SEAT BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20160311399A1
• Filed: 04/24/2015
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Kenneth James, Perkins, William Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,035,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/201 with the belt anchor connected to a slider movable in a vehicle-mounted track for passive restraint systems B60R22/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory

Abstract

A system for a vehicle includes a seat belt height adjuster and a sensor configured to determine eye location of a driver of the vehicle. A control module is in communication with the sensor and the seat belt height adjuster. The control module is programmed to adjust a position of the seat belt height adjuster based at least on the eye location.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a seat belt height adjuster;

a sensor configured to determine eye location of a driver of the vehicle; and

a control module in communication with the sensor and the seat belt height adjuster;

the control module being programmed to adjust a position of the seat belt height adjuster based at least on the eye location.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one seat sensor in communication with the control module and configured to determine a position of a seat of the vehicle, the control module being programmed to adjust the position of the seat belt height adjuster based at least on the seat position.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the at least one seat sensor includes a fore-aft position sensor and a vertical position sensor.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control module is programmed with anthropometric data and is programmed to compare at least the eye location with the anthropometric data to calculate the position of the seat belt height adjuster.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the control module is programmed to determine a regression model of the anthropometric data and the eye location to calculate the position of the seat belt height adjuster based on the regression model.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the seat belt height adjuster includes seat belt ring, a motor in communication with the control module, and a linear actuator disposed between the ring and the motor.

7. The system as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a seat belt supported on the seat belt ring.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a steering column, a steering column position adjuster, and a steering control module in communication with the sensor and the steering column position adjuster, the steering control module being programmed to adjust a position of the steering column based at least on the eye location.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an airbag module in communication with the sensor, the airbag control module being programmed to adjust operation of the airbag module based at least on the eye location.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an audio system in communication with the sensor, the audio system being programmed to adjust operation of the audio system based at least on the eye location.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an instrument panel display in communication with the sensor, the instrument panel display being programmed to adjust operation of the instrument panel display based at least on the eye location.

12. A method comprising:

receiving a measurement of an eye location of a driver of a vehicle;

calculating a desired position of a seat belt height adjuster based on at least the measurement of the eye location; and

instructing the seat belt height adjuster to move to the desired position.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising receiving a measurement of a seat position and calculating the desired position based on at least the measurement of the seat position.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising determining a regression model of anthropometric data and at least the eye location and calculating the desired position based on at least the regression model.

15. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising sensing a triggering event before receiving the measurement of the eye location.

16. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising storing the desired position in memory.

17. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising instructing a steering column position adjuster to adjust a position of a steering column based at least on the measurement of the eye location.

18. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising instructing an airbag module operate based at least on the measurement of the eye location.

19. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising instructing an audio system to operate based at least on the measurement of the eye location.

20. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising instructing an instrument panel display to operate based at least on the measurement of the eye location.