Seat belt sensing for vehicle occupant load and misuse

• US 6,874,819 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: O'Neill, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/643,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 280/805, 280/806, 280/735, 297/470, 297/471, 297/472, 242/379.1
• US Class Current: 280/805
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• 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 22/3413 operating between belt reel and retractor frame B60R22/4676 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle safety system uses sensors mounted between a seat belt frame and a seat belt spool to detect protraction of seat belt webbing after the seat belt spool has been locked by an inertial switch or the like. The vehicle safety system gathers information from vehicle mounted crash sensors. If the vehicle safety system determines that a crash is taking place, but does not receive an output from the sensor mounted between the seat belt frame and the seat belt spool indicating seat belt webbing is being protracted, the system deploys other safety apparatus based on the assumption that the occupant of a particular seat is not properly restrained by one or more seat belts. For example seat belt use information can be used to vary the level of airbag deployment in a variable deployment airbag. An alternative embodiment detects motion of a linear energy-absorbing mechanism.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system comprising:

a safety system controller;

a seat belt frame;

a seat belt spool mounted for rotation on the seat belt frame, containing a quantity of seat belt webbing;

an energy-absorbing mechanism positioned between the seat belt frame and the seat belt spool;

an engagement mechanism which selectively connects the energy-absorbing mechanism between the seat belt frame and the seat belt spool so that withdrawal of the seat belt webbing from the seat belt spool causes deformation of the energy-absorbing mechanism;

a motion sensor mounted to the seat belt frame, the sensor operable to detect rotation of the seat belt spool; and

wherein the safety system controller is in information receiving relation with the motion sensor and in controlling relation with at least one deployable safety system that includes an airbag.

2. The vehicle safety system of claim 1 wherein the safety system controller is in information receiving relation with the engagement mechanism.

3. The vehicle safety system of claim 1 wherein the energy-absorbing mechanism is a torsion bar.

4. The vehicle safety system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle safety system is in information receiving relation with at least one crash sensor.

5. A vehicle safety system comprising:

a safety system controller;

a slider frame;

a slider mounted for motion on the slider frame, and a quantity of seat belt webbing mounted or positioned with respect to the slider so that linear motion of the slider with respect to the slider frame allows extension of the seat belt webbing;

an energy-absorbing mechanism positioned between the slider and the slider frame, and operable to absorb energy when the slider moves with respect to the slider frame;

a motion sensor mounted on the slider frame, the sensor operable to detect linear motion of the slider with respect to the frame;

wherein the safety system controller is in information receiving relation with the motion sensor and in controlling relation with at least one deployable safety system that includes an airbag.

6. The vehicle safety system of claim 5 wherein the vehicle safety system is in information receiving relation with at least one crash sensor.