U.S. patent application number 14/719290 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-06 for articulating support in a vehicle seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Ford Global Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Jaeho Cho, Agnes S. Kim, Robert William McCoy, Cortney Stancato.
Application Number | 20160288751 14/719290 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56995088 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160288751 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stancato; Cortney ; et
al. |
October 6, 2016 |
ARTICULATING SUPPORT IN A VEHICLE SEAT
Abstract
A first pad and a second pad are configured to be arranged in a
vehicle seat. A plurality of passive movement devices are provided
to be respectively arranged behind, and to cause movement of, the
pads. The passive movement devices are configured to be actuated
independently of one another.
Inventors: |
Stancato; Cortney; (Novi,
MI) ; McCoy; Robert William; (Ann Arbor, MI) ;
Kim; Agnes S.; (Dearborn, MI) ; Cho; Jaeho;
(Shelby Township, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ford Global Technologies,
LLC
Dearborn
MI
|
Family ID: |
56995088 |
Appl. No.: |
14/719290 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14675367 |
Mar 31, 2015 |
|
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14719290 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/207 20130101;
B60N 2/4279 20130101; B60R 21/02 20130101; B60N 2/42754 20130101;
B60N 2002/0204 20130101; B60N 2/002 20130101; B60R 21/01512
20141001; B60N 2/0276 20130101; B60R 21/01546 20141001; B60R
21/01554 20141001; B60R 2021/0273 20130101; B60N 2/42745 20130101;
B60R 2021/01252 20130101; B60N 2/42763 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/013 20060101
B60R021/013; B60R 21/207 20060101 B60R021/207; B60R 21/04 20060101
B60R021/04 |
Claims
1. A system, comprising: a first pad configured to be arranged
behind an upper portion of a vehicle seat; a second pad configured
to be arranged behind a head restraint of the vehicle seat; and a
plurality of passive movement devices, each configured to be
actuated independently of one another and each configured to cause
movement of a respective one of the pads.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller that
includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions
executable by the processor to actuate at least one of the passive
movement devices.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the memory further stores
instructions executable by the processor to receive data from at
least one impact sensor, and to use the received data in
determining to actuate at least one of the passive movement
devices.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory further stores
instructions executable by the processor to actuate only one of the
passive movement devices based on the received data.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive movement devices
include one of an airbag and a plastic bladder.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive movement devices
include a motor.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive movement device
configured to move the first pad is a motor and the passive
movement device configured to move the second pad is an airbag.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive movement devices are
configured to move the first and second pad at least one of
vertically and horizontally with respect to a vehicle.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive movement devices are
arranged to move the pads vertically, the system further comprising
at least one horizontal movement device, wherein each at least one
horizontal movement device is arranged to move a respective one of
the pads horizontally.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein each at least one horizontal
movement device includes a stored energy device that is arranged to
release a horizontal movement mechanism.
11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a controller that
includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions
executable by the processor to actuate at least one of the passive
movement devices and the stored energy device.
12. A method, comprising: using data relating to an impact to
determine to actuate at least one of a plurality of passive
movement devices that are respectively configured to cause movement
of a first pad arranged behind an upper portion of a vehicle seat
and a second pad arranged behind a head restraint of the vehicle
seat; wherein the passive movement devices are configured to be
actuated independently of one another.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising actuating the
plurality of passive movement devices based on the received
data.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the passive movement devices
are arranged to move the pads vertically, the method further
comprising, based on the data relating to the impact, moving at
least one horizontal movement device that is arranged to move a
respective one of the pads horizontally.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein each at least one horizontal
movement device includes a stored energy device that is arranged to
release a horizontal movement mechanism, the method further
comprising actuating at least one of the passive movement devices
and the stored energy device.
16. A controller that includes a processor and a memory, the memory
storing instructions executable by the processor, including
instructions to: use data relating to an impact to determine to
actuate at least one of a plurality of passive movement devices
that are respectively configured to cause movement of a first pad
arranged behind an upper portion of a vehicle seat and a second pad
arranged behind a head restraint of the vehicle seat; wherein the
passive movement devices are configured to be actuated
independently of one another.
17. The controller of claim 16, the instructions further including
instructions to actuate one or more of the passive movement devices
based on the received data.
18. The controller of claim 16, wherein the passive movement
devices are arranged to move the first and second pads at least one
of vertically and horizontally with respect to a vehicle.
19. The controller of claim 16, wherein the passive movement
devices are arranged to move the pads vertically, the instructions
further including instructions to, based on the data relating to
the impact, move at least one horizontal movement device that is
arranged to move a respective one of the pads horizontally.
20. The controller of claim 19, wherein each at least one
horizontal movement device includes a stored energy device that is
arranged to release a horizontal movement mechanism, the
instructions further including instructions to actuate at least one
of the passive movement devices and the stored energy device.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part, and
claims priority to and all advantages, of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/675,367, filed Mar. 31, 2015, which application is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Vehicle safety systems are often focused on high speed
crashes which can cause severe injuries and /or fatalities.
However, with older and heavier occupants becoming a larger
percentage of the population, focusing on lower-speed impacts is
also appropriate. In fact, lower-speed impacts often result in
lower extremity and upper body region injuries. Lower extremity
injuries, even when non-life threatening, can have large and
undesirable effects on a person's quality of life, as well as high
societal costs. Therefore, improvements in vehicle safety systems
protecting lower extremities as well as upper body regions would be
desirable.
DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary
articulating support system.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1 showing
an undeployed state and a deployed state.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1 showing an
undeployed state and undeployed state.
[0007] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1 in a
further example of a deployed state.
[0008] FIG. 6 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1 in the
deployed state of FIG. 5.
[0009] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an embodiment of the system of
FIG. 1 including articulating supports, i.e., seat pads, that can
move horizontally and vertically.
[0010] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the articulating support system
of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of another exemplary
articulating support system.
[0012] FIG. 10 is a side view of the system of FIG. 9.
[0013] FIG. 11 is a side view of the system of FIG. 9 showing the
undeployed state and the deployed state.
[0014] FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate the system of FIG. 9 including
supports that can move horizontally and vertically.
[0015] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the articulating support
system of FIG. 9.
[0016] FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of a further exemplary
articulating support system.
[0017] FIG. 15 is a side view of the system of FIG. 14.
[0018] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the articulating support
system of FIG. 14.
[0019] FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of a third exemplary
articulating support system.
[0020] FIG. 18 is a side view of the system of FIG. 17.
[0021] FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the articulating support
system of FIG. 17.
[0022] FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary process flow for the
exemplary articulating support systems of FIGS. 1, 9, 14, and
17.
[0023] FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary process flow for the
exemplary articulating support system of FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary process flow for the
exemplary articulating support system of FIG. 9.
[0025] FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary process flow for the
exemplary articulating support system of FIG. 14.
DESCRIPTION
[0026] With reference to FIGS. 1-6, disclosed herein is an
articulating support system 10 that can be installed in a vehicle
seat 12 lower portion 14, sometimes also referred to as a seat
portion 14 or a horizontal portion 14, even though the portion 14
is not generally, strictly speaking, substantially horizontal. The
seat portion 14 generally includes a rear portion 15 as well as
first and second articulating seat pads 18, 19. Further, a system
10 in a vehicle may include multiple seats 12, and therefore, with
respect to each seat in a plurality of seats in a vehicle, a
plurality of respective components described herein with respect to
a single vehicle seat 12.
[0027] For example, the system 10 includes, installed in a seat 12,
first and second passive movement devices 16, 17, that respectively
control movement, e.g., articulation, of first and second
articulating seat pads 18, 19. The passive movement devices 16, 17
may include any of a variety of known components, such as a
gas-inflatable airbag, an inflatable plastic bladder, or the like.
For example, the seat pads 18, 19 may be moved up and down, i.e.,
vertically, with respect to the seat 12 and a vehicle in which the
seat 12 is installed by inflation of the passive movement devices
16, 17. Actuation or deployment of the passive movement devices may
be triggered by a triggering mechanism 115, such as is known, e.g.,
a gas inflator that is pyrotechnically actuated, etc. The system 10
may be used to absorb crash energy from the lower extremities, e.g.
the legs, of a vehicle occupant.
[0028] The passive movement devices 16, 17 may be actuated
independently of one another, and therefore the seat pads 18, 19
may be moved, e.g., articulated, either together or independently
of one another. Further, the seat pads 18, 19 may be articulated,
e.g., moved vertically, independently of a rear portion 15 of the
seat 12 lower portion 14. Note that in the present context
"vertically" means that the mechanisms 16, 17, move the pads 18, 19
generally up and down with respect to the horizontal portion 14.
However, just as the portion 14 may deviate somewhat, e.g., by up
to approximately ten or twenty degrees, from being perfectly
horizontal, vertical movement of the pads 18, 19 may likewise
deviate from being perfectly vertical.
[0029] FIGS. 3 and 4 provide an illustration that one or both of
the seat pads 18, 19 may be moved in an upward direction, from an
undeployed state to a deployed state, by deployment of the passive
movement devices 16, 17. Further, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, one or
both of the seat pads 18, 19 may alternatively be moved in a
forward direction, from an undeployed state to a deployed state, by
the passive movement devices 16, 17. That is, the seat pads 18, 19
can be restrained in a horizontal direction so that they move
vertically upon deployment of the devices 16, 17 (FIGS. 3, 4), or
the seat pads 18, 19 can be restrained in a vertical direction so
that they move horizontally upon deployment of the devices 16,
17.
[0030] Yet further alternatively or additionally, as illustrated in
FIGS. 7A-7B, one or more horizontal movement devices 20 may be
arranged, e.g., via a drive mechanism 21, to move seat pads 18, 19
fore and aft, i.e., substantially in a direction along, or parallel
to, a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, alternatively or additionally
to vertically. That is, one or more devices 20 may be provided as a
substitute for, or as a complement to, one or more devices 16,
17.
[0031] For example, each of the respective passive movement devices
16, 17 may be used as vertical movement devices, and may be paired
with a horizontal movement device 20. For example, a drive
mechanism 21, e.g., a piston or worm gear or the like, may be
actuated by a stored energy device 22 that in turn is connected to
a rigid member 23, e.g., a stiff rod, to move a pad 18 or 19. A
triggering mechanism 115 a may be used to release energy from the
stored energy device 22, thereby causing movement of the horizontal
drive mechanism 21, causing the member 23 to force a seat pad 18 or
19 forward. Alternatively or additionally, e.g., possible at
substantially the same time, a triggering mechanism or mechanisms
115 b may be used to deploy a device 16 and/or device 17, forcing a
seat pad 18 and/or a seat pad 19 upward.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the exemplary thigh support
system 10 of FIG. 1. The system 10 includes impact sensors 105 such
as are known for providing data to a controller 110 to determine
the occurrence of an impact or likely impact. The controller 110
generally includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing
instructions executable by the processor for evaluating data from
sensors 105 and/or providing an instruction to the actuating
mechanism 115. A vehicle communication bus 120, e.g., a controller
area network (CAN) bus or the like, such as is known, may be used
to provide various communications, including data from sensors 105
to the controller 110, as well as one or more instructions from the
controller 110 to one or more actuating mechanisms 115 associated
with respective passive movement devices 16, 17. Accordingly, the
controller 110 may receive data from sensors 105 from which an
occurrence or likely occurrence of an impact, e.g., a low-speed
impact, may be identified. The controller 110 may then send an
instruction to a actuating mechanism 115, e.g., an inflator of an
airbag or bladder included in an passive movement devices 16, 17,
and an actuator of a motor 20, etc., to actuate one or both passive
movement devices 16, 17.
[0033] FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary process 300 that may be
executed according to instructions in the controller 110. Before
the process 300 begins, one or more of the pads 18, 19, may be in a
default, or nominal position. As described herein, the pads 18, 19
may be moved forward, backward, up, and/or down with respect to the
nominal position, e.g., as described with respect to the process
300.
[0034] The process 300 begins in a block 305, in which the
controller 110 receives, e.g., via the bus 120, data from various
sensors 105. For example, the controller 110 may receive data from
crash sensors 105 such as accelerometers and the like, pre-crash
sensors 105 such as radar sensors 105, image sensors 105, etc., as
well as occupant sensor 105s, e.g., indicating weight, height, age,
etc. of one or more vehicle occupants as is known, seat sensors
indicating a seat position or positions, seat belt buckle sensor
105s, indicating a status of a seatbelt, e.g., buckled or
unbuckled, etc.
[0035] Next, in a block 310, generally based on data from crash
sensors 105 and/or pre-crash sensors 105, the controller 110
identifies a crash mode, e.g., frontal, oblique, offset,
high-speed, low-speed, pedestrian, etc.
[0036] Next, in a block 315, the controller 110 performs an
occupant classification, e.g., in a known manner, determines an
occupant size, e.g., according to a percentile weight and/or
height, etc.
[0037] Next, in a block 320, the controller 110 determines a
current seat position, e.g., an angle of a back of the seat 12 with
respect to the seat bottom 14, a position of the seat 12 on a seat
track, etc.
[0038] Next, in a block 325, the controller 110 determines a seat
belt buckle status, e.g., buckled or unbuckled.
[0039] Next, in a block 330, using at least some of the information
received and/or determined in the blocks 305-325, the controller
110 determines an articulation of the pads 18, 19. As mentioned
above, one or more of the pads 18, 19 may be moved, i.e.,
articulated, e.g., in a crash event. Further, it is possible that
one of the pads 18, 19 may be moved horizontally, vertically, or
both, whereas a paired pad 18, 19 may be moved in a different
manner, or not at all.
[0040] Such movement may be determined by the controller 110
according to various factors, e.g., a vehicle speed, a crash mode
(e.g., oblique, frontal, side, etc.), and occupant size (e.g., a
percentile of a person's mass, weight, and/or heights compared to
the general population), a position of a seat, whether a seatbelt
is buckled, position of the occupant in the vehicle (e.g., a seat
location), etc.
[0041] Next, in a block 335, the controller 110 sends a message to
one or more triggering mechanisms 115, 115a, 115b to trigger
passive one or more movement devices 16, 17 and/or one or more
horizontal movement devices 20.
[0042] Following the block 335, the process 300 ends.
[0043] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an exemplary articulating support
system 30 that can be installed in a vehicle seat 12. The system 30
includes a plurality of articulating seat pads, including a first
lower pad 34, a second lower pad 35, a first lumbar pad 39, a
central lumbar pad 40, a second lumbar pad 41, an upper pad 43, and
a head restraint pad 44. The upper pad 43 may be a substantially
U-shaped pad extending a length of the seat 12 between the lumbar
pads 39, 40, 41 and the head restraint pad 44. The system 30
further includes a plurality of passive movement devices, including
a first lower passive movement device 32, a second lower passive
movement device 33, a first lumbar passive movement device 36, a
central lumbar passive movement device 37, a second lumbar passive
movement device 38, and an upper passive movement device 42. The
system 30 may be used to absorb crash energy from the upper
portions of the occupant's body, e.g., the head and chest, in
frontal and oblique impacts.
[0044] The passive movement devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42
respectively control movement, e.g., articulation, of the
articulating seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44. The passive
movement devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42 may include one or more
mechanisms, e.g., known components such as a gas-inflatable airbag,
an inflatable plastic bladder, or the like. For example, the seat
pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be moved up and down, i.e.,
substantially vertically, with respect to the seat 12 and a vehicle
in which the seat 12 is installed by inflation of the passive
movement devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42. Actuation or deployment of
the passive movement devices may be triggered by the triggering
mechanism 115, such as is known, e.g., a gas inflator that is
pyrotechnically actuated, etc.
[0045] The passive movement devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42 may be
actuated independently of one another, and therefore the seat pads
34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be moved, e.g., articulated, either
together or independently of one another. Further, the seat pads
34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be articulated, e.g., moved
vertically, independently of a seat lower portion 46. Note that in
the present context "vertically" means that the mechanisms 32, 33,
36, 37, 38, 42 move the pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44
substantially up and down with respect to the seat lower portion
14. However, just as the portion 14 may deviate somewhat, e.g., by
up to approximately ten or twenty degrees, from being perfectly or
even substantially horizontal, vertical movement of the pads 34,
35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may likewise deviate from being perfectly or
substantially vertical.
[0046] FIG. 11 provides an illustration that the seat pads 34, 35,
39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be moved in an upward direction, from an
undeployed state to a deployed state, by deployment of the passive
movement devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42. Further, the seat pads 34,
35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may alternatively be moved in a forward
direction, from an undeployed state to a deployed state, by the
passive movement devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42. That is, the seat
pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be restrained in a horizontal
direction so that they move vertically upon deployment of the
devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, or the seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40,
41, 43, 44 can be restrained in a vertical direction so that they
move horizontally upon deployment of the devices 32, 33, 36, 37,
38, 42. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the second lower device
33 may move the second lower pad 35 vertically, the second lumbar
device 38 may move the second lumbar pad 41 horizontally, and the
upper device 42 may move the upper pad 43 and the head restraint
pad 44 horizontally.
[0047] Yet further alternatively or additionally, as illustrated in
FIGS. 12A-12B, one or more horizontal movement devices 20 may be
arranged, e.g., via the drive mechanism 21, to move seat pads 34,
35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 fore and aft, i.e., substantially in a
direction along, or parallel to, a longitudinal axis of a vehicle,
alternatively or additionally to vertically. That is, one or more
devices 20 may be provided as a substitute for, or as a complement
to, one or more devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42.
[0048] For example, each of the respective passive movement devices
32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42 may be used as vertical movement devices,
and may be paired with the horizontal movement device 20. For
example, the drive mechanism 21, e.g., a piston or worm gear or the
like, may be actuated by the stored energy device 22 that in turn
is connected to the rigid member 23, e.g., a stiff rod, to moves
one of the pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44. The triggering
mechanism 115a may be used to release energy from the stored energy
device 22, thereby causing movement of the horizontal drive
mechanism 21, causing the member 23 to force one of the seat pads
34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 forward. Alternatively or additionally,
e.g., possible at substantially the same time, a triggering
mechanism or mechanisms 115b may be used to deploy one of the
devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, deploying one of the seat pads 34,
35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 upward.
[0049] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the exemplary articulating
support system 30 of FIG. 9. The system 30 includes elements
described above concerning the system 10. Further, in the system
30, the actuating or triggering mechanisms 115, 115a, 115b are
associated with passive movement devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42.
The controller 110 may thus send an instruction or instructions to
an actuating mechanism 115 as described above, e.g., an inflator of
an airbag or bladder included in the passive movement devices 32,
33, 36, 37, 38, 42, and an actuator of the motor 20, etc., to
actuate one or more of the passive movement devices 32, 33, 36, 37,
38, 42.
[0050] FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary process 400 that may be
executed according to instructions in the controller 110. The
process 400 as described herein may be executed for various
implementations of the system 30 e.g., including all of the pads
34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 or some subset thereof. Before the
process 400 begins, one or more of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40,
41, 43, 44 may be in a default, or nominal position. As described
herein, various of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may
be moved forward, backward, up, and/or down with respect to the
nominal position, e.g., as described with respect to the process
400.
[0051] The process 400 may begin in a block 405, in which the
controller 110 receives, e.g., via the bus 120, data from various
sensors 105. For example, the controller 110 may receive data from
crash sensors such as accelerometers and the like, pre-crash
sensors 105 such as radar sensors 105, image sensors 105, etc., as
well as occupant sensors 105, e.g., indicating weight, height, age,
etc. of one or more vehicle occupants as is known, seat sensors
indicating a seat position or positions, seat belt buckle sensors,
indicating a status of a seatbelt, e.g., buckled or unbuckled,
etc.
[0052] Next, in a block 410, generally based on data from crash
sensors 105 and/or pre-crash sensors 105, the controller 110
identifies a crash mode, e.g., frontal, oblique, offset,
high-speed, low-speed, pedestrian, etc.
[0053] Next, in a block 415, the controller 110 performs an
occupant classification, e.g., in a known manner, determines an
occupant size, e.g., according to a percentile weight and/or
height, etc.
[0054] Next, in a block 420, the controller 110 determines a
current seat position, e.g., an angle of a back of the seat 12 with
respect to the seat bottom 14, a position of the seat 12 on a seat
track, etc.
[0055] Next, in a block 425, the controller 110 determines a seat
belt buckle status, e.g., buckled or unbuckled.
[0056] Next, in a block 430, using at least some of the information
received and/or determined in the blocks 405-425, the controller
110 determines an articulation of the bolsters, i.e., the pads 34,
35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44. As mentioned above, one or more of the pads
34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be moved, i.e., articulated, e.g.,
in a crash event. Further, it is possible that one of the pads 34,
35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be moved horizontally, vertically, or
both, whereas a paired pad 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be moved
in a different manner, or not at all. Further, it is possible that
one of the pads pad 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be part of a set
including at least two of the other pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43,
44, each of the pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 in the set moving
together, in an individual manner, as part of a smaller set, or not
at all. For example, the first lumbar pad 39, the central lumbar
pad 40, and the second lumbar pad 41 may form a set, and in the
crash event, any, all, or none of the pads 39, 40, 41 in the set
may be moved horizontally, vertically, or both.
[0057] Such movement may be determined by the controller 110
according to various factors, e.g., a vehicle speed, a crash mode
(e.g., oblique, frontal, side, etc.), and occupant size (e.g., a
percentile of a person's mass, weight, and/or heights compared to
the general population), a position of a seat, whether a seatbelt
is buckled, position of the occupant in the vehicle (e.g., a seat
location), etc.
[0058] Next, in a block 435, the controller 110 sends a message to
one or more triggering mechanisms 115, 115a, 115b to trigger
passive one or more movement devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42 and/or
one or more horizontal movement devices 20.
[0059] Following the block 435, the process 400 ends.
[0060] FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate another example of an
articulating support system 50 that can be installed into a vehicle
seat 12. The system 50 includes a plurality of articulating seat
pads, including an upper pad 43 and a head restraint pad 44. The
system 30 further includes a plurality of passive movement devices,
including an upper passive movement device 56 and a head restraint
passive movement device 60. Specifically, the upper passive
movement device 56 articulates the upper pad 43, and the head
restraint passive movement device 60 articulates the head restraint
pad 44. While the upper pad 43 and the head restraint pad 44 may
articulate simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, as in
the system 30, the upper pad 43 and the head restraint pad 44 in
the system 50 may articulate independently. The system 50 may be
used to absorb crash energy from the occupant's head and/or neck
during a rear impact.
[0061] The passive movement devices 56, 60 respectively control
movement, e.g., articulation, of the articulating seat pads 43, 44.
The passive movement devices 56, 60 may include any of a variety of
known components, such as a gas-inflatable airbag, an inflatable
plastic bladder, or the like. For example, the seat pads 43, 44 may
be moved up and down, i.e., vertically, with respect to the seat 12
and a vehicle in which the seat 12 is installed by inflation of the
passive movement devices 56, 60. Actuation or deployment of the
passive movement devices may be triggered by the triggering
mechanism 115, such as is known, e.g., a gas inflator that is
pyrotechnically actuated, etc.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 15, the horizontal movement device 20 may
be arranged, e.g., via a drive mechanism 21, to move the upper pad
43 fore and aft, i.e., substantially in a direction along, or
parallel to, a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, alternatively or
additionally to vertically. The triggering mechanism 115a may be
used to release energy from the stored energy device 22, thereby
causing movement of the horizontal drive mechanism 21, causing the
member 23 to deploy the upper pad 43 forward. Alternatively or
additionally, e.g., possible at substantially the same time, the
triggering mechanism or mechanisms 115b may be used to deploy the
upper device 56, deploying the upper pad 43 upward.
[0063] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the exemplary articulating
support system 50 of FIG. 14. The system 50 includes elements
described above concerning the system 10, as can be seen. The
controller 110 may send an instruction to the actuating mechanism
115, e.g., an inflator of an airbag or bladder included in the
passive movement devices 56, 60, and an actuator of the motor 20,
etc., to actuate one or more passive movement devices 56, 60.
[0064] FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary process 500 that may be
executed according to instructions in the controller 110. Before
the process 500 begins, one or more of the pads 43, 44 may be in a
default, or nominal position. As described herein, various of the
pads 43, 44 may be moved forward, backward, up, and/or down with
respect to the nominal position, e.g., as described with respect to
the process 500.
[0065] The process 500 may begin in a block 505, in which the
controller 110 receives, e.g., via the bus 120, data from various
sensors 105. For example, the controller 110 may receive data from
crash sensors 105 such as accelerometers and the like, pre-crash
sensors 105 such as radar sensors 105, image sensors 105, etc., as
well as occupant sensors 105, e.g., indicating weight, height, age,
etc. of one or more vehicle occupants as is known, seat sensors
indicating a seat position or positions, seat belt buckle sensors,
indicating a status of a seatbelt, e.g., buckled or unbuckled,
etc.
[0066] Next, in a block 510, generally based on data from crash
sensors 105 and/or pre-crash sensors 105, the controller 110
identifies a crash mode, e.g., frontal, oblique, offset,
high-speed, low-speed, pedestrian, etc.
[0067] Next, in a block 515, the controller 110 performs an
occupant classification, e.g., in a known manner, determines an
occupant size, e.g., according to a percentile weight and/or
height, etc.
[0068] Next, in a block 520, the controller 110 determines a
current seat position, e.g., an angle of a back of the seat 12 with
respect to the seat bottom 14, a position of the seat 12 on a seat
track, etc.
[0069] Next, in a block 525, the controller 110 determines a seat
belt buckle status, e.g., buckled or unbuckled.
[0070] Next, in a block 530, using at least some of the information
received and/or determined in the blocks 505-525, the controller
110 determines an articulation of the upper restraints, i.e., the
pads 43, 44. As mentioned above, one or more of the pads 43, 44 may
be moved, i.e., articulated, e.g., in a crash event. Further, it is
possible that one of the pads 43, 44 may be moved horizontally,
vertically, or both, whereas a paired pad 43, 44 may be moved in a
different manner, or not at all.
[0071] Such movement may be determined by the controller 110
according to various factors, e.g., a vehicle speed, a crash mode
(e.g., oblique, frontal, side, etc.), and occupant size (e.g., a
percentile of a person's mass, weight, and/or heights compared to
the general population), a position of a seat, whether a seatbelt
is buckled, position of the occupant in the vehicle (e.g., a seat
location), etc.
[0072] Next, in a block 535, the controller 110 sends a message to
one or more triggering mechanisms 115, 115a, 115b to trigger
passive one or more movement devices 56, 60 and/or one or more
horizontal movement devices 20.
[0073] Following the block 535, the process 500 ends.
[0074] FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate another example of an
articulating support system 70 that can be installed into a vehicle
seat 12. The system 70 includes a plurality of articulating seat
pads, including the first thigh pad 18, the second thigh pad 19,
the first lower pad 34, the second lower pad 35, the first lumbar
pad 39, the central lumbar pad 40, the second lumbar pad 41, the
upper pad 43, and the head restraint pad 44. The system 70 further
includes a plurality of passive movement devices, including the
first thigh passive movement device 16, the second thigh passive
movement device 17, the first lower passive movement device 32, the
second lower passive movement device 33, the first lumbar passive
movement device 36, the central lumbar passive movement device 37,
the second lumbar passive movement device 38, the upper passive
movement device 56, and the head restraint passive movement device
60. Each of the articulating seat pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41,
43, 44 may be paired with a respective passive movement device 16,
17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 56, 60 similarly to the system 10, 30, 50.
The passive movement devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 56, 60 may
be arranged behind the respective articulating seat pads 18, 19,
34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44. In this context, "behind" mean that a
device 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 56, 60 is positioned vertically
or horizontally within the seat 12 such that the seat pads 18, 19,
34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 face into the vehicle such that a user
may contact, e.g., the seat pad 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44
(or possibly a covering thereof), and the device 16, 17, 32, 33,
36, 37, 38, 56, 60 is vertically below or beneath and/or
horizontally behind, i.e., with respect to a longitudinal axis of
the vehicle, a respective pad 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44,
and generally positioned to move the pad 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40,
41, 43, 44 as described herein. The system 70 may absorb crash
energy from several parts of the occupants' body, e.g. the legs and
the chest, during several types of impacts, e.g. oblique impacts
and rear impacts.
[0075] The passive movement devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42,
56, 60 respectively control movement, e.g., articulation, of the
articulating seat pads. The passive movement devices 16, 17, 32,
33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60 may include any of a variety of known
components, such as a gas-inflatable airbag, an inflatable plastic
bladder, or the like. For example, the seat pads may be moved up
and down, i.e., vertically, with respect to the seat 12 and a
vehicle in which the seat 12 is installed by inflation of the
passive movement devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60.
Actuation or deployment of the passive movement devices 16, 17, 32,
33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60 may be triggered by the triggering
mechanism 115 such as is known, e.g., a gas inflator that is
pyrotechnically actuated, etc.
[0076] The passive movement devices 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43,
44 may be actuated independently of one another, and therefore the
seat pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be moved, e.g.,
articulated, either together or independently of one another. For
example, the first thigh pad 18 and the second thigh pad 19 may be
articulated together simultaneously or substantially simultaneously
as a set. In the crash event, any, all, or none of the pads 18, 19
in the set may be moved horizontally, vertically, or both. Any or
all of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be included
in the set.
[0077] Further, the seat pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44
may be articulated, e.g., moved vertically, independently of a seat
lower portion 14. Note that in the present context "vertically"
means that the mechanisms move the pads generally up and down with
respect to the seat lower portion. However, just as the portion may
deviate somewhat, e.g., by up to approximately ten or twenty
degrees, from being perfectly horizontal, vertical movement of the
pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may likewise deviate from
being perfectly vertical. Each of the passive movement devices 16,
17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60 may be used as vertical movement
devices, and may be paired with a horizontal movement device 20, as
described above.
[0078] FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the exemplary articulating
support system 10, 30, 50, 70. The system 70 includes elements
described above concerning the system 10, as can be seen. The
controller 110 may send an instruction to the actuating mechanism
115, 115a, 115b, e.g., an inflator of an airbag or bladder included
in the passive movement devices, and an actuator of a motor 20,
etc., to actuate one or more of the passive movement devices 16,
17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60.
[0079] FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary process 200 that may be
executed according to instructions in the controller 110. The
process 200 as described herein may be executed for various
implementations of the system 10, 30, 50, 70, e.g., including all
of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 or some subset
thereof, e.g., including only thigh support pads 18 and 19 and/or
one or more other pairs of pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44. Before
the process 200 begins, one or more of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39,
40, 41, 43, 44 may be in a default, or nominal position. As
described herein, various of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41,
43, 44 may be moved forward, backward, up, and/or down with respect
to the nominal position, e.g., as described with respect to the
process 200.
[0080] The process 200 may begin in a block 205, in which the
controller 110 receives, e.g., via the bus 120, data from various
sensors. For example, the controller 110 may receive data from
crash sensors such as accelerometers and the like, pre-crash
sensors such as radar sensors, image sensors, etc., as well as
occupant sensors, e.g., indicating weight, height, age, etc. of one
or more vehicle occupants as is known, seat sensors indicating a
seat position or positions, seat belt buckle sensors, indicating a
status of a seatbelt, e.g., buckled or unbuckled, etc.
[0081] Next, in a block 210, generally based on data from crash
sensors and/or pre-crash sensors, the controller 110 identifies a
crash mode, e.g., frontal, oblique, offset, high-speed, low-speed,
pedestrian, etc.
[0082] Next, in a block 215, the controller 110 performs an
occupant classification, e.g., in a known manner, determines an
occupant size, e.g., according to a percentile weight and/or
height, etc.
[0083] Next, in a block 220, the controller 110 determines a
current seat position, e.g., an angle of a back of the seat 12 with
respect to the seat bottom 14, a position of the seat 12 on a seat
track, etc.
[0084] Next, in a block 225, the controller 110 determines a seat
belt buckle status, e.g., buckled or unbuckled.
[0085] Next, in a block 230, using at least some of the information
received and/or determined in the blocks 205 - 225, the controller
110 determines an articulation of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40,
41, 43, 44. As mentioned above, one or more of the pads 18, 19, 34,
35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be moved, i.e., articulated, e.g., in a
crash event. Further, it is possible that one of the pads 18, 19,
34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be moved horizontally, vertically,
or both, whereas a paired pad 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44
may be moved in a different manner, or not at all. Further, it is
possible that one of the pads pad 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43,
44 may be part of a set including at least two of the other pads
18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, each of the pads 18, 19, 34,
35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 in the set moving together, in an individual
manner, as part of a smaller set, or not at all. For example, the
first lumbar pad 39, the central lumbar pad 40, and the second
lumbar pad 41 may form a set, and in the crash event, any, all, or
none of the pads 39, 40, 41 in the set may be moved horizontally,
vertically, or both.
[0086] Such movement may be determined by the controller 110
according to various factors, e.g., a vehicle speed, a crash mode
(e.g., oblique, frontal, side, etc.), and occupant size (e.g., a
percentile of a person's mass, weight, and/or heights compared to
the general population), a position of a seat, whether a seatbelt
is buckled, position of the occupant in the vehicle (e.g., a seat
location), etc. For example articulation of some or all of the pads
18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, e.g., as part of one or more of
the systems 10, 30, 50, and 70, could be determined as described in
Table 1 below:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Pass. Pass. Crash Vehicle Size Gender Seat
Pos. Belted? Seat Loc. Mode Speed 50.sup.th Male mid-track Yes
Driver Left-side 30 mph oblique 5.sup.th Female mid-track No
Passenger Full frontal 30 mph 95.sup.th Male full rear Yes Driver
Offset 25 mph track 5.sup.th Female full Yes Driver Full frontal 35
mph forward track 5.sup.th Female Full Yes Driver Rear 25 mph
Forward Impact Head Head Upper Upper Lower Lower Restraint
Restraint Left Right Left Right Center linear Angular Left Pad
Right Pad Bolster Bolster Bolster Bolster Bolster Position Position
Pos. Pos. (Pad 36) (Pad 38) (Pad 32) (Pad 33) (Pad 37) (Pad 42)
(Pad 42) Down Nominal Inboard Inboard Outboard Outboard Nominal
Nominal Nominal Up Up Inboard Inboard Inboard Inboard Full Nominal
Nominal Extension Nominal Nominal Outboard Outboard Outboard
Outboard Full Full Nominal Retraction Retraction Up Nominal Inboard
Inboard Inboard Inboard Full Full Nominal Extension Extension
Nominal Nominal Nominal Outboard Outboard Outboard Full Full 45
degree Extension Extension rotation
[0087] Next, in a block 235, the controller 110 sends a message to
one or more triggering mechanisms 115, 115a, 115b to trigger
passive one or more movement devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38,
42, 56, 60 and/or one or more horizontal movement devices 20.
[0088] Following the block 235, the process 200 ends. It is to be
understood that certain steps of the process 200 could be omitted,
and/or steps of the process 200 could be executed in a different
order than described herein.
[0089] As used herein, the adverb "substantially" means that a
shape, structure, measurement, quantity, time, etc. may deviate
from an exact described geometry, distance, measurement, quantity,
time, etc., because of imperfections in materials, machining,
manufacturing, etc.
[0090] In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate the
same elements. Further, some or all of these elements could be
changed. With regard to the components, processes, systems,
methods, etc. described herein, it should be understood that these
are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments,
and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claimed
invention.
[0091] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above
description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive.
Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided
would be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the
above description. The scope of the invention should be determined,
not with reference to the above description, but should instead be
determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the
full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is
anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the
arts discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods
will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it
should be understood that the invention is capable of modification
and variation and is limited only by the following claims.
[0092] All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their
plain and ordinary meanings as understood by those skilled in the
art unless an explicit indication to the contrary in made herein.
In particular, use of the singular articles such as "a," "the,"
"said," etc. should be read to recite one or more of the indicated
elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the
contrary.
* * * * *