IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,453,312
Granted Patent B2
US 11,453,312 · App. 16/360,067 · Granted Sep 27, 2022

Vehicle seat operation

Inventor: Kevin Michael Pline (Plymouth, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B60N2/0244B60N2/0232B60N2/14B60N2/2863B60R22/48B60N2002/0272B60R2022/4858
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,453,312
App. No.
16/360,067
Granted
Sep 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a child seat mounted to a vehicle seat and, then, to rotate the vehicle seat to a forward position.

Claims (31)

1. A system, comprising a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

identify a child seat mounted to a vehicle seat;

identify an angular position of the vehicle seat based on data from an angular sensor;

determine that the angular position of the vehicle seat is away from a forward position based on data from the angular sensor, the forward position being a specified angle range of the angular position of the vehicle seat;

then, actuate a motor to rotate the vehicle seat until data from the angular sensor indicate that the angular position of the vehicle seat is within the specified angle range of the forward position; and

upon identifying the child seat, prevent the vehicle seat from rotating away from the forward position.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to identify the child seat when a weight applied to the vehicle seat exceeds a weight threshold and a tension of a seat belt of the vehicle seat exceeds a tension threshold.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to identify the child seat when a load cell detects a load from the child seat greater than a load threshold.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein a child seat includes a connector connectable to the load cell.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to provide an output to a vehicle occupant when, upon identifying the child seat, the vehicle seat is not in the forward position.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle seat includes a rotator and a bottom, the rotator mounted to the bottom.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the motor to rotate the rotator to the forward position.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein a child seat is a rear-facing child seat facing a seat back of the vehicle seat.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to rotate the vehicle seat to a first angular position upon receiving a user input to mount the child seat and, upon identifying the child seat mounted to the vehicle seat, to rotate the vehicle seat to the forward position.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the forward position is a range of angular positions about an axis of the vehicle seat in a substantially vehicle-forward direction.

11. A method, comprising:

identifying a child seat mounted to a vehicle seat;

identifying an angular position of the vehicle seat based on data from an angular sensor;

determining that the angular position of the vehicle seat is away from a forward position based on data from the angular sensor, the forward position being a specified angle range of the angular position of the vehicle seat;

then, actuating a motor to rotate the vehicle seat until data from the angular sensor indicate that the angular position of the vehicle seat is within the specified angle range of the forward position; and

upon identifying the child seat, preventing the vehicle seat from rotating away from the forward position.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising identifying the child seat when a weight applied to the vehicle seat exceeds a weight threshold and a tension of a seat belt of the vehicle seat exceeds a tension threshold.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing an output to a vehicle occupant when, upon identifying the child seat, the vehicle seat is not in the forward position.

14. A system, comprising:

a vehicle seat rotatable to a forward position, the forward position being a specified angle range of an angular position of the vehicle seat;

means for determining that the angular position of the vehicle seat is away from the forward position based on data from an angular sensor;

means for identifying a child seat mounted to the vehicle seat; and

means for actuating a motor to rotate the vehicle seat until data from the angular sensor indicate that the angular position is within the specified angle range of the forward position upon identifying the child seat; and

means for preventing the vehicle seat from rotating away from the forward position upon identifying the child seat.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising means for identifying the child seat when a weight applied to the vehicle seat exceeds a weight threshold and a tension of a seat belt of the vehicle seat exceeds a tension threshold.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising means for providing an output to a vehicle occupant when, upon identifying the child seat, the vehicle seat is not in the forward position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: PLINE, KEVIN MICHAEL
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 048656/0095 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200298731A1 · Sep 24, 2020