Belt load modulation for vehicle front oblique impacts
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChristopher Stephen O'Connor, Jacob Wookeun Lee, Elizabeth G. Owen, Keith Trudgeon, Jamel E. Belwafa
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Abstract
A system includes a sensor, a controller, and a seatbelt retractor. The controller is programmed to receive a signal from the sensor indicating detection of a vehicle front oblique impact. The seatbelt retractor includes a load limiting mechanism selectively releasable from a high load mode to a low load mode. The controller is programmed to release the load limiting mechanism from the high load mode to the low load mode at a predetermined time in response to a signal from the sensor indicating a vehicle front oblique impact.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a sensor;
- a controller programmed to receive a signal from the sensor indicating detection of a lateral acceleration of a vehicle impact;
- and
- a seatbelt retractor including a load limiting mechanism selectively releasable from a high load mode to a low load mode;
- the controller is programmed to release the load limiting mechanism from the high load mode to the low load mode at a predetermined time in response to a signal from the sensor indicating a lateral acceleration of the vehicle impact is above a threshold value;
- and
- the controller is programmed to prevent switching of the load limiting mechanism from the high load mode to the low load mode in response to a signal from the sensor indicating a lateral acceleration of the vehicle impact is below the threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.