US 10,479,305 B1 · System and method of determining a seat back status of a passenger seat in a vehicle

Abstract

A method of determining a seat back status of a passenger seat in a vehicle. The method includes monitoring a seat back orientation sensor coupled to a seat back of the passenger seat and monitoring a reference orientation sensor coupled at a fixed position within the vehicle. The seat back orientation sensor determines an orientation of the seat back relative to Earth, and the reference orientation sensor determines an orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth. The method further includes determining an orientation of the seat back relative to the vehicle based on a comparison between the orientation of the seat back and the orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth, and transmitting seat back orientation data, of the seat back relative to the vehicle, to a remote monitoring unit, wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured to display a first notification when the seat back is not fully upright.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of determining a seat back status of a passenger seat in a vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one seat back orientation sensor coupled to a seat back of the passenger seat, the at least one seat back orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the seat back relative to Earth;
monitoring at least one reference orientation sensor coupled at a fixed position within the vehicle, the at least one reference orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth;
determining an orientation of the seat back relative to the vehicle based on a comparison between the orientation of the seat back and the orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth;
and
transmitting seat back orientation data, of the seat back relative to the vehicle, to a remote monitoring unit, wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured to display a first notification when the seat back is not fully upright.

2 more elements

A system for use in determining a seat back status of a passenger seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one reference orientation sensor configured for coupling at a fixed position within the vehicle, the at least one reference orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth;
a seat back system configured for coupling to a seat back of the passenger seat, the seat back system comprising:
at least one seat back orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the seat back relative to Earth;
and
a control unit in communication with the at least one seat back orientation sensor and the at least one reference orientation sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an orientation of the seat back relative to the vehicle based on a comparison between the orientation of the seat back and the orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth;
and
a remote monitoring unit configured to receive seat back orientation data, of the seat back relative to the vehicle, from the control unit, wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured to display a first notification when the seat back is not fully upright.

4 more elements

A vehicle comprising:

a stationary object;
at least one reference orientation sensor coupled to the stationary object, the at least one reference orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth;
a plurality of passenger seats that each comprise a seat bottom and a seat back that is rotatable relative to the seat bottom;
a seat back system coupled to the seat back of each passenger seat, the seat back system comprising:
at least one seat back orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the seat back relative to Earth;
and
a control unit in communication with the at least one seat back orientation sensor and the at least one reference orientation sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an orientation of the seat back relative to the vehicle based on a comparison between the orientation of the seat back and the orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth;
and
a remote monitoring unit configured to receive seat back orientation data, of the seat back relative to the vehicle, from the control unit, wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured to display a first notification when the seat back is not fully upright.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method of determining a seat back status of a passenger seat in a vehicle

Life of this patent

System and method of determining a seat back status of a passenger seat in a vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20