Vehicular belt tactile apparatus and method of controlling the same
AssigneesHyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
InventorsJin Mo Lee, Jung Keun Yoo, Joong Kwan Kim, Kaang Dok Yee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicular belt tactile apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a buckle, a belt configured to be fastened to the buckle and at least one air pouch disposed at a portion of the belt that contacts the body of an occupant when the belt is fastened to the buckle. An air controller generates a control signal when the belt is fastened to the buckle. The buckle includes an air supply unit that is configured to inject air into the at least one air pouch through the belt or to discharge air from the at least one air pouch in response to the control signal.
Claims8
A vehicular belt tactile apparatus, comprising:
- a buckle;
- a belt configured to be fastened to the buckle;
- at least one air pouch disposed at a portion of the belt that contacts a body of an occupant when the belt is fastened to the buckle;
- and
- an air controller configured to generate a control signal when the belt is fastened to the buckle,
- wherein the buckle includes an air supply unit configured to inject air into the at least one air pouch through the belt or to discharge air from the at least one air pouch in response to the control signal;
- wherein the air supply unit includes:
- a hydraulic buckle tube connected to the belt;
- an air valve configured to inject air into the hydraulic buckle tube or to discharge air from the hydraulic buckle tube in response to selection signals;
- and
- an air pump configured to pump and supply required air to the air valve,
- wherein the air controller is configured to determine whether inflation or deflation of the at least one air pouch is required, generate the selection signals in response to a result of determination. and operate the air pump, and
- wherein the air valve includes:
- a first air valve configured to inject air into the hydraulic buckle tube or to receive air discharged from the hydraulic buckle tube in response to a first selection signal, the first selection signal being a first of the selection signals;
- a second air valve configured to supply air pumped by the air pump to the first air valve or to discharge the pumped air to an outside in response to a second selection signal, the second selection signal being a second of the selection signals;
- and
- a third air valve configured to suction external air and supply the external air to the air pump or to supply air discharged from the first air valve to the air pump in response to a third selection signal, the third selection signal being a third of the selection signals.
A method of controlling a vehicular belt tactile apparatus including a buckle comprising an air supply unit, a belt configured to be fastened to the buckle, and at least one air pouch disposed at a portion of the belt that contacts a body of an occupant when the belt is fastened to the buckle, the method comprising:
- determining, by a controller, whether the belt has been fastened to the buckle;
- in response to determining, by the controller, that the belt has been fastened to the buckle, injecting air into the at least one air pouch from the air supply unit through the belt to inflate the at least one air pouch;
- determining, by the controller, whether deflation of the at least one air pouch is required;
- and
- in response to determining, by the controller, that deflation of the at least one air pouch is required, discharging air discharged from the at least one air pouch via the belt to an outside through the air supply unit to deflate the at least one air pouch;
- wherein the air supply unit includes:
- a hydraulic buckle tube connected to the belt;
- an air valve configured to inject air into the hydraulic buckle tube or to discharge air from the hydraulic buckle tube in response to selection signals, the selection signals being generated in response to a result of determining whether inflation or deflation of the at least one air pouch is required;
- and
- an air pump configured to pump and supply required air to the air valve, the air pump being operated by the selection signals,
- wherein the air valve includes:
- a first air valve configured to inject air into the hydraulic buckle tube or to receive air discharged from the hydraulic buckle tube in response to a first selection signal, the first selection signal being a first of the selection signals;
- a second air valve configured to supply air pumped by the air pump to the first air valve or to discharge the pumped air to an outside in response to a second selection signal, the second selection signal being a second of the selection signals;
- and
- a third air valve configured to suction external air and supply the external air to the air pump or to supply air discharged from the first air valve to the air pump in response to a third selection signal, the third selection signal being a third of the selection signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.