Vehicle Seat Headrest Control to Prevent Sun Visor Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing headrest adjustment mechanisms in vehicle seats can cause interference with sun visors, leading to potential damage when the seat is rotated, especially for tall individuals, due to fixed height settings that do not accommodate varying user sizes effectively.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for controlling the headrest, incorporating a sensor unit, drive unit, and control unit that automatically adjust the headrest's position in conjunction with the slider and recliner operations to prevent interference with the sun visor, utilizing a step-by-step height adjustment based on detected positions and rotation angles to ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the headrest height is automatically adjusted by the slider operation, then the convenience for users of different heights is improved, but the risk of interference with the sun visor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary action by detecting the recliner rotation angle in advance and proactively adjusting the headrest position before the slider operation completes. When the recliner angle exceeds the threshold, the system pre-lowers the headrest to a safe position, preventing potential interference with the sun visor before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic headrest height adjustment based on real-time detection of recliner rotation angle. The headrest position is no longer fixed or solely dependent on slider position, but dynamically adapts to the combination of slider position and recliner angle, creating a multi-dimensional adjustment strategy that prevents sun visor interference.
2Device complexity
If the headrest height is fixed, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability to different user sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both the traditional slider-based headrest adjustment and the new recliner-angle-based adjustment. This universal control mechanism handles multiple adjustment scenarios (slider-only, recliner-only, and combined operations) without requiring separate dedicated systems, maintaining reasonable complexity while significantly improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously detecting the recliner rotation angle and using this information to dynamically adjust the headrest position. The control unit receives feedback from the angle sensor and automatically modifies the headrest height accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to different user sizes and seating positions.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling a headrest for a vehicle seat includes: a headrest disposed at an upper side of a vehicle seat and that moves to an upper end or a lower end; a slider that moves the seat forward or rearward; a recliner that rotates the seat forward or rearward; a drive unit that operates the headrest, the slider and the recliner; a sensor unit connected to the drive unit and that detects a position of the headrest, a position of the slider and a rotation angle of the recliner; an input unit that receives an inputted operation instruction to operate the slider and the recliner from a user; and a control unit that controls the drive unit based on the inputted operation instruction and operates the headrest upward or downward in accordance with the detected position and the detected rotation angle.