An apparatus includes a mode switching unit configured to switch a driving mode of a vehicle from a first driving mode to a second driving mode different from the first driving mode, or from the second driving mode to the first driving mode; and a changing unit configured to (i) change a position of a first seat of the vehicle, in a case in which the first driving mode is switched to the second driving mode by the mode switching unit, and (ii) change the position of the first seat to a position which is occupied by a second seat different from the first seat during the second driving mode, in a case in which the second driving mode is switched to the first driving mode by the mode switching unit.

A vehicle seat control system includes: a driving control unit that switches a vehicle between an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode; a changing unit that changes positions and facing directions of plural vehicle seats; and a control unit that controls the changing unit such that, in a case in which the driving control unit switches from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode, a first seat in which a first occupant who is a driver sits faces in the vehicle traveling direction and is located in a predetermined driving position, and in a case in which the driving control unit switches from the manual driving mode to the autonomous driving mode, the first seat faces the in vehicle traveling direction and one or both of the position and the facing direction of another seat is changed without the other seat interfering with the first seat.

A rail and carrier system for first and second removable seats of a motor vehicle is described. The rail and carrier system includes two lower rails fixedly attached to and positioned laterally along a floor of the motor vehicle. Two upper rails are nested with and laterally slidable within each of the lower rails. The rail and carrier system further includes four cross brackets laterally spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to the upper rails, two connecting the left upper rails, and two connecting the right upper rails. Covers are connected to and extend between the cross brackets.

A seat for a motor vehicle includes a seatbelt integrated into a seat back of the seat and a seatbelt mechanism for providing access to the seatbelt. The seat further includes an extended base attached to the seat, a raised and curved section of the extended base for transitioning the seatbelt from a vertical orientation inside the seatback to a horizontal orientation for use, an arcuate slot atop the extended base, the seatbelt being threaded through the arcuate slot, the arcuate slot preventing the seatbelt from becoming tangled and misaligned, a garnish for covering the seatbelt mechanism, a fastener, and a cap for covering the fastener. The fastener fastens the garnish and the cap to the extended base.

A rail and carrier system for first and second removable seats for a motor vehicle includes two lower rails fixedly attached to and positioned laterally along a floor of the motor vehicle. Two upper rails are nested with and laterally slidable within each of the first lower rails. Cross brackets are laterally spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to the upper rails. Covers are connected to and extend between the cross brackets. Spacers are located laterally between upper rails within the lower rails. The spacers include a first shoe located in the lower rail, a second shoe located in the lower rail, and a first bracket connecting the first shoe and second shoe. The first and second shoes prevent the upper rails from contacting each other.

A bracket for use in a rail and carrier system for a removable seat for a motor vehicle, the rail and carrier system having first and second lower rails, first and second upper rails nested within the first lower rail, third and fourth upper rails nested within the second lower rail, includes a generally U-shaped end that is substantially similar to a U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the first and second lower rails, the U-shaped end having a center portion and two upper portions, and a generally L-shaped extension extending from a bottom of the center portion, the L-shaped extension having a first portion that is attached to the one of the first and second lower rails and a second portion that extends upward from the first portion. The second portion blocks movement of one of the first, second, third, and fourth upper rails.

A gearbox for actuating at least one component of a vehicle seat. The gearbox includes a housing. An input pulley and an output pulley are rotatably coupled to the housing. A sun gear is attached to one of the pulleys. A ring gear is coupled to the housing and disposed about the sun gear. A plurality of planetary gears are attached to the other of the pulleys and are operably engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear. An input cable is coupled to the input pulley to rotate the input pulley in a first direction. An output cable is coupled to the output pulley and moves in a first direction in response to rotation of the input pulley. A biasing member is operatively connected to the output pulley to rotate the output pulley in a second direction opposite of the first direction to move the input cable.

A gearbox for actuating at least one component of a vehicle seat. The gearbox includes a housing. An input pulley and an output pulley are rotatably coupled to the housing. A sun gear is attached to one of the pulleys. A ring gear is coupled to the housing and disposed about the sun gear. A plurality of planetary gears are attached to the other of the pulleys and are operably engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear. An input cable is coupled to the input pulley to rotate the input pulley in a first direction. An output cable is coupled to the output pulley and moves in a first direction in response to rotation of the input pulley. A biasing member is operatively connected to the output pulley to rotate the output pulley in a second direction opposite of the first direction to move the input cable.

A system for changing rear seat positions in a vehicle between deployed and folded configurations. The system comprises means to effect the steps of initiating a movement of the rear seating and, after initiation, moving the front seat so that collision between the seating is avoided. The front seat is returned to its previous position, or as near as possible thereto, afterwards. The system includes means to detect the position of the seating and to calculate whether a collision will occur, and automatically to effect the requisite movements of the front seating to avoid the collision.

A system and a control method can prevent interference between front and rear seats for a vehicle, and allow reclining control and slide control for the front and rear seats to be performed, to control a seat back rearward movement angle of a front seat based on a seat back angle of the front seat, a position of the rear seat, and an interval between the front and rear seats at the time of rearward reclining control for the front seat, control a rearward slide movement distance based on the seat back angle of the front seat at the time of rearward slide control for the front seat, and calculate in advance a likelihood that interference will occur between the front and rear seats so as to stop the control operation at the time of performing a rearward reclining control operation and a rearward slide control operation.