Abstract: A seat includes a seat portion with an air bladder having an outer casing. Multiple fluidly interconnected cells are disposed within a cavity of the outer casing and are configured to inflate the outer casing from a deflated condition to an inflated condition. The cells may be arranged within the air bladder so as to provide a directional inflation of the air bladder from a first portion of the air bladder towards a second portion. First and second support substrates may be disposed within the seat portion, wherein the air bladder is positioned between the first and second substrates. The air bladder may be configured to inflate and displace the first and second substrates relative to one another from an at-rest position to an actuated position. A biasing mechanism may be coupled to at least one of the first and second substrates for biasing the substrates towards the at-rest position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a group of first inflatable bladders, each first bladder having a respective first valve coupled therewith and a pump coupled with each of the first valves. The seat further includes a controller in communication with the pump and with the first valves to cause the pump to inflate the first group of bladders to a predetermined pressure and to close the valves to maintain a subsequent inflation level of each of the first bladders.

Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seat having a seat frame. The seat generally defines a seating surface. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat. A carrier is disposed on the seat frame and supports a multi-contour seating component that is adjustable to change a contour of the seating surface. A cushion assembly is disposed over the multi-contour seating component of the seat and is in communication with a climate control system. A spreader plate is disposed below the cushion assembly. The spreader plate is configured to balance load distribution across the seating surface when the multi-contour seating component is activated. The spreader plate includes flex recesses defined in forward and rearward walls of the spreader plate. Lateral flex breaks allow limited flexure of the spreader plate. An inner opening is in communication with the climate control system.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to determine the location of a wirelessly-identified device within a vehicle. The processor is also configured to determine a locking schema associated with the device for locking child-lockable vehicle systems and apply the locking schema to corresponding systems in a defined proximity to the determined device location.

Abstract: A method for customizing a vehicular massage function includes providing massage element indicia, creating massage subroutines using the massage element indicia, selecting a vehicle that includes a seat having a massage element configuration, placing the massage subroutines in communication with the vehicle, adapting the massage subroutines to be compatible with the massage element configuration and activating the seat to perform at least one massage subroutine.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for carrying objects, in particular medications or medical articles, in a vehicle. The arrangement includes a storage compartment for accommodating the objects to be carried and a regulating unit for regulating at least one parameter characteristic of the climatic conditions present in the storage compartment. The regulating unit is designed to carry out the regulation in dependence on the presence of one or more objects in the storage compartment.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to determine the location of a wirelessly-identified device within a vehicle. The processor is also configured to determine a locking schema associated with the device for locking child-lockable vehicle systems and apply the locking schema to corresponding systems in a defined proximity to the determined device location.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided herein. The vehicle seat includes a cushion disposed within a seating member having at least one inflatable first bladder for selectively adjusting the firmness of the cushion. An inflatable second bladder is separated from a support surface of the seating member by the first bladder and fluidly connected to the first bladder. A vehicle seat hip pivot point is maintained when adjusting the firmness of the cushion by increasing the pressure in the second bladder when the pressure in the first bladder is selectively decreased, and by decreasing the pressure in the second bladder when the pressure in the first bladder is selectively increased.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of wireless transceivers deployed in a vehicle cabin and a processor configured to receive a relay signal from a transceiver, including a device identification and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with a device signal. The processor is also configured to use the RSSI and device identification, associated with a single device, included in relay signals from multiple transceivers to determine a device location and store the device location and corresponding possessor identification and location in memory.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of wireless transceivers deployed in a vehicle cabin and a processor configured to receive a relay signal from a transceiver, including a device identification and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with a device signal. The processor is also configured to use the RSSI and device identification, associated with a single device, included in relay signals from multiple transceivers to determine a device location and store the device location and corresponding possessor identification and location in memory.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a motor vehicle seat includes receiving pressure signals from pressure sensors disposed in a grid network on outside surfaces of edge bladders of the seat. The method further includes raising or lowering a fluid pressure within the edge bladders using the pressure signals, including lowering of the bladder pressure on the door side on recognizing an entry or exit situation only if a load-related pressure rise in bladders on the door side has occurred.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat has a seat inflation system for selectively inflating/deflating a plurality of inflatable cushions in the seat back and/or bottom. A switch for controlling the system includes a display having a first symbol indicating a function of the cushion and a second symbol indicating a parameter of the active function, a plurality of keypads defining a circular perimeter surrounding the display and actuatable to select the active function, and a ring surrounding the perimeter and rotatable to adjust a value of the parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the safety-relevant wear-comfort of a seatbelt worn by an occupant of a vehicle seat uses at least one sensor to detect the contour and/or position of the seatbelt, at least one actuator system for moving the seatbelt in order to change the contour and/or position, and at least one control module for controlling the actuator system. The control module is operative to control the actuator system automatically as a function of a deviation of the seatbelt contour/position, as detected by the sensor, from a predefined contour/position which reflects correct wear of the seatbelt.

Abstract: A sensor for contactless electrocardiographic measurement of a person has at least one electrically conductive, planar electrode having a measurement surface facing the person and a connection surface facing away from the person. An electrical terminal for connection with a measurement apparatus is spaced from the connection surface such that the connection surface is only placed in electrical connection with the terminal when pressure of a required magnitude is applied to the measurement. The electrical connection may be achieved by a switching contact disposed between the electrode and the terminal which is brought into contact with both the electrode and the terminal when the electrode is deflected toward the terminal by the pressure. A compressible material is disposed between the electrode and the terminal to allow tuning of the pressure required to achieve electrical contact.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a cushion and a seatback coupled with the cushion. The vehicle seat further includes a first set of independently inflatable massage bladders coupled within the seatback. The massage bladders of the first set are arranged to extend diagonally from adjacent a center line of the seatback at a first vertical location toward a first lateral side of the seatback at a second vertical location above the first location.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for carrying objects, in particular medications or medical articles, in a vehicle. The arrangement includes a storage compartment for accommodating the objects to be carried and a regulating unit for regulating at least one parameter characteristic of the climatic conditions present in the storage compartment. The regulating unit is designed to carry out the regulation in dependence on the presence of one or more objects in the storage compartment.

Abstract: A sensor for contactless electrocardiographic measurement on a person includes a carrier for mounting to a seat, an electrode for registering a measurement signal, a pressure sensor supporting the electrode on the carrier, and moisture and temperature sensors mounted to the carrier to detect conditions adjacent to the electrode and the subject person. The moisture sensor and the temperature sensor may be adjacent to at least one opening in the electrode. A processing unit receives information generated by the pressure sensor, the moisture sensor, and the temperature sensor, and filters the measurement signal based on the information. An acceleration sensor may also be mounted to the carrier and/or electrode and send signals to the processor.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a frame, a seat support, a first arrangement of a first plurality of deformation elements between the frame and the seat support. The deformation elements are arranged directly adjacent to one another in a two-dimensional matrix arrangement and are changeable in respective shapes thereof independently of one another.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided herein. The vehicle seat includes a cushion disposed within a seating member having at least one inflatable first bladder for selectively adjusting the firmness of the cushion. An inflatable second bladder is separated from a support surface of the seating member by the first bladder and fluidly connected to the first bladder. A vehicle seat hip pivot point is maintained when adjusting the firmness of the cushion by increasing the pressure in the second bladder when the pressure in the first bladder is selectively decreased, and by decreasing the pressure in the second bladder when the pressure in the first bladder is selectively increased.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back and a seat for supporting an occupant. A cushion is coupled to the seat and has at least one inflatable upper bladder for selectively adjusting the firmness of the cushion. The seat further includes an inflatable lower bladder positioned beneath the upper bladder. The seat is configured such that a vehicle seat hip pivot point is maintained when adjusting the firmness of the cushion by increasing the pressure in the lower bladder when the pressure in the upper bladder is selectively decreased, and by decreasing the pressure in the lower bladder when the pressure in the upper bladder is selectively increased.