IP Library Granted Patent US 10,926,674
Granted Patent B2
US 10,926,674 · App. 15/874,229 · Granted Feb 23, 2021

Lean-in cornering platform for a moving vehicle

Inventors: Travis Lee Hein (Holliston, MA); Lawrence D. Knox (Hopkinton, MA)
Assignee: ClearMotion Acquisition I LLC
B60N2/39B60N2/10B60N2002/0212B60N2002/0268
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,926,674
App. No.
15/874,229
Granted
Feb 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for improving ride quality of an active payload support system. In one example, a seat system for a vehicle includes a seat, a support structure including an actuator configured to rotate the seat about an axis of a pivot, a first sensor positioned to detect movement of the vehicle, and a controller configured to receive a first input from the first sensor, determine a cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle in a direction perpendicular to an axis parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle around a turn, the cornering lateral acceleration determined based at least on the first input, generate a command signal based at least on the cornering lateral acceleration to instruct an actuator to rotate the seat about the axis of the pivot in a direction of the turn, and provide a force command to the actuator to move the seat.

Claims (28)

1. A method of controlling a movement of a seat coupled to a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a first input from at least a first sensor positioned to measure a movement of the vehicle;

receiving a second input from at least a second sensor positioned to measure the movement of the vehicle;

wherein the first input includes a measure of vehicle roll rate, and the second input includes a measure of total lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

determining a cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle when the vehicle is cornering, the cornering lateral acceleration being determined based at least in part on the first input and the second input;

generating a first command signal based at least in part on the cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle; and

with the first command signal, instructing at least a first actuator coupled to the seat to apply a force between the seat and a floor of the vehicle to cause the seat to lean into a turn.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the total lateral acceleration is also based on a distance between a roll axis of the seat and a roll axis of the vehicle.

3. A seat system for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat;

an actuator coupled to the seat and a floor of the vehicle; and

a controller configured to:

receive a first input related to a first measure of a movement of the vehicle;

receive a second input related to a second measure of the movement of the vehicle;

wherein the first input includes the vehicle roll rate, and the second input includes a total lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

determine a cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle when the vehicle is cornering is based at least in part on the first input and the second input;

generate a command signal based at least in part on the cornering lateral acceleration to instruct at least a first actuator coupled to the seat to apply a force between the seat and the floor of the vehicle to cause the seat to lean into a turn.

4. The seat system of claim 3 , wherein the first input includes a vehicle roll rate, and the second input includes a total lateral acceleration of the vehicle, and wherein the cornering lateral acceleration is determined partly based on the first input, the second input, and on a distance between a roll axis of the seat and a roll axis of the vehicle.

5. The seat system of claim 3 , wherein the first input includes a vehicle yaw rate and the second input includes a vehicle speed, wherein the controller is configured to determine the cornering lateral acceleration based at least in part on the yaw rate and the vehicle speed.

6. The seat system of claim 3 , wherein the first input includes a steering wheel angle and the second input includes a vehicle speed, wherein the controller is configured to determine the cornering lateral acceleration based at least in part on the steering wheel angle and vehicle speed.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a seat;

at least one actuator coupled to the seat, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to rotate the seat about a roll axis;

a first sensor configured to measure a roll rate of the vehicle;

a second sensor configured to measure a total lateral acceleration of the vehicle; and

a controller configured to receive a first input from the first sensor and a second input from the second sensor and to calculate a cornering lateral acceleration of the vehicle based on the first input and the second input;

wherein the controller generates a command signal based on the cornering lateral acceleration and provides a force command to the at least one actuator, based on the lateral acceleration, to lean the seat into a turn during a turning event.

8. The seat system of claim 7 , wherein the command signal is limited based on a predetermined maximum command angle.

Assignments (7)
TERMINATION OF AMENDED & RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 12, 2023
From: FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND; FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENT FUNDS - FRANKLIN U.S. OPPORTUNITIES FUND; NEWVIEW CAPITAL FUND I, LP; WIL FUND I, L.P.; BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS, INC.; MICROSOFT GLOBAL FINANCE; FHW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; TEW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; THE PRIVATE SHARES FUND; BRILLIANCE JOURNEY LIMITED
To: CLEARMOTION, INC.; CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
Reel/Frame 062705/0684 →
TERMINATION OF AMENDED & RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 8, 2023
From: ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS, LLC
To: CLEARMOTION, INC.; CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
Reel/Frame 062687/0713 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDING ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059361 FRAME: 0433. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Apr 6, 2022
From: CLEARMOTION, INC.; CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
To: ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS, LLC; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENT FUNDS - FRANKLIN U.S. OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND; NEWVIEW CAPITAL FUND I, LP; WIL FUND I, L.P.; BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS, INC.; MICROSOFT GLOBAL FINANCE; FHW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; TEW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; THE PRIVATE SHARES FUND; BRILLIANCE JOURNEY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060130/0001 →
AMENDED & RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: CLEARMOTION, INC.; CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
To: ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 059361/0433 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 4, 2022
From: CLEARMOTION, INC.
To: NEWVIEW CAPITAL FUND I, L.P.; ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS, LLC; WIL FUND I, L.P.; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENT FUNDS - FRANKLIN U.S. OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
Reel/Frame 058644/0007 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2018
From: HEIN, TRAVIS LEE; KNOX, LAWRENCE D.
To: BOSE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046077/0314 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 20, 2018
From: BOSE CORPORATION
To: CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
Reel/Frame 044979/0806 →