A seat lifter includes: an inner link for changing a height position of an inner lower arm with respect to a floor of a vehicle; an outer link for changing a height position of an outer lower arm with respect to the floor, a coupling rod that couples the inner link to the outer link; a planetary gear mechanism capable of causing the coupling rod to rotate relative to the inner lower arm and the outer lower arm; a drive unit capable of driving the planetary gear mechanism; and a power transmission rod that transmits power of the drive unit to the planetary gear mechanism. One of the planetary gear mechanism and the drive unit is disposed outside the outer lower arm in the width direction. The other of the planetary gear mechanism and the drive unit is disposed outside the inner lower arm in the width direction.

An articulation assembly for a vehicle seat includes a planar engagement surface. An inflatable member is operably coupled to the planar engagement surface. The inflatable member includes a plurality of polyhedral bodies that are configured to be formed via additive manufacturing. Each of the polyhedral bodies has a foldable portion that defines crease lines. A plurality of elastomeric members are disposed on each crease line. A planar base includes a port fluidly coupled to the polyhedral bodies. A manifold is fluidly coupled to the port of the planar base and is configured to translate fluid through the port to the polyhedral bodies.

Provide is a vehicle seat capable of inhibiting rattling of a seat cushion provided with a lifting device. One embodiment of the present disclosure is a vehicle seat including a lifting device for a seat cushion. The lifting device includes a pinion gear, a sector gear engaged therewith, a link rotating, together with the sector gear, with respect to the cushion frame, and a rubber member attached to the cushion frame. The link is displaced between a first position where a position of the seat cushion is lowest and a second position where the position of the seat cushion is highest. When the link is at the first position, or at the second position, or in a region between the first position and the second position, the rubber member is brought in pressure contact with the sector gear along a direction intersecting a rotational axis of the sector gear.

An autonomous can include one or more configurable passenger seats to accommodate a plurality of different seating configurations. For instance, the one or more passenger seats can include a passenger seat defining a seating orientation. The passenger seat can be configurable in a first configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a forward end of the autonomous vehicle and a second configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a rear end of the autonomous vehicle. The passenger seat can include a seatback rotatable about a pivot point on a base of the passenger seat to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration. Alternatively, or additionally, the autonomous vehicle can include a door assembly pivotably fixed to a vehicle body of the autonomous vehicle such that a swept path of the door assembly when moving between an open position and a closed position is reduced.

A system for a vehicle seat includes: a functional device able to selectively occupy Np states, where Np is a positive integer; an input interface configured for collecting Nm parameters, where Nm is a positive integer, related to the vehicle and/or to the seat and/or to a user of the seat; a control device configured for changing the functional device from one of the Np states to another of the Np states; a control interface enabling the user to set the functional device, via the control device, to the state to be in; and a data storage unit. The system is configured for sending the values of the Nm parameters to the data storage unit each time the user places the functional device in one of the Np states.

A suspension mat for a vehicle seat comprises a spring element, and a guiding support for at least one electrical cable. The guiding support is molded onto the spring element.

A removable component system may include a removable component selectively connectable to a mounting surface including a component electrical unit; an antenna; a system controller configured to communicate with the component electrical unit and the antenna; and/or a track assembly configured to be fixed to said mounting surface. The removable component may be selectively connectable to said mounting surface via the track assembly. The removable component may be configured for selective connection with, removal from, and movement along the track assembly. The system controller may be configured to obtain a position of the removable component relative to said mounting surface via the antenna and the component electrical unit (e.g., via a component controller, a sensor, and/or a communication device thereof).

An occupant protection apparatus includes a driver. The driver includes a drive unit, a support shaft, a movable seat pan supported by the support shaft such that the movable seat pan is inclinable in a front-rear direction, a guide groove, a movement pin that is movable along the guide groove, a link that couples the movable seat pan to the movement pin, and an energy absorber. The guide groove includes a first guide groove portion in which the movement pin moves when the movable seat pan is inclined rearward and a second guide groove portion in which the movement pin moves when the movable seat pan is inclined forward. The energy absorber is configured to absorb at least part of a forward load from an occupant when the movement pin moves in the second guide groove portion.

A car seat heater has an improved energy efficiency, which includes a heating wire which is coupled to a car seat and includes a metal-plated carbon fiber, a seat temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of the heating wire, and a variable temperature controller configured to control temperature of the heating wire according to a diameter of the metal-plated carbon fiber and a thickness of a plated metal thereof.

An autonomous can include one or more configurable passenger seats to accommodate a plurality of different seating configurations. For instance, the one or more passenger seats can include a passenger seat defining a seating orientation. The passenger seat can be configurable in a first configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a forward end of the autonomous vehicle and a second configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a rear end of the autonomous vehicle. The passenger seat can include a seatback rotatable about a pivot point on a base of the passenger seat to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration. Alternatively, or additionally, the autonomous vehicle can include a door assembly pivotably fixed to a vehicle body of the autonomous vehicle such that a swept path of the door assembly when moving between an open position and a closed position is reduced.