1. 1. Objective seating comfort scores forauto seat design.ERL LLCFebruary 15, 2012
2. 2. Objective Auto Seat DesignOptimize seat for driver at start of production Body Size & Back Posture Vision of Road Reach to Controls Seat Size, Shape and Deflection Objective Seat Comfort Score
3. 3. Body Size & Back Posture:Japan, Italy, Germany & USAFemale Male5th5thStanding Height5th95th 95th1st 1st1st95th99th99th S N ES N ES NE99th 1400 1500 16001700 1800 1900 Standing ERLERLERL Large Stature SmallMediumMale (mm) Female MaleANSUR (U.S. ARMY) }GermanyUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138 PeopleSizeItaly 2000 v2.06JapanE = Erect ERL OccupantN = Neutral ERL OccupantS = Slumped ERL Occupant
4. 4. Vision: Depends upon eye positionfor driving without visual obstructions Upward Vision Target (X, Z) Rearview MirrorUpward VisionAngleDownwardVision Angle Downward Vision Target (X, Z) Instrument PanelUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
5. 5. SMALL FEMALE HAND REACHSeat tilt lever outside reach boundaries. US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
6. 6. LARGE MALE HAND REACHAll hand controls within reach boundaries.US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
7. 7. Seat Deflection: Meat-to-Metal is distanceof deflected body surface to frame Problem: Identify Bodyall locations of body-to-frame distances that are less than allowable for seat stiffness and ride comfort FrameUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
8. 8. Seat Deflection: Pressure is bodypenetration of Sitting Surface Body Problem: Find the maximum penetrations of body into seat STO bolster Bolster surfacesUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
9. 9. Seat Deflection: Penetration of the thighinto the seat wing (Pressure) Measure using tools in CAD. If maximum penetration exceeds criteria forBody comfortable pressure, adjust seat design parameters and find new solution. Bolster US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
10. 10. Lumbar Support Analysis Example Lumbar in seat provides no supportfull support no support Required Actual LumbarOccupant Erect Lumbar % Support Support Force Posture Support Force Provided by Seat(N) (N)Small Female 40.87.919.3% Medium Male 123.242.434.4% Large Male168.225.815.3%Bite line too far forward US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
11. 11. Objective Seat Comfort:Evaluate for the Global Population Drivers Preferred Position Seat support and contact of Drivers Body Vision meets needs of all drivers Reach to controls & switches All drivers equally fit in seat & car
12. 12. All drivers prefer a neutral posture, but eachhas different needs to be accommodated.Erect VisionNeutral Controls ReachHeadroomSlumped LegroomSmall Female (5th %) Medium Male (50th %) Large Male (95th %) US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
13. 13. Objective Comfort Scores on 5 pt scaleJapanese SubcompactGerman SedanAmerican SUV
14. 14. Japanese SubcompactERL Population Comfort Scores
15. 15. Japanese Subcompact Seat 4.2
16. 16. Japanese Subcompact DriverSMALL FEMALE ERL Score: 3.25 Cushion: 3.1; Back: 3.4; Package: 5.0 Cushion is too longtoo long too short Cushion is wide at Thigh & Ischium too narrowtoo wide Head Restraint is too closetoo close too farUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
17. 17. Japanese Subcompact Driver MEDIUM MALEERL Score: 4.57Cushion: 4.19; Back: 4.51: Package: 5.0Cushion length is just right too longtoo shortCushion doesnt provide enough thigh support too much no supportShoulder patch wing shape is closetoo closetoo farUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
18. 18. Japanese Subcompact DriverLARGE MALE ERL Score: 3.3 Cushion: 2.0; Back: 4.2; Package: 4.3 Cushion length is shorttoo longtoo short Cushion doesnt provide enough thigh support too much not enough Seat requires additional rearward travelforward rearward Shoulder patch wing shape is closetoo close too farUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
19. 19. German SedanERL Population Comfort Scores
20. 20. German Sedan Seat 4.12
21. 21. German Sedan Driver SMALL FEMALE ERL Score: 3.61 Cushion: 2.16; Back: 4.33; Package: 4.33 Cushion too long too longtoo short Cushion provides thigh pressuretoo much pressure no support Cushion is too wide at Ischium too narrowtoo wide Shoulder is close too close too far Can not comfortably reach pedalscan notcanUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
22. 22. German Sedan DriverMEDIUM MALEERL Score: 4.17 Cushion: 3.83; Back: 3.78; Package: 4.90Cushion length is just righttoo long too shortCushion provides thigh pressure too much pressureno supportCushion is wide at ischiumtoo narrowtoo wideHead restraint is far too closetoo far US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
23. 23. German Sedan DriverLARGE MALEERL Score: 4.22Cushion: 4.50; Back: 3.22; Package: 5.00Cushion length is just right too longtoo shortCushion is wide at thigh too narrowtoo wideShoulder wing shape provides too much penetration extreme penetrationno contactHead restraint is too far too closetoo far US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
24. 24. American SUVERL Population Comfort Scores Seat PackageTotal Cushion Back Package Penalty % Penalty %Total (1.00 - 5.00) 4.48 4.53 4.194.94 0.401.40Small Female3.03 3.30 2.774.34 3.759.55Medium Male 4.69 4.63 4.445.00 0.000.00Large Male4.39 5.00 3.645.00 0.304.40
25. 25. American SUV Seat4.53
26. 26. American SUV DriverSMALL FEMALEERL Score: 3.05 Cushion: 3.3; Back: 2.75; Package: 4.34 Cannot comfortably reach acceleratorcannot reachcan reach Cushion length is too longtoo longtoo short Head restraint is too closetoo close too far Seatback stiffness is too soft too firm too soft Bite line contact is closeextreme penetration no contact 25mm (Heel off floor) US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
27. 27. American SUV DriverMEDIUM MALE ERL Score: 4.7 Cushion: 4.65; Back: 4.45; Package: 5.0Cushion length is just right too long too shortSeatback insert stiffness is too soft too firm too softOverall bolster shape provides good supportextreme penetration no contactUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
28. 28. American SUV DriverLARGE MALE ERL Score: 8.8 Cushion: 5.0; Back: 3.65; Package: 5.0Cushion length is just righttoo longtoo shortOverall bolster shape provides good supportextreme penetration no contactSeatback insert stiffness is too softtoo firmtoo softBite line contact is close too fartoo closeUS Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
29. 29. Comfort scores and body dimensions define population affectedby seated comfort in Automobile.
30. 30. Seat Cushion Dimensionsfor Global Market Evaluation US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
31. 31. US Female Population:Cushion Length & Contact Length Analysis86% of CushionLength FemalesCushionToo LongLengthToo Short Cushion section behind calf Females: Cushion Length is TOO LONG:14%} Cushion Length is LONG:5% Small FemaleContact Length Is JUST RIGHT: Contact Length Is SHORT:81%0%86% Contact Length Is TOO SHORT:0% Cushion Supports 86% of US Females** Based on Buttock-Knee lengthusing ANSUR data base. US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
32. 32. US Male Population:Cushion Length & Contact Length Analysis97% of MalesCushion Length Cushion Too Long LengthToo ShortCushion section behind calfLarge Male Males: Cushion Length is TOO LONG: 2%} Cushion Length is LONG: 1% Contact Length Is JUST RIGHT: 94%97% Contact Length Is SHORT:2% Contact Length Is TOO SHORT: 1% Cushion Supports 97% of US Males* Cushion section behind calf Medium Male * Based on Buttock-Knee length using ANSUR data base. US Patents: #6,840,125, #7,047,831, #7,347,114, #7,797,138
33. 33. % of US Market affected by Sources ofDiscomfort in Seating % PopulationVehicle Small FemaleAverage Male Large Male