Vehicle Knee Support Structure for Pedal Posture Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers with low muscle strength, such as the elderly, often mistake the accelerator pedal for the brake pedal due to leg inclination, leading to a dangerous driving posture and increased risk of incorrect pedal operation.
Innovation Solution
An occupant knee support device with a knee outer side surface support member and a knee lower surface support member that transition from a stored state to a support state to maintain the knee in an appropriate position, using an actuator unit and foot inclination detection to correct the driver's posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the knee support device is not provided, then the structure remains simple and cost-effective, but the knee position cannot be corrected leading to dangerous driving states
Solution Approach 1:
The knee support device is divided into separate components: a knee support member with outer side and lower surface support portions, and a storage space within the seat cushion. This segmentation allows the support function to be added without completely redesigning the seat structure, thereby improving reliability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The knee support member is stored within a storage space formed in the seat cushion when not in use. This nesting approach allows the support device to be integrated into the existing seat structure without occupying additional space, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining the safety function.
2Reliability
If the knee support member is always extended, then the knee position is continuously corrected, but the device occupies space and increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The knee support member is designed to be movable between an extended support position and a retracted storage position. This dynamic capability allows the device to provide knee position stability when needed while minimizing space occupation and mechanical complexity when the support function is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The knee support member is positioned in advance within the storage space of the seat cushion, ready to be deployed when knee support is needed. This preliminary positioning reduces the complexity of the deployment mechanism while ensuring the support function is available when required for maintaining knee position stability.
3Ease of operation
If manual adjustment is required, then the device structure is simpler, but the ease of operation is reduced for elderly drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The knee support device automatically detects when support is needed and activates without requiring manual operation by the driver. This self-service capability improves ease of operation for elderly drivers while minimizing control system complexity by using simple sensors and automatic control logic rather than complex user interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses feedback from sensors that detect knee position or seat occupancy to automatically activate the knee support function. This feedback mechanism enables easy operation without manual adjustment while keeping the control system relatively simple by using direct sensor-to-actuator control rather than complex processing.
4Reliability
If the knee support member protrudes significantly, then the support effectiveness is improved, but the stored state occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The knee support member is designed to protrude in a direction that utilizes the vertical space above the seat cushion rather than expanding the horizontal footprint. This dimensional approach allows the support member to achieve sufficient protrusion for effective knee support while minimizing the storage space volume required within the seat cushion structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The knee support member concentrates its support function at the specific location where knee contact is needed, with the outer side support portion and lower surface support portion positioned to provide targeted support. This localized quality approach allows effective support with minimal protrusion distance, reducing the storage space volume required while maintaining support effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant knee support device provided in a vehicle includes a knee outer side surface support member and a knee lower surface support member. The knee outer side surface support member is disposed in a side part of the seat surface part in a stored state, protrudes forward and upward beyond the seat surface part in a support state to support an outer side surface of a knee of the occupant. The knee lower surface support member is, in the stored state, provided in a vicinity of a front end part of the seat surface part and separated from a lower surface of the knee of the occupant. The knee lower surface support member is configured to support the lower surface of the knee of the occupant in the supported state.