Vehicle Seat Pneumatic Bladder Redistribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats with pneumatic bladders require tedious and time-consuming adjustments to customize the contour and support, especially with increased numbers of bladders, which complicates the process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving valves that allow air to flow between bladders based on the distribution of weight when occupied, inflating to a predetermined pressure, and maintaining the inflation level, allowing for efficient customization of the seat profile by redistributing air among groups of pre-pressurized bladders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of air bladders is increased to allow greater fine-tuning ability, then the customization precision is improved, but the adjustment process becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-inflates multiple air bladders before the user enters the vehicle, so that when the user sits down, the bladders are already prepared and can automatically adjust to the user's body shape without requiring manual intervention for each bladder
Solution Approach 2:
The seat automatically redistributes air among the bladders based on the user's weight distribution and body contour, eliminating the need for the user to manually adjust each bladder individually
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of each bladder pressure is allowed, then the customization capability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat automatically detects the user's presence and body distribution, then autonomously adjusts the air pressure in each bladder to provide optimal support, eliminating the need for the user to manually operate multiple buttons or controls
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the pressure and distribution of air among bladders and automatically makes adjustments based on the user's body contour and weight distribution, providing adaptive customization without manual input
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method simplifies the adjustment process by automatically redistributing air to match the occupant's weight distribution, providing efficient and customizable support without prolonged adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
inflating the first group of bladders to a predetermined pressure
Implementation Method 2
fluidic communication among the group of first bladders
Data Source
AI summary
A method for adjusting a vehicle seat includes moving each of a set of first valves respectively associated with ones of a group of first bladders into an open position allowing the receipt of air into and fluidic communication among the group of first bladders, inflating the first group of bladders to a predetermined pressure, and closing each of the set of first valves to maintain an inflation level of each of the first bladders.