Importance

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Abstract

A vehicle seat is disclosed including a seat cushion and a seat back. The vehicle seat includes a plurality of electronic devices secured to both the seat cushion and the seat back. These electronic devices allow the occupant of the vehicle seat to control the features of the vehicle seat that are electronically modified, i.e., position, orientation, temperature, and the activation of lumbar support and/or massage devices, if any. The vehicle seat also includes a plurality of sensors associated with each of the electronic devices. Each of the sensors determines the condition or status of the electronic device to which the sensor is associated. At least one serial bus connects all of the electronic devices and sensors to a single control unit that receives all of the data from the sensors and, depending on the instructions input by the occupant of the vehicle seat, controls the electronic devices. The control unit can be integrated into the occupant position switch assembly. A smart connector is used between each of the sensors, electronic devices and the serial bus. The smart connectors retrieve the portions of the signals being transmitted over the serial bus that are to be utilized by the electronic devices. In addition, the smart connectors also allow the proper flow of data from the sensors along the serial bus to ensure the control unit receives the data.

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First Claim