Seatbelt device

• US 6,616,186 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2000
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yamada, Hiroshi, Midorikawa, Yukinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/657,359
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 280/806, 280/801.1, 280/807, 280/735, 180/268, 701/45
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1957 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/343 with electrically actuated locking means B60R22/3405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/405 responsive to belt movement and vehicle movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4628 characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators actuating a cable B60R22/4619

Abstract

A seatbelt device which prevents an occupant from hitting his face against an airbag deploying at the time of a vehicle collision. In order to take up any seatbelt slack before a collision and prevent the occupant from being displaced forward, the seatbelt device comprises a first tension modifier for winding the seatbelt and taking up the seatbelt slack when a collision is predicted, and a second tension modifier for further enhancing the tension of the seatbelt and securing the occupant to the seat at the time of such collision, thereby ensuring that the occupant does not exist in the airbag deployment zone when the airbag is activated.

Claims

1. A method to control the activation of a seatbelt device comprising the steps of:

detecting by a seatbelt fastening detector that a tongue plate, through which a seatbelt for securing an occupant to a seat passes, has been engaged with a buckle;

predicting a collision of a vehicle and outputting a prediction signal before the collision by a collision predictor;

detecting the collision of the vehicle and outputting a collision detection signal by a collision detector;

activating a first tension modifier by a controller in response to said prediction signal and enhancing a tension of the seatbelt by activation of the first tension modifier; and

activating an airbag device and a second tension modifier by the controller in response to said collision detection signal and further enhancing said tension of the seatbelt by activation of the second tension modifier;

wherein the first tension modifier is activated prior to the second tension modifier being activated; and

wherein said tension of the seatbelt increases continuously from a time associated with said collision prediction signal to a time associated with said collision detection signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first tension modifier is a device for winding or protracting the seatbelt by a motor power source, and said second tension modifier is a device for instantly retracting the seatbelt by a power source of powder combustion gas.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a seatbelt retractor is fixed to a vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt, and

wherein said first tension modifier and said second tension modifier are provided to said seatbelt retractor.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a seatbelt retractor is fixed to a vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt, and

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to said seatbelt retractor and said second tension modifier is provided to a buckle portion.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a seatbelt retractor is fixed to a vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt, and

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to a buckle portion and said second tension modifier is provided to said seatbelt retractor, and said seatbelt retractor has a seatbelt locking mechanism for locking a protraction of said seatbelt when said first tension modifier is activated.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to a seatbelt retractor winding one end of said seatbelt, and said second tension modifier is provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing the other end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat.

7. The method according to claim 1,

wherein said second tension modifier is provided to a seatbelt retractor winding one end of said seatbelt, said seatbelt retractor has a seatbelt locking mechanism for locking a protraction of said seatbelt when the first tension modifier is activated, and said first tension modifier is provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing the other end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat.

8. The method according to claim 1,

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to a buckle portion, and said second tension modifier is provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing an end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat.

9. The method according to claim 1,

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing an end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat, said second tension modifier is provided to a buckle portion, and a seatbelt retractor fixed to said vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt has a seatbelt locking mechanism for locking a protraction of said seatbelt in response to an ordering signal.

10. The method according to claim 1,

wherein said first tension modifier and said second tension modifier are provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing an end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat, and a seatbelt retractor fixed to said vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt has a seatbelt locking mechanism for locking a protraction of said seatbelt in response to an ordering signal.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first tension modifier increases said tension of the seatbelt at least until said time associated with said collision detection signal.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first tension modifier increases said tension of the seatbelt after said time associated with said collision detection signal.

13. A method to control the activation of a seatbelt device comprising the steps of:

detecting by a seatbelt fastening detector that a tongue plate, through which a seatbelt for securing an occupant to a seat passes, has been engaged with a buckle;

predicting a collision of a vehicle and outputting a prediction signal before the collision by a collision predictor;

detecting the collision of the vehicle and outputting a collision detection signal by a collision detector;

activating a first tension modifier by a controller in response to said prediction signal and enhancing a tension of the seatbelt by activation of the first tension modifier; and

activating an airbag device and a second tension modifier by the controller in response to said collision detection signal and further enhancing said tension of the seatbelt by activation of the second tension modifier;

wherein the first tension modifier is activated prior to the second tension modifier being activated; and

wherein both said first tension modifier and said second tension modifier increase said tension of the seatbelt at a time period after a time associated with said collision detection signal.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said first tension modifier is a device for winding or protracting the seatbelt by a motor power source, and said second tension modifier is a device for instantly retracting the seatbelt by a power source of powder combustion gas.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein a seatbelt retractor is fixed to a vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt, and

wherein said first tension modifier and said second tension modifier are provided to said seatbelt retractor.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein a seatbelt retractor is fixed to a vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt, and

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to said seatbelt retractor and said second tension modifier is provided to a buckle portion.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein a seatbelt retractor is fixed to a vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt, and

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to a buckle portion and said second tension modifier is provided to said seatbelt retractor, and said seatbelt retractor has a seatbelt locking mechanism for locking a protraction of said seatbelt when said first tension modifier is activated.

18. The method according to claim 13,

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to a seatbelt retractor winding one end of said seatbelt, and said second tension modifier is provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing the other end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat.

19. The method according to claim 13,

wherein said second tension modifier is provided to a seatbelt retractor winding one end of said seatbelt, said seatbelt retractor has a seatbelt locking mechanism for locking a protraction of said seatbelt when the first tension modifier is activated, and said first tension modifier is provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing the other end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat.

20. The method according to claim 13,

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to a buckle portion, and said second tension modifier is provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing an end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat.

21. The method according to claim 13,

wherein said first tension modifier is provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing an end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat, said second tension modifier is provided to a buckle portion, and a seatbelt retractor fixed to said vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt has a seatbelt locking mechanism for locking a protraction of said seatbelt in response to an ordering signal.

22. The method according to claim 13,

wherein said first tension modifier and said second tension modifier are provided to a wrap belt fixing portion fixing an end of the seatbelt to a vehicle body or said seat, and a seatbelt retractor fixed to said vehicle body or said seat for winding said seatbelt has a seatbelt locking mechanism for locking a protraction of said seatbelt in response to an ordering signal.

23. The method according to claim 13, wherein said first tension modifier increases said tension of the seatbelt at least until said time associated with said collision detection signal.