Vehicle Seat Proximity Sensor Control System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat control systems fail to prevent injuries to occupants and damage to vehicle components due to uncontrolled seat movement, as they lack effective sensors to detect and respond to objects in the path of the seat.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a sensor assembly and a control unit that senses the presence of objects and generates signals to control seat movement, including halting or reversing it when proximity thresholds are reached, thereby preventing collisions and damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If electrically powered systems are used for seat movement control, then seat position adjustment capability is improved, but risk of injury to occupants and damage to vehicle components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat position adjustment capabilityVSAvoidrisk of injury to occupants and damage to vehicle components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor assembly detects objects in the path of seat movement before the seat actually contacts them. The control unit receives sensor signals and generates control signals to halt or reverse seat movement in advance, preventing harmful contact with occupants or vehicle components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor assembly continuously monitors the environment around the moving seat and provides real-time feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback about object proximity, the control unit adjusts seat movement by generating appropriate control signals to stop or reverse motion when objects are detected

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If sensors are added to detect objects in seat movement path, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor assembly and control unit are integrated into the existing seat system, serving multiple functions: detecting objects, determining proximity, generating control signals, and coordinating with the electrically powered seat movement system. This multi-functionality approach adds safety capabilities while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The system effectively reduces the risk of injury to occupants and damage to vehicle components by controlling seat movement based on detected proximity, ensuring safe and controlled adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConductive sensing: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS9333880B2System and method for controlling vehicle seat movement

Publication Date: 2016.05.10 LEAR CORP

AI summary

A system and method are disclosed for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle. A sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor. A control unit is configured to receive the sensor output signal and to generate a control signal for use in controlling movement of the seat.