Pre-Crash Seat Actuation With Dual-Signal Fast-Mode Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat actuator systems lack effective mechanisms to minimize inadvertent operation and mitigate collision severity for occupants during imminent collisions.
Innovation Solution
A pre-crash seat actuator system incorporating an electronic stability control, pre-collision sensor unit, and occupant protection control system, which provides trigger and enable signals to a vehicle seat controller to move the seat in a fast mode, utilizing a smart control adapter to determine and apply the necessary voltage to the seat electric drive for optimal positioning to reduce collision impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pre-crash seat actuator system is implemented to rapidly reposition the vehicle seat during imminent collision, then collision severity mitigation is improved, but the risk of inadvertent operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting imminent collisions through sensor units (radar, LIDAR, cameras) and preparing the seat actuator system in advance. The occupant protection control system receives collision probability information and triggers seat repositioning before the actual collision occurs, ensuring optimal protection while maintaining control over the actuation timing
Solution Approach 2:
The smart control adapter serves as an intermediary between the vehicle seat controller and the seat electric drive. It receives trigger signals and enable signals from the occupant protection control system, verifies collision probability information, and selectively activates the fast mode voltage only when both conditions are met, thereby preventing inadvertent operation while enabling rapid seat repositioning when needed
2Reliability
If a smart control adapter with dual-signal verification is used to prevent inadvertent operation, then system safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart control adapter merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: it receives and processes trigger signals from the vehicle seat controller, receives and verifies enable signals from the occupant protection control system, senses voltage levels, and controls the seat electric drive activation. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate control units for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The smart control adapter performs self-verification by internally comparing the trigger signal and enable signal conditions before activating the fast mode voltage. The system uses its own integrated logic to determine whether seat repositioning should occur, eliminating the need for additional external verification components and reducing system complexity
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
Effectively mitigates collision severity by rapidly repositioning the vehicle seat to a safer configuration, preventing inadvertent actuation and enhancing occupant safety during potential collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage sensor for sensing the voltage received from the vehicle seat controller
Implementation Method 2
a pre-collision sensor unit for sensing objects near the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
a pre-collision sensor unit for sensing objects near the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A pre-crash seat actuator system for moving a vehicle seat includes an occupant protection control system that determines a collision is imminent and provides a trigger signal and an enable signal. A vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and determines a moving the vehicle seat to a desired position to mitigate severity of a collision. In response to the trigger signal, the vehicle seat controller provides a fast mode voltage for moving the vehicle seat in a fast mode. A smart control adapter determines whether the fast mode voltage and the enable signal are both received, to provide the fast mode voltage to a vehicle seat electric drive. In another embodiment, the vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and a collision signal to provide fast mode voltage, and the seat is returned to an original position when a crash does not occur.