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Seat belt buckle sensor

  • US 5,960,523 A
  • Filed: 08/25/1998
  • Issued: 10/05/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A seat belt buckle incorporating a belt tension sensor, comprising:

  • a seat belt buckle having a base;

    a seat belt latch mounted for movement on the base, the latch having a tongue engagement portion, the tongue engagement portion extensible through an opening defined by portions of the base;

    a tongue having portions defining a latch engaging opening, and a first portion of the tongue which is in load supporting engagement with the latch, the tongue being engageable with the latch to lock the tongue to the buckle;

    a spring mounted to the latch so that when the tongue first portion is pushed against the latch tongue engagement portion, the spring is compressed;

    a magnetic field sensor mounted on the buckle; and

    a magnet mounted on the buckle so as to cause a magnetic field at the sensor, wherein motion of the tongue away from the buckle to elastically deform the spring changes the intensity of the magnetic field at the sensor in proportion to the compression of the spring and thus in proportion to the belt tension.

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