Adaptive Vehicle Head Restraint Positioning for Comfort and Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle head restraints often position occupants uncomfortably, particularly those with smaller stature, neck injuries, or certain hairstyles, leading to discomfort and potential neck fatigue, as they adjust the head restraint to improve comfort, compromising its correct positioning.
Innovation Solution
A positioning system that includes proximity and force sensors to monitor the fore-aft distance and contact force between the occupant's head and the head restraint, adjusting its position within a defined bounding range to ensure comfort and correct positioning, using actuators controlled by processors that dynamically update the bounding range based on user preferences and vehicle dynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the head restraint is positioned at its default fore-aft position to minimize head and neck travel during sudden acceleration or deceleration, then safety protection is improved, but occupant comfort deteriorates due to neck fatigue and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The head restraint positioning system transitions from a static default position to a dynamic adaptive position. The system continuously monitors occupant characteristics (height, weight, seating position) and vehicle dynamics (acceleration, deceleration, steering angle) to automatically adjust the head restraint fore-aft position in real-time, optimizing both safety and comfort for different driving conditions and occupant types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the head restraint based on detected occupant characteristics and vehicle conditions. By varying the fore-aft distance between the head restraint and occupant head, the system adapts to different occupant sizes and driving scenarios, resolving the conflict between fixed safety positioning and variable comfort requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the head restraint is positioned closer to the occupant's head to improve comfort for smaller occupants, then comfort is improved, but the effectiveness during sudden acceleration or deceleration events deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the head restraint position based on real-time vehicle dynamics data. During normal driving conditions, the system positions the head restraint for comfort, while during detected sudden acceleration or deceleration events, it automatically repositions to optimize safety protection, thus resolving the static trade-off between comfort and protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically monitors vehicle dynamics parameters (acceleration, deceleration, steering angle) and occupant characteristics, making discrete adjustments to the head restraint position. This periodic assessment and adjustment cycle allows the system to maintain comfort during normal operation while ensuring protection effectiveness when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A positioning system for a head restraint in a vehicle includes one or more head restraint actuators, one or more proximity sensors positioned oriented to detect a fore-aft distance of a head of an occupant relative to the head restraint, and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers include one or more processors that execute instructions to determine the fore-aft position of the head restraint based on the fore-aft distance and compare the fore-aft position of the head restraint with a fore-aft bounding range of the head restraint. In response to determining the fore-aft position of the head restraint falls outside the fore-aft bounding range, the one or more controllers instruct the one or more head restraint actuators to adjust the fore-aft position of the head restraint to fall within the fore-aft bounding range. In embodiments, the positioning system includes one or more force sensors.