Patent ID: 6098000
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: A47C,B60N

Abstract:
An apparatus for adjusting the contour of a seat by pneumatically controlling the comfort of the seat comprising:a. a plurality of inflatable air cells mounted in operative association with a seat contour;b. a distribution system providing independent passages connected to each of the air cells;c. a manifold connected to each passage of the distribution system through an individual output valve actuated by an electrical signal;d. a source of pressurized fluid activated by an electrical signal and connected to the fluid distribution system through the manifold;e. one or more pressure transducer(s) for sensing the pressure within said air cells when each of said individual output valves is actuated so as to communicate each of said air cells with said manifold; said one or more pressure transducer(s) generating a pressure signal indicating the pressure within each of the air cells; andf. a microcomputer including an analog to digital converter; said microcomputer connected to transmit an actuation signal to each of the manifold valves; to receive the signal from said one or more pressure transducer(s) via said analog to digital converter and to transmit an activation signal to the source of pressurized fluid in accordance with the signal from said pressure transducer; said microcomputer being programmed to store data including a desired pressure to be maintained in each of said air cells; to transmit actuation signals to each of the manifold valves; to compare said force signal to the predetermined data; to generate a valve activation signal relative to the comparison between said pressure signal and said comfort data and further programmed to transmit said activation signal to the source of pressurized fluid to adjust the pressure in each air cell to the desired pressure in each of said air cells the improvement comprising:said computer being provided with comfort data established by measuring the of a seat in accordance with the pressure distribution thereon;a vehicle ignition state monitor; said microcomputer responsive to said ignition state monitor to produce a deflate all signal at the beginning of a control cycle; said deflate all signal being directed to said computer and said computer being programmed so as to be operative to condition all of said valves to open to simultaneously produce atmospheric pressure within all of said air cells prior to any comparison of said pressure signals with said predetermined comfort data established by measuring the comfort of a seat in accordance with the pressure distribution thereon.