IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,363,846
Granted Patent B2
US 10,363,846 · App. 15/607,797 · Granted Jul 30, 2019

Vehicle seating system having seat with individually controllable electromagnetic coils

Inventors: David Gallagher (Sterling Heights, MI); Francesco Migneco (Salene, MI)
Assignee: Lear Corporation
B60N2/5678A61B5/04004A61B5/1036A61B5/1114A61B5/1116A61B5/4848A61B5/6893A61N2/02G05D23/015G05D23/24G05D23/303A61B5/0077A61B5/1118A61B5/1128A61B2503/22A61B2562/0204A61B2562/0219A61B2562/0247A61B2562/0257G05D27/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,363,846
App. No.
15/607,797
Filed
May 30, 2017
Granted
Jul 30, 2019
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3791
USPC
600/13
Abstract

A seating system for a vehicle includes a vehicle seat, individually selectable and controllable electromagnetic coils individually positioned at respective locations within the seat corresponding to anatomical locations of a person sitting in the vehicle seat, and a controller. The electromagnetic coils to generate electromagnetic fields when activated. The controller to individually activate a subset of the electromagnetic coils to deliver electromagnetic energy to the anatomical locations of the person corresponding to the respective locations within the vehicle seat of the activated electromagnetic coils.

Claims (57)

1. A seating system for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat;

a plurality of individually selectable and controllable electromagnetic coils individually positioned at respective locations within the seat corresponding to anatomical locations of a person sitting in the vehicle seat, the electromagnetic coils to generate electromagnetic fields when activated;

a plurality of air bladders disposed within the vehicle seat;

at least some of the electromagnetic coils are respectively positioned against at least some of the bladders; and

a controller to individually activate a subset of the electromagnetic coils to deliver electromagnetic energy to the anatomical locations of the person corresponding to the respective locations within the vehicle seat of the activated electromagnetic coils.

2. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:

a human-machine interface to receive from the person a selection of the electromagnetic coils to activate; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils selected by the person.

3. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:

a biometric sensor to detect locations of discomfort of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of discomfort of the person.

4. The seating system of claim 3 wherein:

the biometric sensor includes at least one of a EMG-based device, a localized oxygen level detector, and a pressure detector.

5. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:

a fidget sensor to detect locations of fidgeting of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of fidgeting of the person.

6. The seating system of claim 5 wherein:

the fidget sensor includes at least one of a piezo-electric sensor, a radar sensor, a Doppler based sensor, a piezo-resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, a pressure-based sensor, and a camera.

7. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic coils include sewn conductive fibers.

8. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic coils are integrated into sub-components of the vehicle seat.

9. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic coils are between trim components and foam components of the vehicle seat.

10. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic coils are part of an independent structure separately removable from the seat.

11. The seating system of claim 1 further comprising:

a current generator to generate electrical currents; and

the controller to control electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the subset of the electromagnetic coils to individually activate the subset of the electromagnetic coils.

12. The seating system of claim 1 wherein:

the controller to control inflating and deflating of the air bladders having the activated electromagnetic coils positioned thereon in conjunction with activating the activated electromagnetic coils.

13. A seating system for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat;

a current generator to generate electrical currents;

a plurality of individually selectable and controllable electromagnetic coils individually positioned at respective locations within the vehicle seat corresponding to anatomical locations of a person sitting in the vehicle seat, the electromagnetic coils to generate electromagnetic fields having characteristics in correspondence with characteristics of electrical currents supplied to the electromagnetic coils;

a plurality of air bladders disposed within the vehicle seat;

at least some of the electromagnetic coils are respectively positioned against at least some of the bladders;

a controller to individually activate a subset of the electromagnetic coils and control electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils for the activated electromagnetic coils to deliver electromagnetic energy in correspondence with the electrical currents to the anatomical locations of the person corresponding to the respective locations within the vehicle seat of the activated electromagnetic coils; and

the controller to control inflating and deflating of the bladders having the activated electromagnetic coils positioned thereon in conjunction with activating the activated electromagnetic coils and controlling the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils.

14. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a human-machine interface; and

the controller is programmed with one or more treatment plans each having unique electromagnetic coil activation and electromagnetic field characteristics settings;

the human-machine interface to receive from the person a selection of one of the treatment plans; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils and control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils in accordance with the selected treatment plan.

15. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a biometric sensor to detect locations of discomfort of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils and control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of discomfort of the person.

16. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a fidget sensor to detect locations of fidgeting of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils and control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of fidgeting of the person.

17. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a biometric sensor to detect locations of discomfort of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils, control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils, and control inflating and deflating of the bladders having the activated electromagnetic coils positioned thereon in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of discomfort of the person.

18. The seating system of claim 13 further comprising:

a fidget sensor to detect locations of fidgeting of the person; and

the controller to individually activate the electromagnetic coils, control the electrical currents supplied from the current generator to the activated electromagnetic coils, and control inflating and deflating of the bladders having the activated electromagnetic coils positioned thereon in accordance with a suggested treatment plan based on the detected locations of fidgeting of the person.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2017
From: GALLAGHER, DAVID; MIGNECO, FRANCESCO
To: LEAR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042525/0468 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180345833A1 · Dec 6, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,459,414 US 12,702,852