Vehicle Seat Switch Lockout Based on Park Shift Position

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat movement systems do not effectively prevent seat movement when the vehicle is not in a park shift position, potentially causing safety issues during travel.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a seat, an actuator, a switch, and an electronic controller that disables the switch to prevent seat movement when the vehicle is not in a park shift position, ensuring the seat remains locked in its initial position unless the vehicle is shifted into park.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the switch is always enabled to allow seat movement, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential unintended movement during vehicle travel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat movement operationVSAvoidseat position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The switch enablement status dynamically changes based on vehicle shift position. The electronic controller monitors the shift position sensor and automatically enables the switch only when the vehicle is in park position, while disabling it during other shift positions. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by adapting the seat movement control to the current vehicle state, ensuring safety during travel while maintaining operational ease when parked.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the switch is disabled to prevent unintended seat movement, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted access to third row seats

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat position stabilityVSAvoidseat movement operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts switch enablement based on vehicle shift position. When the vehicle is in park position, the electronic controller enables the switch, allowing easy operation for accessing the third row. When the vehicle is in other shift positions, the switch is automatically disabled to prevent unintended movement. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing ease of operation when safe and ensuring stability when the vehicle is in motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If manual monitoring of shift position is required, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to increased driver attention and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidvehicle operation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic controller automatically monitors the vehicle shift position through the shift position sensor and autonomously controls the switch enablement status without requiring driver intervention. The system self-manages the safety control function by continuously comparing the current shift position with the park position and automatically enabling or disabling the switch accordingly. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for manual monitoring while maintaining high operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240326658A1Vehicle seat movement prevention system and method
Publication Date: 2024.10.03 NISSAN NORTH AMERICA INC
  • US20240326658A1 patent drawing
  • US20240326658A1 patent drawing
  • US20240326658A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A seat movement prevention system for a vehicle includes a seat, an actuator, a switch and an electronic controller. The seat is configured to move from a first position to a second position. The second position is different from the first position The actuator is configured to move the seat from the first position to the second position. The switch is configured to operate the actuator. The electronic controller is configured to disable the switch upon detecting a current shift position is not a park shift position.