Seatbelt device

• US 7,011,338 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Midorikawa, Yukinori, Yamada, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/636,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/802, 280/806, 280/807, 280/808, 280/735, 180/268, 701/45, 297/477, 297/480
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1957 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• 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 21/0134 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 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/343 with electrically actuated locking means B60R22/3405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/405 responsive to belt movement and vehicle movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4628 characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators actuating a cable B60R22/4619

Abstract

Provided is a seatbelt device which prevents an occupant from hitting his face against an airbag deploying at the time of a vehicle collision. In order to take up any seatbelt slack before a collision and prevent the occupant from being displaced forward, the seatbelt device comprises a first tension modifier for winding the seatbelt and taking up the seatbelt slack when a collision is predicted, and a second tension modifier for further enhancing the tension of the seatbelt and securing the occupant to the seat at the time of such collision, thereby ensuring that the occupant does not exist in the airbag deployment zone when the airbag is activated.

Claims

1. A seatbelt device comnrising:

a seatbelt fastening detector that detects that a tongue plate, through which a seatbelt for securing an occupant to a seat passes, has been engaged with a buckle;

a collision predictor that predicts a collision of a vehicle and outputs a prediction signal before said collision;

a collision detector that detects said collision of the vehicle and outputs a collision detection signal;

an airbag device that deploys in response to the output of said collision detection signal;

an airbar activation detector that detects said activation of said airbag device and outputs an airbag activation signal;

a first tension modifier and a second tension modifier that change the tension of the seatbelt; and

a controller that is programmed to activate the first tension modifier in response to said prediction signal and to enhance said tension of the seatbelt, and to activate the second tension modifier in response to said airbag activation signal and further to enhance said tension of the seatbelt, wherein said airbag activation detector outputs said airbag activation signal when a current supplied to an igniter for activating the airbag exceeds a prescribed current value, or when the temperature of said igniter exceeds a prescribed value.

2. A seatbelt device comprising:

a seatbelt fastening detector that detects that a tongue plate, through which a seatbelt for securing an occupant to a seat passes, has been engaged with a buckle;

a collision predictor that predicts a collision of a vehicle and outputs a prediction signal before said collision;

a collision detector that detects said collision of the vehicle and outputs a collision detection signal;

an airbag device that deploys in response to the output of said collision detection signal;

an airbag activation detector that detects said activation of said airbag device and outputs an airbag activation signal;

a first tension modifier and a second tension modifier that change the tension of the seatbelt; and

a controller that is programmed to activate the first tension modifier in response to said prediction signal and to enhance said tension of the seatbelt, and to activate the second tension modifier in response to said airbag activation signal and further to enhance said tension of the seatbelt, wherein said airbag activation detector outputs said airbag activation signal when any one of the currents supplied to a plurality of igniters for activating a plurality of airbags exceeds a prescribed current value, or when any one of the temperatures of said plurality of igniters exceeds a prescribed value.

3. A seatbelt device comprising:

means for detecting that a tongue plate, through which a seatbelt for securing an occupant to a seat passes, has been engaged with a buckle;

means for predicting a collision of a vehicle and outputting a prediction signal before said collision;

means for detecting said collision of the vehicle and outputting a collision detection signal;

airbag device that deploys in response to the output of said collision detection signal;

means for detecting activation of said airbag device and outputting an airbag activation signal;

first tension modifying means and a second tension modifying means capable of changing the tension of the seatbelt; and

control means for activating the first tension modifier in response to said prediction signal and enhancing said tension of the seatbelt, and activating the second tension modifier in response to said airbag activation signal and further enhancing said tension of the seatbelt, wherein said means for detecting activation of said airbag device outputs said airbag activation signal when a current supplied to an igniter for activating the airbag exceeds a prescribed current value, or when the temperature of said igniter exceeds a prescribed value.

4. A seatbelt device according to claim 3, wherein said means for detecting activation of said airbag device outputs said airbag activation signal when any one of the currents supplied to a plurality of igniters for activating a plurality of airbags exceeds a prescribed current value, or when any one of the temperatures of said plurality of igniters exceeds a prescribed value.