Method of Controlling a Four-Point Occupant Restraint Belt System
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- detecting a lateral force applied to a vehicle during a collision;
depending upon a direction of the lateral force, locking a first belt retractor engaging a first shoulder belt to prevent extension of the first shoulder belt and unlocking a second belt retractor engaging a second shoulder belt to permit extension of the second shoulder belt;
detecting a rollover condition; and
in reaction to the rollover condition, locking the second belt retractor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant restraint system provides protection during a collision and subsequent rollover. Left and right shoulder belt retractors are actuated differentially in reaction to a lateral component of the crash force to lock one of the shoulder belts while allowing the other shoulder belt to extend under loading applied by a seat occupant. If a subsequent rollover is detected, the second shoulder belt retractor is actuated to lock or retract the second shoulder belt. The second shoulder belt may be retracted to achieve a specified level of tension and/or to achieve an extended length approximately equal to the extended length of the first shoulder belt.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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detecting a lateral force applied to a vehicle during a collision; depending upon a direction of the lateral force, locking a first belt retractor engaging a first shoulder belt to prevent extension of the first shoulder belt and unlocking a second belt retractor engaging a second shoulder belt to permit extension of the second shoulder belt; detecting a rollover condition; and in reaction to the rollover condition, locking the second belt retractor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of controlling an occupant safety system of an automotive vehicle comprising a crash sensor, a rollover sensor, an occupant seat, first and second shoulder belts associated with the occupant seat, and first and second belt retractors engaging the first and second shoulder belts respectively, the method comprising:
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operating the crash sensor to detect a direction of force applied to the vehicle during a collision; in reaction to the direction of force, differentially actuating the first and second belt retractors to prevent extension of the first shoulder belt and permit extension of the second shoulder belt under loading applied by a seat occupant; operating the rollover sensor to detect a rollover condition occurring after the collision; and in reaction to the rollover condition, actuating the second belt retractor to retract the second shoulder belt. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle safety system comprising:
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a first belt retractor engaging a first shoulder belt associated with a seat; a second belt retractor engaging a second shoulder belt associated with the seat; a sensor detecting a direction of force applied to the vehicle during a crash and a subsequent rollover condition; and a controller locking the first retractor and unlocking the second retractor in reaction to the direction of force and locking the second retractor in reaction to the rollover condition. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification