Apparatus for reinforcing seatbelt usage in automobiles

• US 20070285219A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Greene
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Greene
• Inventors: Greene, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,119 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 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A technique for reinforcing seatbelt usage in automobiles is described. One implementation of which includes a weight sensor in the car seat that detects occupancy by a person and generates an occupancy signal that is transmitted to a seatbelt monitor unit that receives both the occupancy signal and a buckled seatbelt signal (based on a magnetic switch in the female portion of the buckle), and based thereupon, generates an unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal if the buckled seatbelt signal indicates that the buckle is not buckled when the transmitted occupancy signal indicates that the respective seat is occupied. A program executing on the automobile'"'"'s stock computer then receives the unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal from the seatbelt monitor unit and handicaps the operation of the automobile in a predetermined way (e.g., speed limitation, engine kill, etc.).

Claims

1. An apparatus for reinforcing seatbelt usage in automobiles, the apparatus comprising:

a buckle detection switch configured into a female portion of a seatbelt buckle of seatbelt system, the seatbelt system having the female buckle and male buckle portions that are operable to interlock with one another, said buckle detection switch being configured to generate a buckled seatbelt signal when the male portion is properly interlocked with the female portion;

a weight sensor unit being operable for sensing weight applied to an automobile seat and generating a corresponding weight reading when a person is secured onto the seat with the seatbelt system;

a sensor processing unit, said sensor processing unit being configured to receive the weight reading from said weight sensor and to generate an occupancy signal that indicates the seat is occupied;

an occupancy signal transmission unit configured to receive said occupancy signal from said sensor processing unit and transmit said occupancy signal;

a seatbelt monitor unit, said seatbelt monitor unit being configured to receive both said transmitted occupancy signal and said buckled seatbelt signal, said seatbelt monitor unit being further configured to generate and transmit an unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal if said buckled seatbelt signal indicates that the buckle is not buckled when said transmitted occupancy signal indicates that the respective seat is occupied;

and an automobile handicapping unit, said automobile handicapping unit being configured to receive said unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal from said seatbelt monitor unit, and handicap the operation of the automobile in a predetermined way.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said weight sensor unit is a weight-sensor pad configured into padding of the seat where the person sits upon.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said weight reading is a binary signal indicating the presence or not of a certain amount of weight on the seat.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said weight reading is an analog signal and said sensor processing unit comprises electronics to threshold the analog signal to thereby generate a binary occupancy signal that indicates the presence or not of a certain amount of weight on the seat.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said occupancy signal transmission unit is a wireless transmitter system comprised of a radio transmitter and an antenna, and in which said seatbelt monitor unit comprise a corresponding radio receiver configured to properly receive and decode the wirelessly transmitted occupancy signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said occupancy signal transmission unit is a wireless transmitter system comprised of an infrared (IR) transmitter, and in which said seatbelt monitor unit comprises a corresponding IR receiver configured to properly receive and decode the wirelessly transmitted occupancy signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said occupancy signal transmission unit is a wired transmitter system, and in which said seatbelt monitor unit comprise a corresponding wired receiver configured to properly receive and decode the transmitted occupancy signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said buckle detection switch comprises first and second portions that are disposed such that the male buckle portion moves in between the two when the male and female buckle portions are interlocked with one another, said first buckle detection switch portion being a magnetically actuated switch, and said second buckle detection switch portion being a magnet.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said seatbelt monitor unit comprises a wired and/or wireless transmitter system to transmit said generated unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal, and in which said automobile handicapping unit comprise a corresponding wired receiver configured to properly receive and decode the transmitted unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said automobile handicapping unit is a program executing on a stock automobile computer that is operable for handicapping the automobile.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said predetermined way of handicapping the automobile is by way of limiting the speed of the automobile to a predetermined value.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said predetermined way of handicapping the automobile is by way of preventing the ignition of the automobile.

13. An apparatus for reinforcing seatbelt usage in automobiles having a seatbelt system with female and male buckle portions that are operable to interlock with one another, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating a buckled seatbelt signal when the male portion is properly interlocked with the female portion;

means for sensing weight applied to an automobile seat and generating a corresponding weight reading when a person is secured onto the seat with the seatbelt system;

sensor processing means for receiving the weight reading from said weight sensor and generating an occupancy signal that indicates the seat is occupied;

occupancy signal transmission means for receiving said occupancy signal from said sensor processing unit and transmitting said occupancy signal;

seatbelt monitoring means for receiving both said transmitted occupancy and buckled seatbelt signals, and generating and transmitting an unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal; and

means for receiving said unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal from said seatbelt monitor unit, and handicapping the operation of the automobile in a predetermined way.

14. A method for reinforcing seatbelt usage in automobiles having a seatbelt system with female and male buckle portions that are operable to interlock with one another, the apparatus comprising:

Steps for sensing weight applied to an automobile seat and generating a corresponding weight reading when a person is secured onto the seat with the seatbelt system;

Steps for receiving the weight reading from said weight sensor and generating an occupancy signal that indicates the seat is occupied;

Steps for receiving said occupancy signal from said sensor processing unit and transmitting said occupancy signal;

Steps for receiving both said transmitted occupancy and buckled seatbelt signals, and generating and transmitting an unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal; and

Steps for receiving said unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal from said seatbelt monitor unit, and handicapping the operation of the automobile in a predetermined way.

15. The method of claim 14, Steps for indicating the presence or not of a certain amount of weight on the seat.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the Step of configuring a program executing a stock automobile computer that is operable for handicapping the automobile.