Other

Ronald Van Houten

Richard E Schulman

Jeffrey Tenenbaum

Jeffrey Tenebaum

A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle () includes sensing an auxiliary mode of the vehicle () and comparing a first vehicle operation mode to a predetermined threshold to determine a first incident. The method proceeds by actuating a resistive device () in response to the first incident to apply a resistance to an operational input by an occupant of the vehicle (). The method is characterized by monitoring a precursory auxiliary mode event of the vehicle () subsequent to the first incident and prior to a presence of the auxiliary mode, and de-actuating the resistive device () in response to the precursory auxiliary mode event to remove the applied resistance.

Method and system for controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle

A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle () includes sensing an auxiliary mode of the vehicle () and comparing a first vehicle operation mode to a predetermined threshold to determine a first incident. The method proceeds by actuating a resistive device in response to the first incident to apply a resistance to an operational input by an occupant of the vehicle. The method is characterized by monitoring a second vehicle operation mode of the vehicle subsequent to the first incident and adjusting the applied resistance in proportion to the second vehicle operation mode. The second vehicle operation mode can include monitoring the distance traveled by the vehicle, monitoring the speed or acceleration of the vehicle, monitoring the time of vehicle mobilization, or monitoring a first period of time since the first incident.

Enhanced seat belt/accelerator behavioral system

The computersends actuating signals to the resistive deviceto resist the occupant input to the accelerator, but only when the vehicle speed exceeds a threshold while the seat beltis not fastened about the occupant. This invention is characterized by applying the resistance and adjusting the threshold in proportion to the number of times the seat beltis not fastened while the vehicle speed exceeds the threshold compared with the number of times the vehicleexceeds 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 beltunfastened when the vehicleis operated at these speeds too often.

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Kalamazoo, MI, United States of America

Ronald Van Houten