Vehicular seatbelt monitoring system and process
First Claim
1. A seatbelt monitoring system for use onboard a vehicle having a seat assembly including at least one seat and seatbelt, comprising:
- a wireless seatbelt status detector, comprising;
a seatbelt latch sensor;
a first wireless transceiver; and
a controller coupled to the seatbelt latch sensor and to the first wireless transceiver, the controller configured to send a seatbelt latch signal via the first wireless transceiver when the seatbelt latch sensor indicates a change in latch status; and
a vehicle seatbelt status indicator, comprising;
a second wireless transceiver; and
a processor coupled to the second wireless transceiver, the processor configured to send a receipt signal to the wireless seatbelt status detector after receiving the seatbelt latch signal via the second wireless transceiver;
wherein the controller is further configured to;
(i) re-send the seatbelt latch signal if the receipt signal is not received within a predetermined time period, and (ii) create an error log after a predetermined number of successive re-send attempts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seatbelt monitoring system is provided for use onboard a vehicle having a seat assembly including at least one seat and corresponding seatbelt. The seatbelt monitoring system includes a wireless seatbelt status detector and a vehicle seatbelt status indicator. The wireless seatbelt status detector includes a seatbelt latch sensor, a first wireless transceiver, and a controller coupled to the seatbelt latch sensor and to the wireless sensor. The controller is configured to send a seatbelt latch signal via the first wireless transceiver when the seatbelt latch sensor indicates a change in seatbelt latch status. The vehicle seatbelt status indicator includes a second wireless transceiver and a processor coupled to the second wireless transceiver. The processor is configured to send a receipt signal to the wireless seatbelt status detector after receiving the seatbelt status signal via the second wireless transceiver.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A seatbelt monitoring system for use onboard a vehicle having a seat assembly including at least one seat and seatbelt, comprising:
a wireless seatbelt status detector, comprising; a seatbelt latch sensor; a first wireless transceiver; and a controller coupled to the seatbelt latch sensor and to the first wireless transceiver, the controller configured to send a seatbelt latch signal via the first wireless transceiver when the seatbelt latch sensor indicates a change in latch status; and a vehicle seatbelt status indicator, comprising; a second wireless transceiver; and a processor coupled to the second wireless transceiver, the processor configured to send a receipt signal to the wireless seatbelt status detector after receiving the seatbelt latch signal via the second wireless transceiver; wherein the controller is further configured to;
(i) re-send the seatbelt latch signal if the receipt signal is not received within a predetermined time period, and (ii) create an error log after a predetermined number of successive re-send attempts.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A seatbelt monitoring system for use onboard a vehicle having a seat assembly including at least one seat and seatbelt having a latch, comprising:
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a wireless seatbelt status detector, comprising; an alert generator; a seatbelt latch sensor configured to monitor latch status; a seat occupancy sensor configured to monitor seat occupancy; a first wireless transceiver; and a controller coupled to the alert generator, to the seatbelt latch sensor, to the seat occupancy sensor, and the to the first wireless transceiver, the controller configured to send a wireless message indicative of seatbelt latch status and of seat occupancy; and a vehicle seatbelt status indicator, comprising; a second wireless transceiver; an alert generator; and a processor coupled to the second wireless transceiver and to the alert generator, the processor configured to activate the alert generator when the wireless message indicates that the seat is occupied and that the seatbelt latch is unfastened; wherein the controller is further configured to;
(i) re-send the seatbelt latch signal if the receipt signal is not received within a predetermined time period, and (ii) activate the alert generator after a predetermined number of successive re-send attempts. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method according for wirelessly monitoring the status of a seatbelt associated with a seat in a vehicle, comprising:
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sending at least one wireless signal indicative of seatbelt latch status and of seat occupancy; receiving the wireless signal; generating an alert if the wireless signal indicates that the seatbelt latch is unfastened and that the seat is occupied; sending a receipt signal indicating that the wireless signal has been received; re-sending the wireless signal if the receipt is not received within a predetermined time period; monitoring the number of successive re-send attempts; and creating an error log if the number of successive re-send attempts exceeds a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification