Seat belt indicator light

• US 10,173,639 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher Baumann
• Original Assignee: Christopher Baumann
• Inventors: Baumann, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van
• Application Number:
  US15/641,368
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4875 on vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

The seat belt indicator light is a supervisory system monitors a seat belt reminder signal within a vehicle. The seat belt indicator light comprises a visual indicator, a control system, and a communication system. The visual indicator monitors the seat belt reminder signal and illuminates the externally visible signal when the seat belt reminder signal is illuminated. The logic module monitors and logs status of the seat belt reminder signal while the vehicle is in operation. The communication system provides remote and local wireless communication services between the control system and an appropriate authority.

Claims

1. A monitoring device comprising:

a visual indicator, a control system, and a communication system;

wherein the visual indicator, the control system, and the communication system are electrically interconnected;

wherein the monitoring device is configured for use with a vehicle;

wherein the monitoring device monitors seat belt usage within a vehicle;

wherein the vehicle is further defined with a vehicle engine control unit and a seat belt;

wherein the vehicle engine control unit is further defined with a seat belt reminder signal;

wherein the seat belt reminder signal is an electrical signal that is generated by the vehicle engine control unit;

wherein the monitoring device monitors and logs the status of the seat belt reminder signal during the operation of the vehicle;

wherein the monitoring device records the status of the seat belt reminder signal in a maintained log;

wherein the monitoring device illuminates a signal that is visible from the exterior of the vehicle when the seat belt reminder signal be generated while the vehicle is operating;

wherein the monitoring device provides remote and local access to the maintained logs;

wherein the visual indicator monitors the seat belt reminder signal and illuminates the externally visible signal when the seat belt reminder signal is generated;

wherein the visual indicator is powered using the vehicle engine control unit;

wherein the operation of the visual indicator is triggered by the seat belt reminder signal;

wherein the control monitors and logs the status of the seat belt reminder signal while the vehicle is in operation;

wherein the communication system provides remote and local wireless communication services between the control system and an appropriate authority;

wherein the visual indicator comprises an amplifier, a left LED, a left limit resistor, a right LED, a right limit resistor, and an electrical ground;

wherein the amplifier, the left LED, the left limit resistor, the right LED, the right limit resistor, and the electrical ground are electrically interconnected;

wherein the amplifier is electrically connected to the seat belt reminder system;

wherein the amplifier is an electrical device;

wherein the amplifier amplifies the seat belt reminder signal in order to drive the left LED;

wherein the amplifier amplifies the seat belt reminder signal in order to drive the right LED;

wherein the left LED comprises one or more LEDs;

wherein the left LED provides half the exterior illumination provided by the visual indicator;

wherein the left LED is mounted on the rear of the vehicle;

wherein the right LED comprises one or more LEDs;

wherein the right LED provides half the exterior illumination provided by the visual indicator;

wherein the right LED is mounted on the rear of the vehicle;

wherein the control system is an electrical device;

wherein the control system monitors the status of the seat belt reminder signal;

wherein the control system maintains a log of the status of the seat belt reminder signal over a previously determined period of time;

wherein the control system transmits the maintained logs to an appropriate authority upon the request of the appropriate authority;

wherein the control system controls the operation of the communication system;

wherein the control system and the communication system are powered using the vehicle engine control unit;

wherein the control system comprises a logic module and a GPS module;

wherein the logic module is a programmable electronic device;

wherein the logic module is electrically connected to the GPS module;

wherein the logic module is electrically connected to the communication system;

wherein the GPS module is an electrical device that communicates with the GPS to determine the GPS coordinates of the GPS module;

wherein when queried by the logic module, the GPS module transfers the GPS coordinates to the logic module;

wherein the communication system wirelessly transmits the maintained logs to an appropriate authority;

wherein the communication system operates in a local and remote mode;

wherein the local mode allows for the transfer of the maintained logs by the control system to the appropriate authority when the appropriate authority is in the presence of the vehicle;

wherein the remote mode of the communication system allows for the transfer of the maintained logs to a central facility maintained by the appropriate authority in a manner that does not require the physical presence of the vehicle;

wherein the communication system comprises a local communication module and a remote communication module;

wherein the local communication module operates the local mode of the communication system;

wherein the remote communication module operates the remote mode of the communication system;

wherein the local communication module electrically connects to the logic module;

wherein the remote communication module electrically connects to the logic module;

wherein the local communication module is a wireless electronic communication device;

wherein the local communication module wirelessly communicates with a handheld interrogator that is locally presented by an appropriate authority;

wherein the handheld interrogator is a personal data device that is carried by an appropriate authority;

wherein the handheld interrogator is configured to allow the handheld interrogator to make a request to the logic module through the local communication module for the download of the maintained logs to the handheld interrogator.

2. The monitoring device according to claim 1

wherein the remote communication module exchanges a plurality of SMS messages between the logic module and the appropriate authority;

wherein the plurality of SMS messages are exchanged through a commercially provided and publicly available cellular wireless network.

3. The monitoring device according to claim 2

wherein the amplifier is electrically connected to the seat belt reminder signal such that the seat belt reminder signal will trigger the amplifier;

wherein when the seat belt reminder signal is activated, the amplifier amplifies the seat belt reminder signal such that the left LED and the right LED are illuminated;

wherein when the seat belt reminder signal is deactivated, the amplifier extinguisher the left LED and the right LED.

4. The monitoring device according to claim 3

wherein the logic module is electrically connected to the seat belt reminder signal such that the seat belt reminder signal will trigger the amplifier;

wherein when the seat belt reminder signal is generated the logic module queries the GPS module for the GPS coordinates of the vehicle;

wherein the logic module then records the date, time, and the GPS coordinates of the vehicle at the time that the seat belt reminder signal occurred into the maintained log;

wherein when the seat belt reminder signal is deactivated, the logic module queries the GPS module for the GPS coordinates of the vehicle;

wherein the logic module then records the date, time, and the GPS coordinates of the vehicle at the time that the seat belt reminder signal discontinued into the maintained log.

5. The monitoring device according to claim 4

wherein the logic module further monitors the communication system for a request for the maintained logs;

wherein should the logic module receive a request for the maintained logs, the logic module will transmit the maintained logs to the appropriate authority using a communication module selected from the group consisting of the local communication module and the remote communication module;

wherein the selected communication module is the communication module that received the request from the appropriate authority.

6. The monitoring device according to claim 5

wherein the left limit resistor is an electrical device that is placed in series between the left LED and the electrical ground;

wherein the right limit resistor is an electrical device that is placed in series between the right LED and the electrical ground.

7. The monitoring device according to claim 6

wherein the LEDs used in the left LED generate illumination in the range of 430 to 470 nM;

wherein the LEDs used in the right LED generate illumination in the range of 430 to 470 nM.