Automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus

• US 7,654,572 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/726,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20070163832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/802, 280/807, 180/268, 180/269, 180/271, 701/45
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device combined with a spring B60R2022/444, B60R2022/4466
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• 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: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation

Abstract

An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU applies voltage having a predetermined waveform to the DC motor, and then detects a waveform of current flowing to the DC motor. The MPU carries out fault diagnosis of the DC motor, based upon the detected waveform of current when the voltage having the predetermined waveform is applied to the DC motor. Thus, accurate fault diagnosis of the apparatus can be achieved.

Claims

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

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

vehicle stoppage detecting means for detecting stoppage of the automotive vehicle;

a driving/traveling state detecting circuit for detecting states of driving and traveling of the automotive vehicle by the occupant;

supply means for supplying electric power to said driving/traveling state detecting circuit; and

control means for controlling said supply means so as to stop supply of the power to said driving/traveling state detecting circuit when the stoppage of the automotive vehicle is detected by said vehicle stoppage detecting means.

2. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle stoppage detecting means for detecting stoppage of the automobile comprises at least one of seatbelt attaching detecting means for detecting whether the seatbelt is attached to the occupant, shift position detecting means for detecting whether a shift position of a transmission of the automotive vehicle is in a parking position, and parking brake detecting means for detecting whether a parking brake of the automotive vehicle is operated.