Safety arrangement
First Claim
1. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a seat moveable in the motor vehicle and being provided with a safety belt and an associated retractor for use by an occupant of the seat, the safety arrangement comprising a first sensor for measuring a parameter corresponding to the length of the belt withdrawn from the retractor relative to a predetermined reference value, a second sensor for measuring the position of the seat, a buckle being provided with a third sensor to indicate when the safety belt is buckled in position, the predetermined reference value being the minimum belt length remaining withdrawn from the retractor after the belt has been buckled up, and a processor unit to process signals from the first, second and third sensors to control the performance of a load-limiter for the safety-belt, wherein the processor unit is configured to continuously or repeatedly updated the reference value determining a new reference value when the seat is moved and storing the new reference value when a new minimum belt length remaining withdrawn from the retractor is determined that is less than the current minimum length, the new reference value being determined from the minimum length of belt withdrawn from the retractor after the seat is moved, the processor unit being further configured to process signals corresponding to the new minimum belt length and the new position of the seat.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety arrangement for detecting the position of an occupant (4) of a seat (1) which is provided with a safety belt (9) which is mounted on a retractor (10) includes a sensor (11) which measures the length of belt withdrawn from the retractor The sensor is associated with a processor unit (8) which is associated with a seat position sensor (7). By determining the position of the seat and by determining the minimum length of belt paid-out from the retractor (10) after the seat belt has been buckled in position, and by determining how additional belt has been paid-out at any incident, the position of the seat occupant (4) relative to an air-bag (19) can be determined. If the seat occupant is very close to the air-bag, the nature of deployment of the air-bag can be moderated by the central processor unit (8).
10 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a seat moveable in the motor vehicle and being provided with a safety belt and an associated retractor for use by an occupant of the seat, the safety arrangement comprising a first sensor for measuring a parameter corresponding to the length of the belt withdrawn from the retractor relative to a predetermined reference value, a second sensor for measuring the position of the seat, a buckle being provided with a third sensor to indicate when the safety belt is buckled in position, the predetermined reference value being the minimum belt length remaining withdrawn from the retractor after the belt has been buckled up, and a processor unit to process signals from the first, second and third sensors to control the performance of a load-limiter for the safety-belt, wherein the processor unit is configured to continuously or repeatedly updated the reference value determining a new reference value when the seat is moved and storing the new reference value when a new minimum belt length remaining withdrawn from the retractor is determined that is less than the current minimum length, the new reference value being determined from the minimum length of belt withdrawn from the retractor after the seat is moved, the processor unit being further configured to process signals corresponding to the new minimum belt length and the new position of the seat.
- 13. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a seat moveable in the motor vehicle and being provided with a safety belt and an associated retractor for use by an occupant of the seat, and an air bag for providing impact protection for the occupant, the safety arrangement comprising a first sensor for measuring a parameter corresponding to the length of the belt withdrawn from the retractor relative to a predetermined reference value, a second sensor for measuring the position of the seat, a buckle being provided with a third sensor to indicate when the safety belt is buckled in position, the predetermined reference value being the minimum belt length remaining withdrawn from the retractor after the belt has been buckled up, and a processor unit to process signals from the first, second and third sensors to control the mode of performance of the air-bag, wherein the processor unit is configured to continuously or repeatedly updated the reference value determining a new reference value when the seat is moved and storing the new reference value when a new minimum belt length remaining withdrawn from the retractor is determined that is less than the current minimum length, the new reference value being determined from the minimum length of belt withdrawn from the retractor after the seat is moved, the processor unit being further configured to process signals corresponding to the new minimum belt length and the new position of the seat.
Specification