10, and the angular position of seat back 32 as various actuators 44, 46 move vehicle seat 10. As suggested in
One example of longitudinal position sensor 50 is shown in
One example of seat-back position sensor 52 is shown in
Another example of longitudinal position sensor 50 and seat-back position sensor 52 are two separate accelerometers. Reference is hereby made to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/063,679 filed Oct. 14, 2014 and entitled SEAT POSITION SENSING AND ADJUSTMENT for disclosure relating to use of accelerometers in vehicles seat, which application is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein.
Longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 is used by a passenger to selectively block or allow translating movement of vehicle seat 10 relative to vehicle floor 18. Longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 allows seat bottom 40 and seat back 32 to move on slide mechanism 58 included in a seat-bottom foundation 62 and be retained at any one of an infinite positions along the longitudinal path as suggested in
Longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 includes a guide rod 64 coupled to slide mechanism 58 in a fixed position, a seat-bottom mount 66 coupled to guide rod 64 to slide back and forth along guide rod 64, and a spring clamp 68 as shown in
Longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 allows for the passenger to move vehicle seat 10 and lock it at any location along the longitudinal travel path of vehicle seat 10. Longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 also provides for an enhanced more premium feel to the passenger while maximizing value and minimizing waste. Reference is hereby made to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/138,516 filed Mar. 26, 2015 and entitled SEAT POSITION SENSING AND ADJUSTMENT for disclosure relating to another longitudinal infinite lock unit, which application is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein.
In one example of use, a passenger selects a preset or stored arrangement of vehicle seat 10 using remote interface 22. The passenger may push one of remote release buttons 26 or touch a graphic displayed on interactive display 24. As shown in
Another graphic 74 which may be displayed on interactive display 24 is shown in
In one example, controller 42 causes graphics 70, 74 to be displayed on interactive display 24. Controller 42 also stores one or more programs in memory included in controller 42 that are executed by a processor include in controller 42. One example of a partial process 100 is shown in
Process 100 includes a series of operations which provide an arrangement of vehicle seat 10 that may be stored or discarded by controller 42. Process 100 begins with a capture seat position operation 102 which causes controller 42 to receive signals from position-sensor unit 36. Process 100 then proceeds to simultaneous operations 104, 106, 108 in which longitudinal position sensor 50, seat-back position sensor 52, and seat-height position sensor 54 all provide signals to controller 42. Process 100 then proceeds to operation 110 in which the provided signals are stored in memory as a preset arrangement of vehicle seat 10.
Process 200 includes a series of operations in which the preset arrangement is recalled and the vehicle seat is moved to the preset arrangement as suggested in
Process 200 then proceeds to an operation 210 to determine if the sensed longitudinal position of the vehicle seat matches the stored longitudinal position. If the positions match, process 200 proceed to operation 212 where longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 remains locked. If the positions do not match, process 200 proceeds to operation 214 in which longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 is unlocked. Process 200 then proceeds to an operation 216 which monitors longitudinal position of the vehicle seat 10 while vehicle seat is moved along the longitudinal path. Process 200 then proceeds to an operation 218 in which the monitored longitudinal location is compared to the stored longitudinal location. If the positions match, process 200 proceed to operation 220 in which longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 is locked in place at the right moment so that vehicle seat 10 is at the stored longitudinal location. If the positions do not match, process 200 proceeds to back to operation 216.
After process 200 receives sensor signal from position-sensor unit 36 in operation 208, process 200 proceeds to an operation 222 in which the sensed seat-back position is compared to the stored seat-back position. If the values agree, process 200 proceeds to an operation 224 in which seat back 32 is locked in place. Process 200 then proceeds to an operation 226 which terminates process 200 when the longitudinal positions also match. If the values do not agree, process 200 proceeds to an operation 228 in which seat back 32 is released to move relative to seat bottom 40. Process 200 then proceeds to an operation 230 in which controller 42 predicts where to lock seat back 32 to cause seat back 32 to be in the stored seat-back position. Process 200 then proceeds to an operation 232 which determines if seat back 32 is in a zone which will allow seat back 32 to be at the stored seat-back position when seat back 32 is locked. If seat back 32 is not in the zone, process 200 proceeds back to operation 232. If seat back 32 is in the zone, process 200 proceeds to an operation 234 in which seat back 32 is locked. Process 200 then proceeds to an operation 236 in which process 200 terminates when vehicle seat 10 is in the stored longitudinal position.
Vehicle seat 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in
Easy-entry system 16 includes remote-actuation unit 34, position-sensor unit 36, seat-height mover 76, and longitudinal infinite lock unit 38 as shown in
Controller 42 includes a process 500 stored in memory for using easy-entry system 16 as suggested in
Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 504 in which position-sensor unit 36 provides sensor data to controller 42 for both longitudinal position and seat-back position for an original arrangement. Process 500 then proceeds down two different paths depending on whether controller 42 is in a sedan mode or a coupe mode.
Starting with the sedan mode, process 500 proceeds to operation 506 which is an identification that controller 42 is in the sedan mode. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 508 in which controller 42 commands seat-back actuator 46 to free seat back 32 to move freely relative to seat bottom 40. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 510 in which seat-back position sensor 52 provides a signal indicative of seat-back position to controller 42. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 512 in which seat back 32 is moved to a forward most position and locked in the forward-most position when seat back 32 reaches the forward most position. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 514 in which seat back 32 is manually released to move freely. The manual release may be from either engagement directly of seat-back actuator 46 or through engagement of remote release button 30. Process 500 then returns to operation 510.
Process 500 proceeds to an operation 516 instead of operation 510 when seat back 32 is returned to the original arrangement. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 518 in which the seat-back actuator 46 is locked blocking additional rotation of seat back 32 relative to seat bottom 40.
Starting with the coupe mode, process 500 proceeds to operation 520 which is an identification that controller 42 is in the coupe mode. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 522 in which controller 42 commands seat-back actuator 46 and longitudinal infinite-lock actuator 44 to free seat back 32 and vehicle seat 10 to move freely. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 524 in which a time interval passes and controller 42 commands longitudinal infinite-lock actuator 44 to lock blocking movement of vehicle seat 10. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 526 in which seat-back position sensor 52 provides a signal indicative of seat-back position to controller 42. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 528 in which seat back 32 is moved to the forward most position and locked in the forward-most position. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 530 in which seat back 32 is manually released to move freely. The manual release may be from either engagement directly of seat-back actuator 46 or through engagement of remote release button 30. Process 500 then returns to operation 526.
Process 500 proceeds to an operation 532 instead of operation 510 when seat back 32 is returned to the original arrangement. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 534 in which the seat-back actuator 46 is locked blocking additional rotation of seat back 32 relative to seat bottom 40. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 536 in which controller 42 commands longitudinal infinite-lock actuator 44 to release allowing vehicle seat 10 to move freely along the longitudinal path. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 538 in which position-sensor unit 36 provides the longitudinal position to the controller 42. Process 500 then proceeds to an operation 540 in which controller 42 commands longitudinal infinite-lock actuator 44 to lock when the vehicle seat is back at the original longitudinal position.
Another embodiment of a vehicle seat 810 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in
Smart-height system 14 includes remote-actuation unit 34, position-sensor unit 36, longitudinal infinite lock unit 38, and a seat-height mover 76 as shown in
Seat-height mover 76 includes a seat-height actuator 78, a seat-height input plate 80, and a seat-height support link 82 as shown in
Position-sensor unit 36 is coupled to controller 42 and configured to sense the longitudinal position of vehicle seat 10, the vertical position of vehicle seat 810, and the angular position of seat back 32 as various actuators 44, 46, 78 move vehicle seat 810. As shown in
As suggested in
In this use example, passenger has provided a command to controller 42 to cause vehicle seat 810 to raise and move off an optimum-arrangement curve 86 as suggested in
In one example, controller 42 causes graphics 70, 74 to be displayed on interactive display 24. Controller 42 also stores one or more programs in memory included in controller 42 that are executed by a processor include in controller 42. One example of a partial process 100 is shown in
Controller 42 may execute an illustrative process 300 as shown, for example, in
Process 300 then proceeds to an operation 308 to determine if the stored vertical position matches the sensed vertical position. If the values agree, process 300 proceeds to an operation 310 in which the vertical position remains unchanged. Process 300 then proceeds to an operation 312 which indicates that the vehicle seat has arrived at the stored preset. If the values do not agree, process 300 proceeds to an operation 314 in which movement of vehicle seat 10 is delayed based on the longitudinal position of vehicle seat 810.
Process 300 then proceeds in parallel to operation 316, 318 based on whether the sensed vertical position is above or below the stored vertical position. If the sensed vertical position is above the stored vertical position, process 300 proceeds to operation 316 and then operation 320 in which seat-height actuator 78 is activated to cause vehicle seat 810 to move down to a lower vertical position. If the sensed vertical position is below the stored vertical position, process 300 proceeds to operation 318 and then operation 322 in which seat-height actuator 78 is activated to cause vehicle seat 810 to move up to a higher vertical position.
Process 300 then proceeds to an operation 324 in which controller 42 monitors seat-height position sensor 54 and calculates a predicted vertical position of vehicle seat 810. Process 300 then proceeds to an operation 326 which determines if the vertical position is in a target zone which causes vehicle seat 810 to be at the stored vertical position if movement of vehicle seat 810 stopped. If the predicted vertical position is in the target zone, process 300 proceeds to an operation 328 which causes seat-height actuator 78 to stop. Process 300 then proceeds to an operation 330 which indicates that vehicle seat 810 is in the stored preset arrangement. If the predicted vertical position is not in the target zone, process 300 returns to operation 324.
Controller 42 may execute an illustrative process 400 as shown, for example, in
Process 400 then proceeds to an operation 404 in which a passenger manually adjusts a longitudinal position of vehicle seat 810. Process 400 then proceeds simultaneously to three operations 406, 408, 410 associated with the mode of operation of vehicle seat 810. In operation 406, seat height was set initially by the passenger in a manual action. In operation 408, seat height was set initially according to a preset arrangement of the vehicle seat. In operation 410, seat height was set initially according to optimum-arrangement curve 86. If seat height was initially set by either operation 406, 408, process 400 then proceeds to an operation 412 in which longitudinal position sensor 50 provides a sensor signal to controller 42 indicative of the current longitudinal position of vehicle seat 810. Process 400 then proceeds to operation 414 which delays vertical adjustment of vehicle seat 810.
Process 400 then proceeds to an operation 416 in which seat-height position sensor 54 also provides a sensor signal to controller 42 indicative of current vertical position of vehicle seat 810. Process 400 then proceeds to an operation 418 in which controller determines a target height using a table, equation, or a chart as shown in
Process 400 then proceeds to an operation 430 in which controller 42 monitors seat-height position sensor 54 and calculates a predicted vertical position of vehicle seat 810. Process 400 then proceeds to an operation 432 which determines if the vertical position is in a target zone which causes vehicle seat 10 to be at the target vertical position if movement of vehicle seat 810 is stopped. If the predicted vertical position is in the target zone, process 400 proceeds to an operation 434 which causes seat-height actuator 78 to stop. Process 400 then proceeds to an operation 436 which indicates that vehicle seat 810 is in the target vertical position. If the predicted vertical position is not in the target zone, process 400 returns to operation 428.
Turning to
Seat position sensing system 600 is used, for example, in a vehicle in connection with a vehicle seat (e.g., such as those disclosed in any of
Seat position sensing system 600 includes a seat-orientation unit 605 and a seat-motion controller 610. Seat-orientation unit 605 senses orientations of seat back 630 and vehicle floor 635 relative to gravity and communicates these orientations to seat-motion controller 610. Seat-motion controller 610 calculates a vehicle incline angle, an actual seat back recline angle, and an adjusted seat back recline angle relative to the vehicle incline angle. By calculating an adjusted seat back recline angle relative to the vehicle incline angle, seat position sensing system 600 can sense and store a recline angle of seat back 630 in a manner that controls for uneven terrain on which vehicle 643 may drive, such as inclined hills. This allows seat position sensing system 600 to store occupant-preferred recline angles for seat back 630, and to later move or facilitate manual adjustment of seat back 630 to occupant-preferred recline angles, regardless of the terrain on which vehicle 643 is positioned. Seat-orientation unit 605 includes a vehicle orientation sensor 609 and a seat-back sensor 607. Vehicle orientation sensor 609 is configured to sense an orientation of vehicle 643, and in particular vehicle floor 635, relative to gravity. Seat-back sensor 607 is configured to sense an orientation of seat back 630, and in particular a recline angle of seat back 630, relative to gravity.
To sense an orientation of vehicle floor 635 relative to gravity, vehicle orientation sensor 609 includes an accelerometer measuring and outputting accelerations (αx), (αy), and (αz) relative to gravity along three directional axes x, y, and z, as suggested in
To sense a recline angle of seat back 630 relative to gravity, seat-back sensor 607 includes an accelerometer measuring and outputting accelerations (βx), (βy), and (βz) relative to gravity along three directional axes x, y, and z, as suggested in
Seat-motion controller 610 then subtracts vehicle incline angle (θA) from actual seat back recline angle (θB) to calculate an adjusted seat back recline angle (θC). Adjusted seat back recline angle (θC) represents a variable angle between seat back 630 and vehicle floor 635, as suggested in
By calculating adjusted seat back recline angle (θC), seat positioning system 600 can gauge an amount of seat back recline in a manner that is independent of terrain on which vehicle 643 is driving. This is beneficial because the terrain may vary from one moment to the next, causing variations in the angular orientation of vehicle 643. A vehicle occupant, however, will generally seek a comfortable seat orientation relative to vehicle 643 regardless of angular orientations of vehicle 643. As such, from an occupant comfort perspective, adjusted seat back recline angle (θC) is more relevant than actual seat back recline angle (θB).
Seat-motion controller includes a first angle calculator 650 for calculating vehicle incline angle (θA), a second angle calculator 651 for calculating actual seat back recline angle (θB), and a position calculator 660 for computing adjusted seat back recline angle (θC). To calculate vehicle incline angle (θA), first angle calculator 650 uses mathematical formulae that factor how vehicle incline angle (θA) varies as a function of accelerations (αx), (αy), and (αz), each of which are measured relative to gravity. In this illustrative embodiment, the formula [arctan((αx)/(αz))] is used to compute (θA), as shown in
Position calculator 660 computes adjusted seat back recline angle (θC) as a difference between actual seat back recline angle (θB) and vehicle incline angle (θA)—i.e., [(θB)−(θA)]. This is because, as explained, adjusted seat back recline angle (θC) represents a recline angle of the seat back 630 relative to an incline angle of the vehicle, which enables the seat position sensing system 600 to control for inclines on which the vehicle may be driving.
Another embodiment of a seat position sensing system 700 is illustrated in
Seat position sensing system 700 includes a seat-orientation unit 705 and a seat-motion controller 710. Similar to seat-orientation unit 605, discussed above, seat-orientation unit 705 senses an orientation of seat back 630 and an orientation of vehicle floor 635. Seat-orientation unit 705 additionally generates outputs from a linear position sensor 702, which are used to compute longitudinal position (d) of vehicle seat bottom 625. Similar to seat-motion controller 610, discussed above, seat-motion controller 710 calculates a vehicle incline angle, an actual seat back recline angle, and an adjusted seat back recline angle relative to the vehicle incline angle. Seat-motion controller 710 additionally calculates a rotation amount (ρ) of linear position sensor 702, and uses rotation amount (ρ) to calculate a longitudinal position (d) seat bottom 625 relative to vehicle floor 635.
Seat-orientation unit 705 includes several components that correspond to like components described in connection with seat position sensing system 600. Illustratively, seat-orientation unit 705 includes vehicle orientation sensor 609 to sense an orientation of vehicle floor 635 relative to gravity by measuring and outputting accelerations (αx), (αy), and (αz). Seat-orientation unit 705 also includes seat-back sensor 607 configured to sense an orientation of seat back 630 relative to gravity by measuring and outputting accelerations (βx), (βy), and (βz).
Likewise, seat-motion controller 710 includes several components that correspond with components described in connection with seat position sensing system 600. Thus, seat-motion controller 710 includes first angle calculator 650 for calculating vehicle incline angle (θA), second angle calculator 651 for calculating actual seat back recline angle (θB), and position calculator 660 for computing adjusted seat back recline angle (θC). Seat-motion controller 710 also includes memory 665 for storing preferred seat back recline angle (θC(pref)), occupant input 670 for receiving occupant inputs, memory recall 675 for retrieving preferred seat back recline angle (θC(pref)), and mover controller 680 and seat-back actuator 685 for either powered rotation or to facilitate manual adjustment of seat back 630.
Seat-orientation unit 705 additionally includes linear position sensor 702. Outputs from linear position sensor 702 are used by seat-motion controller 710 to compute longitudinal position (d) of seat bottom 625. To generate outputs from which longitudinal position (d) can be calculated, linear position sensor 702 may include an accelerometer that rotates as seat bottom 625 is moved. The accelerometer may generate outputs that vary based on rotation amount (ρ) of the accelerometer. Based on the outputs of the accelerometer, seat-motion controller 710 computes rotation amount (ρ), as shown in
It will be understood that the term algorithm or module as used herein does not limit the functionality to particular physical modules, but may include any number of tangible software and/or hardware components. In general, a computer program product in accordance with one embodiment comprises a tangible computer usable medium (e.g., standard RAM, an optical disc, a USB drive, or the like) having computer-readable program code embodied therein, wherein the computer-readable program code is adapted to be executed by a processor (working in connection with an operating system) to implement one or more functions and methods as described below. In this regard, the program code may be implemented in any desired language, and may be implemented as machine code, assembly code, byte code, interpretable source code or the like (e.g., via C, C++, C#, Java, Actionscript, Objective-C, Javascript, CSS, XML, etc.).
The following numbered clauses include embodiments that are contemplated and non-limiting:
Clause 1. An occupant support system comprising
a vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom to move relative to the seat bottom,
a foundation adapted to couple the vehicle seat to a floor of a vehicle for movement back and forth relative to the floor, and
a manual-memory system configured to provide means for adjusting infinitely a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat relative to a floor included in a vehicle without the use of powered motors in response to application of a user-applied force to the vehicle seat and locking the vehicle seat in a stored position as the vehicle seat moves into the stored position.
Clause 2. A method of arranging a vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of
providing a predetermined position of a vehicle seat included in a vehicle,
receiving a user input from a user interface included in a vehicle,
freeing the vehicle seat to move relative to a floor of the vehicle,
moving the vehicle seat relative to the floor without the use of force provided by a powered device and under force applied by a user, and
locking the vehicle seat to block movement of the vehicle seat relative to the floor when the vehicle seat is in the predetermined position.
Clause 3. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the manual-memory system includes a position-sensor unit coupled to the vehicle seat to sense a position of the vehicle seat relative to the floor, a longitudinal lock unit coupled to the foundation to move between a locking arrangement in which movement of the vehicle seat back and forth is blocked and a freed arrangement in which the vehicle seat is free to move relative to the floor, and a computer configured to provide means for receiving the position of the vehicle as sensed by the position-sensor unit, determining when the vehicle seat will be in the stored position, and commanding the longitudinal lock unit to engage to block movement of the vehicle seat relative to the floor when the vehicle seat is in the stored position.
Clause 4. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the manual-memory system further includes a remote-actuation unit coupled to the longitudinal lock unit and the computer and is configured to receive commands from the computer to cause longitudinal lock to move between the locked and the freed arrangements.
Clause 5. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the remote-actuation unit includes remote interface coupled to the computer to receive user input and a longitudinal lock actuator coupled to the computer to receive commands from the computer to cause the longitudinal lock actuator to engage and move the longitudinal lock unit between the locked and freed arrangements.
Clause 6. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the computer is further configured to receive a manual release signal from the remote interface and command the longitudinal lock actuator to move the longitudinal lock unit to the freed arrangement in response to receiving the manual release signal.
Clause 7. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the computer is further configured to receive a manual engage signal from the remote interface and command the longitudinal lock actuator to move the longitudinal lock unit to the locked arrangement in response to receiving the manual engage signal.
Clause 8. The occupant support system of any other clause wherein the computer is further configured to receive a store signal from the remote interface, determine the position of the vehicle seat when the store signal is received, and store the position in memory included in the computer as the stored position.
Clause 9. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the manual-memory system further includes a seat-back lock coupled to the seat bottom and the seat back to move between a blocking arrangement in which movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom about a pivot axis is blocked and a freeing arrangement in which the seat back is free to pivot relative to the seat bottom and the computer configured is further configured command the seat-back lock to move to the blocking arrangement when the vehicle seat is in the stored position.
Clause 10. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the manual-memory system further includes a remote-actuation unit coupled to the longitudinal lock unit, the seat-back lock, and the computer and is configured to receive commands from the computer to cause longitudinal lock to move between the locked and the freed arrangements and the seat-back lock to move between the blocking and the freeing arrangements.
Clause 11. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the remote-actuation unit includes remote interface coupled to the computer to receive user input, a longitudinal lock actuator coupled to the computer to receive commands from the computer to cause the longitudinal lock actuator to engage and move the longitudinal lock unit between the locked and freed arrangements, and seat-back lock actuator coupled to the computer to receive commands from the computer to cause the seat-back lock actuator to engage and move the seat-back lock blocking and the freeing arrangements.
Clause 12. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the computer is further configured to receive a manual release signal from the remote interface and command the longitudinal lock actuator to move the longitudinal lock unit to the freed arrangement in response to receiving the manual release signal.
Clause 13. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the computer is further configured to command seat-back lock actuator to move the seat-back lock to the freeing arrangement in response to receiving the manual release signal.
Clause 14. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the computer is further configured to receive a manual engage signal from the remote interface and command the longitudinal lock actuator to move the longitudinal lock unit to the locked arrangement in response to receiving the manual engage signal.
Clause 15. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the computer is further configured to command the seat-back lock actuator to move the seat-back lock to the blocking arrangement in response to receiving the manual engage signal.
Clause 16. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the computer is further configured to receive a store signal from the remote interface, determine the position of the vehicle seat when the store signal is received, and store the position in memory included in the computer as the stored position.
Clause 17. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the position-sensor unit includes a longitudinal position sensor coupled to the vehicle seat and configured to sense a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat relative to the floor.
Clause 18. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the longitudinal position sensor is an accelerometer coupled to the seat bottom to move relative to the seat bottom as the seat bottom moves back and forth relative to the floor.
Clause 19. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the position-sensor unit further includes a seat-back position sensor coupled to the vehicle seat and configured to sense an angular position of the seat back relative to the seat bottom.
Clause 20. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the seat-back position sensor is an accelerometer coupled to the seat back in a fixed position relative to the seat back.
Clause 21. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the position-sensor unit further includes a seat-height position coupled to the vehicle seat and configured to sense a height of the seat bottom above the floor of the vehicle.
Clause 22. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the seat-height position sensor is an accelerometer coupled to the seat bottom to move relative to the seat bottom.
Clause 23. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the computer during the determining operation calculates a velocity of the vehicle seat using the position sensed by the position-sensor unit and calculates a time when to send the command to the longitudinal lock unit to block movement of the vehicle seat to cause the vehicle seat to be in the stored position after the command is sent to the longitudinal lock unit.
Clause 24. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the longitudinal lock unit is configured to provide means for blocking selectively movement of the vehicle seat relative to the floor at any position along a predetermined path in response to a first force being applied to the vehicle seat and for limiting movement of the vehicle seat relative to the vehicle floor in response to a second force greater than the first force being applied to the vehicle seat so that vehicle seat may be moved to the stored position in response to application of the user-applied force.
Clause 25. The occupant support system of any other clause, wherein the longitudinal lock unit includes an infinite lock arranged to block movement of the vehicle seat relative to the vehicle floor in response to the first force being applied to the vehicle seat by the occupant during use of the vehicle and an impact-load lock arranged to limit movement of the vehicle seat relative to the vehicle floor in response to the second force load being applied to the vehicle.
Clause 26. The method of any other clause, further comprising the step of sensing a position of the vehicle seat relative to the floor.
Clause 27. The method of any other clause, further comprising the step of determining a velocity of the vehicle seat during the moving step using the position provided during the sensing step and determining when to perform the locking step using the velocity so that the vehicle seat is in the predetermined position when the locking step is performed.
Clause 28. The method of any other clause, further comprising the step of sensing a position of the vehicle seat relative to the floor and storing the position as a stored position.
Clause 29. The method of any other clause, wherein the sensing step and the storing step both occur before the freeing step.
Clause 30. The method of any other clause, wherein the predetermined position is an egress position in which the vehicle seat is moved away from a second vehicle seat located behind the first vehicle seat to maximize space formed therebetween.
Clause 31. The method of any other clause, further comprising the steps of receiving a second user input from the user interface after the locking step, freeing the vehicle seat to move relative to the vehicle floor after the receiving the second user input step, moving the vehicle seat relative to the floor without the use of force provided by a powered device and under force applied by a user, and locking the vehicle seat to block movement of the vehicle seat relative to the floor when the vehicle seat is in the stored position.
Clause 32. The method of any other clause, further comprising the step of unlocking a seat back included in the vehicle seat to pivot relative to a seat bottom included in the vehicle seat, pivoting the seat back relative to the seat bottom without the use of force provided by a powered device and under force applied by the user, and locking the seat back to block movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom when the vehicle seat is in the stored position.
Clause 33. The method of any other clause, wherein the unlocking step occurs after the locking the vehicle seat step.
Clause 34. The method of any other clause, wherein the unlocking step occurs at the same time as the freeing step.
Clause 35. The method of any other clause, wherein the unlocking step, the pivoting step, and the locking the seat back step occur before the freeing step.
Clause 36. The method of any other clause, further comprising the steps of sensing a position of the vehicle seat relative to the floor before the freeing step and storing the position as a stored position after the sensing step and before the freeing step
Clause 37. The method of any other clause, the user input is a predetermined pattern of forces applied to the user interface.
Clause 38. The method of any other clause, wherein the user interface is a force sensor coupled to the vehicle seat and configured to sense force applied to the vehicle seat by the user.
Clause 39. The method of any other clause, wherein the user input is a predetermined pattern of forces applied to the user interface and the predetermined position is a cargo-loading position in which the vehicle seat is moved in a forward direction to maximize storage space for cargo.
Clause 40. The method of any other clause, wherein the predetermined pattern of forces is applied to the vehicle seat by the user using the cargo.
Clause 41. The method of any other clause, further comprising the step of unlocking a seat back included in the vehicle seat to pivot relative to a seat bottom included in the vehicle seat, pivoting the seat back relative to the seat bottom without the use of force provided by a powered device and under force applied by the user, and locking the seat back to block movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom when the vehicle seat is in the cargo-loading position.
Clause 42. The method of any other clause, wherein the unlocking step occurs after the locking the vehicle seat step.
This application is a U.S. national stage application of international application No. PCT/US2015/023294 filed Mar. 30, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/970,678, filed Mar. 26, 2014, The entire disclosures of PCT/US2015/023294 and U.S. Ser. No. 61/970,678 are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2015/023294 | 3/30/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2015/149059 | 10/1/2015 | WO | A |
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| Entry |
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| PCT Search Report and Written Opinion completed by the ISA/EP dated Jun. 12, 2015 and issued in connection with PCT/US2015/023294. |
| Chinese Office Action for Chinese App. No. 201580015981.X sent on May 14, 2018, 3638 CN ||(No English translation of the office available, only a summary), 11 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170166094 A1 | Jun 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61970678 | Mar 2014 | US |
