Automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus

• US 20050017494A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Midorikawa, Yukinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,380,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/801.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device combined with a spring B60R2022/444, B60R2022/4466
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/46 Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding upelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01 ; tensioners using reels only guiding the belt during normal use, e.g. splitted reels B60R22/195
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation

Abstract

An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU applies voltage having a predetermined waveform to the DC motor, and then detects a waveform of current flowing to the DC motor. The MPU carries out fault diagnosis of the DC motor, based upon the detected waveform of current when the voltage having the predetermined waveform is applied to the DC motor. Thus, accurate fault diagnosis of the apparatus can be achieved.

Claims

1. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle, having a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising:

an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching detecting means for detecting attaching of the seatbelt to the occupant or disconnection of the seatbelt from the occupant; and

seatbelt protraction detecting means for detecting protraction of the seatbelt by the occupant; and

control means for controlling said driving means by performing a plurality of functions, said control means having selecting means for selecting a reduced power consumption mode for permitting said control means to perform at least one minimum required function of said plurality of functions so as to save power consumption by said electric retractor, or a normal power consumption mode for permitting said control means to perform all of said plurality of functions so as not to save power consumption by said electric retractor;

wherein said selecting means selects said reduced power consumption mode when a predetermined time period has elapsed after detection of the disconnection of the seatbelt from the occupant by said seatbelt attaching detecting means while said normal power consumption mode is selected, and selects said normal power consumption mode when the protraction of the seatbelt by the occupant is detected by said seatbelt protraction detecting means or when the attaching of the seatbelt to the occupant is detected by said seatbelt attaching detecting means.

2. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle, having seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising:

an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

vehicle stoppage detecting means for detecting stoppage of the automotive vehicle;

driving/traveling state detecting means for detecting states of driving and traveling of the automotive vehicle by the occupant;

supply means for supplying electric power to said driving/traveling state detecting means; and

control means for controlling said supply means so as to stop supply of the power to said driving/traveling state detecting means when the stoppage of the automotive vehicle is detected by said vehicle stoppage detecting means.

3. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said vehicle stoppage detecting means comprises at least one of seatbelt attaching detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is attached to the occupant, shift position detecting means for detecting whether a shift position of a transmission of the automotive vehicle is in a parking position, and parking brake detecting means for detecting whether a parking brake of the automotive vehicle is operated.

4. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle, having a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising:

an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

power supply means for supplying power to said electric retractor;

detecting means for detecting whether there is a need for supply of power from said power supply means to said electric retractor;

first switching means responsive to results of detection of said detecting means, for selecting supply of power from said power supply means to said electric retractor and stoppage of the supply of power;

second switching means for selecting supply of power from said power supply means to said electric retractor and stoppage of the supply of power; and

monitor control means for monitoring the results of detection of said detecting means and controlling said second switching means in response to the results of detection of said detecting means;

wherein said monitor control means is responsive to a result of detection of said detecting means that there is no need for supply of power from said power supply means to said electric retractor after supply of power from said power supply means to said electric retractor, for controlling said second switching means so as to start supply of power from said power supply means to said electric retractor, and following the start of supply of power by said second switching means, said first switching means stops the supply of power to said electric retractor in response to said result of detection of said detecting means, and wherein said monitor control means controls said second switching means so as to stop the supply of power to said electric retractor after lapse of a predetermined time period from the stoppage of the supply of power by said first switching means.