Systems and methods for controlling automotive seat adjustments using electromagnetic rail technology

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10479227-B2
Application number	US-201715645336-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2017
Priority date	Jul 10, 2017
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A method for adjusting a vehicle seat onboard a vehicle is provided. The method obtains vehicle status data, by a processor communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle; detects a current actuation state of the vehicle seat based on the vehicle status data, by the processor, wherein the current actuation state comprises at least one of a user input actuation state and an emergency actuation state; calculates seat adjustments, by the processor, based on the current actuation state; and actuates the vehicle seat based on the seat adjustments, via an electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device communicatively coupled to the processor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for adjusting a vehicle seat onboard a vehicle, the method comprising:
obtaining vehicle status data, by a processor communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle, wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting a current seat position and a current seat orientation;
detecting a current actuation state of the vehicle seat based on the vehicle status data, by the processor, wherein the current actuation state comprises at least one of a user input actuation state and an emergency actuation state;
calculating seat adjustments, by the processor, based on the current actuation state, wherein calculating the seat adjustments further comprises:
determining a potential seat position and a potential seat orientation;
calculating a time duration for actuating the vehicle seat from the current seat position and the current seat orientation to the potential seat position and the potential seat orientation; and
calculating power requirements for actuating the vehicle seat from the current seat position and the current seat orientation to the potential seat position and the potential seat orientation; and

actuating the vehicle seat based on the seat adjustments and using the power requirements and the time duration, via an electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device communicatively coupled to the processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
unlocking a locking mechanism of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device, via a power source communicatively coupled to the processor;
actuating the vehicle seat after unlocking the locking mechanism; and
locking the locking mechanism of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device to secure the vehicle seat after actuating.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting first vehicle data comprising internal vehicle sensor data, a passenger weight, vehicle mass data, and system power data; and
wherein the method further comprises calculating the time duration and the power requirements based on the first vehicle data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting second vehicle data comprising external vehicle sensor data, parallel park assist sensor data, front radar data, side blind radar data, wheel alignment data, vehicle acceleration data, vehicle heading data, vehicle speed data, laser-based vision system data, visible light based vision system data, and rear threat detection system data; and
wherein the method further comprises:
identifying a potential vehicle threat, using the second vehicle data; and
when the potential vehicle threat is identified, determining that the current actuation state comprises an emergency actuation state.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting third vehicle data comprising presence of a passenger in the vehicle seat, a weight of the passenger in the vehicle seat, a current vehicle seat position, and a current vehicle seat orientation;
wherein the method further comprises computing an emergency vehicle seat position and an emergency vehicle seat orientation; and
wherein the vehicle seat is actuated based on the emergency vehicle seat position and the emergency vehicle seat orientation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the vehicle status data further comprises detecting whether a vehicle onboard airbag is currently deployed; and
wherein, when the vehicle onboard airbag is currently deployed, the method further comprises:
identifying a potential vehicle threat, based on the vehicle onboard airbag currently being deployed; and
when the potential vehicle threat is identified, determining that the current actuation state comprises an emergency actuation state.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving user input request for adjustment of the vehicle seat, via a user interface communicatively coupled to the processor;
evaluating the user input request to identify a potential vehicle seat position and a potential vehicle seat orientation, wherein the user input actuation state comprises the potential vehicle seat position and the potential vehicle seat orientation;
calculating the seat adjustments, based on the potential vehicle seat position and the potential vehicle seat orientation.

8. A system for adjusting a vehicle seat onboard a vehicle, the system comprising:
system memory;
a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle, the plurality of sensors comprising internal vehicle sensors and external vehicle sensors;
an electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device, comprising locking mechanisms, friction surfaces, and electromagnetic rail elements, wherein the electromagnetic rail elements comprise permanent magnets positioned on one of a seat rod and seat adjustment tracks, and electromagnets positioned on a second one of the seat rod and the seat adjustment tracks, wherein the permanent magnets and the electromagnets are configured to actuate the vehicle seat based on an electromagnetic field generated by toggling current, wherein as the permanent magnets travel forward, the electromagnets toggle the electromagnetic field such that the electromagnets alternate between pulling the permanent magnets from a front of the vehicle seat to pushing the permanent magnets from a back of the vehicle seat;
a power source configured to generate electromagnetic forces that cause seat actuation along track rails; and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the system memory, the plurality of vehicle sensors, the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device, and the power source, the at least one processor configured to:
obtain vehicle status data, via the plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle;
detect a current actuation state of the vehicle seat based on the vehicle status data, wherein the current actuation state comprises at least one of a user input actuation state and an emergency actuation state;
calculate seat adjustments, based on the current actuation state; and
actuating the vehicle seat based on the seat adjustments, via the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the electromagnetic rail elements comprise electromagnetic coils positioned in a seat rod and seat adjustment tracks; and
wherein the electromagnetic coils are configured to receive an electric current generating an electromagnetic field that magnetically actuates the vehicle seat, wherein an electric current direction determines an electromagnetic field direction.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the friction surfaces of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device comprise rail slide guide positioned on electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device; and
wherein the rail slide guide is configured to provide a smooth motion path for the vehicle seat during actuation using the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the friction surfaces of the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device comprise seat rail rollers positioned inside a seat rail roller groove of a seat rail channel; and
wherein the seat rail rollers are configured to provide smooth motion for the vehicle seat during actuation using the electromagnetic vehicle seat rail device.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the locking mechanisms comprise at least one seat position lock port and a seat lock actuator;
wherein the at least one seat position lock port and the seat lock actuator are configured to prevent actuation of the vehicle seat by securing the vehicle seat in place in the absence o

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Nolte Jason J
• Zhang Chao
• Fallon Lisa A

Classifications

• B60N2/4279

  electric or electronic triggering · CPC title

• B60N2/42736

  of the whole seat · CPC title

• B60N2/24

  for particular purposes or particular vehicles · CPC title

• B60N2/0715

  C or U-shaped · CPC title

• B60N2/08

  characterised by the locking device · CPC title