A seating posture is stabilized for the shoulders of a passenger seated on a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat is provided with a seat back configured to support the seated person from the rear. A shoulder support portion of the seat back configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand when air is supplied. When the air cell expands, one end portion of the shoulder support portion on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat moves more forward than the other end portion of the shoulder support portion on the inside in the width direction.

A vehicle seat is provided herein. The vehicle seat includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat bottom. An adjustment assembly is operably coupled with the seat and includes a linear actuator. The linear actuator is configured to release a recliner mechanism when moved in a first direction and is configured to release a track assembly when moved in a second direction.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for enacting various driving profiles based on identifying the age and gender of the user. Initially, identifying information is acquired from a user of a vehicle. An identification program determines whether the driver is known, by comparing the identifying information to a set of stored identifying information. If the driver of the vehicle is known, as the identifying information from the user is similar to stored identifying information, then a specific driver profile associated with the specific driver is activated. If the driver is not known, as the identifying information from the user of the vehicle is not similar to the stored identifying information, then the age and gender of the user of the vehicle is determined. Based on the determined age and gender of the driver of the vehicle, various vehicle setting ranges are enacted.

A head restraint is provided for a seat for use with a motor vehicle. The head restraint includes a base configured to be attached to the seat, and a main portion configured to be positioned between the base and a head of a seat occupant when the base is attached to the seat and the seat is mounted in the vehicle. The head restraint further includes at least one movement mechanism associated with at least one of the base and the main portion and configured to move at least part of the main portion laterally or upwardly and downwardly relative to the base.

A capacitive sensor member of a vehicle seat occupant detection and classification device that includes a first electrically conductive antenna member and at least a second electrically conductive antenna member that is adjacently arranged to the first electrically conductive antenna member without any mutual galvanic connection. At least one electrically conductive bridging member is fixedly attached to at least one elastic spacer member that has elastic mechanical properties in a specified direction. If a mechanical load is applied to the capacitive sensor member in the specified direction that is equal to or larger than a predetermined value for the mechanical load, the at least one electrically conductive bridging member provides at least one galvanic contact between the first electrically conductive antenna member and the second electrically conductive antenna member.

A detection system includes a first electrode provided at a seat of a vehicle; a second electrode provided at an operation unit which is operated by being contacted, the second electrode being connected to a reference potential portion; and a detection device that measures combined capacitance between the reference potential portion and the first electrode and detects a presence of a person on the seat, and a contact between the person and the operation unit based on a measurement value of the combined capacitance.

Example systems and methods for a driver detection steering wheel are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a steering wheel, a driver, a detector, and an enabling module. The example steering wheel includes a plurality of capacitive sensors. The example driver is to change voltage levels on the plurality of capacitive sensors. The example detector is to measure time delays corresponding to the plurality of capacitive sensors, and determine a number of hands on the steering wheel based on the time delays. The example enabling module is to, in response to the detector detecting two hands on the steering wheel, grant access to an infotainment system.

A deformation detecting device includes weft yarns and warp yarns woven together. At least some of the weft yarns, or some weft yarns, and some warp yarns, are electrically conductive. The weft yarns include a flocking made up of non-electrically conductive fibers protruding substantially radially from the weft yarns. The electrically conductive yarns are connected to conductive ends for applying an electrical voltage, such that yarns that are connected to conductive ends with different polarities define respective plates of a capacitive sensor, while the fibers of the flocking of the weft yarns define a dielectric material interposed between the capacitive sensor plates. The device comprises an electronic control and processing unit configured to detect a deformation of the fabric based on a capacitance variation of the capacitive sensor.

A cover material, in particular a seat cover material, having an upper side and a lower side and at least one seam that runs over at least a part of the cover material and that is visible on the upper side. An electrically conductive element that generates an electric field is arranged on the lower side in the region where the seam runs.

Disclosed is an electronic seat switch for a power seat of an autonomous vehicle and a method of operating the power seat by using the electronic seat switch, wherein the power seat is configured to be operated by using the electronic seat switch that is compact and slim.