Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-20
2001-08-21
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
C340S457000, C340S457100, C340S438000, C340S459000, C340S660000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278358
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a secondary seat belt warning system and, more specifically, to a secondary seat belt warning system that triggers a recurring alarm when a seat belt is unbuckled.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is commonly known that automotive vehicles often include seat belt warning systems for reminding the occupant of the vehicle that their seat belt is unbuckled. Typically, when the vehicle ignition is turned to a “run” or “on” position, an audible chime and visible warning light will turn on for a predetermined amount of time to alert, or remind, the occupant to fasten their seat belt. If their seat belt is already buckled, neither the chime nor the light will turn on. The audible chime will typically only sound for a few seconds and the visible warning light will typically flash for a short period of time or remain illuminated for approximately ten to sixty seconds. After these relatively short time durations have expired, the alarms will turn off and remain off; regardless of whether the seat belt is buckled or unbuckled, until the initial ignition “run” position is reactivated.
Although the current seat belt warning systems remind the occupant to buckle their seat belt, the warning systems occur for only a short period of time during initial operation of the vehicle and are not programmable. Therefore, there is a need to provide an additional or secondary seat belt warning system which continuously warns the occupant of the vehicle to buckle their seat belt during prolonged periods of operation of the vehicle and is programmable by the vehicle operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is a secondary seat belt warning system for alerting an occupant of a vehicle when a seat belt is unbuckled. The secondary seat belt warning system includes a control module for activating at least one output warning signal in response to receiving a plurality of predetermined control feedback input signals. The secondary seat belt warning system includes an ignition switch connected to the control module for producing an input signal to the control module indicative of a state of a vehicle ignition between an off position and an on position. The secondary seat belt warning system also includes a seat belt sensor connected to the control module for producing an input signal to the control module indicative of a state of the seat belt between a buckled and unbuckled condition. The secondary seat belt warning system further includes a vehicle speed sensor connected to the control module for producing an input signal to the control module in response to the vehicle speed sensor measuring a predetermined threshold speed of the vehicle. Finally, the secondary seat belt warning system includes a seat belt indicator system connected to the control module for producing an output signal in response to the control module receiving an input signal from the seat belt sensor in the unbuckled condition and an input signal from the vehicle speed sensor above the predetermined threshold, whereby the output signal triggers at least one of an audible and visible indicator to alert the occupant of the vehicle of the unbuckled condition of the seat belt.
The present invention further includes a method of producing a seat belt indicator signal indicative of an unbuckled condition of a vehicle seat belt. The method includes the steps of detecting a state of a vehicle ignition between an off position and an on position, detecting a speed of the vehicle, detecting a state of the vehicle seat belt between a buckled and unbuckled condition, and producing an output signal. The method also includes the steps of triggering a seat belt indicator when the ignition on position is detected, the seat belt unbuckled condition is detected and the detected vehicle speed is above a predetermined threshold.
The present invention also includes a method of programming a secondary seat belt warning system between an enabled status for alerting an occupant of a vehicle when a seat belt is unbuckled and a disabled status wherein the vehicle includes a seat belt and the secondary seat belt warning system includes a control module connected to an ignition switch, a headlamp switch and a visible indicator. The method includes the steps of initializing the secondary seat belt warning system by positioning the ignition switch in an off position and the seat belt in an unbuckled condition and then activating the ignition switch from the initialized off position to an on position. The method also includes the steps of manipulating the seat belt a predetermined number of cycles between a buckled condition and the unbuckled condition and then activating the headlamp switch from an on position to an off position. The method includes the steps of manipulating the seat belt a predetermined number of cycles between the buckled condition and the unbuckled condition and confirming activation of the visible indicator from an illuminated state to an off condition. The method additionally includes the steps of manipulating the seat belt a final predetermined number of cycles between the buckled condition and the unbuckled condition and checking the secondary seat belt warning system for confirmation of the state of the system between the enabled and disable status.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Cuddihy Mark Anthony
King Daniel M.
McQuade Thomas Michael
Nakhieh Rouaa
Spoto Thomas Anthony
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Hofsass Jeffery
Kelley David B.
Nguyen Hung
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