Device for interrogating the locked condition of a vehicle safety belt buckle

• US 20040140890A1
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cherry GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Cherry GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Zapf, Martin, Hartmann, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/722,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140890A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

In one configuration, a device has been provided for recognizing the locked condition of a seat belt buckle. In this configuration, the device include a sensor that directly interrogates the condition of the seat belt buckle by a change in inductance. In another configuration, a device has been provide that recognizes a condition of a safety belt buckle. In this configuration, the device includes a sensor that directly interrogates the condition of the seat belt buckle by a change in inductance.

Claims

1. A device for recognizing the locked condition of a seat belt buckle, the device comprising:

a sensor that directly interrogates the condition of the seat belt buckle by a change in inductance.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged by a multi-turn conductor loop.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the conductor loop is applied on a printed circuit.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the conductor loop is planar.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an evaluation circuit which continues an oscillator circuit.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the oscillator circuit further comprises:

a differentiating circuit for the recognition of oscillation.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the oscillator circuit is evaluated by a micro-controller.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a leaf spring manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is part of a voltage transmission circuit.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a switching controller for the recognition of a voltage.

11. A seat belt buckle comprising:

a seat belt buckle carrier;

a seat belt buckle tongue;

an ejector;

a locking component; and

a device for recognizing the locked condition of a seat belt buckle according to claim 1.

12. The seat belt buckle of claim 11 wherein the seat belt buckle tongue is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic.

13. A device for recognizing a condition of a safety belt buckle, the device comprising:

a sensor that directly interrogates a locked condition by a change in a coupling factor.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is arranged by two multi-turn conductor loops.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the multiturn conductor loops are arranged in a concentric and bifilar manner.

16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the conductor loops are applied on a printed circuit.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the conductor loops are planar.

18. A device according to claim 13, wherein the device comprises a leaf spring manufactured from a material selected from the group diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic.

19. A device according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is part of a voltage transmission circuit.

20. A device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a switching controller for the recognition of a voltage.

21. A seat belt buckle comprising:

a seat belt buckle carrier;

a seat belt buckle tongue;

an ejector;

a locking component; and

a device for recognizing the locked condition of a seat belt buckle according to claim 13.

22. The seat belt buckle of claim 21, wherein the seat belt buckle tongue is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic.