Patent ID: 7145263
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A seat assembly for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the seat assembly comprising: a seat bottom; a seat back mounted to the seat bottom; a headrest adjustably connected to and disposed adjacent an upper portion of the seat back; and an automatic headrest adjustment control system, the control system including at least one occupancy sensor disposed within the seat bottom for detecting the presence of a passenger in the seat assembly, wherein the at least one occupancy sensor is a single sensor mat extending through and across multiple adjacent seat bottom cushions to detect the presence of a passenger in the seat assembly; at least one passenger position sensor disposed proximate to the headrest for detecting the position of a passenger's head relative to the position of the headrest, a control module in communication with the at least one occupancy sensor and the at least one passenger position sensor for receiving output signals of the sensors, wherein the control module generates a control signal to position the headrest based on the output signals, and at least one drive motor operatively connected to the headrest for positioning the headrest based on the control signal received from the control module.