System and method of controlling a child seat latching assembly for a vehicle

A system for controlling a child seat latching assembly for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a portable child seat arranged to be securable in the vehicle, the portable child seat comprising:
• a base portion comprising a base bar for securement of the base portion in the vehicle, the base portion having a base edge;
• a back portion comprising a back bar for securement of the back portion in the vehicle, the back portion connected to the base portion such that the back portion extends from the base portion;
• and
• a first magnetic unit disposed on one of the base portion and the back portion, the first magnetic unit arranged to generate a first magnetic field for alignment in the vehicle,
• a stationary vehicle seat arranged to receive the portable child seat for securement in the vehicle, the stationary vehicle seat comprising:
• a receiving portion comprising a base latch unit to receive the base bar, the base latch unit comprising a base connector formed to receive the base bar, the base latch unit comprising a base sensor disposed on the base connector for sensing insertion of the base bar in the base connector and a base lock disposed on the base connector for locking the base bar in the base connector such that the base bar is locked therein when the base bar is inserted therein at a first distance for securement of the base portion to the receiving portion;
• a support portion comprising a back latch unit to receive the back bar, the back latch unit comprising a back connector formed to receive the back bar, the back latch unit comprising a back sensor disposed on the back connector for sensing insertion of the back bar in the back connector and a back lock disposed on the back connector for locking the back bar in the back connector such that the back bar is locked therein when the back bar is inserted therein at a second distance for securement of the back portion to the support portion;
• and
• a second magnetic unit arranged to generate a second magnetic field in operation with the first magnetic field, the second magnetic unit disposed on one of the receiving portion and the support portion, the second magnetic unit arranged to align the portable child seat with the vehicle seat via the first and second magnetic fields to engage the portable child seat with the stationary vehicle seat when the first and second magnetic units are within a third distance defining an aligned position, the second magnetic unit arranged to monitor the portable child seat relative to the stationary vehicle seat to maintain the aligned position;
• wherein the base sensor is arranged to sense the base bar relative to the base connector for insertion of the base bar therein when the portable child seat is aligned with the vehicle seat,
• wherein the base latch unit is arranged to lock the base bar in the base connector when the base bar is sensed therein at the first distance for securement of the base portion to the receiving portion defining a locked base position, the base sensor being arranged to monitor the locked base position;
• wherein the back sensor is arranged to sense the back bar relative to the back connector to insert the back bar therein when the portable child seat is aligned with the vehicle seat,
• wherein the back latch unit is arranged to lock the back bar in the back connector when the back bar is sensed therein at the second distance for securement of the back portion to the support portion defining a locked back position, the back sensor being arranged to monitor the locked back position;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) arranged to identify the stationary vehicle seat in the vehicle when a request for child seat latch assembly activation is received, the ECU arranged to activate the child seat latch assembly to enable the base latch unit and the back latch unit for securement of the portable child seat to the stationary vehicle seat, the ECU in communication with the first and second magnetic units and arranged to control the first and second magnetic units for alignment of the portable child seat with the vehicle seat, the ECU in communication with the base latch unit to lock the base bar in the base connector when the base bar is inserted therein at the first distance, the ECU in communication with the back latch unit to lock the back bar in the back connector when the back bar is inserted therein at the second distance for securement of the portable child seat to the stationary vehicle seat.

A method of controlling a child seat latch assembly for a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a portable child seat arranged to be securable in the vehicle, the portable child seat comprising:
• a base portion comprising a base bar disposed therein for securement of the base portion in the vehicle;
• a back portion comprising a back bar disposed therein for securement of the back portion in the vehicle, the back portion connected to the base portion such that the back portion extends from the base portion;
• and
• a first magnet disposed on one of the base portion and the back portion, the first magnet arranged to generate a first magnetic field for alignment in the vehicle;
• identifying one of a plurality of stationary vehicle seats in the vehicle when a request for child seat latch assembly activation is received, the plurality of stationary vehicle seats including a first vehicle seat and a second vehicle seat, each stationary vehicle seat arranged to receive the portable child seat for securement in the vehicle, each stationary vehicle seat comprising:
• a receiving portion comprising a base latch unit to receive the base bar, the base latch unit comprising a base connector formed to receive the base bar such that the base bar is lockable therein when the base bar is at a first distance relative to the base connector for securement of the base portion to the receiving portion;
• a support portion comprising a back latch unit disposed therein to receive the back bar, the back latch unit comprising a back connector formed to receive the back bar such that the back bar is lockable therein when the back bar is at a second distance relative to the back connector for securement of the back portion to the support portion;
• and
• a second magnet arranged to generate a second magnetic field in operation with the first magnet, the second magnet disposed on one of the receiving portion and the support portion to align the portable child seat with the vehicle seat when the first and second magnets are within a third distance defining the child seat latch assembly;
• activating the child seat latch assembly to enable the base latch unit and the back latch unit of the stationary vehicle seat for securement of the portable child seat thereto;
• aligning the portable child seat with the vehicle seat by generating the first and second magnetic fields to engage the portable child seat with the stationary vehicle seat when the first and second magnets are within the third distance defining an aligned position;
• sensing the base bar relative to the base connector to insert the base bar therein when the portable child seat is aligned with the vehicle seat;
• sensing the back bar relative to the back connector to insert the back bar therein when the portable child seat is aligned with the vehicle seat;
• locking the base bar in the base connector when the base bar is sensed therein at the first distance for securement of the base portion to the receiving portion defining a locked base position;
• locking the back bar in the back connector when the back bar is sensed therein at the second distance for securement of the back portion to the support portion defining a locked back position;
• monitoring the portable child seat relative to the stationary vehicle seat to maintain the aligned position, the locked base position, and the locked back position;
• depowering the first and second magnetic fields when a determination for child seat latch assembly deactivation is completed;
• and
• unlocking the base bar from the base connector and the back bar from the back connector to disengage the portable child seat from the stationary vehicle seat upon depowering the first and second magnetic fields.