Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Jeffrey W Sosnowski

Robert Joseph Hazlewood

Kenan Kurtovic

Todd P Lang

A method of providing seat ventilation using a seat ventilation system (SVS) within a vehicle is provided. The method includes determining whether a vehicle seat is occupied using an air bag ECU. Occupancy information is provided from the air bag ECU to an air conditioning ECU. The air conditioning ECU controls a seat climate module based on the occupancy information received from the air bag ECU.

Methods and systems providing seat ventilation

A seat assembly for supporting an occupant in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat back for supporting the back of the occupant. The seat back includes an airbag module, a frame, a trim cover and a plurality of straps connecting the trim cover to the frame. The airbag module has an inflatable airbag. The trim cover covers the airbag module, foam pad and frame. The trim cover has a first seam through which the airbag can deploy during operation of the airbag module. The trim cover has a second seam spaced apart from the first seam. The plurality of straps prevent stretching of the trim cover during deployment of the airbag and direct the energy associated with the deployment of the airbag toward the first seam. First and second straps of the plurality of straps each have a first end fixedly secured to the trim cover along the first seam and a second end fixedly secured to the frame. The airbag module is disposed the first and second straps. A third strap of the plurality of straps has a first end fixedly secured to the trim cover along the second seam and a second end fixedly secured to the frame.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey W Sosnowski