Patent ID: 6561299
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B60R,G01R

Abstract:
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 a reel shaft for winding the seatbelt, and driving means comprising a DC motor for directly rotating said reel shaft in connection with rotation thereof, and said driving means retracting and protracting the seatbelt by rotating said DC motor in a forward or reverse direction respectively; voltage waveform applying means for applying a voltage having a single waveform or continuous waveforms for a predetermined period to said driving means; current waveform detecting means for detecting a waveform of current flowing to said driving means; and fault diagnosis means for carrying out fault diagnosis of said driving means, based upon whether the waveform of the current detected by said current waveform detecting means exceeds a predetermined current value when said voltage waveform applying means applies the voltage having a single waveform or continuous waveforms for a predetermined period to said driving means.