US 11,938,894 B2
System for controlling one or more locking web retractors in a motor vehicle occupant restraint system
Chris P. Jessup, Sheridan, IN (US); Douglas W. Bittner, Indianapolis, IN (US); Steven Gale, Colfax, IN (US); and John Glover, Danville, IN (US)
Assigned to Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc., Westfield, IN (US)
Filed by Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc., Westfield, IN (US)
Filed on Aug. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/404,086.
Application 17/404,086 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/002,016, filed on Aug. 25, 2020, granted, now 11,505,160.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/891,739, filed on Aug. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0394707 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. B60R 22/343 (2006.01); B60R 21/01 (2006.01); B60R 22/34 (2006.01); B60R 22/46 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 22/3416 (2013.01) [B60R 21/01 (2013.01); B60R 22/343 (2013.01); B60R 2021/01272 (2013.01); B60R 2022/4666 (2013.01); B60R 2022/4685 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for controlling operation of an electrically controlled and magnetically actuated locking web retractor of an occupant restraint operatively coupled to an occupant seat of a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
one or more sensors or sensing systems operatively mounted to at least one of the occupant restraint, the occupant seat and the motor vehicle, and configured to produce one or more respective sensor output signals indicative of one or more corresponding sensed conditions,
a control circuit, and
a memory unit having stored therein instructions executable by the control circuit to (i) process the one or more sensor output signals to determine one or more values of the one or more sensed conditions, (ii) compare the one or more determined values of the one or more sensed conditions to one or more corresponding threshold or range values, (iii) produce a control signal, based on the one or more comparisons, for locking or unlocking of the web retractor, and (iv) provide the control signal to a magnet actuator of the web retractor to cause the web retractor to lock or unlock,
wherein the electrically controlled and magnetically actuated locking web retractor comprises:
a frame including spaced-apart side walls,
a spool rotatably mounted between the side walls, the spool rotatable in a web take-up direction and web a payout direction opposite the web take-up direction,
locking components,
a ferromagnetic component movable relative to the locking components between an unlocking position in which the ferromagnetic component does not cause the locking components to prevent the spool from rotating in the web pay out direction and a locking position in which the ferromagnetic component causes the locking components to prevent the spool from rotating in the web pay out direction,
a magnet responsive to actuation to cause the ferromagnetic component to move from the unlocking position to the locking position, and responsive to de-actuation to cause the ferromagnetic component to move from the locking position to the unlocking position, and
the magnet actuator, the magnet actuator configured to be responsive to the control signal to actuate and de-actuate the magnet.