Active seat bolster adjustment based on occupant pressure map and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10464456-B2
Application number	US-201715783292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2017
Priority date	Jul 28, 2017
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A method for adjusting an adjustable component in a seat assembly includes the steps of: (1) providing a seat assembly having an adjustable support plate and a sensor; (2) supporting a seat occupant on the seat assembly; (3) moving the support plate into contact with the seat occupant; (4) sensing a pressure value applied to the support plate using the sensor as the support plate contacts the seat occupant; and (5) retaining the support plate in a deployed position. The movement of the support plate is configured to cease when the pressure value is initially detected or when the pressure value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for adjusting adjustable components in a seat assembly, including the steps of:
providing a seat assembly having a seat portion with first and second side bolsters disposed on opposite sides of the seat portion, first and second adjustable components and first and second sensors disposed in the first and second side bolsters, and a controller operably coupled to both the first and second adjustable components and the first and second sensors;
supporting a seat occupant on the seat portion;
moving respective first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components to move the first and second side bolsters into contact with the seat occupant;
detecting respective first and second pressure values using the first and second sensors as the first and second side bolsters contact the seat occupant;
stopping movement of the first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components; and
retaining the first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components in deployed positions.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of stopping movement of the first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components further includes:
stopping movement of the first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components when the respective first and second pressure values are detected.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of stopping movement of the first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components further includes:
stopping movement of the first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components when the respective first and second pressure values exceed a predetermined threshold pressure value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes:
moving the first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components towards retracted positions when the first and second pressure values are no longer detected.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of moving respective first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components to move the first and second side bolsters into contact with the seat occupant further includes:
inflating first and second air bladders using one or more pumps controlled by the controller, wherein the first and second air bladders are positioned to abut undersurfaces of the first and second articulating support plates, respectively.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second adjustable components each include respective first and second baseplates hingedly coupled to the first and second articulating support plates, respectively.

7. The method of claim 6 , including:
moving the first and second articulating support plates of the first and second adjustable components towards retracted positions using a biasing mechanism operably coupled between the first and second baseplates and the first and second articulating support plates, respectively, when the first and second pressure values are no longer detected.

8. A method of adjusting a seat assembly, including the steps of:
providing a seat assembly having an adjustable support plate, a bolster and a sensor;
supporting a seat occupant on the seat assembly;
moving the support plate by inflating an air bladder with a pump controlled by a controller, wherein the air bladder is positioned to abut an undersurface of the support plate to rotate the support plate towards a deployed position as the air bladder is brought to an inflated condition;
contacting the seat occupant with the bolster as adjusted by the support plate;
sensing a pressure value applied to the support plate using the sensor as the bolster contacts the seat occupant; and
retaining the support plate in the deployed position.

9. The method of claim 8 , including:
stopping movement of the support plate when the pressure value reaches a predetermined pressure threshold as detected by the sensor.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pressure value is associated with a pressure force aligned in a first direction, and further wherein the step of moving the support plate further includes:
rotating the support plate in a second direction that is substantially opposed to the first direction of the pressure force.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method further includes:
moving the support plate towards a retracted position from the deployed position when the pressure value is no longer detected.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of moving the support plate towards the retracted position further includes:
deflating the air bladder to move the support plate towards the retracted position from the deployed position.

13. The method of claim 11 , including:
a baseplate hingedly coupled to the support plate, and further wherein the step of moving the support plate towards the retracted position further includes, biasing the support plate towards the baseplate using a biasing member coupled between the baseplate and the support plate.

14. The method of claim 8 , including:
stopping movement of the support plate when the pressure value is detected by the sensor.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Boccuccia Daniel
• Senatore Andres
• Jaranson John Wayne
• Calderon Alexander Alborzi

Classifications

• B60N2/62 Primary

  Thigh-rests {(B60N2/914 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/646

  shape of the cushion · CPC title

• B60N2002/0288

  Adjustable seat width · CPC title

• B60N2/4235 Primary

  transversal · CPC title

• B60N2/002

  Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon (detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266) · CPC title