Systems and methods for controlling inflation of a seat cushion
AssigneeJaguar Land Rover Limited
InventorDavid Withey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the present invention relate to a seat cushion including a compressible member and at least one insert. The insert has one or more inflatable bladders. The at least one insert is at least partially encapsulated within the compressible member. Further aspects of the present invention relate to a method of forming a seat cushion; a seat assembly and a vehicle.
Claims20
A control system for controlling inflation of a seat cushion in a seat assembly, wherein the seat cushion comprises one or more inflatable bladders and a seat cushion cover;
- the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system being configured to:
- determine, using a seat occupancy sensor, an occupancy status of the seat assembly, the occupancy status indicating one of a seat occupied state and a seat unoccupied state;
- if the determined occupancy status indicates that the seat assembly is in a seat unoccupied state, generate a pressure increase signal to increase an inflation pressure of the one or more inflatable bladders to reduce sag in the seat cushion cover;
- set a target inflation pressure for the one or more inflatable bladders, the pressure increase signal increasing the inflation pressure of the one or more inflatable bladders to the target inflation pressure;
- estimate usage of the seat assembly;
- and
- set the target inflation pressure in dependence on the estimated usage.
A method of controlling inflation of a seat cushion in a seat assembly, the seat cushion comprising a seat cushion cover and one or more inflatable bladders;
- the method comprising:
- determining, using a seat occupancy sensor, an occupancy status of the seat assembly, the occupancy status indicating one of a seat occupied state and a seat unoccupied state;
- if the determined occupancy status indicates that the seat assembly is in a seat unoccupied state, increasing an inflation pressure of the one or more inflatable bladders to reduce sag in the seat cushion cover;
- setting a target inflation pressure for the one or more inflatable bladders, the pressure increase signal increasing the inflation pressure of the one or more inflatable bladders to the target inflation pressure;
- estimating usage of the seat assembly;
- and
- setting the target inflation pressure in dependence on the estimated usage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.