Multi-Position Vehicle Seat with Automated Lateral and Rotational Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Luxury vehicles' rear seats lack versatility and comfort, limiting passengers' ability to converse and enjoy the ride, as they only differ from conventional cars in material selection and seat padding.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows rear vehicle seats to move laterally, forward and backward, and rotate, using a dual track system with electro-mechanical drive units and a controller, which can be automated or manually operated, to optimize seat positions based on user selection or vehicle conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rear seats are made fixed and simple like conventional cars, then device complexity is reduced, but seating comfort and versatility are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the rear seats movable rather than fixed. The seats can be adjusted to multiple positions including forward, backward, lateral movements and rotation, allowing the seating configuration to dynamically adapt to different passenger needs and vehicle conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the rear seats to perform multiple functions: they can serve as regular seating, convert to egress assistance positions, create additional legroom configurations, and facilitate passenger interaction. The same seat structure accomplishes various purposes through positional changes.
2Ease of operation
If automated seat positioning system is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the seat positioning system to automatically adjust seat positions based on detected vehicle conditions (such as door opening, parking brake status, gear selection) without requiring manual intervention from passengers. The system serves itself by monitoring conditions and executing appropriate seat movements autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to monitor vehicle conditions (door handles, parking brake, gear position) and feeding this information back to the control system, which then automatically adjusts seat positions in response to these detected conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of positioning a vehicle seat is provided in which the vehicle seat is configured to allow movement laterally (i.e., side-to-side), fore-aft (i.e., forwards-backwards), and rotationally. In addition to allowing a user to select a particular seat position, the method monitors an internal vehicle door handle and automatically moves the seat from its current position to a preset position whenever the door handle is activated (e.g., touched).