Method for determining the use of a seat belt in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, and vehicle

Abstract

Method for determining the use of a vehicle safety belt (4) comprising a webbing (5), a tongue (6) held on the webbing (5), and a buckle (7), and assigned to a seat (3) of a vehicle, wherein a sensor device (8) of the buckle (7) detects a closed state of the buckle (8) resulting from the insertion of an element into the buckle (7), characterized in that: - by means of an electronic computing device (9), a second time interval (Z2) is determined within a first time interval (Z1) extending from a first time point (t1), at which the closed state of the buckle (7) beginning at the first time point (t1) is detected by the sensor device (8), to a second time point (t2), at which a first event is detected, during which the closed state of the buckle (7) is continuously detected by the sensor device (8).which extends from a third time point (t3) between the first time point (t1) and the second time point (t2), at which a second event is recorded, up to the second time point (t2); - the first event includes the opening of a vehicle door; - the second event includes the unoccupancy of the seat (3); - the second time period (Z2) is compared with a threshold value by means of the electronic computing device (9); and - a feigned use of the seat belt (4) is determined by means of the electronic computing device (9) if the comparison of the second time period (Z2) with the threshold value determines that the second time period (Z2) exceeds the threshold value.

Description

The invention relates to a method for determining the use of a seat belt in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1 or 8. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. EP 2 807 059 B1 discloses a method for monitoring the correct use of at least one seat belt in a motor vehicle. This method monitors the open and / or closed status of the buckle on each seat occupied by a person, and if an unclosed buckle is detected, a warning signal and / or an action is taken on a safety system of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, DE 10 2010 029 790 B4 discloses a device for detecting an ineffectively fastened seat belt. Additionally, DE 10 2016 121 341 B3 discloses a device for detecting the proper fastening of a seat belt in a vehicle. EP 2 807 059 B1 discloses a method for monitoring the correct use of at least one seat belt in a motor vehicle. DE 101 46 627 A1 discloses a forklift truck with a driver's seat and a seat belt associated with the driver's seat. US 2019 011 18 89 A1 discloses a method for operating a safety system for a motor vehicle. DE 10 2008 039 570 A1 discloses a system and a method for promoting the use of vehicle seat belts. The object of the present invention is to create a method and a vehicle so that any feigned use of a vehicle's safety belt can be determined with particular precision. This problem is solved according to the invention by a method with the features of claim 1, by a method with the features of claim 8, and by a vehicle with the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for determining the use of a vehicle seat belt, specifically one assigned to a seat in the vehicle. This means that the vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car, and most preferably a passenger car, whose interior, also referred to as the passenger compartment, is formed by a vehicle body, for example, a self-supporting body, in its fully manufactured state, comprises the seat, the seat belt, and, in particular, the body itself. The seat and the seat belt assigned to it are arranged within the interior. For example, the seat is formed by a seating system of the vehicle, particularly one located within the interior.The seating system can be, for example, a bench seat, especially a rear bench seat, or a vehicle seat, also known as an individual seat. Specifically, the seat is, for example, a seat for the driver of the vehicle. Thus, a person can sit in the seat and therefore on the seating system. The seat belt has, for example, a flexible, i.e., bendable, webbing and a, in particular, movable, prong attached to the webbing, which is also called the buckle tongue or belt tongue. Specifically, the prong is attached to the webbing in such a way that it can slide along the webbing and thus relative to the webbing. The seat belt also has a buckle, which is at least indirectly attached to the vehicle structure.To correctly fasten the seat belt, that is, as intended, so that it can fulfill its intended function—namely, to restrain a person seated in the vehicle and thus protect them from excessive forward movement, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle resulting from an accident—the person sits down and, while seated, inserts the buckle tongue into the buckle. This connects the buckle tongue to the buckle, and via the buckle to the vehicle body, in a form-fitting and non-destructive manner, allowing the seat belt to fulfill its intended function. In this method, a sensor device on the seatbelt buckle detects the closed state of the buckle resulting from the insertion of an element into the buckle. For this purpose, the sensor device includes, for example, at least one Hall sensor, which can be used to detect the closed state of the seatbelt buckle. In order to determine the use of the seat belt with particular precision, and in particular to determine whether the use of the seat belt is the intended use of the seat belt or a feigned and, for example, non-intended use of the seat belt, the invention provides that, by means of an electronic computing device, in particular of the vehicle, a second time period is determined within a first time period extending from a first time point to a second time point, wherein at the first time point the closing state of the seat belt buckle, which begins at the first time point, is detected by means of the sensor device, wherein at the second time point a first event is detected, and wherein the second time period within the first time period is determined by means of an electronic computing device, in particular of the vehicle,The second time period extends from a third point in time, located between the first and second points in time, to the second point in time. At this third point in time, which follows the first point in time and precedes the second point in time, a second event is recorded, which therefore precedes the first event and thus occurs. Since the second time period begins at the third point in time, located between the first and second points in time, and extends from this third point in time, in particular continuously and thus without interruption, to the second point in time, the second time period is a part of the first time period, and thus encompassed, included, or comprised by the first time period. In other words, the first time period encompasses the second time period. Specifically, it is intended that the first time period begins at the first point in time and ends at the second point in time.and, in particular, it is stipulated that the second period begins at the third point in time and ends at the second point in time. The first event involves opening a door of the vehicle, particularly one associated with the seat, wherein the door is, for example, a side door of the vehicle. The feature that the door is preferably associated with the seat means, in particular, that a person who wishes to enter the interior from the vehicle's surroundings and thus from outside the vehicle, and sit down, opens the door, which was initially closed, thereby revealing at least a portion of an opening in the vehicle body associated with the door, and enters the interior through this revealed portion and subsequently sits down.Furthermore, for example, a person initially seated in a vehicle who wishes to exit the interior and thus access the surrounding area can open the initially closed door and then exit the interior through the opening, thereby leaving the vehicle. In particular, it can be provided that the door and the seat, and thus also the opening of the vehicle body, are located on the same side of the vehicle when viewed in the transverse direction. The opening of the door is detected, for example, by a sensor, such as one that incorporates a switch which is opened or closed by the opening of the door. Additionally, the initial event can include the occupancy of the seat. Occupancy of the seat means that a person or object is occupying the seat, i.e., sitting or positioned in the seat.For this purpose, for example a seat occupancy detection device is provided, by means of which, for example, when a force acting on the seat and thus on the seat occupancy detection device exceeds a predefined or predetermined limit value, the occupancy of the seat is detected, i.e., that the seat is occupied, i.e., that a person is sitting in the seat. The second event includes at least one instance where the seat is unoccupied. For example, the unoccupied state of the seat can also be detected by the seat occupancy detection system. If, for instance, the seat occupancy detection system does not detect any force acting on the seat, or if it detects a force acting on the seat that is less than or equal to the threshold value, then it will be recorded that the seat is unoccupied, meaning that no person or object is occupying the seat. The occupancy and unoccupancy of a seat can be detected, as previously described, for example, by means of a seat occupancy detection system. Occupancy is detected, for example, by the seat occupancy detection system when a force acting on the seat exceeds a certain limit. Unoccupancy is detected, for example, by the seat occupancy detection system when no force is acting on the seat, or when a force acting on the seat is less than or equal to the limit. During the aforementioned first time period, and thus also during the second time period, the sensor device continuously, i.e., without interruption, detects the closed state of the seatbelt buckle. In the method according to the invention, it is also provided that the electronic computing device compares the second time period with a predefined threshold value, which is stored, for example, in an electrical or electronic memory of the electronic computing device.The characteristics that the second time period is determined and that the second time period is compared with the threshold value are to be understood in particular as meaning that a time period, also simply called duration, i.e., for example, at least a time value characterizing a temporal duration of the second time period, is determined, and that the determined duration of the second time period or the time value is compared with the threshold value. Furthermore, the method according to the invention provides that, by means of the electronic computing device, a simulated use of the seat belt is detected, i.e., the aforementioned use is identified as simulated use of the seat belt when, by comparing the second time period with the threshold value, it is determined that the second time period exceeds the threshold value. Simulated use is understood, for example, to mean that the element inserted into the buckle and thus causing the buckle to close is not the actual tongue of the seat belt, but rather another, additional element, such as a dummy, belt dummy, or belt mock-up.Furthermore, the term "feigned use" can refer, for example, to a situation where the element inserted into the buckle is indeed the actual tongue of the seat belt, but the person has not fastened the seat belt correctly. For instance, they might have inserted the tongue into the buckle while no one is sitting in the seat. A person who then sits down and subsequently gets off would then sit on the seat belt or webbing and would not be restrained by the seat belt, thus not using the seat belt as intended.The invention is based on the premise that because the sensor device, also referred to as a detection device, continuously and without interruption detects the closed state of the seat belt buckle during the first time period and thus also during the second time period, the second event could not actually occur. This is because a person who is initially seated and using the seat belt as intended cannot leave the seat and thus cannot exit the vehicle without releasing the closed state of the seat belt buckle, i.e., without removing the tongue from the buckle, and therefore without moving the buckle from the closed to the open state. The open state of the seat belt buckle, i.e., moving the buckle from the closed to the open state, can be detected by the sensor device.However, if the sensor fails to detect the open state of the seatbelt buckle during the first time period and thus during the second time period, but the second event is detected at the third time point, it can be concluded or assumed that the use of the seatbelt is feigned. For example, the second event includes a transition from an occupied seat to an unoccupied seat. Thus, for example, a transition from an occupied seat to an unoccupied seat is detected at the third time point, particularly by means of the seat occupancy detection device.In other words, for example, the end of a previously recorded occupancy of the seat, particularly by means of the seat occupancy detection device, is recorded at the third point in time. Determining whether the closed state of the seatbelt buckle results from intended or feigned use of the seatbelt can be particularly advantageous if at least one or more functions are employed. The invention now makes it possible to determine whether the closed state of the seatbelt buckle results from intended or feigned use of the seatbelt. Consequently, the vehicle can, for example, be operated particularly advantageously depending on the use determined by the method, especially feigned use, particularly by means of the electronic computing device. In order to detect the potentially feigned use of the seat belt particularly precisely and reliably, one embodiment of the invention provides that the second event includes the opening of the vehicle door. Another embodiment is characterized by the fact that the vehicle remains continuously stationary during the initial period, for example, when parked. This allows the simulated use of the seatbelt to be detected particularly precisely and reliably. In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one component of the vehicle, in particular an electrically operated component, is operated depending on the detection of the simulated use of the seat belt, in particular by means of the electronic computing device. For this purpose, the electronic computing device provides, for example, at least one control signal, in particular an electrical one, depending on the detection of the simulated use, which is received, for example, by the component. This controls the component, causing it to be operated depending on the detection of the simulated use. This ensures a particularly high level of safety. It has proven particularly advantageous if the component includes a playback device by means of which, depending on the detection of the simulated use of the seat belt, at least one signal, also referred to as a warning signal, is emitted, particularly in the interior, which is perceptible visually and / or audibly and / or haptically, especially to a person located inside the vehicle. This warning signal can, for example, alert a person located inside the vehicle to the detection of the simulated use of the seat belt and subsequently encourage them to use the seat belt as intended. In order to ensure a particularly safe and therefore advantageous operation of the vehicle, a further embodiment of the invention provides that the component includes an adaptive speed control. Finally, it has proven particularly advantageous if the component includes an air conditioning system for climate control of the interior. This allows for particularly efficient and advantageous operation of the vehicle. The process can be implemented, for example, by an algorithm executed by an electronic computer. The sensor device can, for instance, provide a sensor signal, particularly an electrical one, which is also referred to as seatbelt buckle information, belt information, or belt contact information. This sensor signal characterizes, for example, either the open or closed state of the seatbelt buckle. In other words, if the seatbelt buckle is in the closed state, the sensor signal characterizes the closed state; and if the seatbelt buckle is in the open state, the sensor signal characterizes the open state of the seatbelt buckle.The algorithm now monitors, for example, the seatbelt buckle information when the vehicle reaches a parked state and is therefore stationary. The seatbelt buckle information, also known as seatbelt contact information, characterizes the closed state of the seatbelt buckle, particularly at the point in time when the parked state is determined. This information is recorded in a runtime cycle monitoring counter. If the parked state extends uninterrupted over a time interval, such as the second time period, and this time interval exceeds a time limit, such as the aforementioned time threshold, this information is then entered into a runtime cycle monitoring counter. Thus, the time interval, or the second time period, is determined using the runtime cycle monitoring counter.If, for example, the vehicle is subsequently started or restarted, the seatbelt information is overwritten by the algorithm, depending on the runtime cycle monitoring counter. In other words, if the second time interval exceeds the threshold, the algorithm overwrites the seatbelt information. This means that although the sensor signal characterizes the closed state of the seatbelt buckle—that is, although the sensor detects that the buckle is closed—the system detects the simulated use of the seatbelt. Therefore, the vehicle is not operated based on the actual closed state of the seatbelt buckle detected by the sensor, but rather based on the detection of the simulated use of the seatbelt.For example, the detected, simulated use of the seat belt is characterized by a correction signal, particularly an electrical one, which is provided, for instance, by the electronic computing unit. This correction signal is referred to, for example, as correction information or corrected seat belt information. Thus, it is intended that the vehicle is operated not based on the seat belt information itself, but rather on the corrected seat belt information, i.e., on the correction information. For example, as soon as the seatbelt buckle information changes from the closed state to the open state, that is, as soon as the sensor signal, which initially characterizes the closed state, characterizes the open state, the actual seatbelt buckle information is subsequently used, in particular in such a way that the vehicle is then operated depending on the sensor signal, and thus depending on the actual seatbelt buckle information. The following example illustrates the process: A person, such as the driver of a vehicle, opens the door. The person inserts, for the first time, the dummy element (which is not the actual buckle tongue) into the seatbelt buckle, thus moving the buckle from the open to the closed state. The algorithm does not (initially) overwrite the actual seatbelt information. The person then closes the door and drives the vehicle, for an arbitrarily long period, again without the algorithm overwriting the actual seatbelt information. The person then stops the vehicle, opens the door, and exits. This is the second event, during which the algorithm does not overwrite the actual seatbelt information.The vehicle then parks for a period of time during which it remains stationary, with this time being at least equal to the threshold. The algorithm does not overwrite the actual seatbelt information. Subsequently, the person opens the door, for example, which is the first event, and if the second time interval is longer than the threshold, the algorithm overwrites the actual seatbelt buckle information such that, for example, the correction information is used to operate at least one component, rather than the actual seatbelt buckle information. A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for determining the use of a vehicle safety belt comprising a webbing, a tongue held on the webbing and a buckle and assigned to a seat in a vehicle, in which a sensor device of the buckle detects a closed state of the buckle resulting from the insertion of an element into the buckle. In order to determine the use of the seat belt with particular precision, and especially to determine whether the use of the seat belt is its intended use or a feigned and, for example, improper use, the second aspect of the invention provides that an electronic computing device, particularly in the vehicle, continuously determines a time interval extending from a first point in time to a second point in time, i.e., without interruption, during which the closed state of the seat belt buckle is continuously detected by the sensor device. At the first point in time, at least one electronic computing unit of the vehicle transitions from its operating state to its standby or deactivated state.The time period thus begins with or at the point of a transition of at least the first electronic processing unit from the operating state of the first electronic computing device to the standby state or the deactivated state of the first electronic computing device. This transition is also referred to as going to sleep. While the vehicle is in motion, the first electronic processing unit is in its operating state, for example, to perform calculations. If the first processing unit is no longer needed to perform calculations, which can be the case, for example, when the vehicle is no longer moving but parked, the first processing unit goes to sleep; thus, the first processing unit transitions from its operating state to the standby state, also referred to as the idle state, or the deactivated state.In the deactivated state, the first processing unit is disabled and consumes no electrical energy or less electrical energy than in the operating state. In the standby state, the first processing unit is not completely deactivated, but consumes less electrical energy than in the operating state, although it may consume more electrical energy than in the deactivated state. The first electronic computing unit is, for example, the electronic computing device or a component, in particular a module, of the electronic computing device or a device provided in addition to the electronic computing device. At the second point in time, the first and / or a second electronic processing unit of the vehicle transitions from its standby or deactivated state to its operating state. The time period thus ends with or at the point of transition of the first and / or second processing unit from the standby or deactivated state to the operating state. The preceding and following explanations regarding the first electronic processing unit can readily be applied to the second electronic processing unit and vice versa. The transition from the standby or deactivated state, also referred to as standby mode, to the operating state is also called waking up or starting up. Furthermore, it is provided that the motor vehicle remains continuously stationary, i.e., uninterrupted, during the specified time period and is thus, for example, parked. Additionally, during this time period, the first electronic processing unit and / or the second electronic processing unit are continuously in a standby or deactivated state. The electronic processing unit compares the time period, i.e., its duration, with a predetermined or predefinable threshold value. It is also provided that the electronic processing unit detects a false use of the seatbelt if the comparison of the time period with the threshold value reveals that the time period exceeds the threshold. Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the first aspect of the invention are to be considered advantages and advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa. Waking up can be triggered, for example, by opening at least one vehicle door, by a person operating a vehicle control, or by a vehicle proximity sensor detecting the approach of a person or object in the vehicle's vicinity. Since the respective processing unit consumes less energy in standby or deactivated mode than in operating mode, standby and deactivated modes are collectively referred to as energy-saving mode. This process of going to sleep is also called shutdown or power-off.By lowering the vehicle, it enters a so-called parking mode or parked state, which begins at the first time and ends at the second time, with the vehicle remaining in this parked state continuously during this period. If the seatbelt buckle is continuously closed during this period, i.e., from the first time to the second time, and the duration of this period exceeds the threshold, then the system will infer that the seatbelt was being used without authorization. The second aspect of the invention is particularly advantageous for vehicles that are not equipped with a seat occupancy detection system capable of detecting forces acting on the seat. A third aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle, in particular a motor car, and most preferably a passenger car, which is configured to carry out a method according to the first aspect of the invention. Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the first and second aspects of the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the third aspect of the invention, and vice versa. Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seating arrangement, the seating arrangement of which provides a seat to which a vehicle seat belt is assigned; and Figure 2 shows a schematic representation illustrating a method for determining whether the seat belt is being used. In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols. Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a seating arrangement 1 of a vehicle, the interior of which, also referred to as the passenger compartment or passenger space, is formed by a vehicle body preferably designed as a self-supporting structure. Preferably, the vehicle is a motor vehicle, in particular a car, and most especially a passenger car. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the seating arrangement 1 is a vehicle seat, also referred to as a single seat, which provides, in particular, a seat 3 for a person such as the driver of the vehicle. A seat belt 4 of the vehicle is assigned to the seat 3 and thus to the seating arrangement 1. It can be seen that the seating arrangement 1, the seat 3, and the seat belt 4 are arranged in the interior space 2.The safety belt 4 comprises a webbing 5, a prong 6 held on the webbing 5, and a buckle 7, which is at least indirectly attached to the belt structure. The buckle 7 can be switched between a closed and an open state. If no element that would cause the buckle to close is inserted into the buckle 7, the buckle 7 is in the open state. If, for example, an element such as the prong 6 is inserted into the buckle 7, the buckle 7 can be moved from the open state to the closed state. The buckle 7 has a sensor device 8, also referred to as a detection device, which is shown schematically in Fig. 1 and by means of which the closed and open states of the buckle 7 can be detected.For this purpose, the sensor device 8 includes, for example, at least one sensor, designed, for example, as a Hall sensor. If, for example, an element is inserted into the seatbelt buckle 7 such that the element causes the seatbelt buckle 7 to close, the closed state of the seatbelt buckle 7 is detected by the sensor device 8 (detection device). If, for example, no element causing the seatbelt buckle 7 to close is inserted into the seatbelt buckle 7, so that the seatbelt buckle 7 is in its open state, the open state of the seatbelt buckle 7 is detected by the sensor device 8. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation illustrating a method for determining whether the safety belt 4 is in use. As will be explained in more detail below, the method uses the sensor device 8 of the belt buckle 7 to detect the closed state of the belt buckle 7 resulting from the insertion of an element into the belt buckle 7. In order to determine, with particular safety and precision, whether the aforementioned use of the safety belt 14 is intended use or a sham use of the safety belt 4, a method is used as shown in Fig.1. A particularly schematically illustrated electronic computing device 9, in particular of the vehicle, determines a second time interval z2 within a first time interval z1 extending from a first time t1, at which the closed state of the seat belt buckle 7, beginning at the first time t1, is detected by the sensor device 8, to a second time interval t2, at which a first event is detected. During this second time interval z1, the closed state of the seat belt buckle 7 is continuously and thus without interruption detected by the sensor device 8. This second time interval z2 extends from a third time interval t3, at which a second event is detected, between the first time t1 and the second time interval t2. For example, the respective event is detected by means of a device of the vehicle.The first event, occurring after the second event and thus recorded, comprises the opening of a vehicle door and / or the occupancy of seat 3. The second event, occurring before the first event and thus recorded, comprises the unoccupancy of seat 3. The second time period is compared with a threshold value using the electronic computing device 9. Furthermore, the electronic computing device 9 identifies the use of the seat belt 4 as feigned use of the seat belt 4 if the comparison of the second time period with the threshold value reveals that the second time period exceeds the threshold value. As a result, at least one component of the motor vehicle is operated depending on the detection of the simulated use of the seat belt 4 and depending on the detection of the closed state of the seat belt buckle 7. This ensures a particularly advantageous, and especially a particularly safe, operation of the vehicle. Reference symbol list 1 Seating system 2 Interior 3 Seat 4 Seat belt 5 Webbing 6 Buckle tongue 7 Belt buckle 8 Sensor device 9 Electronic computing device t1 first time point t2 second time point t3 third time point z1 first time interval z2 second time interval

Claims

Method for determining the use of a vehicle safety belt (4) comprising a webbing (5), a tongue (6) held on the webbing (5) and a buckle (7) and assigned to a seat (3) of a vehicle, wherein a sensor device (8) of the buckle (7) detects a closed state of the buckle (8) resulting from the insertion of an element into the buckle (7), characterized in that: - by means of an electronic computing device (9) a second time interval (Z2) is determined within a first time interval (Z1) extending from a first time point (t1), at which the closed state of the buckle (7) beginning at the first time point (t1) is detected by the sensor device (8), to a second time point (t2), at which a first event is detected, during which the closed state of the buckle (7) is continuously detected by the sensor device (8),which extends from a third time point (t3) between the first time point (t1) and the second time point (t2), at which a second event is recorded, up to the second time point (t2); - the first event includes the opening of a vehicle door; - the second event includes the unoccupancy of the seat (3); - the second time interval (Z2) is compared with a threshold value by means of the electronic computing device (9); and - a feigned use of the seat belt (4) is determined by means of the electronic computing device (9) if the comparison of the second time interval (Z2) with the threshold value determines that the second time interval (Z2) exceeds the threshold value. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the second event comprises opening the door of the vehicle. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vehicle remains stationary throughout the first time period (Z1). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one component of the vehicle is operated depending on the determination of the simulated use of the seat belt (4). Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the component comprises a playback device by means of which, depending on the determination of the simulated use of the safety belt (4), at least one optically and / or acoustically and / or haptically perceptible signal is output. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the component comprises an adaptive speed control. Method according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the component comprises an air conditioning device for air conditioning the interior (2) of the vehicle. Method for determining the use of a vehicle safety belt (4) comprising a webbing (5), a tongue (6) held on the webbing (5) and a buckle (7) and assigned to a seat (3) of a vehicle, wherein a sensor device (8) of the buckle (7) detects the closed state of the buckle (8) resulting from the insertion of an element into the buckle (7), characterized in that: - an electronic computing device (9) determines a time interval extending from a first time to a second time, during which the closed state of the buckle (7) is continuously detected by the sensor device (8); - at the first time, a first electronic computing unit of the vehicle transitions from its operating state to its standby state or deactivated state;- at the second point in time, the first electronic processing unit and / or a second electronic processing unit of the vehicle transitions from its standby or deactivated state to its operating state; - during the time period, the vehicle remains stationary and the first electronic processing unit and / or the second electronic processing unit remains continuously in its standby or deactivated state; - the time period is compared with a threshold value by means of the electronic processing unit (9); and - a false use of the seat belt (4) is detected by means of the electronic processing unit (9) if, by comparing the time period with the threshold value, it is determined that the time period exceeds the threshold value.; Vehicle which is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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