Seat actuator control for lumbar support

1 . A system for seat actuation comprising:

a seat;

an actuator operatively positioned relative to a lumbar region of the seat, the actuator being a single actuator; and

a processor operatively connected to the actuator, the processor being configured to:

cause the actuator to morph into an activated configuration to support a lumbar region of a seat occupant; and

adjust the activated configuration of the actuator to a plurality of activated positions during a period of time so that a displacement of the actuator changes while a substantially continuous level of lumbar support is provided to the seat occupant during the entire period of time, whereby a substantially continuous force is applied to the lumbar region of the seat occupant during the entire period of time.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is located within the seat.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the causing the actuator to morph into the activated configuration to support the lumbar region of the seat occupant is performed responsive to a user input.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a height of the actuator increases when the morphing into the activated configuration is caused.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the causing the actuator to morph into the activated configuration to support the lumbar region of the seat occupant is performed automatically by the processor.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the seat is located onboard a vehicle.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further including a second actuator, wherein the second actuator is operatively positioned with respect to one or more non-lumbar regions of the seat, and wherein the processor is further configured to activate the second actuator to provide a massaging effect to the seat occupant, whereby the massaging effect and the lumbar support are provided simultaneously.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a contracting member, wherein, when an activation input is provided to the contracting member, the contracting member contracts, thereby causing the actuator to morph into the activated configuration.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the contracting member is a shape memory material member.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the shape memory material member is a shape memory alloy wire.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further including a sensor operatively connected to the processor, wherein the sensor is operatively positioned to acquire sensor data about the actuator, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the activated configuration of the actuator based on the sensor data.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor is a flexing sensor or a rotational position sensor.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a first actuator, and further including a second actuator operatively positioned relative to the lumbar region of the seat, wherein the second actuator is a single second actuator, wherein the processor is operatively connected to the second actuator, the processor being configured to:

cause the second actuator to morph into an activated configuration to support the lumbar region of the seat occupant; and

adjust the activated configuration of the second actuator to a plurality of activated positions during the period of time so that a displacement of the second actuator changes while a substantially continuous level of lumbar support is provided to the seat occupant by the second actuator during the entire period of time, whereby a substantially continuous force is applied to the lumbar region of the seat occupant during the entire period of time by the second actuator.

14 . A method of seat actuation for lumbar support, wherein an actuator is operatively positioned relative to a lumbar region of a seat, wherein the actuator is a single actuator, wherein a processor is operatively connected to the actuator, the method comprising:

causing the actuator to morph into an activated configuration to support a lumbar region of a seat occupant; and

adjusting the activated configuration of the actuator to a plurality of activated positions during a period of time so that a displacement of the actuator changes while a substantially continuous level of lumbar support is provided to the seat occupant during the entire period of time, whereby a substantially continuous force is applied to the lumbar region of the seat occupant during the entire period of time.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the adjusting the activated configuration of the actuator includes:

acquiring sensor data about the actuator; and

adjusting the activated configuration of the actuator based on the sensor data.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the actuator is a first actuator, and further including a second actuator operatively positioned relative to a non-lumbar region of the seat, the method further including:

causing the second actuator to be activated, the second actuator providing a different sensation to the seat occupant than the first actuator.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the different sensation is a massaging effect.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the causing the actuator to morph into the activated configuration to support the lumbar region of the seat occupant is performed responsive to a user input.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the actuator includes a contracting member, and wherein the causing the actuator to morph into the activated configuration to support the lumbar region of the seat occupant includes providing an activation input to the contracting member of the actuator.