US6134492A — Apparatus and method for adjusting pedals in a ve…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 104 words

An apparatus for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising a motor coupled to the at least one pedal, said motor being at least automatically controllable without manual intervention to move the at least one pedal relative to a floor of the vehicle and thus adjust the position of the at least one pedal relative to the driver, determining means for determining at least one morphological characteristic of the driver, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means and said motor for automatically controlling said motor based on the determined at least one morphological characteristic of the driver.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 104 words

An apparatus for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising a motor coupled to the at least one pedal, said motor being at least automatically controllable without manual intervention to move the at least one pedal relative to a floor of the vehicle and thus adjust the position of the at least one pedal relative to the driver, determining means for determining at least one morphological characteristic of the driver, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means and said motor for automatically controlling said motor based on the determined at least one morphological characteristic of the driver.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one pedal is the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal of the vehicle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising location determining means for determining a location of the driver, said control circuit being further coupled to said location determining means for automatically controlling said motor based on the determined location of the driver.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 165 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said determining means comprise weight measurement means associated with the driver seat for measuring the weight applied onto the driver seat and generating an output representative of the measured weight applied onto the seat, further comprising at least one wave sensor for receiving waves from an area of the driver seat of the vehicle and generating an output representative of the waves received by said at least one wave sensor; and processor means for receiving the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and said weight measuring means; evaluating the seated-state of the seat based thereon to determine whether the seat is occupied by an object and when the seat is occupied by an object, to identify the object in the seat based on the outputs from said wave-receiving sensor and said weight measuring means; and based at least on the identification of the object in the seat, directing said motor to adjust the at least one pedal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising transmitter means for transmitting waves into the passenger compartment toward the seat.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one wave sensor is an ultrasonic sensor structured and arranged to receive ultrasonic waves.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one wave sensor is an electromagnetic sensor structured and arranged to receive electromagnetic waves.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said processor means comprise a microcomputer into which a function correlating the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and said weight measuring means and the seated-state of the seat is incorporated.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 66 words

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said processor means comprise a neural network which generates a function correlating the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and said weight measuring means and the seated-state of the seat and executes the function using the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and said weight measuring means as input to determine the seated-state of the seat.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a seat track position detecting sensor for determining the position of a seat track of the seat and generating an output representative of the position of the seat track of the seat, said processor means receiving the outputs from said at least one wave sensor, said weight measuring means and said seat track position sensor and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based thereon.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 66 words

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a reclining angle detecting sensor for determining the reclining angle of the seat back and generating an output representative of the reclined angle of the seat back, said processor means receiving the outputs from said at least one wave sensor, said weight measuring means and said reclining angle detecting sensor and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based thereon.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 111 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said determining means comprise first measurement means for measuring a first morphological characteristic of the driver and generating a first signal based on said first measured morphological characteristic, and second measurement means for measuring a second morphological characteristic of the driver different than said first morphological characteristic and generating a second signal based on said second measured morphological characteristic, the apparatus further comprising a processor for determining an optimum position of the at least one pedal based on said first and second measured morphological characteristics, said processor providing a control signal to said motor to adjust the at least one pedal to the optimum position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 59 words

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second morphological characteristics are each selected from a group consisting of the weight of the occupant, the height of the occupant from a bottom of the seat, the length of the occupant's arms, the length of the occupant's legs and the inclination of the occupant's back relative to the seat.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first morphological characteristic is the length of the occupant's legs.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 168 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said determining means comprise weight measuring means associated with the driver seat for measuring the weight applied onto the driver seat and generating an output representative of the measured weight applied onto the seat, further comprising at least one wave sensor for receiving waves from an area of the driver seat of the vehicle and generating an output representative of the waves received by said at least one wave sensor; and processor means for receiving the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and said weight measuring means; evaluating the seated-state of the seat based thereon to determine whether the seat is occupied by an object and when the seat is occupied by an object, to ascertain the identity of the object in the seat based on the outputs from said wave-receiving sensor and said weight measuring means; and based at least on the identity of the object in the seat, directing said motor to adjust the at least one pedal.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 100 words

A method for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: coupling a motor to the at least one pedal, determining at least one morphological characteristic of the driver, and automatically controlling the motor without manual intervention to move the at least one pedal relative to a floor of the vehicle and thus adjust the position of the at least one pedal relative to the driver, the step of automatically controlling the motor comprising the step of automatically controlling the motor based on the determined at least one morphological characteristic of the driver.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 100 words

A method for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: coupling a motor to the at least one pedal, determining at least one morphological characteristic of the driver, and automatically controlling the motor without manual intervention to move the at least one pedal relative to a floor of the vehicle and thus adjust the position of the at least one pedal relative to the driver, the step of automatically controlling the motor comprising the step of automatically controlling the motor based on the determined at least one morphological characteristic of the driver.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one pedal is the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal of the vehicle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: determining a location of the driver on the seat, the step of automatically controlling the motor further comprising the step of automatically controlling the motor based on the determined location of the driver.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 174 words

The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determine at least one morphological characteristic of the driver comprises the step of measuring the weight applied onto the driver seat and generating an output representative of the measured weight applied onto the seat, further comprising the steps of: receiving waves from an area of the driver seat of the vehicle and generating an output representative of the received waves; and evaluating the seated-state of the scat based on the outputs representative of the received waves and the measured weight applied onto the seat, said step of evaluating the seated-state of the seat comprising the steps of determining whether the seat is occupied by an object based on the outputs representative of the received waves and measured weight applied onto the seat, and when the seat is occupied by an object, identifying the object in the seat based on the outputs representative of the received waves and measured weight applied onto the seat, the motor being controlled automatically based on thc identification of the object.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 19, wherein the step of evaluating the seated-state of the seat comprises the steps of: generating a function correlating the outputs representative of the received waves and the measured weight and the seated-state of the seat, and incorporating the correlation function into a microcomputer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 66 words

The method of claim 19, wherein the step of evaluating the seated-state of the seat comprises the steps of generating a function correlating the outputs representative of the received waves and the measured weight and the seated-state of the seat in a neural network, and executing the function using the outputs representative of the received waves and the measured weight as input into the neural network.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: determining the position of a seat track of the seat and generating an output representative of the position of the seat track of the seat, and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based on the outputs representative of the received waves, the measured weight and the determined position of the seat track.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: determining the reclining angle of the seat and generating an output representative of the reclined angle of the seat, and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based on the outputs representative of the received waves, the measured weight and the determined reclining angle of the seat.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 125 words

The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining at least one morphological characteristic of the driver comprises the steps of measuring a first morphological characteristic of the driver and generating a first signal based on said first measured morphological characteristic, and measuring a second morphological characteristic of the driver different than said first morphological characteristic and generating a second signal based on said second measured morphological characteristic, the method further comprising the step of: determining an optimum position of the at least one pedal based on said first and second measured morphological characteristics, the step of automatically controlling the motor comprising the step of providing a control signal to the motor to adjust the at least one pedal to the determined optimum position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of: selecting the first and second morphological characteristics from a group consisting of the weight of the occupant, the height of the occupant from a bottom of the seat, the length of the occupant's arms, the length of the occupant's legs and the inclination of the occupant's back relative to the seat.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 24, wherein the first morphological characteristic is the length of the occupant's legs.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 177 words

The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining at least one morphological characteristic of the driver comprises the step of measuring the weight applied onto the driver seat and generating an output representative of the measured weight applied onto the seat, further comprising the steps of: receiving waves from an area of the driver scat of the vehicle and generating an output representative of the received waves; and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based on the outputs representative of the received waves and the measured weight applied onto the seat, said step of evaluating the seated-state of the seat comprising the steps of determining whether the seat is occupied by an object based on the outputs representative of the received waves and measured weight applied onto the seat, and when the seat is occupied by an object, ascertaining the identity of the object in the seat based on the outputs representative of the received waves and measured weight applied onto the seat, the motor being controlled automatically based on the identity of the object.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising measuring means for measuring the height of the driver from the driver seat in the vehicle, a motor coupled to the at least one pedal, and processor means coupled to said measuring means for receiving the measured height of the driver, determining a position of the at least one pedal based on the measured height of the driver and automatically controlling said motor without manual intervention to move the at least one pedal to the determined position of the at least one pedal when the determined position is different than the actual position.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising measuring means for measuring the height of the driver from the driver seat in the vehicle, a motor coupled to the at least one pedal, and processor means coupled to said measuring means for receiving the measured height of the driver, determining a position of the at least one pedal based on the measured height of the driver and automatically controlling said motor without manual intervention to move the at least one pedal to the determined position of the at least one pedal when the determined position is different than the actual position.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said processor means comprise an algorithm including a table representing measured heights and a position of the at least one pedal corresponding to each measured height.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 92 words

A method for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: coupling a motor to the at least one pedal, measuring the height of the driver from the driver seat in the vehicle, determining a position of the at least one pedal based on the measured height of the driver, and automatically controlling the motor without manual intervention to move the at least one pedal to the determined position of the at least one pedal when the determined position is different than the actual position.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 92 words

A method for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: coupling a motor to the at least one pedal, measuring the height of the driver from the driver seat in the vehicle, determining a position of the at least one pedal based on the measured height of the driver, and automatically controlling the motor without manual intervention to move the at least one pedal to the determined position of the at least one pedal when the determined position is different than the actual position.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 30, wherein the step of determining a position of the at least one pedal comprises the step of applying an algorithm including a table representing measured heights and a position of the at least one pedal corresponding to each measured height.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 193 words

An apparatus for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising a motor coupled to the at least one pedal, said motor being controlled to move the at least one pedal relative to a floor of the vehicle and thus adjust the position of the at least one pedal relative to the driver, at least one wave sensor for receiving waves from an area of the driver seat of the vehicle and generating an output representative of the waves received by said at least one wave sensor; and processor means for receiving the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based thereon, and based at least on the evaluation of the seated-state of the seat, directing said motor to adjust the at least one pedal, said processor means comprising a function generated by a neural network correlating the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and the seated-state of the seat and said processor means being arranged to execute the function using the outputs from said at least one wave sensor as input to determine the seated-state of the seat.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 193 words

An apparatus for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising a motor coupled to the at least one pedal, said motor being controlled to move the at least one pedal relative to a floor of the vehicle and thus adjust the position of the at least one pedal relative to the driver, at least one wave sensor for receiving waves from an area of the driver seat of the vehicle and generating an output representative of the waves received by said at least one wave sensor; and processor means for receiving the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based thereon, and based at least on the evaluation of the seated-state of the seat, directing said motor to adjust the at least one pedal, said processor means comprising a function generated by a neural network correlating the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and the seated-state of the seat and said processor means being arranged to execute the function using the outputs from said at least one wave sensor as input to determine the seated-state of the seat.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 132 words

The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising weight measuring means associated with the driver seat for measuring the weight applied onto the driver seat and generating an output representative of the measured weight applied onto the seat, said processor means receiving the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and said weight measuring means and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based thereon, said processor means comprising a second function generated by said neural network correlating the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and said weight measuring means and the seated-state of the seat and said processor means being arranged to execute the second function using the outputs from said at least one wave sensor and said weight measuring means as input to determine the seated-state of the seat.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 159 words

A method for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: coupling a motor to the at least one pedal, controlling the motor to move the at least one pedal relative to a floor of the vehicle and thus adjust the position of the at least one pedal relative to the driver, receiving waves from an area of the driver seat of the vehicle and generating an output representative of the received waves, and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based on the output representative of the received waves, the motor being controlled automatically based on the evaluation of the seated-state of the seat, the step of evaluating the seated-state of the seat comprising the steps of: generating a function correlating the output representative of the received waves and the seated-state of the seat by a neural network, and executing the function using the outputs representative of the received waves as input.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 159 words

A method for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: coupling a motor to the at least one pedal, controlling the motor to move the at least one pedal relative to a floor of the vehicle and thus adjust the position of the at least one pedal relative to the driver, receiving waves from an area of the driver seat of the vehicle and generating an output representative of the received waves, and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based on the output representative of the received waves, the motor being controlled automatically based on the evaluation of the seated-state of the seat, the step of evaluating the seated-state of the seat comprising the steps of: generating a function correlating the output representative of the received waves and the seated-state of the seat by a neural network, and executing the function using the outputs representative of the received waves as input.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 113 words

The method of claim 34, further comprising the steps of measuring the weight applied onto the driver seat and generating an output representative of the measured weight applied onto the seat, and evaluating the seated-state of the seat based on the output representative of the received waves and the measured weight applied onto the seat, the step of evaluating the seated-state of the seat comprising the steps of: generating a second function correlating the outputs representative of the received waves and the measured weight and the seated-state of the seat by said neural network, and executing the second function using the outputs representative of the received waves and the measured weight as input.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-10-17	2004-04-17	2004-10-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-10-17	2008-04-17	2008-10-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-10-17	2012-04-17	2012-10-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for adjusting pedals in a vehicle

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag