The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 65 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover Apple's latest Project Titan invention that generally relates to a seating system for vehicles that controls occupant motion.

Apple notes that vehicle occupants can experience different types of motion that can cause physical discomfort. Vibration, for example, can negatively impact blood flow and nerve sensation of the vehicle occupant, particularly during driving periods having a long duration. Motion sickness is another common discomfort reported by vehicle occupants. Motion sickness is the result of discordant stimuli of the vestibular system and visual system, occurring, for example, when motion is felt, but not seen by the vehicle occupant, as is common when the occupant is reading a book or using a screened device as a passenger in the vehicle. Reducing or removing the effects of vibration and discordant stimuli can improve the overall comfort of vehicle occupants.

Motion Control Seating System

Apple's granted patent relates to motion control seating systems. One aspect of the invention covers a seating system for a vehicle that includes a support surface having a surface contour formed by first springs having fixed stiffness values, a frame, and second springs having adjustable stiffness values coupling the support surface and the frame. The first springs and the second springs together control motion of the support surface in relation to motion of the frame.

Another aspect of the invention covers a support surface that includes a cushion coupled to the support surface and including bolsters having adjustable inflation levels; a frame; and springs having adjustable stiffness values coupling the support surface and the frame. The bolsters and the springs together control motion of the support surface in relation to motion of the frame.

Another aspect of the invention that covers a support surface having a surface contour formed by first springs having fixed stiffness values; second springs having adjustable stiffness values coupling the support surface and a frame; a sensor operable to generate an output signal based on at least one of vibration information, vehicle information, occupant information, or external environment information; and a control unit operable to send a command to adjust the adjustable stiffness values of the second springs based on the output signal from the sensor.

Apple's patent FIGURES 1 & 4 are perspective views showing a seating system for a vehicle.

Apple's patent FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view through the seating system of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view through the seating system of FIG. 4.

Apple's granted patent 10,293,718 was originally filed in Q2 2017 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Some of the inventors

Steve Zadesky: VP iPod/iPhone Product Design

Dr. Filip Ilievski: Technologist that is currently developing novel devices

John Baker: iPhone Product Design

DJ Novotney: VP Program Management