Adaptive seat belt tensioning system
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKevin J. Pavlov, Stephen M. Stachowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adaptive seat belt system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12). The system (10) includes a seat belt (16) extensible about an occupant (42) of a seat system (14). A seat belt tension sensor (18) is coupled to the seat belt (16) and generates a seat belt tension signal. A seat belt actuator (20) is mechanically coupled to the seat belt (16) and adjusts tension of the seat belt (16). A controller (26) is electrically coupled to the tensioner sensor (18) and the actuator (20). The controller (26) generates a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to the seat belt tension signal and adjusts tension of the seat belt (16) in response to the seat belt tension adjustment signal. A method for performing the same is also provided.
Claims22
An adaptive seat belt system for an automotive vehicle comprising:
- a seat belt extensible about an occupant of a seat system;
- a seat belt tension sensor coupled to said seat belt and generating a seat belt tension signal;
- a seat belt actuator mechanically coupled to said seat belt for adjusting tension of said seat belt;
- a controller electrically coupled to said seat belt tension sensor and said seat belt actuator, said controller generating a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal and adjusting tension of said seat belt in response to said seat belt tension adjustment signal;
- a vehicle dynamic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating a vehicle dynamic signal;
- and
- said controller adjusting position of at least a portion of said seat system in response to said vehicle dynamic signal.
An adaptive seat belt system for an automotive vehicle comprising:
- a seat belt extensible about an occupant of a seat system;
- a seat belt tension sensor coupled to said seat belt and generating a seat belt tension signal;
- a seat belt actuator mechanically coupled to said seat belt and adjusting tension of said seat belt;
- one or more seat system actuators mechanically coupled to said seat system;
- one or more directional position sensors electrically coupled to said one or more seat system actuators and generating one or more seat position signals;
- and
- a controller electrically coupled to said seat belt tensioner, said seat belt actuator, said one or more seat system actuators, and said one or more directional position sensors, said controller generating a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal and adjusting tension of said seat belt in response to said seat belt tension adjustment signal.
A method for adaptively adjusting tension of a seat belt within an automotive vehicle comprising:
- determining tension of a seat belt and generating a seat belt tension signal;
- generating a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal;
- adjusting tension of said seat belt in response to said seat belt tension adjustment signals;
- generating a vehicle dynamics signal;
- and
- adjusting position of at least a portion of said system in response to said vehicle dynamic signal.
An adaptive seat belt system for an automotive vehicle comprising:
- a seat belt extensible about an occupant of a seat system;
- a seat belt tension sensor coupled to said seat belt and generating a seat belt tension signal;
- a seat belt actuator mechanically coupled to said seat belt for adjusting tension of said seat belt;
- a controller electrically coupled to said seat belt tension sensor and said seat belt actuator, said controller generating a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal and adjusting tension of said seat belt in response to said seat belt tension adjustment signal;
- an occupant characteristic sensor electrically coupled to said controller and generating an occupant characteristic signal;
- and
- said controller adjusting position of at least a portion of said seat system in response to said occupant characteristic signal.
A method for adaptively adjusting tension of a seat belt within an automotive vehicle comprising:
- determining tension of a seat belt and generating a seat belt tension signal;
- generating a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to said seat belt tension signal;
- adjusting tension of said seat belt in response to said seat belt tension adjustment signal;
- generating an occupant characteristic signal;
- and
- adjusting position of at least a portion of a seat system in response to said occupant characteristic signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.