DE4212701C1 - Motor vehicle safety belt locking and release piece - has bias resistor bridged if subjected to unusually high change in speed to establish extra connection to voltage source so that indicating illumination increases in intensity - Google Patents

Abstract

The seat belt anchor connection for a car is illuminated by two low current LED's, one for the slot where the tongue of the belt fits and one for the belt release button. The LED's are powered from the battery via a resistor whose value is chosen high enough so that there is just sufficient illumination at night and no current drain from the battery. A secondary supply to the LED's comes from a battery-supplied pulse generator which can supply pulses of higher volts interspersed with zero volts through another resistor and a diode to the LED's. The pulse generator is triggered by an acceleration sensor and thus the LED's give a higher illumination under conditions of sudden deceleration. USE/ADVANTAGE - Seat belt illumination for a car; increases illumination during collisions to assist rapid location for release of passengers or driver by ambulance man or rescue party.

Description

The invention relates to a closure device a light source and the other features of the generic term of claim 1.

There are various locking devices with this note paint known. DE 40 20 865 C1 describes a switch loose orientation aid for finding a keyhole, in a chain of low-current light-emitting diodes, preferably ring grouped in a shape around the keyhole and in the sense of one continuous power-saving operation via a series resistor is connected to a voltage source.

DE 28 14 335 A1 describes a snap lock for an Si seat belt, also to be regarded as a locking device is and also includes a lighting device; this can Instead of incandescent lamps, there are also light-emitting diodes as light sources sen, which are then used as display means.

From DE 87 02 386 U1 is a lighting device for plug known lock slot and trigger button of a seat belt, the turned on with the opening of a vehicle door and either by inserting and locking the belt buckle or - if this is not detected - after a certain period of time is automatically switched off again.  

Finally it was proposed (DE 84 37 782 U1), an - unbe illuminated - to unlock the seat belt buckle automatically, d. H. to release the seat belt if there is an accident caused by an accident of the appropriately equipped vehicle an excessive loading acceleration or deceleration acts on it.

This automatic triggering can escape the ver unfortunate vehicle or the rescue of occupants by third parties easier, but under unfavorable circumstances (e.g. Lateral or roof position of the vehicle, secondary accidents, d. H. Impact of following vehicles) to consequential injuries to the belted occupants come.

It is basically known (DE-GM 72 16 607), a source of light le in the interior of a vehicle by means of a deceleration sensor turn on sors.

A triggering device for a vehicle has also already been developed described seat restraint (DE 37 29 021 C2), at which is a switching signal of a sen responding in an accident sensor electronics for the activation of belt tensioners or Air bags as well as for automatically switching on the outside Hazard warning lights is evaluated.

The invention has the task of a generic closure to design the device so that after an impact of the movement quick access to an obstacle Actuating handle of the closure device in particular by Third parties are particularly supported.

This task is carried out with the characteristic features of Pa Claim 1 solved according to the invention.

If the luminosity of the light source on the shutter device due to excessive acceleration the signal that can be generated on the object is highly controllable  Attention of vehicle occupants and helpers immediately the appropriate handle steered so that valuable time at won the (unlocking) actuation of the locking device can be.

The characteristic features of the subclaims give advantage adhesive developments of the closure device according to the invention tion.  

Further details and advantages are shown in the drawing Embodiment and their subsequent here detailed description.

The only figure shows an illuminable closure device in the form of a lock for a seat belt with a schematic circuit diagram for the operation of the assigned light source.

A on a seat in a motor vehicle not shown by means of a tab 1 fastened lock 2 for a seat belt has an insertion slot 3 for the buckle provided on the belt and a large-scale unlocking key. 4 This can be pressed to actuate the lock 2 in its housing and thereby ejects the inserted belt buckle tongue from the insertion slot. The mechanical details of this closure device are not discussed further here.

In a manner known per se, a light source 5 for illuminating both the insertion slot 3 and the unlocking button 4 is provided in the housing of the lock 2 . Here, the light source 5 is formed by a chain of low-current light-emitting diodes 6 of the type described in the generic state of the art, which are connected in series with one another. This chain is connected via a series resistor 7, also connected in series, to the positive pole of a voltage source 8 of the vehicle electrical system (accumulator) and connected to the ground of this voltage source.

With this basic circuit, a switchless continuous operation of the light source 5 is made possible without excessively stressing the capacity of the accumulator, since the series resistor limits the power consumption of the light-emitting diode chain to such an extent that only a perceptible lighting effect is produced. For the rule, this is sufficient to provide the vehicle user in a dark environment with an orientation aid when searching for the insert slot 3 of the lock 2 .

To bridge the series resistor 7 , the light source 5 can also be supplied with voltage via a second current path which, starting from plus potential, is guided via a timing element or a clock generator 9 , a resistor 10 and a diode 11 and between the series resistor 7 and the light source 5 at their other Primary current path is connected.

The clock generator 9 can be triggered by an acceleration sensor 12 ("a" for acceleration), which is presented here as a threshold switch and which in turn generates an output level jump at its output 12 A (for example from logic "0" to logic "1"), if the vehicle in which it is fixed to the body is affected by an excessive change in speed, i.e. acceleration or, in particular, deceleration.

This is usually the case if the vehicle collides with an obstacle or is involved in another serious accident. In many vehicles, such an acceleration sensor 12 is present anyway, which responds to changes in speed from ± 3 g; his signal pending at 12 A is z. B. for triggering belt tensioners, airbags, hazard lights, central unlocking of locked vehicle locks, but also evaluated as a reference for control systems such as anti-lock braking system, traction control etc.

In the present case, in addition to these options, by bridging the series resistor of the light source 5, in particular a pulsating higher voltage than in normal operation is supplied or the normal, constantly pending operating voltage is superimposed, which leads to a significant periodic control of the luminosity of the light source and thus leads to a significantly improved perceptibility within the vehicle interior. In the present case, this measure makes it easier, in particular, to find the unlocking button 4 , both for the vehicle occupants themselves and for third parties who want to provide assistance, even if the visibility inside the vehicle is poor.

In principle, a circuit would also be possible in which a relay contact is connected in parallel with the series resistor 7 , which is closed and opened intermittently after the occurrence of a signal jump in the acceleration sensor 12 via the clock generator 9 . Deviating from the preferred flashing mode with periodically changing luminosity, simple high-level control in one step to brighter permanent lighting would of course also be possible.

It is not absolutely necessary to increase the luminosity to use the same voltage source as for the normal light Strength; it can also be an independent voltage source are provided for, the potential of which triggers the right conventional power supply is superimposed or replaced.

The clock 9 also has an only indicated reset input R, via which it can be reset manually or (additionally) automatically. Then the light source 5 lights up again with an intact power supply with a reduced regular luminosity, so that the increase in the luminosity is reversed with the reset.

An automatic reset can e.g. B. after a predetermined th period of time, which are relatively long (stun the area) should be dimensioned.

Alternatively, in conjunction with a signal from a switch 13 assigned to the lock 2 , the unlocking of the lock 2 following a pressing of the unlocking key can be evaluated in order to reset the clock 9 .

Such buckle switch, which the putting on the security Feedback belts electrically are widely known, so that not here in more detail on their constructive nature and nature order must be entered.

For the present embodiment it is assumed that the switch 13 is closed when the belt-side lock tongue is in the insertion slot 3 , and that it opens when it is ejected or pulled out. At the moment of opening, the clock generator 9 is then reset by a suitable signal evaluation, so that the bypass current path via the resistor 10 becomes voltage-free again.

Generally speaking, actuation of the closure results device automatically after increasing the luminosity an electrical switching means assigned to the actuation again to reduce the luminosity to its regular level. Here can the switching means z. B. also an electrical latch interrupt the circuit which responds to the acceleration tion sensor was closed.

Basically come for the use of a closure device also with a light source with controllable luminosity other locking points on moving objects in question, such. B. Lock cylinder of doors or ignition locks. Similar requirements as in the embodiment of the German Liche marking of closure devices after an impact of the moving object are also z. B. in closures of chin straps to put on protective helmets so that a transfer to such closures also seems reasonable, provided a reliable power supply can be used be guaranteed.

Claims (7)

1. Locking device with an actuating handle and a finding for an operator facilitating Lichtquel le in or on a movable object, in particular in or on a vehicle, which light source was in series with a series resistor to lower their regular current consumption and luminosity ke and switched over this is permanently connected to a voltage source, characterized in that the series resistor ( 7 ) after the occurrence of a signal which can be generated when an excessive speed change acts on the object ( 12 A) by means of an additional connection ( 10 , 11 ) of the light source ( 5 ) to a Voltage source ( 8 ) can be bridged to control the luminosity of the light source ( 5 ). 2. Closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that the luminosity of the light source ( 5 ) is increased in one step from a luminosity present in normal operation. 3. Closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that the luminosity of the light source ( 5 ) periodically, in particular by means of a clock ( 9 ), in alternation between an output luminosity and an increased luminosity is controllable. 4. Closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that the light source ( 5 ) consists of a series connection of low-cur rent LEDs ( 6 ). 5. Closure device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an independent of its regular voltage supply voltage source is used for increasing the luminosity of the light source ( 5 ). 6. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light source ( 5 ) at least for illuminating an unlocking button ( 4 ) of a seat belt buckle ( 2 ) is easily seen. 7. Closure device according to claim 1 or 6, characterized by an actuation of the actuating handle (unlocking button 4 ) of the closure device (lock 2 ) to actuate the switching means ( 13 ), by means of which the luminosity of the light source ( 5 ) after increase has occurred again an initial state can be reset.