Vehicle Seatbelt Motor Control Using Webbing Pull Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seatbelt devices for vehicles require additional switches for fine-adjusting motor control settings, which clutter the passenger compartment and obstruct other controls, making it undesirable to add dedicated switches.
Innovation Solution
A seatbelt device with a motor control system that includes an input determination device to identify artificial input signals from the seatbelt operation section, allowing setting changes without a dedicated switch, using signals from the winding position detection device and buckle switch to enable passengers to adjust settings by holding and pulling the webbing for a predetermined time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated setting switch is added inside the passenger compartment for fine-adjusting seatbelt control settings, then the adaptability of the seatbelt device is improved, but the device complexity and interior clutter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seatbelt operation section (buckle, guide, etc.) is designed to serve dual purposes: its original function of seatbelt fastening/operation and a new function as an input device for setting adjustment. When the seatbelt webbing is pulled for a predetermined period, the input determination device detects this as an artificial input signal and processes it as a setting change command, enabling the same physical component to perform multiple functions without adding dedicated controls
Solution Approach 2:
The seatbelt system uses its own operational components (webbing, buckle, guide) to provide the setting adjustment function, rather than requiring external dedicated controls. The system serves itself by utilizing the existing seatbelt operation section as both the restraint mechanism and the input interface for control parameter adjustment
2Device complexity
If the seatbelt operation section is used as an input device for setting adjustment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the difficulty of detecting artificial input signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses time-based periodic detection to distinguish artificial input signals from normal operational signals. The input determination device monitors the duration of webbing pull events and identifies artificial inputs when the pull exceeds a predetermined time threshold, using temporal patterns to differentiate intentional setting changes from routine seatbelt operations
Solution Approach 2:
The winding position detection device continuously provides feedback signals to the controller about the belt reel position. By analyzing the temporal pattern and duration of changes in this feedback signal, the system can distinguish between normal seatbelt usage and intentional setting adjustment commands
Data Source
AI summary
A seatbelt device for a vehicle provided with: a webbing that restrains a passenger seated on a seat; a belt reel on which the webbing is wound; a motor that rotation-drives the belt reel; a motor control device that controls the motor; an input determination device that determines whether or not an input signal from a seatbelt operation section including the webbing is an artificial input signal; and a command output device that outputs a setting change command to the motor control device according to a determination result from the input determination device.