Vehicle Seat Motion Control Within Cabin Clearance Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat adjustment systems in heavy-duty vehicles face challenges in adjusting seats to avoid negative interactions with cabin walls and consoles due to independent control of slide and recline positions, which are not optimized for confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
An electronically controlled seat adjustment system that integrates detectors to determine seat positions and adjusts fore-aft, recline, and swivel movements based on movement factors, using actuators to limit or force positions within cabin constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat is allowed to recline or slide independently without coordination, then the seat adjustment range is maximized, but the seat may collide with cabin walls and consoles in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines independent seat position controls (slide and recline) into a coordinated system where the controller integrates multiple position parameters and calculates a movement factor that considers both positions simultaneously, preventing collisions while maintaining adjustment versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the range of motion for each seat position based on the current state of other positions. The controller continuously monitors seat position and dynamically limits or enables movement in specific directions based on the calculated movement factor, adapting to the current configuration
2Ease of operation
If the seat positions are manually adjusted without automation, then the system complexity is reduced, but the time required to achieve optimal operator comfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat positioning system operates autonomously by detecting operator presence, calculating optimal positions based on sensor data and movement factors, and automatically adjusting seat components without requiring manual operator intervention, thereby reducing adjustment time while maintaining comfort
3Manufacturing precision
If the seat adjustment system is fully automated with multiple sensors and actuators, then the precision of seat positioning is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it detects seat position, calculates movement factors, determines optimal positions, and controls actuators. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate systems into a single control unit, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining positioning precision
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling the position of a vehicle seat is disclosed. The system includes in network communication, an input device, a detection system, at least one controller, and at least one controllable device. The detection system measures a current value of at least one of the recline, fore-aft, or swivel position of the seat. The input device communicates to the controllers a desired value for at least one of these seat positions. The controller compares the measured value to a limiting value and the desired value and calculates a movement factor value. The movement factor value determines the communication between the controller and the controllable device. If the movement factor value falls into a range where the seat can be moved to the desired value, the controller signals the at least one controllable device to control the adjustment of at least one of the recline position, the fore-aft position, or the swivel position to the desired value. However, if the movement factor value falls outside a range where the seat can be moved to the desired value, the controller signals the at least one controllable device to limit the adjustment of the at least one of the recline position, the fore-aft position, or the swivel of the position.