Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a spool for winding up a seat belt; a motor for generating rotational torque to rotate the spool; and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational torque of the motor to the spool. The seat belt retractor winds the seat belt on the spool with the rotational torque of the motor. The power transmission mechanism has a low reduction ratio transmission mode in which the rotational torque of the motor is transmitted to the spool through a low reduction ratio mechanism, and a high reduction ratio transmission mode in which the rotational torque of the motor is transmitted to the spool through a high reduction ratio mechanism. The seat belt retractor further includes a power transmission mode switching mechanism for selecting between the low reduction ratio transmission mode and the high reduction ratio transmission mode.

Abstract: In controlling a seatbelt retracting device having a mechanism for retracting a seatbelt with a motor, a current flowing to the motor is detected, and a rate of increase in the current is calculated. When the rate of increase exceeds a predetermined value, the motor is stopped. When the current exceeds a predetermined value, the motor is stopped as well.

Abstract: A seatbelt retractor for winding a seatbelt includes a spool for winding the seatbelt, a motor for generating rotational torque to rotate the spool, and a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism connects a power transmission path to transmit the rotational torque of the motor to the spool in a connected mode, and disconnects the power transmission path in a disconnected mode. A noise preventing device prevents noise when the clutch mechanism is in the disconnected mode.

Abstract: To provide a technology relating to a structure in which seat belt tension acting on a seat belt for occupant restraint installed in a vehicle is controlled by driving of an electric motor and which is effective and provides high level of convenience when the vehicle is parked. In a seat belt retractor of a seat belt apparatus which is installed in a vehicle, when a seat belt is worn by a vehicle occupant and the vehicle is parked, a motor is controlled to rotate a spool to unwind the seat belt so as to reduce the seat belt tension acting on the seat belt.

Abstract: To provide a technology relating to a structure in which seat belt tension acting on a seat belt for occupant restraint installed in a vehicle is controlled by mechanism of driving of an electric motor and which provides a high level of convenience when the vehicle is reversed. In a seat belt retractor of a seat belt apparatus which is installed in a vehicle, when a seat belt is worn by a vehicle occupant and the vehicle is reversed, a motor is controlled to rotate a spool to unwind the seat belt so as to reduce the seat belt tension acting on the seat belt.

Abstract: The disclosed seat belt retractor and seat belt apparatus may provide a seat belt storage winding action for storing a seat belt which is effective for conducting the seat belt storage control without making a vehicle occupant feel uncomfortable. The seat belt retractor and apparatus may comprise an electric motor; a spool for winding a seat belt for occupant restraint in association with the driving of the electric motor; and a controller for controlling the driving of the electric motor.

Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a spool for winding a seatbelt, a motor for generating rotational torque to rotate the spool, a clutch mechanism for connecting a power transmission path to transmit rotational torque of the motor to the spool in a connected mode and for disconnecting the power transmission path in a disconnected mode, and a clutch mechanism disconnection detecting device for detecting disconnection of the clutch mechanism. A motor control device stops the motor according to a detection signal from the clutch mechanism disconnection detecting device.

Abstract: The seat belt retractor is provided that comprises an electric motor; a spool operatively associated with the electric motor for winding and unwinding a seat belt for occupant restraint; and a controller. The controller can be configured to control a drive of the electric motor based on a seat belt storage starting condition defined by information about a state of the seat belt relative to a vehicle occupant and information about a state of a vehicle door corresponding to the seat belt. The controller can be configured to control the drive of the electric motor to rotate the spool to wind up the seat belt when the seat belt storage starting condition is satisfied and to temporarily stop the rotation of the spool for a time period when a seat belt load acting on the seat belt exceeds a predetermined amount. The time period can be set according to a satisfaction pattern of the seat belt storage starting condition.

Abstract: The disclosed seat belt apparatus can comprises a seat belt, a first winding-up mechanism for winding up the seat belt from the first end side of the seat belt, a second winding-up mechanism for winding up the seat belt from the second end side of the seat belt. The first and second winding-up mechanism are configured to operate such that after a buckle release, a first portion of the seat belt is first wound up and a second portion of the seat belt is then wound up.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor, which is capable of winding and unwinding a seat belt for occupant restraint by an electric motor, warns a vehicle occupant. A seat belt retractor of a seat belt apparatus to be installed in a vehicle is structured such that a motor is controlled to repeat an action of increasing and decreasing the tension acting on a seat belt a plurality of times according to a setting that the seat belt tension at the initial stage of each action overshoots a predetermined target tension, for the purpose of warning a vehicle occupant who wears the seat belt.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor, which is capable of winding and unwinding a seat belt for occupant restraint by mechanism of an electric motor, removes slack of the seat belt and controls the restraining feeling on a vehicle occupant to be as little as possible. A seat belt retractor of a seat belt apparatus to be installed in a vehicle is adapted to control a motor to perform an action of increasing seat belt tension to wind up a seat belt which is excessively unwound from the spool when a vehicle occupant wears the seat belt and to be driven according to such a setting that, at the initial stage of the action of increasing the seat belt tension, the tension increasing rate until the seat belt tension reaches a target tension is lower than a predetermined rate.

Abstract: The disclosed seat belt retractor and device can be useful to reliably warn the vehicle occupant of various hazards, such as obstacles or the dozing of the driver. The seat belt retractor and device can comprise an electric motor, a spool for retracting a seat belt to restrain a vehicle occupant, and a controller for controlling the driving of the electric motor. The controller can be configured to control the driving of the electric motor so that several operations for increasing and decreasing the tension acting on the seat belt by the spool are repeated for warning the vehicle occupant. In addition, the controller can be configured to control the driving of the electric motor so that a motion of the spool in a seat belt retracting direction is larger in an initial operation relative to subsequent operations.

Abstract: A motor-driven seatbelt retractor is provided in which generation of an operation noise of a power transmission mechanism can be minimized when the power transmission mechanism is operated. In one form, in a power transmission gear mechanism, a gear which is in the proximity of a cover is supported on a revolving shaft so as to be capable of rotating integrally therewith, while it can be moved in a direction of an axis of the revolving shaft. A ring-shaped stopper is fitted to an annular groove provided on the revolving shaft on the cover side with respect to the gear so as not to be capable of moving in the direction of the axis of the revolving shaft. The stopper prevents the axial movement of the gear toward the cover during rotation of the gear and hence the gear does not come into contact with the cover. A space is formed between an opposing end of the revolving shaft and the cover, and with this space, the revolving shaft is prevented from coming into contact with the cover.

Abstract: A motor-driven seatbelt retractor is provided in which vibrations of a cover can be minimized while minimizing increase in weight. In one form, a predetermined number of ribs are provided on a thin plate portion of a cover of a power transmission gear mechanism. These ribs extend in parallel with each other from top to bottom (in a vertical direction) of a seatbelt retractor. Since rigidity of the cover is increased by these ribs, even though vibrations are generated when a motor is driven and the power transmission gear mechanism is operated respectively, the cover is prevented effectively from being vibrated due to the vibrations of these members. Accordingly, generation of noise due to the vibrations of the cover can also be effectively restrained.

Abstract: The disclosed seat belt retractor can be used in reducing the operational sound caused by the disconnecting operation of the power transmission mechanism when the power transmission mechanism is switched from a connected state to a disconnected state. The power transmission mechanism can be switched from a connected state to a disconnected state by a rotational speed difference between an electric motor and a spool so as to release the connection between the electric motor and the spool. The motor 6 can be controlled to be rotated at an operational sound reducing speed when the power transmission mechanism 8 is switched from the connected state to the disconnected state.

Abstract: A seatbelt retractor may include a spool for retracting and withdrawing a seatbelt, an electric motor, and a power transmission mechanism for enabling the spool to retract and withdraw the seatbelt by transmitting power of the electric motor to the spool. The seatbelt retractor may also include a control device for switching the states of the power transmission mechanism between a power transmitting-state wherein the spool rotates and a power transmission released-state. The power transmitting-state may be released by switching the rotating directions of the electric motor.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor for a vehicle is structured such that when it is determined, based on information about rotational behavior of a spool detected by a detection sensor, that the seat belt storing operation is needed, the seat belt retractor is controlled to be the power transmission engaging state so as to perform the seat belt winding-up action.

Abstract: As an occupant releases the latching between a buckle and a tongue, a seat belt retractor winds up the seat belt at a winding-up speed S1 as a first high speed. Accordingly, the seat belt moves away from the occupant immediately. As a time period (T1-T0) elapses from the buckle release, the seat belt retractor winds up the seat belt at a winding-up speed S2 as a low speed. Accordingly, the seat belt is slowly wound up so that the tongue is less likely to strike and thus scratch an interior panel. As a time period (T2-T1) further elapses, the seat belt retractor winds up the seat belt at a winding-up speed S3 as a second high speed. Accordingly, the winding of the seat belt is promptly completed so that the seat belt is less likely to be caught by a door when the occupant gets out of the vehicle.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor is provided in which two winding performances are achieved while reduced power consumption of a motor and simplified control of the motor are also achieved. A clutch gear is meshed with a carrier gear by rotation of a motor in the normal direction. Accordingly, a low reduction ratio power transmission mode is set so that a seat belt is wound up at a high speed and with low torque. As slack of the seat belt is removed and the belt load increases, the clutch pawl becomes possible to be engaged with the internal gear. As the motor current increases and exceeds a preset value, the motor rotates reversely so that the clutch gear separates from the carrier gear. Therefore, a high reduction ratio power transmission mode is set so that the belt is wound up at a low speed and with high torque.

Abstract: A seatbelt retracting method can retract the entire quantity of a seatbelt even when the seatbelt is unintentionally engaged with something during retraction of the seatbelt. When a time from engagement between a buckle and a tongue of the seatbelt is released and a motor starts retraction until it stops for a first time is equal to or exceeds a first predetermined value, a state in which retraction is stopped is maintained, and when the time from the motor starts retraction until it stops for the first time is smaller than the first predetermined value, the retracting operation is restarted every time when the retracting operation is stopped until a total time of retracting operation carried by the motor reaches or exceeds a second predetermined value.