Vehicle Seat Unlocking Unit With Unified Lock Status Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat unlocking units do not provide a clear visual indication of the locking state of multiple locking devices, making it difficult for users to confirm if all devices are securely locked or unlocked.
Innovation Solution
An unlocking unit with a display element that remains in a visible position as long as at least one locking device is unlocked, using a gearwheel mechanism and Bowden cables to transmit movement and a flexible belt strap with a colored display region, ensuring users can easily see the locking state through the actuating element itself.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple locking devices are used to secure the vehicle seat, then the security and reliability of the locking system is improved, but the complexity of the unlocking unit and difficulty of monitoring the locking state increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple locking devices into a single integrated unlocking unit that controls all locking devices through one actuating element. The display element provides a unified visual indication of the overall locking state, merging multiple monitoring functions into a single system that reduces operational complexity while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating element serves multiple functions: it simultaneously actuates all locking devices for unlocking and provides a visual display of the locking state. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate control mechanisms for each locking device, simplifying the user interface while maintaining reliable control over multiple locks.
2Loss of information
If visual indication of locking state is provided for each locking device separately, then the information completeness is improved, but the ease of operation and user interface simplicity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the visual indication of multiple locking device states into a single display element. This unified display provides complete locking state information without requiring the user to check each locking device individually, maintaining information completeness while significantly improving ease of operation.
3Reliability
If a mechanical linkage system is used to connect the actuating element to multiple locking devices, then the reliability of movement transmission is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible cable linkages (Bowden cables) to connect the actuating element to multiple locking devices. These flexible cables transmit mechanical movement reliably over distances and around obstacles without requiring complex rigid mechanical linkages, thereby reducing overall system complexity and space requirements while maintaining reliable movement transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
An unlocking unit (10), for a vehicle seat (1), transmits a movement introduced via an actuation element (62) to at least two locking devices (90) for unlocking purposes. Each locking device (90) is paired with an unlocking element (11, 12) and the unlocking element (11, 12) is in the locked position when the respective locking device (90) is locked and in the unlocked position when the respective locking device (90) is unlocked. A display element (64) is in the display position when the locking devices (90) are unlocked and is in the non-display position when the locking devices (90) are locked. Each unlocking element (11, 12) which can be found in the unlocked position prevents the display element (64) from moving into the non-display position, and the display element (64) remains in the display position as long as at least one locking device (90) is unlocked.