Vehicle seat with thermal massage system

Abstract

A seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. At least one of the seat bottom and the seat back includes a trim cover having a seating surface and a plurality of individually controllable massage elements positioned beneath the trim cover. Each of the plurality of individually controllable massage elements has a surface facing the trim cover, wherein at least a portion of the surface includes a heating layer configured to selectively generate heat.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to seats, and more particularly to vehicle seats having a thermal massage system. BACKGROUND

[0002] Vehicle seats can be configured with a comfort adjustment system that can affect the contour of the seat, provide a massaging capability, and control the temperature of the seating surface.

[0003] For example, U.S. Patent No. 8,979,191 to Friderich et al. discloses a vehicle seat having a massaging device and a seat climate control system, both of which can be controlled using a control device. The massaging device includes a plurality of pressurizable elements integrated into a cushion that can be individually controlled to affect the contour of the seat. SUMMARY

[0004] According to one or more embodiments, a seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. At least one of the seat bottom and the seat back includes a trim cover having a seating surface and a plurality of individually controllable massage elements positioned beneath the trim cover. Each of the plurality of individually controllable massage elements has a surface facing the trim cover, wherein at least a portion of the surface includes a heating layer configured to selectively generate heat.

[0005] In some embodiments, the heating layer is at least one of a conductive coating, a laminated resistive heater, a flexible heater, and a carbon heater.

[0006] In some embodiments, the heating layer defines a contact area on the surface of each of the plurality of individually controllable massage elements that respectively applies pressure to a seat occupant when the plurality of individually controllable massage elements are activated.

[0007] In some embodiments, the plurality of individually controllable massage elements are pressurizable elements configured to be pneumatically activated or electro-pneumatically activated.

[0008] In some embodiments, the plurality of individually controllable massage elements are operatively coupled to a controller configured to selectively and independently activate the plurality of individually controllable massage elements and the heating layer.

[0009] In some embodiments, the plurality of individually controllable massage elements are inflatable bladders.

[0010] In some embodiments, the plurality of individually controllable massage elements are hollow bodies configured to be pressurized with a medium.

[0011] In some embodiments, the seat includes a heating pad positioned beneath the trim cover.

[0012] In some embodiments, the heating pad is a carbon heater or a flexible heater.

[0013] In some embodiments, the heating pad covers a plurality of individually controllable massage elements.

[0014] In some embodiments, the heating pad includes holes at locations where the heating pad covers the plurality of individually controllable massage elements.

[0015] In some embodiments, the holes are slits positioned along at least a portion of a perimeter of the plurality of individually controllable massage elements, enabling the plurality of individually controllable massage elements to move relative to the heating pad.

[0016] In some embodiments, the holes are openings extending along a surface of the plurality of individually controllable massage elements, and the surface of the plurality of individually controllable massage elements is exposed through the openings.

[0017] In some embodiments, the seat includes a foam pad beneath the trim cover, the foam pad having a first side facing the trim cover and an opposite second side.

[0018] The various aspects, embodiments, examples, features and alternatives set forth in the foregoing paragraphs, in the claims, and / or in the following description and drawings can be utilized independently or in any combination thereof. For example, features disclosed in connection with one embodiment can be utilized in all embodiments unless otherwise specifically indicated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Example embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to represent like elements, and in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vehicle seat equipped with a thermal massage system;

[0021] Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a seat bottom of a vehicle seat showing an example of a thermal massage system;

[0022] Figure 3 is a top view of a seat bottom of a vehicle seat with a trim cover omitted to show holes configured as slits in a seat pad;

[0023] Figure 4 is a top view of a seat bottom of a vehicle seat with a trim cover omitted to show holes configured as openings in a seat pad; and

[0024] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a control structure for Figure 1 the vehicle seat shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] InFigure 1 A perspective view of an exemplary seat 12 of a seating system 10 is shown. The seating system 10 can be configured for vehicle applications and / or non-vehicle applications. Vehicle applications can include land vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, and trains) and non-land vehicles (e.g., aircraft or ships). Non-vehicle applications can include home or office furniture, such as chairs. Hereinafter, the seating system 10 is described as being used in a vehicle, and the seat 12 will be understood as a vehicle seat.

[0026] Figure 1 An exemplary vehicle seat 12 suitable for installation in the passenger compartment of a vehicle via a guide rail or other suitable connection feature along the underside of the seat is shown. The seat 12 includes a seat base 14 and a seat back 16 extending from the seat base. Figure 1 The forward (F) and backward (R) directions are indicated and can be referred to as longitudinal directions. The upward (U) and downward (D) directions can be referred to as vertical directions, while left and right can be referred to as lateral directions. These directions are relative to seat 12 and not necessarily relative to the vehicle in which the seat is mounted. Seat 12 presents a seat surface 18 in the form of the outer surface of a cover 20. Each of the seat bottom 14 and seat back 16 includes a portion of the seat surface 18 that comes into contact with the seat occupant. The cover 20 can be formed of any material or combination of materials, including but not limited to: leather, woven or knitted fabrics, and polymeric materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane.

[0027] As used herein, the terms “below” and “above” are used in reference to a frame in which the seat surface 18 is the uppermost surface. For example, a lower layer in the seat back 16 is generally located behind a portion of the seat surface 18 provided by the seat back 16, and a lower layer in the seat bottom 14 is generally located below a portion of the seat surface 18 provided by the seat bottom 14.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown by the dashed lines, the thermal massage system of seat 12 includes a plurality of massage elements 22 located below the cover 20. In this particular example, the massage elements 22 are arranged along the left and right sides of a vertical plane of symmetry along the seat back 16, such that when the massage elements 22 are activated, massage pressure is applied to muscle groups located along the spine of the seat occupant. Similarly, the massage elements 22 located in the seat bottom 14 are arranged along the left and right sides of a plane of symmetry in the seat bottom 14 to provide massage pressure along the standard position of the seat occupant's legs when the massage elements 22 are activated.

[0029] For illustrative purposes, Figure 1The massage elements 22 are arranged to correspond to the conventional anatomical locations of the major muscle groups of the seat occupant. However, the placement and arrangement of the massage elements 22 can vary depending on the geometry and structural configuration of the seat 14, the number, size, and shape of the massage elements 22, and the type of massage elements 22. The massage elements 22 may be used only in one of the seat base 14 or the seat back 16, or in both. As described below, the massage elements 22 may be arranged to operate independently, or they may be arranged to operate in groups or areas.

[0030] In the exemplary seat 12, the plurality of massage elements 22 are hollow bodies configured to be pressurized using a medium. An example of a hollow body element is an airbag. Other types of massage elements are also possible, including but not limited to massage percussion and actuator-type massage mechanisms. Therefore, while other configurations are possible, the following description and illustrations pertain to a seat 12 in which the plurality of massage elements 22 are airbags. The hollow body of the airbag can be pressurized using a medium (e.g., pressurized air). The airbag can be pneumatically or electro-pneumatically pressurized via separate tubing (not shown).

[0031] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The image shows a cross-sectional side view of the seat base 14. The seat base 14 includes a foam pad 24 located below the cover 20 and supporting multiple massage elements 22. The foam pad 24 has a first side facing the cover 20 and an opposite second side. Figure 2 As shown, each of the plurality of massage elements 22 includes a surface 22a facing the cover 20. A heating layer 26 is disposed on at least a portion of the surface 22a forming the contact area, such that when the heating layer 26 is activated, pressure and / or heat are applied to the seat occupant at the contact area. The size and shape of the contact area may vary depending on the type of massage element and heating layer. The heating layer 26 is configured to selectively generate heat such that the heat is locally combined with the pressure acting on the seat occupant via the pressurization of the massage element 22. This integrated combination of heat and massage action mimics the sensation of a hot stone massage. The heating layer 26 may include any heater that can be adhered, bonded, or otherwise attached to at least a portion of the surface 22a of the massage element 22, enabling localized heat localization in conjunction with the massage action of the massage element 22. As an example, the heating layer 26 may include, for example, a conductive coating, a laminated resistance heater, a thin-film printed heater including conductive traces, a flexible heater, and a carbon-based heater.

[0032] The seat system 10 can also include a heating pad 28 located beneath the trim cover 20. The heating pad 28 is a seat heater having heating elements in the form of heating wires. Alternatively, the heating pad can be formed as a carbon heater or a flexible heater. Other configurations are possible. The heating pad 28 includes apertures at locations where the heating pad 28 overlies the massage elements 22. In one example, as shown (with the seat cover omitted), the apertures are slits 30 positioned along at least a portion of the periphery of the massage elements 22 so that the massage elements 22 are able to move relative to the heating pad 28 when the massage elements are activated. In another example, as shown (with the seat cover omitted), the apertures are openings 31 extending along the surface 22a of the massage elements 22 and the surface 22a of the massage elements 22 is exposed through the openings 31 so that the massage elements 22 are able to move unimpeded when the massage elements 22 are activated. Figure 3 Figure 4

[0033] Figure 5 An example control architecture for the seat system 10 and including a controller 32 is shown. The plurality of massage elements 22 are configured to operate independently of one another by the controller 32 (more specifically, by a valve block 32a). In this manner, the massage elements 22 can be configured to act individually or in groups (i.e., subsets) to provide targeted stimulation. Similarly, the heating layers 26 are configured to operate independently of one another by the controller 32 (more specifically, by a heat controller 32b). In this manner, the heating layers 26 can be configured to operate individually, in groups (i.e., subsets), in unison with the plurality of massage elements 22, or independently of the massage elements 22. The controller 32 is also configured to control the function of the heating pad 28 independently of the massage elements 22 and the heating layers 26.

[0034] The selection of the plurality of massage elements 22 to activate and the temperature setting of the heating layers 26 can be performed in various ways in the seat system 10. One way includes a user providing manual input to the controller 32. In this regard, the seat system 10 also includes an input device in the form of a human-machine interface (HMI) device 34 in communication with the controller 32. A user, such as a seat occupant, accesses the HMI device 34 to provide manual input to the controller 32. For example, the HMI device 34 can include a touchscreen, knobs, buttons, a microphone for voice commands, etc. The seat occupant accesses the HMI device 34 to select which massage elements 22 to activate, the temperature setting of the heating layers 26 to activate, the duration of activation, etc. The controller 32 activates the massage elements 22, the heating layers 26, and the heating pad 28 in sequence according to the user input.

[0035] ​​The user can also select a preprogrammed message program by accessing an input device in communication with the controller 32. In this regard, the seating system 10 also includes a graphical user interface (GUI) 36 in communication with the controller 32. The GUI 36 is configured to display preprogrammed options for the user to view. The user accesses the GUI 36 to select one of the preprogrammed options, and the controller 32 in turn activates the corresponding massage elements 22 and heating layers 26.

[0036] The controllers described herein can be implemented as a single dedicated controller or can include multiple controllers, each of which can be implemented as an electronic control unit or other controller configured to perform the functions described herein. In particular, and as further described below, a controller (e.g., a controller coupled to a vehicle seat) can be configured to receive data from other system components. Each controller (also referred to as a computer) can be implemented as any device capable of performing the functions described herein. For example, each controller can be implemented as an electronic control unit, an embedded controller, a control circuit, a microcontroller, a computing device, an on-board computer, and / or any other computing device capable of performing the functions described herein.

[0037] An example controller includes a processor, an I / O subsystem, a memory, a data storage device, and a communication circuit. In other embodiments, the controller can include other or additional components, such as those commonly found in an electronic control unit (e.g., various input / output devices). Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more example components can be incorporated in, or otherwise form a portion of, another component. For example, the memory, or portions thereof, can be incorporated in the processor.

[0038] The processor can be implemented as any type of processor capable of performing the functions described herein. For example, the processor can be implemented as a microcontroller, digital signal processor, single-core or multi-core processor, or other processing memory or processing / control circuitry. Similarly, the memory can be implemented as any type of volatile or non-volatile memory or data memory capable of performing the functions described herein. In operation, the memory can store various data and software used during the operation of the processor, such as operating systems, applications, programs, function libraries, and drivers. The memory is coupled to the processor via an I / O subsystem, which can be implemented as circuitry and / or components facilitating input / output operations with the processor, memory, and other components of the controller. For example, the I / O subsystem can be implemented as or additionally include memory controller hubs, input / output control hubs, firmware devices, communication links (i.e., point-to-point links, bus links, wires, cables, optical fibers, printed circuit board traces, etc.) and / or other components and subsystems facilitating input / output operations. In some embodiments, the I / O subsystem may form part of a system-on-a-chip (SoC) and be integrated on a single integrated circuit chip along with other components such as the processor, memory, and controller.

[0039] The vehicle seat bottom 10 may include other components not explicitly shown in the accompanying drawings, such as a seat cushion and / or decorative cover. Furthermore, in practice, the vehicle seat back may be attached to the vehicle seat bottom 10 to form a vehicle seat.

[0040] It should be understood that the foregoing description is of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but is defined only by the appended claims. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to specific embodiments and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention or the definition of the terms used in the claims unless the terms or phrases are expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0041] As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “similar,” as well as the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and other verb forms thereof, when used in conjunction with a list of one or more components or other items, shall be interpreted as open-ended, meaning that the list should not be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms shall be interpreted using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

Claims

1. A seat having a seat base and a seat back, wherein at least one of the seat base and the seat back comprises: Cover, featuring a seat surface; Multiple individually controllable massage elements are located below the cover, each of the multiple individually controllable massage elements having a surface facing the cover, wherein at least a portion of the surface facing the cover includes a heating layer configured to selectively generate heat; as well as A heating pad, located beneath the decorative cover, covers the plurality of individually controllable massage elements. The heating pad includes holes at the locations where it covers the plurality of individually controllable massage elements. The holes are at least partially positioned slits along the periphery of the plurality of individually controllable massage elements, allowing the plurality of individually controllable massage elements to move relative to the heating pad.

2. The seat according to claim 1, wherein, The heating layer is at least one of a conductive coating, a laminated resistance heater, a flexible heater, and a carbon heater.

3. The seat according to claim 1, wherein, The heating layer defines a contact area on the surface of each of the plurality of individually controllable massage elements, the contact area applying pressure to the seat occupant when the plurality of individually controllable massage elements are activated.

4. The seat according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of individually controllable massage elements are pressurized elements configured to be pneumatically or electro-pneumatically activated.

5. The seat according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of individually controllable massage elements are operatively connected to a controller configured to selectively and independently activate the plurality of individually controllable massage elements and the heating layer.

6. The seat according to claim 1, wherein, The multiple individually controllable massage elements are inflatable airbags.

7. The seat according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of individually controllable massage elements are hollow bodies configured to be pressurized using a medium.

8. The seat according to claim 1, wherein, The heating pad is a carbon heater or a flexible heater.

9. The seat according to claim 1, further comprising a foam pad located below the cover, the foam pad having a first side facing the cover and an opposite second side.

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