Seat belt latch sensor assembly

• US 20040227626A1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Martinez, Daniel A., Almaraz, Jose L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,220 B2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2136 Seat belt buckles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2168 Seat belt

Abstract

A mechanical engagement system such as a seat belt assembly includes a housing and a slider slidably received within the housing, the slider is configured for movement between a first position and a second position within the housing. A single magnet is associated with the slider for slidable movement therewith while a hall effect device is fixed relative to the housing. The hall effect device is fixed relative to the housing and aligned with at the single magnet when the slider is in the second position. The hall effect device is configured to generate an output signal indicative of a latch condition of the mechanical engagement system as applied to the sensor assembly.

Claims

1. A seat belt sensor assembly comprising:

a housing;

a slider slidably received within said housing, said slider being configured for movement between a first position and a second position within said housing;

a single magnet associated with said slider for slidable movement therewith; and

a hall effect device being fixed relative to said housing and substantially aligned with said magnet when said slider is in said second position, said hall effect device being configured to generate an output signal, said output signal being indicative of a latch condition of the seat belt as applied to said sensor assembly.

2. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a biasing member for providing an urging force to said slider, said urging force urging said slider into said first position.

3. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a hook to accept a latch of said seat belt.

4. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 2 wherein said hook further comprises a stop device.

5. The seat belt sensor of claim 2 wherein said slider is adapted for receiving force from said latch.

6. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said Hall effect device produces a discrete signal.

7. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said Hall effect device is a hall switch.

8. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 7 wherein said Hall effect device is programmable.

9. The seat belt sensor of claim 1 wherein said output voltage signal changes as a function of movement of said slider.

10. The seat belt sensor of claim 1 wherein said output voltage signal changes as a function of a magnetic flux density created by the movement of said slider in relation to said hall effect device.

11. The seat belt sensor of claim 10 wherein said output voltage signal switches from an “

off”

state to an “

on”

state at a first determined flux density value.

12. The seat belt sensor of claim 11 wherein said output voltage signal switches from said “

off”

state to said “

on”

state when said slider is in said second position.

13. The seat belt sensor of claim 11 wherein said “

on”

state is indicative of a positive latch condition of the seat belt.

14. The seat belt sensor of claim 10 wherein said output voltage signal switches from said “

on”

state to said “

off”

state at a second determined flux density value.

15. The seat belt sensor of claim 14 wherein said “

off”

state is indicative of an unlatch condition of the seat belt.

16. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said biasing member is a plurality of springs.

17. A seat belt sensor assembly comprising:

a housing;

a slider slidably received within said housing, said slider being configured for movement between a first position and a second position within said housing;

a single magnet associated with said slider for slidable movement therewith; and

a hall effect device being fixed relative to said housing and aligned with said magnet when said slider is in said second position, said hall effect device being configured to generate an output signal, said second output signal being indicative of a latch condition of the seat belt as applied to said sensor assembly;

wherein said hall effect device provides said output voltage signal to a control unit, said control unit communicates said latch condition of said seat belt to a safety restraint device.

18. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 17 wherein said safety restraint device is a light display.

19. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 17 wherein said safety restraint device is an airbag.

20. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 17 wherein said safety restraint device is a pre-tensioner.

21. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 17 wherein said output voltage signal changes as a function of a flux density created by the movement of said slider in relation to said hall effect device.

22. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 21 wherein said output voltage signal switches from an “

off”

state to an “

on”

state at a first determined flux density value.

23. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 22 wherein said output voltage signal switches from said “

off”

state to said “

on”

state when said slider is in said second position.

24. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 22 wherein said “

on”

state is indicative of a positive latch condition of the seat belt.

25. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 21 wherein said output voltage signal switches from said “

on”

state to said “

off”

state at a second determined flux density value.

26. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 23 wherein said “

off”

state is indicative of an unlatch condition of the seat belt.

27. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 21 wherein said hall effect device produces a discrete signal.

28. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 21 wherein said hall effect device is a hall switch.

29. The seat belt sensor assembly of claim 28 wherein said hall effect device is programmable.

30. A method to determine positive latch engagement of a mechanical engagement system, the method comprising:

configuring a slider to be slidably received within a housing, said slider being configured for movement between a first position and a second position within said housing;

associating a single magnet with said slider for slidable movement therewith; and

fixedly disposing a hall effect device relative to said housing and aligned with said magnet when said slider is in said second position, said hall effect device being configured to generate an output signal, said output signal being indicative of a latch condition of the mechanical engagement system as applied to said sensor assembly.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said mechanical engagement system is a seat belt assembly.