Motorized Seatbelt Retractor

• US 20080054618A1
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: ISHII, Youma
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/807
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• 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

Abstract

To securely hold occupants without interruption during breakage caused by collision using each ECU in a system configuration based on a motorized seatbelt retractor having an ECU combined with a motor in which harness length along which many currents flow is made short.

A main ECU and a subsidiary ECU each have functions corresponding to those are provided to a control unit for controlling a motor for a motorized seatbelt retractor, the main ECU determines output start conditions and transmits commands, and the subsidiary ECU autonomously performs detailed motor current control and the like.

To securely hold occupants without interruption during breakage caused by collision using each ECU.

Claims

1. A motorized seatbelt retractor in which a motor is operated to retract a seat belt,

wherein a plurality of units have functions corresponding to those are provided to a control unit, each motor is operated integrally with the corresponding unit of the plurality of units for each seat, the control units are connected each other with signal lines only, and the control unit provided for each seat has a motor control function, whereby the retractor is capable of independently operating.

2. The motorized seatbelt retractor according to claim 1, wherein the main control unit, which is capable of acquiring vehicle information, is communicated with the unit provided for each seat in such a manner that a predetermined operating mode is transmitted in the form of commands, the communication being performed under a plurality of operating modes in accordance with vehicle conditions.