Contactless Radar Sensor for Manual Vehicle Seat Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat adjustment systems, both mechanical and electro-mechanical, face issues with wear, oxidation, and complex calibration requirements, particularly when adjusting seats manually, which can lead to inaccuracies and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat system utilizing optical, ultrasonic, or magnetic sensors to measure distance and position without contact, allowing for manual adjustment and notification of preferred positions through acoustic, visual, or vibrotactile signals, enabling easy repositioning of seat stroke, height, and reclination without automatic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contact-based sensors (potentiometers, magnetic strips with Hall effect sensors) are used to measure seat position, then position measurement capability is achieved, but the system becomes subject to wear, oxidation, and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based mechanical sensors (potentiometers, magnetic strips with Hall effect sensors) with contactless radar-based sensors. This substitution eliminates wear and oxidation issues associated with physical contact components while maintaining position measurement capability. The radar system uses electromagnetic waves to detect seat position without physical contact, thereby improving reliability and reducing maintenance needs.
2Ease of operation
If electro-mechanical adjustment systems with motors are used, then automatic seat repositioning capability is achieved, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables manual seat adjustment to become self-guided through the integration of radar sensing and haptic feedback. The system detects the user's manual adjustment actions and provides directional haptic cues to guide the user to the memorized position without requiring electro-mechanical motors or automatic actuation. This approach maintains ease of operation while avoiding the complexity of electro-mechanical adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through haptic actuators that provide tactile guidance to the user during manual seat adjustment. The feedback mechanism detects the user's adjustment movements and provides directional cues (pushing or resisting movement) to guide the seat to the predetermined position. This feedback loop enables accurate repositioning without requiring complex electro-mechanical actuation systems.
3Device complexity
If manual seat adjustment is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but positioning accuracy and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances manual positioning accuracy through real-time radar monitoring and haptic feedback. The radar system continuously tracks seat position with high precision, and the haptic actuators provide tactile guidance to the user, enabling accurate achievement of the memorized position. This feedback mechanism maintains system simplicity while significantly improving positioning accuracy compared to unassisted manual adjustment.
4Adaptability or versatility
If frequent seat repositioning is required for different users, then adaptability is improved, but time loss due to repeated adjustment attempts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores memorized seat positions for multiple users in advance. When a user enters the vehicle, the system retrieves the predetermined position and guides the user to that position using haptic feedback. This preliminary storage of position data eliminates the need for repeated adjustment attempts, significantly reducing time loss while maintaining multi-user adaptability.
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 quick and reliable manual repositioning of vehicle seats, reducing complexity and maintenance needs, while ensuring accurate positioning for comfort and safety, even on manually adjusted seats, by providing direct user feedback on achieving memorized positions.
Implementation Method 1
A vehicle seat system utilizing optical, ultrasonic, or magnetic sensors to measure distance and position without contact
Implementation Method 2
A vehicle seat system utilizing optical, ultrasonic, or magnetic sensors to measure distance and position without contact
Implementation Method 3
A vehicle seat system utilizing optical, ultrasonic, or magnetic sensors to measure distance and position without contact
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for manual repositioning a vehicle seat, of the type having a rail (11) and a slide (10) configured to move on the rail (11), a seat (40) configured to move orthogonally to the rail (11) and a seatback (16) pivotally connected to the seat (40). The system comprises at least one slide sensor (2) having a first sensor portion (2') integral to the slide (10) and a second sensor portion (2") integral to the rail (11). The slide sensor (2) configured to measure the distance between the first (2') and the second (2") sensor portion in at any of the plurality of positions of the slide (10) on the rail (11). A control unit (70) is provided connected logically to at least one among the first and second sensor portion (2', 2") of the slide sensor (2) and configured to receive by the slide sensor (2) to distance signal proportional to one of the plurality of positions. A memory element can be provided (80) configured to store a distance signal in at least one preferred position selected by a user among the plurality of positions. A signalling unit (90) is provided configured to store (80) a preferred position of the slide (10) with respect to the chassis (9) selected by a user among the intermediate positions, for measuring a relative movement caused manually by the user between the slide (10) and the rail (11), comparing the distance signal determined by the slide sensor (2) in an actual position of the slide (10) with a distance signal of at least one preferred position; emitting (90) a notification signal directly to the user when the actual position is coincident with the preferred position. Similar arrangements are provided for the height and reclination adjustment.