US 5,538,284 A · Device for controlling acceleration sensor

Abstract

When a vehicle accelerates to a predetermined value, a pretensioner mounted to an occupant seat applies a pulling force to a seat belt under a force produced by detonating an explosive material. When the seat is moved in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle in order to adjust the position and the seat comes to a halt at a frontal end position, an acceleration more than or equal to the predetermined value is developed in an acceleration sensor. However, the acceleration sensor is provided with a lock means mounted to the seat. Even if the seat suddenly stops at the frontal end position, the acceleration sensor is restrained from moving and the pretensioner is not actuated. The lock means is actuated even when a walk-in mechanism for directly moving the seat to the frontal end is operated.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A control device for an acceleration sensor for controlling operation of an acceleration sensor attached to an occupant seat which is provided in a vehicle having a body so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, comprising:

an inertial moving system attached to an occupant seat for generating a mechanical output when the vehicle suddenly decelerates to thereby operate a seat belt pretensioner;
and
lock means for preventing the generation of said output of said inertial moving system when the occupant seat stops at a vehicle frontal side end, including a contact member operatively associated with movement of said vehicle seat for automatically actuating said lock means whenever said occupant seat stops at said frontal end position,
whereby operation of the seat belt pretensioner is prevented even if the seat stops at the frontal end position and an acceleration acts upon said inertial moving system.

1 more element

A seat belt pretensioner mounted to a seat movable in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, for applying a tensile force to a part of a seat belt, comprising:

an acceleration sensor for detecting whether a vehicle acceleration is more than or equal to a predetermined value;
a pretensioner body actuated by said acceleration sensor, for abruptly applying a tensile force to the seat belt;
and
lock means for deactivating said acceleration sensor and preventing said pretensioner body from operating when the seat is shifted a maximum amount toward the front of the vehicle and stops moving, including a contact member operatively associated with movement of said vehicle seat for automatically actuating said lock means whenever said seat is shifted said maximum amount.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device for controlling acceleration sensor

Life of this patent

Device for controlling acceleration sensor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18