Controller for a seatbelt positioning device and seatbelt positioning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9559618-B2
Application number	US-201213983597-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2012
Priority date	Feb 18, 2011
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A control ( 18 ) for a seat belt positioning device ( 10 ) includes a motor ( 12 ) for positioning a seat belt component ( 16 ). A locking tongue sensor ( 20 ) generates a locking tongue signal (S) depending on whether a locking tongue is inserted in a belt buckle ( 16 ). A trigger circuit ( 22 ) connected to the locking tongue sensor ( 20 ) generates a trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM) in response to the locking tongue signal (S) A timer ( 32 ) or a motor load circuit ( 33 ) connected to the trigger circuit ( 22 ) generates a motor signal (M) having a predetermined period or depending on a motor load in response to the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM). A motor control circuit ( 34 ) connected to the timer ( 32 ) and the trigger circuit ( 22 ) turns the motor on and off in response to the motor signal (M). The direction of motion of the motor ( 12 ) is selected depending on the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control ( 18 ) for a seat belt positioning device ( 10 ) comprising a motor ( 12 ) for positioning a seat belt component ( 16 ) comprising:
a locking tongue sensor ( 20 ) generating a locking tongue signal (S) depending on whether a locking tongue is inserted in a belt buckle ( 16 );
a trigger circuit ( 22 ) which is connected to the locking tongue sensor ( 20 ) and generates a trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM) in response to the locking tongue signal;
a timer ( 32 ) which is connected to the trigger circuit ( 22 ) and generates a motor signal (M) for a predetermined period of time (MZ) in response to the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM);
a motor control circuit ( 34 ) connected to the timer ( 32 ) and the trigger circuit ( 22 ) and turning the motor ( 12 ) on in response to the motor signal (M) and off at the end of the predetermined period of time (MZ) wherein the direction of motion of the motor ( 12 ) is selected from a first direction to position the seat belt component in a fastening position and a second direction to position the seat belt component in a retaining position depending on the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM); and
wherein the trigger circuit ( 22 ) has a first trigger stage ( 24 ) generating a basic trigger signal (TR) which is correlated in time with the locking tongue signal (S), the trigger circuit ( 22 ) having a second trigger stage ( 26 ) connected to the first trigger stage ( 24 ) and generating a first auxiliary trigger signal (TR 1 ) in response to a positive edge in the basic trigger signal (TR) and a second auxiliary trigger signal (TR 2 ) in response to a negative edge in the basic trigger signal (TR).

2. The control according to claim 1 , wherein at least one delay circuit ( 28 ) is provided which is connected to the second trigger stage ( 26 ) and which generates a first and/or second delayed auxiliary trigger signal (VT) delayed in time by at least a predetermined delay period (VZ) vis-à-vis the first and/or second auxiliary trigger signal (TR 1 , TR 2 ).

3. The control according to claim 2 , wherein an OR gate ( 30 ) is provided which is connected to the second trigger stage ( 26 ) and the delay circuit ( 28 ), respectively, and provides a motor trigger signal (TM) to the timer ( 32 ) in response to the first or second auxiliary trigger signal (TR 1 , TR 2 ) and the delayed auxiliary trigger signal (VT), respectively.

4. The control according to claim 1 , wherein the direction of motion of the motor ( 12 ) is selected in response to the basic trigger signal (TR).

5. The control according to claim 1 , wherein the motor control circuit ( 34 ) includes a field effect transistor ( 38 ), the gate of the field effect transistor ( 38 ) being connected to the timer ( 32 ) and a motor current being provided in response to the motor signal (M).

6. The control according to claim 1 , wherein the motor control circuit ( 34 ) has a relay ( 36 ) connected to the trigger circuit ( 22 ) and determining the direction of motion of the motor ( 12 ) in response to a trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM).

7. The control according to claim 1 , wherein a manually operable switch ( 46 ) is provided which is connected to the trigger circuit ( 22 ), the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM) being generated depending on the switch position (A).

8. The control according to claim 7 , wherein the switch ( 46 ) and the locking tongue sensor ( 20 ) are connected to the trigger circuit ( 22 ) via a logic control element ( 44 ), the logic control element ( 44 ) being configured so that at a switch position (A) the trigger circuit ( 22 ) generates the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM) independently of the locking tongue signal (S).

9. The control according to claim 1 , wherein an ignition key sensor ( 48 ) is provided which generates an ignition key signal (Z) and is connected to the trigger circuit ( 22 ), the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM) being generated depending on the ignition key signal (Z).

10. The control according to claim 9 , wherein the ignition key sensor ( 48 ) and the locking tongue sensor ( 20 ) are connected to the trigger circuit ( 22 ) via a logic control element ( 50 ), the logic control element ( 50 ) being configured so that in a condition of the ignition key signal (Z) the trigger circuit ( 22 ) generates the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM) independently of the locking tongue signal (S).

11. The control according to claim 1 , wherein sensors are provided for detecting the position of a back seat or the folding position of a front seat, especially the front passenger seat, so as to move the seat belt positioning device ( 10 ) into the engaged position.

12. A control ( 18 ) for a seat belt positioning device ( 10 ) comprising a motor ( 12 ) for positioning a seat belt component ( 16 ) comprising:
a locking tongue sensor ( 20 ) generating a locking tongue signal (S) depending on whether a locking tongue is inserted in a belt buckle ( 16 );
a trigger circuit ( 22 ) which is connected to the locking tongue sensor ( 20 ) and generates a trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM) in response to the locking tongue signal;
a motor load circuit ( 33 ) which is connected to a motor load sensor ( 35 ) detecting a motor current flowing through the motor ( 12 ) and to the trigger circuit ( 22 ) and generates a motor signal (M) in response to the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM) as long as the motor current is below a blockade current level; and
a motor control circuit ( 34 ) connected to the motor load circuit ( 33 ) and the trigger circuit ( 22 ) and turning the motor ( 12 ) on in response to the motor signal (M) and off at the end of a predetermined period of time (MZ), wherein the direction of motion of the motor ( 12 ) is selected from a first direction to position the seat belt component in a fastening position and a second direction to position the seat belt component in a retaining position depending on the trigger signal (TR, TR 1 , TR 2 , VT, TM) and
wherein the motor turns for the predetermined period of time (MZ) corresponding to a distance between the fastening position and the second position, and the trigger circuit ( 22 ) has a first trigger stage ( 24 ) generating a basic trigger signal (TR) which is correlated in time with the locking tongue signal (S), the trigger circuit ( 22 ) having a second trigger stage ( 26 ) connected to the first trigger stage ( 24 ) and generating a first auxiliary trigger signal (TR 1 ) in response to a positive edge in the basic trigger signal (TR) and a second auxiliary trigger signal (TR 2 ) in response to a negative edge in the basic trigger signal (TR).

13. The control according to claim 12 , wherein at least one delay circuit ( 28 ) is provided which is connected to the second trigger stage ( 26 ) and which generates a first and/or second delayed auxiliary trigger signal (VT) delayed in time by at least a predetermined delay period (VZ) vis-à-vis the first and/or second auxiliary trigger signal (TR 1 , TR 2 ).

14. The control according to claim 12 , wherein an OR gate ( 30 ) is provided which is connected to the second trigger stage ( 26 ) and the delay circuit ( 28 ), respectively, and provides a motor trigger signal (TM) at the motor load circuit ( 33 ) in response to the first or second auxiliary trigger signal (TR 1 , TR 2 ) and the delayed auxiliary trigger signal (VT), respectively.

15. The control according to claim 12 , wherein the direction of motion of the motor ( 12 ) is selected in response to the basic trigger signal (TR).

16. The con

Assignees

• Prokscha Martin
• Holbein Wolfgang
• Trw Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Prokscha Martin
• Holbein Wolfgang

Classifications

• B60R2022/4816

  for sensing locking of buckle · CPC title

• B60R2022/1806

  for buckles · CPC title

• H02P1/00 Primary

  Arrangements for starting electric motors or dynamo-electric converters (starting of synchronous motors with electronic commutators H02P6/20, H02P6/22; starting dynamo-electric motors rotating step by step H02P8/04; vector control H02P21/00) · CPC title

• B60R22/03 Primary

  Means for presenting the belt or part thereof to the wearer {, e.g. foot-operated} · CPC title

• B60R22/18

  Anchoring devices · CPC title