Vehicle seating system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsBenjamin Kulhawik, Antonio Del Puerto, Ryan John Craig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle seating system includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base. The seatback is operable between an upright position and a reclined position. A lift assembly is operably coupled to the seat base. The lift assembly is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. A position sensor is coupled to the lift assembly via a ball joint, wherein the ball joint and the position sensor adjust with movement of the lift assembly. A seat controller communicatively is coupled to the position sensor, wherein the seat controller determines if the lift assembly is in the disengaged position or has moved to the engaged position based on position data received from the position sensor.
Claims20
A vehicle seating system, comprising:
- a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base, wherein the seatback is operable between an upright position and a reclined position;
- a lift assembly operably coupled to the seat base, wherein the lift assembly is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position;
- a position sensor coupled to the lift assembly via a ball joint, wherein the ball joint and the position sensor adjust with movement of the lift assembly;
- and
- a seat controller communicatively coupled to the position sensor, wherein the seat controller determines if the lift assembly is in the disengaged position or has moved to the engaged position based on position data received from the position sensor.
A seat system for a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one lift assembly operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position;
- at least one position sensor coupled to the at least one lift assembly to sense a position of the at least one lift assembly, wherein the at least one position sensor is adjusted with adjustment of the lift assembly;
- and
- a seat controller communicatively coupled with the at least one position sensor, wherein the seat controller determines a position of the at least one lift assembly in response to position data received from the at least one position sensor and a vehicle speed, and wherein the seat controller communicates an alert signal when the vehicle speed is at or above a predetermined speed threshold and the at least one lift assembly is in the engaged position.
A method of alerting a passenger of seat positioning, comprising:
- rotating a seatback to a predetermined angle;
- adjusting a lift assembly from a first position to a second position when the seatback reaches the predetermined angle;
- sensing a position of a position sensor coupled to the lift assembly;
- determining if the lift assembly is in the second position;
- determining a vehicle speed;
- and
- providing at least one of a visual alert and an audible alert when the lift assembly is in the second position and the vehicle speed is at or above a predetermined speed threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.