METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONICALLY OPERATING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT SEAT SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM

• US 20100286873A1
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Prasad, Priya, Rao, Manoharprasad K., Cuddihy, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

An electrically activated, electronically controlled web grabber in conjunction with a pre-impact braking system that holds the vehicle safety belt from the moment of activation, restricting forward movement of the occupant and can be activated prior to the impact to ensure occupant containment and deactivated upon command in order to release after an accident is avoided, or once the impact has started to allow other safety devices to take over control of the belts, for example, by load limiters.

Claims

1. A method to electronically operate a vehicle occupant restraint safety system in association with a vehicle seat, comprising:

determining, by means of collision warning system, whether a vehicle collision event is imminent;

activating pre-impact braking;

activating a seat belt web grabber;

determining whether an actual vehicle collision event has occurred;

activating a vehicle occupant restraint safety system; and

deactivating said seat belt web grabber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle occupant restraint safety system is a safety restraint system consisting of airbags and seat belts.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said web grabber is deactivated if it is determined that no actual vehicle collision event has occurred.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein activation of a pre-impact braking system is determinative of an imminent vehicle collision event.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said web grabber is electrically connected to a vehicle electrical system and receives commands from an electronic module.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said electronic control module is a restraint control module.

7. The method of claim 1, further including enabling seat belt load limiters in response to releasing said seat belt web grabber when an actual vehicle collision event has occurred.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle continues in normal operation when it is determined that no vehicle collision event is imminent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle continues in normal operation when it is determined that no actual vehicle collision event has occurred.

10. The method of claim 1, further including deactivating the seat belt web grabber when it is determined that no actual vehicle collision event has occurred.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said seat belt web grabber is spring loaded and activated by a solenoid.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle collision warning systems may include at least one of Lidar, Radar, optical or ultrasonic sensor.

13. A method to electronically operate a vehicle occupant restraint safety system in association with a vehicle seat, comprising:

determining, by means of collision warning system, whether a vehicle collision event is imminent;

activating pre-impact braking;

activating a seatbelt retractor lock mechanism;

determining whether an actual vehicle collision event has occurred;

activating a vehicle occupant restraint safety system; and

deactivating said seatbelt retractor lock mechanism.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said vehicle occupant restraint safety system is a safety restraint system consisting of airbags and seat belts.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said seat belt retractor lock mechanism is deactivated if it is determined that no actual vehicle collision has occurred.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said seatbelt retractor lock mechanism is electrically connected to a vehicle electrical system and receives commands from an electronic module.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle continues in normal operation when it is determined that no vehicle collision is imminent.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle continues in normal operation when it is determined that no actual collision event has occurred.

19. The method of claim 13, further including deactivating the seat belt retractor locker when it is determined that no actual vehicle collision event has occurred.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle collision warning system may include at least one of Lidar, Radar, optical or ultrasonic sensor.