A child seat for a vehicle is configured for holding a child within an interior compartment of the vehicle. The child seat includes a climate arrangement adapted for effecting a climate for the child when positioned in the child seat. The climate arrangement includes a power connection interface connectable to a power source. The climate arrangement further includes a data connection interface connectable to a vehicle climate control module and adapted for receiving climate control information from the vehicle climate control module for effecting the climate for the child when positioned in the child seat.

Various systems and methods are provided for determining a posture of an occupant of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method comprises capturing images of an occupant in a vehicle via a vehicle camera, determining a current posture of the occupant and a recommended posture for the occupant based on the captured images and body measurements of the occupant, and outputting a guidance based on a difference between the current posture and the recommended posture. In this way, a comfort of the occupant may be increased by guiding the occupant toward a more ergonomic posture.

Systems and methods for establishing a seat parameter may include determining one or more physical characteristics of an operator using one or more sensors. The one or more sensors sense an operator, and, using the output of the one or more sensors, the one or more physical characteristics of the operator are determined. One or more seat parameters are determined using the physical characteristics of the operator, and a seat of a vehicle or machine is automatically configured based on the determined seat parameters.

A pressure sensing system (24), seat cushion (20) incorporating the pressure sensing system, and method of sensing a weight group associated with an occupant of an automotive seat are described. The pressure sensing system includes a layer of an electrically conductive foam (28) and a flexible printed circuit (26) that includes a flexible substrate (26a) and N horizontal sensing wires (26b) and M vertical sensing wires (26c) securely placed on a top surface of the flexible substrate. The horizontal sensing wires intersect with the vertical sensing wires and form N?M intersections. The layer of an electrically conductive foam is placed on top of the N horizontal sensing wires and the M vertical sensing wires. When a pressure is applied to the layer of the electrically conductive foam, each intersection generates in real time an electric flux density value to reflect a degree of a compression caused by the pressure to a corresponding point of the electrically conductive foam.

A mobile terminal communication system for a vehicle that enables pairing between a mobile terminal and a seat while inhibiting an increase in equipment installed in the seat is provided. In one aspect of the disclosure, the system includes seats that each configured to output first information in relation to a motion of an occupant; and a processor that communicates with the seats and a mobile terminal possessed by a person in the vehicle. The processor includes a comparison processing device that estimates a control-target seat, on which the person is seated, among the seats by comparing the first information outputted by each seat with second information in relation to the motion of the person outputted by the mobile terminal; and a pairing processing device that pairs the estimated control-target seat with the mobile terminal and to transmit an output of the paired mobile terminal to the control-target seat.

One variation of a method for renting a vehicle includes: receiving a signal from a fleet manager, the signal specifying a current availability of the vehicle for rent; updating a visual indicator arranged on the vehicle according to the signal, the visual indicator visually detectable from outside the vehicle; receiving identification information of a user proximal the vehicle; enabling access to the vehicle for the user in response to verification of the user as a driver of the vehicle; determining, through a sensor arranged within the vehicle, that the user is seated in a driver's seat within the vehicle; and enabling ignition of the vehicle for the user in response to determination that the user is seated in the driver's seat.

A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a seat having an extendable leg support. A seatback is operably coupled with the seat. The seating assembly includes an occupant detection system. A rear seat lift device is disposed in the seat and operable between a lowered position and a heightened position. A rear portion of the seat is elevated relative to the seatback to minimize a height difference between the rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback when the seatback is in a fully reclined position. A control module is in communication with the occupant detection system, the seat, and the seatback. The control module is configured to activate an actuation assembly of the seatback to rotate the seatback rearward, extend the extendable leg support forward, and raise the rear seat lift device to provide optimal rest conditions for the occupant.

A system comprising: a heater located within a steering wheel and a heater located within a vehicle seat; wherein the steering wheel is a first plate and the vehicle seat is a second plate and a shift in a signal is monitored from the first plate, the second plate, or both so that a presence and absence of an occupant is detected, and wherein the heater in the steering wheel and the heater in the vehicle seat are a sensor.

A seat occupancy sensor includes: a first sensor group having a plurality of first sensor cells that are arrayed in a front-rear direction of a seat and become conductive as a load is applied thereto; a second sensor group having a plurality of second sensor cells that are arrayed in the front-rear direction, farther on a front side of the seat and closer to an end of the seat in a width direction than the first sensor group, and that become conductive as a load is applied thereto; and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit determines that someone is sitting on the seat when both of at least one of the first sensor cells and at least one of the second sensor cells become conductive.

The Baby Alert Car Seat AlarmSmart Car Seat, is a device or smart car seat that detects the presence of a baby or child placed, or secured in a car seat, within the vehicle, before and after the driver of the vehicle has reached his/her destination; and, after the ignition is turned off, alerts the driver of the vehicle that the baby or child remains place or secured in a car seat within the vehicle; or, once the baby or child is placed, or secured in a car seat, within the vehicle, if the ignition is not turned on within a preset time, the Baby Alert Car Seat AlarmSmart Car Seat will alert the driver of the vehicle that a baby or child remains placed or secured in a car seat within the vehicle.