Method and apparatus for monitoring seat belt use of rear seat passengers
First Claim
1. A seatbelt monitoring and alerting system for informing a vehicle operator of the status of a plurality of seatbelts in at least one rear seating row of a vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of seatbelt sensors for producing belt status signals indicative of a secured condition or an unsecured condition of each of the seatbelts;
a display for producing a visible indication of the status of at least one of the seatbelts; and
a belt status module coupled to the seatbelt sensors to receive the belt status signals and coupled to the display to;
a) cause the display to indicate an initial number of the seatbelts in the secured condition at a base time;
b) cause the display to provide a visible alert message to indicate if the number of seatbelts in the secured condition falls below the initial number after the base time; and
c) terminate the alert message if the number of seatbelts in the secured condition returns to the initial number.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring the secured/unsecured status of seat belts in rear seating rows of a vehicle notes the number and/or location of seat belts secured at a base time when all doors are closed and the vehicle starts in motion. The vehicle operator is alerted to any later change in the number of secured belts by a visual display provided by a vehicle message center and/or an audible signal. When the vehicle slows to a stop and a door opens, the number of secured belts is reset to allow continued monitoring of rear seat occupants after occupants are dropped off and/or picked up. The secured/unsecured condition may be determined by monitoring a retractor reel of the seat belt, the secured condition being defined by the seat belt being paid out beyond a threshold length and the unsecured condition being defined by the seat belt being retracted shorter than the threshold length. Seat occupancy sensors are not required, and rear seat occupants may temporarily unfasten their seat belt as necessary to move from one seating position to another without continuous alerting of the vehicle operator.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A seatbelt monitoring and alerting system for informing a vehicle operator of the status of a plurality of seatbelts in at least one rear seating row of a vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of seatbelt sensors for producing belt status signals indicative of a secured condition or an unsecured condition of each of the seatbelts;
a display for producing a visible indication of the status of at least one of the seatbelts; and
a belt status module coupled to the seatbelt sensors to receive the belt status signals and coupled to the display to;
a) cause the display to indicate an initial number of the seatbelts in the secured condition at a base time;
b) cause the display to provide a visible alert message to indicate if the number of seatbelts in the secured condition falls below the initial number after the base time; and
c) terminate the alert message if the number of seatbelts in the secured condition returns to the initial number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of monitoring the status of a plurality of seatbelts in at least one rear seating row of a vehicle and alerting a vehicle operator to said status comprising:
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detecting the status of each of the seatbelts as between a secured condition and an unsecured condition at a base time;
providing a visible indication of an initial number of the seatbelts in the secured condition at the base time;
providing a visible alert message indicating if the initial number of seatbelts in the secured condition decreases to a reduced number after the base time; and
terminating the alert message if the reduced number of seatbelts in the secured condition returns to the initial number. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of monitoring the status of a plurality of seatbelts in at least one rear seating row of a vehicle and alerting a vehicle operator to said status comprising:
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establishing a base time when at least the following three conditions are met;
electrical power is applied to the vehicle, at least one door of the vehicle is closed, and the vehicle has reached a predetermined speed;
detecting the status of each of the seatbelts as between a secured condition and an unsecured condition at the base time;
providing a visible indication of an initial number of the seatbelts in the secured condition at the base time;
providing a visible alert message indicating if the number of seatbelts in the secured condition falls below the initial number after the base time;
sounding an audible alert in conjunction with the visible alert message; and
terminating the audible alert and the alert message if the number of seatbelts in the secured condition returns to the initial number.
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Specification