Seat Adjuster Automatic Return via Dynamic Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seatback adjustment systems in vehicles are not convenient for swift folding forward by hand while also requiring manual effort to return to the original position, lacking a seamless automatic adjustment mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A seat adjuster system with a rotating part, rotational drive, engagement target member, and engagement member that allows for automatic adjustment of the seatback's angle, enabling swift folding forward and easy automatic return by engaging and disengaging the engagement member with target portions along the rotating direction, utilizing a controller to manage the lock transition process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mechanical connection between the seatback and the electric reclining device is disengaged to enable swift manual folding forward, then the ease of operation is improved, but the automatic returning function is lost requiring manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between locked and unlocked states based on operational needs. The engagement member can be disengaged from engagement target portions to allow free pivotal movement for swift folding, then re-engaged to enable automatic returning, making the system adaptable to different operational phases
Solution Approach 2:
When the engagement member is engaged with engagement target portions, the seatback automatically returns to its original position using the rotational drive without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by utilizing the engagement mechanism to provide automatic positioning
2Extent of automation
If the engagement member is engaged with engagement target portions to enable automatic adjustment, then the extent of automation is improved, but the ease of swift manual folding is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic transition between engaged and disengaged states. The engagement member can be released from engagement target portions when swift manual folding is needed, and re-engaged when automatic adjustment is required, providing operational flexibility
3Ease of operation
If the seatback is freely pivotally movable relative to the rotating part in unlocked state, then the ease of operation is improved, but the positioning precision is reduced requiring re-engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement target portions act as intermediary positioning elements that guide the engagement member to specific angular positions. When engaged, they provide precise positioning at predetermined angles, resolving the positioning precision issue while maintaining ease of movement when disengaged
Data Source
AI summary
A seat adjuster in one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a rotating part, a rotational drive, an engagement target member, an engagement member, and a controller. The controller executes a lock transition process in a case where a seatback is pivotally moved to a specified front-tilt position, which is further to a forward direction than an upright position is, while the engagement member is in an unlocked state where the engagement member is not engaged with any one of engagement target portions of the engagement target member. The lock transition process is a process where the controller rotates the rotating part via the rotational drive such that one of the engagement target portions is placed at an engageable position, and engages the engagement member with the one of the engagement target portions.