Automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus and seatbelt protraction and retraction amount-detecting device

• US 6,997,474 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2003
• 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): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/717,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20040108697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/806, 280/807, 180/274, 180/282, 180/268
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01313 monitoring the vehicle steering system or the dynamic control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/029 Belt storage; Devices or systems for controlling winding up of unused seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/444 the additional retraction device being an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device combined with a spring B60R2022/444, B60R2022/4466
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4657 comprising a plurality of charges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4685 with means to adjust or regulate the tensioning force in relation to external parameters
• 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 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• 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 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/405 responsive to belt movement and vehicle movement
• 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: B60R 22/4633 Linear actuators, e.g. comprising a piston moving along reel axis and rotating along its own axis

Abstract

An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus includes an electric retractor having a motor for retracting and protracting a seatbealt. The apparatus also includes an airbag driving device, a pretensioner, a speed detecting device, and a controller. The controller controls at least one of the actuation time or expansion pressure of an airbag by the airbag driving device, actuation time of the pretensioner, a force of the pretensioner for retracting the seatbelt, and a force of the seatbelt driving device for retracting the seatbelt, based upon the speed of protraction of the seatbelt. The controller controls the airbag driving device to shorten the actuation time of the airbag when the speed of protraction of the seatbelt is greater than a predetermined value, and prolongs the actuation time of the airbag when the detected speed of protraction of the seatbelt is lower than the predetermined value.

Claims

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

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

airbag driving means for causing expansion of the airbag to restrain the occupant;

a pretensioner for rapidly retracting the seatbelt to restrain the occupant;

speed detecting means for detecting a speed of protraction of the seatbelt; and

control means for controlling at least one of actuation time or expansion pressure of the airbag by said airbag driving means, actuation time of said pretensioner, a force of said pretensioner for retracting the seatbelt, and a force of said seatbelt driving means for retracting the seatbelt, based upon the speed of protraction of the seatbelt detected by said speed detecting means.

2. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said control means controls said airbag driving means to shorten the actuation time of the airbag when the speed of protraction of the seatbelt detected by said speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value, and prolong the actuation time of the airbag when the detected speed of protraction of the seatbelt is lower than said predetermined value.

3. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said control means controls said airbag driving means to decrease the expansion pressure of the airbag when the speed of protraction of the seatbelt detected by said speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value, and increase the expansion pressure of the airbag when the detected speed of protraction of the seatbelt is lower than said predetermined value.

4. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said control means controls said pretensioner to shorten the actuation time of said pretensioner when the speed of protraction of the seatbelt detected by said speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value, and prolong the actuation time of said pretensioner when the detected speed of protraction of the seatbelt is lower than said predetermined value.

5. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said control means controls said pretensioner to decrease the force of said pretensioner for retracting the seatbelt when the speed of protraction of the seatbelt detected by said speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value, and increase the force of said pretensioner for retracting the seatbelt when the detected speed of protraction of the seatbelt is lower than said predetermined value.

6. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said control means controls said seatbelt driving means to increase the force of said seatbelt driving means for retracting the seatbelt when the speed of protraction of the seatbelt detected by said speed detecting means is higher than a predetermined value, and decrease the force of said seatbelt driving means for retracting the seatbelt when the detected speed of protraction of the seatbelt is lower than said predetermined value.