Seatbelt use promotion system and method
First Claim
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1. A method to encourage seatbelt use, the method comprising:
- determining whether a seat is occupied;
determining an age classification of an occupant of the seat;
determining whether a seatbelt associated with the seat is buckled;
overriding of a user-controlled operation of an entertainment system associated with the seat when the seat is occupied and the seatbelt is unbuckled;
providing a message on the entertainment system, the message based on the age classification of the occupant; and
allowing user-controlled operation of the entertainment system when it has been determined that the seatbelt is buckled.
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Abstract
Seatbelt use is promoted by determining whether a seat is occupied and then determining whether the seatbelt associated with the seat is buckled. When the seat is occupied and unbuckled, user control of an entertainment system associated with the seat is overridden. In video-equipped entertainment systems, a video encouraging seatbelt use can be played, such as an informational video. When the seatbelt is latched, a reward audio or video clip may be played prior to allowing user control of the entertainment system.
37 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method to encourage seatbelt use, the method comprising:
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determining whether a seat is occupied; determining an age classification of an occupant of the seat; determining whether a seatbelt associated with the seat is buckled; overriding of a user-controlled operation of an entertainment system associated with the seat when the seat is occupied and the seatbelt is unbuckled; providing a message on the entertainment system, the message based on the age classification of the occupant; and allowing user-controlled operation of the entertainment system when it has been determined that the seatbelt is buckled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A seatbelt use promotion system in a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a seat having an associated seatbelt and an associated occupancy sensor; an entertainment device coupled to the vehicle and associated with the seat; and an electronic control unit (ECU) electronically coupled to the occupancy sensor, the seatbelt, and the entertainment device, the ECU disabling control of the entertainment device by an occupant of the seat when the ECU determines that the occupant is in the seat and the seatbelt is unbuckled, the ECU determining an age classification of the occupant based upon a signal from the associated occupancy sensor, and the ECU commanding a message on the entertainment system, the message directed at the occupant and based on the age classification of the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method to encourage seatbelt use, the method comprising:
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operating a seat occupancy sensor to determining that a seat is occupied by an occupant; determining an age classification of the occupant based upon at least one of an estimated weight of the occupant and an estimated size of the occupant; determining that a seatbelt associated with the seat is unbuckled; overriding user-controlled operation of an entertainment system associated with the seat when the seat is occupied and the seatbelt is unbuckled; displaying a seatbelt use promotion video on a video display associated with the entertainment system, the seatbelt use promotion video being based on the age classification of the occupant; providing a rewarding output on the entertainment system when it has been determined that the seatbelt is buckled, the rewarding output being based on the age classification of the occupant; and allowing the user-controlled operation of the entertainment system after the rewarding output has been provided.
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Specification