Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling a vehicle seat so as to control a seat back and a neck pillow based on a sound. The apparatus includes the vehicle seat installed in a vehicle and including a seat back and a neck pillow, a detector for detecting vehicle information and seat information, and a processor connected to the vehicle seat and the detector, wherein the processor determines a vehicle state and a seat sitting posture based on the vehicle information and the seat information, analyzes a sound being reproduced in the vehicle, determines a haptic pattern and a haptic pressure based on the vehicle state and the seat sitting posture, and the analysis of the sound, and controls the seat back and the neck pillow based on the determined haptic pattern and haptic pressure to provide a haptic effect.

A spatial position of at least one first body part, arranged within a sensing range of a sensing device of the motor vehicle, of a vehicle occupant is sensed with respect to the motor vehicle by the sensing device. An anthropometric data model is provided with data including the dimensions of predetermined body parts of a person and the positioning of the body parts with respect to one another. As a result, a spatial position of at least one second body part of the same vehicle occupant which is arranged outside the sensing range of the sensing device can be determined, taking into consideration the sensed spatial position of the first body part and the anthropometric data model. At least one functional unit of the motor vehicle is actuated taking into consideration the sensed spatial position of the second body part.

A control system is disclosed for enhancing the visibility of a driver of a vehicle. The control system may include a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a weight placed on a passenger seat and at least one motor configured to adjust a position of the passenger seat. The control system may also include a controller in communication with the sensor and the at least one motor. The controller may be configured to receive the signal from the sensor, determine that the passenger seat is unoccupied based on the signal, and automatically generate a command signal directed to the at least one motor to adjust the passenger seat to a prospective position.

A seat state detection apparatus according to the present invention includes: a detecting unit configured to, in accordance with a moving operation in a front-rear direction by an operator on a seat of a vehicle, detect a moving status value representing a status of a moving mechanism that moves the seat in the front-rear direction; and a determining unit configured to determine that the moving mechanism is in a first state when the detected moving status value is more than a first threshold value, and determine that the moving mechanism is in a second state when the detected moving status value is less than a second threshold value set to a value lower than the first threshold value.

An occupant sensing method includes steps of: sensing installation of a child seat on a seat of a vehicle; storing a detection value of a load sensor which is provided to be attached to the seat and detects an input load as a first load value, when the installation of the child seat is sensed; storing a detection value of the load sensor as a second load value when a predetermined time period has elapsed from a time point at which the installation of the child seat is sensed; and estimating a load change amount at the time of getting on/off which is a change amount of a load that is generated as the occupant gets on/off the child seat, based on a difference value between the first load value and the second load value.

A seat actuation control system includes at least one seat having a plurality of seat devices and a plurality of control modules interconnected over a communication bus. Each module is associated with a corresponding seat control device and is configured to control its corresponding seat device. Each module includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions therein which include receiving a status packet from each of the other control modules over the communication bus, processing the status packet for updating the overall system status, and actuating the seat device based on the overall system status. The program instructions further include determining status of the corresponding seat device, generating a status packet including the status information, and broadcasting the status packet to the other modules over the communication bus.

A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back is coupled to the seat bottom and arranged to extend in an upward direction away from the seat bottom. The vehicle seat further includes an electronics system.

A vehicle occupant information acquisition device includes a microcomputer, an acquisition unit and an alert unit. The microcomputer controls the vehicle to switch between an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode. The acquisition unit acquires, from vehicle occupants riding in the vehicle, information relating to driving suitability of the vehicle occupants. In a case in which the microcomputer is switching the vehicle from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode, the microcomputer causes the alert unit to alert one of the vehicle occupants who is determined to be suitable to drive the vehicle based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit that he/she has been selected as the driver of the vehicle.

Some embodiments are directed to an indicator assembly for indicating an orientation between a vehicle seat back and a seat bottom. The indicator assembly can include an outer plate assembly that is configured to be supported by the seat bottom, and a movable plate that is movably supported by the outer plate assembly. A biasing device can apply a biasing force to bias the movable plate toward the seat back when the outer plate assembly is supported by the seat bottom to thereby define a projecting portion of the movable plate. The biasing device can enable the movable plate to move upon application of a force to the projecting portion that is greater than the biasing force. An indicator can indicate a relative orientation between the seat back and the seat bottom based on the amount of movement of the movable plate.

An ISS is a seating system that actively adjusts to improve an occupant's comfort, performance, and safety in a specific driving environment. The ISS determines the occupant's posture, position on the seat surface, and/or physiological state, for example, by applying a machine vision process. The ISS can further determine a driving environment. The ISS adjusts its settings and settings of the vehicle according to one or more factors such as an occupant's posture, the occupant's physiological state, the occupant's preferences, and/or the driving environment. The ISS can include a state machine that determines a current state and determines if a change has occurred such that the system should shift to another state that best suits this change. The ISS makes adjustment according to system settings associated with the best suitable state.