Abstract: A seat assembly includes a five-bar linkage for moving the seat assembly between a plurality of positions in an automotive vehicle. A first link is rotatably coupled to a seat back at a second pivot point disposed coaxial to a first pivot point, and to a seat base defining a fifth link at a third pivot point. A second link extends axially between the first and second pivot points. A third link is defined by a lower seat back portion and a seat cushion and extends between the first pivot point and a fifth pivot point disposed adjacent a front portion of the seat cushion. A fourth link is rotatably coupled to the third link at the fifth pivot point and the seat base at a fourth pivot point. The seat assembly is capable of moving to both a pitched easy entry position and a stow flat to floor position.

Abstract: A high durability electrically conductive urethane foam acts as a variable resistor such that as the foam deflects, conductive particles get closer together, causing electrical resistance to decrease. The electrically conductive foam is further integrated into an automotive seat sensor system.

Abstract: An occupant classification system for a seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion and a seat back. The system comprises a plurality of sensors, an algorithm, a posture classifier and a weight classification system. Each of the plurality of sensors measures a force applied to the seat cushion and/or seat back by an occupant of the seat assembly. The algorithm monitors a compensation factor and adjusts the forces measured by the plurality of sensors to compensate for the compensation factor. The posture classifier identifies a posture of the occupant based on distribution of the adjusted forces for each of the plurality of sensors. The weight classification system identifies a weight class of the occupant based on the posture and magnitude of the adjusted forces for each of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A high durability electrically conductive urethane foam acts as a variable resistor such that as the foam deflects, conductive particles get closer together, causing electrical resistance to decrease. The electrically conductive foam is further integrated into an automotive seat sensor system.

Abstract: 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.