초록 ▼

An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU applies

An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU applies voltage having a predetermined waveform to the DC motor, and then detects a waveform of current flowing to the DC motor. The MPU carries out fault diagnosis of the DC motor, based upon the detected waveform of current when the voltage having the predetermined waveform is applied to the DC motor. Thus, accurate fault diagnosis of the apparatus can be achieved.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle, having a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising: an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and pr

What is claimed is: 1. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle, having a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising: an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and protracting the seatbelt; seatbelt attaching detecting means for detecting attaching of the seatbelt to the occupant or disconnection of the seatbelt from the occupant; and seatbelt protraction detecting means for detecting protraction of the seatbelt by the occupant; and control means for controlling said driving means by performing a plurality of functions, said control means having selecting means for selecting a reduced power consumption mode for permitting said control means to perform at least one minimum required function of said plurality of functions so as to save power consumption by said electric retractor, or a normal power consumption mode for permitting said control means to perform all of said plurality of functions so as not to save power consumption by said electric retractor; wherein said selecting means selects said reduced power consumption mode when a predetermined time period has elapsed after detection of the disconnection of the seatbelt from the occupant by said seatbelt attaching detecting means while said normal power consumption mode is selected, and selects said normal power consumption mode when the protraction of the seatbelt by the occupant is detected by said seatbelt protraction detecting means or when the attaching of the seatbelt to the occupant is detected by said seatbelt attaching detecting means.