ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO INDUCE THE OCCUPANTS OF A VEHICLE TO FASTEN SEAT BELTS

• US 20090312915A1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiat Group Automobiles S.P.A. (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Fiat Group Automobiles S.P.A. (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: PICCININI, Antonio, DI LAGO, Vincenzo
• Granted Patent: US 8,417,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/22 Optical; Photoelectric; Lidar [Light Detection and Ranging]
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• 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 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

An electronic system to induce the occupants of a vehicle to fasten seat belts is described. The electronic system is configured to determine an alert condition indicating that a seat belt of at least one occupant of the vehicle is not fastened or is not properly fastened. The electronic system is also configured to allow the car radio to operate even when said alert condition is present, and to control the volume of the car radio for as long as said alert condition persists, preventing it from exceeding a low volume level.

Claims

1. Electronic system to induce the occupants of a vehicle to fasten seat belts, said electronic system being configured to:

determine an alert condition indicating that a seat belt has not been fastened or has not been properly fastened by at least one occupant of the vehicle;

the electronic system being characterized in that it is further configured to;

allow a vehicle radio (5) to operate even when said alert condition is present; and

for as long as said alert condition persists, to control the volume of the vehicle radio (5) so that it does not exceed a low volume level.

2. Electronic system according to claim 1, wherein controlling the volume of the vehicle radio (5) for as long as said alert condition persists comprises:

if the vehicle radio (5) is on and the volume of the vehicle radio (5) is higher than the low volume level, lowering the volume of the vehicle radio (5) to said low volume level.

3. Electronic system according to claim 1, wherein controlling the volume of the vehicle radio (5) for as long as said alert condition persists also comprises:

if the vehicle radio (5) is on and the volume of the vehicle radio (5) is lower than or equal to said low volume level, limiting an increase of the volume of the vehicle radio (5) by a user above said low volume level.

4. Electronic system according to claim 1, wherein controlling the volume of the vehicle radio (5) for as long as said alert condition persists also comprises:

if the vehicle radio (5) is off, setting the volume of the vehicle radio (5) to the low volume level when the vehicle radio (5) is turned on by a user.

5. Electronic system according to claim 2, wherein controlling the volume of the vehicle radio (5) for as long as said alert condition persists also comprises:

inhibiting any adjustment of the volume of the vehicle radio (5) by a user.

6. Electronic system according to claim 2, wherein controlling the volume of the vehicle radio (5) for as long as said alert condition persists also comprises:

allowing a user to lower the volume of the vehicle radio (5); and

limiting an increase of the volume of the vehicle radio (5) by a user above said low volume level.

7. Electronic system according to claim 1, further configured to:

receive a presence signal (PRES) indicating the presence of an occupant on a seat of the vehicle;

receive a fastening signal (FAST) indicating that the corresponding seat belt has been fastened; and

determining said alert condition based on said presence and fastening signals (PRES, FAST).

8. Electronic system according to claim 7, further configured to:

receive a speed signal (SPEED) indicating the speed of the vehicle; and

determining said alert condition also based on said speed signal (SPEED).

9. Electronic control system according to claim 8, wherein the alert condition also indicates that the seat belt has not been fastened or has not been properly fastened by an occupant of the vehicle when the speed of the vehicle satisfies a given condition.

10. Electronic system according to claim 9, wherein said given condition is defined by the fact that the speed of the vehicle exceeds a minimum value.

11. Electronic system according to claim 1, further configured to:

display a message inviting the occupants to fasten seat belts on display means (11, 53) for as long as said alert condition persists.

12. Electronic system according to claim 11, wherein the message inviting the occupants to fasten seat belts is displayed continuously.

13. Electronic system according to claim 11, wherein the message inviting the occupants to fasten seat belts is displayed each time a user performs an action aimed at adjusting the volume of the vehicle radio (5).

14. Electronic system according to claim 11, wherein the message inviting the occupants to fasten seat belts is displayed each time a user performs an action aimed at increasing the volume of the vehicle radio (5) to above said low volume level.

15. On-board infotelematic system for a vehicle, comprising an electronic system to induce the occupants of the vehicle to fasten seat belts according to claim 1.

16. Vehicle comprising an electronic system to induce the occupants of the vehicle to fasten seat belts according to claim 1.

17. Software program comprising software code portions for implementing, when the software program is loaded in a memory of an electronic control and processing unit of a vehicle and run on said electronic control and processing unit, an electronic system to induce the occupants of the vehicle to fasten seat belts according to claim 1.