Patent US3864668A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3864668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Seat belt warning and ignition interlock system
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1973-01-31
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A seat belt warning and ignition interlock system including a capacitive occupant detector, a seat belt position sensor and a seat belt-occupant monitoring circuit functioning to provide a vehicle start disable signal and an alarm signal in response to a detected failure to achieve defined conditions relating to the position of a vehicle seat belt and the occupancy of the associated seat. The monitoring circuit produces a vehicle start disable signal if either an unoccupied seat has its associated seat belt buckled or if an occupant buckles his seat belt prior to occupying his seat in the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 David Edward Bickford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:10
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/48; B60R2022/4808; B60R2022/4816; B60R2022/4858; B60R2022/4883; B60R2022/4891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
In a seat belt warning system for vehicles an occupant detector means for detecting the presence of an individual seated on the vehicle seat comprising: a variable capacitive means responsive to the presence of a seated occupant to assume a first value of capacitance and responsive to the absence of a seated occupant to assume a second value of capacitance; means for producing a series of electrical pulses having a first predetermined rise time; signal coincidence means having first and second inputs; first circuit means for supplying said series of electrical pulses directly to a first input of said coincidence means; and second circuit means including said variable capacitive means for supplying said series of electrical pulses to the second input of said coincidence means; said second circuit means constructed to supply output pulses to said coincidence means having the same rise time as the pulses supplied through said first circuit means to the first input of said coincidence means when said variable capacitance means assumes its second value; said second circuit means further constructed to alter the rise time of said pulses supplied to said coincidence means when said variable capacitive means assumes its first value; said altered rise time of said pulses being different from said predetermined rise time; said coincidence means responsive to the pulses supplied to its first and second input leads to provide an output of a first magnitude when said rise times are identical and to produce an output of a second magnitude when said rise times are different.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a seat belt warning system for vehicles an occupant detector means for detecting the presence of an individual seated on the vehicle seat comprising: a variable capacitive means responsive to the presence of a seated occupant to assume a first value of capacitance and responsive to the absence of a seated occupant to assume a second value of capacitance; means for producing a series of electrical pulses having a first predetermined rise time; signal coincidence means having first and second inputs; first circuit means for supplying said series of electrical pulses directly to a first input of said coincidence means; and second circuit means including said variable capacitive means for supplying said series of electrical pulses to the second input of said coincidence means; said second circuit means constructed to supply output pulses to said coincidence means having the same rise time as the pulses supplied through said first circuit means to the first input of said coincidence means when said variable capacitance means assumes its second value; said second circuit means further constructed to alter the rise time of said pulses supplied to said coincidence means when said variable capacitive means assumes its first value; said altered rise time of said pulses being different from said predetermined rise time; said coincidence means responsive to the pulses supplied to its first and second input leads to provide an output of a first magnitude when said rise times are identical and to produce an output of a second magnitude when said rise times are different.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A seat belt warning system as in claim 1 comprising a third circuit means responsive to the fastening of said seat belt to generate a signal; and monitoring means constructed to detect the sequence of occurrence of said signal of said second magnituDe from said coincidence means and the signal resulting from said fastening of said seat belt and to produce a signal enabling the operation of said vehicle in response to the occurrence of said signal of second magnitude followed by the occurence of said seat belt fastening signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
261 words
In a seat belt warning system for vehicles an occupant detector means for detecting the presence of an individual seated on the vehicle seat comprising; a variable capacitive means responsive to the presence of a seated occupant to assume a first value of capacitance and responsive to the absence of a seated occupant to assume a second value of capacitance; means for producing a series of electrical pulses having a predetermined shape; signal coincidence means having first and second inputs; first circuit means for supplying said series of electrical pulses directly to a first input of said coincidence means; and second circuit means including said variable capacitive means for supplying said series of electrical pulses to the second input of said coincidence means; said second circuit means constructed to supply output pulses to said coincidence means having the same shape as the pulses supplied through said first circuit means to the first input of said coincidence means when said variable capacitance means assumes its second value; said second circuit means further constructed to alter the shape of said pulses supplied to said coincidence means when said variable capacitive means assumes its first value; said altered shape of said pulses being different from the shape of said pulses supplied to said coincidence means from said first circuit means; said coincidence means responsive to the pulses supplied to its first and second input leads to provide an output of a first magnitude when said pulse shapes are identical and to produce an output of a second magnitude when said pulse shapes are different.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
261 words
In a seat belt warning system for vehicles an occupant detector means for detecting the presence of an individual seated on the vehicle seat comprising; a variable capacitive means responsive to the presence of a seated occupant to assume a first value of capacitance and responsive to the absence of a seated occupant to assume a second value of capacitance; means for producing a series of electrical pulses having a predetermined shape; signal coincidence means having first and second inputs; first circuit means for supplying said series of electrical pulses directly to a first input of said coincidence means; and second circuit means including said variable capacitive means for supplying said series of electrical pulses to the second input of said coincidence means; said second circuit means constructed to supply output pulses to said coincidence means having the same shape as the pulses supplied through said first circuit means to the first input of said coincidence means when said variable capacitance means assumes its second value; said second circuit means further constructed to alter the shape of said pulses supplied to said coincidence means when said variable capacitive means assumes its first value; said altered shape of said pulses being different from the shape of said pulses supplied to said coincidence means from said first circuit means; said coincidence means responsive to the pulses supplied to its first and second input leads to provide an output of a first magnitude when said pulse shapes are identical and to produce an output of a second magnitude when said pulse shapes are different.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
A seat belt warning system as in claim 3 comprising a third circuit means responsive to the fastening of said seat belt to generate a signal; and monitoring means constructed to detect the sequence of occurrence of said signal of said second magnitude from said coincidence means and the signal resulting from said fastening of said seat belt and to produce a signal enabling the operation of said vehicle in response to the occurrence of said signal of second magnitude followed by the occurrence of said seat belt fastening signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |