# US 12,759,398 B2 · Instrument cluster apparatus and driver posture warning arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,398 B2 - Document ID: US12759398B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/105,555 - Filed: 2023-07-05 - Published: 2026-02-26 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-08-25 - Assignees: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH - Applicants: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH - Inventors: Jusung Ryu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759398B2 ## CPC - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60N 2/0027: {for detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part} - B60N 2/003: {characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat} - B60N 2/90: Details or parts not otherwise provided for - B60W 40/08: related to drivers or passengers - B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention - B60K 2360/167: Vehicle dynamics information - B60K 2360/168: Target or limit values - B60K 2360/178: Warnings - B60N 2002/981: {Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger} - B60W 2040/0881: {Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence} - B60W 2050/146: {Display means} - B60W 2540/223: Posture, e.g. hand, foot, or seat position, turned or inclined - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT ## Abstract An instrument cluster apparatus for a vehicle including a display is disclosed. A pressure sensing input interface is connectable to a plurality of pressure sensors distributed in a seat, a backrest, and a headrest of a driver seat to receive a plurality of pressure readings sensed by the plurality of pressure sensors, and a processor is connected to the display and the pressure sensing input interface, the processor being configured to control at least one portion of the display to switch from displaying one or more vehicle parameters to displaying a driver posture warning based on the plurality of pressure readings meeting one of a plurality of preset conditions over a corresponding predetermined time period. A driver posture warning arrangement including the instrument cluster apparatus and the driver seat having the plurality of pressure sensors is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An instrument cluster apparatus for a vehicle comprising: a display; a pressure sensing input interface connectable to a plurality of pressure sensors distributed in a seat, a backrest, and a headrest of a driver seat to receive a plurality of pressure readings sensed by the plurality of pressure sensors; and a processor connected to the display and the pressure sensing input interface, the processor being configured to control at least one portion of the display to switch from displaying one or more vehicle parameters to displaying a driver posture warning based on the plurality of pressure readings meeting one of a plurality of preset conditions over a corresponding predetermined time period. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of preset conditions include a predetermined subset of the pressure readings giving null values throughout the corresponding predetermined time period. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predetermined subset of the plurality of pressure readings include a first subset of the plurality of pressure readings associated with a first subset of the plurality of pressure sensors distributed in the headrest and a upper region of the backrest, or a second subset of the plurality of pressure readings associated with a second subset of the plurality of pressure sensors distributed in a lower region of the backrest and a aft region of the seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of preset conditions include at least one or more predetermined pairs of pressure readings having a difference greater than a corresponding predetermined threshold value throughout the corresponding predetermined time period. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one or more predetermined pairs of pressure readings include a first reading associated with a left pressure sensor disposed on a left side of the seat or the backrest and a second reading associated with a right pressure sensor disposed on a right side of the seat or the backrest, wherein the left pressure sensor and the right pressure sensor are directly opposite each other across a centreline of the seat or the backrest. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing input interface comprises a plurality of pressure sensing input terminals respectively connectable to the plurality of pressure sensors to respectively receive the plurality of pressure readings of the plurality of pressure sensors, and wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one portion of the display to switch from displaying the one or more vehicle parameters to displaying the driver posture warning based on the plurality of pressure readings respectively received through the plurality of pressure sensing input terminals meeting the one of the plurality of preset conditions over the corresponding predetermined time period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one portion of the display to switch from displaying the one or more vehicle parameters to displaying the driver posture warning based on the plurality of pressure readings meeting the one of the plurality of preset conditions over the corresponding predetermined time period when the processor determines that the driver seat is occupied based on the plurality of pressure readings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the processor determines that the driver seat is occupied based on at least two of the plurality of pressure readings sensed by at least two corresponding pressure sensors of the plurality of pressure sensors have non-null values. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to monitor the plurality of pressure readings at regular monitoring intervals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one portion of the display to switch from displaying the driver posture warning to displaying the one or more vehicle parameters after displaying the driver posture warning for a predetermined duration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one portion of the display to switch from displaying the driver posture warning to displaying the one or more vehicle parameters based on the plurality of pressure readings failing to meet any of the plurality of preset conditions over the corresponding predetermined time period. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver posture warning is selected from a library of warning contents respectively associated with the plurality of preset conditions, wherein a corresponding one of the plurality of warning contents associated with the one of the plurality of preset conditions met is selected to be displayed as the driver posture warning when the one of the plurality of preset conditions is met. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more vehicle parameters comprises vehicle speed, distance travelled, rotation speed, oil pressure, fuel level, engine temperature, or battery voltage. ### Claim 14 A driver posture warning arrangement, comprising: an instrument cluster apparatus, comprising: a display; a pressure sensing input interface connectable to a plurality of pressure sensors distributed in a seat, a backrest, and a headrest of a driver seat to receive a plurality of pressure readings sensed by the plurality of pressure sensors; and a processor connected to the display and the pressure sensing input interface, the processor being configured to control at least one portion of the display to switch from displaying one or more vehicle parameters to displaying a driver posture warning based on the plurality of pressure readings meeting one of a plurality of preset conditions over a corresponding predetermined time period, wherein the driver seat having the plurality of pressure sensors distributed in the seat, the backrest, and the headrest, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors is coupled to the pressure sensing input interface of the instrument cluster apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The driver posture warning arrangement according to claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of pressure sensors comprises a film-type pressure sensor.