Vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11167673-B2
Application number	US-201816043705-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2018
Priority date	Jul 25, 2017
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle seat may include a seat body having a seat base and a backrest arranged to extend upward from the base. The seat body may include an exterior covering. The vehicle seat may further include a comfort system disposed within the seat body and including a heating track configured to emit heat.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle seat comprising
a seat body including a seat base and a backrest arranged to extend upward from the base, the seat body including an exterior covering, the seat base and the backrest meeting at a horizontally extending seat bight line;
a comfort system disposed within the seat body, the comfort system including a heating track configured to emit heat, the heating track extending in thermal communication with at least a portion of the exterior covering to provide heating to a user occupying the vehicle seat; and
a biosensor array including a plurality of biosensors and disposed within the seat body in communication to detect at least one biophysical parameter of the user occupying the vehicle seat;
wherein the heating track and the biosensor array are together arranged within a layer of the seat body to avoid interference between the heating track and the biosensor array,
wherein the heating track includes at least one wire track formed to include a plurality of turns, the plurality of turns having a plurality of first turns each having a respective center of curvature that is further away from a central axis of the seat body; that extends perpendicularly away from the seat bight line, than a respective first turn and a plurality of second turns each having a respective center of curvature that is closer to the central axis of the seat body than a respective second turn,
wherein each center of curvature of the plurality of first turns is located between the center of curvature of an adjacent second turn and the central axis, and
wherein a biosensor of the plurality of biosensors is arranged within a first turn of the plurality of first turns of the at least one wire track of the heating track.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the heating track and the biosensor array are positioned to avoid contact with each other.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein each biosensor of the plurality of biosensors is arranged coplanar with adjacent portions of the heating track.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 3 , wherein the heating track includes at least one section shaped complimentary to at least one of the biosensors.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 4 , wherein the at least one biosensor includes a body having a serpentinous shape.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 4 , wherein the at least one section of the heating track is spaced apart from the body of the at least one biosensor.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the biosensor array and the heating track are integrally formed within a pad.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit arranged in communication with the biosensor array for receiving an indication of the at least biophysical parameter.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the biosensor array includes at least one piezoelectric sensor.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the heating track includes an electric heating circuit.

11. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the biosensor array communicates through the exterior covering.

12. A vehicle, comprising
a chassis adapted for driven movement, and
at least one seat secured with the chassis, the at least one seat including a seat body having a seat base and a backrest arranged to extend upward from the base, the seat body including an exterior covering, the seat base and the backrest meeting at a horizontally extending seat bight line, the at least one seat including a comfort system disposed within the seat body, the comfort system including a heating track configured to emit heat, the heating track extending in thermal communication with at least a portion of the exterior covering to provide heating to a user occupying the vehicle seat, and a biosensor array including a plurality of biosensors and disposed within the seat body in communication to detect at least one biophysical parameter of a user occupying the vehicle seat, wherein the heating track and the biosensor array are together arranged in a layer of the seat body to avoid interference between the heating track and the biosensor array,
wherein the entirety of the heating track includes a single continuous wire track having a first section with a first serpentinous shape and a second section with a second serpentinous shape laterally spaced apart from the first section, the first serpentinous shape being symmetrical to the second serpentinous shape, the first and second serpentinous shapes of the single continuous wire track defining a plurality of cavities formed between turns of the first and second serpentinous shapes,
wherein each respective biosensor of the plurality of biosensors is arranged within a respective cavity of the plurality of cavities of the single continuous wire track of the heating track, and
wherein the single continuous wire track defines an inner heat track area, the single continuous wire track defining a perimeter of the inner heat track area, and wherein the plurality of biosensors are arranged outside of the inner heat track area.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein an inner side of each cavity of the plurality of cavities is spaced apart from the biosensor located within the cavity by a constant distance along an entirety of a longitudinal side of the biosensor.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein:
an inner side of each cavity of the plurality of cavities is spaced apart from each respective biosensor by a varying distance; and
the plurality of biosensors are arranged symmetrically and includes a first group of biosensors arranged within the first section of the wire track and a second group of biosensors arranged within the second section of the wire track, the first and second groups of biosensors being symmetrical with each other.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein each biosensor of the plurality of biosensors is arranged the same distance away from a surface of the exterior covering that contacts the occupant as an adjacent portion of the heating track.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 15 , wherein the surface of the exterior covering is curved.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 14 , wherein the first group of biosensors and the second group of biosensors are symmetrical about a central axis that extends perpendicularly away from the seat bight line.

18. A vehicle, comprising
a chassis adapted for driven movement, and
at least one seat secured with the chassis, the at least one seat including a seat body having a seat base and a backrest arranged to extend upward from the base, the seat body including an exterior covering, the at least one seat including a comfort system disposed within the seat body, the comfort system including a heating track configured to emit heat, the heating track extending in thermal communication with at least a portion of the exterior covering to provide heating to a user occupying the vehicle seat, and a biosensor array including a plurality of biosensors and disposed within the seat body in communication to detect at least one biophysical parameter of a user occupying the vehicle seat, wherein the heating track and the biosensor array are together arranged in a layer of the seat body to avoid interference between the heating track and the biosensor array,
wherein the entirety of the heating track includes a single continuous wire track having a first section with a first serpentinous shape and a second section with a second serpentinous shape laterally spaced apart from the first section, the first serpentinous shape being symmetrical to the second serpentinous shape, the first and second serpentin

Assignees

• Faurecia Automotive Seating Llc

Inventors

• Reith Carsten
• Worlitz Claudia
• Oel Ludger
• Ricken Detlef E B
• Windhorst Michael
• Cabouillet Anne-Sophie

Classifications

• B60N2/0033

  mounted on or in the foam cushion · CPC title

• B60N2/0022

  for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature · CPC title

• B60N2/5635

  coming from the passenger compartment · CPC title

• B60N2/5685 Primary

  Resistance · 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