Multiple passenger vehicle seat belt notification system with force feedback

• US 20070222572A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Downey, Brian, Bunce, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,511,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457
• 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

A seat belt notification system and process for a vehicle can include an occupant detection sensor operable to determine if a vehicle seat is in one of an occupied condition or an unoccupied condition. A seat belt sensor can be operable to determine if a seat belt associated with the vehicle seat is in one of a buckled condition and an unbuckled condition. A feedback device can be operable to provide a physical response to a particular vehicle seat, if the occupant detection sensor determines that the particular vehicle seat is in an occupied condition and the seat belt sensor determines that the seat belt associated with the particular vehicle seat is in an unbuckled condition.

Claims

1. A seat belt notification system for a vehicle comprising:

an occupant detection sensor operable to determine if a vehicle seat is in one of an occupied condition and an unoccupied condition;

a seat belt sensor operable to determine if a seat belt associated with the vehicle seat is in one of a buckled condition and an unbuckled condition; and

a feedback device operable to provide a physical response to the vehicle seat, if the occupant detection sensor determines that the vehicle seat is in an occupied condition and the seat belt sensor determines that the seat belt associated with the vehicle seat is in an unbuckled condition.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller connected to the occupant detection sensor, the seat belt sensor, and the feedback device.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a vehicle movement sensor connected to the controller and operable to determine if the vehicle has moved a predetermined distance.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a visual display associated with a driver information center console and connected to the controller, the visual display operable to display the vehicle seat that is in an occupied condition and has an associated seat belt in an unbuckled condition.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback device further comprises:

a feedback generating device providing a physical response to a portion of the vehicle seat.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the portion of the vehicle seat is selected from a group consisting of a cushion, a seatback, an armrest, a headrest, and any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback device further comprises:

a vibrator associated with the vehicle seat to provide the physical response.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the vibrator operates until the seat belt associated with the vehicle seat is in a buckled condition.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the vibrator cycles on and off during the unbuckled condition of the seat belt associated with the vehicle seat.

10. A method of providing a seat belt notification system in a vehicle comprising:

determining if a seat in a vehicle is in an occupied condition or an unoccupied condition;

determining if a seat belt for the seat is in a buckled condition or an unbuckled condition; and

providing a physical response to the seat, if the seat is determined to be in an occupied condition and the seat belt is determined to be in an unbuckled condition.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein providing a physical response further comprises:

receiving an output signal from an occupant detection sensor and a seat belt sensor with a controller; and

activating the physical response with the controller in response to the output signals received in accordance with a control program.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining if the vehicle has moved a predetermined distance.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

displaying visually an indication of the vehicle seat that is in an occupied condition and has an associated seat belt in an unbuckled condition.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein providing a physical response further comprises:

applying a force feedback stimulation to a portion of the vehicle seat.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the portion of the vehicle seat is selected from a group consisting of a cushion, a seatback, an armrest, a headrest, and any combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein providing a physical response further comprises:

vibrating at least a portion of the vehicle seat to alert an occupant of the vehicle seat of the unbuckled condition of the seat belt associated with the vehicle seat.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein vibrating at least a portion of the vehicle seat further comprises:

repeating vibrating at least a portion of the vehicle seat until the seat belt associated with the vehicle seat is in a buckled condition.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the vibrating at least a portion of the vehicle seat further comprises:

cycling the vibration on and off during the unbuckled condition of the seat belt associated with the vehicle seat.

19. A seat belt notification system for a vehicle comprising:

means for determining which seats in a vehicle are in an occupied condition or in an unoccupied condition;

means for determining which seat belts are in a buckled condition or in an unbuckled condition; and

means for providing a physical response to a seat in an occupied condition, if the seat belt associated with the occupied condition is determined to be in an unbuckled condition.

20. A control program for a seat belt notification system for a vehicle comprising:

determining which seats in a vehicle are in an occupied condition;

determining which seat belts are in an unbuckled condition; and

if any seats have an occupied condition and an associated seat belt in the unbuckled condition, activating a physical notification associated with each vehicle seat identified as being in an occupied condition in combination with an unbuckled condition of the seat belt.