Self-Adjusting Vehicle Seat With Pressure Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft seats with fixed foam cushions fail to conform to the morphology of all passengers, leading to discomfort and limited adjustability, and lack advanced features for self-adjustment based on passenger size and shape.
Innovation Solution
A seat unit with inflatable cushions and airbags equipped with a pressure mapping sensor and control unit that adjusts pressure distribution to match the passenger's morphology, allowing for automatic adjustments in shape and firmness, and controlling the seat's position based on pressure changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed foam cushions are used in seat pan and seat back, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different passenger morphologies is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The seat cushion is divided into multiple independent inflatable regions (seat pan cushion with 4 regions, seat back cushion with 6 regions, headrest cushion with 3 regions). Each region can be independently adjusted in pressure and volume, allowing the cushion to adapt to different passenger body shapes and sizes by selectively inflating or deflating specific regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion transitions from a static fixed-foam structure to a dynamic inflatable system. The pressure and volume of each cushion region can be dynamically adjusted in real-time based on passenger morphology detected by pressure sensors, enabling the cushion to adapt its shape and firmness to different passengers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustable inflatable cushions are used, then adaptability to passenger morphology is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple inflatable cushions (seat pan, seat back, headrest) and their control systems are merged into a unified system managed by a single central controller. The controller integrates pressure sensor data from all regions and coordinates pressure adjustment across all cushions simultaneously, reducing control complexity despite having multiple adjustable regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure sensors are embedded in the seat pan and seat back to detect passenger body shape and weight distribution. The sensors provide real-time feedback to the controller, which automatically adjusts the pressure in each cushion region to optimize comfort and support, eliminating the need for manual adjustment by the passenger.
3Weight of moving object
If inflatable cushions replace foam cushions, then weight is reduced, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion system uses pneumatic inflation with air pressure to provide structural support and stability. The inflatable regions maintain their shape and firmness through controlled internal pressure, offering a lightweight alternative to dense foam while achieving comparable or superior structural stability through the flexibility and adjustability of the pneumatic system.
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
Provides enhanced comfort by adapting to individual passenger shapes, simplifies seat design, reduces weight, and improves support for sleeping positions through self-adjusting technology.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor positioned over at least one of the seat pan and the seat back so that the plurality of inflatable cushions and the plurality of inflatable airbags are substantially covered by the pressure sensor
Implementation Method 2
configured to adjust a pressure inside at least one of the plurality of inflatable cushions or the plurality of inflatable airbags to minimize the at least one pressure irregularity within the pressure distribution
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of inflatable cushions positioned proximate at least one of the seat pan and the seat back, a plurality of inflatable airbags positioned proximate at least one of the plurality of inflatable cushions
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~8b
AI summary
Described are seat units with a seat pan (2) coupled to a seat back (3), inflatable cushions (5) positioned proximate the seat pan and/or the seat back, inflatable airbags (6) positioned proximate the inflatable cushions (5), and a pressure sensor (9) positioned over at least one of the seat pan (2) and the seat back (3) so that the inflatable cushions (5) and the inflatable airbags (6) are substantially covered by the pressure sensor (9). The pressure sensor (9) is configured to generate a pressure map, and a control unit (11) is configured to analyze the pressure map for at least one pressure irregularity within a pressure distribution, and adjust a pressure inside at least one of the inflatable cushions (5) and/or the inflatable airbags (6) to minimize the pressure irregularity within the pressure distribution.