Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the operation of a controlled device in a vehicle includes a vehicle including a vehicle sensor. A vehicle module receives a signal from the vehicle sensor, and a controlled device receives a signal from the vehicle module for controlling the operation of the controlled device. A personal peripheral device includes a personal peripheral device sensor and a processor that is configured to receive a signal from both the personal peripheral device sensor and the vehicle module. Based upon those signals, the personal peripheral device processor generates a signal to the vehicle module for generating the signal from the vehicle module for controlling the operation of the controlled device.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a system for performing biometric evoked response monitoring and feedback for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a plurality of sensors and at least one controller. The plurality of sensors may be positioned about a main cabin of the vehicle and each sensor is configured to provide a first signal indicative of a measured electromagnetic characteristic of an anatomical feature of a driver for the vehicle in response to an alert being issued to the driver. The at least one controller is configured to receive the first signal and to determine a stimulus response and an attentiveness response of the driver based on the measured electromagnetic characteristic of the anatomical feature of the driver.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a system for assessing biometric information for an occupant in a vehicle is provided. The system includes a plurality of sensors and a controller. The plurality of sensors is positioned about a main cabin of the vehicle and being configured to provide the biometric information for the occupant in response to a stimulus and to transmit a first signal indicative of the biometric information. The controller is positioned in the vehicle and is configured to activate the stimulus in the vehicle and to receive the biometric information after the stimulus has been activated. The controller is further configured to transmit the biometric information to at least one of another controller in the vehicle or to a server that is remote from the vehicle to assess the biometric information to determine the effect of the stimulus on the occupant.

Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat, a biomedical sensor, a bladder assembly, a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) coil assembly, and/or an electronic control unit (ECU) connected with the biomedical sensor. The ECU may be configured to control the bladder assembly and the PEMF coil assembly, and/or to determine if a user occupying the seat is in a first state or a second state. The first state may correspond to one or more small user movements. Small user movements may include movements having magnitudes below a specified value or threshold. The second state may correspond to one or more large user movements. Large user movements may include movements having magnitudes above the specified value or threshold. The ECU may operate in a first mode when said user is in the first state and operate in a second mode when said user is in the second state.

Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat having a seat base and a seat back, a temperature control unit disposed at least partially in the seat back, and/or an ECU connected with the temperature control unit. The ECU may be configured to receive an input related to (i) a first state corresponding to symptoms and/or discomfort associated with dysmenorrhea and/or (ii) a second state corresponding to symptoms and/or discomfort associated with sciatica. The ECU may be configured to operate the seat assembly according, at least in part, to the input.

Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat, a first bladder assembly connected to the seat, a second bladder assembly connected to the seat, and/or an electrical control unit (ECU) configured to independently control the first bladder assembly and the second bladder assembly. The ECU may be configured to maintain a level of inflation of the first bladder assembly to provide a hugging effect to a user of the seat while inflating and deflating the second bladder assembly to guide breathing of said user.

Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat including a seat base and a seat back, a sensor, a vent unit disposed at least partially within the seat back, and/or an electronic control unit (ECU) connected with the sensor and the vent unit. The ECU may be configured to determine, via the sensor, if a user of the seat exhibits symptoms of fatigue. The ECU may be configured to operate the vent unit in a first mode and a second mode. When the vent unit is in the first mode, the vent unit may provide cool air to said user of the seat. When the vent unit is in the second mode, the vent unit may provide warmer and/or less air to said user of the seat. The ECU may automatically switch the vent unit between first and second modes to reduce symptoms of fatigue.

Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat including a seat base and a seat back, a sensor, a vent unit disposed at least partially within the seat back, and/or an electronic control unit (ECU) connected with the sensor and the vent unit. The ECU may be configured to determine, via the sensor, if a user of the seat exhibits symptoms of fatigue. The ECU may be configured to operate the vent unit in a first mode and a second mode. When the vent unit is in the first mode, the vent unit may provide cool air to said user of the seat. When the vent unit is in the second mode, the vent unit may provide warmer and/or less air to said user of the seat. The ECU may automatically switch the vent unit between first and second modes to reduce symptoms of fatigue.

Abstract: A server includes an interface, programmed to receive, from a vehicle, vehicle data indicative of vehicle status and user data indicative of usage of vehicle features by a user; and a processor, programmed to analyze the vehicle data and the user data using artificial intelligence (AI) logic to generate a comfort prediction for the user; and configure a comfort device associated with the user, external to the vehicle, using the comfort prediction.

Abstract: A system having a controller includes one or more thermal generation element assemblies, or a plurality of air bladder assemblies, or a plurality of electromagnetic coil assemblies, or a combination thereof, that are in communication with the controller and are configured for activation by the controller. The one or more thermal generation element assemblies, or the plurality of air bladder assemblies, or the plurality of electromagnetic coil assemblies, or a combination thereof are configured to provide a holistic mitigating effect on a vehicle occupant confined within the interior space of a vehicle for long periods of time.

Abstract: A seat system includes a seat, a sensor assembly, and/or an electronic control unit (ECU) connected with the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly may be configured to sense a breathing pattern of a user associated with the seat. The ECU may be configured to communicate with a remote server, and at least one of the ECU and the remote server may be configured to determine a medical state of said user according, at least in part, to the breathing pattern.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat having a seat base and a seat back, an electronic control unit (ECU), a sensor assembly, and/or a response assembly. The ECU may be configured to determine via the sensor assembly whether an occupant disposed in the seat is in a first state, a second state, or a third state. The ECU may be configured to control the response assembly to change the state of said occupant from the first state to the second state and from the third state to the second state. The ECU may be configured to determine at least one of a breathing rate, a heart rate, and a heart rate variability of said occupant via the sensor assembly.

Abstract: A system having a controller includes one or more thermal generation element assemblies, or a plurality of air bladder assemblies, or a plurality of electromagnetic coil assemblies, or a combination thereof, that are in communication with the controller and are configured for activation by the controller. The one or more thermal generation element assemblies, or the plurality of air bladder assemblies, or the plurality of electromagnetic coil assemblies, or a combination thereof are configured to provide a holistic mitigating effect on a vehicle occupant confined within the interior space of a vehicle for long periods of time.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided having a seat bottom and at least one bladder mounted to the seat bottom adjacent a forward surface and filled with a compressible material. The bladder is moveable between a storage position and at least one leg-support position. A valve is in fluid communication with the at least one bladder. A vacuum pump in fluid communication with the valve. The compressible material is compressed under vacuum pressure generated by the pump when the valve is closed in the storage position. The compressible material is expanded when the valve is open to move the at least one bladder to the leg-support position.

Abstract: A method and system include a biometric monitor monitoring an occupant of the vehicle and a vision detector detecting a condition of an upcoming road segment. A controller determines an adjustment to the biometric monitor for the biometric monitor to counteract an expected effect that the condition of the upcoming road segment will have on the biometric monitor in monitoring the occupant when the vehicle drives over the upcoming road segment. The controller adjusts the biometric monitor according to the adjustment such that the biometric monitor is adjusted in monitoring the occupant according to the adjustment as the vehicle drives over the upcoming road segment. The controller may determine an adaptation to a suspension assembly of the vehicle for the suspension assembly to counteract the expected effect and adapt the suspension assembly according to the adaptation. The adjustment to the biometric monitor is modified accordingly.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided having a seat bottom and at least one bladder mounted to the seat bottom adjacent a forward surface and filled with a compressible material. The bladder is moveable between a storage position and at least one leg-support position. A valve is in fluid communication with the at least one bladder. A vacuum pump in fluid communication with the valve. The compressible material is compressed under vacuum pressure generated by the pump when the valve is closed in the storage position. The compressible material is expanded when the valve is open to move the at least one bladder to the leg-support position.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for mixing by asymmetric rotation using a servo motor to drive the symmetric rotation. The system may include a robotic arm and robotic controller.

Abstract: A method and system include a biometric monitor monitoring an occupant of the vehicle and a vision detector detecting a condition of an upcoming road segment. A controller determines an adjustment to the biometric monitor for the biometric monitor to counteract an expected effect that the condition of the upcoming road segment will have on the biometric monitor in monitoring the occupant when the vehicle drives over the upcoming road segment. The controller adjusts the biometric monitor according to the adjustment such that the biometric monitor is adjusted in monitoring the occupant according to the adjustment as the vehicle drives over the upcoming road segment. The controller may determine an adaptation to a suspension assembly of the vehicle for the suspension assembly to counteract the expected effect and adapt the suspension assembly according to the adaptation. The adjustment to the biometric monitor is modified accordingly.

Abstract: A system and method are described for controlling a vehicle interior environmental condition. A biometric sensor senses a biometric condition of a vehicle seat occupant and generates a sensed biometric condition value. A controller receives the sensed biometric condition value, a sensed interior environmental condition value, and a sensed exterior environmental condition value. Each of multiple exterior environmental condition values has an associated biometric condition value defined as optimal for the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: A distraction detection system includes using a first signal, e.g., EDP signals or vehicle speed, and an additional signal to determine whether a person is distracted. The distraction system can be part of a vehicle seating system, A vehicle seating system is described and includes a seat configured to support an occupant and to be mounted in a vehicle and occupant sensing system at least partially integrated into the seat to sense an occupant. The sensing system senses a first criterion with respect to the occupant. A controller is configured to receive the first criterion signal from the sensing system and a second criterion to determine a distraction state of the driver. The controller can also determine a false distraction state using the distraction state and other criterion in a vehicle. The controller outputs a control signal when the distraction state exceeds a distraction threshold and when distraction is confirmed.