Active Vehicle Seat Backrest Movement for Rear Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seat restraint systems fail to reduce the loading and acceleration peaks of occupants during rear-end collisions effectively, as they do not initiate restraint actions early enough to mitigate the impact energy and delay the occupant's acceleration.
Innovation Solution
The method involves actively moving the backrest and headrest of a vehicle seat to apply a momentum or kinetic impulse to the occupant before a collision, creating additional distance between the occupant and the collision point, thereby reducing the impact energy and acceleration peaks by pre-accelerating the occupant and providing an additional absorption path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional restraint systems are used, then the system structure remains simple, but the occupant acceleration peaks are not reduced effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is moved forward in advance before the actual collision occurs, based on detection of collision risk. This preliminary action creates additional distance between the occupant and the collision point, reducing the acceleration peaks that the occupant experiences during the collision.
Solution Approach 2:
The backrest is designed to be actively movable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position dynamically in response to detected collision risks. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to optimize protection by creating additional absorption path while maintaining a compact structure during normal operation.
2Length of moving object
If the backrest is moved forward actively, then the distance between occupant and collision point increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actively movable backrest serves multiple functions: it provides normal seating support during regular operation and simultaneously acts as an active restraint mechanism during collision risks. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving the goal of increasing distance from the collision point.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If restraint action is delayed, then the system operation is simpler, but the loading on occupant increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect collision risks and provides feedback to the control unit, which then activates the backrest movement mechanism. This feedback loop enables the system to respond in real-time to changing conditions, initiating restraint actions earlier and more precisely than fixed or purely reactive systems, thereby reducing occupant loading without excessive time loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the load on the occupant by initiating restraint actions earlier, minimizing acceleration peaks, and creating additional distance from the collision point, thereby easing the consequences of rear impacts.
Implementation Method 1
As a result of the active movement of the backrest and/or of the headrest, a momentum or kinetic impulse can be exerted on the vehicle occupant
Implementation Method 2
As a result of the active movement of the backrest and/or of the headrest, a momentum or kinetic impulse can be exerted on the vehicle occupant
Implementation Method 3
a subsequently acting accident energy in the case of a rear impact (i.e., the absolute amount of the accident energy), and thereby a loading and/or acceleration maximum of the vehicle occupant, is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
In a method of protecting the occupant in a vehicle seat, particularly in a passenger car (the vehicle seat comprising at least a seat surface, a backrest and a headrest), upon detection of a present or imminent rear impact, by means of an active movement of the backrest and/or of the headrest, a force is applied to the vehicle occupant in the direction of the effect of the impact force occurring as a result of the rear impact.