Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Kevin Joseph Dewey

Jeff A Russell

Jon E Burrow

Thomas Herbert

Jonathon Boughner

Jan Pontus Söderström

David Funnell

James N Gramenos

David B Figlioli

George Evans

Jackie Wang

Christmann Xavier

Michael A Warznie

Roseanna N Zia

Steven J Combs

A method includes sensing when a seat is at a first location in a vehicle, and controlling an occupant restraint system of the vehicle in a first manner based on the seat being at the first location in the vehicle. The method further includes sensing when the seat is at a second location in the vehicle, and controlling the occupant restraint system of the vehicle in a second manner based on the seat being at the second location in the vehicle. A system receives data indicating a location of seats in a vehicle and operates an occupant restraint system for the seats using a first set of parameters when the data indicates that a first seat is at a first location, and operates the occupant restraint system for the first seat using a second set of parameters when the data indicates that the first seat is at a second location.

Seat location identification system for vehicles with removable seats

A motor vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The system may include an occupant seat, a vehicle electronic control unit, a seat electrical circuit, and an electrical coupling between the vehicle electronic control unit and the seat electrical circuit. The occupant seat may have a mounting mechanism for enabling the seat to be removably mounted to a structural component of the motor vehicle, the occupant seat may further include at least one occupant restraint mechanism. The vehicle electronic control unit may be affixed to the motor vehicle for controlling the occupant restraint mechanism. The electronic coupling may utilize electrical conductors that are attached to and extend along the webbing of the seatbelt.

Control system for removable seat with integrated occupant restraint

A seatbelt buckle apparatus for a motor vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a buckle housing that provides at least part of a structure for selectively coupling a seatbelt latch plate to the apparatus. A switch housing houses at least part of a switch. The switch monitors whether or not the seatbelt latch plate is coupled to the seatbelt buckle apparatus. A switch wire harness is in communication with the switch. A strain relief-guide feature carries and guides a section of the switch wire harness so as to provide strain relief to the switch wire harness when a force is applied to the switch wire harness downstream from the strain relief-guide feature.

Seatbelt buckle apparatuses including switch wire harnesses and strain relief thereof

A seatbelt restraint system includes a seatbelt buckle housing having a printed circuit board, a slider, and an ejector. The printed circuit board includes a circuit where the output signal can be altered in response to translation of the ejector and the slider. A predetermined voltage can be applied to the circuit and the output signal can be detected in the circuit to determine the position of the ejector and the slider based on the detected altered output signal. In the event of a fault in the system, the resultant output signal of the circuit will be different than the expected output signal of the buckled and unbuckled states.

Diagnosable slide switch

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a seatbelt pretensioner is provided. The pretensioner comprises a cylinder having a proximal section which defines a gas chamber that forms at least a portion of an interior space defined by the cylinder. Extending distally from the proximal section is a guide section. Disposed within the interior space is a piston that is moveable toward a distal end of the guide section. The piston has a proximal portion and a distal portion that extends from the proximal portion. The proximal and distal portions are disposed respectively adjacent to the proximal and guide sections. The distal portion is configured for attaching to an anchor that is coupled to webbing of the seatbelt. In fluid communication with the gas chamber is a gas generator. The gas generator is configured for generating gas to move the piston, tensioning the seatbelt.

Seatbelt pretensioner for a vehicle

A seat belt buckle switch is disclosed. This switch provides multiple discrete output states, including buckled, unbuckled, open loop and shorted. This switch works in association with a control module which uses the buckle switch state to detect a failure condition, execute an appropriate driver warning and, in an adaptive restraints application, to deploy other safety devices based on whether the seat belt is fastened.

Multiple output buckle switch

A detachable three point seat belt assembly is provided. The seat belt assembly may have a belt extending downward along a seat from a retractor. In an anchored configuration, the distal end of the belt is attached to a static attachment feature by an interlocking buckle. A movable attachment feature coupled to the belt is engaged within a static buckle to buckle a vehicle occupant into the seat. In a free configuration, the interlocking buckle is disengaged from the static attachment feature so that the belt can be retracted along the seat. The interlocking buckle contains a latching lever and a pair of ejectors that operate in such a manner that insertion of the movable attachment feature enables withdrawal of the static attachment feature, and vice versa.

Growing community of inventors

Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Kevin Joseph Dewey