Adaptive Seat Belt Webbing Guide for Personalized Restraint Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat belt systems fail to optimally accommodate diverse occupant physiologies, leading to suboptimal placement that can cause discomfort or increased risk of twisting during accidents.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive seat belt system that adjusts seat belt webbing position based on occupant physiology using sensors and a webbing guide component, controlled by a processor and memory system, to ensure secure and comfortable restraint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed seat belt webbing position is used to secure a first occupant with a larger frame, then the seat belt provides adequate restraint, but the webbing may rub on the neck or sternum of a second occupant with a smaller frame
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable webbing guide that can dynamically adjust its position along the seat belt webbing based on detected occupant physiology. The guide transitions from a fixed position to a movable, adjustable position, allowing the system to optimize webbing placement for different occupant sizes and shapes, thereby preventing neck or sternum irritation while maintaining restraint effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the webbing guide along the webbing length based on detected occupant characteristics. By varying the guide's position parameter in response to different occupant physiologies, the system adapts the webbing placement to avoid harmful contact with the neck or sternum of smaller occupants while maintaining adequate restraint for larger occupants.
2Reliability
If a seat belt configuration is optimized for a first occupant's physiology, then secure restraint is achieved, but a second occupant with different physiology may twist out from under the seat belt during an accident
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors to detect occupant physiology and provides feedback to the control system, which then adjusts the webbing guide position accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to different occupant physiologies, ensuring secure restraint for each individual rather than relying on a fixed configuration that may not suit all occupants.
Solution Approach 2:
The webbing guide is designed as a dynamic component that can change its position along the webbing based on real-time detection of occupant characteristics. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to optimize restraint geometry for each occupant, preventing smaller occupants from twisting out during accidents while maintaining adequate restraint for larger occupants.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of seat belt webbing position is required to accommodate different occupants, then customization is possible, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-adjusting system where sensors automatically detect occupant physiology and the control system autonomously positions the webbing guide without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the need for occupants to manually adjust the seat belt, making the system as easy to use as traditional fixed seat belts while providing customized positioning adapted to each occupant's physiology.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of occupant physiology and pre-adjusts the webbing guide position before the occupant needs to be restrained. This preliminary action ensures the seat belt is already optimized for the detected occupant when they need to be secured, eliminating any manual adjustment steps and streamlining the operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems and methods are presented regarding automatically controlling a position of a seat belt located onboard a vehicle, wherein the position is controlled in accordance with physiology of an occupant utilizing the seat belt. By adjusting the position of the seat belt in accordance with the occupant's physiology, the seat belt system can be configured to improve operation of the seat belt in restraining the occupant during vehicle deceleration. Position of the seat belt can be controlled by a guidance device comprising a loop through which the seatbelt is fed, with the loop being positioned along at least one axis of motion. A motor can be utilized to control positioning of the loop, wherein the motor can be controlled by a system configured to receive data from one or more sensors regarding any of the occupant's physiology, operation of the seat belt, position of the loop, and suchlike.