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US 8,710,784 B2Granted
Vehicle seating system and method for reducing fatigue with changing actuator movement
AssigneeInnovative Biomechanical Solutions, LLC
InventorsDaniel C. Meyer, Paul B. Phipps, Thomas D. Epply
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system comprises a vehicle seating system including a seat and at least one powered seat adjustment actuator for altering the seating position formed by the seat. Additionally, the system includes a controller for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event. For reducing fatigue, the controller controls slow seat movement while the vehicle is moving, and changes slow movement between first and second slow movements based on the vehicle/user event(s).
Claims22
A vehicle seating system for reducing user fatigue, comprising:
- a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom;
- at least one powered seat adjustment actuator to slowly move said seat back incline slowly forwards and slowly backwards between at least first seat-back position and a second seat-back position, said slow movement occurring while the vehicle is moving;
- a controller for automatically controlling movement of said powered seat movement actuator while the vehicle is moving;
- wherein said seat back is moveable by said actuator in response to said automatic controller while the vehicle is moving:
- (a) a first average movement frequency;
- and, (b) a second, higher average movement frequency;
- said controller adapted for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event while the vehicle is moving and changing said seat back movement from said first average movement frequency to said second higher average movement frequency based at least in part on said signal;
- at least a second powered seat adjustment actuator to slowly move said seat bottom tilt slowly up and slowly down between at least first seat-bottom position and a second seat-bottom position, said slow movement occurring while the vehicle is moving;
- said controller for automatically controlling movement of said second powered seat movement actuator in response to said automatic controller while the vehicle is moving;
- wherein said seat bottom is moveable by said actuator while the vehicle is moving:
- (a) a first average movement frequency from said first seat-bottom position to said second seat-bottom position and back to said first seat-bottom position;
- and, (b) a second, higher average movement frequency from said first seat-bottom position to said second seat-bottom position and back to said first seat-bottom position;
- said controller adapted for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event while the vehicle is moving and changing said seat bottom movement from said first average movement frequency to said second higher average movement frequency based at least in part on said signal.
10 more elements
A vehicle seating system for reducing user fatigue, comprising:
- a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom;
- at least one powered seat adjustment actuator to slowly move said seat back incline slowly forwards and slowly backwards between at least first seat-back position and a second seat-back position, said slow movement occurring while the vehicle is moving;
- a controller for automatically controlling movement of said powered seat movement actuator while the vehicle is moving;
- wherein said seat back is moveable by said actuator in response to said automatic controller while the vehicle is moving:
- (a) a first average movement frequency;
- and, (b) a second, higher average movement frequency;
- said controller adapted for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event while the vehicle is moving and changing said seat back movement from said first average movement frequency to said second higher average movement frequency based at least in part on said signal;
- wherein said average movement frequencies are of the time between movements of a corresponding powered actuator.
5 more elements
A vehicle seating system for reducing user fatigue, comprising:
- a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom;
- at least one powered seat adjustment actuator to slowly move said seat back incline slowly forwards and slowly backwards between at least first seat-back position and a second seat-back position, said slow movement occurring while the vehicle is moving;
- a controller for automatically controlling movement of said powered seat movement actuator while the vehicle is moving;
- wherein said seat back is moveable by said actuator in response to said automatic controller while the vehicle is moving:
- (a) a first average movement frequency;
- and, (b) a second, higher average movement frequency;
- said controller adapted for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event while the vehicle is moving and changing said seat back movement from said first average movement frequency to said second higher average movement frequency based at least in part on said signal;
- wherein said controller includes at least a first preprogrammed movement profile and a second preprogrammed movement profile;
- wherein said first preprogrammed movement profile corresponds with said first average movement frequency, and wherein to said second preprogrammed movement profile corresponds to said second higher average movement frequency.
6 more elements
A vehicle seating system for reducing user fatigue, comprising:
- a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom;
- at least one powered seat adjustment actuator to slowly move said seat back incline slowly forwards and slowly backwards between at least first seat-back position and a second seat-back position, said slow movement occurring while the vehicle is moving;
- a controller for automatically controlling movement of said powered seat movement actuator while the vehicle is moving;
- wherein said seat back is moveable by said actuator in response to said automatic controller while the vehicle is moving:
- (a) a first average movement frequency;
- and, (b) a second, higher average movement frequency;
- said controller adapted for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event while the vehicle is moving and changing said seat back movement from said first average movement frequency to said second higher average movement frequency based at least in part on said signal;
- a third actuator to move a lumbar region of said seat back and forth, and a touch screen user interface provides for user selection of a lumbar movement independent of said automatically controlled movement of said seat bottom and seat back.
5 more elements
A vehicle seating system for reducing user fatigue, comprising:
- a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom;
- at least one powered seat adjustment actuator to slowly move said seat back incline slowly forwards and slowly backwards between at least first seat-back position and a second seat-back position, said slow movement occurring while the vehicle is moving;
- a controller for automatically controlling movement of said powered seat movement actuator while the vehicle is moving;
- wherein said seat back is moveable by said actuator in response to said automatic controller while the vehicle is moving:
- (a) a first average movement frequency;
- and, (b) a second, higher average movement frequency;
- said controller adapted for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event while the vehicle is moving and changing said seat back movement from said first average movement frequency to said second higher average movement frequency based at least in part on said signal;
- wherein said controller is adapted to receive a first a signal sent in response to at least one triggering event of the vehicle/user while the vehicle is moving which leads to temporary suspension of movement of said powered seat adjustment actuator.
5 more elements
A vehicle seating system for reducing user fatigue, comprising:
- a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom;
- at least one powered seat adjustment actuator to slowly move said seat back incline slowly forwards and slowly backwards between at least first seat-back position and a second seat-back position, said slow movement occurring while the vehicle is moving;
- a controller for automatically controlling movement of said powered seat movement actuator while the vehicle is moving;
- wherein said seat back is moveable by said actuator in response to said automatic controller while the vehicle is moving:
- (a) a first average movement frequency;
- and, (b) a second, higher average movement frequency;
- said controller adapted for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event while the vehicle is moving and changing said seat back movement from said first average movement frequency to said second higher average movement frequency based at least in part on said signal;
- wherein said vehicle/user event includes, while the vehicle is moving:
- elapsed time, speed and braking.
6 more elements
A vehicle seating system for reducing user fatigue, comprising:
- a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom;
- at least one powered seat adjustment actuator to slowly move said seat bottom tilt slowly up and slowly down between at least first seat-bottom position and a second seat-bottom position, said slow movement occurring while the vehicle is moving;
- said controller for automatically controlling movement of said powered seat movement actuator in response to said automatic controller while the vehicle is moving;
- wherein said seat bottom is moveable by said actuator while the vehicle is moving:
- (a) a first average movement frequency;
- and, (b) a second, higher average movement frequency;
- said controller adapted for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event while the vehicle is moving and changing said seat bottom movement from said first average movement frequency to said second higher average movement frequency based at least in part on said signal;
- wherein said vehicle/user event includes, while the vehicle is moving evaluating one or more of:
- elapsed time, speed and/or braking.
6 more elements
A vehicle seating system for reducing user fatigue, comprising:
- a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom;
- at least one powered seat adjustment actuator to slowly move said seat bottom tilt slowly up and slowly down between at least first seat-bottom position and a second seat-bottom position, said slow movement occurring while the vehicle is moving;
- said controller for automatically controlling movement of said powered seat movement actuator in response to said automatic controller while the vehicle is moving;
- wherein said seat bottom is moveable by said actuator while the vehicle is moving:
- (a) a first average movement frequency;
- and, (b) a second, higher average movement frequency;
- said controller adapted for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event while the vehicle is moving and changing said seat bottom movement from said first average movement frequency to said second higher average movement frequency based at least in part on said signal;
- wherein said controller is adapted to receive a first a signal sent in response to at least one triggering event of the vehicle/user while the vehicle is moving which leads to temporary suspension of movement of said powered seat adjustment actuator.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.