Automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus

• US 6,843,339 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Midorikawa, Yukinori, Kawai, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/385,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20030173131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 180/269, 280/801.1, 280/802, 280/807, 701/45
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device combined with a spring B60R2022/444, B60R2022/4466
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; B60R22/3405 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation

Abstract

An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU applies voltage having a predetermined waveform to the DC motor, and then detects a waveform of current flowing to the DC motor. The MPU carries out fault diagnosis of the DC motor, based upon the detected waveform of current when the voltage having the predetermined waveform is applied to the DC motor. Thus, accurate fault diagnosis of the apparatus can be achieved.

Claims

1. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle, having a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising:

an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

supply voltage supplying means for supplying supply voltage to said driving means;

abnormality detecting means for detecting abnormality of said driving means;

supply voltage decreasing means for decreasing the supply voltage supplied to said driving means by said supply voltage supplying means when the abnormality of said driving means is detected by said abnormality detecting means;

current detecting means for detecting current flowing to said driving means; and

timer means for measuring a time period during which the current detected by said current detecting means exceeds a predetermined value,

wherein said abnormality detecting means detects that said driving means is abnormal when the time period measured by said timer means exceeds a predetermined time period.

2. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle, having a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising:

an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

supply voltage supplying means for supplying supply voltage to said driving means;

abnormality detecting means for detecting abnormality of said driving means;

supply voltage decreasing means for decreasing the supply voltage supplied to said driving means by said supply voltage supplying means when the abnormality of said driving means is detected by said abnormality detecting means;

tension detecting means for detecting tension of the seatbelt; and

timer means for measuring a time period during which the tension detected by said tension detecting means exceeds a predetermined value,

wherein said abnormality detecting means detects that said driving means is abnormal when the time, period measured by said timer means exceeds a predetermined time period.

3. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle, having a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising:

an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

supply voltage supplying means for supplying supply voltage to said driving means;

abnormality detecting means for detecting abnormality of said driving means;

supply voltage decreasing means for decreasing the supply voltage supplied to said driving means by said supply voltage supplying means when the abnormality of said driving means is detected by said abnormality detecting means;

torque detecting means for detecting rotational torque of said electric retractor, and

timer means for measuring a time period during which the rotational torque detected by said torque detecting means exceeds a predetermined value,

wherein said abnormality detecting means detects that said driving means is abnormal when the time period measured by said timer means exceeds a predetermined time period.

4. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle, having a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising:

an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

supply voltage supplying means for supplying supply voltage to said driving means;

abnormality detecting means for detecting abnormality of said driving means;

supply voltage decreasing means for decreasing the supply voltage supplied to said driving means by said supply voltage supplying means when the abnormality of said driving means is detected by said abnormality detecting means;

temperature detecting means for detecting temperature in a vicinity of said driving means or temperature of said driving means, and

timer means for measuring a time period during which the temperature detected by said temperature detecting means exceeds a predetermined value,

wherein said abnormality detecting means detects that said driving means is abnormal when the time period measured by said timer means exceeds a predetermined time period.