Seat Runner Position Sensor Integrated for Low-Bulk Safe Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat runners with position sensors are bulky, complex, and costly, with exposed elements that risk damage and compromise safety.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat runner with a simplified position sensor design that is integrated within the internal runner space, featuring a sensor body with a sensitive portion that projects through a side wall opening and is elastically stressed to retract when not in use, ensuring protection and reduced bulk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the position sensor cooperates with an L-shaped protrusion attached outwardly on the female profiled section, then the position can be determined, but the bulk of the runner increases particularly in the transverse direction
Solution Approach 1:
The position sensor and its support structure are merged into a single integrated component mounted on the male profiled section. The sensor body directly incorporates the mounting function, eliminating the need for separate support structures and outwardly protruding elements, thereby reducing the transverse bulk while maintaining position determination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching the sensor to the female profiled section with outwardly protruding elements, the sensor is inverted and mounted on the male profiled section, facing inward toward the runner space. This inversion allows the sensor to function without requiring external protrusions, thus reducing overall bulk.
2Measurement precision
If the position sensor cooperates with an L-shaped protrusion attached outwardly on the female profiled section, then the position can be determined, but the design complexity and cost substantially increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor body integrates both the sensing function and the mounting function into a single component. The sensor body directly mounts to the male profiled section without requiring separate support structures or complex assembly of multiple parts, thereby substantially reducing design complexity and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex L-shaped protrusion and separate support structure are extracted from the design. Only the essential sensor body remains, which is directly mounted on the male profiled section, eliminating unnecessary structural elements and simplifying the overall design.
3Measurement precision
If the position sensor uses elements protruding outwardly from the female profiled section, then the position can be determined, but the sensor risks being damaged by external elements such as occupant feet
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is inverted and mounted on the male profiled section facing inward toward the runner space, rather than protruding outwardly from the female profiled section. This positioning places the sensor within the protected internal space, shielding it from external damage by occupant feet or other external elements while maintaining its position determination function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is nested within the runner space, positioned inside the structural framework formed by the male and female profiled sections. This nesting provides physical protection from external elements while allowing the sensor to detect position through the magnetic field interactions within the protected space.
4Measurement precision
If the runner includes outwardly protruding elements for position sensor cooperation, then the position can be determined, but the manufacturing process becomes lengthy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor body integrates both sensing and mounting functions in a single component, eliminating the need to manufacture and assemble separate support structures and protruding elements. This merging simplifies the manufacturing process to primarily producing the sensor body itself and mounting it directly to the male profiled section.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex L-shaped protrusion and separate support structures are extracted from the design. The manufacturing process is reduced to producing only the essential sensor body and mounting it directly, thereby shortening and simplifying the manufacturing process.
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 solution results in a runner that is less bulky, simpler in design, and lower in cost, while ensuring the safety of occupants by protecting the position sensor from external damage.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible portion with a fastening portion for fastening the flexible portion to the male profiled section, the flexible portion being configured to elastically stress the sensitive portion through the first opening towards the outside in a deployed position of the sensitive portion
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle seat runner, the runner extending principally along a longitudinal direction, and comprising:a female profiled section configured to be fixed to a vehicle floor,a male profiled section mounted to slide with respect to the female profiled section along the longitudinal direction, an internal runner space being delimited between the male profiled section and the female profiled section, the male profiled section comprising, along the longitudinal direction, a first end and a second end and having a web and first and second side walls, the web being continued downwards by the first and second side walls,a position sensor fixed on the male profiled section, and configured so as to determine the position of the male profiled section with respect to the female profiled section, the position sensor additionally comprising a flexible portion with a fastening portion for fastening the flexible portion to the male profiled section, the fastening portion being configured to fasten in a second opening arranged on a second wall of the first and second side walls, opposite the first wall having the first opening,the position sensor being configured to be joined to the runner by longitudinal assembly, during which the position sensor is inserted into the internal runner space via one of the first and second ends of the male profiled section.