Vehicle Seat Armrest Counter-Rotation for Resting Position
Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle seats need to be adjustable between driving and resting positions while maintaining comfort, especially when the occupant is no longer sitting in the direction of travel during autonomous driving, and existing solutions fail to provide optimal armrest accessibility and space utilization.
Innovation Solution
The seat features a drive device that rotates the armrest in the opposite direction of the seat cushion, making it accessible in the resting position, and the seat cushion moves inward, optimizing space and comfort, with a rotational angle of 10-15° for enhanced comfort and collision avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat cushion is rotated from driving position to resting position, then the occupant can assume a resting position suitable for autonomous driving, but the armrest becomes inaccessible or hidden behind the backrest
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position dynamically. A drive device rotates the armrest around a vertical axis, enabling it to move between a stowed position (hidden behind backrest) and an extended position (accessible to occupant), adapting to different seating configurations while maintaining accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest movement is achieved by rotating it around a vertical axis perpendicular to the seat cushion rotation plane. This dimensional change allows the armrest to bypass the backrest obstruction and become accessible without interfering with the seat cushion's rotation from driving to resting position
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat cushion is rotated from driving position to resting position, then the occupant can assume a resting position, but the occupant may collide with vehicle components due to reduced space
Solution Approach 1:
The seat cushion rotation angle is pre-determined and limited to 10-15 degrees, which is sufficient to provide a comfortable resting position while staying clear of vehicle components. This preliminary设定 of the rotation range prevents collision before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation angle parameter of the seat cushion is optimized to a specific range (10-15 degrees) that balances comfort requirements with spatial constraints. By changing this angular parameter, the system achieves both comfort and collision avoidance
3Ease of operation
If the armrest is made accessible in resting position, then seating comfort is improved, but additional installation space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest transitions from a static component to a dynamic one that can be positioned as needed. In driving position, it is stowed behind the backrest; in resting position, it is extended for accessibility. This dynamic positioning eliminates the need for permanent additional space
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest is moved along a vertical axis perpendicular to the traditional horizontal extension direction. This allows the armrest to achieve accessibility in the resting position without requiring additional lateral installation space, as it extends in a different dimensional direction
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A seat (1) for a motor vehicle has a seat cushion (3), a backrest (4) and an armrest (8). The seat cushion (3) is rotatably mounted about a substantially vertical axis of rotation (5) and can be transferred from a driving position into a resting position by a drive system (6). The armrest (8) is rotatably mounted and can be moved by a drive system (10) such that when the seat cushion (3) is moved from the driving position into the resting position, the armrest (8) executes a rotational movement counter to the direction of the rotational movement of the seat cushion (3).