Adaptive Vehicle Restraint System for Forward-Leaning Occupant Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle occupant safety systems are not effectively adapted to individual occupants, as they lack simple and cost-efficient methods to detect and respond to variations in sitting position and weight distribution, which can affect the deployment of restraint devices during accidents.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle occupant safety system that includes seat sensors to detect sitting position and belt extension sensors to determine if a driver is leaning forward, allowing the control unit to adjust restraint device parameters such as airbag deployment depth, gas generator ignition, and belt tensioner settings to optimize restraint in case of an accident.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If expensive detection systems such as cameras or infrared sensors are used to detect occupant position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of occupant position detection with existing seat and seatbelt components. The seat sensor integrates weight distribution detection into the seat structure, and the belt extension sensor utilizes the seatbelt system itself as the detection mechanism, merging detection functions with structural components to reduce overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The seat and seatbelt components serve dual purposes: they provide their primary structural and restraint functions while simultaneously acting as sensors for occupant position detection. The seat sensor detects both weight and position, and the belt extension sensor monitors both seatbelt deployment and occupant movement, making these components multi-functional and eliminating the need for separate detection systems
2Device complexity
If simple detection systems are used to keep costs minimum, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of occupant position detection with existing seat and seatbelt components. The seat sensor integrates weight distribution detection into the seat structure, and the belt extension sensor utilizes the seatbelt system itself as the detection mechanism, merging detection functions with structural components to reduce overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit processes signals from both the seat sensor and belt extension sensor to determine occupant position with high accuracy. By combining feedback from multiple simple sensors rather than relying on a single complex sensor, the system achieves reliable measurement precision through data fusion and logical analysis of combined sensor inputs
3Reliability
If restraint devices are adapted to actual occupant position rather than average occupant, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system transitions from static, fixed-parameter design to dynamic, adaptive control based on real-time occupant position detection. The control unit continuously monitors seat sensor and belt extension sensor signals, and adjusts restraint device parameters dynamically to match the actual occupant position, ensuring optimal restraint effectiveness for each situation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters of the restraint devices based on detected occupant position. The control unit adjusts parameters such as airbag deployment timing and force, seatbelt pre-tensioning levels, and belt force limiter thresholds according to the occupant's actual position, enabling the restraint system to adapt its characteristics to different occupancy scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle occupant safety system has at least one restraint device having at least one adjustable parameter, a vehicle seat having at least one seat sensor detecting the sitting position of a vehicle occupant, a seatbelt system having at least one belt extension sensor detecting the belt extension length, and a control unit determining from the values from the seat sensor and from the belt extension sensor whether a vehicle occupant is in a forward-leaning position. The control unit then specifies the value of the adjustable parameter of the restraint device as a function of a forward-leaning position of the vehicle occupant.