Vehicle Seat Back Orientation Control During Turns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats lack the ability to dynamically adjust the orientation of the rest surface in response to the occupant's situation, such as during turns, which can affect comfort and safety.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with an actuator that can laterally adjust the orientation of the rest surface, controlled by a controller with a run-time posture support unit that adjusts the seat orientation based on vehicle turns, occupant preferences, and driving modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rest surface orientation is fixed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different driving situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rest surface orientation is made dynamically adjustable through an actuator that can change the orientation based on detected driving situations (turns, lane changes). The control unit receives signals from detection units and automatically adjusts the rest surface to maintain optimal orientation relative to the vehicle's direction of travel, transforming a static structure into a dynamic adaptive system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rest surface orientation is adjusted frequently, then the adaptability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment through automated detection and control. Detection units monitor driving situations (turns, lane changes), and the control unit automatically actuates the rest surface without requiring manual intervention from the driver or passenger. The system serves itself by detecting its own operational context and making appropriate adjustments autonomously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large actuator is used to move the entire seat, then the rest surface orientation can be changed effectively, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seat structure is segmented into movable and fixed portions. Instead of moving the entire seat, only the rest surface portion is made adjustable through a dedicated actuator. This segmentation allows for a smaller, more compact actuator that moves only the necessary component (the rest surface) rather than the entire seat assembly, reducing overall device complexity and size.
Data Source
AI summary
A car seat includes an actuator capable of changing an orientation of a rest surface of a seat back laterally by turning and moving at least a side portion frame that is part of the car seat frontward and rearward, and a controller configured to exercise control over the actuator. The controller includes a run-time posture support unit configured to execute a run-time posture support control under which when a car makes a turn, the actuator is regulated to cause the rest surface of the seat back to be oriented in a direction of the turn. The run-time posture support unit is configured to regulate the actuator in accordance with a placement of the seat in the car, when the run-time posture support unit executes the run-time posture support control.