Abstract:
A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom, a seat back, and a plurality of sensors operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back to detect a seating condition of a seated occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller is programmed to receive input from the plurality of sensors indicative of a seating condition of the seated occupant. The seating condition is compared to a predetermined seating condition. An output indicative of the predetermined seating condition is transmitted. An actuator is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly. The actuator is adjusted to a predetermined setting corresponding to the predetermined seating condition.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Various embodiments relate to seat position detection for seat assemblies. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Galbreath et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2012/0096960 A1, which published on Apr. 26, 2012, discloses a system that generates dynamic seating body distribution data. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to at least one embodiment, a seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom and a seat back. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back to detect a seating condition. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller is programmed to receive input from the plurality of sensors indicative of a seating condition. The seating condition is compared to a predetermined seating condition. An output indicative of the predetermined seating condition is transmitted. 
         [0004]    According to at least another embodiment, a seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom and a seat back. At least one actuator is operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly. A plurality of sensors is operably connected to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back to detect a seating condition. A controller is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and the at least one actuator. The controller is programmed to receive input from the plurality of sensors indicative of a seating condition. The seating condition of the seated occupant is compared to a predetermined seating condition. The at least one actuator is adjusted to a predetermined setting corresponding to the predetermined seating condition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a seating system according to an embodiment, including a vehicle seat assembly according to another embodiment; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the vehicle seat assembly of  FIG. 1 , illustrated partially disassembled; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is another side elevation view of the vehicle seat assembly of  FIG. 1 , illustrated partially disassembled with a schematic illustration of a range of motion in a fore-aft direction of the vehicle seat assembly; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is another side elevation view of the vehicle seat assembly of  FIG. 1 , illustrated partially disassembled with a schematic illustration of a range of motion in a height direction of the vehicle seat assembly; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is another side elevation view of the vehicle seat assembly of  FIG. 1 , illustrated partially disassembled with a schematic illustration of a range of motion for front tilt of the vehicle seat assembly; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is another side elevation view of the vehicle seat assembly of  FIG. 1 , illustrated partially disassembled with a schematic illustration of a range of motion for recliner measurement of the vehicle seat assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    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. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a vehicle seat assembly  10  according to an embodiment. The vehicle seat assembly  10  may be employed in an automotive vehicle, an aircraft, a watercraft or the like. Alternatively, the seat assembly  10  may be employed in a non-transportation environment, such as an office chair, or the like. Moreover, the vehicle seat assembly  10  may be employed in any environment wherein it is desirable to identify the occupant. 
         [0013]    The seat assembly  10  includes a seat bottom  12 , which may be adapted to be mounted for manually adjustable translation in a fore and aft direction, in an up and down direction of a vehicle, and for tilt adjustment relative to the vehicle. According to another embodiment, these adjustments are motor-driven. 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 pivotal adjustment relative to the seat bottom  12 . A head restraint  16  is mounted for adjustable translation to the seat back  14 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  also illustrates an adjustable seating system  18  according to an embodiment. The seating system  18  includes the seat assembly  10 . For the motor-driven embodiment, a memory control seat module (MCSM) is provided on the seat back  14  and identified generally as a controller  20 . The controller  20  controls a plurality of motors and corresponding transmissions  22  in the seat assembly  10  for adjusting the various adjustment features of the seat assembly  10 . The controller  20  may be provided in a module under the seat bottom  12 , and may be a multifunction controller that also controls other functions in the vehicle. 
         [0015]    The controller  20  communicates with a gateway module  24  through a CANbus connection. The gateway module  24  may be installed in or under the seat, or anywhere in the vehicle. The gateway module  24  may also be integrated with the controller  20 . 
         [0016]    The gateway module  24  communicates with an interface  26  via a wireless communication. The interface  26  may be integrated into the vehicle, such as an instrument panel display that is in suitable wired or wireless communication with the controller  20 . The interface  26  may be remote, such as a smart device including phones, tablets and the like. The interface  26  is depicted as a smart device application. The remote interface  26  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 Publication No. 2015/0351692 A1, filed on Dec. 4, 2014, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a display image from the interface  26 . The display image of the interface  26  may depict the vehicle seat assembly  10  with various adjustment ranges of the seat assembly  10 . This visualization may assist an occupant in positioning upon the seat assembly  10  with live visual feedback. 
         [0018]    With reference now to  FIG. 2 , the seat assembly  10  is illustrated partially disassembled according to an embodiment, with the head restraint  16  removed. Also a cover, trim, and cushioning are removed from the seat assembly  10  in  FIG. 2 . The seat assembly  10  is illustrated with a seat bottom frame  28  and a seat back frame  30 . The seat assembly  10  includes a plurality of pairs of sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  for detecting a seating position of the seat assembly  10 . According to one embodiment, each pair of sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  may include a pair of three-axis gyroscopic and accelerometer sensors to provide measurements of at each of the pairs of sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . The sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  detect occupant seating position and movement. The sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  are in electrical communication with the gateway module  24  for conveying the detected information to the gateway module  24 . For the motor-driven embodiment, the sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  are in electrical communication with the controller  20 . 
         [0019]    Proper positioning of the seat assembly  10  is employed for placing an occupant in a properly seated posture, as may be predefined by a prior saved seating position, or a predetermined position as prescribed by a health professional. Proper adjustment may be employed for both power and manual adjusting seats. Typical seat adjustment features include fore-aft horizontal adjustment, height adjustment, front cushion tilt adjustment, recline adjustment, and head restraint adjustment. The sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  are placed on the seat assembly  10  in laterally spaced apart pairs in positions to detect the movement and location of the adjustments of the seat assembly  10 . 
         [0020]    The sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  can detect location in three directions, such as fore-aft, lateral and height. The sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  can detect angular movements in the roll, pitch, and yaw directions. The adjustment features of the seat assembly  10  can be placed into positions that place the occupant in a properly seated posture. The measurements from the sensors  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  can then be recorded in the controller  20  or gateway module  24  for different occupant anthropometric dimensions. Once the measurements are recorded, the interface  26  can show the difference between the current adjusted position of a feature and the proper adjustment position. Human Machine Interface graphical software can display upon the interface  26  occupant current adjustments of the seat assembly  10 , predetermined seating adjustments, and a range of adjustment between current and predetermined seating adjustments. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates the seat assembly  10  with a graphic  40  representative of a range of motion of the seat assembly  10 . The graphic  40  is representative of a range of translation in the fore-aft direction and with a range of height adjustment. An intersection  42  is provided in the range graphic  40  to indicate a current location of the seat assembly  10  in the fore-aft direction and in the height direction. 
         [0022]    For the position depicted in  FIG. 3 , a display image  44  is generated for assisting the occupant with seat adjustment. For example, in  FIG. 3 , the seat bottom sensors  32 ,  34  ( FIG. 2 ) detect a seated occupant position in the fore and aft direction. The seated position is compared to a predetermined seating condition, such as a prescribed fore-aft position, or a user preference condition. The comparison is performed at the controller  20  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0023]    The controller  20  sends an image, such as the display image  44  to the interface  26 . The display image  44  illustrates a target range  46 - 48  of linear translation in the fore-aft direction. A set of ranges, such as an intermediate range  50 - 46 , and an intermediate range  48 - 52  are depicted outside the target range  46 - 48 . Another pair of ranges range, such as an external range  54 - 50  and an external range  52 - 56  is depicted outside of the intermediate ranges  50 - 46 ,  48 - 52 . 
         [0024]    The location of the intersection  42  indicates whether the seat assembly  10  is in position or within target range  46 - 48  in the fore-aft direction. The display image  44  also indicates when the intersection  42  is close to the target range  46 - 48 , or within one of the intermediate ranges  50 - 46 ,  48 - 52 . The display image also indicates when the intersection  42  is out of position, when the intersection  42  is within one of the external ranges  54 - 50 ,  52 - 56 . The display image  44  may be employed for visual guidance to the occupant, while adjusting the seat assembly  10  to the target range  46 ,  48 . The seat bottom sensors  32 ,  34  periodically measure the position of the seat bottom frame  28  to update the display image  44 . 
         [0025]    According to at least one embodiment, the controller  20  ( FIG. 1 ) employs the measurements from the sensors  32 ,  34  to drive a motor and transmission  22  to adjust the seat assembly  10  to the target fore-aft range  46 - 48 . The display image  44  is employed to illustrate the movement during the adjustment. 
         [0026]    Other adjustment features operate similar to that described with reference to fore-aft adjustment. For example,  FIG. 4  illustrates the seat assembly  10  with the graphic  40  representative of translation in the fore-aft direction and with a range of height adjustment. The intersection indicates a current location of the seat assembly  10  in the fore-aft direction and in the height direction. 
         [0027]    For the position depicted in  FIG. 4 , a display image  58  is generated for assisting the occupant with seat adjustment in the height direction. For example, in  FIG. 4 , the seat bottom sensors  32 ,  34  ( FIG. 2 ) detect a seated occupant position in the height direction. The seated position is compared to a predetermined seating condition, such as a prescribed height position, or a user preference condition. The comparison is performed at the controller  20  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0028]    The controller  20  sends an image, such as the display image  58  to the interface  26 . The display image  58  illustrates a target range  60 - 62  of translation in the height direction. Intermediate range  64 - 60 , and intermediate range  62 - 66  depict ranges proximate, but outside of, the target range  60 - 62 . External range  68 - 64  and external range  66 - 70  depict ranges that are outside of the intermediate ranges  64 - 60 ,  62 - 66 . 
         [0029]    The location of the intersection  42  indicates whether the seat assembly  10  is in position or within the target range  60 - 62  in the height direction, or close and within one of the intermediate ranges,  64 - 60 ,  62 - 66 , or out of position within one of the external ranges  68 - 64 ,  66 - 70 . The display image  58  may be employed for visual guidance to the occupant, while adjusting the seat assembly  10  to the target range  60 - 62 . The seat bottom sensors  32 ,  34  periodically measure the position of the seat bottom frame  28  to update the display image  58 . Both display images  44 ,  58  may be combined for concurrent adjustment of the fore-aft and height adjustments of the seat assembly  10 . 
         [0030]    According to at least one embodiment, the controller  20  ( FIG. 1 ) employs the measurements from the sensors  32 ,  34  to drive a motor and transmission  22  to adjust the seat assembly  10  to the target height range  60 - 62 . The display image  58  is employed to illustrate the movement during the adjustment. 
         [0031]    Further adjustment features operate similar to those described with reference to fore-aft adjustment and height adjustment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . By way of another example,  FIG. 5  illustrates the seat assembly  10  with a graphic  72  representative of a tilt angle of the seat bottom frame  28 . 
         [0032]    For the position depicted in  FIG. 5 , a display image  74  is generated for assisting the occupant with seat adjustment in a range of tilt angles. For example, in  FIG. 5 , the seat bottom sensors  32 ,  34  ( FIG. 2 ) detect a tilt angle of a seated occupant position. The seated position is compared to a predetermined seating condition, such as a prescribed tilt position, or a user preference condition. The comparison is performed at the controller  20  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0033]    The controller  20  sends an image, such as the display image  74  to the interface  26 . The display image  74  illustrates a target angular range  76 - 78  for the tilt angle. Intermediate range  80 - 76 , and intermediate range  78 - 82  depict ranges proximate, but outside of, the target range  76 - 78 . External range  84 - 80  and external range  82 - 86  depict ranges that are outside of the intermediate ranges  80 - 76 ,  78 - 82 . 
         [0034]    The location of the tilt angle graphic  72  indicates whether the seat assembly  10  is in position or within the target range  76 - 78  for the tilt angle, or close and within one of the intermediate ranges,  80 - 76 ,  78 - 82 , or out of position within one of the external ranges  84 - 80 ,  82 - 86 . The display image  74  may be employed for visual guidance to the occupant, while adjusting the seat assembly  10  to the target range  76 - 78 . The seat bottom sensors  32 ,  34  periodically measure the position of the seat bottom frame  28  to update the display image  74 . All three display images  44 ,  58 ,  74  may be combined for concurrent adjustment of the fore-aft, height and tilt adjustments of the seat assembly  10 . 
         [0035]    According to at least one embodiment, the controller  20  ( FIG. 1 ) employs the measurements from the sensors  32 ,  34  to drive a motor and transmission  22  to adjust the seat assembly  10  to the target tilt range  76 - 78 . The display image  74  is employed to illustrate the movement during the adjustment. 
         [0036]    Further adjustment features operate similar to those described with reference to fore-aft adjustment, height adjustment and tilt adjustment of  FIGS. 3-5 . By way of another example,  FIG. 6  illustrates the seat assembly  10  with a graphic  88  representative of a recline angle of the seat back frame  30 . 
         [0037]    For the position depicted in  FIG. 6 , a display image  90  is generated for assisting the occupant with seat adjustment in a range of recline angles. For example, in  FIG. 6 , the seat back sensors  36 ,  38  ( FIG. 2 ) detect a recline angle of a seated occupant position. The seated position is compared to a predetermined seating condition, such as a prescribed recline position, or a user preference condition. The comparison is performed at the controller  20  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0038]    The controller  20  sends an image, such as the display image  90  to the interface  26 . The display image  90  illustrates a target angular range  92 - 94  for the recline angle. Intermediate range  96 - 92 , and intermediate range  94 - 98  depict ranges proximate, but outside of, the target range  92 - 94 . External range  100 - 96  and external range  98 - 102  depict ranges that are outside of the intermediate ranges  96 - 92 ,  94 - 98 . 
         [0039]    The location of the recline angle graphic  88  indicates whether the seat assembly  10  is in position or within the target range  92 - 94  for the recline angle, or close and within one of the intermediate ranges,  96 - 92 ,  94 - 98 , or out of position within one of the external ranges  100 - 96 ,  98 - 102 . The display image  90  may be employed for visual guidance to the occupant, while adjusting the seat assembly  10  to the target range  92 - 94 . The seat back sensors  36 ,  38  periodically measure the position of the seat back frame  30  to update the display image  90 . All four display images  44 ,  58 ,  74 ,  90  may be employed in any combination for concurrent adjustment of the fore-aft, height, tilt and recline adjustments of the seat assembly  10 . 
         [0040]    According to at least one embodiment, the controller  20  ( FIG. 1 ) employs the measurements from the sensors  36 ,  38  to drive a motor and transmission  22  to adjust the seat assembly  10  to the target recline range  92 - 94 . The display image  90  is employed to illustrate the movement during the adjustment. 
         [0041]    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.