Vehicle Headrest Control with Component Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Luxury vehicles face limitations in reconfiguring their seating arrangements due to bulky seats and armrests, which restrict the ability to fold rear seats and increase loadspace, and there is a need for enhanced functionality such as reclining seats for comfort, particularly in chauffeur-driven vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A method and controller system that checks for the presence of electrical components within the headrest before initiating tilting movement, ensuring that only if the components are present, the headrest can be operated, and a control system manages the movement of various seating components to avoid collisions and optimize comfort and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the headrest is made bulky to provide comfort in luxury vehicles, then comfort is improved, but the ability to fold and reconfigure seating is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest is designed with dynamic tilting capability, allowing it to rotate between a vertical comfort position and a horizontal folded position. This dynamic transformation enables the headrest to provide comfort during normal use while allowing the seat to be folded flat for cargo space when needed, resolving the contradiction between comfort and reconfigurability.
2Ease of operation
If the armrest is made moveable between vertical and horizontal configurations, then comfort is improved, but the complexity of the rear seating assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest function is merged with the headrest structure. The headrest assembly incorporates both the headrest cushion and the armrest cushion as integrated components, allowing the armrest to be positioned horizontally when deployed and vertically when stowed. This merging reduces the number of separate mechanisms needed while maintaining comfort functionality.
3Reliability
If electrical component detection is implemented before headrest tilting, then safety is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary detection of electrical components (such as heating elements or motors) within the headrest before initiating tilting movement. This preliminary check ensures that the headrest is properly equipped and safe to operate, preventing damage or injury. The detection is integrated into the existing control architecture without requiring separate complex safety systems.
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 practical folding of rear seats in luxury vehicles, enhances load carrying capacity, and provides automated comfort features like reclining seats, improving the versatility and comfort of luxury vehicle seating arrangements.
Implementation Method 1
checking for the presence of the at least one electrical component optionally comprises applying a voltage to a contact of an electrical terminal for the, or each, component and measuring an electrical current flow at the, or each, contact
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling tilting movement of a headrest of a seating arrangement of a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving a request for tilting movement of the headrest; determining if the headrest is attached to the seat by checking for the presence of at least one electrical component that is located within the headrest; and operating a tilt motor to commence tilting movement of the headrest in response to the request only if the or each component is found to be present.