Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a rear facing infant seat
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for detecting the presence of a rear-facing infant seat on a motor vehicle seat equipped with a seat belt that can be buckled or unbuckled, comprising:
- a seat belt status sensor for determining if the seat belt is buckled;
a seat belt tension sensor for determining a tension on the seat belt;
a first seat belt position sensor for detecting a proximity of the seat belt to a bight area of the vehicle seat where bottom and back cushions of the vehicle seat meet; and
a control unit for detecting the presence of a rear-facing infant seat on the vehicle seat when;
(1) said seat belt status sensor determines that the seat belt is buckled,(2) said seat belt tension sensor determines that said tension is above a predetermined threshold; and
(3) said first seat belt position sensor detects the proximity of the seat belt to said bight area.
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Abstract
The presence of a rear-facing infant seat on a motor vehicle seat is reliably and cost-effectively detected based on the buckle state and tension of the seat belt, and the position of the seat belt relative to the seat bight region where the seat bottom and back cushions meet. These seat belt parameters are measured and applied to a predefined decision matrix to detect the presence of a rear-facing infant seat.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting the presence of a rear-facing infant seat on a motor vehicle seat equipped with a seat belt that can be buckled or unbuckled, comprising:
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a seat belt status sensor for determining if the seat belt is buckled; a seat belt tension sensor for determining a tension on the seat belt; a first seat belt position sensor for detecting a proximity of the seat belt to a bight area of the vehicle seat where bottom and back cushions of the vehicle seat meet; and a control unit for detecting the presence of a rear-facing infant seat on the vehicle seat when; (1) said seat belt status sensor determines that the seat belt is buckled, (2) said seat belt tension sensor determines that said tension is above a predetermined threshold; and (3) said first seat belt position sensor detects the proximity of the seat belt to said bight area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of detecting the presence of a rear-facing infant seat on a motor vehicle seat equipped with a seat belt that can be buckled or unbuckled, comprising the steps of:
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determining if the seat belt is buckled; determining a tension on the seat belt; detecting a proximity of the seat belt to a bight area of the vehicle seat where bottom and back cushions of the vehicle seat meet; and detecting the presence of a rear-facing infant seat on the vehicle seat when; (1) said seat belt is determined to be buckled, (2) the determined tension is above a predetermined threshold; and (3) the proximity of the seat belt to said bight area is detected. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification