Remote control seatbelt height adjuster

• US 9,421,944 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cuddihy, Mark A., Rao, Manoharprasad K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, JELANI A
• Application Number:
  US14/181,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20150232061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1818 Belt guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/208 by automatic or remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/485 for sensing belt anchor position, belt orientation, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/201 with the belt anchor connected to a slider movable in a vehicle-mounted track for passive restraint systems B60R22/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

An apparatus for positioning a vehicle restraint is provided herein having a track and a restraint support configured to slide along the track. A positioner is coupled to the restraint support and a motor, coupled to the positioner, is operable to adjust a position of the restraint support. A switch is in communication with the motor and the motor is operable to adjust the position of the restraint support in response an input to the switch. An apparatus for identifying the occupant and automatically positioning of a vehicle restraint is also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning a vehicle seatbelt support comprising:

a track;

a support configured to slide along the track;

a positioner coupled to the support;

an actuator coupled to the positioner and operable to adjust a position of the support;

an input in communication with the actuator, wherein the actuator is operable to adjust the position of the support in response to the input;

a position sensor configured to detect a rotational motion of the actuator and output positional data;

a calibration sensor configured to detect a specific position of the positioner along the track; and

a controller operable to;

determine a relative location of the support along the track based on the positional data; and

update the positional data for the positioner in response to the detection of the specific position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to record a plurality of positions of the positioner.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an occupant identifier, wherein the controller is operable to recall each of the plurality of positions in response to an occupant identification.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the occupant identification is communicated to the controller via an occupant identification device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the occupant identification device comprises an optical vision system configured to distinguish at least one of a characteristic of the occupant.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive a calibration signal from the calibration sensor in response to the support being located at the specific position proximate the calibration sensor.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calibration sensor corresponds to a presence sensor configured to detect the presence of the support at the specific position.

8. A system for positioning a vehicle seatbelt support comprising:

a track;

a support configured to slide along the track;

an actuator coupled to a positioner, the actuator operable to adjust a position of the support along a longitudinal axis of the track via the positioner;

a position sensor operable to detect a rotational motion of the actuator and output a relative positon of the positioner;

a calibration sensor operable to detect a specific position of the support along the longitudinal axis; and

a controller in communication with the position sensor and the calibration sensor, the controller operable to receive the relative position from the position sensor to locate the support along the track.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the position sensor is operable to detect a proximity of a plurality of gear teeth in rotational communication with the actuator.

10. The system according to claim 8, further comprising electro-magnetic coil transmitters connected to electrical coils along the longitudinal axis of the track.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the electromagnetic coil transmitters and coils further comprise an inductive target coil to sense the position of the support along the longitudinal axis of the track.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the inductive target coil is connected to the support.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable to:

update the relative position of the of the positioner in response to receiving a calibration signal from the calibration sensor identifying the support located at the specific position.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further operable to:

correct for a positioning error due the position sensor by updating the relative position of the support based on the calibration signal.

15. A method for adjusting a vehicle seatbelt support comprising:

detecting a vehicle occupant;

capturing data corresponding to at least one characteristic of the occupant;

attempting to identify a profile for the occupant based on the characteristic in a controller in response to the occupant;

in response to identifying the profile, accessing data for the profile from the controller, the data comprising a position of a restraint support;

in response to failing to identify the profile, prompting the occupant for the position of the restraint support; and

positioning the support according to the position, wherein the positioning comprises;

locating the position based on a reltive position of the restraint support, and

updating the relative position in response to receiving a calibration signal corresponding to an indication of the restraint support being identified at a calibration position.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising receiving an input from the occupant to adjust the position of the restraint support.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising recording the position of the restraint support to the controller.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein identifying the vehicle occupant comprises searching for an occupant identification signal.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein identifying the vehicle occupant comprises searching an optical image for at least one feature identifying the occupant.