Seatbelt reminder system

• US 20050046561A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Inoue, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,298,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

Disclosed is a seatbelt reminder system which includes a first reminder unit (S301) which gives a first reminder when a first condition having an unfastened state of a seatbelt as at least a fulfilling condition is satisfied, a second reminder unit (S306) which gives a second reminder when a second condition having the unfastened state of the seatbelt as at least a fulfilling condition is satisfied, and a reminder-start delay unit (S305) which delays start of the second reminder when the second reminder by the second reminder element is started.

Claims

1. A seatbelt reminder system for outputting a reminder for an occupant when the occupant leaves a seatbelt unfastened, comprising:

a seat-belt fastening detecting element which detects a fastened state of said seatbelt;

a first reminder element which gives a first reminder when a first condition having an unfastened state of said seatbelt, detected by said seat-belt fastening detecting element, as at least a fulfilling condition is satisfied;

a second reminder element which gives a second reminder when a second condition having said unfastened state of said seatbelt, detected by said seat-belt fastening detecting element, as at least a fulfilling condition is satisfied; and

a reminder-start delay element which delays start of said second reminder when said second reminder by said second reminder element is started.

2. The seatbelt reminder system according to claim 1, wherein said reminder-start delay element delays start of said second reminder until a predetermined period elapses after said second condition is satisfied.

3. The seatbelt reminder system according to claim 1, wherein said second condition further has an end of said first reminder as one of fulfilling conditions.

4. The seatbelt reminder system according to claim 1, wherein said second reminder element gives said second reminder after said first reminder is finished, when said second condition is satisfied while said first reminder element is giving said first reminder, and said reminder-start delay element delays start of said second reminder until a predetermined period elapses since an end of said first reminder.

5. The seatbelt reminder system according to claim 4, wherein said second condition further has a predetermined condition in addition to said first condition.

6. The seatbelt reminder system according to claim 1, wherein said first reminder by said first reminder element and said second reminder by said second reminder element are carried out by using a same reminder device.

7. A seatbelt reminder system for outputting a reminder for an occupant when the occupant leaves a seatbelt unfastened, comprising:

a seat-belt fastening detecting element which detects a fastened state of said seatbelt;

a first reminder element which gives a first reminder in a first pattern when a first condition having an unfastened state of said seatbelt, detected by said seat-belt fastening detecting element, as at least a fulfilling condition is satisfied; and

a second reminder element which gives a second reminder in a second pattern different from said first pattern when a second condition having said unfastened state of said seatbelt, detected by said seat-belt fastening detecting element, an end of said first reminder or said first condition as at least a fulfilling condition is satisfied.

8. The seatbelt reminder system according to claim 7, wherein said first reminder by said first reminder element and said second reminder by said second reminder element are carried out by using a same reminder device.

9. A seatbelt reminder method for outputting a reminder for an occupant when the occupant leaves a seat belt unfastened, comprising the steps of

detecting a fastened state of said seatbelt;

giving a first reminder when a first condition having an unfastened state of said seatbelt as at least a fulfilling condition is satisfied;

giving a second reminder when a second condition having said unfastened state of said seatbelt as at least a fulfilling condition is satisfied; and

delaying start of said second reminder when said second condition is satisfied and said second reminder is started.

10. The seatbelt reminder method according to claim 9, wherein characterized in that start of said second reminder is delayed until a predetermined period elapses after said second condition is satisfied.

11. The seatbelt reminder method according to claim 9, wherein characterized in that said second reminder is given after said first reminder is finished, when said second condition is satisfied while said first reminder is being given, and

start of said second reminder is delayed until a predetermined period elapses since an end of said first reminder.