Seat system for autonomous vehicles
View Patent ↗Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a seat assembly, and corresponding method and computer readable medium, for adjusting a seat in an autonomous vehicle. The adjustment is provided such that a seat occupant may control the adjustment may providing a natural pushing force once the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode.
1. A method for adjusting a seat in an autonomous vehicle, the seat comprising a locking mechanism configured to prevent position adjustments of the seat initiated by a pushing force, the method comprising:
detecting, by a control a start of an autonomous driving mode of the vehicle;
deactivating, by the control unit the locking mechanism in response to detecting the start of the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle; and
adjusting, by the control unit the seat, after deactivating the locking mechanism, according to a pushing force on the seat provided by an occupant of the seat.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting, with at least one sensor, the pushing force provided by the occupant of the seat.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is a pressure sensor and the detecting the pushing force further comprises at least one of:
detecting the pushing force via the occupant pressing down on a floor of the vehicle with the occupant's feet,
leaning back on a back rest of the seat, or
pushing down on an arm rest of the seat.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is an optical sensor and the detecting the pushing force further comprises detecting a change in translation distance or back inclination angle as result of the pushing force.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is a magnetic sensor and the detecting the pushing force further comprises detecting a change in translation distance or back inclination angle due to a resulting magnetic field upon an application of the pushing force.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein when an amount of the detected pushing force is greater than a threshold force, the adjusting further comprises at least one of:
retracting the seat in a rearward direction to a predetermined distance within the vehicle, or
reclining the seat in a downward position to a predetermined angle.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting further comprises at least one of:
retracting the seat in a rearward direction to a retracting distance within the vehicle, wherein a greater amount of the pushing force yields a higher rate of change in the retracting distance, or
reclining the seat in a downward position to a reclining angle, wherein a greater amount of the pushing force yields a higher rate of change in the reclining angle.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting at least one environmental condition within the vehicle as the seat is adjusted, wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises:
a reachability of control input devices,
a tinting of vehicle windows,
a dimming of internal lights,
air vent settings,
a deployment of viewing screens,
available content on viewing screens,
a retraction of driving control inputs,
voicemail settings, or
automatic message settings.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting an end of the autonomous driving mode; and
returning the seat to a manual driving position in response to detecting the end of the autonomous driving mode.
10. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for adjusting seat in an autonomous vehicle, the seat comprising a locking mechanism configured to prevent position adjustments of the seat initiated by a pushing force, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of a computer system causes the one or more processors to:
detect a start of an autonomous driving mode of the vehicle;
deactivate the locking mechanism in response to detecting the start of the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle; and
adjust, after deactivating the locking mechanism, the seat according to a pushing force on the seat provided by an occupant of the seat.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
detect, with at least one sensor, the pushing force provided by the occupant of the seat.
12. A seat assembly for an autonomous vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:
a seat;
a locking mechanism configured to prevent position adjustments of the seat initiated by a pushing force; and
a control unit;
wherein the control unit is configured to:
detect a start of an autonomous driving mode of the vehicle;
deactivate the locking mechanism once a in response to detecting the start of the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle; and
adjust the seat according to a pushing force provided on the seat by an occupant of the seat.
13. The seat assembly of claim 12 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the pushing force provided by the occupant of the seat.
14. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensor is a pressure sensor configured to detect the pushing force via at least one of:
the occupant pressing down on a floor of the vehicle with the occupant's feet,
leaning back on a back rest of the seat, or
pushing down on an arm rest of the seat.
15. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensor is an optical sensor configured to detect a change in translation distance or a back inclination angle as a result of the pushing force.
16. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensor is a magnetic sensor configured to detect a change in translation distance or a back angle inclination angle due to a resulting magnetic field upon an application of the pushing force.
17. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein when an amount of the detected pushing force is greater than a threshold force, the control unit is further configured to at least one of:
retract the seat in a rearward direction to a predetermined distance within the vehicle, or
recline the seat in a downward position to a predetermined angle.
18. The seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is further configured to at least one of:
retract the seat in a rearward direction to a retracting distance within the vehicle, or
recline the seat in a downward position to a reclining angle,
wherein a greater amount of the pushing force yields a higher rate of change in the retracting distance or the reclining angle.
19. The seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
adjust at least one environmental condition within the vehicle as the seat is adjusted, wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises:
a reachability of control input devices,
a tinting of vehicle windows,
a dimming of internal lights,
air vent settings,
a deployment of viewing screens,
available content on viewing screens,
a retraction of driving control inputs,
voicemail settings, or
automatic message settings.
20. The seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
detect an end of the autonomous driving mode, and
return the seat to a manual driving position in response to detecting the end of the autonomous driving mode.
21. A vehicle comprising the seat assembly of claim 12 .