Vehicle seat assembly with front seat pan height adjustment mechanism

A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

• a frame;
• a seat pan extending from a forward region to a rearward region, the rearward region of the seat pan rotatably connected to the frame about a first transverse axis of rotation, a lower surface of the forward region including first and second follower surfaces;
• a torque tube supported for rotation by the frame about a second transverse axis of rotation, the torque tube extending transversely across the seat pan;
• first and second cams connected to the torque tube for rotation therewith and spaced apart from one another along the second transverse axis of rotation, the first and second cams extending outwardly to first and second cam surfaces, respectively, wherein the first and second cam surfaces support the forward region of the seat pan and are in contact with the first and second follower surfaces, respectively;
• and
• an electric motor connected to the torque tube via a gearset to rotate the torque tube between a first angular position and a second angular position, the first and second cam surfaces moving the first and second follower surfaces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second axis of rotation, wherein the first and second cam surfaces are shaped to continuously raise the forward region of the seat pan as the torque tube moves from the first position to the second position.

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

• providing a seat pan with a rearward region connected to a frame about a first transverse axis of rotation, the seat pan extending from a forward region to the rearward region;
• providing a shaft rotatably connected to the frame about a second transverse axis of rotation, the shaft extending transversely across the seat pan and having at least one cam extending outwardly from the shaft and connected for rotation therewith;
• supporting the forward region of the seat pan with the at least one cam;
• and
• in response to a first signal indicative of an event from an active vehicle system, controlling an electric motor drivingly connected to the shaft to rotate the shaft from a first angular position to a second angular position such that the at least one cam raises the forward region of the seat pan in a direction perpendicular to the second axis of rotation.