Patent ID: 7822522
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: B60N,B60R,B64D,F16F

Abstract:
1. An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat for mitigating injury to an occupant of the vehicle seat during a vehicle shock event, the system comprising: a variable profile energy absorber operatively connected to a vehicle and to the vehicle seat, said variable energy absorber being one of a magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper or an electrorheological (ER) fluid damper having a known load-stroke profile and stroking distance; a plurality of sensors including at least a weight sensor for measuring occupant weight, and a vehicle sensor attached to the vehicle and a seat sensor attached to the seat to allow differential measurement of the occupant motion relative to said vehicle; and a controller that determines a load injury threshold for a part of the occupant's body; that determines an occurrence of a vehicle shock event based in part on at least one measurement received from the vehicle sensor that exceeds a predetermined value; and that adjusts the variable profile energy absorber in real-time, via a control signal, based on said known load-stroke profile and stroking distance to impart minimal load into the seat and occupant in order to maintain an actual load experienced by the occupant's body part at or below the determined load injury threshold during the vehicle shock event.