US 5,748,473 AGranted

Automatic vehicle seat adjuster

AssigneeAutomotive Technologies International, Inc.

InventorsDavid S. Breed, Wilbur E. DuVall

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An automatic seat adjustment system for a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment with a seat in which an occupant sits. The seat has power mechanisms for moving the seat relative to the passenger compartment from an initial position to an adjusted position, and control mechanisms connected to the power mechanisms for controlling the power mechanisms. Generally, the system includes measurement devices for measuring at least one morphological characteristic of the occupant and generating a first signal representative of the magnitude of that morphological characteristic, a processor including computational means for determining an adjusted seat position based on that measured morphological characteristic and which generates a second signal corresponding to the adjusted seat position, a first input device coupled to the measurement devices and to the processor for inputting the first signal into the processor; and a second input device coupled to the processor and the control mechanisms for inputting the second signal into the control mechanisms. In this manner, the control mechanism is able to affects the operation of the power mechanisms to move the seat to the adjusted position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment with interior surfaces, a seat on which an occupant sits, said compartment further having an airbag system with at least one deployable airbag mounted within said passenger compartment positioned to deploy between said occupant and said surfaces in the event of a crash of said vehicle, said airbag system having first control means for controlling the flow of gas into said airbag, a control system for said airbag system based on a morphological characteristic of said occupant comprising:

(a) measurement means mounted in association with said seat for measuring at least one morphological characteristic of the occupant, said measurement means generating a first signal representative of said at least one measured morphological characteristic;
(b) a processor comprising computational means for determining the desired flow of gas out of said airbag after initial inflation of said airbag for the occupant based on said at least one measured morphological characteristic, said processor providing a second signal representative of the desired flow of gas out of said airbag for the occupant;
(c) first input means coupled to said measurement means and said processor for inputting said first signal into said processor;
(d) second control means for controlling the flow of gas out of said airbag after initial inflation of said airbag;
and
(e) second input means coupled to said processor and said second control means for inputting said second signal into said second control means such that said second control means controls said gas flow out of said airbag based on said at least one measured morphological characteristic.

3 more elements

In a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment with interior surfaces, a seat on which an occupant sits, and an airbag system with at least one deployable airbag inflatable with a gas to deploy into a position between the occupant and the surfaces in the event of a crash of the vehicle, said airbag system having control means for controlling the flow of gas into said airbag and the flow of gas out of said airbag after initial inflation thereof, the improvement comprising

a control system for said airbag system based on the height of the occupant, said control system comprising
measurement means for measuring the height of the occupant from a base of the seat,
determining means for receiving the measured height of the occupant and determining a desired gas flow into and out of said airbag for the occupant based on the height of the occupant, and
flow variation means coupled to said determining means and said airbag for controlling the gas flow into and out of said airbag based on the height of the occupant.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/474,784Filed 7 Jun 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 5 May 1992
Granted: 5 May 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification60 codes

B60R 21/01512
Including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters…
B60N 2/0025
For identifying, categorising or investigation of the occupant or object on the seat: by using weight measurement
B60N 2/0028
For detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part: of a body part, e.g. of an arm or a leg
B60N 2/003
Characterised by the type of sensor or measurement: characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat