Active seat belt control system with seat belt in-use sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An active seat belt control system for controlling the locking and unlocking of at least one seat belt retractor in a vehicle comprising:
- first detection means responsive to the opening and closing of a vehicle door and capable of generating a first output signal indicating the state of said door,second detection means responsive to an off state of an ignition switch for generating a second output signal indicating the off state of said ignition switch,third detection means responsive to a latching and unlatching of the at least one seat belt and capable of generating a third output signal indicating a latched state of said seat belt,first control means responsive to said first output signal and said second output signal and capable of generating a fourth output signal,timer means for initiating a timing sequence for a preset time period when triggered by said fourth output signal, and for generating an output signal reflective of said timing sequence,impact sensing means built-in with said control system responsive to a sudden vehicle motion and capable of generating a fifth output signal, andsecond control means responsive to said timer means output signal, said third output signal, and said fifth output signal for causing the unlocking of said at least one seat belt retractor for said preset time period or for the duration of said third output signal and for causing the locking of said at least one seat belt retractor for the duration of said fifth output signal.
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Abstract
A control system for controlling the locking and unlocking of the seat belt retractor used in a vehicle in response to the state of the vehicle'"'"'s doors, the state of the vehicle'"'"'s ignition switch, and the state of use of the vehicle'"'"'s seat belts.
35 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An active seat belt control system for controlling the locking and unlocking of at least one seat belt retractor in a vehicle comprising:
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first detection means responsive to the opening and closing of a vehicle door and capable of generating a first output signal indicating the state of said door, second detection means responsive to an off state of an ignition switch for generating a second output signal indicating the off state of said ignition switch, third detection means responsive to a latching and unlatching of the at least one seat belt and capable of generating a third output signal indicating a latched state of said seat belt, first control means responsive to said first output signal and said second output signal and capable of generating a fourth output signal, timer means for initiating a timing sequence for a preset time period when triggered by said fourth output signal, and for generating an output signal reflective of said timing sequence, impact sensing means built-in with said control system responsive to a sudden vehicle motion and capable of generating a fifth output signal, and second control means responsive to said timer means output signal, said third output signal, and said fifth output signal for causing the unlocking of said at least one seat belt retractor for said preset time period or for the duration of said third output signal and for causing the locking of said at least one seat belt retractor for the duration of said fifth output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An active seat belt control system for controlling the locking and unlocking of at least one seat belt retractor in a vehicle comprising:
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first detection means responsive to the opening and closing of at least one vehicle door such that a first output signal indicating the state of the door is generated, second detection means responsive to an on/off state of an ignition switch for generating a second output signal indicating the off state of said ignition switch, wherein said second output signal when indicating said on state of the ignition switch overrides said first output signal, third detection means responsive to a latching and unlatching of a front seat seat belt and capable of generating a third output signal indicating a latched state of said seat belt, first control means for receiving said first and said second output signals and outputting a fourth output signal, timer means responsive to said fourth output signal for initiating a timing sequence, and for generating an output signal reflective of said timing sequence, and inertia sensing means built-in with said control system responsive to a sudden vehicle motion and capable of generating a fifth output signal, and solenoid means responsive to said timer means output signal, said third output signal and said fifth output signal for causing the unlocking of said at least one seat belt retractor for a preset time period or for the duration of said third output signal and for causing the locking of said at least one seat belt retractor for the duration of said fifth output signal. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification