Occupant protection system
First Claim
1. An occupant protection system for use in motor vehicles, the system including a safety belt for restraint of a vehicle occupant having a chest portion, the vehicle occupant being belted in a vehicle seat in a sitting position with the safety belt positioned generally over the chest portion of the occupant in a used position, the system including at least one air bag module associated with the vehicle occupant, the occupant protection system comprising:
- the safety belt including at least one reference region comprised of a beam-reflective layer; and
at least one distance measuring device for continuously monitoring the position of the belted occupant belted in relation to the at least one air bag module, the distance measuring device including one or more transmitting and receiving devices for transmitting and receiving reflectable beams, respectively, the distance measuring device being designed for detecting the reference region of the safety belt in the chest portion; and
the beam-reflective layer of the reference region of the safety belt for reflecting the reflectable beams for distance measurement.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant protection system, in particular for motor vehicles, is provided with at least one distance measuring device (12) for continuously monitoring the sitting position of an occupant (1) belted to a vehicle seat (4) by means of a safety belt (3), in relation to at least one air bag module (6) provided for this vehicle seat (4), wherein the safety belt (3) is passed over the chest portion of the occupant (1) and the distance measuring device (12) includes one or more transmitting and receiving devices (13, 14, 14a, 14b) for reflectable beams, for example light, ultrasonic or radar beams, as well as a method for continuously monitoring the sitting position of the occupant (1). Preferably, the distance measuring device (12) is designed for detecting one or more reference points or regions (7) of the safety belt (3) in the chest portion and the safety belt (3) is designed to reflect radiation in spots or sections for forming the reference points or regions (7) for distance measurement (12).
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An occupant protection system for use in motor vehicles, the system including a safety belt for restraint of a vehicle occupant having a chest portion, the vehicle occupant being belted in a vehicle seat in a sitting position with the safety belt positioned generally over the chest portion of the occupant in a used position, the system including at least one air bag module associated with the vehicle occupant, the occupant protection system comprising:
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the safety belt including at least one reference region comprised of a beam-reflective layer; and at least one distance measuring device for continuously monitoring the position of the belted occupant belted in relation to the at least one air bag module, the distance measuring device including one or more transmitting and receiving devices for transmitting and receiving reflectable beams, respectively, the distance measuring device being designed for detecting the reference region of the safety belt in the chest portion; and the beam-reflective layer of the reference region of the safety belt for reflecting the reflectable beams for distance measurement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for continuously monitoring a sitting position of an occupant belted to a vehicle seat by a safety belt in relation to at least one air bag module positioned for protection of the vehicle occupant in a vehicle, the safety belt having at least one reference region including a beam-reflective material, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one distance measuring device for continuously monitoring the position of the belted occupant in relation to the at least one air bag module by transmitting and receiving reflectable beams onto the reference region of the safety belt; and providing an electronic device connected to the distance measuring device for evaluating and converting the results of the distance measurement and for signaling the air bag module for various predetermined levels of deployment based on those results. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification