Seat Assembly with Independent Bladder Control for Breathing Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Some seat assemblies lack comfort, functionality, and the ability to monitor or regulate breathing patterns, failing to provide a relaxing effect or reduce biomedical irregularities.

Innovation Solution

A seat assembly incorporating a first bladder assembly for a hugging effect, a second bladder assembly for guided breathing, a biomedical sensor, and an electrical control unit (ECU) to independently control these components, maintaining inflation levels and simulating breathing patterns to reduce irregularities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a seat assembly includes multiple bladder assemblies and control units to provide hugging effect and guided breathing, then comfort and functionality are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat assembly is divided into multiple independent bladder assemblies (first bladder assembly for hugging effect, second bladder assembly for guided breathing) that can be controlled independently. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall system versatility without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical control unit is designed to independently control multiple bladder assemblies for different functions (hugging effect, guided breathing, irregularity reduction). This multi-functionality approach consolidates control capabilities into a single unit, improving versatility while managing device complexity through integrated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the ECU independently controls multiple bladder assemblies to provide hugging effect and guided breathing, then breathing regulation effectiveness is improved, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreathing regulation effectivenessVSAvoidcontrol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into distinct control pathways for different bladder assemblies. The ECU independently controls the first bladder assembly for hugging effect and the second bladder assembly for guided breathing, allowing each control function to be optimized separately while maintaining overall breathing regulation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates sensors to detect breathing patterns and provides feedback to the ECU, which then adjusts the bladder assembly inflation/deflation cycles accordingly. This feedback mechanism improves breathing regulation effectiveness by continuously monitoring and responding to user breathing states, while the automated feedback loop manages control complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the seat assembly includes sensors and multiple bladder assemblies to monitor and guide breathing, then breathing pattern monitoring capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreathing pattern monitoring capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical control unit serves multiple functions: it controls bladder assemblies, processes sensor data from breathing pattern sensors, and implements breathing guidance algorithms. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise be separate systems into a single controllable unit, improving measurement and control capability while simplifying the manufacturing process through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If the first bladder assembly maintains constant inflation to provide hugging effect, then user comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser comfortVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The second bladder assembly operates with periodic inflation and deflation cycles to provide guided breathing effects. While the first bladder assembly maintains constant inflation for hugging comfort, the periodic operation of the second assembly allows energy recovery during deflation phases and reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation of all components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11590873B2Seat assembly

Publication Date: 2023.02.28 LEAR CORP

AI summary

A seat assembly may include a seat, a first bladder assembly connected to the seat, a second bladder assembly connected to the seat, and/or an electrical control unit (ECU) configured to independently control the first bladder assembly and the second bladder assembly. The ECU may be configured to maintain a level of inflation of the first bladder assembly to provide a hugging effect to a user of the seat while inflating and deflating the second bladder assembly to guide breathing of said user.