METHOD FOR A SEAT BELT SYSTEM, SEAT BELT SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE COMPRISING A SEAT BELT SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle (14), the seat belt system (10) comprising a control unit (36) and at least one extendable seat belt (18) with a locking tongue (22), at least one belt buckle (24) and at least one webbing extension measuring device (30), includes the steps of: a) determining the webbing extension by means of the webbing extension measuring device (30), b) determining whether a buckling operation has occurred, c) activating at least one guide element on the belt buckle (24) and/or the seat belt (18), if a buckling operation has occurred.

Moreover, the invention provides a seat belt system (10) for a vehicle (14) comprising an extendable seat belt (18) as well as a vehicle comprising a seat belt system (10).

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle (14), the seat belt system (10) comprising a control unit (36) and at least one extendable seat belt (18) with a locking tongue (22), at least one belt buckle (24) and at least one a webbing extension measuring device (30), including the steps of: a) determining a webbing extension by means of the webbing extension measuring device (30), b) determining whether a buckling operation has occurred, c) activating at least one guide element (40) on the belt buckle (24) and/or the seat belt (18), if a buckling operation has occurred.

12. The method for a seat belt system (10) according to claim 11, wherein the guide element (40) on the belt buckle (24) and/or the seat belt (18) is deactivated as soon as the locking tongue (22) engages in the belt buckle (24) and the buckling operation is completed.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the guide element (40) comprises an output device for generating a visual and/or an acoustic and/or a haptic signal.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the seat belt system comprises plural extendable seat belts (18) with locking tongues (22), plural belt buckles (24) and plural webbing extension measuring devices (30), in particular wherein an extendable seat belt (18) with a locking tongue (22), a belt buckle (24) and a webbing extension measuring device (30) are associated with each vehicle seat (16).

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein a warning signal is output via the output device of the guide element (40) and/or another output device (34), if the locking tongue (22) of the seat belt (18) is not inserted into the belt buckle (28) associated with the seat belt (18).

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the output device of the guide element (40) is in the form of an illuminant (42), in particular wherein the illuminant (42) is suitable for displaying different colors.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the webbing extension is measured relatively or absolutely or quasi absolutely.

18. A seat belt system (10) for a vehicle (14), comprising an extendable seat belt (18) with a locking tongue (22), a belt buckle (24), a webbing extension measuring device (30) and a control unit (36) which is adapted to carry out the method according to claim 11.

19. The seat belt system according to claim 18, comprising plural extendable seat belts (18) with locking tongues (22), plural belt buckles (24) and plural webbing extension measuring devices (30), in particular wherein an extendable seat belt (18) with a locking tongue (22), a belt buckle (24) and a webbing extension measuring device (30) are associated with each vehicle seat (16).

20. A vehicle (14) comprising a seat belt system (10) according to claim 18.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Further advantages and features will be evident from the following description and the attached drawings, wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle according to the invention comprising a seat belt system according to the invention, and

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a belt buckle including a guide element.

DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a seat belt system 10 for a vehicle occupant 12 in a vehicle 14 which is a passenger car in this case. The vehicle occupant 12 is sitting in a vehicle seat 16 of the vehicle 14. The vehicle 14 has a drive for accelerating the vehicle 14 and a braking device for decelerating the vehicle 14.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment, the seat belt system 10 may be provided for any seats in a vehicle 14 to protect the respective vehicle occupant 12 in a case of restraint, such as a crash.

[0033] In particular, the seat belt system 10 is suited for use in any vehicles, specifically autonomously driving vehicles.

[0034] The seat belt system 10 comprises a seat belt 18 with a webbing 20 and a locking tongue 22 as well as a belt buckle 24 which the locking tongue 22 can engage with. The webbing 20 serves to restrain the vehicle occupant 12 in the vehicle seat 16, when the belt buckle 24 is locked. The belt buckle 24 is locked by the locking tongue 22 being inserted into the belt buckle 24 and engaging in the latter. The belt buckle and/or the seat belt 18, in this case the locking tongue 22, comprise a guide element 40 including an output device in the form of an illuminant 42 in the shown example. Alternatively, or additionally to such optical output device, the guide element 40 may comprise an output device for generating an acoustic and/or haptic signal (not shown).

[0035] Further, the seat belt system 10 comprises a belt retractor 26 with a belt reel 28 onto which the webbing 20 is partly wound and which exerts tensile force upon the webbing 20. The webbing 20 and, thus, the seat belt 18 are extendably accommodated in the vehicle 14 in this way. The shown seat belt system 10 further comprises a belt tensioner 38 which is operatively connected to the belt reel 28.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment, the webbing 20 may be provided to be extendable in any way.

[0037] The belt reel 28 includes a webbing extension measuring device 30, for example in the form of a reel rotation sensor by which the rotation of the belt reel 28 and, thus, the length of the currently extended webbing 20, the so-called webbing extension, is absolutely detected. In other words, the webbing extension is the length of the part of the webbing 20 that is wound off the belt reel 28. Such measuring in which the exact webbing extension is known is usually made by absolute measuring. An absolute measuring offers the particular advantage that a storage position of the webbing 20 can be determined in which the webbing 20 is completely wound onto the belt reel 28.

[0038] As an alternative, the webbing extension can be determined in particular also by a relative measuring, where the length of the part of the webbing 20 which has already been wound off the belt reel 28 is not measured, but the reference point is preferably given by the respective webbing extension at the beginning of measuring. This offers the advantage that for a relative measuring a simpler webbing extension measuring device can be used. In particular, the current webbing extension can be determined in any way, preferably in a relative but also in an absolute or quasi absolute manner.

[0039] Basically, the webbing extension measuring device 30 may be any device which is adapted to determine the webbing extension. For example, the webbing extension measuring device 30 may comprise indirect or direct measuring sensors which measure the webbing extension for example by direct scanning (such as via a friction wheel) and/or indirect scanning (such as via a laser scanner that scans a measuring scale integrated on and/or in the webbing).

[0040] The shown vehicle 14 further comprises another output device 34 in the form of a display element that is suited for transmitting information to the vehicle occupant 12, for example in an acoustic, visual and/or haptic manner. The vehicle occupant 12 can be informed via the output device, for example, about having failed to fasten his/her seat belt 18. It may be particularly provided that a warning signal is output by the further output device 34, if the vehicle occupant 12 is not properly buckled, for example as the locking tongue 22 of the seat belt 18 is not inserted into the belt buckle 28 associated with the seat belt 18. As a matter of course, the further output device 34 may be disposed at any place in the vehicle 14 suitable for transmitting the information to the vehicle occupant 12. In particular, the further output device 34 can be provided by output devices already existing in the vehicle 14, such as loudspeakers, or can be integrated in the same, such as in an instrument panel of the vehicle 14.

[0041] The webbing extension measuring device 30, the pressure sensor 32, the further output device 34 and the guide element 40 are connected to a control unit 36 of the seat belt system 10 for signal transmission.

[0042] The control unit 36 in the present case is integrated in the vehicle control unit of the vehicle 14, in this case the onboard computer of the vehicle 14. In an alternative embodiment, the control unit 36 of the seat belt system 10 can be provided separately, being preferably connected to the onboard computer of the vehicle 14 for signal transmission.

[0043] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the belt buckle 24. The belt buckle 24 includes a locking tongue receptacle 44 for receiving the locking tongue 22 of the seat belt 18 as well as a press switch 46 which is used to release the click-stop connection between the locking tongue 22 and the belt buckle 24.

[0044] Moreover, the belt buckle 24 comprises a guide element 40. The guide element 40 has an output device which is configured as an illuminant 42 here. In addition, a connector 48 via which the belt buckle 24, specifically the guide element 40, can be connected to the control unit 36 for signal transmission and/or the illuminant 42 can be supplied with energy is schematically represented.

[0045] The control unit 36 is adapted to control the afore-mentioned systems and to carry out the following method for operating the seat belt system 10.

[0046] In particular upon starting the vehicle, it is determined by the control unit via the webbing extension measuring device 30 whether a webbing extension has occurred.

[0047] If a webbing extension of the webbing 20 of the seat belt 18 is identified, the control unit 36 determines whether a buckling operation has occurred in which the vehicle occupant 12 fastens the seat belt 18. For this purpose, the control unit 36 determines whether the webbing extension is so significant that a buckling operation by the vehicle occupant 12 can be concluded therefrom. The significant webbing extension corresponds to a webbing extension length stored in the control unit from which one can conclude, based on empirical values, that the vehicle occupant buckles up or intends to buckle up.

[0048] In addition, for determining whether a buckling operation has occurred, it can be checked by the control unit 36 via a belt buckle switch not shown here whether the locking tongue 22 of the seat belt 18 is already engaged in the associated belt buckle 24.

[0049] Furthermore, when determining whether a buckling operation has occurred, it can be identified by the control unit 36 via the webbing extension measuring device 30 and/or further sensor elements (not shown) whether, at the beginning of the determined webbing extension, there has existed a storage position of the seat belt 18 in which the seat belt 18 is provided, unless it is used by a vehicle occupant 12. In the storage position, the webbing 20 of the seat belt 18 is usually wound completely onto the belt reel 28.

[0050] In addition, when determining whether a buckling operation has occurred, the control unit 36 can determine via further sensor elements, such as the pressure sensor 32 in the seat surface of the vehicle seat 16, whether a vehicle occupant 12 has taken a seat in the vehicle seat 16.

[0051] If the control unit 36 determines a buckling operation, the control unit 36 activates the guide element 40 at the belt buckle 24. In an embodiment in which the seat belt 18 also comprises a guide element 40, the latter is equally activated.

[0052] In order to indicate the belt buckle 24 associated with the seat belt 18 to the vehicle occupant 12, the guide element in the shown embodiment comprises an output device configured as illuminant 42 which is activated for this purpose so that a light signal is emitted.

[0053] The illuminant 42 is preferably suited to show light signals in different colors. This enables, for example, the light signal generated by the illuminant 42 of the guide element 40 to change its color as soon as the locking tongue 22 is engaged in the associated belt buckle 24. After the guide element 40 has indicated to the vehicle occupant 12 that the locking tongue 22 is engaged with the associated belt buckle 24, the guide element 40 can be deactivated.

[0054] As an alternative, such a change of color of the light signal of the illuminant 42 can be utilized to indicate to the vehicle occupants 12 that the locking tongue 22 is not engaged in the associated belt buckle 24.

[0055] If the seat belt system 10 comprises plural seat belts 18, wherein an extendable seat belt 18 with a locking tongue 22 and a belt buckle 24 is associated with each vehicle seat 16, the control unit 36 can further be provided to have the respective guide elements 40 of the seat belt 18 and of the belt buckle 24 generate a light signal of the same color so that each vehicle occupant 12 can be shown which belt buckle 24 is the belt buckle 24 associated with his/her vehicle seat 16.

[0056] In an alternative embodiment, the guide element 40 can be deactivated immediately after it was identified by the control unit 36 that the locking tongue 22 is engaged with the associated belt buckle 24.

[0057] In addition, the guide element 40 can be provided to be deactivated by the control unit 36, if it is identified that the seat belt 18 is in the storage position again.

[0058] The seat belt system 10 is not limited to one single seat belt 18 which is monitored, but it may comprise plural seat belts 18.

[0059] The invention is not limited to the shown embodiment. In particular, individual features of one embodiment may be combined with any features of other embodiments, in particular independently of the other features of the corresponding embodiments.