Automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus

• US 6,997,277 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US10/722,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20040104570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 180/269, 180/282, 180/271, 280/801.1, 280/802, 280/807, 701/45, 242/390.9
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device
• 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 having a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant,

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises at least one of vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, braking detecting means for detecting stepping-on of a brake pedal of the automotive vehicle, steering angle change rate detecting means for detecting a rate of change in a steering angle of the automotive vehicle, ambient illuminance detecting means for detecting ambient illuminance of the automotive vehicle, and raindrop detecting means for detecting raindrops on the automotive vehicle, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means detects the significant degree of danger if said vehicle speed detecting means detects that the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle is higher than a predetermined value and at the same time at least one of conditions is satisfied that the stepping-on of the brake pedal is detected by said braking detecting means, the steering angle change rate detecting means detects that the rate of change of the steering angle exceeds a predetermined value, the ambient illuminance detecting means detects that the ambient illuminance of the automotive vehicle is below a predetermined value, and the raindrop detecting means detects the raindrops on the automotive vehicle.

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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and braking detecting means for detecting a stepping-on force of a brake pedal of the automotive vehicle or stepping-on speed thereof, said control means controlling said motor such that rotational speed of said motor in retracting the seatbelt is higher as the stepping-on force or the stepping-on speed detected by said braking detecting means is larger, when the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value.

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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and braking detecting means for detecting stepping-on of a brake pedal of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that rotational speed of said motor in retracting the seatbelt is higher as the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher, when the detected traveling speed is higher than a predetermined value and at the same time the stepping-on of the brake pedal is detected by said braking detecting means.

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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and steering angle change rate detecting means for detecting a rate of change in a steering angle of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that rotational speed of said motor in retracting the seatbelt is higher as the rate of change in the steering angle detected by said steering angle change rate detecting means is larger, when the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value.

5. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and steering angle change rate detecting means for detecting a rate of change in a steering angle of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that rotational speed of said motor in retracting the seatbelt is higher as the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher, when the detected traveling speed is higher than a predetermined value and at the same time the rate of change in the steering angle detected by said steering angle change rate detecting means is larger than a predetermined value.

6. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and ambient illuminance detecting means for detecting ambient illuminance of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that rotational speed of said motor in retracting the seatbelt is higher as the ambient illuminance detected by said ambient illuminance detecting means is smaller, when the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value.

7. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and ambient illuminance detecting means for detecting ambient illuminance of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that rotational speed of said motor in retracting the seatbelt is higher as the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher, when the detected traveling speed is higher than a predetermined value and at the same time the ambient illuminance detected by said ambient illuminance detecting means is smaller than a predetermined value.

8. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and raindrop detecting means for detecting raindrop on the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that rotational speed of said motor in retracting the seatbelt is higher as the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher, when the detected traveling speed is higher than a predetermined value and at the same time the raindrops are detected by said raindrop detecting means.

9. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and braking detecting means for detecting a stepping-on force of a brake pedal of the automotive vehicle or stepping-on speed thereof, said control means controlling said motor such that an amount of protraction of the seatbelt is smaller as the stepping-on force or the stepping-on speed detected by said braking detecting means is larger, when the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value.

10. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and braking detecting means for detecting stepping-on of a brake pedal of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that an amount of protraction of the seatbelt is smaller as the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher, when the detected traveling speed is higher than a predetermined value and at the same time the stepping-on of the brake pedal is detected by said braking detecting means.

11. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is an a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant,

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and steering angle change rate detecting means for detecting a rate of change in a steering angle of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that an amount of protraction of the seatbelt is smaller as the rate of change in the steering angle detected by said steering angle change rate detecting means is larger, when the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value.

12. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and steering angle change rate detecting means for detecting a rate of change in a steering angle of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that an amount of protraction of the seatbelt is smaller as the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher, when the detected traveling speed is higher than a predetermined value and at the same time the rate of change in the steering angle detected by said steering angle change rate detecting means is larger than a predetermined value.

13. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and ambient illuminance detecting means for detecting ambient illuminance of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that an amount of protraction of the seatbelt is smaller as the ambient illuminance detected by the ambient illuminance detecting means is smaller, when the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value.

14. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and ambient illuminance detecting means for detecting ambient illuminance of the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that an amount of protraction of the seatbelt is smaller as the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher, when the detected traveling speed is higher than a predetermined value and at the same time the ambient illuminance detected by the ambient illuminance detecting means is smaller than a predetermined value.

15. 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:

a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

seatbelt attaching state detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is in a state attached to the occupant or in a state disconnected from the occupant;

danger degree detecting means for detecting a significant degree of danger of collision of the automotive vehicle; and

control means for controlling said motor so as to retract the seatbelt to a limit thereof and then protract the seatbelt to thereby give a predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt,

wherein said control means controls said motor so as to give a first predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt when the significant degree of danger is not detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and controls said motor so as to give a second predetermined amount of looseness to the seatbelt which is smaller than said first predetermined amount of looseness when the significant degree of danger is detected by said danger degree detecting means while the seatbelt is detected to be in said state attached to the occupant, and

wherein said danger degree detecting means comprises vehicle speed detecting means for detecting traveling speed of the automotive vehicle, and raindrop detecting means for detecting raindrops on the automotive vehicle, said control means controlling said motor such that an amount of protraction of the seatbelt is smaller as the traveling speed of the automotive vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is higher, when the detected traveling speed is higher than a predetermined value and at the same time the raindrops are detected by said raindrop detecting means.