Haptic system: recline activation control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018065521-A1
Application number	US-201615551934-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 20, 2016
Priority date	Feb 20, 2015
Publication date	Mar 8, 2018
Grant date	—

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; and 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.

2 . The recline control system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the passenger seat is a seatback and wherein the lockable hydraulic spring is couplable to the seatback to control reclining of the seatback.

3 . The recline control system of claim 1 , wherein the lockable hydraulic spring includes a locking pin for controlling the lock state of the lockable hydraulic spring, and wherein the lock actuator includes an actuator coupled to a hinge, the actuator actuatable to deflect the hinge to depress the locking pin.

4 . The recline control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a button mountable in an armrest of the passenger seat to detect a deflection of a surface of the armrest, and wherein the tactile input is the deflection of the surface of the armrest.

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 1 , further comprising a controller operatively coupled between the sensor and the lock actuator.

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 maneuverable 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; and 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.

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.

11 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein the lockable hydraulic spring includes a locking pin for controlling the lock state of the lockable hydraulic spring, and wherein the lock actuator includes an actuator coupled to a hinge, the actuator actuatable to deflect the hinge to depress the locking pin.

12 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , further comprising an armrest coupled to the seat frame, the armrest having a separation in an external surface of the armrest forming a deflectable tab, wherein the sensor includes a button mounted in the armrest to detect deflection of the deflectable tab, and wherein the tactile input is the deflection of the deflectable tab.

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 controller operatively coupled between the sensor and the lock actuator.

16 . The passenger seat of claim 15 , 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 a tactile input by a sensor mounted in an armrest of a passenger seat and generating a sensor signal in response to sensing the tactile input; and activating a lock actuator in response to generating the sensor signal, wherein activating the lock actuator includes depressing a locking pin of a lockable hydraulic spring.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving the sensor signal by a controller; and transmitting a control signal in response to receiving the sensor signal, wherein activating the lock actuator in response to generating the sensor signal includes receiving the control signal and activating the lock actuator in response to receiving the control signal.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising determining, by the controller, to unlock the lockable hydraulic spring based on the sensor signal, wherein transmitting the control signal occurs in response to determining to unlock the lockable hydraulic spring.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving, by the controller, a master lockout signal, wherein determining to unlock the lockable hydraulic spring is further based on the master lockout signal.

21 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising transmitting a feedback control signal in association with transmitting the control signal, wherein the feedback control signal, when received by a feedback actuator, causes the feedback actuator to generate a feedback sensation indicative of actuation of the lockable hydraulic spring to an unlocked state.

22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein activating the lock actuator includes actuating an actuator in response to generating the sensor signal to deflect a hinge, and wherein the hinge depresses the locking pin upon deflection.

23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the armrest includes a surface and a separation in the surface that forms a deflectable tab, and wherein sensing the tactile input includes detecting deflection of the deflectable tab.

Assignees

• Zodiac Seats Us Llc

Inventors

• Vela Merardo
• Luevano Patricia

Classifications

• B60N2/797 Primary

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

• B60N2/231

  by hydraulic actuators · CPC title

• B64D11/064

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B60N2/0228

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

• B60N2002/0268

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic