Respiratory detection device

• US 9,980,680 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Arihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Drew J
• Application Number:
  US15/396,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20170196516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0803 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/00 Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/12 Construction of belts or harnesses B60R21/18 takes precedence ; woven fabrics for safety belts D03D1/0005
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/30 Sensors

Abstract

A respiratory detection device detects a behavior of breathing of an occupant on a seat of a vehicle. A seatbelt is equipped by the occupant to retain the occupant at the seat. A detection belt is mounted to the vehicle or the seat at one-end side. The detection belt is further connected to the seatbelt at the other-end side. The detection belt is equipped by the occupant together with the seatbelt when the occupant equips the seatbelt. A sensor is connected to the detection belt to detect the behavior of breathing. The detection belt retains the sensor at a position of an abdomen of the occupant when the occupant equips the seatbelt.

Claims

1. A respiratory detection device configured to detect a behavior of breathing of an occupant on a seat of a vehicle, the respiratory detection device comprising:

a seatbelt configured to be equipped by the occupant to retain the occupant at the seat;

a detection belt mounted to the vehicle or the seat at one-end side, the detection belt connected to the seatbelt at an other-end side, the detection belt configured to be equipped by the occupant together with the seatbelt when the occupant equips the seatbelt; and

a sensor connected to the detection belt and configured to detect the behavior of breathing, wherein

the detection belt is configured to retain the sensor at a position of an abdomen of the occupant when the occupant equips the seatbelt.

2. The respiratory detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the seatbelt is a three-point seatbelt including a shoulder belt and a waist belt,

the shoulder belt is configured to press a chest of the occupant,

the waist belt is configured to press a waist of the occupant, and

the detection belt is connected to the shoulder belt at the other-end side.

3. The respiratory detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the detection belt is at least partially in contact with the abdomen of the occupant when the occupant equips the seatbelt,

the sensor is located at a portion of the detection belt, and

the portion of the detection belt makes contact with the abdomen of the occupant when the occupant equips the seatbelt.

4. The respiratory detection device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a wire affixed to the detection belt or the waist belt at one end, the wire installed to extend back and forth between the detection belt and the waist belt for a plurality of times; and

a tensioning unit equipped to an other end of the wire, the tensioning unit configured to apply a tensional force onto the wire to stretch the wire between the detection belt and the waist belt, wherein

the sensor is equipped to the tensioning unit and is configured to detect a drawing amount of the wire or a change in the tensional force of the wire caused by a motion of the abdomen of the occupant.