Patent ID: 11884192
Assignee: ZOOX, INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC A  B

Claim 3:
4. The vehicle of claim 1, in which the controllable deformable material is a shaped memory polymer having a resistance to deformation that is dependent on at least one of: a temperature of the controllable deformable material, a light intensity applied to the controllable deformable material or an electrical current in the controllable deformable material,
wherein the control apparatus is configured to control at least one of:
the temperature of the controllable deformable material by controlling a current through resistance wires proximal to the controllable deformable material;
the temperature of the controllable deformable material by applying heated air to the controllable deformable material through one or more ducts in the vehicle seat;
the light intensity applied to the controllable deformable material by control of the intensity of at least one light source within the vehicle seat; or
an electrical current in the controllable deformable material by control of a voltage applied between electrodes composed of electrically conductive material disposed to be in contact with the controllable deformable material,
and wherein the shaped memory polymer has a propensity to return to an un-deformed state from a deformed shape in the absence of applied force when the shaped memory polymer is controlled to have a reduced resistance to deformation.