Floating Seat Assembly With Self-Locking Adaptive Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat adjustment mechanisms lack the ability to provide improved comfort and safety through autonomous adjustment based on occupant movement, often requiring manual input and lacking self-locking mechanisms for secure positioning.
Innovation Solution
A seat assembly with a self-locking drive unit that adjusts via a combination of occupant body movement and motorized control, utilizing force sensors to measure and respond to forces applied by the occupant, allowing for automatic positioning and adjustment without a separate locking device, and incorporating various modes such as float, adjustment, and driving comfort modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual locking mechanism is used to secure the seat position, then the locking reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit is designed with self-locking capability, allowing it to automatically maintain the seat position without requiring a separate locking mechanism. The drive unit itself performs the locking function through its inherent mechanical properties, eliminating the need for additional locking components and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability
2Reliability
If a separate locking device is added to secure the seat, then the locking reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the drive unit, combining two previously separate functions (driving and locking) into a single integrated component. This merging eliminates the need for a separate locking device while ensuring that the drive unit itself provides secure positioning through its self-locking mechanism
3Ease of operation
If manual input facilities are used for seat adjustment, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the extent of automation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat adjustment system automatically detects and responds to occupant body movements without requiring manual input. The force sensor detects forces applied by the occupant, and the control unit automatically activates the drive unit to adjust the seat position, enabling the system to serve itself and the occupant without manual intervention
4Extent of automation
If force sensors and control units are added for automatic adjustment, then the extent of automation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical adjustment system is replaced with an automated electromechanical system. Force sensors detect occupant forces, and a control unit processes this information to automatically activate the drive unit, substituting manual mechanical operation with an automated sensing and actuation system that reduces the need for manual input facilities
Data Source
AI summary
A floating seat may have at least one seat shell with a seat surface region and a backrest region. The seat may also have a base element on which the seat shell is arranged in an adjustable manner, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the seat shell relative to the base element and/or a seat base. The adjustment mechanism has at least one adjustment unit for adjusting the seat shell and at least one drive unit which is designed to lock the base element and the seat shell in place in a self-locking manner. The lock can be released by a force introduced into the adjustment unit by an occupant sitting in the seat shell via said seat shell as well as by a force introduced into the adjustment unit by the drive unit.