The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 24, 1998
Harald Snorre Husby, Lakeland, FL (US);
Vihang C Patel, Lakeland, FL (US);
Ashok F Patel, Wesley Chapel, FL (US);
Breed Automotive Technology, Inc., Lakeland, FL (US);
Abstract
A seat belt buckle and latch indicating system employs a seat belt buckle with a Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor spaced from a magnet above a gap through which a ferromagnetic latch protrudes. The latch may reside at three distinct positions: unlatched, latched, and latched without the presence of a hasp. The latch functions as a magnetic field concentrator with the result that the sensed magnetic field is dependent on latch position. The GMR sensor provides a signal indicating the sensor is working at all times, and provides specific information based on physical positioning of the critical components of the belt and which indicates that the buckle is mated to the seat belt hasp.