Apparatus and method for detecting a proper application of a seat belt in a vehicle
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting a proper application of a seat belt in a vehicle, comprising:
- a seat belt;
a seat belt buckle that is assigned to the seat belt and configured for securing the seat belt therein;
a measuring device arranged in the seat belt buckle for measuring a tensile force exerted upon the seat belt;
an upper seat belt receptacle out of which the seat belt is pulled;
a tightening device configured for exerting a tightening force on the belt and comprising an actuator system arranged in the upper seat belt receptacle so that the seat belt is pulled towards the upper seat belt receptacle;
an extraction sensor for determining a length of an extraction of the seat belt from said upper seat belt receptacle;
a detecting device configured for detecting the exerted tightening force; and
an evaluation device configured to compare the measured tensile force to the detected tightening force to obtain a comparison result and configured to determine based on the comparison result whether the seat belt is properly placed and secured in the seat belt buckle, and the evaluation device is configured to determine whether the seat belt is properly placed and secured in the seat belt buckle based on the comparison result and the length of the extraction of the seat belt detected by the extraction sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for proper application of a seat belt in a vehicle. The apparatus includes the seat belt and a seat belt buckle which is assigned to it and which is provided with a measuring device, arranged for measuring a tensile force exerted on the seat belt buckle. The apparatus further relates to an evaluation device for evaluating the measured tensile force. At the same time, it is provided that the apparatus is also equipped with a tightening device for applying a tightening force to the seat belt, as well as with a detection device for detecting the applied tightening force. The evaluation device compares the tensile force to the tightening force and determines based on a corresponding comparison result whether the seat belt has been properly placed and secured in the seat belt buckle.
9 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a proper application of a seat belt in a vehicle, comprising:
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a seat belt; a seat belt buckle that is assigned to the seat belt and configured for securing the seat belt therein; a measuring device arranged in the seat belt buckle for measuring a tensile force exerted upon the seat belt; an upper seat belt receptacle out of which the seat belt is pulled; a tightening device configured for exerting a tightening force on the belt and comprising an actuator system arranged in the upper seat belt receptacle so that the seat belt is pulled towards the upper seat belt receptacle; an extraction sensor for determining a length of an extraction of the seat belt from said upper seat belt receptacle; a detecting device configured for detecting the exerted tightening force; and an evaluation device configured to compare the measured tensile force to the detected tightening force to obtain a comparison result and configured to determine based on the comparison result whether the seat belt is properly placed and secured in the seat belt buckle, and the evaluation device is configured to determine whether the seat belt is properly placed and secured in the seat belt buckle based on the comparison result and the length of the extraction of the seat belt detected by the extraction sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of seats, each seat being assigned a respective seat belt and a seat belt buckle, an upper seat belt receptacle out of which the seat belt is pulled, a tightening device configured for tightening the seat belt and comprising an actuator system arranged in the upper seat belt receptacle so that the seat belt is pulled towards the upper seat belt receptacle, an extraction sensor for determining a length of an extraction of the seat belt from said upper seat belt receptacle, a measuring device arranged in the seat belt buckle for measuring tensile force exerted on the seat belt buckle by the seat belt, and a detection device for detecting tightening force exerted on the seat belt, and an evaluation device configured to determine, based on the tensile forces and tightening forces measured for all of the seat belts and seat belt buckles, whether each seat belt has been placed properly and secured as intended in each respective seat belt buckle, and the evaluation device is configured to determine whether each respective seat belt is properly placed and secured in each respective seat belt buckle based on the comparison result and the length of the extraction of each respect seat belt detected by the extraction sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for detecting a proper application of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, comprising:
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pulling a seat belt from an upper seat belt receptacle; inserting the seat belt into a seat belt buckle; determining a length of extraction of the seat belt from said upper seat belt receptacle; measuring an exerted tensile force by a measuring device arranged in a seat belt buckle assigned to the seat belt; detecting a tightening force exerted by a tightening device onto the seat belt by a detection device; comparing the measured tensile force to the detected tightening force exerted onto the seat belt and the determined length of the extraction of seat belt by an evaluation device; and based on a corresponding comparison result, determining whether the seat belt has been placed properly and secured as intended.
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Specification