Abstract:
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.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Various embodiments relate to seat assemblies with adjustable side bolster actuators. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    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 
       [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    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. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a seat assembly according to an embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a seat bottom of the seat assembly of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment, illustrated partially disassembled; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a seat back of the seat assembly of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment, illustrated partially disassembled; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a seating system according to an embodiment; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart for a method of adjusting the seating system of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a seat assembly  10  according to an embodiment. The seat assembly  10  may be utilized as a vehicle seat assembly  10  for seating in a vehicle, such as an automobile, an aircraft, a watercraft, or the like. Of course, the seat assembly  10  may be utilized in any seating environment that may benefit from an adjustable seat assembly  10 . 
         [0015]    The seat assembly  10  includes a seat bottom  12 , 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 assembly  10  includes a seat back  14 , which may be pivotally connected to the seat bottom  12  to extend generally upright relative to the seat bottom  12  for motor-driven pivotal adjustment relative to the seat bottom  12 . A head restraint  16  may also be mounted for motor-driven adjustable translation to the seat back  14 . 
         [0016]    The seat bottom  12  includes a central seating surface  18  and a pair of side bolster regions  20  laterally spaced about the central seating surface  18 . The seat back  14  includes a pelvic/lumbar seating surface  22  with a pair of laterally spaced apart side bolster regions  24  on either side. A thoracic/shoulder seating surface  26  is provided above the pelvic/lumbar seating surface  22  and the seat back side bolster regions  24 . 
         [0017]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the seat assembly  10  with a cover and trim removed for revealing underlying components. The seat bottom  12  includes a pair of pelvis actuators, such as air bladder assemblies  28  under the central seating surface  18 . The seat bottom  12  also includes a pair of side bolster actuators, such as air bladder assemblies  30 , each located in one of the seat bottom side bolster regions  20 . Likewise, the seat back  14  includes a pair of side bolster actuators, such as air bladder assemblies  32 , each located in one of the seat back side bolster regions  24 . Each of the side bolster air bladder assemblies  30 ,  32  is supported upon a frame  34 ,  36  of the corresponding seat bottom  12  and seat back  14 . The pelvis air bladder assemblies  28  may be supported upon a suspension  38 , which is in turn supported upon the seat bottom frame  34 . The seat back  14  also includes a suspension  40 . Additional air bladder assemblies may also be provided upon the seat back suspension  40 . Although air bladder assemblies  28 ,  30 ,  32  are disclosed, any actuator is contemplated that is suitable for performing the adjustment. 
         [0018]    The seat assembly  10  provides 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 assembly  10  provides support in the seat back  14  and the seat bottom  12  to support the occupant&#39;s weight shift away from the center of the vehicle turn. The seat assembly utilizes the pneumatic bladder assemblies  30 ,  32  in the bolster regions  20 ,  24  of the seat bottom  12  and the seat back  14 , which sense an occupant&#39;s weight shift via a change in the internal pressure of the bolster bladder assemblies  30 ,  32 . The seat assembly  10  then inflates the side bolster air bladder assemblies  30 ,  32  in the seat bottom  12  and/or the seat back  14  to provide lateral support during the cornering event. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates an adjustable seat system  42  according to an embodiment. The seat system  42  includes the seat assembly  10 , which is illustrated with a cover and cushioning removed for revealing underlying components. A compressor  44  provides a source of air to the seat assembly  10 . A memory control seat module (MCSM) and valve bank are provided on the seat back  14  and identified generally as a controller  46 . The controller  46  regulates compressed air into and out of the seat assembly  10 . The controller  46  communicates with a gateway module  48  through a CANbus connection. The gateway module  48  may be installed in or under the seat, or anywhere in the vehicle. 
         [0020]    The gateway module  48  communicates with an interface  50  via a wireless communication. The interface  50  may be integrated into the vehicle, such as an instrument panel display that is in suitable wired or wireless communication with the controller  46 . The interface  50  may be remote, such as a smart device including phones, tablets and the like. The interface  50  is depicted as a smart device application. The remote interface  50  may 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. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates two display images  52 ,  54  from the interface  50 . Each of the air bladder assemblies  28 ,  30 ,  32  may include at least one pressure sensor to detect air pressure in the respective air bladder assembly  28 ,  30 ,  32 . Any pressure sensor is contemplated, such as a pneumatic pressure sensor at the outlet valve of each respective air bladder assembly  28 ,  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 assemblies  28 ,  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 image  52  depicts the vehicle seat assembly  10  with zones ranging in color to depict a distribution of pressure upon the seat assembly  10 . This visualization may assist an occupant in positioning upon the seat assembly  10  with live visual feedback. 
         [0022]    The seat system  42  improves an occupant seating position by providing a power pneumatic support in the seat assembly  10  which 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 assemblies  30 ,  32  are specifically shaped to center an occupant. 
         [0023]    The seat system  42  can detect differences in air pressure (LH/RH) at the controller  46  and graphically display the pressure distribution on the display image  52 . Corrections can be made to the air pressures RH/LH in the air bladder assemblies  28 ,  30 ,  32  via an algorithm in the controller  46 . Alternatively individual adjustment can be input by the occupant or user at display image  54  of the interface  50 . Each side bolster air bladder assembly  30 ,  32  can 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 system  42  under different seat settings which may be selected at the interface  50 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method  56  for adjusting the seat assembly  10  according to an embodiment. The method begins when an Active Bolster System mode is selected at  58 . The mode  58  may be manually selected at the interface  50 . Alternatively, the mode  58  may be initiated automatically. At block  60 , the controller  46  evaluates the data received from the sensors in the air bladder assemblies  28 ,  30 ,  32  to 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 detection  60  is performed by comparing the pressure values to a predetermined position, such as a wellness position as selected by a health professional. 
         [0025]    If it is determined that the occupant is out of position at block  60 , and the occupant is identified as shifted to the left at block  62 , then a popup is provided on the interface  50  at block  64  to inform the occupant of automatic adjustment. The increased pressure can also be displayed graphically in the live view image  52 . 
         [0026]    At block  64 , the left side bolster air bladder assembly  30  of the seat bottom  12  is further inflated if the increased pressure was detected at the left side seat bottom air bladder assembly  30 . If the left side bolster air bladder assembly  32  of the seat back  14  detected increased pressure, then the left side bolster air bladder assembly  32  is further inflated. The inflation of the air bladder assemblies  30 ,  32  that detect increased pressure assist in returning the occupant to a central, balanced seating position  66  as defined by a wellness expert. 
         [0027]    The out of position detection  60  is repeated to compensate for further detected positions. If it is determined that the occupant is out of position at block  60 , and the occupant is identified as shifted to the right at block  68 , then a popup is provided on the interface  50  at block  70  to inform the occupant of automatic adjustment. 
         [0028]    At block  70 , the right side bolster air bladder assembly  30  of the seat bottom  12  is further inflated if the increased pressure was detected at the right side seat bottom air bladder assembly  30 . If the right side bolster air bladder assembly  32  of the seat back  14  detected increased pressure, then the right side bolster air bladder assembly  32  is further inflated. The inflation of the air bladder assemblies  30 ,  32  that detect increased pressure assist in returning the occupant to the central, balanced seating position  66  as defined by the wellness expert. 
         [0029]    While various embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.