IP Library Granted Patent US 12,611,968
Granted Patent B2
US 12,611,968 · App. 17/957,589 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Vehicle having ergonomically adjustable seat assembly

Inventors: Josue Rodrigo Rangel Sanchez (Queretaro, MX); Alexis Alcantara (Atizapan de Zaragoza, MX); Armando Ayala Huaracha (Naucalpan de Juarez, MX); Paula Rocio Moreno Roa (Tenango del Valle, MX); Jesus Munoz (State of Mexico, MX)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60N2/0277B60N2/0268B60N2/0272
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,611,968
App. No.
17/957,589
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a body defining a cabin interior, a seat assembly having a seat base, a seat back and a plurality of actuators configured to adjust ergonomic positions of the seat assembly. The vehicle has a first imaging system located in the cabin interior and configured to capture first images of an upper body of an occupant seated on the seat assembly, and a second imaging system configured to capture second images of a lower body of the occupant seated on the seat assembly. A controller processes the first and second images to determine dimension data and position data of the occupant and determines an adjusted ergonomic configuration of the seating assembly, and controls the actuators to adjust the seat assembly to the adjusted ergonomic configuration.

Claims (28)

1 . A vehicle comprising:

a body defining a cabin interior;

a seat assembly having a seat base, a seat back, and a plurality of actuators configured to adjust ergonomic positions of the seat assembly;

a first imaging system located in the cabin interior and configured to capture first images of an upper body of an occupant seated on the seat assembly, wherein the first imaging system comprises a first upper camera oriented to capture a front view of the upper body and located forward of the seat assembly and a second upper camera oriented to capture a side view of the upper body and located proximate to a roof of the vehicle;

a second imagining system configured to capture second images of a lower body of the occupant seated on the assembly, wherein the second imaging system comprises a first lower camera oriented to capture a front view of the lower body and a second lower camera oriented to capture a side view of the lower body; and

a controller processing the first and second images using a bounding box algorithm to determine dimension data and position data of the occupant and determining an adjusted ergonomic configuration of the seating assembly, the controller further controlling at least one of the plurality of actuators to adjust the seat assembly to the adjusted ergonomic configuration, wherein the adjusted ergonomic configuration comprises a predetermined seat vertical height distance, and wherein the second camera is located, in a lateral vehicle direction from the seat assembly, beyond the second upper camera; and

an adjustable steering wheel assembly having a steering wheel and a plurality of steering wheel actuators configured to adjust ergonomic positions of the steering wheel assembly, and wherein the adjusted ergonomic configuration further comprises a target top of the steering wheel vertical position equal to approximately a shoulder height minus a distance of 5 cm as determined by the processor.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first lower camera is located within a steering column of the vehicle.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first imaging system captures the first images to include an upper torso and head of the occupant and the second imaging system captures the second images to include legs of the occupant.

4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the determined dimension data and position data includes length dimensions of portions of the body of the occupant and angles between interconnected body parts.

5 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the angles include a back angle and a bent leg angle.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actuators control one or more of a longitudinal position of the seat assembly, a height of the seat assembly, a recline angle of the seat back relative to the seat base, and a lumbar support.

7 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the angles include a first angle between an upper leg and a lower leg of the occupant, a second angle between the abs and upper legs of the occupant, and a third angle between the seat lumbar support and torso of the occupant.

8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the dimension data further includes a distance between a vehicle floor and legs of the occupant.

9 . A vehicle comprising:

a body defining a cabin interior;

an adjustable steering wheel assembly having a steering wheel and a plurality of steering wheel actuators configured to adjust ergonomic positions of the steering wheel assembly;

a seat assembly having a seat base, a seat back, and a plurality of seat actuators configured to adjust ergonomic positions of the seat assembly;

a first imaging system located in the cabin interior and configured to capture first images of an upper body of an occupant seated on the seat assembly, wherein the first imaging system comprises a first upper camera oriented to capture a front view of the upper body and a second upper camera oriented to capture a side view of the upper body;

a second imaging system configured to capture second images of a lower body of the occupant seat on the seat assembly, wherein the second imaging system comprises a first lower camera oriented to capture a front view of the lower body and a second lower camera oriented to capture oriented to capture a side view of the lower body; and

a controller processing the first and second images using a bounding box algorithm to determine dimension data and position data of the occupant and determining an adjusted ergonomic configuration of the seating assembly and the steering wheel assembly, the controller further controlling the plurality of seat actuators and the steering wheel actuators to adjust the seat assembly and steering wheel assembly to the adjusted ergonomic configuration, wherein the adjusted ergonomic configuration comprises a predetermined seat vertical height distance and a target top of the steering wheel vertical position equal to approximately a shoulder height minus a distance of 5 cm as determined by the processor.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first imaging system captures the first images to include an upper torso and head of the occupant and the second imaging system captures the second images to include legs of the occupant.

11 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first imaging system is located proximate to a roof of the vehicle and the second imaging system is located forward of the seat assembly.

12 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first lower camera is located within a steering column of the vehicle.

13 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the determined dimension data and position data includes length dimensions of portions of the body of the occupant and angles of between interconnected body parts.

14 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of actuators control one or more of a longitudinal position of the seat assembly, a height of the seat assembly, a recline angle of the seat back relative to the seat base, and a lumbar support.

15 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the second lower camera is located, in a lateral vehicle direction from the seat assembly, beyond the second upper camera.

16 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the angles include a first angle between an upper leg and a lower leg of an occupant, a second angle between the abs and upper legs of an occupant, and a third angle between the seat lumbar support and torso of the occupant.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2022
From: RANGEL SANCHEZ, JOSUE RODRIGO; ALCANTARA, ALEXIS; AYALA HUARACHA, ARMANDO; MORENO ROA, PAULA ROCIO; MUNOZ, JESUS
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061274/0050 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240109460A1 · Apr 4, 2024
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