Method for adjusting the seat of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10773609-B2
Application number	US-201815896331-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2018
Priority date	Apr 12, 2017
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

A method for adjusting a seat of a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes the step of capturing loading data of the seat, evaluating the loading data to determine a control dataset for periodically adjusting the seat based on the control dataset.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for adjusting a seat of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
capturing loading data of the seat with a pressure sensor module having multiple pressure sensitive elements arranged in a grid pattern, wherein the load data contain data on pressure distribution on the seat in at least two dimensions;
evaluating the loading data to determine a control dataset; and
periodically adjusting the seat with a control device based on the control dataset, wherein driver behavior is captured and used when determining the control dataset, and wherein the captured driver behavior comprises depressing a pedal while a person is located on a front position of the seat.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor module comprises multiple pressure-sensitive fiber optic cables as the multiple pressure sensitive elements.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control dataset contains data relating to a seat movement model.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein changes to the loading data are captured and evaluated.

5. A seat control device for adjusting a seat of a vehicle, wherein the seat control device is configured to capture loading data of the seat with a pressure sensor module having multiple pressure sensitive elements arranged in a grid pattern, wherein the load data contain data on pressure distribution on the seat in at least two dimensions, wherein the seat control device further evaluates loading data of the seat in order to determine a control dataset, and to periodically adjust the seat based on the control dataset, wherein driver behavior is captured and used when determining the control dataset, and wherein the captured driver behavior comprises depressing a pedal while a person is located on a front position of the seat.

6. The seat control device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the pressure sensor module comprises multiple pressure-sensitive fiber optic cables as the multiple pressure sensitive elements.

7. The seat control device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the control dataset contains data relating to a seat movement model.

8. The seat control device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the seat control device is designed to capture and evaluate changes in the loading data.

9. A seat for a vehicle, comprising:
a sensor capturing loading data of the seat; and
a seat control device to evaluate the loading data of the seat and determine a control dataset, and to periodically adjust the seat based on the control dataset, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor module with a pressure sensor module having multiple pressure sensitive elements arranged in a grid pattern, wherein the load data contain data on pressure distribution on the seat in at least two dimensions, wherein driver behavior is capture and used when determining the control dataset, and wherein the captured driver behavior comprises depressing a petal while a person is located on a front position of the seat.

10. The seat as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the pressure sensor module comprises multiple pressure-sensitive fiber optic cables as the multiple pressure sensitive elements.

11. The seat as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the control dataset contains data relating to a seat movement model.

12. The seat as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the seat control device is designed to capture and evaluate changes in the loading data.

13. The seat as claimed in claim 9 further comprises a computer program product for controlling the seat.

14. The seat as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Lem Jeroen
• Wolf Philipp
• Hennes Nikica

Classifications

• B60N2/0273

  taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state · CPC title

• B60N2220/20

  using a deterministic algorithm · CPC title

• B60N2/0027

  for detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part · CPC title

• B60N2210/40

  Force or pressure sensors · CPC title

• B60N2/003

  characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat · CPC title