Motor-Driven Head Restraint with Conductive Brush Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat head restraints lack efficient mechanisms for precise and safe adjustment, particularly during impacts, as they often rely on manual operation and can be cumbersome in providing adequate protection and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A movable head restraint assembly with a power adaptation system that includes a motor-driven mechanism, utilizing a body control module to control the motor for controlled and rapid adjustment, and a conductive brush system for continuous power supply, allowing for both manual and automated adjustment and enhanced safety positioning during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual adjustment mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adjustment precision and safety during impacts deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely manual mechanical adjustment system with an automated motor-driven system. The motor-driven mechanism provides precise control of head restraint position through electrical actuation, eliminating the imprecision and safety issues associated with manual adjustment while maintaining manageable system complexity through integration with the vehicle's existing power and control systems.
2Reliability
If motor-driven mechanism is added, then adjustment precision and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven adjustment mechanism is designed to serve multiple functions: normal height adjustment, impact safety positioning, and integration with the vehicle's existing body control module. By sharing control infrastructure and power systems with other vehicle functions, the patent achieves improved safety and precision without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic positioning capabilities that can activate without direct user input during impact events. The body control module automatically controls the motor to position the head restraint in safe positions based on impact detection, reducing the need for complex manual intervention systems while maintaining high safety levels.
3Productivity
If continuous power supply system is implemented, then adjustment efficiency and safety are improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive brush system provides continuous power availability but the motor operation is activated only when adjustment is needed - either through user request or automatic impact detection. This periodic activation pattern maintains high adjustment efficiency when needed while minimizing energy consumption during normal vehicle operation, effectively decoupling power availability from continuous energy draw.
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
Enables precise, safe, and efficient adjustment of the head restraint, ensuring optimal protection and comfort by providing motor-driven translation with continuous power supply, addressing the limitations of manual operation and enhancing safety during impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive brush system for continuous power supply
Implementation Method 2
motor-driven mechanism, utilizing a body control module to control the motor for controlled and rapid adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
A height adjustable head restraint assembly is provided with an upright guide adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body proximate to a seat back. The guide has a cross section. A frame has a cavity with a cross section oversized relative to that of the guide to receive the guide. At least one of the guides in the frame has a plurality of projections extending to engage the other for providing guidance therebetween. A head restraint is mounted to the frame for translation along the guide. A motor is mounted to the frame for driving a threaded rod that is engaged with a fixed nut that is mounted to the guide for translating the head restraint. A pair of conductive brushes is provided on the guide and a pair of conductive contacts is mounted to the frame in electrical communication with the motor for providing power to the motor.