Seat belt/accelerator behavioral system

• US 7,937,202 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Tenenbaum, Richard Schulman, Ronald Van Houten
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Tenenbaum, Richard Schulman, Ronald Van Houten
• Inventors: Tenenbaum, Jeffrey, Schulman, Richard, Van Houten, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khatib; Rami
• Application Number:
  US12/113,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701 45- 47, 701/49, 701/70, 180/269, 180/271, 180/281, 180/282, 180/286, 280/734, 280/735, 340/457, 340/457.1, 297/463.2, 297/468, 755/12, 755/13
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator

Abstract

The computer 26 sends actuating signals to the resistive device 38 to resist the occupant input to the accelerator 22, but only when the vehicle speed exceeds a threshold while the seat belt 24 is not fastened about the occupant 28. This invention is characterized by applying the resistance and adjusting the threshold in proportion to the number of times the seat belt 24 is not fastened while the vehicle speed exceeds the threshold compared with the number of times the vehicle 20 exceeds the threshold speed. Also, the threshold may be adjusted so resistance may be applied at speeds that would normally be acceptable to have the seat belt 24 unfastened when the vehicle 20 is operated at these speeds too often.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the behavior of the occupant of a vehicle with a resistive device and a control module and sensors to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;

applying an operational input with an input device to establish an operational mode of the vehicle,

sensing with a first sensor the operational mode of the vehicle, establishing an auxiliary mode of the vehicle,

sensing with a second sensor the auxiliary mode of the vehicle,

storing in the control module the number of times the operational mode exceeds a first predetermined threshold,

storing in the control module the number of incidents of the operational mode exceeding the first predetermined threshold in the absence of the auxiliary mode,

applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input in response to the incident, and

characterized by applying the resistance with the resistive device to the operational input in proportion to the number of incidents divided by the number of times the operational mode exceeds the first threshold.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further defined by removing the resistance to the application of the operational input in the presence of the auxiliary mode.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 further defined by preventing the removing of the resistance to the application of the operational input until the operational mode falls below a second predetermined threshold.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the operational mode of the vehicle is vehicle speed.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the auxiliary mode of the vehicle is a seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further defined by adjusting the first threshold in proportion to the number of incidents divided by the number of times the operational mode exceeds the first threshold.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 further defined by storing the length of time the operational mode exceeds an nth predetermined threshold,

storing the length time the operational mode exceeds the nth threshold in the absence of the auxiliary mode,

and adjusting the first threshold in proportion to the length of time the operational mode exceeds an nth threshold in the absence of the auxiliary mode divided by the length of time the operational mode exceeds the nth threshold.

8. A method of controlling the behavior of the occupant of a vehicle of the type including an accelerator, a seat belt, and a computer to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;

applying an operational input of force to the accelerator to establish an operational mode of the vehicle speed,

sensing the operational mode of the vehicle speed,

establishing an auxiliary mode of the vehicle of the seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant,

sensing the auxiliary mode of the vehicle of the seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant,

storing in the computer the number of times the operational mode of vehicle speed exceeds a first predetermined threshold,

storing in the computer the number of incidents of the operational mode of the vehicle speed exceeding the first predetermined threshold in the absence of the auxiliary mode of the seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant,

storing in the computer the length of time the operational mode of vehicle speed exceeds an nth predetermined threshold,

storing in the computer the length of time the operational mode of vehicle speed exceeds the nth threshold divided by the length of time the operational mode exceeds the nth threshold in the absence of the auxiliary mode,

applying a resistance to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator in response to each incident,

removing the resistance to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator in the presence of the auxiliary mode of the vehicle of the seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant,

preventing the removing of the resistance to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator until the operational mode of vehicle speed falls below a second predetermined threshold,

characterized by applying a resistance to the operational input of force to the accelerator being further defined as applying the resistance in proportion to the ratio of the number of incidents divided by the number of times the operational mode of vehicle speed exceeds the first predetermined threshold,

adjusting the first threshold of vehicle speed in proportion to the number of incidents divided by the number of times the operational mode of vehicle speed exceeds the first threshold, and

adjusting the first threshold of vehicle speed in proportion to the length of time the operational mode of vehicle speed exceeds an nth threshold in the absence of the auxiliary mode of the scat belt being fastened and disposed about an operator divided by the length of time the operational mode exceeds the nth threshold.

9. A vehicle controlling the behavior of the vehicle occupant to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions comprising;

an input device to apply an operational input to establish an operational mode of said vehicle,

a first sensor to measure said operational mode,

an auxiliary device to establish an auxiliary mode of said vehicle,

a second sensor to detect said auxiliary mode,

a control module to store the number of times said operational mode exceeds a first threshold, and to store the number of incidents that said operational mode exceeds said first threshold in the absence of said auxiliary mode,

a system to apply resistance to the application of the operational input,

said control module including a signal generator for actuating said system to apply resistance to the application of the operational input in response to each said incident, and

characterized by said control module including a comparator controlling said signal generator for actuating said system to apply resistance to the operational input in proportion to the ratio of the number of said incidents divided by the number of times said operational mode exceeds said first threshold.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 where said input device is an accelerator.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 where said first sensor is a sensor to measure vehicle speed.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 where said auxiliary device is a seat belt.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 where said second sensor detects said seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 where said control module is a computer.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 where said system is a resistive device.

16. A vehicle controlling the behavior of the vehicle occupant to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions comprising;

an accelerator for applying an operational input of force to establish an operational mode of said vehicle speed,

a speed sensor to measure said operational mode of vehicle speed,

a seat belt to establish an auxiliary mode of said seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant,

seat belt sensors to detect said auxiliary mode of said seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant,

a computer responsive to said sensors to store the number of times said operational mode of vehicle speed exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and to store the number of incidents of said operational mode of said vehicle speed exceeding said first threshold in the absence of said auxiliary mode of said seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant,

a resistive device to apply resistance to the application of the operational input of force on said accelerator,

said computer including a signal generator for actuating said resistive device to apply resistance to application of an operational input of force to said accelerator in response to each incident, to remove said resistance to the application of the operational input of force to said accelerator in the presence of said auxiliary mode of said seat belt being fastened and disposed about an occupant, actuating said resistance device to remove said resistance to the application of said operational input of force to said accelerator only after said operational mode of vehicle speed falls below a second predetermined threshold for a predetermined length of time, and

characterized by said computer including a comparator controlling said signal generator for actuating said resistive device to apply resistance to the operational input of force to said accelerator in proportion to the ratio of the number of said incidents divided by the number of times said operational mode of said vehicle speed exceeds said first threshold.