Patent ID: 8902057

Claim:
In combination with a motor vehicle having a seat belt with a tongue, a belt buckle configuration comprising: a belt buckle configured to mechanically receive the tongue of the seat belt; a switch operatively connected to said belt buckle, said switch being configured to detect an insertion status of the tongue of the seat belt; a communicating device operatively connected to said switch, said communicating device including an electromechanical energy converter and a transmitting device, said electromechanical energy converter including an induction generator, said induction generator generating energy when said switch changes a switch position and supplying the energy to said transmitting device; said induction generator including a magnet and a coil; said belt buckle including a belt buckle spring configured to provide a movement during latching or releasing the tongue such that said magnet and said coil move relative to one another for inducing a voltage; and a receiver circuit operatively connected to said communicating device, said communicating device being configured to wirelessly communicate the switch position of said switch to said receiver circuit.