Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Key Safety Systems, Inc.

John O'Neill

Rudi Grzic

Antony W Chamings

Raj S Roychoudhury

A vehicle safety system uses sensors mounted between a seat belt frame and a seat belt spool to detect protraction of seat belt webbing after the seat belt spool has been locked by an inertial switch or the like. The vehicle safety system gathers information from vehicle mounted crash sensors. If the vehicle safety system determines that a crash is taking place, but does not receive an output from the sensor mounted between the seat belt frame and the seat belt spool indicating seat belt webbing is being protracted, the system deploys other safety apparatus based on the assumption that the occupant of a particular seat is not properly restrained by one or more seat belts. For example seat belt use information can be used to vary the level of airbag deployment in a variable deployment airbag. An alternative embodiment detects motion of a linear energy-absorbing mechanism.

Seat belt sensing for vehicle occupant load and misuse

Energy is conserved utilizing information collected by a vehicle safety system. Information concerning whether seats other than the driver's seat are occupied and information concerning the size and weight of any occupants present, is transferred to a power load logic via a vehicle information data bus, or by a hard wired communication link. Power is conserved by turning off energy consuming functions which are specific to an unoccupied seat, or by modulating power consuming functions in proportion to the size and weight of the seat occupant.

Non-safety vehicle systems control using occupant classification

A force sensor ( ) generates a signal indicating the usage of a seat belt. A cylindrical housing ( &prime;) has a wall ( ) and a bottom ( ) which define an internal cavity ( ). The bottom has an opening ( ) through it. A cable anchor ( ) is slidably received within the cavity and is connected to a cable ( ). The cable has one end secured to the cable anchor and another end connected to an anchor point. A magnet ( ) is connected to a top of the cable anchor and is movable with the cable anchor. The cable anchor is biased to resist motion of the cable anchor toward the bottom of the housing. A magnetic sensor ( ) generates a signal indicative of the distance between it and the magnet. A sensor housing ( ) is connected to the housing and is positioned on the housing to position the magnetic sensor a determinable distance from the magnet at a null position. A housing end cap ( ) is secured to the housing for enclosing an open end of the housing. The magnet and the magnetic sensor are movable when a force of a determinable level is applied to the end cap causing the relative movement of the magnet and the magnetic sensor.

Seat belt tension sensor, methods of integration and attachment

A force sensor ( ) generates a signal indicating the usage of a seat belt. A cylindrical housing ( ) has a wall ( ) and a bottom ( ) which define an internal cavity ( ). The bottom has an opening ( ) through it. A cable anchor ( ) is slidably received within the cavity and is connected to a cable ( ). The cable has one end secured to the cable anchor and another end connected to an anchor point. A magnet ( ) is connected to a top of the cable anchor and is movable with the cable anchor. The cable anchor is biased to resist motion of the cable anchor toward the bottom of the housing. A magnetic sensor ( ) for generates a signal indicative of the distance between it and the magnet. A sensor housing ( ) is connected to the housing and is positioned on the housing to position the magnetic sensor a determinable distance from the magnet at a null position. A housing end cap ( ) is secured to the housing for enclosing an open end of the housing. The magnet and the magnetic sensor are movable when a force of a determinable level is applied to the end cap causing the relative movement of the magnet and the magnetic sensor.

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

John O'Neill