Electricity: motive power systems – Automatic and/or with time-delay means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-08
2004-01-13
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Electricity: motive power systems
Automatic and/or with time-delay means
C318S268000, C318S280000, C318S469000, C318S468000, C318S467000, C318S568240, C318S603000, C297S284100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06677720
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a control system for controlling movement of a powered vehicle seat and, more particularly, to such a control system which provides controlled rates of acceleration, speed and deceleration during movement of the seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Adjustable seat assemblies for vehicles typically provide for a seat to be moved or adjusted in a forward/rearward direction along a pair of spaced apart track assemblies. Each track assembly typically includes a first track member which is mounted to the vehicle and a second track member which is supported for movement relative to the first track member. The first and second track members are usually mounted in a horizontal configuration with bearing members located on sides of the first and second tracks. The seat is adjusted in the forward/rearward direction by sliding the second track members relative to the first track members. This is often referred to as a “two-way” adjustable seat. The Adjustable seat assembly can also provide for the seat to be moved or adjusted in a upward/downward direction. The seat is usually adjusted in an upward/downward direction by raising/lowering the track assemblies. This is often referred to as a “four-way” adjustable seat. The adjustable seat assembly can additionally provide for a seat back to be pivoted or adjusted in a forward/rearward direction relative to a seat bottom. This is often referred to as a “six-way” adjustable seat. The adjustable seat assembly can further provide for the forward and rearward edges of the seat bottom to be moved or adjusted in a upward/downward direction independently of each other. This is often referred to as an “eight-way” adjustable seat. Of course, any combination of the above-described seat adjustments can be utilized in particular vehicle seat.
Powered adjustable seats use motor drive assemblies to make the various adjustments. The total number of motor assemblies typically depends of the number of ways the seat assembly is adjustable. For example, a two-way adjustable seat typically has a single motor assembly including at least one bi-directional electric motor that rotates a pair of drive shafts connected to gear assemblies mounted on the second track members. While these known powered adjustable seats may adequately perform their desired functions, they have a number of drawbacks. Most notably, the seats are moved in an uncontrolled manner. That is, power is supplied to the motor in a predetermined manner to move the seat and the power is not adjusted in real-time based the actual movement of the seat. As a result, actual movement of the seat varies depending on loading and other conditions and may or may need be in a desired manner. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved powered vehicle seat assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a control system for a vehicle seat which overcomes at least some of the above-noted problems of the related art. According to the present invention, a vehicle seat includes, in combination, a seat movable along a path, a motor for driving the seat on the path, a sensor generating a signal indicating movement of the seat on the path, and a controller activating the motor to move the seat along the path. The controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the signal from the sensor and form a feed-back control loop. The controller causes the seat to accelerate at a controlled predetermined rate of acceleration to a controlled predetermined constant speed and decelerate from the controlled predetermined constant speed at a controlled predetermined rate of deceleration.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat assembly includes a seat movable along a path, a motor for driving the seat on the path, a sensor generating a signal indicating movement of the seat on the path, a controller operating the motor to move the seat along the path and in communication with the sensor to receive the signal to form a feed-back control loop. The controller accelerates the seat at a controlled rate of acceleration by a stored predetermined rate of acceleration and adjusts operation of the motor to maintain the predetermined rate of acceleration.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat assembly includes a seat movable along a path, a motor for driving the seat on the path, a sensor generating a signal indicating movement of the seat on the path, a controller operating the motor to move the seat along the path and in communication with the sensor to receive the signal to form a feed-back control loop. The controller is adapted to accelerate the seat at a controlled rate of acceleration to a controlled constant speed and decelerates the seat from the constant speed at a controlled rate of deceleration. The controller is adapted to control the rate of acceleration of the seat by a stored predetermined rate of acceleration and adjust operation of the motor to maintain the predetermined rate of acceleration. The controller is adapted to control the constant speed of the seat by determining an actual speed of the seat utilizing the feedback control loop, comparing the actual speed to a stored predetermined constant speed, and adjusting operation of the motor to maintain the actual speed substantially equal to the predetermined constant speed. The controller is adapted to control the rate of deceleration of the seat by a stored predetermined rate of deceleration and adjust operation of the motor to maintain the predetermined rate of deceleration.
From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology and art of powered vehicle seats. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, reliable, low cost assembly. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.
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Dura Global Technologies Inc.
Kiczek Casimir R.
Mescher Richard M.
Nappi Robert E.
Smith Tyrone W
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