Lear Corporation

Oliver J Young

John F Nathan

Christopher Ricard

Faisal Kassim Sallam

Asad S Ali

Novy A Medallo

Mark Sebby

H Winston Maue

David A Powell

Karl Kennedy

Ash Galbreath

Shridhar Malayappan

A haptic seat and system for use in imparting sensations to an occupant thereof. The haptic seat may be used to alert passengers of various operating conditions with some sort of tactile sensation, such as a vibration, pulse, shake, or other inducement that involves the occupant's sense of touch.

Haptic vehicle seat

An alerting element for use with occupant seating to alert a seat occupant with a haptic and/or audible sensation. The alerting element being suitable for use with any type of seat, including vehicle seats. The alerting element optionally including a striking element for striking a structural component of the seat, and thereby, generating an alerting sensation.

Vehicle seat alert system

A vehicle occupant sensing system adapted for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly that includes at least one emitter and at least one sensor disposed in spaced relationship to the emitter. The sensor is operable to detect relative distance to the emitter to thereby detect the condition of the vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system also includes at least one sensor assembly with a base and an upper slide member slidingly supported for movement toward and away from the base. The upper slide member includes an exterior surface that is continuous to thereby block contaminants from entering the sensor assembly. Also, at least one of the emitter and the sensor is supported by the upper slide member. The vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat to detect a condition of the vehicle seat.

Vehicle occupant sensing system having enclosed sensor assembly

A low profile sensor assembly for use in a vehicle occupant sensing system that comprises a base, an upper slide member, and at least one intermediate guide member. Also disclosed is a low profile sensor assembly for use in a vehicle occupant sensing system that comprises a base with an outer step and a receptacle, and the low profile sensor assembly also comprises an upper slide member with a lower flange and a retainer. The outer step is adapted to accept the lower flange, and the receptacle is adapted to accept the retainer. The intermediate guide member, the outer step, and the receptacle each allow the respective upper slide member to move further toward the base. Thus, when the low profile sensor assembly is incorporated into a vehicle seat assembly, the low profile sensor assembly is less likely to detrimentally affect the comfort level of the vehicle seat assembly.

Vehicle occupant sensing system having a low profile sensor assembly

A vehicle occupant sensing system for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system includes a base, an upper slide member supported for movement toward and away from the base, and at least one guiding rib. The guiding rib extends from one of the upper slide member and the base toward the other of the upper slide member and the base so as to guide movement of the upper slide member toward and away from the base. The vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat assembly to detect a condition of the vehicle seat.

Vehicle occupant sensing system having guiding ribs

A vehicle occupant sensing system for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly that includes at least one base and at least one upper slide member supported for movement toward and away from the base. The upper slide member is movable in response to the condition of the vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system further includes at least one biasing member for biasing the upper slide member away from the base. At least one of the base and the upper slide member includes at least one retention member that is adapted for retaining the biasing member. The vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat to detect a condition of the vehicle seat.

Vehicle occupant sensing system having a retention member for a biasing member

A vehicle occupant sensing system that includes at least one sensor and at least one sensor assembly. The sensor assembly has a base and an upper slide member supported for movement toward and away from the base wherein the sensor is operable to detect movement of the upper slide member toward and away from the base. The vehicle occupant sensing system also includes at least one contamination barrier member operatively attached to the upper slide member and at least partially shielding the sensor assembly to decrease contamination of the sensor assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat to detect a condition of the vehicle seat.

Vehicle occupant sensing system having a contamination barrier member

A vehicle occupant sensing system that includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly has a housing that includes a base and an upper slide member. The upper slide member is moveable toward and away from the base. A sensor is operatively fixed relative to at least one of the upper slide member and the base and is operable to detect movement of the upper slide member toward and away from the base. Additionally, the vehicle occupant sensing system includes a variable biasing member adapted to bias the upper slide member away from the base with a force that is non-linearly related to movement of the upper slide member toward and away from the base. The vehicle occupant sensing system of the present invention may be employed in a vehicle seat assembly to detect a condition of the vehicle seat assembly.

Vehicle occupant sensing system having sensor assemblies with variable biasing member

A vehicle occupant sensing system adapted for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly including at least one emitter and at least one sensor disposed spaced relative to the emitter. The sensor is operable to detect relative distance between the emitter and the sensor to thereby detect the condition of the vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system also includes at least one sensor assembly having a base and an upper slide member moveable toward and away from the base. The upper slide member includes at least one interference member that generates an interference fit between the emitter and the interference member to thereby securely mount the emitter to the upper slide member. The vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat to detect a condition of the vehicle seat.

Vehicle occupant sensing system having an upper slide member with an emitter interference member

A vehicle seat assembly that includes a seat cushion having at least one recess disposed thereon. The vehicle seat assembly also has a plurality of sensor assemblies, each including a base and an upper slide member. The upper slide member is supported for movement toward and away from the base in response to a condition of the seat cushion. Additionally, the vehicle seat assembly includes at least one seat cushion insert disposed within the recess of the seat cushion.

Vehicle seat assembly having a vehicle occupant sensing system and a seat cushion insert positioned therein

A sensor assembly for use in a vehicle seat cushion for detecting the presence of an occupant includes a mat adapted to be installed in the vehicle cushion. The mat includes first mounting structure and a first sensor device attached to the mat. A first member has a second mounting structure adapted to be attached to the first mounting structure for attaching the first member to the mat. A second member is movably mounted relative to the first member about an axis. A second sensor device is mounted in the second member.

Spring sensor retention assembly for sensor apparatus mounted in a vehicle seat cushion

A sensor assembly for use in a vehicle seat cushion for detecting the presence of an occupant includes a first member defining an internal bore. A second member has a portion slidably disposed in the bore of the first member. The first member is movably mounted relative to the first member about an axis. A spring biases the first member relative to the second member. A sensor device is mounted in one of the first and second members.

Spring sensor assembly for a vehicle seat cushion

A vehicle seat assembly including a lower seat cushion with an upper surface and a lower surface. The vehicle seat assembly also has a plurality of sensor assemblies positioned adjacent the lower surface of the lower seat cushion. The sensor assemblies are responsive to a condition of the lower seat cushion. The vehicle seat assembly also has at least one reinforcing insert disposed between at least one of the sensor assemblies and the lower surface of the lower seat cushion. The reinforcing insert protects the lower seat cushion by more evenly distributing pressure from the sensor assemblies onto the lower seat cushion to prevent premature wear and maintain comfort over the course of its operating lifetime.

Vehicle seat assembly having a vehicle occupant sensing system and reinforcing inserts positioned therein

A vehicle occupant sensing system for a vehicle seat assembly that includes at least one emitter and at least one sensor operable to detect relative distance between the sensor and the emitter to thereby detect a condition of the vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system also includes a biasing pad adapted so as to be disposed below a seat cushion of the vehicle seat assembly so as to deflect in response to deflection of the seat cushion. The biasing pad supports at least one of the emitter and the sensor such that the emitter and the sensor are biased away from each other and such that one of the emitter and the sensor are supported for movement toward and away from the other.

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Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, United States of America

Oliver J Young