Sensor arrangement for applying to a belt, especially to a safety belt of a motor vehicle

• US 20060250275A1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paragon AG
• Original Assignee: Paragon AG
• Inventors: Rodemer, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 7,576,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/856.200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0031 Seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/12 Construction of belts or harnesses B60R21/18 takes precedence ; woven fabrics for safety belts D03D1/0005

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to apply a sensor arrangement to a belt, especially a safety belt (1) of a motor vehicle, in such a way that the function of the safety belt is restricted as little as possible or not at all in terms of both the mechanical resistance thereof and the sliding and rolling characteristics thereof. To this end, the sensors (4) of the sensor arrangement are applied to the upper side (5) of the safety belt (1), which opposes the body of the passenger of the motor vehicle, the lower side (6) of the safety belt (1), facing the body of the passenger of the motor vehicle, remaining free and unchanged.

Claims

1. A sensor arrangement for applying to a belt, in particular to a motor vehicle safety belt (1), characterised in that at least one sensor (4) of the sensor arrangement is arranged on the top side (5) of the safety belt (1) facing away from the body of the vehicle occupants, whereby the underside (6) of the safety belt (1) facing the body of the vehicle occupants remains free and unchanged.

2. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1, which has several sensors (4) and wherein preferably each sensor (4) is arranged on the top side (5) of the safety belt (1) facing away from the body of the vehicle occupants, whereby the underside (6) of the safety belt (1) facing the body of the vehicle occupants remains free and unchanged.

3. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sensor (4) is taken up on a fitting or respectively in a housing (7), which can be fastened to the top side (5) of the safety belt (1).

4. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing (7) of at least one sensor (4) is made of plastic.

5. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing (7) of at least one sensor (4) can be welded to the material forming the top side (5) of the safety belt (1).

6. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing (7) of at least one sensor (4) can be adhered to the material forming the top side (5) of the safety belt (1).

7. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing (7) of at least one sensor (4) can be sewn to the top side (5) of the safety belt (1).

8. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety belt (1) is provided in the region of at least one, preferably each, sensor (4) of the sensor arrangement with belt reinforcing.

9. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 8, whereof the belt reinforcing or respectively belt reinforcings is or respectively are designed in the form of threads additionally woven into the safety belt (1).

10. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 8, whereof the belt reinforcing or respectively belt reinforcings is or respectively are formed by threads with better mechanical properties, e.g. increased breaking load and/or elasticity, being used in their area or respectively areas.

11. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1, whereof the sensors (4) are microphones.

12. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1, to the sensors (4) whereof heart frequency, body temperature meters and/or the like belong.

13. A sensor arrangement, preferably as claimed in claim 1, whereof the sensors (4) are connected to conductors (9) integrated in the safety belt (1), in which or respectively from which the required operating energy of the sensor arrangement and signals of the sensors (4) can be inductively coupled or respectively uncoupled.

14. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the operating energy and the signals can be coupled or respectively uncoupled in the region of one of two retractors or a belt lock of the safety belt arrangement.

15. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the conductors integrated in the safety belt (1) are spun around a web thread of the safety belt (1).

16. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 13, whereof the sensors (4) are connected by means of flexiconductors to the conductors (9) integrated in the safety belt (1).

17. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 16, whereof the sensors (4) are connected by means of conductive gums to the conductors (9) integrated in the safety belt (1).

18. A sensor arrangement, preferably as claimed in claim 1, wherein a selection device is provided, by means of which the sensor (4) of the sensor arrangement best positioned for signal quality can be determined and the signal of this sensor (4) can be selected for forwarding.

19. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein by means of the selection device the two sensors (4) of the sensor arrangement best positioned for signal quality, e.g. the first sensor arranged above and the first sensor arranged below the signal source sensor (4), can be determined and the signals of both these sensors (4) can be combined into one output signal.

20. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein the output signal of the selected sensor (4) of the sensor arrangement or respectively the output signal of the sensor arrangement combined from the signals of two or more selected sensors (4) including the signals of the other sensors (4) of the sensor arrangement, can be processed preferably according to any mathematical method.

21. The sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 18, whereof the selection device is connected to a seated position sensor and/or a sensor for weight of the occupants of the vehicle, whereby the output signals of this or respectively of these sensors can be viewed preferably in common with an output signal of a safety belt length of stretch sensor in selection of the best-positioned sensors (4) of the sensor arrangement.