Articulating support in a vehicle seat.

(54) Title: ARTICULATED SUPPORT IN A VEHICLE SEAT.

(54) Title: ARTICULATING SUPPORT IN A VEHICLE SEAT.

(57) Summary

A first pad and a second pad are configured to be arranged in a vehicle seat. A plurality of passive movement devices are provided to respectively dispose behind the pads and to cause movement of the pads. Passive motion devices are configured to operate independently of each other.

(57) Abstract

A first pad and a second pad are configured to be arranged in a vehicle seat. A plurality of passive movement devices are provided to be respectively arranged behind, and to cause movement of, the pads. The passive movement devices are configured to be actuated independently of one another.

ARTICULATED SUPPORT IN A VEHICLE SEAT

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is related to the techniques used in the design and construction of automotive components and, more particularly, is related to an articulated support in a vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle security systems frequently focus on high-speed impacts that can cause serious injury and / or death. However, older and heavier occupants represent an increasing percentage of the population, therefore focusing on low speed impacts is also appropriate. In fact, low speed impacts often result in injuries to the lower extremities and torso area. Injuries to the lower extremities, even when not life-threatening, can have significant and undesirable effects on a person's quality of life, as well as high social costs. Therefore, improvements in vehicle security systems that protect the lower extremities as well as the torso area would be desirable.

DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary articulated support system.

Figure 2 is a side view of the system of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the system of Figure 1 showing an undeployed state and a deployed state.

Figure 4 is a side view of the system of Figure 1 showing an undeployed state and a deployed state.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the system of Figure 1 in another example of a deployed state.

Figure 6 is a side view of the system of Figure 1 in the unfolded state of Figure 5.

Figures 7A and 7B illustrate an embodiment of the system of Figure 1 including articulated supports, namely seat pads, which can be moved horizontally and vertically.

Figure 8 is a block diagram of the articulated support system of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a top perspective view of another exemplary articulated support system.

Figure 10 is a side view of the system of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a side view of the system of Figure 9 showing the undeployed state and the deployed state.

Figures 12A and 12B illustrate the system of Figure 9 that includes supports that can move horizontally and vertically.

Figure 13 is a block diagram of the articulated support system of Figure 9.

Figure 14 is a top perspective view of another exemplary articulated support system.

Figure 15 is a side view of the system of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a block diagram of the articulated support system of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a top perspective view of an exemplary third articulated support system.

Figure 18 is a side view of the system of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a block diagram of the articulated support system of Figure 17.

Figure 20 illustrates an exemplary process flow for the exemplary articulated support systems of Figures 1,9, 14, and 17.

Figure 21 illustrates an exemplary process flow for the exemplary articulated support system of Figure 1.

Figure 22 illustrates an exemplary process flow for the exemplary articulated support system of Figure 9.

Figure 23 illustrates an exemplary process flow for the exemplary articulated support system of Figure 14.

DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figures 1-6, there is disclosed herein a link support system 10 that can be installed in a lower portion 14 of a vehicle seat 12, which is also sometimes referred to as a seat portion 14 or horizontal portion 14, although portion 14 is generally not, strictly speaking, substantially horizontal. The seat portion 14 generally includes a rear portion 15 as well as a first and a second articulated seat pad 18, 19. In addition, the system 10 in a vehicle may include multiple seats 12 and, therefore, with respect to each seat in a plurality of seats in a vehicle, a plurality of respective components are described herein with respect to a single vehicle seat 12.

For example, system 10 includes, installed in a seat 12, a first and a second passive movement device 16, 17 that respectively control movement, e.g. For example, the articulation of the first and second articulated seat cushions 18, 19. Passive motion devices 16, 17 may include any of a variety of known components, such as a gas infallible air bag, a unfailing plastic camera or the like. For example, seat pads 18, 19 can move up and down, namely vertically with respect to seat 12 and to a vehicle in which seat 12 is installed by inflating passive motion devices. 16.17.

The actuation or deployment of the passive motion devices can be activated by an activation mechanism 115, as is known, e.g. eg, a gas inflator that is pyrotechnically operated, etc. System 10 can be used to absorb energy from lower limb impact, eg. eg, the legs, of an occupant of the vehicle.

Passive motion devices 16, 17 can be independently operated from each other and therefore seat pads 18, 19 can be moved, e.g. eg, in an articulated way, together or independently of each other. Furthermore, the seat pads 18, 19 can be hinged, eg. eg, move vertically, independently of a rear portion 15 of bottom portion 14 of seat 12. It should be noted that in the present context "vertically" means that the mechanisms 16, 17 move the pads 18, 19 generally up and down with respect to the horizontal portion 14. However, as well as the portion 14 may deviate slightly, e.g. For example, up to about ten or twenty degrees, from a perfect horizontality, the vertical movement of the pads 18, 19 can also deviate from a perfect verticality.

Figures 3 and 4 provide an illustration of how one or both of the seat pads 18, 19 can be moved in an upward direction, from an undeployed state to a deployed state, by deploying passive motion devices 16, 17. Furthermore, as seen in Figures 5 and 6, one or both of the seat pads 18, 19 may, alternatively, be moved in a forward direction, from a state without deploying to a deployed state, by the passive motion devices. 16, 17. That is, the seat pads 18, 19 can be retained in a horizontal direction so that they can move vertically after deployment of the devices 16, 17 (Figures 3, 4) or the seat pads 18, 19 can be retained in a vertical direction so that they can move horizontally after deployment of the devices 16,17.

Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, as illustrated in Figures 7A-7B, one or more horizontal movement devices 20, e.g. eg, by a drive mechanism 21, to move the seat pads 18, 19 longitudinally, namely substantially in a direction along or parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, in addition to or as an alternative to a vertical way. That is, one or more devices 20 can be provided as a substitute or complement to one or more devices 16,17.

For example, each of the respective passive motion devices

16, 17 can be used as a vertical movement device and can be associated with a horizontal movement device 20. For example, a drive mechanism 21, eg. eg, a worm gear or piston or the like, can be driven by a stored energy device 22 which, in turn, is connected to a rigid part 23, eg. eg, a rigid rod, to move a pad 18 or 19. An activation mechanism 115a can be used to release energy from the stored energy device 22, thereby causing movement of the horizontal drive mechanism 21, causing part 23 to force a seat pad 18 or 19 forward. Alternatively or additionally, e.g. ex. possible at substantially the same time, an activation mechanism or mechanisms 115b can be used to deploy a device 16 and / or a device

17, forcing a seat pad 18 and / or a seat pad 19 upward.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of exemplary thigh support system 10 of FIG. 1. System 10 includes impact sensors 105 as known to provide data to a controller 110 to determine the occurrence of an impact. or a probable impact. Controller 110 generally includes a processor and memory, the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to evaluate data from sensors 105 and / or provide an instruction to drive mechanism 115. A vehicle communication bus 120, eg. ex. a controller area network (CAN) bus or the like, as known, can be used to provide various communications, including data from sensors 105 to controller 110, as well as one or more instructions from controller 110 to one or more drive mechanisms 115 associated with respective passive motion devices 16, 17. In this way, controller 110 can receive data from sensors 105 from which the occurrence or potential occurrence of an impact can be identified, e.g. eg, a low speed impact. Controller 110 can then send an instruction to a drive mechanism 115, eg. eg, an air bag or camera inflator, which is included in a passive movement device 16, 17 and a motor actuator 20, etc. to drive one or more passive motion devices 16,17.

Figure 21 illustrates an exemplary process 300 that can be executed in accordance with instructions on controller 110. Before process 300 begins, one or more of the pads 18, 19 may be in a standard or nominal position. As described herein, the pads 18, 19 can be moved forward, backward, up and / or down relative to the nominal position, eg. eg, as described with respect to process 300.

Process 300 begins at block 305, in which controller 110 receives, eg. eg, via bus 120, data from various sensors 105. For example, controller 110 may receive data from impact sensors 105 such as accelerometers or the like, from pre-impact sensors 105 such as radar sensors 105, image sensors 105, etc. as well as the 105s occupant sensors, e.g. eg, indicating weight, height, age, etc. from one or more occupants of the vehicle as known, from the seat sensors indicating a seat position (s), from the seat belt buckling sensors 105s indicating a state of a seat belt, e.g. eg, buttoned or unbuttoned, etc.

Next, in a block 310, generally based on the data from the impact sensors 105 and / or from the pre-impact sensors 105, the controller 110 identifies an impact mode, eg, frontal, oblique, off-center, at high speed, at low speed, with pedestrians, etc.

Then, in a block 315, controller 110 performs an occupant classification, e.g. eg, in a known way, determines the size of an occupant, eg. eg, according to weight and / or height percentile, etc.

Next, in a block 320, controller 110 determines a position of the current seat, e.g. eg, an angle of a seat back 12 with respect to the base of seat 14, a position of seat 12 on a seat guide rail, etc.

Next, in a block 325, controller 110 determines a seat belt buckle state, e.g. eg, buttoned or unbuttoned.

Next, in a block 330, using at least some of the information that is received and / or determined in blocks 305-325, the controller 110 determines an articulation of the pads 18, 19. As mentioned above, a or more of the pads 18, 19 can be moved, namely articulating, eg. eg, in an impact episode. Furthermore, it is possible that one of the pads 18, 19 may move horizontally, vertically, or both, while an associated pad 18, 19 may move in a different way or not move at all.

Such movement can be determined by controller 110 according to various factors, eg. eg, a vehicle speed, an impact mode (eg, oblique, front, side, etc.) and the size of the occupant (eg, a percentile of mass, weight, and / or height of a person compared to the general population), a position of a seat, whether a seat belt is fastened, the position of the occupant in the vehicle (e.g., a seat location), etc.

Next, in a block 335, controller 110 sends a message to one or more trigger mechanisms 115, 115a, 115b to activate one or more passive motion devices 16, 17 and / or one or more horizontal motion devices 20.

After block 335, process 300 ends.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate an exemplary articulated support system 30 that can be installed in a vehicle seat 12. System 30 includes a plurality of articulated seat pads, including a first lower pad 34, a second lower pad 35 , a first lumbar pad 39, a central lumbar pad 40, a second lumbar pad 41, an upper pad 43 and a headrest pad 44. The upper pad 43 can be a substantially U-shaped pad that extends over a length of seat 12 between lumbar pads 39, 40, 41 and headrest pad 44. The system 30 further includes a plurality of passive motion devices, including a first lower passive motion device 32, a second lower passive motion device 33, a first lumbar passive motion device 36, a central lumbar passive motion device 37 , a second lumbar passive movement device 38 and an upper passive movement device 42. System 30 can be used to absorb impact energy from the upper portions of the occupant's body, eg. eg, head and chest, in frontal and oblique impacts.

Passive motion devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42 respectively control motion, e.g. eg, the articulation, of the articulated seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44. The passive motion devices 32, 33,

36, 37, 38, 42 may include one or more mechanisms, eg. eg, known components such as an unfailing gas bag, an unfailing plastic chamber or the like. For example, seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be moved up and down, namely substantially vertically, relative to seat 12 and to a vehicle in which seat 12 It is installed by inflating the passive motion devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42. The actuation or deployment of the passive motion devices can be activated by the activation mechanism 115, as is known, e.g. eg, a gas inflator that is pyrotechnically operated, etc.

The passive motion devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42 can be independently operated from each other and therefore the seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be moved, p . eg articulate, together or independently of each other. In addition, the seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be hinged, e.g. eg, move vertically, independently of a lower portion of seat 46. It should be borne in mind that in the present context "vertically" means that the mechanisms 32, 33, 36,

37, 38, 42 move the pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 substantially up and down with respect to the lower portion of seat 14. However, just as portion 14 may deviate slightly, p . For example, up to about ten or twenty degrees, from a perfect or even substantial horizontality, the vertical movement of the pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can also deviate from a perfect or substantial verticality. .

Figure 11 provides an illustration of how the seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be moved in an upward direction, from an undeployed state to a deployed state, by deploying the passive movement 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42. Furthermore, the seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can alternatively be moved in a forward direction, from an undeployed state to a deployed state, by passive motion devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42. That is, the seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be retained in a horizontal direction so that they move vertically after deployment of the devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38 , 42, or seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be retained in a vertical direction so that they move horizontally after deployment of devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38 , 42. For example, as shown in Figure 11, the second lower device 33 can move the second lower pad 35 vertically, the second lumbar device 38 can move the second lumbar pad 41 horizontally, and the upper device 42 can move the upper pad 43 and the headrest pad 44 horizontally.

Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, as illustrated in Figures 12A-12B, one or more horizontal movement devices 20 may be provided, eg. For example, by means of the drive mechanism 21, to move the seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 longitudinally, namely substantially in a direction along or parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, alternatively or in addition to a vertical manner. That is, one or more devices 20 can be provided as a substitute or complement to one or more devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42.

For example, each of the respective passive motion devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42 can be used as a vertical motion device and can be associated with the horizontal motion device 20. For example, the drive mechanism 21 , p. eg, a worm gear or piston or the like, can be driven by the stored energy device 22 which, in turn, is connected to the rigid part 23, eg. eg, a rigid rod, for moving one of the pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44. The trigger mechanism 115a can be used to release energy from the stored energy device 22, thereby causing movement of the horizontal drive 21, causing part 23 to force one of the seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 forward. Alternatively or additionally, e.g. ex. Possible at substantially the same time, an activation mechanism or mechanisms 115b may be used to deploy one of the devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, by deploying one of the seat pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 up.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of exemplary articulated support system 30 of FIG. 9. System 30 includes elements described above with respect to system 10. In addition, in system 30, the drive or activation mechanisms 115 , 115a, 115b are associated with passive motion devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42. Controller 110 can thus send an instruction or instructions to a drive mechanism 115 as described above, eg. eg, an air bag inflator or camera, included in passive motion devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, and a motor actuator 20, etc. to operate one or more of the passive motion devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42.

Figure 22 illustrates an exemplary process 400 that can be executed according to the instructions in controller 110. Process 400, as described herein, can be executed by various implementations of system 30, eg. eg, including all pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41,43, 44 or some subset of these. Before process 400 begins, one or more of pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be in a standard or nominal position. As described herein, several of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be moved forward, backward, up and / or down relative to the nominal position. , p. eg, as described with respect to process 400.

Process 400 may start at block 405, in which controller 110 receives, eg. eg, via bus 120, data from various sensors 105. For example, controller 110 may receive data from impact sensors such as accelerometers and the like, from pre-impact sensors 105 such as radar sensors 105 , image sensors 105, etc., as well as occupant sensors 105, eg. eg, indicating weight, height, age, etc. of one or more occupants of the vehicle, as is known, of the seat sensors that indicate the position or positions of a seat, of the seat belt buckling sensors that indicate a state of a seat belt, e.g. eg, buttoned or unbuttoned, etc.

Next, in a block 410, generally based on the data from the impact sensors 105 and / or the pre-impact sensors 105, the controller 110 identifies an impact mode, e.g. For example, frontal, oblique, off-center, at high speed, at low speed, with pedestrians, etc.

Next, in a block 415, controller 110 performs an occupant classification, e.g. eg, in a known way, determines the size of an occupant, eg. eg, according to weight and / or height percentile, etc.

Next, in a block 420, controller 110 determines a position of the current seat, e.g. eg, an angle of a seat back 12 with respect to the base of seat 14, a position of seat 12 on a seat guide rail, etc.

Next, in a block 425, controller 110 determines a seat belt buckle state, e.g. eg, buttoned or unbuttoned.

Next, in a block 430, using at least some of the information that is received and / or determined in blocks 405-425, the controller 110 determines an articulation of the cushions, namely the pads 34, 35, 39 , 40, 41, 43, 44. As mentioned above, one or more of the pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be moved, namely hinged, eg. eg, in an impact episode. Furthermore, it is possible that one of the pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can move horizontally, vertically Ό both, while an associated pad 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 it may move in a different way or not move at all. Also, one of the pads may

34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be part of an assembly that includes at least two of the other pads 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, each of the pads 34,

35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 of the assembly move together individually as part of a smaller assembly or do not move at all. For example, the first lumbar pad 39, the central lumbar pad 40 and the second lumbar pad 41 may form an assembly and, in the event of impact, any, all or none of the pads 39, 40, 41 of the assembly may be moved from horizontally, vertically, or both.

Such movement can be determined by controller 110 according to various factors, eg. eg, a vehicle speed, an impact mode (eg, oblique, front, side, etc.) and the size of the occupant (eg, a percentile of mass, weight, and / or height of a person compared to the general population), a position of a seat, whether a seat belt is fastened, the position of the occupant in the vehicle (e.g., a seat location), etc.

Next, in a block 435, controller 110 sends a message to one or more trigger mechanisms 115, 115a, 115b to activate one or more passive motion devices 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42 and / or one or more horizontal movement devices 20.

After block 435, process 400 ends.

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate another example of an articulated support system 50 that can be installed in a vehicle seat 12. System 50 includes a plurality of articulated seat pads, including an upper pad 43 and a headrest pad 44. The System 30 further includes a plurality of passive motion devices, including an upper passive motion device 56 and a passive headrest motion device 60. Specifically, the upper passive movement device 56 articulates the upper pad 43 and the passive headrest movement device 60 articulates the headrest pads 44. While the upper pad 43 and the headrest pad 44 can be articulated simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, as in system 30, upper pad 43 and headrest pad 44 of system 50 can be independently articulated. System 50 can be used to absorb impact energy from the occupant's head and / or neck during a rear impact.

Passive motion devices 56, 60 respectively control motion, eg. For example, the articulation of the articulated seat pads 43, 44.

Passive motion devices 56, 60 can include any of a variety of known components, such as a gas inflatable air bag, an inflatable plastic chamber, or the like. For example, seat pads 43, 44 can move up and down, namely vertically with respect to seat 12 and to a vehicle in which seat 12 is installed by inflating passive motion devices. 56, 60. The actuation or deployment of the passive motion devices can be activated by the activation mechanism 115, as is known, e.g. eg, a gas inflator that is pyrotechnically operated, etc.

As shown in Figure 15, the horizontal movement device 20 can be arranged, e.g. eg, by a drive mechanism 21, to move the top pad 43 longitudinally, namely substantially in a direction along or parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, additionally or alternatively to a vertical manner. Activation mechanism 115a can be used to release energy from stored energy device 22, thereby causing movement of horizontal drive mechanism 21, causing part 23 to unfold upper pad 43 forward. Alternatively or additionally, e.g. ex. Possible at substantially the same time, the trigger mechanism (s) 115b can be used to unfold the upper device 56, by unfolding the upper pad 43 upwards.

Figure 16 is a block diagram of the exemplary articulated support system 50 of Figure 1. System 50 includes elements described above with respect to system 10, as can be seen. Controller 110 can send an instruction to drive mechanism 115, eg. eg, an airbag or camera inflator, included in passive motion devices 56, 60 and an engine actuator 20, etc. for operating one or more passive motion devices 56, 60.

Figure 23 illustrates an exemplary process 500 that can be run according to the instructions on controller 110. Before process 500 begins, one or more of the pads 43, 44 may be in a standard or nominal position. . As described herein, several of the pads

43, 44 can move forward, backward, up and / or down with respect to the nominal position, eg. eg, as described with respect to process 500.

Process 500 may start at block 505, in which controller 110 receives, eg. eg, via bus 120, data from various sensors 105. For example, controller 110 may receive data from impact sensors 105 such as accelerometers and the like, from pre-impact sensors 105 such as radar sensors. 105, image sensors 105, etc., as well as occupant sensors 105, p. eg, indicating weight, height, age, etc. of one or more occupants of the vehicle, as is known, of the seat sensors that indicate the position or positions of a seat, of the seat belt buckling sensors that indicate a state of a seat belt, e.g. eg, buttoned or unbuttoned, etc.

Next, in a block 510, generally based on the data from the impact sensors 105 and / or the pre-impact sensors 105, the controller 110 identifies an impact mode, e.g. For example, frontal, oblique, off-center, at high speed, at low speed, with pedestrians, etc.

Then, in a block 515, controller 110 performs an occupant classification, e.g. eg, in a known way, determines the size of an occupant, eg. eg, according to weight and / or height percentile, etc.

Next, in a block 520, controller 110 determines a position of the current seat, e.g. eg, an angle of a seat back 12 with respect to the base of seat 14, a position of seat 12 on a seat guide rail, etc.

Next, in a block 525, controller 110 determines a seat belt buckle state, eg. eg, buttoned or unbuttoned.

Next, in a block 530, using at least some of the information that is received and / or determined in blocks 505-525, the controller 110 determines an articulation of the upper fasteners, namely the pads 43, 44. As mentioned above, one or more of the pads 43, 44 can be moved, namely articulated, e.g. eg, in an impact episode. Furthermore, it is possible that one of the pads 43, 44 can move horizontally, vertically or both, while an associated pad 43, 44 may move in a different way or not move at all.

Such movement can be determined by controller 110 according to various factors, eg. eg, a vehicle speed, an impact mode (eg, oblique, front, side, etc.) and the size of the occupant (eg, a percentile of mass, weight, and / or height of a person compared to the general population), a position of a seat, whether a seat belt is fastened, the position of the occupant in the vehicle (e.g., a seat location), etc.

Next, in a block 535, controller 110 sends a message to one or more trigger mechanisms 115, 115a, 115b to activate one or more passive motion devices 56, 60 and / or one or more horizontal motion devices 20.

After block 535, process 500 ends.

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate another example of an articulated support system 70 that can be installed in a vehicle seat 12. System 70 includes a plurality of hinged seat pads, including the first thigh pad 18, the second thigh pad 19, the first lower pad 34, the second lower pad 35, the first lumbar pad 39, the central lumbar pad 40 , the second lumbar pad 41, the upper pad 43 and the headrest pad 44. System 70 further includes a plurality of passive motion devices, including the first passive motion device for thighs 16, the second passive motion device for thighs 17, the first lower passive motion device 32, the second lower passive motion device 33, the first lumbar passive motion device 36, the central lumbar passive motion device 37, the second lumbar passive motion device 38, the upper passive movement device 56 and the passive movement of the headrest 60. Each of the articulated seat pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be associated with a respective movement device passive 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 56, 60 similarly to system 10, 30, 50. Passive motion devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 56, 60 can be arranged behind the respective hinged seat pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44. In this context, "behind" means that a device 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 56, 60 is positioned vertically or horizontally within seat 12 such that the seat pads

18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 face the vehicle so that a user can make contact, e.g. eg, with seat pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 (or possibly a cover thereof) and device 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 56, 60 is vertically below or below and / or horizontally behind, namely, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, of a respective pad 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41,43, 44 and generally positioned to move the pad 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 as described herein. System 70 can absorb impact energy from various parts of the occupant's body, eg. eg, legs and chest, during various types of impact, eg. eg, oblique impacts and rear impacts.

Passive motion devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60 respectively control motion, eg eg, the articulation, of the articulated seat pads. Passive motion devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60 can include any of a variety of known components, such as a gas-infallible air bag, a water-resistant plastic chamber, or lo Similary. For example, the seat pads can move up and down, namely vertically with respect to seat 12 and to a vehicle in which seat 12 is installed by inflating passive motion devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60. The actuation or deployment of the passive movement devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60 can be activated by activation mechanism 115, as is known, eg eg, a gas inflator that is pyrotechnically operated, etc.

Passive motion devices 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be independently driven from each other and thus seat pads 18, 19, 34 , 35, 39, 40 , 41, 43, 44 can move, eg. eg articulate, together or independently of each other. For example, the first thigh pad 18 and the second thigh pad 19 can be hinged together simultaneously or substantially simultaneously as a set. In the impact episode, any, all, or none of the pads 18, 19 in the set can be moved horizontally, vertically, or both. Any or all of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be included in the set.

Furthermore, the seat pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be hinged, e.g. eg, move vertically, independently of a lower portion of the seat 14. It should be noted that in the present context "vertically" means that the mechanisms generally move the pads up and down with respect to the lower portion of the seat. However, just as the portion may deviate slightly, e.g. For example, up to about ten or twenty degrees, of perfect horizontality, the vertical movement of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can likewise deviate from perfect verticality. Each of the passive motion devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42, 56, 60 can be used as vertical motion devices and can be associated with a horizontal motion device 20, as described above .

Figure 19 is a block diagram of the exemplary articulated support system 10, 30, 50, 70. System 70 includes elements described above with respect to system 10, as can be seen. Controller 110 can send an instruction to drive mechanism 115, 115a, 115b, eg. eg, an air bag or camera inflator, included in passive motion devices and a motor actuator 20, etc. to drive one or more of the passive motion devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37,

38, 42, 56, 60.

Figure 20 illustrates an exemplary process 200 that can be executed according to the instructions in controller 110. Process 200, as described herein, can be executed for various implementations of system 10, 30, 50, 70, p. eg, including all pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 or some subset of these, e.g. eg, including only the thigh support pads 18 and 19 and / or one or more of other pairs of pads 34, 35,

39, 40, 41, 43, 44. Before process 200 begins, one or more of pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41,43, 44 may be in a standard or nominal position. As described herein, several of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be moved forward, backward, up and / or down relative to the nominal position. , p. For example, as described with respect to process 200.

Process 200 may start at block 205, in which controller 110 receives, eg. eg, via bus 120, data from various sensors. For example, controller 110 may receive data from impact sensors such as accelerometers and the like, from pre-impact sensors such as radar sensors, image sensors, etc., as well as sensors from occupants, e.g. eg, indicating weight, height, age, etc. of one or more occupants of the vehicle, as is known, of the seat sensors that indicate a position or positions of a seat, of the seat belt buckling sensors that indicate a state of a seat belt, e.g. eg, buttoned or unbuttoned, etc.

Next, in a block 210, generally based on the data from the impact sensors and / or the pre-impact sensors, controller 110 identifies an impact mode, e.g. For example, frontal, oblique, off-center, at high speed, at low speed, with pedestrians, etc.

Next, in a block 215, controller 110 performs an occupant classification, e.g. eg, in a known way, determines the size of an occupant, eg. eg, according to weight and / or height percentile, etc.

Next, in a block 220, controller 110 determines a position of the current seat, e.g. eg, an angle of a seat back 12 with respect to the base of seat 14, a position of seat 12 on a guide rail, etc.

Next, in a block 225, controller 110 determines a seat belt buckle state, e.g. eg, buttoned or unbuttoned.

Next, in a block 230, using at least some of the information that is received and / or determined in blocks 205-225, the controller 110 determines an articulation of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40 , 41, 43, 44. As mentioned above, one or more of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can be moved, namely hinged, eg. eg, in an impact episode. Furthermore, it is possible that one of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 can move horizontally, vertically or both, while an associated pad 18, 19, 34, 35, 39 , 40, 41, 43, 44 can move in a different way or not move at all. Furthermore, it is possible that one of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 may be part of a set that includes at least two of the other pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39 , 40, 41, 43, 44, each of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44 of the set move together individually as part of a smaller set or not they move at all. For example, the first lumbar pad 39, the central lumbar pad 40, and the second lumbar pad 41 may form an assembly, and in the impact episode, any, all, or none of the pads 39, 40, 41 in the assembly may move in a manner horizontal, vertical or both.

Such movement can be determined by controller 110 according to various factors, eg. eg, a vehicle speed, an impact mode (eg, oblique, front, side, etc.) and the size of the occupant (eg, a percentile of mass, weight, and / or height of a person, compared to the general population), a position of a seat, whether a seat belt is fastened, the position of the occupant in the vehicle (eg, a seat location), etc. For example, the articulation of some or all of the pads 18, 19, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, p. Eg, as part of one or more of systems 10, 30, 50 and 70, it could be determined as described in Table 1 below:

<td>Tam. of the passenger</td><td>Gen. of the passenger</td><td>Seat pos</td><td>Clasped?</td><td>Ubic. of the seat</td><td>Impact mode</td><td>Vehicle speed</td><td>(continues below)</td>

<td> 50°</td><td>Male</td><td>Medium guide rail</td><td>Yes</td><td>Driver</td><td>Left lateral oblique</td><td>30 mph</td><td></td>

<td> 5°</td><td>Female</td><td>Medium guide rail</td><td>No</td><td>Passenger</td><td>Head on</td><td>30 mph</td><td></td>

<td> 95°</td><td>Male</td><td>Guide rail completely back</td><td>Yes</td><td>Driver</td><td>Off center</td><td>25 mph</td><td></td>

<td> 5’</td><td>Female</td><td>Rail guides completely forward</td><td>Yes</td><td>Driver</td><td>Head on</td><td>35 mph</td><td></td>

<td> 5°</td><td>Female</td><td>Completely forward</td><td>Yes</td><td>Driver</td><td>Rear impact</td><td>25mph</td><td></td>

<td>Left pad pos</td><td>Right pad pos</td><td>Upper left cushion (Pad 36)</td><td>Upper right cushion (Pad 38)</td><td>Lower left cushion (Pad 32)</td><td>Lower right pad (Pad 33)</td><td>Center cushion (Pad 37)</td><td>Headrest Linear Position (Pad 42)</td><td>Headrest angle position (Pad 42)</td>

<td>Down</td><td>Nominal</td><td>Inside</td><td>Inside</td><td>Exterior</td><td>Exterior</td><td>Nominal</td><td>Nominal</td><td>Nominal</td>

<td>Above</td><td>Above</td><td>Inside</td><td>Inside</td><td>Inside</td><td>Inside</td><td>Total extension</td><td>Nominal</td><td>Nominal</td>

<td>Nominal</td><td>Nominal</td><td>Exterior</td><td>Exterior</td><td>Exterior</td><td>Exterior</td><td>Full withdrawal</td><td>Full withdrawal</td><td>Nominal</td>

<td>Above</td><td>Nominal</td><td>Inside</td><td>Inside</td><td>Inside</td><td>Inside</td><td>Total extension</td><td>Total extension</td><td>Nominal</td>

<td>Nominal</td><td>Nominal</td><td>Nominal</td><td>Exterior</td><td>Exterior</td><td>Exterior</td><td>Total extension</td><td>Total extension</td><td>45 degree rotation</td>

Table 1

Next, in a block 235, controller 110 sends a message to one or more trigger mechanisms 115, 115a, 115b to activate one or more passive motion devices 16, 17, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42 , 56, 60 and / or one or more horizontal movement devices 20.

After block 235, process 200 ends. It will be understood that certain steps in process 200 could be omitted and / or steps in process 200 could be executed in a different order than described herein.

As used herein, the adverb "substantially" means that a shape, structure, measurement, quantity, time, etc. they can deviate from a geometry, distance, measurement, quantity, time, etc. exact described due to imperfections in materials, mechanization, manufacturing, etc.

In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate the same elements. Furthermore, some or all of these elements could be modified. Regarding components, processes, systems, methods, etc. which are described herein, it will be understood that they are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments and are in no way to be construed as limiting the disclosed invention.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the foregoing description is for illustrative and not restrictive purposes. Various embodiments and applications different from the examples provided would be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the preceding description. The scope of the invention is to be determined not with reference to the preceding description, but with reference to the appended claims, together with the full scope of the possible equivalents in said claims. It is anticipated and anticipated that future developments will occur in the state of the art described herein and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In summary, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible to modifications and variations and is limited only by the following claims.

All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their simplest and most ordinary meanings as understood by those skilled in the art, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. In particular, the use of articles in the singular such as “a / a”, “the”, “said”, etc., must be read as an enumeration of one or more of the indicated elements, unless A claim lists an explicit limitation to the contrary.