# US 11,299,073 B2 · Deployable driver station for an autonomous driving vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,073 B2 - Document ID: US11299073B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/983,054 - Filed: 2020-08-03 - Published: 2020-11-19 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-25 - Assignees: Volvo Car Corporation - Applicants: Volvo Car Corporation - Inventors: Niklas Palm; Jonas Göthlin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299073B2 ## CPC - B60N 2/203: {taking a position opposite to the original one} - B60N 2/809: vertically slidable - B60N 2/005: Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles {, e.g. dismountable auxiliary seats}(B60N2/02 takes precedence {; for railway vehicles B61D1/04}) - B60N 2/02: the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable (adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806) - B60N 2/0292: {Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses} - B60N 2/06: slidable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2209} take precedence) - B60N 2/12: slidable and tiltable - B60N 2/143: {taking a position opposite to the original one} - B60N 2/20: the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) - B60N 2/3009: {about transversal axis} - B62D 1/183: adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access - B60N 2205/30: Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A deployable driver station including a seat utilizing both a front-facing driver seat bottom and a coupled rear-facing passenger seat bottom. In a driver configuration, the driver seat bottom is used in a conventional manner, being disposed behind the steering wheel or other steering control and the interior panel, while the passenger seat bottom is disposed more centrally within the passenger compartment. In a passenger configuration, the passenger seat bottom is used like the adjacent rear-facing passenger seat bottom(s), when used, while the driver seat bottom is disposed under the interior panel such that it does not take up space in the passenger compartment. Likewise, the steering wheel or other steering control is disposed under the interior panel. A common two-sided pivoting seat back is alternately used for the driver seat or the passenger seat by pivoting to an appropriate angle for the configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A deployable driver station, comprising: a vehicle seat comprising a front-facing driver seat bottom, a rear-facing passenger seat bottom, and a two-sided seat back fixedly or pivotably coupled between the front-facing driver seat bottom and the rear-facing passenger seat bottom, wherein the front-facing driver seat bottom and the rear-facing passenger seat bottom are collectively adapted to be translated between a passenger configuration in which the front-facing driver seat bottom is disposed one or more of under and within an interior panel of the vehicle and a driver configuration in which the front-facing driver seat bottom is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship with the interior panel of the vehicle, and wherein, when pivotable, the two-sided seat back is adapted to be pivotably biased towards a front of the vehicle in the passenger configuration and towards a rear of the vehicle in the driver configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The deployable driver station of claim 1, wherein the two-sided seat back comprises a passenger head rest that is adapted to extend vertically from the seat back and support a head of a passenger seated on the rear-facing passenger seat bottom in the passenger configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The deployable driver station of claim 1, wherein the two-sided seat back comprises a driver head rest that is adapted to extend vertically from the seat back and support a head of a driver seated on the front-facing driver seat bottom in the driver configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The deployable driver station of claim 1, wherein the two-sided seat back comprises a two-sided head rest that is adapted to extend vertically from the seat back and alternately support a head of a passenger seated on the rear-facing passenger seat bottom in the passenger configuration and a head of a driver seated on the front-facing driver seat bottom in the driver configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The deployable driver station of claim 1, further comprising a steering control adapted to be retracted one or more of under and into the interior panel in the passenger configuration and extended from the interior panel in the driver configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The deployable driver station of claim 1, further comprising a passenger safety belt assembly and a passenger air bag assembly coupled to the vehicle seat and adapted to be used by a passenger seated on the rear-facing passenger seat bottom in the passenger configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The deployable driver station of claim 1, further comprising a driver safety belt assembly and a driver air bag assembly coupled to the vehicle seat and adapted to be used by a driver seated on the front-facing driver seat bottom in the driver configuration. ### Claim 8 A vehicle seat, comprising: a front-facing driver seat bottom; a rear-facing passenger seat bottom coupled to the front-facing driver seat bottom; a two-sided seat back fixedly or pivotably coupled between the front-facing driver seat bottom and the rear-facing passenger seat bottom; and a head rest coupled to the two-sided seat back; wherein the front-facing driver seat bottom and the rear-facing passenger seat bottom are collectively adapted to be translated between a passenger configuration in which the front-facing driver seat bottom is disposed one or more of under and within an interior panel of the vehicle and a driver configuration in which the front-facing driver seat bottom is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship with the interior panel of the vehicle; and wherein, when pivotable, the two-sided seat back is adapted to be pivotably biased towards a front of the vehicle in the passenger configuration and towards a rear of the vehicle in the driver configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle seat of claim 8, wherein the head rest comprises a passenger head rest that is adapted to extend vertically from the seat back and support a head of a passenger seated on the rear-facing passenger seat bottom in the passenger configuration, wherein the passenger head rest is retractable or pivotable into a stored position when not in use by the passenger in the driver configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle seat of claim 8, wherein the head rest comprises a driver head rest that is adapted to extend vertically from the seat back and support a head of a driver seated on the front-facing driver seat bottom in the driver configuration, wherein the driver head rest is retractable or pivotable into a stored position when not in use by the driver in the passenger configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle seat of claim 8, wherein the two-sided seat back comprises a two-sided head rest that is adapted to extend vertically from the seat back and alternately support a head of a passenger seated on the rear-facing passenger seat bottom in the passenger configuration and a head of a driver seated on the front-facing driver seat bottom in the driver configuration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The vehicle seat of claim 8, further comprising a passenger safety belt assembly and a passenger air bag assembly coupled to the vehicle seat and adapted to be used by a passenger seated on the rear-facing passenger seat bottom in the passenger configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The vehicle seat of claim 8, further comprising a driver safety belt assembly and a driver air bag assembly coupled to the vehicle seat and adapted to be used by a driver seated on the front-facing driver seat bottom in the driver configuration. ### Claim 14 An autonomous driving vehicle, comprising: an interior panel disposed in a passenger compartment of the vehicle; one or more front rear-facing passenger seats disposed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle; one or more rear front-facing passenger seats disposed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and a deployable seat disposed adjacent to the one or more front rear-facing passenger seats disposed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the deployable seat comprising a front-facing driver seat bottom, a rear-facing passenger seat bottom, and a two-sided seat back fixedly or pivotably coupled between the front-facing driver seat bottom and the rear-facing passenger seat bottom, wherein the front-facing driver seat bottom and the rear-facing passenger seat bottom are collectively adapted to be translated between a passenger configuration in which the front-facing driver seat bottom is disposed one or more of under and within the interior panel and a driver configuration in which the front-facing driver seat bottom is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship with the interior panel, and wherein, when pivotable, the two-sided seat back is adapted to be pivotably biased towards a front of the vehicle in the passenger configuration and towards a rear of the vehicle in the driver configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The autonomous driving vehicle of claim 14, wherein the two-sided seat back comprises a passenger head rest that is adapted to extend vertically from the seat back and support a head of a passenger seated on the rear-facing passenger seat bottom in the passenger configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The autonomous driving vehicle of claim 14, wherein the two-sided seat back comprises a driver head rest that is adapted to extend vertically from the seat back and support a head of a driver seated on the front-facing driver seat bottom in the driver configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The autonomous driving vehicle of claim 14, wherein the two-sided seat back comprises a two-sided head rest that is adapted to extend vertically from the seat back and alternately support a head of a passenger seated on the rear-facing passenger seat bottom in the passenger configuration and a head of a driver seated on the front-facing driver seat bottom in the driver configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The autonomous driving vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a steering control adapted to be retracted one or more of under and into the interior panel in the passenger configuration and extended from the interior panel in the driver configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The autonomous driving vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a passenger safety belt assembly and a passenger air bag assembly coupled to the vehicle seat and adapted to be used by a passenger seated on the rear-facing passenger seat bottom in the passenger configuration. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The autonomous driving vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a driver safety belt assembly and a driver air bag assembly coupled to the vehicle seat and adapted to be used by a driver seated on the front-facing driver seat bottom in the driver configuration.