Identification of the installation position of a seat in a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025018834-A1
Application number	US-202218716315-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 7, 2022
Priority date	Dec 7, 2021
Publication date	Jan 16, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle seat for variable installation in different installation positions in a vehicle interior of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle seat may have an electronic seat control unit which is designed, following or during installation of the vehicle seat in one of the installation positions in the vehicle, to determine at least the assumed installation position of the vehicle seat via a resistance measurement and/or a contactless measurement by means of an RFID sensor or an NFC sensor. A vehicle having at least one vehicle seat, which can be installed variably in different installation positions in the vehicle interior, and to a method for identifying an installation position of a vehicle seat in a vehicle, are also provided.

First claim

1 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . A vehicle seat for variable installation at different installation positions in a vehicle interior of a vehicle, comprising: an electronic seat control unit which is designed, following or during an installation of the vehicle seat at one of the installation positions in the vehicle, to determine at least the adopted installation position of the vehicle seat via a resistance measurement and/or a contactless measurement by means of an RFID sensor or an NFC sensor.

21 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20 , wherein seat-specific information is exchangeable via the RFID sensor and/or the NFC sensor.

22 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the electronic seat control unit is further designed to output the adopted installation position.

23 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the electronic seat control unit is further designed to determine the installation direction of the vehicle seat and/or to determine whether the vehicle seat is being used and/or whether a safety belt is being used.

24 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the electronic seat control unit is designed to determine, by a weight measurement, whether the vehicle seat is being used.

25 . The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the electronic seat control unit is designed to determine, via a contact closure measurement, whether the safety belt is being used.

26 . A vehicle having a vehicle interior and the vehicle seat, as claimed in claim 20 , which is variably installable at various installation positions in the vehicle interior.

27 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 26 , further comprising at least one seat longitudinal adjustment device, comprising at least one pair of rails made up of an upper rail and a lower rail, which are movable relative to one another, wherein the electronic seat control unit further comprises a resistance measurement device by means of which at least one resistance, which is arranged in the upper rail, is measurable.

28 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 26 , wherein an RFID sensor and/or an NFC sensor is arranged on the vehicle seat or in the vehicle, including in the region of a seat longitudinal adjustment device, which sensor is in each case couplable to the seat control unit at least for signalling purposes, wherein the RFID sensor and/or NFC sensor is configured, when the vehicle seat is being installed at one of the installation positions in the vehicle interior, to identify the adopted installation position, to generate an identification signal about the adopted installation position and to forward this to the seat control unit.

29 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 26 , wherein in each case at least one resistance that is detectable by the resistance measurement device is arranged at each installation position, wherein each of the resistances differs from each of the other resistances in terms of its resistance value.

30 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 26 , wherein, at each installation position an electric contact element, including a plug or a socket, for contacting a corresponding electric contact element, including a socket or a plug, is provided on the vehicle seat in order to provide a power supply for the seat control unit, wherein the resistance is arranged in the electric contact element of the installation position.

31 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the electronic seat control unit is designed to output the adopted installation position of the vehicle seat.

32 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the RFID sensor and/or NFC sensor is arranged on the vehicle seat, wherein RFID transponders and/or NFC transponders and/or NFC transmitters are arranged at the installation positions in the vehicle.

33 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 28 , wherein RFID sensors and/or NFC sensors are arranged at the installation positions in the vehicle, wherein an RFID transponder and/or NFC transponder and/or NFC transmitter is arranged on the vehicle seat.

34 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the electronic seat control unit is designed to exchange electronic signals with a central unit and/or an output unit via the connection between the socket and the plug, and/or to transfer recorded measurement data and information and/or messages derived therefrom to the central unit and/or output unit.

35 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 34 , wherein the output unit is formed as a display unit in a dashboard.

36 . The vehicle as claimed in claim 34 , wherein the information relates to the installation position of the vehicle seat, to an occupied vehicle seat and/or to a fastened safety belt.

37 . A method for identifying an installation position of a vehicle seat in a vehicle, wherein a removable vehicle seat is installable at various installation positions in the vehicle and wherein, when the vehicle seat is being installed, the adopted installation position of the vehicle seat in the vehicle is determined via a resistance and/or via an RFID sensor and/or via an NFC sensor at the installation position or at a seat position.

38 . A method for installing a removable vehicle seat at at least one of various installation positions in a vehicle, wherein, when the vehicle seat is being installed, the adopted installation position of the vehicle seat in the vehicle is determined via a resistance and/or via an RFID sensor and/or via an NFC sensor at the installation position or at a seat position.

Assignees

• Adient Us Llc

Inventors

• Heeg Norbert
• Prosch Mark Thomas

Classifications

• B60N2/0272 Primary

  using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts · CPC title

• B60N2210/16

  Electromagnetic waves · CPC title

• B60N2/0025 Primary

  by using weight measurement · CPC title

• B60N2/0264

  characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB · CPC title