Patent ID: 8141947
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A haptic seating system for use in a vehicle having a passenger seat and a number of vehicle systems configured to control vehicle operations wherein the vehicle systems transmit signals over a vehicle network in order to coordinate vehicle operations, the system comprising: a first haptic element positioned within a first position of the seat and a second haptic element positioned within a second position of the seat, the first haptic element including a first decoder and a first motor and the second haptic element including a second decoder and a second motor, wherein the first decoder is configured to decode signals carried over the vehicle network for use in controlling haptic sensations imparted by the first motor and the second decoder is configured to decode signals carried over the vehicle network for use in controlling haptic sensations imparted by the second motor, wherein the first decoder is dedicated to the first motor and the second decoder is dedicated to the second motor such that the first decoder is unable to decode signals for use in controlling the second motor and the second decoder is unable to decode signals for use in controlling the first motor; wherein the first decoder is assigned a unique first network address and the second decoder is assigned a unique second network addresses, thereby requiring signals carried over the vehicle network for use in controlling haptic sensations to specify the network address of the first and second decoders corresponding with the first and second motors desired to impart the haptic sensation; wherein the vehicle network is configured such that signals carried over the vehicle network to control the imparted haptic sensations are commonly received by each of the first and second decoders; and wherein the first decoder is configured to only impart haptic sensations for the signals specifying the first network address and the second decoder is configured to only impart haptic sensations for the signals specifying the second network address, thereby eliminating a need for a central control module to receive communications and decide whether the first and second haptic element is to impart the haptic sensations specified therein.