Seat assemblies with adjustable side bolster actuators

A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, and a seat back extending upright from the seat bottom. At least two side bolster actuators are spaced apart laterally and are provided in bolster regions of at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to the two side bolster actuators to detect a seating position of an occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the two side bolster actuators. The controller is programmed to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The controller compares the data to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. The controller adjusts at least one of the two side bolster actuators to balance an uneven left-to-right occupant seating position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments relate to seat assemblies with adjustable side bolster actuators.

BACKGROUND

An adjustable seat assembly is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,924, which issued on Jun. 2, 1998 to Lear Corporation.

SUMMARY

According to at least one embodiment, a seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, and a seat back extending upright from the seat bottom. At least two side bolster actuators are spaced apart laterally and are provided in bolster regions of at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to the at least two side bolster actuators to detect a seating position of an occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the at least two side bolster actuators. The controller is programmed to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The controller compares the data to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. The controller adjusts at least one of the at least two side bolster actuators to balance an uneven left-to-right occupant seating position.

According to at least another embodiment, a seating system is provided with a seat assembly with a seat bottom and a seat back extending upright from the seat bottom. At least two side bolster actuators are spaced apart laterally and are provided in bolster regions of at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to the at least two side bolster actuators to detect a seating position of an occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the at least two side bolster actuators. The controller is programmed to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The controller compares the data to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. The controller adjusts at least one of the at least side bolster actuators to balance an uneven left-to-right occupant seating position. A media device is provided with a graphical user interface. The controller is in electrical communication with the media device. The controller is further programmed to operate the media device to inform the occupant of an uneven left-to-right seating position.

According to at least another embodiment, a seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, and a seat back extending upright from the seat bottom. At least two side bolster actuators are spaced apart laterally and are provided in bolster regions of at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to the at least two side bolster actuators to detect a seating position of an occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the at least two side bolster actuators. The controller is programmed to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The controller compares the data to determine if the occupant is seated according to a predetermined wellness position. The controller adjusts at least one of the at least two side bolster actuators to adjust the occupant seating position to the predetermined wellness position.

According to at least another embodiment, a seating system is provided with a seat assembly with a seat bottom and a seat back extending upright from the seat bottom. At least two side bolster actuators are spaced apart laterally and are provided in bolster regions of at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to the at least two side bolster actuators to detect a seating position of an occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the at least two side bolster actuators. The controller is programmed to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The controller compares the data to determine if the occupant is seated according to a predetermined wellness position. The controller adjusts at least one of the at least two side bolster actuators to adjust the occupant seating position to the predetermined wellness position. A media device is provided with a graphical user interface. The controller is in electrical communication with the media device. The controller is further programmed to operate the media device to inform the occupant of an uneven left-to-right seating position.

According to at least another embodiment, a seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, and a seat back extending upright from the seat bottom. At least two side bolster actuators are spaced apart laterally and are provided in bolster regions of at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to the at least two side bolster actuators to detect a seating position of an occupant. A media device is provided with a graphical user interface. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the media device. The controller is programmed to receive data from the plurality of sensors. The controller compares the data to determine if the occupant is seated evenly. The controller operates the media device to inform the occupant of an uneven left-to-right seating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a seat assembly10according to an embodiment. The seat assembly10may be utilized as a vehicle seat assembly10for seating in a vehicle, such as an automobile, an aircraft, a watercraft, or the like. Of course, the seat assembly10may be utilized in any seating environment that may benefit from an adjustable seat assembly10.

The seat assembly10includes a seat bottom12, which may be adapted to be mounted for motor-driven adjustable translation in a fore and aft direction and in an up and down direction of a vehicle. The seat assembly10includes a seat back14, which may be pivotally connected to the seat bottom12to extend generally upright relative to the seat bottom12for motor-driven pivotal adjustment relative to the seat bottom12. A head restraint16may also be mounted for motor-driven adjustable translation to the seat back14.

The seat bottom12includes a central seating surface18and a pair of side bolster regions20laterally spaced about the central seating surface18. The seat back14includes a pelvic/lumbar seating surface22with a pair of laterally spaced apart side bolster regions24on either side. A thoracic/shoulder seating surface26is provided above the pelvic/lumbar seating surface22and the seat back side bolster regions24.

FIGS. 2 and 3illustrate the seat assembly10with a cover and trim removed for revealing underlying components. The seat bottom12includes a pair of pelvis actuators, such as air bladder assemblies28under the central seating surface18. The seat bottom12also includes a pair of side bolster actuators, such as air bladder assemblies30, each located in one of the seat bottom side bolster regions20. Likewise, the seat back14includes a pair of side bolster actuators, such as air bladder assemblies32, each located in one of the seat back side bolster regions24. Each of the side bolster air bladder assemblies30,32is supported upon a frame34,36of the corresponding seat bottom12and seat back14. The pelvis air bladder assemblies28may be supported upon a suspension38, which is in turn supported upon the seat bottom frame34. The seat back14also includes a suspension40. Additional air bladder assemblies may also be provided upon the seat back suspension40. Although air bladder assemblies28,30,32are disclosed, any actuator is contemplated that is suitable for performing the adjustment.

The seat assembly10provides lateral support to a seated occupant when the vehicle experiences a turn or cornering. In the case of a cornering vehicle, occupant weight is shifted away from the center of its turn. The seat assembly10provides support in the seat back14and the seat bottom12to support the occupant's weight shift away from the center of the vehicle turn. The seat assembly utilizes the pneumatic bladder assemblies30,32in the bolster regions20,24of the seat bottom12and the seat back14, which sense an occupant's weight shift via a change in the internal pressure of the bolster bladder assemblies30,32. The seat assembly10then inflates the side bolster air bladder assemblies30,32in the seat bottom12and/or the seat back14to provide lateral support during the cornering event.

FIG. 4illustrates an adjustable seat system42according to an embodiment. The seat system42includes the seat assembly10, which is illustrated with a cover and cushioning removed for revealing underlying components. A compressor44provides a source of air to the seat assembly10. A memory control seat module (MCSM) and valve bank are provided on the seat back14and identified generally as a controller46. The controller46regulates compressed air into and out of the seat assembly10. The controller46communicates with a gateway module48through a CANbus connection. The gateway module48may be installed in or under the seat, or anywhere in the vehicle.

The gateway module48communicates with an interface50via a wireless communication. The interface50may be integrated into the vehicle, such as an instrument panel display that is in suitable wired or wireless communication with the controller46. The interface50may be remote, such as a smart device including phones, tablets and the like. The interface50is depicted as a smart device application. The remote interface50may permit a user to transport settings to each vehicle, such as personal passenger vehicles, airline seating, rental cars, and the like. The smart device application is further described in Pereny et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/560,487 filed on Dec. 4, 2014, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

FIG. 4illustrates two display images52,54from the interface50. Each of the air bladder assemblies28,30,32may include at least one pressure sensor to detect air pressure in the respective air bladder assembly28,30,32. Any pressure sensor is contemplated, such as a pneumatic pressure sensor at the outlet valve of each respective air bladder assembly28,30,32. Pressure can also be sensed by contact pressure sensors disposed in front of or behind some or all of the respective air bladder assemblies28,30,32, including on a front or rear surface thereof. The contact pressure sensors may include pressure-sensing mats, such as those available by Tekscan®, Inc. of 307 West First Street, South Boston, Mass., 02127-1309, USA. Display image52depicts the vehicle seat assembly10with zones ranging in color to depict a distribution of pressure upon the seat assembly10. This visualization may assist an occupant in positioning upon the seat assembly10with live visual feedback.

The seat system42improves an occupant seating position by providing a power pneumatic support in the seat assembly10which provides lateral support to the occupant in a seated position to correct unbalanced seating conditions caused by turning or cornering of the vehicle. The side bolster air bladder assemblies30,32are specifically shaped to center an occupant.

The seat system42can detect differences in air pressure (LH/RH) at the controller46and graphically display the pressure distribution on the display image52. Corrections can be made to the air pressures RH/LH in the air bladder assemblies28,30,32via an algorithm in the controller46. Alternatively individual adjustment can be input by the occupant or user at display image54of the interface50. Each side bolster air bladder assembly30,32can be adjusted individually to achieve an optimum support condition for a variety preferences. The manual and automatic adjustment may both be offered by the seating system42under different seat settings which may be selected at the interface50.

FIG. 5illustrates a method56for adjusting the seat assembly10according to an embodiment. The method begins when an Active Bolster System mode is selected at58. The mode58may be manually selected at the interface50. Alternatively, the mode58may be initiated automatically. At block60, the controller46evaluates the data received from the sensors in the air bladder assemblies28,30,32to determine if the occupant is seated unevenly. According to one embodiment, this determination is performed by comparing left side pressures to right side pressures. According to another embodiment, the out of position detection60is performed by comparing the pressure values to a predetermined position, such as a wellness position as selected by a health professional.

If it is determined that the occupant is out of position at block60, and the occupant is identified as shifted to the left at block62, then a popup is provided on the interface50at block64to inform the occupant of automatic adjustment. The increased pressure can also be displayed graphically in the live view image52.

At block64, the left side bolster air bladder assembly30of the seat bottom12is further inflated if the increased pressure was detected at the left side seat bottom air bladder assembly30. If the left side bolster air bladder assembly32of the seat back14detected increased pressure, then the left side bolster air bladder assembly32is further inflated. The inflation of the air bladder assemblies30,32that detect increased pressure assist in returning the occupant to a central, balanced seating position66as defined by a wellness expert.

The out of position detection60is repeated to compensate for further detected positions. If it is determined that the occupant is out of position at block60, and the occupant is identified as shifted to the right at block68, then a popup is provided on the interface50at block70to inform the occupant of automatic adjustment.

At block70, the right side bolster air bladder assembly30of the seat bottom12is further inflated if the increased pressure was detected at the right side seat bottom air bladder assembly30. If the right side bolster air bladder assembly32of the seat back14detected increased pressure, then the right side bolster air bladder assembly32is further inflated. The inflation of the air bladder assemblies30,32that detect increased pressure assist in returning the occupant to the central, balanced seating position66as defined by the wellness expert.