SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROMOTING SAFE DRIVING

• US 20090009313A1
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph M. Pippins Sr
• Original Assignee: Joseph M. Pippins Sr
• Inventors: Pippins, Joseph M. SR.
• Application Number:
  US12/167,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009313A1
• 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 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A system for promoting safe driving includes a hazard detector connected to the vehicle electrical system and providing an output signal corresponding to an unsafe condition, such as an unbuckled passive restraint. The output signal activates a relay, which interrupts operation of another vehicle system, such as the sound system. A method of promoting safe driving includes detecting an internal or external hazard and interrupting operation of a vehicle system in response thereto.

Claims

1. A safety system for a vehicle including an electrical system and an electrical device connected to the electrical system, which safety system comprises:

a hazard detector connected to the electrical system and having a hazard state providing a hazard output corresponding to a hazard condition and a safe state;

an electrical interconnect interconnecting said electrical device and said hazard detector; and

said electrical device being inoperative in response to the hazard output.

2. The safety system of claim 1 wherein:

electrical power to said electrical device is provided via said electrical interconnect with said hazard detector in a safe state; and

electrical power to said electrical device is interrupted in response to the hazard output.

3. The safety system of claim 1, which includes:

said vehicle including first and second passive restraints;

said hazard detector comprising a first passive restraint switch connected to said first passive restraint;

said hazard detector including a second passive restraint switch connected to said second passive restraint; and

said hazard state corresponding to an unbuckled condition of a respective passive restraint.

4. The safety system of claim 3, which includes:

each said passive restraint switch having an open, hazard state with a respective passive restraint unbuckled.

5. The safety system of claim 4 wherein said hazard detector includes first and second occupant detection switches each connected in parallel with a respective passive restraint switch.

6. The safety system of claim 5 wherein:

said parallel first passive restraint and occupant detection switches are connected in series with said second passive restraint and occupant detection switches; and

said hazard state comprises either of said passive restraints being unbuckled with a respective occupant detection switch being open.

7. The safety system of claim 6, which includes:

said electrical device being chosen from among the group consisting of;

a vehicle sound system, a vehicle ignition system, an audible alarm and a vehicle light.

8. The safety system of claim 2, which includes:

said electrical interconnect comprising a relay.

9. The safety system of claim 1, which includes:

an occupant detection sensor chosen from among the group comprising an infrared sensor, an ultrasound sensor and an electrical switch; and

said interconnect including a bus connected to said hazard detector and said occupant detection sensor and an electrical relay connected to said bus and said electrical device.

10. The safety system of claim 3, which includes:

said interconnect including a switch network comprising said switches.

11. A method of controlling an electrical device in a vehicle with an electrical system, multiple seats and multiple passive restraints each associated with a respective seat, which method includes the steps of:

providing each said seat with an occupant detection switch having a closed position with said seat unoccupied and an open position with said seat occupied;

providing each said passive restraint with a passive restraint switch having an open position with said passive restraint unbuckled and a closed position with said pass restraint buckle;

connecting each said occupant detection switch in parallel with a respective passive restraint switch; and

connecting said parallel-connected occupant detection and passive restraint switch pairs in series;

forming a hazard detection network with said occupant detection and passive restraint switches; and

connecting said hazard detection network with the vehicle electrical system and the electrical device.

13. The method of claim 11, which includes the additional steps of:

providing an electrical relay; and

connecting the hazard detection network with the electrical device via the relay.

12. The method according of 11, which includes the additional step of:

providing the vehicle with an electrical device chosen from among the group consisting of a vehicle sound system, a vehicle ignition system, an audible alarm and a vehicle light.

14. In combination with a vehicle including an electrical system, an electrical device, multiple seats and multiple passive restraints each associated with a respective seat, the improvement of a safety system comprising:

multiple hazard detectors each having a hazard state providing a hazard output corresponding to a hazard condition and a safe state;

each said hazard detector including a passive restraint switch connected to a respective passive restraint and an occupant detection switch connected in parallel with a respective passive restraint switch;

each said passive restraint switch having an open, hazard state with a respective passive restraint unbuckled;

an electrical interconnect interconnecting said electrical device and said hazard detector;

electrical power to said electrical device being provided via said electrical interconnect with said hazard detectors in said safe states;

electrical power to said electrical device being interrupted in response to the hazard output;

said parallel-connected pairs of first passive restraint and occupant detection switches being connected in series; and

said electrical device being chosen from among the group consisting of;

a vehicle sound system, a vehicle ignition system, an audible alarm and a vehicle light.

15. The safety system of claim 14, which includes:

said electrical interconnect comprising a relay.