Smart seatbelt control system

• US 20070096447A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TABE, JOSEPH
• Original Assignee: TABE, JOSEPH
• Inventors: Tabe, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/640,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20070096447A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01197 Warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01211 Expansion of air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01225 control of expansion volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; B60R22/3405 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for preventing occupant injury during accident has various features to ensure safety. A sensor 70, detecting seat belt engagement is provided. In addition, there is a means for varying the tension of a seatbelt 17, depending upon the weight of the occupant 110 and the speed of the vehicle carrying the occupant 110. When the occupant 110 seats on any of the seats 17, the load cell switch 18 will close, allowing the load cell output energy to energize the control module 25. The control module 25 will then enables the counter 50 to count the number of closed load cell switches 18. The control module 25 further enables an optoisolator switch configured with the sensor 70 to then energize a latching relay 80 operatively configured to check the seat belt latching of all occupied seats 10 with closed load cell switches 18, to assure occupants safety. The load cells are configured with strain gauges and temperature sensors to ensure human occupants. Such that, when the switch 18 for the occupied seat 10 is closed, the latching relay 80 circuit is energized so that the seat belt 17 for the occupied seat location is checked for buckling. The latching relay 80 circuit and the counter 50 circuit are operatively configured and closed only when an occupant 110 takes any of the seats 10. The latching relay switch 85 is only energized when the counter circuit 50 is closed.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant detection and weight responsive apparatus for controlling the resistance of a restraint device, such that in an accident, an occupant of a vehicle impacts at least a seat belt without injury;

comprising;

a. a pressure sensing device, for determining a weight value of the occupant;

b. a computer system, in signal communication with said pressure-sensing device, said computer system calculating a coil value based upon the weight value of the occupant and a collision force according to the vehicle speed;

c. a collision force sensor in communication with the computer system; and

d. a coil tensioner, in communication with said computer system, rotating a moveable coil per coil value associated with said weight value; and

e. means for controlling the seatbelt tension, wherein the seatbelt is rendered of sufficient tension to keep the occupant on a seat when a collision is sensed, but is not rendered of sufficient tension to cause impact injury to the occupant.

2. The occupant detection and weight responsive apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure sensing device further comprising an occupant sensing means, said means being in signal communication with said computer system, wherein said occupant sensing means sounds an alarm and/or voice auditory communication if the occupant does not have the seatbelt locked.

3. The occupant detection and weight responsive apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for preventing unlocking of the seatbelt.

4. The occupant detection and weight responsive apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for preventing unlocking of the seatbelt is active when the vehicle is in motion.

5. The occupant detection and weight responsive apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for preventing unlocking of the seatbelt is overridden by a switch when the vehicle is in motion and or inactive.

6. The occupant detection and weight responsive apparatus of claim 1, wherein said occupant sensing means in communication with said computer system, wherein said computer system adjusts an air bag deployment speed if the occupant does not have the seatbelt locked.

9. The occupant detection and weight responsive apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for controller the seatbelt tension further comprises a mechanism configured for controlling energy to said coil, said energy enables the buckling of the seatbelt connectors, wherein said connectors are made permanent when the vehicle is in motion.

10. The occupant detection and weight responsive apparatus of claim 5, wherein said switch further includes momentary/toggle switch configured with at least a seatbelt connector comprising at least an optoisolator switch having a LE connected to the output of a photocell for suggesting activation of the seatbelt and enabling signal communication to the latching relay.

7. A vehicle occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system for controlling the resistance of a restraint device, such that in an accident, an occupant of a vehicle impacts the restraint device without injury;

comprising;

a. at least an airbag device;

b. a weight sensor responsive for occupants presents signal communication;

c. a microprocessor configured with said weight sensor;

d. a collision force sensor; and

e. a computer system configured with an erasable programmable read only memory “

EPROM”

device, in signal communication with said weight sensor.

8. A vehicle detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 7, wherein said weight sensor comprises a load cell configured with at least a strain gauge.

22. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of seats each configured with at least one weight sensor, a vehicle speed sensor and at least a restraint means and provided with each of the plurality of seats, said weight sensor comprises means for transforming said occupant'"'"'s weight into electrical energy and said collision sensor configured to enable initial signal for deployment of said restraint means when said collision severity exceeds a threshold limit.

23. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 7, wherein said collision sensor further comprising means configured for detecting an imminent rear-end collision and enable deployment of said seatbelt/airbag device with a force proportionate to said occupant'"'"'s weight.

25. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and classification system of claim 7, wherein said computer system further comprises means for regulating the window of a vehicle when an occupant is sensed and the ignition turned off.

11. A vehicle occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system for controlling the resistance of a restraint device, such that in an accident, an occupant of a vehicle impacts the restraint device without injury;

comprising;

a. at least an airbag device;

b. at least a seatbelt device;

c. an erasable programmable read only memory “

EPROM”

device;

d. a pressure sensing device comprising at least one weight sensor secured beneath at least one seat configured to measure a weight value of said vehicle occupant to control the tensional force of said seatbelt and said airbag'"'"'s deployment force for at least one airbag and at least one seatbelt when said vehicle is involved in at least an accident;

e. a computer system configured to connect to said erasable programmable read only memory “

EPROM”

device, in signal communication with said pressure-sensing device, said computer system calculating a tensional/deployment force value based upon the weight value of the occupant and a collision force according to the vehicle speed;

f. a collision force sensor in communication with the computer system;

g. at least one human body temperature sensor associated with said at least one weight sensor configured to distinguish human occupants from other objects; and

h. means for controlling the resistance of at least a seatbelt/airbag, wherein the seatbelt/airbag is rendered of sufficient tensional/deployment force to keep the occupant on a seat when a collision is sensed, but is not rendered of sufficient deployment tension/force to cause impact injury to the occupant.

12. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, wherein said pressure sensing device comprises at least a load cell configured with at least a strain gauge responsive for occupant sensing means.

13. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, wherein said EPROM further comprising means for correcting occupants weight data based on external conditions and/or changing occupants to effectively control detection and classification of said data to enable sufficient and effective seatbelt/airbag tensional/deployment force.

14. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, wherein said occupant sensing means communicatively configured with said computer system to adjusts seatbelt/airbag deployment speed based on at least a measured parameter;

comprising;

at least one or a combination of, said occupant'"'"'s weight, a vehicle speed, and a collision force value, further including if the occupant does not have the seatbelt locked.

15. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of seats each configured with at least one said pressure sensing device, said vehicle speed sensor and at least a restraint means configured with each of the plurality of seats, said pressure sensing device comprises means for transforming said occupant'"'"'s weight into electrical energy and said collision sensor configured to enable initial signal for deployment of at least said restraint means when said collision severity exceeds a threshold limit.

16. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, wherein said collision sensor further comprising means for detecting an imminent rear-end collision.

17. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, wherein said pressure sensing device is a load cell comprised of at least a strain gauge, said load cell mounted between a seat frame means and the vehicle floor means.

18. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, wherein said seatbelt/airbag device further configured with at least said EPROM comprising at least an address line configured for each seat and communicatively connected to said pressure sensing device, and said pressure sensing device comprises a load cell operatively configured with a strain gage for transforming said occupant'"'"'s weight into electrical energy.

19. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, wherein said EPROM further comprising means for controlling data about a changing occupant at said address line configured with each said seat.

20. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, further comprising means for correcting said seat occupant data at the address line when said data is influenced by at least an external force.

21. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and weight responsive classification system of claim 11, wherein said at least one weight sensor is operatively connected to said temperature sensor and disposed between said seat mounting structure means and the floor means of said vehicle.

24. The vehicle seat occupant detection means and classification system of claim 21, wherein said weight sensor comprises at least a load cell comprising at least one strain gauge configured to sense a force applied to it when said occupant occupies said seat, said strain gauge comprising electrical resistance elements configured to detect and measure resistance occurring when external strain is applied to said seat, wherein said external strain corresponding to said force from said occupant and is further converted into a corresponding electrical current for communicating said weight signal.