Patent ID: 7329200

Claim:
A drive unit of an adjuster for a vehicle seat, the drive unit comprising: an electronically commutated motor including at least (a) a stator, and (b) a rotor configured for rotating in response to the rotor interacting magnetically with the stator; and a planetary differential gear including at least (a) a first component selected from the group consisting of a sun wheel and a sun gear, (b) a second component selected from the group consisting of a first outer ring and a first hollow gear, and (c) a third component selected from the group consisting of a second outer ring and a second hollow gear, wherein the planetary differential gear and the motor are cooperatively associated with one another at least for making use of a difference in speed of rotation, a difference in direction of rotation, or any combination thereof to provide rotation of the third component about an axis, wherein the planetary differential gear and the motor being cooperatively associated with one another includes at least (a) the first component being rigidly connected to the rotor for relating with the rotor, and (b) the second component being connected to the stator during at least one mode of operation of the drive unit, and wherein (a) the planetary differential gear is at least a single-stage planetary differential gear that includes at least one set of planet components selected from the group consisting of a set of planet rollers and a set of planet gears, (b) the third component is the second outer ring, and (c) the second outer ring is a planetary carrier that carries the set of planet components.