Passive seat belt apparatus

• US 4,972,129 A
• Filed: 07/18/1988
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha (NSK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha (NSK Limited)
• Inventors: Kawai, Osamu, Mizumura, Shunzi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/220,062
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 318/280, 318/283, 318/284, 318/285, 318/286, 180/268, 180/269, 180/270, 280/801-807
• US Class Current: 318/285
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/06 having the belt or harness connected to a member slidable in a vehicle-mounted track
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/03 for controlling the direction of rotation of DC motors

Abstract

A passive seat belt system comprises a seat belt adapted to reciprocate between a fasten end and a release end so as to be fastened and released to and from a rider, a motor for driving the seat belt, and a controller for controlling the motor so as to fasten and release the seat belt to and from the rider as he enters and exits the vehicle. The controller controls the motor in such a manner that the motor is stopped and then reversely rotated after the lapse of a predetermined period when the motor is to be reversely rotated during rotation thereof.

Claims

1. Passive seat belt apparatus comprising:

a seat belt adapted to reciprocate between a fasten end and a release end to secure and release a vehicle occupant,

a motor for driving said seat belt, and

control means for controlling said motor to drive said seat belt between said fasten end and said release end and operating to control said motor in such a manner that said motor is stopped and then reversely rotated after the lapse of a predetermined period of time when said motor is to be reversely rotated during rotation thereof,

said control means including detecting means for detecting opening and closing of a door, drive current control means including a flit-flop for controlling a drive current of said motor in response to a detection signal from said detecting means, and changing means for changing a rotating direction of said motor in response to an output signal from said drive current control means,

said drive current control means also including delay means having a timer for delaying said output signal by said predetermined period.

2. Passive seat belt apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said changing means includes a relay circuit.

3. Passive seat belt apparatus comprising:

a seat belt adapted to reciprocate between a fasten end and a release end to secure and release a vehicle occupant,

a motor for driving said seat belt, and

control means for controlling said motor to drive said seat belt between said fasten end and said release end and operating to control said motor in such a manner that said motor is stopped and then reversely rotated after the lapse of a predetermined period of time when said motor is to be reversely rotated during rotation thereof,

said control means including first detecting means for detecting opening and closing of a door, second detecting means for detecting arrival of said seat belt at one of said fasten end and said release end, drive current control means including a flip-flop for controlling a drive current of said motor in response to respective detection signals from said first detecting means and said second detecting means, and changing means for changing a rotating direction of said motor in response to an output signal from said drive current control means,

said drive current control means also including delay means having a timer for delaying said output signal by said predetermined period.

4. Passive seat belt apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said changing means includes a relay circuit.

5. Passive seat belt apparatus comprising:

a seat belt adapted to reciprocate between a fasten end and a release end to secure and release a vehicle occupant,

a motor for driving said seat belt, and

control means for controlling said motor to drive said seat belt between said fasten end and said release end and operating to control said motor in such a manner that said motor is stopped and then reversely rotated after the lapse of a predetermined period of time when said motor is to be reversely rotated during rotation thereof,

said control means including first detecting means for detecting opening and closing of a door, second detecting means for detecting rotation of said motor, drive current control means including a flip-flop for controlling a motor drive current in response to respective detection signals from said first and second detecting means, and changing means for changing a rotation direction of said motor in response to an output signal from said drive current control means,

said drive current control means also including delay means having a timer for delaying said output signal by said predetermined period.

6. Passive seat belt apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second detecting means detects arrival of said seat belt at one of said fasten end and said release end.

7. Passive seat belt apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said changing means includes a relay circuit.