Control for automotive passive restraint system with manual retrigger
First Claim
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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 releasably 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
stall retrigger means coupled to said motor timer means for restarting said limited time period in response to a manual retrigger signal.
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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 to secure the occupant. 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. Inadvertent latching of the retractor latching mechanism during movement of the belt carrier to the rearward position may cause stalling of the belt carrier. A manual retrigger is provided whereby the vehicle occupant may reinitiate the movement of the belt carrier once the latched belt is released.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A passive restraint system for a vehicle comprising:
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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 releasably 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 stall retrigger means coupled to said motor timer means for restarting said limited time period in response to a manual retrigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for operating a carrier motor for a passive restraint system in a vehicle to locate a belt carrier in a proper forward or rearward position, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining the proper location of said belt carrier depending on predetermined conditions including the state of a vehicle ignition switch, a door position switch, and a belt carrier position limit switch; maintaining a timer for allowing energization of said carrier motor only during measured time periods, said time periods having a predetermined duration; triggering said timer upon predetermined events including the opening or closing of a door or the turning on of said ignition switch; and manually retriggering said timer in the event of a stall of said belt carrier between said forward and rearward positions. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification