US 12,465,541 B2
Massage system for a vehicle
Lars Ellermann, Ingolstadt (DE)
Assigned to AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed by AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed on Dec. 10, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/708,657.
Claims priority of application No. 102018222074.3 (DE), filed on Dec. 18, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0188211 A1, Jun. 18, 2020
Int. Cl. A61H 1/00 (2006.01); B60N 2/90 (2018.01); B60Q 3/233 (2017.01); B60Q 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61H 1/005 (2013.01) [B60N 2/976 (2018.02); B60Q 3/233 (2017.02); B60Q 9/00 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0188 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1623 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5064 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5092 (2013.01); A61H 2203/0431 (2013.01); A61H 2230/625 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A massage system for a vehicle seat comprising:
a plurality of massage elements which are controlled automatically and are arranged in a curve down a backrest of the vehicle seat such that, reflected across a centerline of the backrest, massage elements arranged near a middle of the backrest are closer to one another than massage elements arranged near a top and a bottom of the backrest;
a communication interface configured to receive image data from an interior camera and sensor data from at least one sensor integrated into the vehicle seat;
a terminal for receiving input parameters which control the massage system;
an analysis unit configured to determine a stature of a vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat based on the received image data and seat position and/or elevation information input by a user at the terminal; and
a detection unit configured to determine a vibration behavior of the vehicle seat,
wherein the received sensor data describes at least one of a position and an elevation of the vehicle seat,
wherein the plurality of massage elements are controlled based on (1) the stature of the vehicle occupant, (2) the received sensor data, and (3) a measured electrical current which is proportional to a load on each of the plurality of massage elements, and
wherein one or more of the plurality of massage elements are switched off when the measured electrical current exceeds a first load threshold and when the measured electrical current falls below a second load threshold.