Patent ID: 8613470

Claim:
A seat belt buckle assembly configured for use in a vehicle seat belt system, wherein the assembly comprises: a magnet; a magnetic sensor configured to determine displacement of the magnet relative to the magnetic sensor, wherein the seat belt buckle assembly is configured to cause a first displacement in response to engagement of a seat belt tongue with the assembly and cause a second displacement in response to tension on a seat belt webbing, wherein the second displacement is distinct from the first displacement; a latch configured to receive and engage the seat belt tongue; an actuator slidably coupled to the latch, wherein the actuator is configured to cooperate with the latch to cause the first displacement in response to engagement of the seat belt tongue with the latch; a slip plate slidably coupled to the latch, wherein the slip plate is configured to cause the second displacement in response to tension of the seat belt webbing; and an arm, wherein the arm is configured to cause the first displacement in a manner effective to place the magnet and the magnetic sensor within sufficient proximity such that a magnetic sensor output signal is greater than a latch detection threshold when the seat belt tongue is engaged with the latch and induce the first displacement to sufficiently separate the magnet and the magnetic sensor such that the magnetic sensor output signal is less than the latch detection threshold when the seat belt tongue is not engaged with the latch.