METHOD FOR PROTECTING AT LEAST ONE OCCUPANT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A method for protecting at least one occupant of a motor vehicle, including a) monitoring at least one electronic system of the motor vehicle, and b) outputting a signal for adapting at least one parameter which predefines a state of a particular reversible restraint system for the at least one occupant in response to a system error detected in the monitoring according to step a).

Claims

1. A method for protecting at least one occupant of a motor vehicle, comprising: a) monitoring at least one electronic system of the motor vehicle; and b) outputting a signal for adapting at least one parameter which predefines a state of a particular reversible restraint system for the at least one occupant in response to a system error detected in the monitoring according to step a).

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic system of the motor vehicle (1) monitored according to step a) is at least partially configured for automated driving.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the outputting of the signal takes place in step b) when at least one of the following system errors has been detected in the monitoring according to step a): a failure of a sensor, a loss of sensitivity of a sensor, a failure of a vehicle electrical system, a transition of the at least one electronic system into a safety state, a failure of a control unit, and a failure of an actuator.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal output in step b) is configured at least for adapting a setting of a particular seat belt tightener as the state of a corresponding seat belt.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal output in step b) is configured at least for adapting a setting of a particular belt force limiter as the state of a corresponding seat belt.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an adaptation carried out due to step b) is at least partially undone as soon as the motor vehicle is in a safe state.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the outputting of the signal in step b) takes place at least as a function of a surroundings monitoring of the motor vehicle.

8. A control unit for a motor vehicle, which is configured for protecting at least one occupant of the motor vehicle, the control unit configured to: a) monitor at least one electronic system of the motor vehicle; and b) output a signal for adapting at least one parameter which predefines a state of a particular reversible restraint system for the at least one occupant in response to a system error detected in the monitoring according to step a).

9. A machine-readable memory medium on which is stored a computer program for protecting at least one occupant of a motor vehicle, the computer program, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to perform: a) monitoring at least one electronic system of the motor vehicle; and b) outputting a signal for adapting at least one parameter which predefines a state of a particular reversible restraint system for the at least one occupant in response to a system error detected in the monitoring according to step a).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a representation of a motor vehicle which is configured for carrying out a method for protecting at least one occupant of the motor vehicle.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a first representation of the method for protecting at least one occupant of the motor vehicle from FIG. 1.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a second representation of the method from FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 including two occupants 2 on corresponding seats 17. Each of the occupants 2 is buckled up with a seat belt 3. Seat belts 3 each include seat belt tighteners 4 and belt force limiters 5.

[0065] Motor vehicle 1 includes an electronic system 6 which is connected to two sensors 7 and one battery 16. Electronic system 6, sensors 7, and battery 16 belong to a vehicle electric system 15. Electronic system 6 may be configured, in particular, for automated driving. In particular, for this case, surroundings of motor vehicle 1 may be detected with the aid of sensors 7.

[0066] Electronic system 6 is connected to a control unit 14 which is configured for carrying out a method for protecting occupants 2. For this purpose, control unit 14 is connected to electronic system 6 in such a way that electronic system 6 may be monitored by control unit 14, where, in particular, a system error of electronic system 6 may be detected by control unit 14. In this case, control unit 14 may output signals which are configured for adapting at least one parameter, the at least one parameter predefining a state of a particular seat belt 3 for occupants 2. The output of such a signal and a subsequent adaptation of a state of seat belt 3 take place in response to a system error detected in the monitoring of electronic system 6. In particular, control unit 14 may transmit signals for adapting seat belt tighteners 4, belt force limiters 5, and/or a seat 17 to seat belt tighteners 4, belt force limiters 5, and/or a seat 17.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a representation of the method for protecting occupants 2 of motor vehicle 1 from FIG. 1. If a system error of electronic system 6 is detected with the aid of a system error detection unit 9, an adaptation 10 of seat belt tighteners 4 may take place. In addition, an adaptation of belt force limiters 5 may be carried out. For this purpose, a small adaptation 13 of belt force limiters 5 or a large adaptation 12 of belt force limiters 5 may be carried out in a surroundings monitoring 11 according to a surroundings detection unit 8.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows yet another representation of the method from FIG. 2. It is apparent that the method includes the following steps: [0069] a) monitoring an electronic system 6 of motor vehicle 1, and [0070] b) outputting a signal for adapting at least one parameter which predefines a state of a particular seat belt 3 for occupants 2 in response to a system error detected in the monitoring according to step a).