CA2155896A1 - Automotive seat adjustment mechanism - Google Patents
Automotive seat adjustment mechanismInfo
- Publication number
- CA2155896A1 CA2155896A1 CA002155896A CA2155896A CA2155896A1 CA 2155896 A1 CA2155896 A1 CA 2155896A1 CA 002155896 A CA002155896 A CA 002155896A CA 2155896 A CA2155896 A CA 2155896A CA 2155896 A1 CA2155896 A1 CA 2155896A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- seat
- control unit
- user
- configuration
- adjustments
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 title abstract description 11
- 230000006386 memory function Effects 0.000 abstract description 9
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241001417501 Lobotidae Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008054 signal transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
- B60N2/0224—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
- B60N2/0244—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation with logic circuits
- B60N2/0248—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation with logic circuits with memory of positions
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention relates to a mechanism for more convenient seat adjustments on some automobiles. Both the manually operated type and the power-assisted type have drawbacks: the former does not provide memory functions and the latter leads to significant increases in production cost and vehicle weight. The present invention provides memory functions at a lower cost and with little weight increase, enabling the user to adjust the seat to his/her most comfortable configuration easily and quickly. The essence of the present invention is that the mechanism will not allow further adjustments of, for instance, the angle of the back of the seat if the angle is the same as that of the selected pre-set seat configuration.
Description
2~589B
AUqoMOTTVE SEAT ADJU8TMENT MT~tT~M
The present invention relates to a mechanism for more convenient seat adjustments on some automobiles. The present invention enables more convenient seat adjustments by providing memory functions at a low cost and with little weight increase.
Automotive seat adjustment mechanisms presently fall into two categories: the manually operated type and the power-assisted type.
The manually operated type is operated by pulling a handle and ; adjusting to a comfortable position/angle. After a comfortable position/angle is reached, the handle is released and the seat is locked in the ~osition/angle. Usually, seats that use this mechanism can be adjusted in two ways: the seat can be slid forward and backward, and the angle of the back of the seat can be adjusted. The - manually operated type is usually used on popular car models.
The power-assisted type uses electrical power in seat adjustments. The user adjusts the seat by pressing buttons. For ~ example, if the user wants to move the seat forward, he/she presses - the button that moves the seat forward and releases the button if a comfortable position is reached. Usually, seats that use this adjustment mechanism provide memory functions: a user can adjust the seat to a comfortable configuration and store the configuration into the memory of the mechanism. If the user later finds that the seat is not in that configuration, he/she can select the number that identifies his/her seat configuration, and the seat will be adjusted to that particular configuration. The power-assisted type is usually found on the more expensive car models.
Both the manually operated type and the power-assisted type have drawbacks. The manually operated type, though inexpensive to construct and relatively light, is not very convenient because of - the lack of memory functions. This is especially true for cars such as family sedans, where seat adjustments are needed often. The power-assisted type, which usually provides memory functions, is more convenient but is expensive to construct and leads to 215~896 significant vehicle weight increase.
The most useful function of the power-assisted type, the inventor of the present invention was convinced, is the memory function. The inventor of the present invention also believes that the memory function can be added to the manually operated type at a low cost and with little weight increase.
One embodiment of the present invention consists of five major components: a control unit, two position detectors, and two locking devices. In this embodiment of the present invention, the driver's , .
seat is equipped with two position detectors and two locking devices. A con'rol unit, with its control panel mounted on the car's dashboard, is connected to an electrical power source and supplies power to the two position detectors and the two locking devices.
The functions of the control unit are as follows: it memorizes up to two pre-set seat configurations, and it turns on or off any of the two position detectors and the two locking devices based on the information from the user, the two position detectors, and the control unit's memory. The two position detectors are for -- determining the position of the seat and the angle of the back of the seat. The two locking devices are for allowing or not allowing seat adjustments: one device for position adjustment, and the other - device for angle adjustment.
The operation of this embodiment of the present invention is described as follows: if the user wants to input a seat configuration into the memory of the control unit, he/she first adjusts the seat to a comfortable configuration manual~y, and then presses either one of the two buttons `SET 1' or `SET 2' on the control unit's control panel, and the configuration will be stored ., in the selected memory position. After that, the user can press the button again so that further seat adjustments will not affect the memorized configuration.
If the same user later finds that the seat is not in his/her 215~89~
pre-set configuration, he/she can easily adjust the seat to his~her pre-set configuration by pressing either one of the two buttons `ADJUST 1' or `ADJUST 2' on the control unit's control panel, depending on the particular memory position he/she chose. After that, the user can adjust the seat in the same way he/she adjusts a seat of the manually operated type. When the seat is in the pre-set ,, ~ ~ position/angle, the seat will be locked in that position/angle. When the seat is adjusted to the pre-set configuration, the user presses the button again and the adjustment procedure is finished at this.
For example, if a user wants to adjust the seat to the pre-set configuration stored in memory position 1, he/she presses the button `ADJUST 1' c~ then slides the seat forward and/or backward while pulling the handle for seat position adjustment. When the seat is in the pre-set position, the seat will be locked in that position and the user can release the handle. The angle of the seat can be adjusted in the same manner. After the seat is adjusted to the pre-set configuration, the user presses the button `ADJUST 1' again to turn off the mechanism, and the seat adjustment is finished.
The present invention provides seat adjustments more convenient than seat adjustments provided by the manually operated type of seat adjustment mechanisms, without significant increases in production cost or vehicle weight. The present invention provides more convenient seat adjustments by letting the user(s) input pre-set seat configuration(s) into the memory of the mechanism, and locking the position and angle of the seat in the chosen pre-set configuration when the memory function is used ~uring seat adjustments.
Figure 1 is a diagram that illustrates the relationship between the various components of the embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to Figure 1, A represents a source of electrical power. In the embodiment discussed, it is a constant voltage source from the vehicle's electrical system. A supplies power to the 21~89~
embodiment of the present invention through supplying power to the control unit.
B represents the button `SET 1' on the control unit's control panel. It belongs to the type of buttons commonly used for functions such as emergency flashers on vehicles. This type of buttons are hereafter referred to as the go-in-and-come-out-alternately type of buttons. The `SET 1' button is used when the user wants to input the seat configuration into the memory of the control unit and identify that configuration by the number 1.
C represents the button `SET 2' on the control unit's control panel. It is of the go-in-and-come-out-alternatély type, and is used ~ for inputting a seat configuration and identifying that -- ~ configuration by the number 2.
D represents the button `ADJUST 1' on the control unit's control panel. It is of the go-in-and-come-out-alternately type, and is used when the user is adjusting the seat to the configuration identified by the number 1.
E represents the button `ADJUST 2' on the control unit's control panel. It is also of the go-in-and-come-out-alternately type. It is used when the user is adjusting the seat to the configuration identified by the number 2.
F represents the control unit. It supplies electrical power to the two position detectors and the two locking devices, based on ~r ~ information from the four buttons (represented by B, C, D, and E), information from the control unit's memory, and information from the two position detectors. The control unit's memory can ,store up to , . , - ~ two pre-set seat configurations.
G represents the position detector responsible for detecting the position of the seat. J represents the position detector that detects the an~le of the back of the seat. The position detectors receive electrical power from the control unit, and output information regarding the position and angle of the seat to the ~- 4 2 1 5 ~ 8 9 8 control unit.
H represents the locking device that locks the seat into the position if it is activated by the control unit. I represents the locking device that locks the seat into the angle when activated by the control unit.
PL denotes power line, each power line is for transferring electrical power. SL denotes signal line, each signal line is primarily for the transmission of electrical signals. Each power line or signal line in Figure 1 represents a path for the transferring of power or the transmission of electrical signals, and may consist of more than one wire. Each arrow indicates the direction of the transferring of power or the direction of the transmission of signals.
In the intended method of operation, at most only one of the four buttons (represented by B, C, D, and E) is pressed at any one time. The two position detectors are turned on whenever one button is pressed. If `SET 1' or `SET 2' is pressed, the corresponding site of the control unit's memory is enabled and the seat configuration will be stored there.
If `ADJUST 1' or `ADJUST 2' is pressed, the information from the position detectors is compared to the information stored in the corresponding memory site in the control unit. If the position or the angle of the seat matches that of the memorized configuration, the corresponding locking device, which may be the position-locking device or the angle-locking device, will be activated. When both the position and the angle of the seat are locked, the sea,t adjustment process is finished and the button ~`ADJUST 1' or `ADJUST 2') can be pressed again so that the button returns to the off state.
In the claims, the term `adjustability' refers to one aspect of the seat that can be adjusted. For example, in the embodiment explained, the seat has two adjustabilities, which are its position and the angle of its back.
21~ 89~
Although only a single embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated, the present invention is not limited to the features of this embodiment, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope of the claims.
AUqoMOTTVE SEAT ADJU8TMENT MT~tT~M
The present invention relates to a mechanism for more convenient seat adjustments on some automobiles. The present invention enables more convenient seat adjustments by providing memory functions at a low cost and with little weight increase.
Automotive seat adjustment mechanisms presently fall into two categories: the manually operated type and the power-assisted type.
The manually operated type is operated by pulling a handle and ; adjusting to a comfortable position/angle. After a comfortable position/angle is reached, the handle is released and the seat is locked in the ~osition/angle. Usually, seats that use this mechanism can be adjusted in two ways: the seat can be slid forward and backward, and the angle of the back of the seat can be adjusted. The - manually operated type is usually used on popular car models.
The power-assisted type uses electrical power in seat adjustments. The user adjusts the seat by pressing buttons. For ~ example, if the user wants to move the seat forward, he/she presses - the button that moves the seat forward and releases the button if a comfortable position is reached. Usually, seats that use this adjustment mechanism provide memory functions: a user can adjust the seat to a comfortable configuration and store the configuration into the memory of the mechanism. If the user later finds that the seat is not in that configuration, he/she can select the number that identifies his/her seat configuration, and the seat will be adjusted to that particular configuration. The power-assisted type is usually found on the more expensive car models.
Both the manually operated type and the power-assisted type have drawbacks. The manually operated type, though inexpensive to construct and relatively light, is not very convenient because of - the lack of memory functions. This is especially true for cars such as family sedans, where seat adjustments are needed often. The power-assisted type, which usually provides memory functions, is more convenient but is expensive to construct and leads to 215~896 significant vehicle weight increase.
The most useful function of the power-assisted type, the inventor of the present invention was convinced, is the memory function. The inventor of the present invention also believes that the memory function can be added to the manually operated type at a low cost and with little weight increase.
One embodiment of the present invention consists of five major components: a control unit, two position detectors, and two locking devices. In this embodiment of the present invention, the driver's , .
seat is equipped with two position detectors and two locking devices. A con'rol unit, with its control panel mounted on the car's dashboard, is connected to an electrical power source and supplies power to the two position detectors and the two locking devices.
The functions of the control unit are as follows: it memorizes up to two pre-set seat configurations, and it turns on or off any of the two position detectors and the two locking devices based on the information from the user, the two position detectors, and the control unit's memory. The two position detectors are for -- determining the position of the seat and the angle of the back of the seat. The two locking devices are for allowing or not allowing seat adjustments: one device for position adjustment, and the other - device for angle adjustment.
The operation of this embodiment of the present invention is described as follows: if the user wants to input a seat configuration into the memory of the control unit, he/she first adjusts the seat to a comfortable configuration manual~y, and then presses either one of the two buttons `SET 1' or `SET 2' on the control unit's control panel, and the configuration will be stored ., in the selected memory position. After that, the user can press the button again so that further seat adjustments will not affect the memorized configuration.
If the same user later finds that the seat is not in his/her 215~89~
pre-set configuration, he/she can easily adjust the seat to his~her pre-set configuration by pressing either one of the two buttons `ADJUST 1' or `ADJUST 2' on the control unit's control panel, depending on the particular memory position he/she chose. After that, the user can adjust the seat in the same way he/she adjusts a seat of the manually operated type. When the seat is in the pre-set ,, ~ ~ position/angle, the seat will be locked in that position/angle. When the seat is adjusted to the pre-set configuration, the user presses the button again and the adjustment procedure is finished at this.
For example, if a user wants to adjust the seat to the pre-set configuration stored in memory position 1, he/she presses the button `ADJUST 1' c~ then slides the seat forward and/or backward while pulling the handle for seat position adjustment. When the seat is in the pre-set position, the seat will be locked in that position and the user can release the handle. The angle of the seat can be adjusted in the same manner. After the seat is adjusted to the pre-set configuration, the user presses the button `ADJUST 1' again to turn off the mechanism, and the seat adjustment is finished.
The present invention provides seat adjustments more convenient than seat adjustments provided by the manually operated type of seat adjustment mechanisms, without significant increases in production cost or vehicle weight. The present invention provides more convenient seat adjustments by letting the user(s) input pre-set seat configuration(s) into the memory of the mechanism, and locking the position and angle of the seat in the chosen pre-set configuration when the memory function is used ~uring seat adjustments.
Figure 1 is a diagram that illustrates the relationship between the various components of the embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to Figure 1, A represents a source of electrical power. In the embodiment discussed, it is a constant voltage source from the vehicle's electrical system. A supplies power to the 21~89~
embodiment of the present invention through supplying power to the control unit.
B represents the button `SET 1' on the control unit's control panel. It belongs to the type of buttons commonly used for functions such as emergency flashers on vehicles. This type of buttons are hereafter referred to as the go-in-and-come-out-alternately type of buttons. The `SET 1' button is used when the user wants to input the seat configuration into the memory of the control unit and identify that configuration by the number 1.
C represents the button `SET 2' on the control unit's control panel. It is of the go-in-and-come-out-alternatély type, and is used ~ for inputting a seat configuration and identifying that -- ~ configuration by the number 2.
D represents the button `ADJUST 1' on the control unit's control panel. It is of the go-in-and-come-out-alternately type, and is used when the user is adjusting the seat to the configuration identified by the number 1.
E represents the button `ADJUST 2' on the control unit's control panel. It is also of the go-in-and-come-out-alternately type. It is used when the user is adjusting the seat to the configuration identified by the number 2.
F represents the control unit. It supplies electrical power to the two position detectors and the two locking devices, based on ~r ~ information from the four buttons (represented by B, C, D, and E), information from the control unit's memory, and information from the two position detectors. The control unit's memory can ,store up to , . , - ~ two pre-set seat configurations.
G represents the position detector responsible for detecting the position of the seat. J represents the position detector that detects the an~le of the back of the seat. The position detectors receive electrical power from the control unit, and output information regarding the position and angle of the seat to the ~- 4 2 1 5 ~ 8 9 8 control unit.
H represents the locking device that locks the seat into the position if it is activated by the control unit. I represents the locking device that locks the seat into the angle when activated by the control unit.
PL denotes power line, each power line is for transferring electrical power. SL denotes signal line, each signal line is primarily for the transmission of electrical signals. Each power line or signal line in Figure 1 represents a path for the transferring of power or the transmission of electrical signals, and may consist of more than one wire. Each arrow indicates the direction of the transferring of power or the direction of the transmission of signals.
In the intended method of operation, at most only one of the four buttons (represented by B, C, D, and E) is pressed at any one time. The two position detectors are turned on whenever one button is pressed. If `SET 1' or `SET 2' is pressed, the corresponding site of the control unit's memory is enabled and the seat configuration will be stored there.
If `ADJUST 1' or `ADJUST 2' is pressed, the information from the position detectors is compared to the information stored in the corresponding memory site in the control unit. If the position or the angle of the seat matches that of the memorized configuration, the corresponding locking device, which may be the position-locking device or the angle-locking device, will be activated. When both the position and the angle of the seat are locked, the sea,t adjustment process is finished and the button ~`ADJUST 1' or `ADJUST 2') can be pressed again so that the button returns to the off state.
In the claims, the term `adjustability' refers to one aspect of the seat that can be adjusted. For example, in the embodiment explained, the seat has two adjustabilities, which are its position and the angle of its back.
21~ 89~
Although only a single embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated, the present invention is not limited to the features of this embodiment, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope of the claims.
Claims
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for enabling convenient automotive seat adjustments, comprising:
a control unit that can memorize one or more user-inputted seat configurations, and that controls the operations of one or more position detectors and one or more locking devices based on information from the user, information stored in the memory of the control unit, and information from one or more position detectors; and one or more position detectors, operated by the control unit, for determining the adjustability or adjustabilities of the seat; and one or more locking devices, operated by the control unit, for not allowing adjustments of the adjustability or adjustabilities of the seat; and no electrical devices, such as an electric motor that moves the seat forward and backward, for assisting the user in the actual adjustments of the adjustability or adjustabilities of the seat.
a control unit that can memorize one or more user-inputted seat configurations, and that controls the operations of one or more position detectors and one or more locking devices based on information from the user, information stored in the memory of the control unit, and information from one or more position detectors; and one or more position detectors, operated by the control unit, for determining the adjustability or adjustabilities of the seat; and one or more locking devices, operated by the control unit, for not allowing adjustments of the adjustability or adjustabilities of the seat; and no electrical devices, such as an electric motor that moves the seat forward and backward, for assisting the user in the actual adjustments of the adjustability or adjustabilities of the seat.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002155896A CA2155896A1 (en) | 1995-08-11 | 1995-08-11 | Automotive seat adjustment mechanism |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002155896A CA2155896A1 (en) | 1995-08-11 | 1995-08-11 | Automotive seat adjustment mechanism |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2155896A1 true CA2155896A1 (en) | 1997-02-12 |
Family
ID=4156406
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002155896A Abandoned CA2155896A1 (en) | 1995-08-11 | 1995-08-11 | Automotive seat adjustment mechanism |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2155896A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2010057815A1 (en) * | 2008-11-18 | 2010-05-27 | Continental Automotive Gmbh | Method for automatically adjusting a seat and use thereof |
| CN102745096A (en) * | 2012-07-18 | 2012-10-24 | 无锡同捷汽车设计有限公司 | Novel electric seat adjusting device |
-
1995
- 1995-08-11 CA CA002155896A patent/CA2155896A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2010057815A1 (en) * | 2008-11-18 | 2010-05-27 | Continental Automotive Gmbh | Method for automatically adjusting a seat and use thereof |
| CN102745096A (en) * | 2012-07-18 | 2012-10-24 | 无锡同捷汽车设计有限公司 | Novel electric seat adjusting device |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 19980811 |