Patent ID: 7686119
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for reinforcing seatbelt usage in automobiles, the apparatus consisting of: a buckle detection switch configured into a female portion of a seatbelt buckle of seatbelt system, said buckle detection switch comprising a magnetically actuated switch and a magnet, the seatbelt system having the female buckle and male buckle portions that are operable to interlock with one another, said buckle detection switch generating and transmitting a buckled seatbelt signal in response to the magnetically actuated switch indicating the male portion is properly interlocked with the female portion and the male buckle portions is recognized as the male buckle portion originally matched to the female buckle portion, where the male buckle portion enables a magnetic current to flow between the magnetically actuated switch and the magnet for actuating the magnetically actuated switch; a weight sensor unit being operable for sensing weight applied to an automobile seat and generating a corresponding weight reading, said weight sensor unit, in response to the weight reading exceeding a predetermined threshold, further operable to activate said buckle detection switch for responding to the magnetically actuated switch, said weight sensor unit being activated in response to the automobile being started; a sensor processing unit, said sensor processing unit being configured to receive the weight reading from said weight sensor and to generate an occupancy signal that indicates the seat is occupied, said sensor processing unit being configured for algorithmically generating said occupancy signal based upon a usage situation to minimize false alarms; an occupancy signal transmission unit configured to receive said occupancy signal from said sensor processing unit and transmit said occupancy signal; a seatbelt monitor unit, said seatbelt monitor unit being configured to receive both said transmitted occupancy signal and said buckled seatbelt signal, said seatbelt monitor unit being further configured to generate and transmit an unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal indicating a presence of the occupancy signal and an absence of the buckled seatbelt signal; and an automobile handicapping unit, said automobile handicapping unit being configured to receive said unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal from said seatbelt monitor unit, and handicap the operation of the automobile in a predetermined way when said unbuckled seatbelt alarm signal is received, said automobile handicapping unit having a timer function where when the automobile is being operated un-handicapped and said unbuckled seatbelt alarm is received, said timer function inhibits said handicapping for a predetermined amount of time sufficient to alert an occupant that the buckle is unbuckled and allow the occupant to buckle the seatbelt, said automobile handicapping unit further being configured with a function for inhibiting said handicapping in an event of component failure of the apparatus or tampering of the apparatus.