Abstract: A sound system includes a seat including a seatback having a first dipole subwoofer, a second dipole subwoofer, a first speaker, and a second speaker; and a seat bottom having a third speaker. The first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and/or the third speaker may be configured to receive audio signals from a receiver and provide sound corresponding to the audio signals toward an occupant position of the seat. The third speaker may be directed toward the seat back. The first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and/or the third speaker may be configured to provide a sound zone for said occupant that facilitates (i) hearing of the sound by said occupant, and/or (ii) limiting transmission of the sound beyond the seat.

Abstract: A seat assembly having an occupant protection system. The occupant protection system may have a deployable shield. The deployable shield may extend around multiple sides of the seat assembly, may extend at least partially around a front of a seat occupant when deployed, may be deployable along a dynamic deployment path based on a detected position of a seat occupant, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A seat includes a seat bottom having an occupant support surface, a seatback connected to the seat bottom, the seatback having an occupant support side cooperating with the occupant support surface, and a rear side, and an energy absorbing feature including a rigid member connected to the rear side of the seatback. The rigid member is movable between a storage position adjacent the seatback, and a deployed position extending into a cargo space of a vehicle upon detection or occurrence of an impact event. In the deployed position, the rigid member is capable of interfacing with cargo, a cargo floor, or both, to reduce force imparted on and deflection of the seatback and deflect cargo from impacting the seatback.

Abstract: A seat assembly with an adjustable head restraint assembly capable of being adjusted based on an approximate stature or spatial location of an occupant in the seat assembly. A seat assembly may include a sensor in the seat to detect if an occupant is present. The sensor may include a plurality of bladders and pressure sensors, a radar system, or a neuro-monitoring sensor. The sensor may send a signal to a controller indicating the presence of an occupant. The controller may approximate the size and/or spatial location of the occupant and send an adjustment signal to the head restraint adjustment mechanism to adjust the head restraint assembly to an in-use position. The controller may determine that an occupant is not present and send an adjustment signal to the head restraint adjustment mechanism to adjust the head restraint assembly to a non-use position.

Abstract: A seat includes a seat bottom having an occupant support surface, a seatback connected to the seat bottom, the seatback having an occupant support side cooperating with the occupant support surface, and a rear side, and an energy absorbing feature including a rigid member connected to the rear side of the seatback. The rigid member is movable between a storage position adjacent the seatback, and a deployed position extending into a cargo space of a vehicle upon detection or occurrence of an impact event. In the deployed position, the rigid member is capable of interfacing with cargo, a cargo floor, or both, to reduce force imparted on and deflection of the seatback and deflect cargo from impacting the seatback.

Abstract: A seat arrangement for a vehicle includes a first seat including an airbag module having an inflatable airbag, and a second seat positionable adjacent to the first seat. The second seat includes a pivotable seatback that is pivotable between an upright use position and a forward pivoted position, and a movement mechanism associated with the seatback for moving the seatback from the use position to the pivoted position. The arrangement further includes a control system configured to actuate the movement mechanism to move the seatback of the second seat from the use position to the pivoted position when the second seat is unoccupied and upon detection of a potential vehicle impact, so that the airbag of the airbag module of the first seat may deploy between an occupant of the first seat and the seatback of the second seat.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat, one or more sensor assemblies, and/or an electronic control unit that may be connected to the one or more sensor assemblies. The one or more sensor assemblies may provide information about a first position of the seat to the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit may be configured to receive a second position of the seat, and/or the electronic control unit may be configured to automatically move the seat to the second position without contacting other objects. The electronic control unit may include a second seat, and/or the electronic control unit may be configured to automatically move the second seat from a first second seat position to a second second seat position. The electronic control unit may be configured to determine a movement path of the seat according to information from the one or more sensor assemblies.

Abstract: A vehicle seat controller is provided to control a front seat assembly and a rear seat assembly positioned directly behind of the front seat assembly. The vehicle seat controller programmed to receive a first input indicating whether the rear seat assembly is occupied and receive a second input indicating a position of the front seat assembly. The vehicle seat controller is programmed to provide a signal to an actuator to move the front seat assembly forward if the first input indicates the rear seat is occupied and the second input indicates the position exceeds a rearward travel threshold.

Abstract: A seat assembly having an occupant protection system. The occupant protection system may have a deployable shield. The deployable shield may extend around multiple sides of the seat assembly. may extend at least partially around a front of a seat occupant when deployed, may be deployable along a dynamic deployment path based on a detected position of a seat occupant, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly and a method of controlling a vehicle seat assembly are provided. The vehicle seat assembly has a frame, and a seat pan extending from a forward region to a rearward region, with the rearward region of the seat pan rotatably connected to the frame. A torque tube is supported for rotation by the frame and extends transversely across the seat pan. At least one cam is supported by the torque tube for rotation therewith, and the at least one cam extends outwardly from the torque tube to an associated cam surface. The cam surface supports the forward region of the seat pan and is shaped such that the forward region of the seat pan is raised relative to the rearward region in response to rotation of the torque tube.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly and a method of controlling a vehicle seat assembly are provided. The vehicle seat assembly has a seat back frame rotatably connected to a support frame, and a seat back frame positioning assembly connected to the support frame and the seat back frame. The seat back frame positioning assembly has an electric motor, and a worm connected to the motor shaft for rotation. The seat back frame positioning assembly has a reduction gearset with a first gear in meshed engagement with the worm and driving a second gear. The second gear is connected to the support frame. A controller controls the motor such that the motor shaft rotates at a first speed and at a second speed greater than the first speed, with the seat back frame is rotated relative to the support frame in response to rotation of the motor shaft.

Abstract: A sound system includes a seat including a seatback having a first dipole subwoofer, a second dipole subwoofer, a first speaker, and a second speaker; and a seat bottom having a third speaker. The first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and/or the third speaker may be configured to receive audio signals from a receiver and provide sound corresponding to the audio signals toward an occupant position of the seat. The third speaker may be directed toward the seat back. The first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and/or the third speaker may be configured to provide a sound zone for said occupant that facilitates (i) hearing of the sound by said occupant, and/or (ii) limiting transmission of the sound beyond the seat.

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 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 vehicle seat assembly and a method of controlling a vehicle seat assembly are provided. The vehicle seat assembly has a frame, and a seat pan extending from a forward region to a rearward region, with the rearward region of the seat pan rotatably connected to the frame. A torque tube is supported for rotation by the frame and extends transversely across the seat pan. At least one cam is supported by the torque tube for rotation therewith, and the at least one cam extends outwardly from the torque tube to an associated cam surface. The cam surface supports the forward region of the seat pan and is shaped such that the forward region of the seat pan is raised relative to the rearward region in response to rotation of the torque tube.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom and seatback. An actuator is in cooperation with the seat bottom and the seatback. A controller is in electrical communication with the actuator. The controller is programmed to receive input indicative of selection of an automatic mode. In response to the automatic mode selection, the controller determines if a seated occupant is in an agitated condition. In response to the automatic mode selection and the agitated condition, a signal is output to the actuator to oscillate the seatback and the seat bottom. Input indicative of selection of a manual mode is received. Input indicative that a seated occupant is in the agitated condition is received. In response to the manual mode selection, and the agitated condition, a signal is output to the actuator to oscillate the seatback and the seat bottom.

Abstract: A seat arrangement for a vehicle includes a first seat including an airbag module having an inflatable airbag, and a second seat positionable adjacent to the first seat. The second seat includes a pivotable seatback that is pivotable between an upright use position and a forward pivoted position, and a movement mechanism associated with the seatback for moving the seatback from the use position to the pivoted position. The arrangement further includes a control system configured to actuate the movement mechanism to move the seatback of the second seat from the use position to the pivoted position when the second seat is unoccupied and upon detection of a potential vehicle impact, so that the airbag of the airbag module of the first seat may deploy between an occupant of the first seat and the seatback of the second seat.

Abstract: A gear assembly includes motor, a first gear, one or more planet gears, a first ring gear, and/or a second ring gear. The motor may be configured to rotate the first ring gear at a first speed and/or a second speed. The first gear may be configured to rotate the one or more planet gears. The planet gears may be configured to engage the first ring gear and/or rotate the second ring gear. The second speed may be greater than the first speed. Each of the one or more planet gears may include a first portion and/or a second portion. The first portion may include a first radius, and/or the second portion may include a second radius. The first radius may be larger than the second radius.

Abstract: A vehicle system for mitigating the effects of rear or front collisions includes a vehicle seat having a vehicle seat cushion and a vehicle seatback. The vehicle seatback is rotatable relative to the vehicle seat cushion. An actuation system adjusts the position of the vehicle seatback relative to the vehicle seat cushion or the vehicle seat cushion relative to the vehicle seatback. Characteristically, the vehicle system also includes a profile selector that receives vehicle seat contextual data and determines an actuation travel profile that is applied to the vehicle seatback via the actuation system in response to the vehicle seat contextual data indicating a collision triggering event.

Abstract: A gear assembly includes motor, a first gear, one or more planet gears, a first ring gear, and/or a second ring gear. The motor may be configured to rotate the first ring gear at a first speed and/or a second speed. The first gear may be configured to rotate the one or more planet gears. The planet gears may be configured to engage the first ring gear and/or rotate the second ring gear. The second speed may be greater than the first speed. Each of the one or more planet gears may include a first portion and/or a second portion. The first portion may include a first radius, and/or the second portion may include a second radius. The first radius may be larger than the second radius.