Control for automotive passive restraint system with seat adjust desensitizer

• US 5,002,150 A
• Filed: 03/05/1990
• Issued: 03/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Willis, Timothy K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US07/488,172
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 280/804, 280/808, 280/802, 297/216, 297/468, 297/470, 297/479, 297/480, 297/483
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/06 having the belt or harness connected to a member slidable in a vehicle-mounted track

Abstract

A passive restraint system includes a torso belt automatically securing a vehicle occupant by moving from a forward position along a track to a rearward position. A belt carrier carries one end of the torso belt along the track while the other end of the torso belt is retained on a belt retractor. Adjustment of the location of a vehicle seat during travel of the torso belt could cause inadvertent latching of the retractor latching mechanism which results in stalling of the belt carrier. The present invention inhibits torso belt movement whenever the seat is adjusted to prevent such latching. When the seat adjustment is completed, the torso belt movement is resumed.

Claims

1. A passive restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

a track extending between a forward position and a rearward position;

a torso belt for restraining an occupant of said vehicle;

a retractor having one end of said torso belt spooled thereon;

a carrier movable in said track and connected to the other end of said torso belt;

a carrier motor for causing movement of said carrier;

relay means connected to said carrier motor for providing electrical power to said carrier motor in a manner to cause selectable movement of said carrier toward either one of said positions;

logic means coupled to said relay means for controlling the direction of said movement depending on predetermined conditions;

motor timer means coupled to said relay means for establishing a limited time period during which said carrier motor can be energized and for causing said relay means to remove electrical power from said carrier motor after said carrier motor has been energized for said limited time period; and

seat adjust logic means coupled to said motor timer means for terminating said limited time period whenever said seat is being adjusted and for restarting said limited time period when adjustment of said seat ceases.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

timer trigger means coupled to said motor timer means for sensing predetermined events and for initiating said limited time period in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, said predetermined events including the activation of a vehicle ignition and the opening and closing of a vehicle door.

3. The control of claim 1 further comprising:

seat adjust sensor means coupled to said seat adjust logic means and adapted to be coupled to said seat for sensing whether said seat is being adjusted and for providing a seat adjust signal to said seat adjust logic means.