Vehicle seat controller adjusts front seat position for rear legroom
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat systems lack the ability to automatically adjust the front seat to accommodate varying occupant sizes and preferences, particularly in relation to rear seat occupants, leading to inadequate legroom and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat controller that receives inputs on the position of the front seat and occupant characteristics, determining if a recommended occupant space is less than the current space, and adjusts the seat by changing its recline angle and fore-aft position to increase rear occupant space, using sensors and actuators integrated with the seat assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front seat is positioned to accommodate front occupant preferences, then front occupant comfort is improved, but rear occupant legroom becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The front seat position is made dynamically adjustable based on real-time detection of rear occupant characteristics. The system transitions from a static seat position to a dynamic one that can be automatically repositioned using actuators when rear occupants require additional legroom, thus resolving the contradiction between front occupant comfort and rear occupant space requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using sensors to detect rear occupant physical characteristics and automatically adjusting the front seat position accordingly. This closed-loop control allows the system to respond to rear occupant needs by moving the front seat forward, thereby ensuring adequate legroom while maintaining front occupant comfort through intelligent control
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual seat adjustment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different occupant sizes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting rear occupant characteristics and adjusting the front seat position without requiring manual intervention. The sensors and actuators work autonomously to accommodate different occupant sizes, providing adaptability while minimizing the need for complex manual control interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the seat position parameter automatically based on detected occupant characteristics. By using sensors to detect rear occupant size and automatically adjusting the front seat position through actuators, the system achieves high adaptability to varying occupant sizes while keeping the control system relatively simple through automated parameter adjustment
3Ease of operation
If the front seat position is fixed, then device complexity is minimized, but rear occupant comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting rear occupant characteristics in advance and automatically positioning the front seat to provide adequate legroom before the rear occupant even enters or complains about space. This proactive adjustment enhances rear occupant comfort while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through automated preliminary positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The seat adjustment system provides self-service by automatically detecting when rear occupants need additional space and adjusting the front seat position accordingly, eliminating the need for complex manual adjustment mechanisms while significantly improving rear occupant comfort through intelligent autonomous control
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seating assembly is provided. The seat assembly includes a front seat assembly having a front seat bottom adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body and a front seat back adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body adjacent to the front seat bottom. A sensor cooperates with at least one of the front seat bottom and the front seat back. An actuator is disposed on at least one of the seat bottom and seat back. The seat assembly includes a rear seat assembly behind the front seat assembly. A vehicle seat controller receives an input indicative of a rear occupant seated information and convey a signal to an actuator to move a front seat assembly to an accommodation position in response to the input.