Vehicle seat belt system

Abstract

To provide a seat belt system for a vehicle capable of preventing the behavior of the vehicle from becoming unstable when a function is operated during the traveling of the vehicle.SOLUTION: A seatbelt system 1 of a vehicle includes a seatbelt 20 that restrains a driver 100 to a driver's seat 110, a buckle 22 that detachably fastens a tongue plate 21 provided on the seatbelt 20, a retractor unit 3 that retracts the seatbelt 20, a sensor 15 that detects a withdrawn state of the seatbelt 20 from the retractor unit 3, and a control unit 2 to which a detection signal of the sensor 15 is input, and the control unit 2 executes various functions set in association with an operation pattern in which the seatbelt 20 is withdrawn by the driver 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat belt system for a vehicle that restrains the body of an occupant in a seat. [Background technology]

[0002] A vehicle seat belt device restrains an occupant's body in a seat by pulling out the belt from a retractor fixed to a vehicle pillar and fastening a buckle to a belt anchor fixed to the vehicle floor. Such a seat belt device is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a switch is provided in the seat belt buckle and used to operate the door lock release. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-96353 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Meanwhile, a driver may reach out to operate various functions while the vehicle is moving. In this case, the driver needs to operate the functions with one hand off the steering wheel while paying attention to the environment ahead. In addition, when the driver reaches out to operate the functions, there is a risk that the driver will take their eyes off the road, which may cause the vehicle to behave unstably while moving.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a seat belt system for a vehicle that prevents the vehicle's behavior from becoming unstable when a function is operated while the vehicle is running. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vehicle seat belt system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a seat belt that restrains a driver in a driver's seat, a buckle that detachably fastens a tongue plate provided on the seat belt, a retractor unit that retracts the seat belt, a sensor that detects the withdrawal state of the seat belt from the retractor unit, and a control unit to which the detection signal of the sensor is input, and the control unit executes various functions that are set in association with the operation pattern by the driver to withdraw the seat belt. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a seat belt system for a vehicle that prevents the behavior of the vehicle from becoming unstable when a function is operated while the vehicle is running. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] A diagram showing the driver seated in the driver's seat and the vehicle's seat belt system. [Figure 2] A block diagram showing an outline of a seat belt system for a vehicle. [Figure 3] A flowchart for selecting and registering a function to be associated with a desired operation pattern for pulling a seat belt by a driver. [Figure 4] Illustration showing the information display with a list of seat belt retraction functions [Figure 5] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of control executed by a control unit of a seat belt system of a vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of one aspect of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings used in the following description, each component is shown at a different scale so that it can be recognized on the drawing, and the present invention is not limited to the number of components, the shape of the components, the size ratio of the components, and the relative positional relationship of the components shown in these drawings.

[0010] 1, a seat belt 20 of a vehicle such as an automobile is a so-called three-point occupant protection device that restrains the upper body and waist of a driver 100 seated in a driver's seat 110. In addition to the driver's seat 110, the seat belt 20 is also provided on the passenger seat side and rear seat side of the vehicle.

[0011] The seat belt 20 is provided with a tongue plate 21. The tongue plate 21 is configured to be relatively movable along the seat belt 20. The tongue plate 21 is configured to be freely fastened to a buckle 22.

[0012] The buckle 22 is disposed on the side of the driver's seat 110. The buckle 22 is connected to a floor panel (not shown) of the vehicle body. When the driver 100 fastens the seat belt 20, the tongue plate 21 is removably fastened to the buckle 22.

[0013] Specifically, a tongue plate 21 provided on the seat belt 20 is inserted into a tongue insertion hole of the buckle 22. The tongue plate 21 engages with an engagement mechanism (not shown) provided in the buckle 22 and is fastened to the buckle 22.

[0014] In addition, a release button (not shown) is provided on the buckle 22. When the release button is pressed, the tongue plate 21 and the buckle 22 are disengaged from each other, thereby releasing the fastening.

[0015] When the seat belt 20 is worn by the driver 100 with the tongue plate 21 fastened to the buckle 22, the seat belt 20 is configured as a shoulder belt extending from the tongue plate 21 toward the chest and shoulders of the driver 100. The seat belt 20 is also configured as a lap belt extending from the tongue plate 21 toward the waist and lower abdomen of the driver 100.

[0016] In this way, the portion of the seat belt 20 that constitutes the shoulder belt extends obliquely to the front of the upper body of the driver 100, restraining the chest and shoulders of the driver 100. Furthermore, the portion of the seat belt 20 that constitutes the lap belt extends in the left-right direction in front of the waist and lower abdomen of the driver 100, restraining the waist and abdomen of the driver 100.

[0017] The seat belt 20 is passed through a shoulder anchor 25 installed on a pillar (not shown) of the vehicle body. This shoulder anchor 25 is installed on the pillar near the shoulder of the driver 100. The seat belt 20 is then inserted from the shoulder anchor 25 into the pillar and connected to a retractor unit 3, which will be described later.

[0018] Here, the vehicle seat belt system 1 of this embodiment includes a seat belt 20, a tongue plate 21, a buckle 22, and a shoulder anchor 25 shown in Figure 1, and has a control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU) 2, a retractor unit 3, a buckle sensor 4, a camera 5, a driver monitoring system (hereinafter referred to as DMS) 6, an operation unit 7, an information display 8, and a turn signal control unit (hereinafter referred to as turn signal ECU) 10 shown in Figure 2.

[0019] The ECU 2 is connected to the retractor unit 3, the buckle sensor 4, the DMS 6, the operation unit 7, the information display 8, and the turn signal ECU 10. The ECU 2 can also be integrated with the retractor unit 3.

[0020] The ECU 2 receives a detection signal from a buckle sensor 4 that detects fastening of the tongue plate 21 and the buckle 22. The buckle sensor 4 is provided in the buckle 22.

[0021] The ECU 2 outputs a control signal to the DMS 6 to store the set positions of the driver's seat 110, door mirrors, etc. of the driver 100 whose face has been recognized from the image captured by the camera 5.

[0022] Based on input from the operation unit 7, the ECU 2 outputs control signals for executing various vehicle settings, car navigation settings, air conditioning settings, radio settings, television settings, etc., which are displayed on the information display 8.

[0023] The operation unit 7 is provided on a console where the shift lever and the like are located, on the steering spokes, etc. The various settings displayed on the information display 8 can also be input by operating the touch panel of the information display 8.

[0024] The information display 8 can take various forms, and the present invention is applicable to any of them. The information display 8 includes, for example, a multi-information display provided in an instrument panel that displays information on fuel economy and various driving-related information in addition to instruments that display a speedometer and engine RPM.

[0025] Furthermore, the information display 8 displays basic screens such as car navigation, date, time, and fuel economy, and also includes a multi-function display located above the center of the dashboard that allows customization of various items such as DMS settings, and a center information display located in the audio space below the center of the dashboard.

[0026] The ECU 2 outputs a control signal to the turn indicator ECU 10. The turn indicator ECU 10 controls the lighting of four turn indicators (winkers) 11, 12 provided on the left and right sides of the front and rear of the vehicle body.

[0027] The retractor unit 3 retracts and stores a portion of the seat belt 20. The retractor unit 3 is equipped with a hall sensor 15 and an electric seat belt tensioner 16.

[0028] The Hall sensor 15 detects the withdrawal state, such as the amount of movement of the seat belt 20, such as the amount of payout (pulling out) and amount of retraction (pulling in) from the retractor unit 3. The Hall sensor 15 outputs a detection signal of the detected amount of movement of the seat belt 20 to the ECU 2. Note that the sensor for detecting the withdrawal state of the seat belt 20 is not limited to the Hall sensor 15, and various sensors may be used.

[0029] The electric seatbelt tensioner 16 is equipped with a motor (not shown) that retracts the seatbelt 20 using the retractor unit 3. In other words, the electric seatbelt tensioner 16 is a device that removes slack (slag) in the seatbelt 20 using the retractor unit 3.

[0030] The ECU 2 outputs a control signal to the electric seat belt tensioner 16 to remove slack (slag) in the seat belt 20 based on a detection signal input from the buckle sensor 4 that detects the fastening of the tongue plate 21 and the buckle 22 and a detection signal input from the Hall sensor 15 that detects the amount of movement of the seat belt 20.

[0031] The vehicle seat belt system 1 configured as above is configured so that the driver 100 can set and operate various functions of the vehicle in accordance with an arbitrary withdrawal pattern of the seat belt 20.

[0032] First, the setting operation of the vehicle seat belt system 1 by the driver 100 will be described below based on the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the setting screen of the information display 8 of FIG.

[0033] 3, the driver 100 turns on the ignition (S1), and then opens the setting screen of the information display 8 (S2).

[0034] At this time, the driver 100 opens the setting screen of the information display 8 by operating the operation unit 7 or the touch panel of the information display 8, and selects, for example, the function setting of the seat belt 20 as shown in FIG. 4 (S3).

[0035] The driver 100 selects a desired function displayed on the information display 8 (S4). Note that Fig. 4 shows examples of function items such as hazard lamp illumination (short time), hazard lamp illumination (long time), seat belt slack removal, and DMS registration.

[0036] The hazard lamp lighting (short time) function is a function that flashes the four direction indicators 11, 12 approximately three times. This hazard lamp lighting (short time) is an operation setting to be used, for example, when a so-called thank you hazard warning light is on.

[0037] The hazard lamp lighting (long time) is a function that flashes the four direction indicators 11, 12 for a long time. This hazard lamp lighting (long time) is an operation setting to be used when parking or stopping, at the end of a traffic jam, etc.

[0038] The seat belt slag removal is an operation setting when the electric seat belt tensioner 16 of the retractor unit 3 pulls in the seat belt 20 to remove slack.

[0039] DMS registration is an operation setting for registering the facial recognition of the driver 100 photographed by the camera 5, as well as the current positions of the driver's seat 110, door mirrors, etc. DMS registration also includes, for example, operation settings for re-registering a driver 100 who has already been registered and has changed the positions of the driver's seat 110, door mirrors, etc.

[0040] The above-mentioned function items are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these functions, and various function items of the vehicle can be preset. That is, since the functions that each driver 100 wants to link vary, various functions that link with the operation of withdrawing the seat belt 20 can be customized.

[0041] After selecting the desired function, the driver 100 unwinds the seat belt 20 to perform the desired operation pattern (S5). At this time, the driver 100 unwinds the seat belt 20 in the desired operation pattern, for example. The driver 100 can register various operation patterns, for example, unwinding the seat belt 20 two or three times in succession within a predetermined time. Also, various operation patterns can be registered based on the speed at which the seat belt 20 is unwinded, for example.

[0042] In this way, the association between the operation pattern of the seat belt 20 and the selected function is registered (S6). The operation pattern of the seat belt 20 for the selected function is registered by inputting a detection signal detected by the hall sensor 15 to the ECU 2. The operation pattern of the seat belt 20 may be registered by operating the operation unit 7 or the touch panel of the information display 8.

[0043] Next, a control example when the ECU 2 of the vehicle seat belt system 1 executes a function according to an arbitrary pattern of the number of times the seat belt 20 is withdrawn will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0044] The ECU 2 of the vehicle seat belt system 1 determines whether the ignition is turned on (S21). If the ignition is not turned on (step S21: NO), the ECU 2 returns to the determination routine of step S21.

[0045] When the ignition is turned on (step S21: YES), the ECU 2 monitors the fastening state of the buckle 22 (S22). The ECU 2 monitors the input of a detection signal from the buckle sensor 4.

[0046] Then, the ECU 2 determines whether or not a detection signal has been input from the buckle sensor 4 (S23). If a detection signal has not been input from the buckle sensor 4 (step S23: NO), the ECU 2 returns to step S22 and continues to monitor the input of a detection signal from the buckle sensor 4.

[0047] When the detection signal is input from the buckle sensor 4 (step S23: YES), the ECU 2 determines whether or not the tongue plate 21 is fastened to the buckle 22 (S24). The ECU 2 determines whether or not a detection signal indicating that the tongue plate 21 and the buckle 22 are engaged and fastened, as detected by the buckle sensor 4, has been input.

[0048] If the tongue plate 21 is not fastened to the buckle 22 (step S24: NO), the ECU 2 returns to step S22 and continues to monitor the input of the detection signal from the buckle sensor 4.

[0049] When the tongue plate 21 is fastened to the buckle 22 (step S24: YES), the ECU 2 monitors the withdrawn state of the seat belt 20 (S25). When the tongue plate 21 and the buckle 22 are fastened, the ECU 2 receives a detection signal indicating the amount of withdrawal of the seat belt 20 from the hall sensor 15.

[0050] Here, the ECU 2 sets the amount of withdrawal of the seat belt 20 to a reference value based on the detection signal input from the Hall sensor 15. When the electric seat belt tensioner 16 is activated to remove slag from the seat belt 20, the ECU 2 sets the amount of withdrawal of the seat belt 20 after the slag is removed to the reference value.

[0051] Then, the ECU 2 determines whether or not a detection signal from the Hall sensor 15 has been input (S26). If a detection signal from the Hall sensor 15 has not been input (step S26: NO), the ECU 2 returns to step S22 and continues to monitor the unretracted state of the seat belt 20.

[0052] When the detection signal of the Hall sensor 15 is input (step S26: YES), the ECU 2 detects the operation pattern of the seat belt 20 within a predetermined time (S27). The ECU 2 detects the operation pattern of the seat belt 20 within the predetermined time based on the detection signal of the movement amount of the seat belt 20, which is input from the Hall sensor 15, that is the amount of payout (pulling out) and amount of retraction (pulling in).

[0053] Then, the ECU 2 determines whether or not an operation pattern within a predetermined time period has been registered (S28). The ECU 2 determines whether or not the detected operation pattern of the seat belt 20 matches the registered operation pattern.

[0054] If an operation pattern of the seat belt 20 is registered, the ECU 2 executes a function corresponding to the operation pattern (S29). In accordance with the registered operation pattern, the ECU 2 executes functions set by the driver 100, such as turning on the hazard lamps (for a short time), turning on the hazard lamps (for a long time), removing seat belt slack, and registering the DMS, as described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

[0055] If the operation pattern of the seat belt 20 is not registered, the ECU 2 returns to step S22 and monitors the unwinding state of the seat belt 20.

[0056] Then, the ECU 2 determines whether the ignition is turned off (S30). If the ignition is not turned off, the ECU 2 returns to step S22 and monitors the withdrawn state of the seat belt 20. If the ignition is turned off, the ECU 2 ends the control routine of FIG. 5.

[0057] As described above, the vehicle seat belt system 1 detects the fastening state of the tongue plate 21 and the buckle 22, which are also provided on the seat belt 20, and then detects the withdrawn state of the seat belt 20 using the Hall sensor 15 provided on the retractor unit 3.

[0058] The vehicle seat belt system 1 then determines whether the state of the seat belt 20 pulled out by the driver 100 is a pre-registered operation pattern, and performs various pre-set functions associated with that operation pattern.

[0059] In the seat belt system 1 of the vehicle, the driver 100 uses the information display 8 to register desired operation patterns of the seat belt 20 in association with various functions to be executed.

[0060] The vehicle seat belt system 1 of the present embodiment described above is configured such that various functional operations are associated with predetermined operation patterns for pulling out the seat belt 20. As a result, the vehicle seat belt system 1 not only improves the convenience of various functional operations by the driver 100, but also allows the driver 100 to operate the vehicle functions without having to take his / her hands off the steering wheel and reach out while the vehicle is moving.

[0061] That is, the driver 100 can operate the vehicle functions by pulling out the seat belt 20 without taking his / her eyes off the road. Therefore, the vehicle seat belt system 1 can prevent the vehicle behavior from becoming unstable when the functions are operated while the vehicle is traveling.

[0062] The ECU 2 of the vehicle seat belt system 1 has a processor including a central processing unit (CPU) and storage devices such as a ROM and a RAM. All or part of the configuration of the processor's circuits may be implemented by software. For example, the CPU may read and execute various programs corresponding to the respective functions stored in the ROM.

[0063] Furthermore, all or part of the functions of the processor may be configured using logic circuits or analog circuits, and the processing of various programs may be realized by electronic circuits such as FPGAs.

[0064] The invention described in the above embodiments is not limited to those embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the gist of the invention. Furthermore, each of the above embodiments includes inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriate combinations of the disclosed multiple constituent elements.

[0065] For example, if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in each form, and the stated problem can still be solved and the stated effect can still be obtained, then the configuration from which these constituent elements have been deleted can be extracted as an invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1...Vehicle seat belt system 2...Control unit (ECU) 3...Retractor unit 5. Camera 6...Driver Monitoring System (DMS) 7...Operation unit 8...Information display 10...Turn indicator control unit (ECU) 11,12...Turn indicators 15...Hall sensor 16...Electric seat belt tensioner 20...Seatbelt 21...Tang plate 22...Buckle 25...Shoulder anchor 100...Driver (passenger) 110...Driver's seat

Claims

1. A seat belt that restrains the driver in the driver's seat; a buckle for detachably fastening a tongue plate provided on the seat belt; a retractor unit that retracts the seat belt; a sensor for detecting a state in which the seat belt is withdrawn from the retractor unit; a control unit to which a detection signal from the sensor is input; Equipped with The control unit executes various functions associated with an operation pattern of the driver pulling out the seat belt.

2. 2. The seat belt system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an information display for registering in the control unit the various functions associated with the operation pattern desired by the driver.

3. 3. The vehicle seat belt system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit executes the flashing of four direction indicators and the turning on of hazard lamps in response to the detection of the operation pattern.

4. 4. The vehicle seat belt system according to claim 3, wherein the various functions include a function to turn on the hazard lamp for a short time and a function to turn on the hazard lamp for a long time.

5. a buckle sensor that detects fastening of the tongue plate and the buckle; an electric seat belt tensioner that removes slack in the seat belt; a driver monitoring system connected to a camera that captures an image of the driver; and 5. The vehicle seat belt system according to claim 4, wherein the control unit receives a detection signal from the buckle sensor indicating that the tongue plate and the buckle have been fastened, and causes the electric seat belt tensioner associated with the predetermined operation pattern to remove slack in the seat belt, or causes the driver monitoring system to register facial recognition of the driver.

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