Method for operating a seat belt unbuckled alert device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a safety belt unbuckled alarm device in a vehicle, said method comprising an emission step for emitting a first alarm (200) in the passenger compartment of the vehicle during a first predetermined period in the event of detection of the unbuckling of a safety belt (110) of a seat of the vehicle during a travel phase (100) in which the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than or equal to a predefined speed threshold, said first alarm being deactivated (400) before the end of the first predetermined period in the event of detection of the recoupling of the safety belt (210) of the seat, said first alarm also being deactivated (500) before the end of the first predetermined period in the event of detection of the coupling of a safety belt (220) of another seat of the vehicle located on the same seat row as the seat before the end of a second predetermined period less than or equal to the first predetermined period.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention claims priority to French application 2013200, filed on December 14, 2020, the contents of which (text, drawings, and claims) are incorporated herein by reference. The invention generally relates to safety problems in motor vehicles. Specifically, the invention aims to provide a seatbelt unfastened warning device installed in a motor vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Most motor vehicles are equipped with an alarm system that alerts passengers (especially the driver) that the seatbelts (particularly those in the rear seats where children often sit) are not fastened.

[0003] For example, such alarm devices described in document EP1640226A1 typically include:

[0004] - A detection component capable of detecting whether each of the seat belts in a motor vehicle seat is fastened or unfastened.

[0005] - A visual alarm component, the visual alarm component including an indicator panel having a plurality of seat belt unfastened luminous indicator lights, each of the plurality of seat belt unfastened luminous indicator lights being associated with a corresponding seat;

[0006] - An audible alarm component, comprising an acoustic transmitter capable of generating an audible alarm signal in the passenger compartment; and

[0007] - Control unit, which is capable of operating the visual and audible alarm components based on the data transmitted by the detection components.

[0008] The control unit is typically configured to cause a detection by the detection component during a driving phase in which the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined speed threshold, in which the detection of unfastened seatbelts of one of the vehicle's seats, triggers the emission of a visual and audible alarm into the passenger compartment of the vehicle for a predetermined period of time, which ceases when the passenger in question refastens their seatbelt.

[0009] The firing of such an audible alarm into the passenger compartment (whose intensity typically increases during the firing period) is particularly irritating to the ears of the vehicle's passengers and has proven in practice to be sufficiently persuasive to induce a rapid re-fastening of the relevant seatbelts.

[0010] However, this operating logic may cause an alarm to be triggered when there is no question of passenger safety (all passengers have fastened their seat belts).

[0011] This situation occurs particularly when one of the passengers changes seats (e.g., from the left seat to the middle or right seat in the same row) during a period of travel when the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined speed threshold.

[0012] In fact, in order to perform the seat change, the passenger needs to unfasten the seatbelt of the seat he is currently occupying so that he can move toward the destination seat. This will trigger the visual and audible alarms to be emitted into the passenger compartment of the vehicle for the entire predetermined period of time, even if the passenger has fastened the seatbelt of the destination seat he has just sat in during that time period to return to a safe situation. Summary of the Invention

[0013] Therefore, the present invention aims to improve the aforementioned situation.

[0014] Therefore, the present invention provides a method for controlling a seatbelt unfastened alarm device in a vehicle. The method includes a launching step, wherein the launching step is used to launch a first alarm into the passenger compartment of the vehicle during a first predetermined time period when the seatbelt of a seat in the vehicle is detected to be unfastened during a driving phase in which the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold; and the first alarm is deactivated before the end of the first predetermined time period when the seatbelt of the seat in the vehicle is detected to be fastened before the end of a second predetermined time period less than or equal to the first predetermined time period. The method is characterized in that, if the seatbelt of another seat in the vehicle located in the same row as the unfastened seat is detected to be fastened before the end of a second predetermined time period less than or equal to the first predetermined time period, the first alarm is also deactivated before the end of the first predetermined time period.

[0015] The control method according to the invention thus avoids the unnecessary continuation of the seatbelt unfastened alarm until its end, which is particularly anxiety-inducing and disruptive to the passengers (especially the driver) of the vehicle once the passenger is in a safe situation (the seatbelts of the passenger's seats are fastened).

[0016] Preferred features of the control method according to the present invention:

[0017] - The detection of a seatbelt buckle on a seat located in the same row as the seat before the end of the second predetermined time period also triggers the transmission of a text notification to the driver on the vehicle's display screen to inform the driver that the passenger has been changed seats;

[0018] - The detection of the seat belt being unfastened also triggers the transmission of a text notification to the driver on the vehicle's display screen to inform the driver that the passenger has unfastened their seat belt;

[0019] - The notification is presented as a pop-up window that appears for a period of several seconds;

[0020] - The second predetermined time period is between 10 seconds and 20 seconds;

[0021] - The first predetermined time period is between 100 seconds and 200 seconds;

[0022] - The preset speed threshold is between 10 km / h and 30 km / h;

[0023] - The first alarm is expressed as the flashing of an indicator light corresponding to the seat where the seatbelt has just been unfastened, and the emission of an audible warning signal whose intensity increases during the first predetermined time period;

[0024] - At the end of the first predetermined time period, the first alarm ceases and is replaced by the firing of a softer second alarm; and / or

[0025] - The second alarm is indicated by the non-flickering illumination of the indicator light corresponding to the seat. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The invention will be better understood by reading the detailed description and accompanying drawings of embodiments given below as non-limiting examples, in which:

[0027] - Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the operation of a seatbelt unfastened warning device in a motor vehicle is shown.

[0028] - Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a display box used to display a seatbelt unfastened indicator light, the display box constituting... Figure 1 One of the main components of a seatbelt unfastened alarm device; and

[0029] - Figure 3 A flowchart is shown of a method for operating a seatbelt unfastened alarm device according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0030] refer to Figure 1 The seatbelt unfastened alarm device for a motor vehicle 1 according to the present invention includes a detection component 10, which is capable of detecting whether the seatbelts of different seats in the vehicle are fastened or unfastened.

[0031] These detection components may be, for example, magnetic field sensors integrated into the buckles of the seat's buckle rings, each of which is used to detachably receive the corresponding seatbelt latch.

[0032] The alarm device 1 also includes a visual alarm component, which in this example includes an electronic display box for displaying a seatbelt unfastened indicator light 20 and is housed in a renflement formed in the front portion of the vehicle's roof console 2. Figure 2 As shown above.

[0033] The housing 20 (referred to as the “TNB box” below for ease of reading) includes a rectangular display panel 21 made of a smoke-black transparent thermoplastic material (e.g., polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)) and its front surface (oriented opposite to the passenger side of the vehicle) is covered with a black opaque lacquer.

[0034] The display panel 21 integrates multiple seatbelt unfastened indicator lights 22, each of which is associated with a corresponding seat in the vehicle.

[0035] These indicator lights 22 are in the form of pictographs, each of which can be illuminated by a corresponding electroluminescent diode (LED) mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) housed in a TNB box 20.

[0036] These pictographs are preferably made by laser etching a black lacquer layer covering the front surface of the panel 21, and each of these pictographs represents a passenger sitting in a seat and fastened to the seat by a seatbelt.

[0037] In a variant, the TNB box, which integrates a display panel for displaying the illuminated indicator lights, can be installed in another location on the vehicle (especially in the dashboard).

[0038] It is also conceivable that there are two redundant TNB boxes, which are respectively configured in the roof console and on the dashboard, to ensure optimal visibility of the illuminated indicator lights by all passengers of the vehicle.

[0039] The indicator lights can also take different forms, such as simple light points, each of which is associated with a seat in the vehicle.

[0040] The visual warning component also advantageously includes an electronic display screen 30 capable of transmitting text notifications for the driver, such as a screen from the vehicle's infotainment system.

[0041] The alarm device 1 also includes an acoustic alarm component, which includes an acoustic transmitter 40 capable of generating an acoustic signal in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0042] For example, the transmitter 40 of the siren type may be inherent to the device according to the invention, but preferably may be shared with other alarm devices present on the vehicle in order to reduce costs.

[0043] The sound signal is advantageously distinguishable in terms of frequency and / or amplitude from other sound signals that may also be emitted by the vehicle, so that the sound signal can be easily identified by the passenger.

[0044] The alarm device 1 according to the invention finally includes a control unit 50, which is advantageously constituted by the vehicle's Smart Service Box (BSI) and is particularly connected to the detection unit 10, as well as the visual alarm units 20, 30 and the audible alarm unit 40 via an electrical communication network.

[0045] The control unit 50 includes a computer 51 and a storage module 52, the storage module including non-volatile memory of type EEPROM or FLASH and random access memory.

[0046] The non-volatile memory stores the seatbelt unfastened alarm process, which is implemented in unit 50, and its flowchart is shown in... Figure 3 superior.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment, all information contained in the non-volatile memory can be updated by a communication component or by a reading component for reading the data carrier.

[0048] Now, with the help of this Figure 3 The flowchart describes in detail the different steps of the method.

[0049] The method is initiated when the vehicle enters a driving phase, in which the vehicle moves at a speed greater than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold, for example between 10 km / h and 30 km / h and advantageously equal to 20 km / h (initial step 100).

[0050] From this stage of travel, the detection of the seat belt unfastening of one of the seats in the vehicle by the detection component 20 (event 110) causes the first visual and audible alarm to be emitted in the passenger compartment of the vehicle during a first predetermined period of time (step 200), the first predetermined period of time being between 100 seconds and 200 seconds and advantageously equal to 120 seconds.

[0051] The first alarm is expressed as the flashing of an indicator light corresponding to the seat where the seatbelt has just been unfastened, and as an audible warning signal whose sound intensity increases during the first predetermined period of time is emitted by the acoustic transmitter 30.

[0052] Advantageously, the detection that one of the seat belts of the vehicle has been unbuckled also triggers the transmission of a text notification to the driver on the electronic display screen 30 to inform the driver that the passenger has unbuckled their seat belt (step 300).

[0053] The notification is presented, for example, as a pop-up window that appears for a period of several seconds (e.g., between 4 and 10 seconds) and may include a touch button that allows the driver to declare that they have finished reading the notification so that it disappears more quickly.

[0054] When the detection component 20 detects that the seat belt of the seat in question has been re-fastened before the end of the first predetermined time period (event 210), the control unit deactivates the first visual and audible alarm (step 400).

[0055] According to the invention, when the detection component 20 detects that the seat belt of a seat located in the same row as the seat in question is fastened (event 220) before the end of a second predetermined period (advantageously between 10 and 20 seconds) which is less than the first predetermined period, the control unit 50 considers that the passenger of the seat in question has sat down in another seat in the same row and has fastened his / her seat belt (the passenger is thus back in a safe situation), and similarly deactivates the first visual and audible alarm (step 500).

[0056] Advantageously, the detection that the seatbelt lock of a seat located in the same row as the seat in question is fastened before the end of the second predetermined time period also causes a text notification to be sent to the driver on the electronic display screen 30 to inform the driver that the passenger has changed seats (step 600).

[0057] The notification is presented, for example, as a pop-up window that appears for a period of several seconds (e.g., between 4 and 10 seconds) and may include a touch button that allows the driver to declare that they have finished reading the notification so that it disappears more quickly.

[0058] When the first predetermined time period ends (event 230) (that is, if event 210 or 220 does not occur), the first visual and audible alarm stops and is replaced by the emission of a softer second alarm (step 700), the second alarm including a non-flickering illumination of an illuminated indicator light corresponding to the seat in question.

[0059] The second visual alarm terminates (step 800) only when the detection component 20 detects that the seat belt of the seat in question has been re-fastened (event 710).

[0060] According to a variation of the invention, the first alarm and / or the second alarm may have different characteristics.

[0061] It is also conceivable that the second predetermined time period is equal to the first predetermined time period, so that the first alarm can be deactivated for the entire duration of the first alarm, ever since the detection component detects that the seat belt of the seat located in the same row of seats as the seat in question is fastened before the end of the first predetermined time period.

[0062] Finally, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated and their variations, but covers any implementation variations that can be achieved by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a seatbelt unfastened alarm device in a vehicle, the method comprising a launching step, the launching step being configured to launch a first alarm (200) to the passenger compartment of the vehicle during a first predetermined time period when a seatbelt unfastened (110) of the vehicle is detected during a driving phase (100) when the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold, and the first alarm being deactivated (400) before the end of the first predetermined time period when the seatbelt is detected to be refastened (210). Its features are, When the seatbelt buckle of another seat in the vehicle located in the same row as the seat is detected to be fastened (220) before the end of a second predetermined period that is less than or equal to the first predetermined period, the first alarm is also deactivated (500) before the end of the first predetermined period. At the end of the first predetermined period, the first alarm stops and is replaced by the firing of a softer second alarm (700), which terminates only when the seat belt of the seat is detected to be re-fastened.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection of a seatbelt buckle on a seat located in the same row as the seat before the end of the second predetermined time period also triggers the transmission of a text notification to the driver on the vehicle's display screen to inform the driver that the passenger has changed seats (600).

3. The control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The detection of the seat belt being unfastened also triggers the transmission of a text notification to the driver on the vehicle's display screen to inform the driver that the passenger has unfastened their seat belt (300).

4. The control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The text notification is presented as a pop-up window that appears over a period of several seconds.

5. The control method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, characterized in that, The second predetermined time period is between 10 seconds and 20 seconds.

6. The control method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, characterized in that, The first predetermined time period is between 100 seconds and 200 seconds.

7. The control method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, characterized in that, The preset speed threshold is between 10 km / h and 30 km / h.

8. The control method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, characterized in that, The first alarm is expressed as the flashing of an indicator light (22) corresponding to the seat whose seatbelt has just been unfastened, and the emission of an audible warning signal whose intensity increases during the first predetermined time period.

9. The control method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, characterized in that, The second alarm is indicated by the non-flickering illumination of the light indicator (22) corresponding to the seat.

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