Seating system having seat with individually controllable thermal units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10556532-B2
Application number	US-201715595398-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2017
Priority date	May 15, 2017
Publication date	Feb 11, 2020
Grant date	Feb 11, 2020

Abstract

A seating system includes a seat, individually selectable and controllable thermal units individually positioned at respective locations within the seat corresponding to anatomical locations of a person sitting in the seat, and a controller. The thermal units to generate heat when activated. The controller to individually activate a subset of the thermal units to deliver heat to the anatomical locations of the person sitting in the seat corresponding to the respective locations within the seat of the activated thermal units.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seating system comprising:
a seat;
first, second, and third sets of serially-connected thermal units individually positioned at respective locations in first, second, and third zones, respectively, within the seat corresponding to anatomical locations of a person sitting in the seat, the thermal units to generate heat when activated;
a switching assembly connected to a power supply, the switching assembly having first, second, and third input ports and first and second output ports;
a first switch having fourth and fifth input ports and third, fourth, and fifth output ports;
a second switch having sixth and seventh input ports and sixth and seventh output ports;
wherein the first set of thermal units is connected between the switching assembly and the first switch by being connected between the first output port and the fourth input port, the second set of thermal units is connected between the first switch and the second switch by being connected between the fourth output port and the seventh input port, and the third set of thermal units is connected between the second switch and the switching assembly by being connected between the seventh output port and the third input port;
wherein the switching assembly and the first switch are directly connected via the first input port and the third output port, the switching assembly and the second switch are directly connected via the second input port and the sixth output port, and the first switch and the second switch are directly connected via the fifth output port and the sixth input port;
a plurality of individually selectable and controllable air bladders individually positioned at respective locations within the seat corresponding to at least some of the anatomical locations of the person sitting in the seat, the air bladders to inflate and deflate when activated;
wherein at least some of the thermal units are respectively positioned in front of an A-side of at least some of the air bladders;
a plurality of fidget sensors individually positioned at respective locations within the seat corresponding to at least some of the anatomical locations of the person sitting in the seat, the fidget sensors to detect locations of fidgeting of the person sitting in the seat, wherein the fidget sensors are piezo sensors;
a controller to control the switching assembly, the first switch, and the second switch to deliver electrical current from the power supply through
(I) the first output port across the first set of thermal units to the fourth input port to activate and control temperature settings of the first set of thermal units and therefrom through
(A) the third output port to the first input port to the power supply, and/or
(B) the fourth output port across the second set of thermal units to the seventh input port to activate and control temperature settings of the second set of thermal units and therefrom through
(b1) the sixth output port to the second input port to the power supply, and/or
(b2) the seventh output port across the third set of thermal units to the third input port to activate and control temperature settings of the third set of thermal units and return to the power supply, and/or

(C) the fifth output port to the sixth input port and therefrom through
(c1) the sixth output port to the second input port to the power supply and/or
(c2) the seventh output port across the third set of thermal units to the third input port to activate and control temperature settings of the third set of thermal units and return to the power supply, and/or through

(II) the second output port to the fifth input port and therefrom through
(A) the fourth output port across the second set of thermal units to the seventh input port to activate and control temperature settings of the second set of thermal units and/or
(B) the fifth output port to the sixth input port and therefrom either through
(b1) the sixth output port to the second input port to the power supply and/or
(b2) the seventh output port across the third set of thermal units to the third input port to activate and control temperature settings of the third set of thermal units and return to the power supply,

for the activated thermal units to deliver heat to the anatomical locations of the person sitting in the seat corresponding to the respective locations within the seat of the activated thermal units, in accordance with a suggested heat treatment plan based on the detected locations of fidgeting of the person sitting in the seat;
the controller to individually activate and control inflating and deflating of the air bladders, for the activated air bladders to massage the anatomical locations of the person sitting in the seat corresponding to the respective locations within the seat of the activated air bladders, in accordance with a suggested massage treatment plan based on the detected locations of fidgeting of the person sitting in the seat; and
the controller to control inflating and deflating of the air bladders having the activated thermal units positioned thereon in conjunction with activating the activated thermal units to move the activated thermal units towards and away from the person sitting in the seat in accordance with the suggested heat treatment plan.

2. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:
each thermal unit is one of a resistive joule heater, a resistive Peltier heater, an infrared emitter, and an infrared generating fabric.

3. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:
a human-machine interface to receive from the person a selection of zones for activation of the thermal units; and
the controller to activate the sets of thermal units corresponding to the zones selected by the person.

4. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:
a biometric sensor to detect locations of discomfort of the person sitting in the seat; and
the controller to activate the sets of thermal units in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of discomfort of the person sitting in the seat.

5. The seating system of claim 4 wherein:
the biometric sensor includes at least one an EMG-based device, a localized oxygen level detector, and a pressure detector.

6. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:
the thermal units are integrated into sub-components of the seat.

7. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:
the thermal units are between trim components and foam components of the seat.

8. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:
the seat is a vehicle seat.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Gallagher David
• Migneco Francesco
• Ivanov Vyachislav

Classifications

• B60N2/914 Primary

  Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape · 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

• B60N2/5685

  Resistance · CPC title

• A47C7/74

  for ventilation, heating or cooling · CPC title

• B60N2/5678 Primary

  characterised by electrical systems · CPC title