Occupant-restraining system

• US 6,513,616 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Bacher, Werner, Rudolf, Harald, Zerrweck, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/855,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20020008372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 180/268, 180/273, 180/274, 180/282, 280/735, 280/806, 280/805
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/288 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01542 detecting passenger motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0155 sensing belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/46 Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding upelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01 ; tensioners using reels only guiding the belt during normal use, e.g. splitted reels B60R22/195

Abstract

An occupant-restraining system has a belt force limiter that limits a restraining force exerted on an occupant via a restraining belt by switching from a relatively higher to a relatively lower level of restraining force depending on predefined parameters. The belt-force limiter is activated only after a predetermined forward displacement of the occupant is reached and only after a predefined air bag inflating time, when an excessive crash intensity and an occupant'"'"'s weight are recognized as being below a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. An occupant-restraining system having a belt force limiter which limits a restraining force exerted on an occupant via a restraining belt by switching from a relatively higher to a relatively lower level of restraining force when a belt-force limiter is activated, depending on predefined parameters, wherein the belt-force limiter is activated only after:

a predetermined forward displacement of the occupant is reached;

a predefined air bag inflating time has expired; and

crash intensity and an occupant'"'"'s weight are recognized as being below a predetermined threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inflating time of the air bag lies in the range of from 40 ms to 70 ms.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined forward displacement of the occupant lies in the range of from 250 mm to 450 mm.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined forward displacement of the occupant is determined via an extension of the belt band.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined forward displacement of the occupant is determined via a twofold integration of an acceleration signal.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the belt-force limiter is activated only when there has been previous triggering of a first air-bag stage of the air bag.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the belt has a belt tensioner.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the belt-force limiter is activated only when there has been previous triggering of the belt tensioner.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the limitation of the belt force takes place in a stepwise manner.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the limitation of the belt force takes place continuously.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the belt-force limiter is activated separately for each vehicle seat.

12. A method of operating a seat belt occupant restraint system in a vehicle having inflatable air bag restraint system, said method comprising:

determining forward displacement of a vehicle occupant from a beginning position at a starting time following commencement of an impact of the vehicle;

measuring elapsed time after the starting time; and

reducing restraining force exerted by said seat belt restraint system only when,

i) a predetermined air bag inflation time has expired;

ii) a predetermined forward displacement of a vehicle occupant is exceeded; and

iii) said occupant'"'"'s weight and crash intensity are below respective predetermined thresholds.

13. The method of operating a seat belt occupant restraint system in a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein:

said air bag restraint system inflates in two stages; and

said starting time is a moment at which a first inflation stage occurs.