Method and apparatus for indicating the locked or unlocked condition of a seat belt buckle
First Claim
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
- exposing a Hall effect device to a magnetic field having flux lines extending in a first direction relative to said Hall effect device if a seat belt tongue is not interlocked with a latch mechanism; and
exposing said Hall effect device to a magnetic field having flux lines extending in a second, opposite direction relative to said Hall effect device if said seat belt tongue is interlocked with said latch mechanism, whereby the output of said Hall effect device indicates whether or not said seat belt tongue is interlocked with said latch mechanism.
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Abstract
A Hall effect device (60) is exposed to a magnetic field having flux lines extending in a first direction relative to the Hall effect device (60) if a seat belt tongue (16) is not locked in a seat belt buckle (12). The Hall effect device (60) is exposed to a magnetic field having flux lines extending in a second, opposite direction relative to the Hall effect device if the tongue (16) is locked in the buckle (12). The output of the Hall effect device (60) indicates whether or not the tongue (16) is locked in the buckle (12).
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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exposing a Hall effect device to a magnetic field having flux lines extending in a first direction relative to said Hall effect device if a seat belt tongue is not interlocked with a latch mechanism; and exposing said Hall effect device to a magnetic field having flux lines extending in a second, opposite direction relative to said Hall effect device if said seat belt tongue is interlocked with said latch mechanism, whereby the output of said Hall effect device indicates whether or not said seat belt tongue is interlocked with said latch mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus comprising:
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a latch mechanism which releasably interlocks with a seat belt tongue; a Hall effect device; and switching means for exposing said Hall effect device to a first magnetic field having a first polarity if a seat belt tongue is not interlocked with said latch mechanism, and for exposing said Hall effect device to a second magnetic field having a second, opposite polarity if said seat belt tongue is interlocked with said latch mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus comprising:
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a latch mechanism which releasably interlocks with a seat belt tongue; a Hall effect device; a source of a first magnetic field having a first polarity, said source of said first magnetic field being located in energizing relationship with said Hall effect device; and a source of a second magnetic field having a second, opposite polarity; said latch mechanism including means for moving said source of said second magnetic field relative to said Hall effect device so as to locate said source of said second magnetic field in energizing relationship with said Hall effect device upon interlocking of a seat belt tongue with said latch mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification