Vehicle Seat Position Data Conversion to Percentage Values

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motor vehicles of the same type and brand can have varying dimensions in functional units such as seat rails, mirrors, and steering columns due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to incompatible settings when transferring personal preferences between vehicles, resulting in uncomfortable or safety-critical conditions.

Innovation Solution

Converting data related to the settings of functional units into percentage values allows for vehicle-independent transfer, enabling accurate adjustment on different vehicles by calculating these values based on the maximum range of each unit, thus compensating for dimensional differences and avoiding unsafe positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If absolute adjustment values are transferred between vehicles, then settings can be transferred directly, but manufacturing tolerances in functional units cause incompatible settings and unsafe positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetting transfer accuracyVSAvoidsafety of functional unit positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts absolute adjustment values into relative percentage values (0-100%) that represent the position within the adjustment range. This parameter transformation allows settings to be transferred between vehicles of different types while accounting for manufacturing tolerances and dimensional variations, preventing unsafe positions while maintaining transfer accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If vehicle-specific absolute values are used for settings, then precise control within each vehicle is achieved, but transfer between different vehicle types becomes incompatible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetting control precisionVSAvoidcompatibility across vehicle types
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transforms vehicle-specific absolute values into universal relative percentage values that maintain the proportional position within the adjustment range. This allows a setting of 50% to represent the mid-position regardless of the actual physical dimensions or adjustment range of the functional unit in different vehicle types, achieving both precision and compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The percentage value system acts as an intermediary representation layer between the source vehicle's absolute settings and the target vehicle's functional units. This intermediate format decouples the setting data from vehicle-specific dimensions, enabling accurate transfer across different vehicle types while maintaining precise control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If personal settings are transferred without conversion, then transfer process is simple, but manufacturing variations lead to uncomfortable or unsafe positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion process complexityVSAvoidsafety and comfort of positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an automated conversion process that transforms absolute values to percentage values using a standardized formula. This adds a computational step but ensures reliable and safe positioning by accounting for manufacturing variations, with the complexity managed through integrated control systems in modern vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2030846B1Storage unit with data that can be correlated to the configuration of at least one function unit of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle, system and method for configuring at least one function unit of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2013.11.27 AUDI AG
  • EP2030846B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2030846B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device (18) stores data detected by a detection unit (20) e.g. reading and writing device. The unit transmits the data to a controller (24) to transfer a function unit (12) e.g. seat, of a motor vehicle (14) into a position corresponding to the data. The data correlated with the position of the function unit are converted into data correlated with a position of a function unit of another motor vehicle by a processor unit (22). The data are converted into a percentage value that is calculated from the data correlated with the position of the function unit of the former vehicle. : Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a system for positioning a function unit of a motor vehicle (2) a method for positioning a function unit of a motor vehicle. USE : Mobile storage device i.e. chip card, for use in a key of a motor vehicle for storing data (all claimed), which are correlated with a position of a function unit e.g. seat, of the vehicle. ADVANTAGE : The data are converted into the percentage value that is calculated from the data correlated with the position of the function unit of the motor vehicle, thus enabling improved conversion of the data correlated with the position of the function unit of the vehicle into the data correlated with the position of the function unit of the other motor vehicle, and hence providing a cost-effective storage device. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : The drawing shows a block diagram of a system for positioning a function unit of a motor vehicle. 12 : Function unit 14 : Motor vehicle 18 : Mobile storage device 20 : Detection unit 22 : Processor unit 24 : Controller.