Method of controlling seatbelt retractor

• US 7,308,348 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Koji, Inuzuka, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/032,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 701 45- 47, 180268-270, 280/801.1, 280802-807
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01265 Seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• 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

Abstract

A method of controlling a seatbelt retractor having a mechanism for retracting a seatbelt with a motor includes the steps of receiving a door-open signal; determining whether the door-open signal is received after a predetermined time since a door-lock release signal is input; and retracting the seatbelt only when the door-open signal is received after the predetermined time since the door-lock release signal is input.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a seatbelt retractor to retract a seatbelt with a motor, comprising:

receiving a door-lock release signal of a vehicle when a door-lock is released,

receiving a door-open signal of the vehicle when a door is opened,

determining whether the door-open signal is received after a predetermined time since the door-lock release signal is received to thereby judge if an occupant gets out of the vehicle, and

retracting the seatbelt with the motor only when the door-open signal is received after the predetermined time since the door-lock release signal is received so that the seat belt is retracted on the retractor only when the occupant gets out of the vehicle.

2. A method of controlling a seatbelt retractor according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether the occupant is seated with a seat sensor, wherein said seatbelt is retracted only when the door-open signal is received after the predetermined time since the door-lock release signal is received, and it is determined that the occupant is seated.

3. A method of controlling a seatbelt retractor according to claim 1, wherein said door-lock release signal is sent from a key of a keyless entry system.

4. A method of controlling a seat belt retractor according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined time is an average time period between an input of the door-lock release signal and opening of the door with a certain value.