Occupant protecting device for vehicle

• US 10,173,624 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukawatase, Osamu, Sugiyama, Motoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith-Stewart, Demetra R
• Application Number:
  US15/664,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20180037181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01027 Safing sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/36 self-locking in an emergency B60R22/3405 , B60R22/343 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal

Abstract

An occupant protecting device for a vehicle, including: a pretensioner applying tension to a webbing that is configured to restrain an upper body of a vehicle occupant seated in a vehicle seat; a vibrating unit configured to vibrate a contact portion to which the vehicle occupant contacts; a single operating section operating the vibrating unit in a case in which an instruction to operate the vibrating unit is received, and operating the pretensioner in a case in which an instruction to operate the pretensioner is received; and a control section, in a case in which the vibrating unit is to be vibrated, outputting an instruction to vibrate the vibrating unit to the operating section, and, in a case in which the pretensioner is to be operated, outputting an instruction to operate the pretensioner to the operating section.

Claims

1. An occupant protecting device for a vehicle, comprising:

a pretensioner applying tension to a webbing that is configured to restrain an upper body of a vehicle occupant seated in a vehicle seat;

a motor configured to vibrate a contact portion to which the vehicle occupant contacts;

a single operating section operating the motor in a case in which an instruction to operate the motor is received, and operating the pretensioner in a case in which an instruction to operate the pretensioner is received; and

a control section, in a case in which the contact portion is to be vibrated, outputting an instruction to operate the motor to the operating section, and, in a case in which the pretensioner is to be operated, outputting an instruction to operate the pretensioner to the operating section, wherein;

in a case in which the control section predicts the collision of the own vehicle, and the motor is operating, the control section outputs an instruction to stop the motor to the operating section, and thereafter, the control section outputs the instruction to operate the pretensioner to the operating section, and

the operating section stops the motor in a case in which the instruction to stop the motor is received.

2. The occupant protecting device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the contact portion is a steering wheel, and

the operating section is configured to be provided at a retractor that takes-up the webbing.

3. The occupant protecting device for a vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

the motor is provided at the steering wheel, and

the retractor is a retractor of a driver'"'"'s seat.

4. The occupant protecting device for a vehicle of claim 2, wherein the single operating section is a driving circuit, and the driving circuit and the pretensioner are made integral and are provided at the retractor.

5. The occupant protecting device for a vehicle of claim 4, wherein, the driving circuit is an electronic circuit that is provided so as to correspond to the pretensioner and the motor.

6. The occupant protecting device for a vehicle of claim 5, wherein the electronic circuit outputs pulse signals to the pretensioner and the motor, respectively.

7. The occupant protecting device for a vehicle of claim 6, wherein the pretensioner applies tension to the webbing due to a motor operating caused by current that flows in accordance with the pulse signal inputted from the electronic circuit.

8. The occupant protecting device for a vehicle of claim 6, wherein a weight is mounted to a shaft of the motor.

9. The occupant protecting device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein, in a case in which the control section senses that an own vehicle has departed from a traffic lane, the control section outputs the instruction to operate the motor to the operating section, and, in a case in which the control section predicts a collision of the own vehicle, the control section outputs the instruction to operate the pretensioner to the operating section.