Adaptive seat belt tensioning system

• US 20040017073A1
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Stachowski, Stephen M., Pavlov, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,746,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device combined with a spring B60R2022/444, B60R2022/4466
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; B60R22/3405 takes precedence

Abstract

An adaptive seat belt system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes a seat belt (16) extensible about an occupant (42) of a seat system (14). A seat belt tension sensor (18) is coupled to the seat belt (16) and generates a seat belt tension signal. A seat belt actuator (20) is mechanically coupled to the seat belt (16) and adjusts tension of the seat belt (16). A controller (26) is electrically coupled to the tensioner sensor (18) and the actuator (20). The controller (26) generates a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to the seat belt tension signal and adjusts tension of the seat belt (16) in response to the seat belt tension adjustment signal. A method for performing the same is also provided.

Claims

1. An adaptive seat belt system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a seat belt extensible about an occupant of a seat system;

a seat belt tension sensor coupled to said seat belt and generating a seat belt tension signal;

a seat belt actuator mechanically coupled to said seat belt for adjusting tension of said seat belt; and

a controller electrically coupled to said seat belt tension sensor and said seat belt actuator, said controller generating a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal and adjusting tension of said seat belt in response to said seat belt tension adjustment signal.

2. A seat belt system as in claim 1 further comprising:

one or more seat system actuators mechanically coupled to said seat system and electrically coupled to said controller; and

a vehicle dynamic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating a vehicle dynamic signal;

said controller adjusting position of said seat system relative to a vehicle frame in response to said vehicle dynamic signal.

3. A system as in claim 1 further comprising:

one or more seat system actuators mechanically coupled to said seat system and electrically coupled to said controller; and

an occupant characteristic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating an occupant characteristic signal;

said controller adjusting position of said seat system in response to said occupant characteristic signal.

4. A system as in claim 3 wherein said occupant characteristic signal comprising at least one of the following:

a weight value, a height value, or position indication of said occupant relative to a seat system.

5. A system as in claim 1 further comprising:

at least one seat bolster;

at least one seat bolster actuator coupled to said at least one seat bolster; and

a vehicle dynamic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating a vehicle dynamic signal;

said controller electrically coupled to said at least one seat bolster actuator and adjusting position of said at least one seat bolster in response to said vehicle dynamic signal.

6. A system as in claim 1 further comprising:

at least one seat bolster;

at least one seat bolster actuator coupled to said at least one seat bolster; and

an occupant characteristic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating an occupant characteristic signal;

said controller electrically coupled to said at least one seat bolster actuator and adjusting position of said at least one seat bolster in response to said occupant characteristic signal.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller compares said seat belt tension signal with a reference seat belt tension and adjusts tension of said seat belt to approximately equal said reference seat belt tension.

8. An adaptive seat belt system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a seat belt extensible about an occupant of a seat system;

a seat belt tension sensor coupled to said seat belt and generating a seat belt tension signal;

a seat belt actuator mechanically coupled to said seat belt and adjusting tension of said seat belt;

one or more seat system actuators mechanically coupled to said seat system;

one or more directional position sensors electrically coupled to said one or more seat system actuators and generating one or more seat position signals; and

a controller electrically coupled to said seat belt tensioner, said seat belt actuator, said one or more seat system actuators, and said one or more directional position sensors, said controller generating a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal and adjusting tension of said seat belt in response to said seat belt tension adjustment signal.

9. A seat belt system as in claim 8 further comprising:

a vehicle dynamic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating a vehicle dynamic signal;

said controller adjusting position of said seat system relative to a vehicle frame and in response to said vehicle dynamic signal.

10. A system as in claim 8 further comprising:

an occupant characteristic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating an occupant characteristic signal;

said controller adjusting position of said seat system relative to a vehicle frame and in response to said occupant characteristic signal.

11. A system as in claim 10 wherein said occupant characteristic signal comprising at least one of the following:

a weight value, a height value, or position indication of said occupant relative to a seat system.

12. A system as in claim 8 further comprising:

at least one seat bolster;

at least one seat bolster actuator coupled to said at least one seat bolster; and

a vehicle dynamic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating a vehicle dynamic signal;

said controller electrically coupled to said at least one seat bolster actuator and adjusting position of said at least one seat bolster in response to said vehicle dynamic signal.

13. A system as in claim 8 further comprising:

at least one seat bolster;

at least one seat bolster actuator coupled to said at least one seat bolster; and

an occupant characteristic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating an occupant characteristic signal;

said controller electrically coupled to said at least one seat bolster actuator and adjusting position of said at least one seat bolster in response to said occupant characteristic signal.

14. A system as in claim 8 wherein said controller compares said seat belt tension signal with a reference seat belt tension and adjusts tension of said seat belt to approximately equal said reference seat belt tension.

15. A method for adaptively adjusting tension of a seat belt within an automotive vehicle comprising:

determining tension of a seat belt and generating a seat belt tension signal;

generating a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal; and

adjusting tension of said seat belt in response to said seat belt tension adjustment signal.

16. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

comparing said seat belt tension signal with a reference seat belt tension; and

adjusting seat belt tension to approximately equal said reference seat belt tension.

17. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

generating a vehicle dynamics signal;

adjusting seat position in response to said vehicle dynamics signal;

generating said seat belt tension signal upon adjusting seat position; and

generating said seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal.

18. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

generating an occupant characteristic signal;

adjusting seat position in response to said occupant characteristic signal;

generating said seat belt tension signal upon adjusting seat position; and

generating said seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal.

19. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

generating a vehicle dynamics signal;

adjusting position of at least one seat bolster in response to said vehicle dynamics signal;

generating said seat belt tension signal upon adjusting position of said at least one seat bolster; and

generating said seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal.

20. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

generating a occupant characteristic signal;

adjusting position of at least one seat bolster in response to said occupant characteristic signal;

generating said seat belt tension signal upon adjusting position of said at least one seat bolster; and

generating said seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal.