Automatic adjustable seat

Claim 2

A seat for a seat occupant comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from said seat cushion; a support disposed within said seat cushion or said seat back; an actuator operatively connected to said support; fatigue sensing means for sensing fatigue of the seat occupant; manually operable command generating means for generating a manual command for said actuator; and a control system comprising: means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in while the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to an initial mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses fatigue of the seat occupant; and means responsive to a command from the command generating means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation upon the generation of the manual command.

Claim 3

A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing a flicker value of the seat occupant.

Claim 4

A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing the amount of eyeball motion of the seat occupant.

Claim 5

A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing the myoelectric potential of the seat occupant.

Claim 6

A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing the blood pressure of the seat occupant.

Claim 7

A seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fatigue sensing means comprises means for sensing the dermal temperature of the seat occupant.

Claim 8

A seat for a seat occupant, comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from said seat cushion; a support disposed within said seat cushion or said seat back; an actuator operatively connected to said support for varying a characteristic of said support; manually operable command generating means for generating a manual command for said actuator; and a control system comprising: means for automatically selecting a first operating state for said actuator a controlling said actuator to operate in said first operating state, said actuator cyclically varying a characteristic of said support according to a first mode of variation in said first operating state; and means responsive to a command from the command generating means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state corresponding to the command from the command generating means, the actuator varying a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation different from the first mode of variation in said second operating state.

Claim 9

A seat for a seat occupant, comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from said seat cushion; a support disposed within said seat cushion or said seat back; an actuator operatively connected to said support for varying a characteristic of said support; manually operable command generating means for generating a manual command for said actuator; and a control system comprising: means for automatically selecting a first operating state for said actuator a controlling said actuator to operate in said first operating state, said actuator cyclically varying a characteristic of said support according to a first mode of variation in said first operating state; and means responsive to a command from the command generating means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state corresponding to the command from the command generating means, the actuator varying a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation different from the first mode of variation in said second operating state.

Claim 10

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises an air mat.

Claim 11

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a lumbar support disposed in said seat back so as to support the occupant's lumbar.

Claim 12

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a buttock support disposed in said seat cushion so as to support the occupant's buttocks.

Claim 13

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a thigh support disposed in said seat cushion so as to support a thigh of the occupant.

Claim 14

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a cushion side support disposed in said seat cushion so as to support a leg of the occupant.

Claim 15

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises a back side support disposed in said seat back so as to support an arm of the occupant.

Claim 16

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control system includes a microcomputer based control unit and a plurality of sensors.

Claim 17

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first mode of variation is a function of the length of time passing after the occupant has sat on the seat cushion.

Claim 18

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control system comprises means for controlling said actuator to maintain said second operating state for a predetermined period of time after generation of said manual command by said command generating means and thereafter automatically return to said first operating state.

Claim 19

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second mode of variation results from superimposing a mode indicated by said manual command on said first mode of variation.

Claim 20

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second mode of variation results from replacing said first mode of variation with a mode indicated by said manual command.

Claim 21

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second mode of variation is maintained at least until the seat occupant leaves said seat cushion.

Claim 22

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said manual command from said command generating means is indicative of magnitude of variation of said characteristic of said support.

Claim 23

A seat as claimed in claim 19 wherein said second mode differs from said first mode with respect to the magnitude of variation of said characteristic of said support.

Claim 24

A seat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said actuator comprises a pump, conduit means for establishing fluid communication between said pump and said support, and valve means disposed in said conduit means for controlling supply of air to and discharge of air from said support.

Claim 25

A seat as claimed in claim 22 wherein said command generating means includes a manual switch operatively connected to said valve means.

Claim 26

A seat for a seat occupant comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from said seat cushion; a plurality of supports disposed within the seat cushion or the seat back; an actuator operatively connected to the plurality of supports for varying a characteristic of the supports; selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to manually select an operating state of the actuator and for generating a command indicating the selected mode; and a control system comprising: means for automatically selecting a first operating state for the actuator and controlling the actuator to operate in the first operating state in which the actuator cyclically varies a characteristic of the supports according to a first mode of variation; and means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator cyclically varies a characteristic of the supports according to a second mode of variation different from the first mode of variation with respect to the location or magnitude of variation.

Claim 27

A seat for a seat occupant comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from said seat cushion; a plurality of supports disposed within the seat cushion or the seat back; an actuator operatively connected to the plurality of supports for varying a characteristic of the supports; selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to manually select an operating state of the actuator and for generating a command indicating the selected mode; and a control system comprising: means for automatically selecting a first operating state for the actuator and controlling the actuator to operate in the first operating state in which the actuator cyclically varies a characteristic of the supports according to a first mode of variation; and means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator cyclically varies a characteristic of the supports according to a second mode of variation different from the first mode of variation with respect to the location or magnitude of variation.

Claim 28

A seat for a seat occupant, comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from said seat cushion; a support disposed within said seat cushion or the seat back; an actuator operatively connected to the support for controlling a characteristic of the support; selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to select a mode of operation of the actuator from a plurality of different modes of operation and for generating a command indicating the selected mode; fatigue sensing means for sensing fatigue of the seat occupant; and a control system comprising: means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for automatically controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to an initial mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses fatigue of the seat occupant; and means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to automatically switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation corresponding to a manual command generated by the selecting means upon generation of the manual command by the selecting means.

Claim 29

A seat for a seat occupant, comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from said seat cushion; a support disposed within said seat cushion or the seat back; an actuator operatively connected to the support for controlling a characteristic of the support; selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to select a mode of operation of the actuator from a plurality of different modes of operation and for generating a command indicating the selected mode; fatigue sensing means for sensing fatigue of the seat occupant; and a control system comprising: means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for automatically controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to an initial mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses fatigue of the seat occupant; and means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to automatically switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation corresponding to a manual command generated by the selecting means upon generation of the manual command by the selecting means.

Claim 30

A seat for a seat occupant, comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from the seat cushion; a support disposed within the seat cushion or the seat back; an actuator operatively connected to the support for controlling a characteristic of the support; selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to select a mode of operation of the actuator and for generating a command indicating the selected mode; a control system comprising: means for controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a first mode of variation; means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation; and means for returning the actuator to the first operating state when the selecting means has not generated a command for a prescribed length of time.

Claim 31

A seat for a seat occupant, comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from the seat cushion; a support disposed within the seat cushion or the seat back; an actuator operatively connected to the support for controlling a characteristic of the support; selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to select a mode of operation of the actuator and for generating a command indicating the selected mode; a control system comprising: means for controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a first mode of variation; means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation; and means for returning the actuator to the first operating state when the selecting means has not generated a command for a prescribed length of time.

Claim 32

A seat for a seat occupant comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from the seat cushion; a support disposed within the seat cushion or the seat back; an actuator operatively connected to the support for controlling a characteristic of the support; selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to select a mode of operation of the actuator and for generating a command indicating the selected mode; fatigue sensing means for sensing fatigue of the seat occupant when the amount of movement of a portion of the body of the seat occupant exceeds a prescribed level; and a control system comprising: means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a first mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses fatigue of the seat occupant; and means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation when a command is generated by the selecting means.

Claim 33

A seat for a seat occupant comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from the seat cushion; a support disposed within the seat cushion or the seat back; an actuator operatively connected to the support for controlling a characteristic of the support; selecting means for enabling the seat occupant to select a mode of operation of the actuator and for generating a command indicating the selected mode; fatigue sensing means for sensing fatigue of the seat occupant when the amount of movement of a portion of the body of the seat occupant exceeds a prescribed level; and a control system comprising: means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for controlling the actuator to operate in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a first mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses fatigue of the seat occupant; and means responsive to a command from the selecting means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation when a command is generated by the selecting means.

Claim 34

A seat for a seat occupant, comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from said seat cushion; a seat belt system operatively associated with said seat cushion and said seat back to secure the seat occupant with respect to said seat cushion and said seat back; a support disposed within said seat cushion or said seat back; an actuator operatively connected to said support; displacement sensing means for detecting a displacement of a portion of said seat belt system; command generating means manually operable by the seat occupant for generating a manual command for said actuator; and a control system comprising: fatigue sensing means to responsive to the displacement sensing means for sensing when the seat occupant is fatigued based on the displacement detected by the displacement sensing means; means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for controlling the actuator to operating in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to an initial mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses that the seat occupant is fatigued; and means responsive to a manual command from the command generating means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation.

Claim 35

A seat for a seat occupant, comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back extending from said seat cushion; a seat belt system operatively associated with said seat cushion and said seat back to secure the seat occupant with respect to said seat cushion and said seat back; a support disposed within said seat cushion or said seat back; an actuator operatively connected to said support; displacement sensing means for detecting a displacement of a portion of said seat belt system; command generating means manually operable by the seat occupant for generating a manual command for said actuator; and a control system comprising: fatigue sensing means to responsive to the displacement sensing means for sensing when the seat occupant is fatigued based on the displacement detected by the displacement sensing means; means responsive to the fatigue sensing means for controlling the actuator to operating in a first operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to an initial mode of variation when the fatigue sensing means senses that the seat occupant is fatigued; and means responsive to a manual command from the command generating means for controlling the actuator to switch from the first operating state to a second operating state in which the actuator varies a characteristic of the support according to a second mode of variation.

Claim 38

A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein varying the characteristic according to the second mode of variation comprises superimposing a mode indicated by the manual command indicative signal upon the initial mode of variation.

Claim 39

A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein said manual command indicative signal is indicative of the magnitude of variation of the characteristic of the support, and the second mode of variation differs from the initial mode of variation with respect to the magnitude of the variation of the characteristic of the support.

Claim 40

A method as claimed in claim 29 further comprising the step of: automatically controlling the actuator to vary the characteristic of the support according to said initial mode of variation upon elapse of a predetermined period of time after generation of said manual command indicative signal.

Claim 41

A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein varying the characteristic according to the second mode of variation comprises replacing the initial mode of variation with a mode indicated by the manual command indicative signal.