Illustrates objective measures of seating comfort for design and evaluation of seats. Shows difference for driver comfort score

1. ERL LLC
May 19, 2012

2. All car drivers,
worldwide, deserve
higher comfort levels.
2

3. Acura RL, Acura MDX, Audi A8, Audi A6, Audi A4 (2), BMW 325Ci, BMW
530xi, BMW 740iL, BMW X3, BMW X5, Buick LaCrosse, Buick Park
Avenue, Buick Rainier, Buick Regal, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac
Deville, Cadillac DTS, Chevy Cavalier, Chevy Cobalt, Chevy
Corvette, Chevy Equinox, Chevy Monte Carlo, Chevy HHR, Chevy
Tahoe, Chevy Trailblazer, Chrysler 300, Chrysler LHS, Chrysler Town &
Country, Dodge Dakota, Fiat 500, Ford Edge, Ford Escape, Ford F150, Ford
Mustang, Freightliner M2, GMC Savana, Honda Civic, Honda Fit, Honda
Odyssey, Hummer H2, Hummer H3, Jeep Wrangler, Kia Sportage, Land
Rover Range Rover, Lexus ES300, Lexus LS430, Lexus RX300, Lexus
RX330, Lincoln LS, Mercedes Benz C-class, Mercedes Benz E-class
(2), Mercedes Benz S-class, Mercedes Benz SLK, Nissan Quest, Nissan
Maxima, Olds Alero, Pontiac G6, Pontiac Montana, Pontiac Torrent, Saab 9-
3, Saab 9-5, Saturn LS, Saturn L300, Saturn Vue, Toyota Avalon, Toyota
Camry, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Prius, Toyota
Sequoia, Toyota Sienna (3), Toyota Solara, Toyota 4-Runner, Volkswagen
Beetle, Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat, Volvo
S80, Volvo V70, Volvo XC90.
3

4. 3 Cars from Germany, United States
and Japan illustrate comfort issues.
4

5. In the 3 examples,
comfort scores less than 3.5 on
a 5 point scale represent noticeable
discomfort for the driver or passenger.
5

6. 2007 German Mid-Size Luxury
Sedan ERL Score: 3.4
SMALL Cushion
Seatback
2.9
3.4
Cushion too long
too long too short
Cushion provides thigh pressure
too much no support
pressure
Cushion is too wide at Ischium
too narrow
too wide
Cushion is wide at thigh
too narrow
too wide
Head Restraint is too close
too close too far
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
6

7. 2007 German Mid-Size Luxury
Sedan ERL Score: 4.2
Cushion 4.0
Seatback 3.9
MEDIUM
Cushion length is just right
too long too short
Cushion provides thigh
pressure
too much no support
pressure
Cushion is wide at ischium
too narrow too wide
Head restraint is close
too close too far
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
7

8. 2007 German Mid-Size Luxury
Sedan ERL Score: 3.9
Cushion 4.5
LARGE Seatback 3.6
Cushion length is just right
too long too short
Head restraint is too close
too close too far
Seat requires additional rearward
travel
+ forward + rearward
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
8

9. 2008 Mid-Size SUV from United
States ERL Score: 3.0
Cushion 3.3
Seatback 2.8
Small Cannot comfortably reach
accelerator
cannot reach can reach
Cushion length is too long
too long too short
Head restraint is too close
too close too far
Seatback stiffness is too soft
too firm too soft
Bite line contact is close
extreme
no contact
penetration
ERL Patents: US
25mm (Heel off floor) #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
9

10. 2008 Mid-Size SUV from United
States ERL Score: 4.7
Cushion 4.7
Seatback 4.5
Medium
Cushion length is just right
too long too short
Seatback insert stiffness is too
soft
too firm too soft
Overall bolster shape provides
good support
extreme no contact
penetration
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
10

11. 2008 Mid-Size SUV from United
States ERL Score: 4.4
Cushion 5.0
Seatback 3.6
Large
Cushion length is just right
too long too short
Overall bolster shape provides
good support
extreme no contact
penetration
Seatback insert stiffness is too
soft
too firm too soft
Bite line contact is close
too far too close
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
11

12. 2008 Mid-size hatchback from
Japan ERL Score: 4.1
Cushion 3.8
SMALL Seatback 3.4
Cushion length is too long
too long too short
Head restraint is too close
too close too far
Seatback contact at chest is
too far
too close too far
Biteline is close
too close too far
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
12

13. 2008 Mid-size hatchback from
Japan ERL Score: 4.7
Cushion 4.8
Seatback 4.4
MEDIUM
Cushion length is just right
too long too short
Bolster shape at shoulder
provides some penetration
extreme penetration no contact
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
13

14. 2008 Mid-size hatchback from
Japan ERL Score: 3.2
Cushion 2.1
Seatback 3.3
LARGE
Cushion length is too short
too long too short
Shoulder bolster provides too much
penetration
too much no contact
penetration
Biteline is close
too close too far
Package requires additional rearward
travel
+forward +rearward
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
14

15. 2008 Mid-size hatchback from
Japan ERL Score: 3.8
Cushion 2.1
Seatback 4.2
SMALL
2nd Row
Cushion provides too much thigh
pressure
too much no support
pressure
MEDIUM
MALE
DRIVER
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, 15

16. 2008 Mid-size hatchback from
Japan ERL Score: 3.3
Cushion 2.6
MEDIUM 2nd Row
Seatback 3.7
Cushion provides little thigh
support
too much no support
pressure
Bolster shape at thigh provides
no contact
extreme penetration no contact
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, 16

17. 2008 Mid-size hatchback from
Japan ERL Score: 2.5
Cushion 2.4
LARGE 2nd Row
Seatback 4.1
Cushion provides no thigh support
too much no support
pressure
Bolster shape at thigh provides no
contact
extreme penetration no contact
ERL Patents: US
#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138,
17

18. ERL Design
ERL mathematically optimizes
engineering design specifications
of seat and controls package for all
drivers to comfortably operate the car.
18

19. ERL Evaluation
Effects of proposed
changes during vehicle
development measured and
evaluated by comfort score from ERL.
19

20. ERL Example
Production versus ERL
Design Comfort Scores
20

21. Small (5th %)
ERL Score: 2.4 ERL Score: 4.0
Cushion 2.7 Cushion 4.0
Seatback 3.2 Seatback 3.7
Package 3.7 Package 4.3
Evaluation of
Seat Design for Package
Production Seat
21

22. Medium (50th %)
ERL Score: 4.0 ERL Score: 4.7
Cushion 2.7 Cushion 4.4
Seatback 4.5 Seatback 4.5
Package 5.0 Package 5.0
Evaluation of
Seat Design for Package
Production Seat
22

23. Large (95th %)
ERL Score: 3.4 ERL Score: 4.5
Cushion 1.6 Cushion 4.5
Seatback 4.3 Seatback 4.4
Package 5.0 Package 4.4
Evaluation of
Seat Design for Package
Production Seat
23

24. Vehicle Mid Mid Compact
Small
Sport
Entry Prem. FST
Segment Utility Sedan X over
Sedan
Utility Sedan Utility
ERL Comfort
4.3 4.5 4.2 3.9 4.4 4.5 4.3
Score¹
Driver Comfort
4.0 4.1 4.1 3.6 3.9 4.5 3.9
Score²
¹Math score calculated in ERL Software for virtual ERL drivers
(5 pt scale).
²Drivers’ subjective rating average comfort score (5 pt scale).
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25. 5
4.8
ERL Scores in 7 Vehicles
4.6
4.4
4.2
4
ERL
3.8
3.6
r = 0.8 ERL
3.4
3.2
3
3.4 3.6 3.8 4 4.2 4.4 4.6
Drivers' Scores in 7 Vehicles
25

26. Small
Vehicle Mid Mid Compact Entry Prem. FST
Sport
Segment Utility Sedan X over Utility Sedan Utility
Sedan
J D Power
4.5 4.3 --- 4.3 4.1 4.5 4.4
APEAL¹
Driver
Comfort 4.0 4.1 4.1 3.6 3.9 4.5 3.9
Score²
¹Survey of drivers who purchased vehicle and returned survey
(5 pt scale)
²Drivers’ subjective rating average comfort score (5 pt scale).
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27. 5
JD Power Scores in 7 Vehicles
4.8
4.6
4.4
4.2
r = 0.5
4
JD Power
3.8
3.6
JD Power
3.4
3.2
3
3.4 3.6 3.8 4 4.2 4.4 4.6
Drivers' Scores in 7 Vehicles
27

28. Small
Vehicle Mid Mid Compact Entry Prem. FST
Sport
Segment Utility Sedan X over Utility Sedan Utility
Sedan
Consumer
4 4 4 3 3 4 4
Reports¹
Driver
Comfort 4.0 4.1 4.1 3.6 3.9 4.5 3.9
Score²
¹Subjective Professional Drivers Rating Average Score (5 pt scale).
²Drivers’ subjective rating average comfort score (5 pt scale).
28

29. 5
Consumer Report Scores in
4.8
4.6
4.4
7 Vehicles
4.2
Consumer Reports
4
3.8
3.6 Linear (Consumer
3.4
3.2
r = 0.7 Reports)
3
3.4 3.6 3.8 4 4.2 4.4 4.6
Drivers' Scores in 7 Vehicles
29

30. Small
Vehicle Mid Mid Compact Entry Prem. FST
Sport
Segment Utility Sedan X over Utility Sedan Utility
Sedan
ERL
Comfort 4.3 4.5 4.2 3.9 4.4 4.5 4.3
Score
Small
3.9 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.6
Female
Medium
4.5 4.6 4.4 4.0 4.6 4.8 4.5
Male
Large
3.6 4.4 4.1 3.6 3.9 4.4 4.2
Male
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31. Thanks for
your time!
Comments & Inquiries Appreciated.
reynolds@erlllc.com
31