Patent ID: 8672409

Claim:
A vehicle head restraint controller configured to: receive an instruction signal to actuate a head restraint from a use position to a stowed position; receive a detection signal regarding whether an object is within a predetermined range of the head restraint, wherein the predetermined range does not overlap with any portion of the head restraint; transmit a use signal to the actuator to maintain the head restraint in the use position in response to the instruction signal and in response to the detection signal indicating that an object is within the predetermined range of the head restraint; receive a detection signal regarding whether an object is within the predetermined range of the head restraint while the actuator is actuating the head restraint from the use position to the stowed position; and transmit a use signal to the actuator to actuate the head restraint to the use position in response to the detection signal indicating that an object is within the predetermined range of the head restraint.