Belt arrangement with extension measurement

Abstract

Belt arrangement (10), comprising: a seatbelt retractor (14); a first sensor (16) with a detection field (18); a belt (20) which can be retracted through the detection field (18) from the belt winder (14), wherein the belt (20) has a webbing (22) and a plurality of markings (24) attached to the webbing (22); wherein the webbing (22) has a longitudinal length and the markings (24) are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal length of the webbing (22); a processor (84) programmed to determine the length of the belt (22) extended from the belt retractor (14) at least on the basis of the number of markings (24) detected by the first sensor; and a second sensor (54) programmed to detect the direction of movement of the belt (20) into and out of the belt retractor (14), wherein the processor (84) is programmed to determine the length of the belt (22) extended from the belt retractor (14) at least on the basis of the direction of movement of the belt (20) by adding or subtracting the length of the movement from a current extension length of the belt, characterized by the fact that the belt winder (14) has a housing (50) and a coil (52) for receiving the belt (20), wherein the second sensor (54) is programmed to detect the direction of rotation of the coil (52) relative to the housing (50).

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Various systems in a vehicle can adjust their properties based on a classification of the vehicle occupant according to size, weight, etc. For example, the operation of an airbag system, such as inflation time, inflation pressure, deflation / tension, etc., during a vehicle impact can be adjusted based on the occupant's classification. As another example, the function of a seatbelt system, such as pretension, locking, load limiting, etc., can be adjusted based on the occupant's classification. This leaves an opportunity to design a measurement system for collecting information about the vehicle occupant.

[0002] German patent application DE 20 2005 020 592 U1 describes a safety belt system with up to three measuring devices, which can be located at different points on the system for measuring the length of belt segments. The belt contains markings applied at regular intervals. The measuring devices detect movement of the belt relative to the measuring device, with the markings on the belt being used to determine the absolute position of a belt segment, from whose change in position the direction of the belt's movement can be derived.

[0003] The task is to provide a simplified device for measuring the movement length of a webbing strap.

[0004] This problem is solved by a belt arrangement according to the features of claim 1 and claim 11. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with a variety of seatbelt arrangements. Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the vehicle with a belt arrangement and a guide rail. Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a belt and a sensor of the belt assembly. Fig. Figure 4A is a perspective view of part of the belt assembly with an embodiment of a marking. Fig. 4B is a perspective view of part of the belt assembly with a different embodiment of the marking. Fig. Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the sensor, a second sensor, and a control unit. Fig. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a belt retractor with the second sensor. Fig. Figure 7 is a flowchart of a process performed by the belt assembly. Fig. Figure 8 is a flowchart of a classification process performed by the belt assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] Referring to the figures, in which identical numbers in each of the several views indicate identical parts, a belt assembly 10 for a vehicle 12 comprises a belt retractor 14, a sensor 16 with a detection field 18, and a belt 20 which can be retracted from the belt retractor 14 by means of the detection field 18. As shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the belt 20 has a webbing 22 and a plurality of markings 24 attached to the webbing 22. The webbing 22 has a longitudinal length, and the markings 24 are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal length of the webbing 22, as shown with a spacing D in Figure 2. Fig. 3 and in the Fig. 4A-B can be seen.

[0006] The sensor 16 of the belt assembly 10 determines the length of the belt webbing 22 that is extended from the belt retractor 14. The size of a vehicle occupant 26, e.g., the torso 28 of the vehicle occupant 26, can be determined based on the length of the belt webbing 22 that is extended from the belt retractor 14 when the belt 20 is fastened. The vehicle occupant 26 of the vehicle 12 can be classified, at least based on the size of the vehicle occupant 26. Various systems in a vehicle 12 can adjust their properties based on the classification of a vehicle occupant 26. For example, the function of an airbag assembly (not shown) of the vehicle 12, e.g., inflation time, inflation pressure, deflation / tension, etc., during a vehicle impact can be adjusted based on the classification of the vehicle occupant 26. As a further example, the function of the belt arrangement 10, e.g. pretensioning, locking, load limiting, etc., based on the classification of the vehicle occupant 26.

[0007] As it is in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the vehicle 12 can have a vehicle body 30 with a roof 32, a floor 34, and a plurality of pillars 36. The vehicle body 30 can have a self-supporting structure, a body-on-frame structure, or any other suitable structure.

[0008] The vehicle 12 can have one or more seats 38. As can be seen in the figures, the vehicle 12 can, for example, have a large number of seats 38. As shown in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the vehicle 12 can have a variety of belt arrangements 10, which are arranged next to the seats 38.

[0009] The seats 38 can be supported by the floor 34. Alternatively, the seats 38 can be supported by the columns 36. The seats 38 can be arranged in any suitable configuration. As shown in the figures, the seats 38 can, for example, be arranged in a front row 40 and a rear row 42. The seat 38 can be, for example, a bucket seat, a bench seat, a child seat, a booster seat, or any other suitable type of seat. The seats 38 can be mounted in a fixed position on the floor 34, as shown in Fig. 1 can be seen. Alternatively, the seats 38 can be movable relative to the floor 34, e.g. in the direction of the vehicle from front to back and / or in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0010] The belt assembly 10 can have an anchor point 44, which is arranged at a distance from the belt retractor 14 and slidably receives the belt 22. The anchor point 44 can position the belt 20 such that the torso 28 of the vehicle occupant 26 is restrained during the vehicle impact. The belt 20 can be attached at three points, as shown in Fig. The anchor point 44 can be shown at one point, or it can be attached at two or four points. For example, the anchor point 44 can have a D-ring 46 that slidably receives the webbing 22. The anchor point 44 can be attached to the pillar 36 or the roof 32, e.g., for a middle seat of the vehicle 12. Alternatively, the anchor point 44 can be attached to a seat backrest (not shown).

[0011] As it is in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the anchor point 44 can be adjustable on the column 36. Consequently, the anchor point 44 can be adjusted to accommodate differences in the height and size of the vehicle occupant 26. Furthermore, with reference to Fig. 2. The belt assembly 10 can have a guide rail 48 which is fixed with respect to the column 36 and the belt retractor 14, and the anchoring point 44 can be detachably locked to the guide rail 48 at fixed points along the guide rail 48. The anchoring point 44 can thus be detached from one fixed point on the guide rail 48 and locked to another fixed point on the guide rail 48 in order to adjust the position of the anchoring point 44 on the guide rail 48.

[0012] As it is in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the belt retractor 14 can have a housing 50 and a spool 52 that receives the belt 20 in the housing 50. The housing 50 of the belt retractor 14 can be fixed to the column 36, the floor 34, or in any other suitable position. The belt 20 can be wound around or unwound from the spool 52 as it moves into or out of the belt retractor 14.

[0013] The belt assembly 10 has a second sensor 54, which is programmed to detect the direction of movement of the belt 20 into and out of the belt retractor 14. The second sensor 54 is attached to the coil 52 or to the housing 50. The second sensor 54 detects the direction of rotation of the coil 52 relative to the housing 50. The second sensor 54 can be a mechanical, magnetic, inductive, optical, or other type of sensor.

[0014] As it is in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the second sensor 54 can have a sensor element 56, a signal processor 58, and an output 60. The signal processor 58 can be programmable to detect the direction of movement of the belt 20. The output 60 of the second sensor 54 can report the direction of movement of the belt 20 as an analog or a digital signal. Alternatively, the output 60 can communicate via a communication network, e.g., a Control Area Network (CAN) or a Local Interconnect Network (LAN), or via any other communication interface.

[0015] The webbing 22 of the belt 20 can consist of a textile material woven as a flat strip. The textile material can be polyester, nylon, or any other material.

[0016] As can be seen in the figures, the markings 24 can be made of a first material, as described below, and the webbing 20 can have insulating regions made of a second material that differs from the first. The markings 24 can be arranged in an alternating relationship with the insulating regions, which are arranged in an alternating relationship along the longitudinal length of the webbing 22. In other words, the insulating regions can be a textile material of the webbing 22, arranged between adjacent markings 24.

[0017] The markings 24 can be printed on the webbing 22. Alternatively, the markings 24 of the webbing 20 can be impregnated within the webbing 22, woven into the webbing 22, etc. Various technologies can be used for printing or impregnating the markings 24. Alternatively, the markings 24 can be defined holes 80 in the webbing 22.

[0018] The sensor 16 can be positioned to detect the markings 24 as the belt 20 moves in and out of the belt retractor 14. The sensor 16 can be located at the anchor point 44 (as shown in Fig. 2 can be seen), from the belt retractor 14 (as it is in Fig. 6), can be supported by pillar 36 or in any other suitable position. In the configuration where sensor 16 is supported by anchor point 44, sensor 16 can move with anchor point 44 relative to pillar 36. Sensor 16 can be concealed from the interior of vehicle 12 by interior trim components (unnumbered).

[0019] Furthermore with reference to Fig. 3. The sensor 16 can be a proximity sensor 66, which is also referred to as a non-contact sensor. With reference to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 5. The sensor 16 can have a sensor element 68, a signal processing unit 70, and an output 72. The proximity sensor can detect the presence of the markings 24 without physical contact. Additionally, the proximity sensor 66 can detect the size, shape, material, or other properties of the marking 24. An area in which the proximity sensor 66 can detect the markings 24 is called a detection field 18. The detection field 18 can have a shape such as that shown in Fig. 3 can be seen, or exhibit various other forms.

[0020] For example, sensor 16 can be an inductive proximity sensor. The inductive proximity sensor can emit an electromagnetic field and detect changes in the electromagnetic field induced by the marker 24. In this case, the markers 24 can be made of an electrically conductive material. For example, the markers 24 can be made of copper, iron, or any electrically conductive material.

[0021] As another example, sensor 16 can be a capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor can rely on differences in the dielectric properties of the webbing 22 compared to the markings 24.

[0022] As another example, the sensor 16 can be an optoelectronic proximity sensor 74. The optoelectronic proximity sensor 74 detects the absence or presence of the markings 24 by using a light transmitter 76, e.g., laser or infrared, and a photoelectric receiver 78. As shown in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4A, the light transmitter 76 can emit light to the photoelectric receiver 78, and the markings can be holes 80 in the webbing 22. The photoelectric receiver 78 can detect the markings 24, e.g., the holes 80, by detecting a change in the light when the markings 24 pass the photoelectric receiver 78 between the light transmitter 76 and the photoelectric receiver 78. As shown in Figure 4A, the light transmitter 76 can emit light to the photoelectric receiver 78, and the markings 24 can be holes 80 in the webbing 22. The photoelectric receiver 78 can detect the markings 24, e.g., the holes 80, by detecting a change in the light when the markings 24 pass the photoelectric receiver 78 between the light transmitter 76 and the photoelectric receiver 78. Fig. As shown in Figure 4B, the light emitter 76 can alternatively be arranged next to the photoelectric receiver 78. In this configuration, the light emitter 76 can emit light towards the webbing 22, and the light is reflected back to the photoelectric receiver 78 as a reflected beam. The photoelectric receiver 78 can detect the markers 24 by changes in the properties of the reflected beam; for example, the reflection intensity or a wavelength of the light reflected by the markers 24 can differ from the reflection intensity or wavelength of the light reflected by the webbing 22.

[0023] As it is in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the length of the extended seat belt 22 can depend on the size of the vehicle occupant 26 when the belt 20 is fastened. For example, the length of the extended seat belt 22 for a taller vehicle occupant is longer than the length of the seat belt 22 extended for a shorter vehicle occupant, e.g., a child. The length of the extended seat belt 22 can be used to determine the size of the vehicle occupant 26. As mentioned above, the size of the vehicle occupant 26 can be used to classify the vehicle occupant 26.

[0024] The vehicle 12 can have a processor 84 programmed to determine the length of the belt 22 extended from the belt retractor 14, at least based on the detection of the markings 24 by the sensor 16. The processor 84 can be embedded in a microcontroller. The microcontroller can have memory, etc. The microcontroller's memory can store instructions that can be executed by the processor 84, and the processor 84 can read the instructions from the memory and execute them. As described in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the processor 84 can be integrated into a control unit 86, e.g., an electronic control unit that communicates with the sensor 16 via an input 88. Alternatively, the processor 84 can be integrated into the sensor 16. The extended length of the belt 22 can be transmitted to other control units, e.g., an airbag control unit, via a communication network interface 90, which is connected to the communication network, e.g., a Control Area Network (CAN).

[0025] Fig. Figure 7 shows a flowchart of an example process 300, which can be executed by the belt assembly 10. The processor 84 can be programmed to execute process 300. Process 300 can calculate a current extension length based on the currently extended length of the belt 22.

[0026] Furthermore with reference to Fig. At point 7, processor 84 in block 310 can begin executing process 300. This can occur at any time, for example, when a door of vehicle 12 is opened or when vehicle occupant 26 is seated in seat 38. This ensures that a change in the extended length is detected even if vehicle occupant 26 fastens the seat belt 20 before a command to start the engine is executed.

[0027] In block 320, the process can retrieve an initial value for the extension length. This step can also include adjusting the initial value based on the setting of the anchor point 44's position on the guide rail 48. In block 330, the current extension length is updated. This can be based on the initial value retrieved in block 320 or on the calculation steps in block 360 or 370.

[0028] In block 340, the process can recursively wait for a movement length report from sensor 16. In response to this report, the process in block 350 can verify the direction of movement reported by the second sensor 54. In response to the movement from the belt retractor 14, the process can proceed to block 360 and add the movement length reported by sensor 16 to the current extension length, resulting in an increase in the extension length. Conversely, in response to the movement into the belt retractor 14, the process can proceed to block 370 and subtract the movement length reported by sensor 16 from the current extension length, resulting in a decrease in the extension length. The current extension length is updated in block 330 based on a result from block 360 or 370.

[0029] Fig.Figure 8 shows an example of a classification process 400, which can be executed by the seatbelt assembly 10. The processor 84 can be programmed to execute the classification process 400. The classification process 400 can classify the vehicle occupant 26 of seat 38 into different classes. This information can be used by other systems in the vehicle 12, e.g., to improve the function of the other systems.

[0030] In block 410, the classification process can retrieve the current extension length, which can be calculated by process 300. In block 420, the size of the vehicle occupant 26 can be estimated. This step can also consider other information provided by any other system in the vehicle 12, such as the weight of the vehicle occupant 26 and the position of the seat 38. In block 430, the class of the vehicle occupant 26 can be determined. The classes can be in the form of discrete values, such as small, medium, and large. Alternatively, they can be in the form of values ​​describing physical characteristics of the vehicle occupant 26, such as height, waist circumference, etc. In block 440, the classification process can provide the class of the vehicle occupant 26 for other vehicle systems, such as the airbag control.

Claims

[1] Belt assembly (10), comprising: a seatbelt retractor (14); a first sensor (16) with a detection field (18); a belt (20) which can be retracted through the detection field (18) from the belt winder (14), wherein the belt (20) has a webbing (22) and a plurality of markings (24) attached to the webbing (22); wherein the webbing (22) has a longitudinal length and the markings (24) are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal length of the webbing (22); a processor (84) programmed to determine the length of the belt (22) extended from the belt retractor (14) at least on the basis of the number of markings (24) detected by the first sensor; and a second sensor (54) programmed to detect the direction of movement of the belt (20) into and out of the belt retractor (14), wherein the processor (84) is programmed to determine the length of the belt (22) extended from the belt retractor (14) at least on the basis of the direction of movement of the belt (20) by adding or subtracting the length of the movement from a current extension length of the belt, characterized by , that the belt winder (14) has a housing (50) and a coil (52) for receiving the belt (20), wherein the second sensor (54) is programmed to detect the direction of rotation of the coil (52) relative to the housing (50). [2] Belt assembly (10) according to claim 1, further comprising an anchoring point (44) which is arranged at a distance from the belt winder (14) and which slidably receives the belt (22), wherein the first sensor (16) is located next to the anchoring point (44). [3] Belt assembly (10) according to claim 2, further comprising a guide rail (48) which is attached to the belt winder (14), wherein the anchoring point (44) can be detachably locked to the guide rail (48) at fixed points along the guide rail (48). [4] Belt assembly (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor (16) is located next to the belt retractor (14). [5] Belt arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first sensor (16) is a proximity sensor. [6] Belt arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first sensor (16) is an inductive proximity sensor. [7] Belt arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first sensor (16) is a capacitive proximity sensor. [8] Belt arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first sensor (16) is an optoelectronic proximity sensor. [9] Belt arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the markings (24) consist of an electrically conductive material. [10] Belt arrangement (10) according to claim 1, wherein the markings (24) consist of a first material, and wherein the belt (20) has insulating regions which consist of a second material which differs from the first material, wherein the markings (24) are arranged in an alternating relationship with the insulating regions along the longitudinal length of the belt (22). [11] Belt assembly (10), comprising: a seatbelt retractor (14); a belt (20) which is retractable from the belt winder (14), wherein the belt (20) has a webbing (22) and a plurality of markings (24) attached to the webbing (22), wherein the webbing (22) has a longitudinal length, wherein the markings (24) are arranged at uniform intervals along the longitudinal length of the webbing (22); an anchoring point (44) which is arranged at a distance from the belt retractor (14) and which slidably receives the belt (22); and a first sensor (16) next to the anchoring point (44), which is arranged to detect the markings (24), and a second sensor (54) programmed to detect the direction of movement of the belt (20) into and out of the belt retractor (14), wherein the belt retractor (14) has a housing (50) and a coil (52) receiving the belt (20), wherein the second sensor (54) is programmed to detect the direction of rotation of the coil (52) relative to the housing (50). [12] Belt arrangement (10) according to claim 11, wherein the first sensor (16) is attached to the anchoring point (44). [13] Belt assembly (10) according to one of claims 11 or 12, further comprising a processor (84) programmed to determine a length of the belt (22) drawn out of the belt winder (14) at least on the basis of the number of markings (24) detected by the first sensor (16).

Images