Patent ID: 9481466
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: B60N,B64D

Claim Text:
1. A powered seat assembly configured to detect the presence of obstructions, the seat assembly comprising: a) a back support; b) a seat pan having a rearward portion associated with the back support; c) a leg rest having a first end associated with a forward portion of the seat pan, each of said back support, said seat pan and said leg rest being movable; d) one or more actuator(s) configured to move at least one of the back support, seat pan, and leg rest in response to one or more time-varying motion command(s), and to provide motion-status signal(s); e) a driver configured to provide the motion command(s) in response to a time-varying motion command and the motion-status signal(s); f) a sensor unit configured to monitor one or more time-varying feedback signal(s) of the actuator(s); and g) a controller configured to determine respective feedback-signal acceptance range(s) for at least one of the actuator(s) using value(s) of the respective feedback signal(s) monitored during an acceleration phase of motion of the respective actuator(s), and to terminate motion of the respective actuator(s) if the respective feedback signal(s) depart the respective feedback-signal acceptance range(s) during an acceleration phase of motion of the respective actuator(s), and in which the controller is further configured to determine respective feedback-signal acceptance range(s) for at least one of the actuator(s) using value(s) of the respective feedback signal(s) monitored during a steady-state phase of motion of the respective actuator(s), and to terminate motion of the respective actuator(s) if the respective feedback signal(s) depart the respective feedback-signal acceptance range(s) during a steady-state phase of motion of the respective actuator(s) wherein each feedback signal(s) is indicative of a detected obstruction on any part of the seat assembly including at least one of the movable back support, seat pan or leg rest.