Dynamic pneumatic support system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat pneumatic support systems lose comfort and become uncomfortable during strong motion forces, such as those experienced during vehicle tilting or curved motion, as they fail to adapt to changing orientations and accelerations, potentially distracting drivers and reducing their attention to the road.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic pneumatic support system integrated into the vehicle seat backrest, featuring lumbar and dorsal support bladders with a pump unit and electronic control unit that automatically adjusts air pressure based on orientation and acceleration data from sensors, ensuring continuous comfort by increasing or decreasing cushioning in stressed regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If inflatable support elements are integrated into vehicle seats to provide passenger-adjusted cushioning, then seating comfort is improved, but the seat weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cushioning properties of the seat adjustable through inflatable support elements that can change their inflation state. The support elements can be inflated or deflated to adapt to different seating positions and motion conditions, transforming a static seat into a dynamic system that responds to changing requirements during vehicle operation.
2Ease of operation
If the cushioning pressure is increased to maintain comfort during strong motion forces, then passenger support is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using sensors to detect the actual seating position and motion forces acting on the passenger, then using this information to automatically adjust the cushioning pressure of the inflatable support elements. This closed-loop control system ensures optimal passenger support while avoiding excessive energy consumption by only inflating or deflating bladders when and where needed, rather than maintaining high pressure continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different cushioning pressures in different regions of the seat. Instead of uniformly increasing pressure throughout the entire seat, the system selectively adjusts the inflation state of individual support elements (lumbar, dorsal, side supports) based on local requirements detected by sensors, thereby maintaining comfort during motion forces while minimizing overall energy consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of cushioning is provided for different seating positions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the seat cushioning system to automatically adjust itself without requiring manual intervention from the passenger. Sensors detect the seating position and motion conditions, and the control system automatically actuates the appropriate support elements to provide optimal cushioning, thereby maintaining high adaptability while avoiding the complexity of manual adjustment mechanisms.
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
The system maintains passenger comfort during various vehicle motions by dynamically adjusting air pressure in the bladders, counteracting gravitational and centrifugal forces, thus preventing unwanted seating positions and enhancing overall seating experience.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor unit connected to the electronic control unit for automatically measuring orientation and/or acceleration of the back rest and providing orientation and/or acceleration data to the electronic control unit
Implementation Method 2
a pump unit for supplying the lumbar support bladder and the dorsal support bladder individually with air
Implementation Method 3
The system maintains passenger comfort during various vehicle motions by dynamically adjusting air pressure in the bladders, counteracting gravitational and centrifugal forces
Implementation Method 4
counteracting gravitational and centrifugal forces
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dynamic pneumatic support system 1 for integration into a back rest 12 of a vehicle seat 10, the dynamic pneumatic support system 1 comprising at least one lumbar support bladder 62, arranged at a lumbar region of a back rest 12; at least one dorsal support bladder 72, arranged at least at a shoulder region of the back rest 12; a pump unit 30 for supplying the lumbar support bladder 62 and the dorsal support bladder 72 individually with air; an electronic control unit 40 for controlling the pump unit 30; and a sensor unit 50 connected to the electronic control unit 40 for automatically measuring orientation and/or acceleration A of the back rest 12 and providing orientation and/or acceleration data to the electronic control unit 40; wherein the electronic control unit 40 can, based on the orientation and/or acceleration data, control the pump unit 30, for automatically and individually controlling the pressure of at least the lumbar support bladder 62 and dorsal support bladder 72. The invention further relates to a method of self-adjusting a dynamic pneumatic support system and a vehicle seat 10 including a dynamic pneumatic support system 1.