Electronically controlled seat belt module
First Claim
1. An electronically controlled seat belt module comprisinga shaft;
- a spool rotatably mounted concentrically of said shaft for winding of a seat belt thereon;
a first plurality of poles mounted on said shaft;
a second plurality of poles mounted on said spool in alternating relation with said first plurality of poles;
a magneto-rheological fluid disposed between adjacent poles of said first and said second plurality of poles; and
at least one electromagnetic coil mounted between said shaft and said spool to create a magnetic field passing through said poles of said first and said second plurality of poles to change the viscosity of said fluid upon actuation of said coil.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The seat belt module is electronically controlled using magneto-rheological fluid. A CPU delivers a signal to an electromagnetic coil within the module at the beginning of a crash to cause the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid to increase sufficient to lock the spool on which the seat belt is wound against rotation. Thereafter, a subsequent signal is delivered by the CPU to the coil to reduce the magnetic field and the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid allowing the spool to be unwound in a programmed manner so as to reduce the forces imposed on an occupant by the seat belt. The CPU may be pre-programmed in response to signals from sensors throughout the vehicle that deliver signals corresponding to the characteristics of the occupant and may be programmed in response to signals from these sensors and from an air bag to respond in real time.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronically controlled seat belt module comprising
a shaft; -
a spool rotatably mounted concentrically of said shaft for winding of a seat belt thereon;
a first plurality of poles mounted on said shaft;
a second plurality of poles mounted on said spool in alternating relation with said first plurality of poles;
a magneto-rheological fluid disposed between adjacent poles of said first and said second plurality of poles; and
at least one electromagnetic coil mounted between said shaft and said spool to create a magnetic field passing through said poles of said first and said second plurality of poles to change the viscosity of said fluid upon actuation of said coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In combination
a seat belt assembly for a seated occupant in a vehicle including a seat belt and a buckle on said seat belt for anchoring in a vehicle with said seat belt about the occupant; -
an electronically controlled seat belt module including a shaft, a spool rotatably mounted on said shaft for winding of an end of said seat belt thereon, a first plurality of poles mounted on said shaft, a second plurality of poles mounted on said spool in alternating relation with said first plurality of poles, a magneto-rheological fluid disposed between adjacent poles of said first and said second plurality of poles, and at least one electromagnetic coil mounted between said shaft and said spool to create a magnetic field passing through said poles of said first and said second plurality of poles to change the viscosity of said fluid upon actuation of said coil; and
a central processing unit operatively connected to said coil for delivering a programmed current over time to said coil to initially lock said spool against rotation relative to said shaft and to subsequently release said spool at a specific rate and profile to allow said belt to unwind from said spool at a rate to minimize the belt load on the occupant during a crash. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An electronically controlled seat belt module comprising
a shaft; -
a spool disposed concentrically of said shaft;
a motor for rotating said spool about said shaft for winding of a seatbelt thereon;
a first plurality of poles mounted on said shaft;
a second plurality of poles mounted on said spool in alternating relation with said first plurality of poles;
a magneto-rheological fluid disposed between adjacent poles of said first and said second plurality of poles; and
at least one electromagnetic coil mounted between said shaft and said spool to create a magnetic field passing through said poles of said first and said second plurality of poles to rigidify said fluid upon actuation of said coil.
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Specification