Device for actuating restraint means in a motor vehicle

• US 7,159,899 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nitschke, Werner, Fricke, Heiko, Arriazu, Jorge Sanchez, Buehring, Heiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/738,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20040195032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/801.1, 280/808, 180/271, 180/282, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 340435-436, 340/10.1, 701 45- 47, 342/72
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01109 power and data signal using transmission medium
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors

Abstract

A possibility for controlling and supplying energy to a larger number of restraint means components in a vehicle seat that can be installed in variable fashion, this possibility being able to be realized using a constructively simple and robust electrical connection, so that this connection in particular also withstands the mechanical stresses that occur during the installation and removal of the vehicle seat. For this purpose, the vehicle seat is equipped with at least one system bus for controlling and supplying energy to the individual restraint means components of the vehicle seat. In addition, means are provided for the electrical contacting of the system bus during the installation of the vehicle seat.

Claims

1. An actuating device for actuating at least one restraint device in a motor vehicle, the restraint device being built into a seat of the vehicle that is variably installable in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the actuating device comprising:

at least one system bus situated in the vehicle seat for controlling and supplying energy to individual components of the restraint device of the vehicle seat; and

means for electrically contacting the system bus during an installation of the vehicle seat, wherein at least one of an installation position and a direction of installation of the vehicle seat is detectable with the aid of the system bus, and wherein the direction of installation of the vehicle seat is capable of being determined on the basis of a polarity of the contacting of the system bus.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the system bus includes a 2-wire interface for the electrical contacting.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the system bus includes a 3-wire interface for the electrical contacting.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the system bus includes a contactless interface so that a signal transmission and energy transmission take place at least one of inductively and capacitively.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a central control device that carries out an overall coordination of a controlling and an actuation of the restraint device in the vehicle, the system bus being adapted for a bidirectional communication with the central control device.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a driver information system, the system bus being adapted for a bidirectional communication with the driver information system.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the system bus includes a storage device.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the storage device includes information items relating to the vehicle seat and relating to a configuration of the restraint device.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein a state of installation of the seat is identifiable with the aid of the system bus.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the state of installation of the seat includes whether the seat is folded up or a seat back of the seat is folded down.

11. An actuating device for actuating at least one restraint device in a motor vehicle, the restraint device being built into a seat of the vehicle that is variably installable in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the actuating device comprising:

at least one system bus situated in the vehicle seat for controlling and supplying energy to individual components of the restraint device of the vehicle seat; and

means for electrically contacting the system bus during an installation of the vehicle seat, wherein the system bus includes a storage device, wherein the storage device includes information items relating to the vehicle seat and relating to a configuration of the restraint device, and wherein the information items relating to the vehicle seat include whether a vehicle seat type is a one-person seat, a two-person seat, or a three-person seat.