A convertible seat for a vehicle includes a base frame having a predetermined dimension of storage space, a plurality of individual blocks disposed to be ascendable and descendable in the storage space of the base frame and configured to serve as a seatback and a seat cushion, and a raising and lowering drive device installed in each of the individual blocks and configured to raise or lower a corresponding one of the individual blocks so that a seat position can be changed into various forms.

A seat adjustment system for a vehicle seat is provided. The seat adjustment system includes a seat body; at least one actuating unit, configured to adjust a support of the seat body; a sensing unit, configured to obtain and provide seat information and body shape data of a back of an occupant; and a control unit, configured to control the at least one actuating unit; wherein when one parameter of the seat body changes, the control unit makes a portion of the body shape data of the occupant in a pre-defined range via the at least one actuating unit.

A central electronic control unit (ECU, Ref. 14) is provided for controlling at least one bi-directional direct current (DC) motor (106) attached to a first vehicle seat and at least one electronic device attached to a second vehicle seat. The central ECU includes a micro-controller configured to receive feedback on a positional status of the bi-directional DC motor from a Hall Effect sensor (130). The micro-controller is configured to receive input instructions for the bi-directional DC motor and the electronic device. The micro-controller creates command instructions based in part on the received feedback and received input instructions. The central ECU selectively provides pulse width modulated (PWM) power to the bi-directional DC motor attached to the first vehicle seat and selectively provides power to the electronic device attached to the second vehicle seat in response to the command instructions from the micro-controller.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining and responding to an internal state of a self-driving vehicle. For instance, an image of an interior of the vehicle captured by a camera mounted in the vehicle is received. The image is processed in order to identify one or more visible markers at predetermined locations within the vehicle. The internal state of the vehicle is determined based on the identified one or more visible markers. A responsive action is identified action using the determined internal state, and the vehicle is controlled in order to perform the responsive action.

A vehicle and a method are provided for adjusting a position of a display in the vehicle. The vehicle includes a seat, a display, particularly a touch display, a drive and an evaluation unit. The seat is disposed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and has a base and a backrest, which can be inclined relative to the base and can be transferred at least between a first angle of inclination and a second angle of inclination with respect to the base. The drive is designed to transfer the display between a first position and a second position. The display is disposed in the passenger compartment remote from the backrest. The evaluation unit is designed to determine an angle of inclination of the backrest and to control the drive in order to transfer the display to the first position if the angle of inclination of the backrest corresponds to the first angle of inclination and to transfer the display to the second position if the angle of inclination of the backrest corresponds to the second angle of inclination.

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.

A seat system includes: a base; a seatback; at least one recliner connecting the base and the seatback to each other for pivoting of the seatback relative to the base; a slider coupled to the base and configured for sliding engagement with a track having a detent region and a tilt-and slide region; and an electronic controller, wherein without mechanical interlock between the recliner and the slider, the electronic controller causes the recliner to place the seatback in a non-passenger position when the slider is within the tilt-and-slide region, and causes the recliner to place the seatback in a passenger position when the slider is within the detent region.

A computing system for a vehicle is provided. The computing system includes one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing system, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to determine if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle. If the vehicle is operating without at least one occupant inside the vehicle, the system may control the vehicle so as to disable and/or deactivate selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and passenger-usage systems/components.

A vehicle includes a vehicle seat comprising a seat base structure and a seat back structure pivotally connected to the seat base structure. The seat back structure includes a central adjustable region, an inboard side adjustable region adjacent the central adjustable region and a outboard side adjustable region located adjacent the central adjustable region. The seat back structure includes a central proximity sensor located at the central adjustable region, an inboard side proximity sensor located at the inboard side adjustable region and an outboard side proximity sensor located at the outboard side adjustable region. A seat back structure adjustment apparatus includes a central region adjustable member that adjusts a configuration of the central adjustable region, an inboard side adjustable member that adjusts a configuration of the inboard side adjustable region and an outboard side adjustable member that adjusts a configuration of the outboard adjustable region.

A method performed by one or more processing devices for ensuring that a vehicle seat top is qualified for use with a seat base for a vehicle seat, the method comprising: receiving information that identifies a type of vehicle seat top for coupling to the seat base; verifying that the vehicle seat top is authorized for use with the seat base; and in response to verifying, retrieving, based on the received information that identifies the type of vehicle seat top, pre-determined values of controller parameters of a closed loop control system for isolating vibrations from the vehicle seat top, wherein the predetermined values of the controller parameters are specifically tuned for the vehicle seat top.