Patent ID: 6742229
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: B60R,Y10T

Abstract:
A buckle device comprising:a tongue plate; a buckle main body; a movable latch interlocking with the tongue plate which is inserted into the buckle main body; an interlock element, including a movable magnetic plate, which moves along with the tongue plate when the tongue plate is inserted; and a sensor operable for detecting movement of the magnetic plate, wherein the sensor includes a magneto resistance element utilizing an anisotropic magneto resistance effect, and a bias magnet, the magneto resistance element being disposed between the bias magnet and the movable magnetic plate such that the bias magnet projects magnetic flux lines through said magneto resistance element in a first orientation when said magnetic plate is moved away from said magneto resistance element and in a second, substantially different orientation when said magnetic plate is moved toward said magneto resistance element, and said sensor operates by detecting changes in an electrical potential of said magneto resistance element caused by changes in the magnetic flux lines from said first orientation to said second orientation.