MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DRIVING SAFETY FEATURE

• US 20130096779A1
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Erlacher, Markus, Strelle, Torsten, Berger, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,527,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• 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 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A motor vehicle including at least one driving safety system which provides a safety feature during travel, and a control device, wherein the control device is configured to determine a first information commensurate with the proper functioning of the at least one driving safety system and to actuate at least a driver side device for adjusting the seat position and/or at least a driver side belt tensioner when the at least one driving safety system malfunctions.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a driving safety system providing a safety feature during travel;

an adjustment device for adjusting a seat position and/or a belt tensioner; and

a control device for determining a first information commensurate with a proper operation of the driving safety system, said control device being configured to actuate the adjustment device, when determining a malfunction of the driving safety system.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to determine a second information commensurate with the presence of an engaged gear or engaged transmission stage and to actuate the adjustment device by additionally considering the second information.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein the control device is configured to actuate the adjustment device in response to the first information indicating a malfunction of the driving safety system and to the second information indicating that a gear or transmission stage is engaged.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to determine a third information commensurate with a driving state of the motor vehicle and to actuate the adjustment device by additionally considering the third information.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 4, wherein the control device is configured to actuate the adjustment device in response to the first information indicating a malfunction of the driving safety system and to the third information indicating the driving state.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 5, wherein the driving state involves forward driving.

7. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to determine a fourth information commensurate with the presence of a possible obstacle in vicinity of the motor vehicle and to actuate the adjustment device by additionally considering the fourth information.

8. The motor vehicle of claim 7, wherein the control device is configured to actuate the adjustment device in response to the first information indicating a malfunction of the driving safety system and to the fourth information indicating the presence of a possible obstacle.

9. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to determine a fifth information commensurate with the presence of a current or prospective potentially hazardous climatic condition in relation to an actual position of the motor vehicle and to actuate the adjustment device by additionally considering the fifth information.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 9, wherein the climatic condition involves slippery road surface, snowfall, rain in relation to an actual position of the motor vehicle.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 9, wherein the control device is configured to actuate the adjustment device in response to the first information indicating a malfunction of the driving safety system and to the fifth information indicating the potential of a hazardous climatic condition.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the driving safety system includes an antilock device, electronic stability program, and active steering.

13. A method for adjusting a position of a seat and/or a belt tensioner of a motor vehicle, comprising:

determining a first information commensurate with a proper operation of a driving safety system of the motor vehicle with a control device of the motor vehicle; and

adjusting the position of the seat and/or the belt tensioner by actuating an actuation device of the motor vehicle with the control device when the first information indicates a malfunction of the driving safety system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, determining a second information commensurate with the presence of an engaged gear or engaged transmission stage, wherein the second information is taken into account when adjusting the position of the seat and/or the driver-side belt tensioner.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the adjustment device is actuated by the control device when the second information indicates that a gear or transmission stage is engaged.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a third information commensurate with a driving state of the motor vehicle, wherein the third information is taken into account when adjusting the position of the seat and/or the driver-side belt tensioner.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the driving state involves forward driving.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a fourth information commensurate with the presence of a possible obstacle in vicinity of the motor vehicle, wherein the wherein the fourth information is taken into account when adjusting the position of the seat and/or the driver-side belt tensioner.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a fifth information commensurate with the presence of a current or prospective potentially hazardous climatic condition with regard to a current position of the motor vehicle, wherein the fifth information is taken into account when adjusting the position of the seat and/or the driver-side belt tensioner.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the climatic condition involves slippery road surface, snowfall, rain in relation to an actual position of the motor vehicle.