Method for controlling a reversible belt tensioner of a safety belt in a motor vehicle

• US 9,150,194 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Automotive Safety Technologies GmbH (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Erlacher, Markus, Botsch, Michael, Berger, Christian, Krger, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US14/130,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20140263800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/806, 280/807, 180/268, 701/45, 701/46
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/35 the locking means being automatically actuated

Abstract

A method for controlling a reversible belt tensioner of a safety belt in a motor vehicle includes detecting a time profile of at least one state variable and/or at least one variable relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle, identifying a predetermined driving maneuver and/or a value characterizing the attentiveness of a driver from the time profile of the at least one detected state variable and/or variable relating to the surroundings, and controlling the reversible belt tensioner based on the identified driving maneuver or on the basis of the value characterizing the attentiveness of the driver.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a reversible belt tensioner of a safety belt in a motor vehicle, comprising:

detecting a time profile of at least one state variable,

detecting, based on the time profile of the at least one detected state variable, a predetermined driving maneuver comprising a transition from reverse travel to forward travel, and

controlling the reversible belt tensioner at a start of the forward travel following the transition from reverse travel so as to tighten the safety belt.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a time profile of at least one environment variable of the motor vehicle, and

detecting the predetermined driving maneuver additionally based on the time profile of the at least one environment variable.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting, based on the time profile of the at least one detected state variable or based on the time profile of the at least one environment variable, a value characterizing an attentiveness of a driver, and

controlling the reversible belt tensioner based on the value characterizing the attentiveness of the driver.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reversible belt tensioner is controlled as soon as the value characterizing the driver'"'"'s attentiveness exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold for warning the driver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one state variable is determined based on at least one of a wheel rotation speed, a position of a brake pedal, a position of an accelerator pedal, a position of a clutch pedal, a steering wheel angle and an engaged gear.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one environment variable is determined based on a course of the road detected by a camera or based on data of the course of the road obtained from a navigation system.

7. A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, the driver assistance system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a time profile of at least one state variable of the motor vehicle,

a reversible belt tensioner for a safety belt, and

a controller configured to detect, based on the time profile of the at least one state variable, a predetermined driving maneuver comprising a transition from reverse travel to forward travel and to control the reversible belt tensioner at a start of the forward travel following the transition from reverse travel so as to tighten the safety belt.

8. A motor vehicle comprising a driver assistance system, wherein the driver assistance system comprises:

a sensor configured to detect a time profile of at least one state variable of the motor vehicle,

a reversible belt tensioner for a safety belt, and

a controller configured to detect, based on the time profile of the at least one state variable, a predetermined driving maneuver comprising a transition from reverse travel to forward travel and to control the reversible belt tensioner at a start of the forward travel following the transition from reverse travel so as to tighten the safety belt.