Method for operation of a safety arrangement in a vehicle

• US 9,604,594 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Axelson, Anders II, Nilsson, Par, Harda, Peter, Berge, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US14/925,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20160129879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 29721613-2162, 297474-480
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42727 involving substantially rigid displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4685 with means to adjust or regulate the tensioning force in relation to external parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• 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: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision

Abstract

A method is provided for operation of a safety arrangement in a vehicle. The safety arrangement comprises a seat belt, a seat belt retractor and at least one seat position adjustment arrangement for position adjustment of a seat of the vehicle and/or a portion of the seat. The method comprises a refraction of the seat belt by means of the seat belt retractor with a retraction force, and a pre-crash displacement of the seat and/or the portion of the seat resulting in a displacement force acting on the seat belt. The method further comprises adapting the pre-crash displacement and the refraction of the seat belt to each other by ascertaining that a combined seat belt force comprising the refraction force and the displacement force does not exceed a selectable level. The disclosure further relates to a safety arrangement for a vehicle and a vehicle comprising such a safety arrangement.

Claims

1. A method for operation of a safety arrangement in a vehicle, the safety arrangement comprising a seat belt, a seat belt retractor and at least one seat position adjustment arrangement for position adjustment of a seat of the vehicle and/or a portion of the seat, the method comprising:

retracting the seat belt by the seat belt retractor with a retraction force;

displacing the seat and/or the portion of the seat prior to a crash, such that a displacement force acts on the seat belt; and

adapting the pre-crash displacement and the retraction of the seat belt to each other by ascertaining that a combined seat belt force comprising the retraction force and the displacement force does not exceed a selectable level.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the adapting comprises stopping or slowing down the pre-crash displacement of the seat or the portion of the seat if determined that the combined seat belt force is about to reach the selectable level.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the adapting comprises releasing the seat belt during the pre-crash displacement, such that the releasing at least partly corresponds to a tightening of the seat belt caused by the pre-crash displacement of the seat or the portion of the seat.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the adapting comprises first starting the pre-crash displacement, and at a later point of time performing the retraction of the seat belt.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the adapting comprises performing the retraction simultaneously with a part of the pre-crash displacement.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the pre-crash displacement comprises displacing the seat in relation to a body of the vehicle and/or displacing a seat back in relation to a seat squab.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the combined seat belt force is monitored by determining if the seat belt is actually being retracted when the seat belt retractor is activated.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the selectable level of the combined seat belt force is selectable based on vehicle occupant data.

18. The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining pulled out length of the seat belt using a sensor.

19. The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining speed of a motor of the seat belt retractor using a sensor.

20. The method according to claim 1 further comprising sensing position of the seat or sensing position of the portion of the seat.

9. A safety arrangement for a vehicle having a seat, the safety arrangement comprising:

a seat belt;

a seat belt retractor adapted for retraction of the seat belt with a retraction force;

at least one seat position adjustment arrangement adapted for a pre-crash displacement of the seat and/or a portion of the seat, the pre-crash displacement resulting in a displacement force acting on the seat belt;

a first sensor for determining a combined seat belt force acting on the seat belt, the combined seat belt force comprising the retraction force and the displacement force; and

a processor for adapting the pre-crash displacement and the retraction of the seat belt to each other by ascertaining that the combined seat belt force does not exceed a selectable level.

10. The safety arrangement according to claim 9 wherein the at least one seat position adjustment arrangement comprises a seat back inclination adjustment arrangement adapted to displace a seat back of the seat.

11. The safety arrangement according to claim 9 wherein the first sensor comprises a sensor for determining pulled out length of the seat belt.

12. The safety arrangement according to claim 9 wherein the first sensor comprises a sensor for determining speed of a motor of the seat belt retractor.

13. The safety arrangement according to claim 9 further comprising a second sensor for determining a position of the seat, to which the seat belt is associated, or for determining a position of a portion of the seat.

14. The safety arrangement according to claim 9 further comprising a system for detecting a collision or an imminent collision involving the vehicle.

15. A vehicle comprising the safety arrangement according to claim 9.

16. A safety arrangement for a vehicle having a seat, a seat belt associated with the seat and a seat belt retractor adapted for retraction of the seat belt with a retraction force, the safety arrangement comprising:

at least one seat position adjustment arrangement adapted for a pre-crash displacement of the seat and/or a portion of the seat, the pre-crash displacement resulting in a displacement force acting on the seat belt;

a first sensor for determining a combined seat belt force acting on the seat belt, the combined seat belt force comprising the retraction force and the displacement force; and

a processor for adapting the pre-crash displacement and the retraction of the seat belt to each other by ascertaining that the combined seat belt force does not exceed a selectable level.

17. The safety arrangement according to claim 16 wherein the at least one seat position adjustment arrangement comprises a seat back inclination adjustment arrangement adapted to displace a seat back of the seat and/or an arrangement for positioning the seat in relation to a body of the vehicle.