Occupant restraining system with a belt force limiting device

• US 20040216939A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Mueller, Manfred, Meyer, Michael, Lorenz, Carsten, Rudolf, Harald, Schink, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/477,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216939A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits in power circuits B60R2021/01129
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/288 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676

Abstract

The invention relates to an occupant restraining system in a motor vehicle, having a seatbelt and a belt force limiting device, in which the restraining force level can be changed by a control signal. According to the invention, the belt force limiting device (16) is switched by a control signal from a lower restraining force level to a higher restraining force level when a risk-determining stage (12) determines that there is a risk to the occupant in the form of a possible impact of the occupant against a vehicle interior component located in front of him.

Claims

1-8. -8. (Canceled)

9. An occupant restraining system in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a seatbelt, and

a belt force limiting device in which a restraining force level can be changed by a control signal,

wherein the belt force limiting device is activated by the control signal in such a manner that a higher restraining force level is set when a risk-determining stage detects a signal which is indicative of deactivation of the airbag.

10. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a signal of an airbag warning light is detected as the signal indicative of deactivation of the airbag.

11. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the belt force limiting device is switched by a control signal from a lower restraining force level to a higher restraining force level.

12. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the belt force limiting device is switched by a control signal from a lower restraining force level to a higher restraining force level.

13. An occupant restraining system in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a seatbelt, and

a belt force limiting device in which a restraining force level can be changed by a control signal,

wherein the belt force limiting device is activated by a control signal in such a manner that a higher restraining force level is set when at least one of an intensity of a crash, a forward displacement of an occupant, and an occupant'"'"'s weight is above a predeterminable threshold value and at least one stage of a multistage airbag has not been ignited.

14. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the belt force limiting device is activated by a control signal in such a manner that a higher restraining force level is set when the intensity of the crash, the forward displacement of the occupant, and the occupant'"'"'s weight are above predeterminable threshold values and at least one stage of the multistage airbag has not been ignited.

15. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the multistage airbag is a two-stage airbag.

16. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the multistage airbag is a two-stage airbag.

17. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 13, wherein a restraining force level of the belt force limiting device is increased by a control signal from a lower restraining force level to a higher restraining force level.

18. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 14, wherein a restraining force level of the belt force limiting device is increased by a control signal from a lower restraining force level to a higher restraining force level.

19. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 15, wherein a restraining force level of the belt force limiting device is increased by a control signal from a lower restraining force level to a higher restraining force level.

20. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 16, wherein a restraining force level of the belt force limiting device is increased by a control signal from a lower restraining force level to a higher restraining force level.

21. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the restraining force level is increased after the restraining force level has been lowered beforehand during an accident.

22. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the restraining force level is increased after the restraining force level has been lowered beforehand during an accident.

23. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the restraining force level is increased after the restraining force level has been lowered beforehand during an accident.

24. The occupant restraining system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the restraining force level is increased after the restraining force level has been lowered beforehand during an accident.