Haptic system: recline activation control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10967773-B2
Application number	US-202016795194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2020
Priority date	Feb 20, 2015
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

An electronically-activated support positioning system for a passenger seat can include a sensor capable of detecting a tactile input from a passenger and sending a signal, optionally through a controller, to a lock actuator coupled to a lockable hydraulic spring to either lock or unlock the lockable hydraulic spring. The lockable hydraulic spring can control movement of a support of the passenger seat, such as reclining of a seatback. In an example, when tactile input is detected, the lock actuator can unlock the lockable hydraulic spring, allowing an attached seatback to be adjusted. When tactile input is no longer detected, the lock actuator can lock the lockable hydraulic spring, securing the seatback from adjustment. The sensor can be sufficiently small to fit within the confines of an armrest. The sensor can be a microswitch positioned to detect deflection of a tab formed in the wall of the armrest.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A recline control system, comprising:
a lockable hydraulic spring couplable to a passenger seat to control movement of a portion of the passenger seat, the lockable hydraulic spring actuatable between a locked state and an unlocked state;
a lock actuator coupled to the lockable hydraulic spring for controlling a lock state of the lockable hydraulic spring;
a sensor for sensing a tactile input, the sensor operatively coupled to the lock actuator to initiate actuation of the lockable hydraulic spring in response to sensing the tactile input; and
a controller operatively coupled to at least the sensor and the lock actuator, wherein the controller receives a master lockout signal and determines a disabled state or an enabled state of the lock actuator based on the master lockout signal.

2. The recline control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the portion of the passenger seat comprises a seatback;
the lockable hydraulic spring is couplable to the seatback to control reclining of the seatback;
the lockable hydraulic spring comprises a locking pin for controlling the lock state of the lockable hydraulic spring; and
the lock actuator comprises an actuator coupled to a hinge, the actuator actuatable to deflect the hinge to depress the locking pin.

3. The recline control system of claim 1 , further comprising a position sensor operatively coupled to the controller for determining a position of the portion of the passenger seat, wherein the controller receives a position signal from the position sensor and determines the disabled state or the enabled state of the lock actuator based on the position signal and the master lockout signal.

4. The recline control system of claim 1 , wherein the disabled state of the lock actuator prevents the actuation of the lockable hydraulic spring between the locked state and the unlocked state.

5. The recline control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is mountable in an armrest of the passenger seat to detect pressure applied to a surface of the armrest, and wherein the tactile input is the pressure applied to the surface of the armrest.

6. The recline control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is mountable in an armrest of the passenger seat, and wherein the recline control system further comprises an illumination source positionable proximate the sensor.

7. The recline control system of claim 6 , wherein the illumination source is operatively coupled to the controller and is illuminated based on the master lockout signal.

8. The recline control system of claim 7 , further comprising a feedback actuator operatively coupled to the controller to generate a feedback sensation associated with actuation of the lockable hydraulic spring to the unlocked state.

9. A passenger seat, comprising:
a seat frame;
a support coupled to the seat frame and moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a lockable hydraulic spring couplable to the support to control movement of the support between the stowed position and the deployed position, the lockable hydraulic spring actuatable between a locked state and an unlocked state;
a lock actuator coupled to the lockable hydraulic spring for controlling a lock state of the lockable hydraulic spring;
a sensor for sensing a tactile input, the sensor operatively coupled to the lock actuator to initiate actuation of the lockable hydraulic spring in response to sensing the tactile input; and
a controller operatively coupled to at least the sensor and the lock actuator, wherein the controller receives a sensor signal from the sensor and a master lockout signal, and wherein the lock actuator is enabled or disabled based on the master lockout signal.

10. The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein:
the support is a seatback pivotally coupled to the seat frame to pivot between the stowed position and the deployed position;
the lockable hydraulic spring includes a locking pin for controlling the lock state of the lockable hydraulic spring; and
the lock actuator includes an actuator coupled to a hinge, the actuator actuatable to deflect the hinge to depress the locking pin.

11. The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein the lock actuator is enabled and changes the lock state of the lockable hydraulic spring to the unlocked state based on the sensor signal.

12. The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein the lock actuator is disabled so the lock state of the lockable hydraulic spring cannot be changed to the unlocked state based on the sensor signal.

13. The passenger seat of claim 9 , further comprising an armrest coupled to the seat frame, wherein the sensor is mountable in the armrest to detect pressure applied to a surface of the armrest, and wherein the tactile input is the pressure applied to the surface of the armrest.

14. The passenger seat of claim 9 , further comprising an armrest coupled to the seat frame, wherein the sensor is mountable in the armrest, and wherein the passenger seat further comprises an illumination source positionable proximate the sensor.

15. The passenger seat of claim 9 , further comprising a position sensor operatively coupled to the controller for determining a position of the support, wherein the controller receives a position signal from the position sensor and determines a disabled state or an enabled state of the lock actuator based on the position signal and the master lockout signal.

16. The passenger seat of claim 9 , further comprising a feedback actuator operatively coupled to the controller to generate a feedback sensation associated with actuation of the lockable hydraulic spring to the unlocked state.

17. A method, comprising:
sensing, by a sensor mounted in an armrest of a passenger seat, a tactile input and generating a sensor signal in response to sensing the tactile input;
receiving, by a controller, the sensor signal and an enabling master lockout signal;
enabling actuation of a lock actuator based on the enabling master lockout signal; and
activating, based on the sensor signal, the lock actuator by depressing a locking pin of a lockable hydraulic spring.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving, by the controller, a disabling master lockout signal; and
disabling actuation of the lock actuator based on the disabling master lockout signal, wherein disabling actuation of the lock actuator prevents unlocking of the lockable hydraulic spring.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving, by the controller, a disabling master lockout signal and a position signal, wherein the position signal is from a position sensor operatively coupled to the controller for determining a position of a portion of the passenger seat; and
enabling actuation of the lock actuator based on the disabling master lockout signal and the position signal, wherein the position signal indicates that the portion of the passenger seat is in a deployed position.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transmitting a feedback control signal to a feedback actuator, wherein the feedback control signal causes the feedback actuator to generate a feedback sensation indicative of actuation of the lockable hydraulic spring to an unlocked state.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Vela Merardo
• Luevano Patricia

Classifications

• B60N2/0228

  Hand-activated mechanical switches (B60N2/0229 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/231

  by hydraulic actuators · CPC title

• B64D11/064

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B60N2/797 Primary

  for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches · CPC title

• B60N2002/0268

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic