Patent ID: 6079744
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: B60R,G01D,Y10T

Abstract:
A seat belt buckle and latch indicator sensor comprising:a seat belt buckle;a flexible seat belt;a seat belt hasp connected to the seat belt, the hasp fitting within the seat belt buckle to releasably connect the seat belt to the buckle;a latch formed of ferromagnetic material mounted within the seat belt buckle, the latch being movable between an unlatched position a latched position in which the seat belt hasp is mechanically retained within the seat belt buckle, and a latched-without-a-hasp-present position;a magnetic field sensor fixedly mounted to the seat belt buckle; anda magnet having a magnetic field, the magnet being spaced from the magnetic field sensor and fixedly mounted to the seat belt buckle, the magnet and the sensor defining a gap therebetween, wherein the movement of the latch between the unlatched position, the latched position, and the latched-without-a-hasp position is such that the magnetic field sensed by the sensor changes.