System and method for maintaining functionality of software includes initially providing the vehicle with software resident on computer-readable medium to enable it to operate and interact with components thereof and updating the vehicle software by receiving a wireless transmission from one or more remote locations, e.g., a location maintained by a dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle. The software may be diagnostic software for a diagnostic module which diagnoses operability of components of the vehicle. Different remote locations may be responsible for different portions of the vehicle-resident software and may therefore provide different software upgrades, based on need.

Vehicle Software Upgrade Techniques

Control system for controlling at least one part of a vehicle includes a plurality of sensor systems mounted at different locations on the vehicle, each sensor system providing a measurement related to a state thereof system or a measurement related to a state of the mounting location. A processor is coupled to the sensor systems and diagnoses the state of the vehicle itself and optionally its dynamic motion based on the measurements of the sensor systems. The processor controls each part based at least in part on the diagnosed state of the vehicle.

Vehicle component control methods and systems

This invention relates to a vehicle seat track assembly. The assembly comprises a first track member having an upwardly facing bearing surface and a second track member for attachment to a vehicle seat, the second track member having a downwardly facing bearing surface. A cage is disposed between the first track member and the second track member. The cage carries a rolling element that is in rolling engagement with the upper and lower bearing surfaces to provide longitudinal movement of the first track member relative to the second track member. The cage is provided with at least one pad section for engaging at least one of the upwardly and downwardly facing bearing surfaces. In an unloaded state, the at least one pad section separates the upwardly and downwardly facing bearing surfaces from each other by a distance which is greater than the diameter of the rolling element.

Seat track assembly

Vehicle including a data generating system which obtains or generates information about the vehicle and a communications system coupled to the data generating system for communicating directly with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) to enable the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet. The data generating system may be a diagnostic system which diagnoses the state of the vehicle or the state of a component of the vehicle and generates an output indicative or representative thereof. The data generating system may be arranged to obtain or generate information about the operation of the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the data generating system may be arranged to obtain or generate information about the presence of contents in the compartment and/or when contents are present, information about contents in the compartment.

Vehicle Computer Design and Use Techniques

A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail movable relative to the lower rail and a lock member for restricting the relative movement of the upper and lower rails. The restriction of the relative movement can be released and the lock-released position can be retained. The seat slide device further includes a memory piece detachably engaged with the lower rail and provided in a direction separating from the lower rail and engaging therewith when a seatback is reclined forward, wherein the memory piece is moved in association with the movement of the upper rail by retaining the memory piece at the receiving portion and the shaped portion when the memory piece is separated from the lower rail and wherein the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail at the engaging portion when the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail.

Seat slide device for vehicle

A power seat adjuster for bucket type vehicle seats includes inboard and outboard track assemblies each including a fixed lower section, a movable upper or movable section and a precision sliding interface including roller bearings between the moving upper track and the fixed lower track, the surfaces of the tracks that are engaged by the roller bearings being crowned to provide a bearing surface that is slightly convex when the seat is unoccupied but which becomes nearly flat when the seat is occupied, and the bearing surfaces of the track being coated with a multi-layer dry film lubricant including a base coating of an anti-friction material and a top coating of an anti-stick material. The power seat adjuster includes screw drive mechanisms for providing horizontal fore-and-aft adjustment, vertical up-and-down adjustment and adjustment in the inclination of the seat back, with the length of travel being limited by travel limit stops, that include anti-jam mechanisms which are adapted to reduce the breakaway torque required to move the drive screws of the screw drive mechanisms away from either end position.

Vehicle seat adjuster

Trockene Schmierfilmbeschichtung und Fahrzeugsitzverstellvorrichtung

A power seat adjuster (10) for bucket type vehicle seats includes inboard and outboard track assemblies (16, 14) each including a fixed lower section (20, 18), a movable upper or movable section (21, 19) and a precision sliding interface including roller bearings (23, 24) between the moving upper track and the fixed lower track, the surfaces of the tracks that are engaged by the roller bearings being crowned to provide a bearing surface (78) that is slightly convex when the seat is unoccupied but which becomes nearly flat when the seat is occupied, and the bearing surfaces of the track being coated with a multi-layer dry film lubricant (80) including a base coating (81) of an anti-friction material and a top coating (82) of an anti-stick material. The power seat adjuster includes screw drive mechanisms (26, 30, 31, 32) for providing horizontal fore-and-aft adjustment, vertical up-and-down adjustment and adjustment in the inclination of the seat back, with the length of travel being limited by travel limit stops that include anti-jam mechanisms (102, 130, 161) which are adapted to reduce the breakaway torque required to move the drive screws of the screw drive mechanisms away from either end position.

James A. Kargol

Papers

Vehicle seat adjuster

Trockene Schmierfilmbeschichtung und Fahrzeugsitzverstellvorrichtung

Dry film lubricant coating and vehicle seat adjuster