Seat belt tightener

• US 6,394,495 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Specht, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): LERNER, AVRAHAM H
• Application Number:
  US09/803,310
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268 280/806,807 701/45,47,59
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01313 monitoring the vehicle steering system or the dynamic control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over

Abstract

A seat belt tightener has an electrical tightening drive that can be operated in dependence on sensor signals of sensors assessed in an evaluating device. The sensors detect specific vehicle dynamic conditions and transmit electrical indicating signals that are proportional to the detected condition to the evaluating device. The evaluation device compares the signals with allocated threshold values to determine whether or not a potential crash situation is present. Should a potential crash situation be present, the electrical tightening drive is controlled accordingly.

Claims

1. A seat belt tightener comprising

an electrical tightening drive that can be operated in dependence on signals from an array of sensors which are assessed in an evaluating device, wherein the array of sensors comprises sensors that detect specific vehicle dynamic conditions and transmit indicating signals to the evaluating device,

the evaluating device compares the received indicating signals with a respectively allocated threshold value to detect a potential crash situation and above a determined vehicle speed threshold, the evaluating device controls the electrical tightening drive when a potential crash situation has been detected, and

specific indicator signals for adjusting the threshold values stored in a threshold value storage device, the specific indicator signals provide the evaluating device with data about a driving behaviour as desired by a driver.

2. The seat belt tightener according to claim 1 wherein the electrical tightening drive can be operated on different tightening levels in dependence on the indicating signals from which a potential crash situation is detected.

3. The seat belt tightener according to claim 1 wherein the array of sensors comprises sensors that emit signals to control driving stability.

4. The seat belt tightener according to claims 1 further comprising a pressure gradient computer connected to the array of sensors, said pressure gradient computer evaluates the brake pressure created by the brake pedal and emits a corresponding indicating signal to the evaluating device to compare it with a corresponding threshold value.

5. The seat belt tightener according to claim 4 wherein a comparison between the measured brake pressure and a brake pressure threshold value takes place in the evaluating device and the period of time that the threshold value exceeds the measured brake pressure is compared with a set period of time.

6. The seat belt tightener according to claim 4 wherein for the detection of the potential crash situation the measured brake pressure and the simultaneously assessed brake pressure gradient are evaluated.

7. The seat belt tightener according to claim 5 wherein for the detection of the potential crash situation the measured brake pressure and the simultaneously assessed brake pressure gradient are evaluated.

8. The seat belt tightener according to claim 1 wherein the evaluating device compares a lateral acceleration or lateral force, measured on the vehicle, with a corresponding threshold value.

9. The seat belt tightener according to claim 1 wherein the evaluating device compares a yaw moment measured on the vehicle with a corresponding threshold value.

10. The seat belt tightener according to claim 1 wherein the evaluating device compares a measured yaw angle speed of the vehicle with a corresponding threshold value.

11. The seat belt tightener according to claim 1 wherein the evaluating device compares a measured longitudinal acceleration or braking of the vehicle with a corresponding threshold value.

12. The seat belt tightener according to claims 1 wherein a threshold value storage device containing the threshold values is connected in the evaluating device with a sensor that senses the torque of a motor.

13. The seat belt tightener according to claim 1 wherein the electrical tightening drive is reversibly operable.

14. The seat belt tightener according to claim 1 wherein the pulling force generated by the electrical tightening drive is maintained for a specific period of time.