Seating system with optimum visibilty

US6450530B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Douglas Hall Frasher · Newbury Park, US
• Kolita Mendis · Glendale, US
• John Downs · Simi Valley, US
• Kristina Jonsell · Thousand Oaks, US
• Ulla-Britt Frajdin-Hellqvist · Kållered, SE
• Lars Jansson · Stuvsta-Snättringe, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 17, 2000
• Grant date: Sep 17, 2002
• Expiry date: Oct 17, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60N2/0278
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An automatically adjustable seat system (10) includes a sensor (48) for detecting the position of a physical feature of the driver, such as the eyes. The sensor (48) is in communication with a controller (46), which transfers the detected physical feature of the driver thereto. A seat positioning (50) mechanism is in communication with the controller (48) to automatically locate the seat (14) in a position which provides the driver with an optimum field of view. The controller (48) is also in communication with a pedal box (28) and a steering column (26) to automatically position the pedals (26), based on the information from the sensor (48), in an optimum position for use by the driver.