Extendable Seatback With Moving Upper Frame for Occupant Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats lack the ability to dynamically adjust to accommodate occupants of varying sizes, leading to suboptimal comfort and safety, particularly in terms of seatback positioning and seatbelt webbing management.
Innovation Solution
An extendable seatback system with a movable upper frame and actuator, such as a rack and pinion mechanism, adjusts based on occupant size using sensors to optimize seatback position and webbing guide alignment, integrated with a computer system for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seatback is made fixed in position, then the structural complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different occupant sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seatback is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing it to change position between retracted and extended states. The upper frame can move relative to the lower frame along guide rails, enabling the seatback to adapt to different occupant sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through controlled movement rather than complex multi-position mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The seatback frame is segmented into a lower frame and an upper frame that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the upper frame to adjust its position while the lower frame remains stable, providing adaptability without requiring the entire seatback structure to be complex
2Adaptability or versatility
If the webbing guide is fixed to the vehicle structure, then the webbing management is simplified, but the seatbelt effectiveness for different occupant sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The webbing guide is merged with the movable upper frame of the seatback rather than being fixed to the vehicle structure. This combination ensures that the webbing guide moves synchronously with the seatback, maintaining proper alignment for effective seatbelt positioning while adapting to different occupant sizes without requiring separate complex alignment mechanisms
3Ease of operation
If manual seatback adjustment is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the comfort and safety optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect occupant presence and characteristics, automatically triggering the seatback adjustment without requiring manual operation. The actuator system performs the adjustment autonomously based on sensor input, optimizing comfort and safety while maintaining ease of operation through self-service functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors provide feedback about occupant presence and characteristics to the control system, which then adjusts the seatback position accordingly. This feedback loop enables automatic optimization of seatback positioning for different occupants, improving comfort and safety while managing the complexity through intelligent control
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a seatback frame having a lower frame and an upper frame carried by and movable relative to the lower frame between a retracted position and an extended position. An actuator is operatively coupled to the upper frame to move the upper frame between the retracted position and the extended position.