# US 10,864,826 B2 · Seat including infrared-indicator material in a pattern > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,826 B2 - Document ID: US10864826B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/262,510 - Filed: 2019-01-30 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-30 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Philipp Kuepper; William Jerome Olsen; James Robert Chascsa, II; Jeffrey Tien Vo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864826B2 ## CPC - G01B 11/02: for measuring length, width or thickness (G01B11/08 takes precedence) - B60N 2/0033: {mounted on or in the foam cushion} - B60N 2/58: Seat coverings - G01B 11/022: {by means of tv-camera scanning} - G01B 11/14: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00) - G01B 11/26: for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes - B60N 2/0022: {for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature} - B60N 2210/18: Infrared - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system includes a seat having an upholstery, an infrared-light source spaced from the seat and aimed at the seat, and an infrared sensor having a field of view. The seat is disposed in the field of view. Infrared-indicator threads are threaded with the upholstery and include exposed portions overlapping the upholstery in a pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a seat including an upholstery; an infrared-light source spaced from the seat and aimed at the seat; an infrared sensor having a field of view, the seat disposed in the field of view; and infrared-indicator threads threaded with the upholstery and including exposed portions overlapping the upholstery in a pattern; wherein the seat includes a plurality of zones extending along a lateral axis of the seat and a vertical axis of the seat transverse to the lateral axis, the pattern being different in each zone of the seat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the infrared-indicator threads are stitched to the upholstery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the infrared-indicator threads are woven into the upholstery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the infrared-indicator threads reflect infrared light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the infrared-indicator threads absorb infrared light. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a seatbelt and infrared-indicator threads threaded with the seatbelt in a second pattern different from the pattern. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, the pattern is a repeating pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, the pattern is a growing pattern. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a seatback, and further comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions to identify an angular position of the seatback in response to detecting the pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a seatback, a seat bottom, and a head restraint, the seatback, the seat bottom, and the head restraint each being one zone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a seatback, a seat bottom, and a head restraint, at least one of the seatback, the seat bottom, and the head restraint having the plurality of zones. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions to identify a size of an occupant in response to detecting a gap in the pattern. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions to identify a position of the seat in response to detecting the pattern. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a seat including an upholstery having threads; an infrared-light source spaced from the seat and aimed at the seat; an infrared sensor having a field of view, the seat disposed in the field of view; and an infrared-indicator material woven with the threads and including exposed portions overlapping the threads in a pattern; wherein the seat includes a plurality of zones extending along a lateral axis of the seat and a vertical axis of the seat transverse to the lateral axis, the pattern being different in each zone of the seat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the infrared-indicator material is threads. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the infrared-indicator material is a sheet including a plurality of perforations, the threads of the upholstery woven through the plurality of perforations. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a seat including an upholstery, the upholstery being leather; an infrared-light source spaced from the seat and aimed at the seat; an infrared sensor having a field of view, the seat disposed in the field of view; and an infrared-indicator material including exposed portions impressed onto the upholstery in a pattern; wherein the seat includes a plurality of zones extending along a lateral axis of the seat and a vertical axis of the seat transverse to the lateral axis, the pattern being different in each zone of the seat. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the infrared-indicator material is threads deposited on the upholstery. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the infrared-indicator material is ink printed on the upholstery.