Method and control circuit for driving an electric motor of a seatbelt retractor
US7272303B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 3, 2005 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2022/4666
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An electric motor drives a belt spool of a seatbelt retractor in a vehicle using a micro-controller and a drive circuit that drives the electric motor. A plurality of PWM control signal sources are provided each of which has a trigger input and a control signal output. Each control signal source, upon application of a trigger pulse to its trigger input, provides on its control signal output a control pulse of a duration different from durations of control pulses of all other control signal sources. A set of motor control programs are permanently stored in the micro-controller. A program selection signal is sent to the micro-controller from a central sensor unit in the vehicle. Trigger pulses are sent by the micro-controller to the trigger inputs of the control signal sources. Particular ones of the control signal sources are selected for application of their signal outputs to the drive circuit in a control sequence defined by a selected control program.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.