Apparatus and methods for monitoring and detecting seat belt usage
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for detecting seat belt usage, comprising:
- an enforcement device having an enforcement circuit board for sending a first signal and receiving a return signal;
a vehicle device having a vehicle circuit board for receiving the signal from and return the return signal to the enforcement device;
means for generating a properly fastened state or an improperly fastened state for a seat belt;
means for synchronizing multiplexers at a vehicle transmitter;
means for decoding the return signal at an enforcement receiver; and
wherein the means for synchronizing multiplexers and the means for decoding are maintained in phase by transmitting a vehicle'"'"'s clock and 1 shot arming window in the return signal with BCD data and binary sequence data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for monitoring and detecting seat belt usage, having an enforcement device with an enforcement circuit board and a vehicle device with a vehicle circuit board. Each of the enforcement circuit board and the vehicle circuit board has a transformer and a receiver and a pair of antennas for transmitting and receiving a first signal and a return signal. The enforcement device and the vehicle device communicate a properly fastened state or an improperly fastened state for a seat belt.
17 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting seat belt usage, comprising:
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an enforcement device having an enforcement circuit board for sending a first signal and receiving a return signal;
a vehicle device having a vehicle circuit board for receiving the signal from and return the return signal to the enforcement device;
means for generating a properly fastened state or an improperly fastened state for a seat belt;
means for synchronizing multiplexers at a vehicle transmitter;
means for decoding the return signal at an enforcement receiver; and
wherein the means for synchronizing multiplexers and the means for decoding are maintained in phase by transmitting a vehicle'"'"'s clock and 1 shot arming window in the return signal with BCD data and binary sequence data.
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2. An apparatus for momentarily detecting seat belt usage status of at least one seat belt located within a selected vehicle, comprising:
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an enforcement device having at least one enforcement antenna;
an enforcement transmitter for sending a first signal;
an enforcement receiver for receiving a return signal carrying seat belt usage information;
an enforcement encoder for encoding the first signal;
the enforcement transmitter and the enforcement receiver being electrically connected to the at least one enforcement antenna;
a trigger operatively connected to the enforcement device;
a vehicle device adapted for installation in the selected vehicle, the vehicle device having a vehicle receiver for receiving the first signal from the enforcement transmitter, a vehicle transmitter for sending the return signal to the enforcement device, and a vehicle encoder for encoding the return signal, the vehicle transmitter and the vehicle receiver being electrically connected to the at least one vehicle antenna;
the vehicle device being adapted to receive seat belt usage information from a seat belt status detector;
a first power supply electrically connected to the enforcement device;
a second power supply electrically connected to the vehicle device; and
a display electrically connected to the enforcement receiver. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for momentarily detecting seat belt usage status of at least one seat belt located within a selected vehicle, comprising:
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a portable enforcement unit having an enforcement device and a speed radar detection device, the enforcement device having a enforcement circuit board and at least one enforcement antenna;
the enforcement circuit board including an enforcement transmitter for sending a first signal, an enforcement receiver for receiving a return signal carrying seat belt usage information, and an enforcement transmit code device for encoding the first signal, the enforcement transmitter and the enforcement receiver are electrically connected to the at least one enforcement antenna;
a trigger operatively connected to the enforcement unit;
a vehicle device operatively connected to the vehicle, the vehicle device having a vehicle circuit board, the vehicle circuit board including a vehicle receiver for receiving the first signal from the enforcement transmitter, a vehicle transmitter for sending the return signal to the enforcement device, and a vehicle code device for encoding the return signal, the vehicle transmitter and the vehicle receiver are electrically connected to the at least one vehicle antenna;
a seat belt switch electrically connected to the vehicle circuit board;
a first power supply operatively connected to the enforcement unit;
a second power supply operatively connected to the vehicle device; and
a display electrically connected to the enforcement receiver of the enforcement circuit board.
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21. A method for momentarily detecting seat belt usage status, the steps comprising:
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selecting a vehicle;
transmitting a first signal from an enforcement device having an enforcement circuit board;
receiving the first signal by a vehicle device mounted to the vehicle, the vehicle device having a vehicle circuit board;
processing the first signal with the vehicle circuit board;
determining seat belt usage status of at least one seat belt located within the vehicle, wherein said step of determining seat belt usage status occurs after said step of receiving the first signal;
creating a return signal with the vehicle circuit board;
transmitting the return signal to the enforcement circuit board of the enforcement device;
processing the return signal with the enforcement circuit board; and
determining a properly fastened state or an improperly fastened state for a seat belt from the return signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of assembling an apparatus for momentarily detecting seat belt usage status of at least one seat belt located within a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an enforcement circuit board;
connecting at least one enforcement antenna to the enforcement circuit board;
connecting an enforcement transmitter for sending a first signal to the enforcement circuit board;
connecting an enforcement receiver for receiving a return signal carrying seat belt usage information to the enforcement circuit board;
connecting a trigger to the enforcement circuit board;
connecting a first power supply to the enforcement circuit board;
connecting a display to the enforcement circuit board;
providing a vehicle circuit board;
mounting the vehicle circuit board to the vehicle;
connecting a vehicle receiver to the vehicle circuit board;
connecting a vehicle transmitter to the vehicle circuit board;
connecting a seat belt switch to the vehicle circuit board; and
connecting a second power supply the vehicle circuit board.
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Specification