Switch for selecting and adjusting seat-related functions of motor vehicle seats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630533-B2
Application number	US-201514642832-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2015
Priority date	Mar 10, 2014
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A motor vehicle seat has a seat inflation system for selectively inflating/deflating a plurality of inflatable cushions in the seat back and/or bottom. A switch for controlling the system includes a display having a first symbol indicating a function of the cushion and a second symbol indicating a parameter of the active function, a plurality of keypads defining a circular perimeter surrounding the display and actuatable to select the active function, and a ring surrounding the perimeter and rotatable to adjust a value of the parameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising:
a seat having an inflatable cushion;
a controller controlling inflation of the cushion; and
a switch having:
a display having a first symbol indicating a function of the cushion and a second symbol indicating a parameter of the function;
a plurality of keypads defining a circular perimeter surrounding the display, and actuatable to select the function; and
a ring surrounding the perimeter and rotatable to adjust a value of the parameter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display is square in shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keypads completely surrounds the display.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second symbol indicates the value of the parameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display is a touchscreen.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the value of the parameter may further be adjusted by touching the second symbol.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keypads comprises a first keypad actuatable to select a lumbar massage function, and a second keypad actuatable to select a lateral support function.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein when the lumbar massage function is selected, the parameter adjusted by the ring is one of an intensity, a speed, a pattern, and a duration.

9. A switch comprising:
a display having a first symbol indicating an active function of a vehicle seat inflation system and a second symbol indicating a parameter of the active function;
a plurality of keypads disposed around the display to define a circular perimeter, and actuatable to select the active function; and
a ring surrounding the perimeter and rotatable to adjust a value of the parameter.

10. The switch of claim 9 , wherein the display is square in shape.

11. The switch of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of keypads completely surrounds the display.

12. The switch of claim 9 , wherein the second symbol indicates the value of the parameter.

13. The switch of claim 9 , wherein the display is a touchscreen.

14. The switch of claim 13 , wherein the value of the parameter may further be adjusted by touching the second symbol.

15. The switch of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of keypads comprises a first keypad actuatable to activate a lumbar massage function, and a second keypad actuatable to activate a lateral support function.

16. The switch of claim 15 , wherein when the lumbar massage function is active, the parameter adjusted by the ring is one of an intensity, a speed, a pattern, and a duration.

17. A switch comprising:
a display having a first symbol indicating an active function of a vehicle seat inflation system and a second symbol indicating a parameter of the active function;
a first plurality of keypads disposed around the display to define a circular perimeter, and actuatable to adjust a value of the parameter;
a ring surrounding the perimeter and rotatable to adjust a value of the parameter; and
a second plurality of keypads disposed outside the ring and actuatable to select the active function.

18. The switch of claim 17 , wherein the display is square in shape.

19. The switch of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of keypads completely surrounds the display.

20. The switch of claim 17 , wherein the second plurality of keypads comprises a first keypad actuatable to activate a lumbar massage function, and a second keypad actuatable to activate a lateral support function.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Misch Philipp
• Lem Jeroen
• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Wolter Stefan
• Golm Florian

Classifications

• A61H9/0078

  with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs (mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776) · CPC title

• A61H2201/0207

  heated · CPC title

• A61H2201/1623

  Back · CPC title

• A61H2201/1609

  Neck · CPC title

• A61H2201/5058

  Sensors or detectors · CPC title