Vehicle Seat Back Angle Interlock for Easier Comfort Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat designs require users to independently adjust the reclining angle of the lower seat back and the middle bend angle of the upper seat back, making it complicated to find suitable angles for occupants.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with recliner drive means and middle bend drive means connected through a control part that performs interlock control, allowing the reclining and middle bend angles to be adjusted together based on a predetermined interlock function, simplifying the adjustment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the reclining angle and middle bend angle are adjusted independently through user manipulation, then the degree of freedom of adjustment is increased, but the manipulation becomes complicated and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The control part acts as an intermediary between the user and the two drive means. When the user operates one switch, the control part automatically coordinates both the recliner drive means and middle bend drive means to adjust both angles according to the interlock function, thereby maintaining high adaptability while simplifying user manipulation to a single switch operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control part merges the control of two independent adjustment systems into a coordinated system. By combining the reclining angle adjustment and middle bend angle adjustment under a single control logic with interlock function, the system maintains the versatility of dual-angle adjustment while presenting a simplified single-switch interface to the user.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reclining angle and middle bend angle are adjusted independently, then the adjustment flexibility is improved, but it becomes difficult to adjust the seat suitably for the occupant
Solution Approach 1:
The control part implements a feedback mechanism where the current states of both the reclining angle and middle bend angle are monitored. Based on this feedback and the interlock function, the system automatically determines the coordinated adjustment pattern, ensuring that the seat is adjusted to suitable positions for the occupant while maintaining adjustment flexibility through the interlock function definition.
Solution Approach 2:
The control part serves as an intelligent intermediary that translates single-switch user input into coordinated adjustments of both angles. The interlock function embedded in the control part ensures that the adjustments follow suitable patterns for occupant comfort, eliminating the difficulty of manual coordination while preserving flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two separate drive means are used for reclining and middle bend adjustment, then the adjustment capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control logic for two separate drive means into a single control part with an interlock function. This consolidation maintains the adjustment capability of both reclining and middle bend mechanisms while reducing control system complexity by eliminating the need for independent control circuits and reducing the number of control switches required.
Data Source
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AI summary
A seat (1) includes a seat cushion (2); a seat back (3) divided into an upper seat back (4) and a lower seat back (5), the upper seat back (4) and the lower seat back (5) being connected in way that their respective angles can be adjusted; recliner drive means (7) capable of varying a reclining angle which is an angle of the lower seat back (5) to the seat cushion (2); middle bend drive means (10) capable of varying a middle bend angle which is an angle of the upper seat back (4) to the lower seat back (5); and a control part (13) configured to perform interlock control for interlocking the reclining angle and the middle bend angle on the basis of a predetermined interlock function.