Systems and methods for improving the adjustment of a vehicle headrest

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11760246-B2
Application number	US-202217575376-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2022
Priority date	Jan 13, 2022
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for improved and intuitive adjustment of a vehicle headrest. A vehicle headrest adjustment system may include touch sensors and/or motion sensors to determine a driver or passenger intends to adjust a vehicle headrest. Upon detection of touch consistent with intent to adjust a vehicle headrest and/or a hand gesture consistent with intent to adjust a vehicle headrest, a system may unlock a vehicle headrest. A driver or passenger may move the unlocked vehicle headrest into the desired position. Upon detection of a condition indicating the driver or passenger is finished and/or upon a set period of time elapsing, the system may re-lock the vehicle headrest into place. A vehicle headrest adjustment system may also include a power-assist function. The power-assist function may include motors and force sensors to assist a driver or passenger in moving a vehicle headrest into a desired position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headrest adjustment system comprising:
a touch sensor system, wherein touch sensors are embedded in first and second portions of a headrest such that the touch sensor system is configured to detect a user touch at both the first portion and the second portion of the headrest; and
a smart lock mechanism to secure the headrest in place, wherein, upon detection of a user touch at both the first portion and the second portion of the headrest, the system unlocks the smart lock mechanism, releasing the headrest.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor system comprises capacitive touch sensors configured to detect user touch at both the first portion and the second portion of the headrest.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor system comprises pressure sensors configured to detect user touch at both the first portion and the second portion of the headrest.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein, upon detection of a lack of user touch at both the first portion and the second portion of the headrest, the system locks the smart lock mechanism, securing the headrest in place.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein, upon the expiration of a set period of time following release of the headrest, the system locks the smart lock mechanism, securing the headrest in place.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein, upon the expiration of a set period of time following detection of a lack of user touch at both the first portion and the second portion of the headrest, the system locks the smart lock mechanism, securing the headrest in place.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the headrest and the second portion of the headrest are selected such that in order for a user to touch both the first portion of the headrest and the second portion of the headrest, the user must touch the headrest with two hands.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a motion sensor system, the motion sensor system configured to detect hand gestures indicating a user intends to adjust the headrest, wherein, the smart lock mechanism is further configured to communicate with the motion sensor system such that, upon detection of hand gestures indicating the user intends to adjust the headrest, the system unlocks the smart lock mechanism, releasing the headrest.

9. A headrest adjustment method comprising:
detecting, using touch sensors, a simultaneous first user touch at a first portion of the headrest and a second user touch at a second portion of the headrest;
confirming the detected first and second user touches indicate that the user intends to adjust the headrest;
unlocking a smart mechatronic lock, the smart mechatronic lock securing the headrest in place, to enable free movement of the headrest;
detecting, using force sensors, a user force applied to the headrest; and
moving the headrest, using motors, in the direction indicated by the applied user force.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
detecting, using force sensors, the absence of a user force applied to the headrest;
stopping motion of the headrest;
detecting, using touch sensors, the absence of a user touch at both the first and second portions of the headrest;
confirming the detected absence of user touches indicates the user is finished adjusting the headrest; and
locking the smart mechatronic lock to secure the headrest in place.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
confirming that the detected user hand gesture is consistent with safe operation of a vehicle.

Assignees

• Toyota Res Inst Inc

Inventors

• Kuehner Manuel Ludwig
• Brooks Daniel J
• Yasuda Hiroshi
• Camhi Jaime

Classifications

• B60N2210/20

  Radar · CPC title

• B60N2210/24

  Cameras · CPC title

• B60N2220/20

  using a deterministic algorithm · CPC title

• B60N2220/10

  using a database · CPC title

• B60N2210/40

  Force or pressure sensors · CPC title