Seatbelt payout measuring device and system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMangala A. Jayasuriya, Mark A. Cuddihy, Mark Allan Lippman, Manoharprasad K. Rao
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Abstract
A seatbelt payout measuring device with a rewind spring having a first end connected to a center spool and a second end connected to a rewind spring housing. A dielectric material layered immediately adjacent to the rewind spring forming a first layer and an electrolytic coil with dielectric material layered on both sides forming a second layer, isolating the rewind spring from the electrolytic coil. A capacitive measuring device having a first lead connected to the first end of the rewind spring and a second lead connected to a first end of the electrolytic coil. The capacitive measuring device measuring capacitance with belt pullout.
Claims16
A system, comprising:
- a rewind spring, attachable to a seatbelt, joined to an electrolytic coil to form a capacitor;
- a capacitive measuring device connected to the capacitor;
- a processor programmed to trigger a pre-tensioner located in a seatbelt assembly based on payout of the seatbelt determined from measured capacitance from the measuring device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.