Seat-belt warning device

• US 20070085669A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Inventors: Schockmel, Paul, Becker, Guido, Mousel, Thierry
• Granted Patent: US 10,005,425 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 2022/4858 for sensing pressure on seat
• 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

The invention relates to a seat-belt warning device comprising a device which detects a seat occupied by a passenger, a device which detects whether the seat-belt associated with a seat is being used, and a device which emits a warning signal. According to the invention, the device which detects seat occupancy by a passenger comprises an optical image-producing system comprising an image evaluation unit.

Claims

1. A seat-belt warning device comprising

a device for sensing a seat occupancy by a passenger,

a device for sensing a buckling status of a seat belt associated with the seat, and

a device for outputting a warning signal,

wherein said device for sensing a seat occupancy by a passenger comprises an optical imaging system for recording situation images and an image evaluation unit for evaluating the situation images which have been recorded.

2. The seat-belt warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image evaluation unit evaluates a situation image, which has been recorded by the imaging system, on the basis of contours and/or edges contained in said image.

3. The seat-belt warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging system comprises a CMOS camera and/or a CCD camera.

4. The seat-belt warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for sensing a buckling status of a seat belt comprises a belt lock sensor.

5. The seat-belt warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for sensing a buckling status of a seat belt is formed by the optical imaging system.

6. The seat-belt warning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the seat belt has one or more markings which are detectable by the optical system.

7. The seat-belt warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical imaging system comprises a lighting device for illuminating the space which is to be monitored.

8. The seat-belt warning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the imaging system comprises a CMOS camera and/or a CCD camera.