Safety device for a seat in a motor vehicle

Abstract

A safety device for a seat in a motor vehicle is described. This safety device comprises a seat belt system, a monitoring system, and usage indicators for the seat belt system. The seat belt system includes a webbing, a tongue that slides on the webbing, and a buckle for inserting an insertable part of the tongue, such that the webbing, when closed, comprises a shoulder section (12) and a lap section (14). The monitoring system monitors the position of the shoulder section (12) and the position of the lap section (14) relative to the person wearing the seat belt and includes a control unit and a camera.To ensure that the person sitting in the seat is not only buckled up but also buckled up correctly, the control unit controls the user indicators based on the data supplied by the camera, and the user indicators show the correct or incorrect position of the shoulder section (12) and the correct or incorrect position of the pelvic section (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a safety device for a seat in a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A seat belt system is part of the seating system of almost every passenger seat in a car. Such a seat belt system consists of a webbing, a tongue that slides along the webbing, and a buckle for inserting a retractable section of this tongue. In most cases, the belt system is a so-called three-point system, meaning that when the tongue is inserted into the buckle, it divides the webbing into a shoulder section and a lap section.

[0003] Many seat belt systems include a monitoring system that tracks the seat belt's usage status when the vehicle seat is occupied, and usage indicators that at least signal when the seat belt is not in use. This seat belt system typically includes a control unit. A very common method for monitoring the buckle status is the use of a buckle sensor that detects the presence of the insertable part of the tongue in the buckle.

[0004] If the control unit (this can be a separate control unit or part of the vehicle's overall control unit / ECU) detects that a seat is occupied but the insertable part of the tongue is not engaged in the buckle, the control unit will issue a warning (usually an audible signal). This warning signal serves as the occupancy indicator in this case. Without additional measures, such a system can be easily circumvented, for example, by inserting an "extra tongue" (not connected to the webbing) into the buckle.

[0005] More sophisticated monitoring systems are known that do not allow deception by the occupant; an example of such an advanced system is described in US 2022 / 0250570 A1.

[0006] For example, US patent 2019 / 0152430 A1 discloses a monitoring system that not only checks whether the seatbelt system is being used, but also whether the shoulder and lap sections of the seatbelt are correctly positioned. This monitoring system consists of sensitive elements located in the seatbelt and sensors located in the occupant's seat. This document proposes that the control unit prevent the vehicle—which may be an autonomous vehicle—from moving if the seatbelt is not properly fastened by the occupant.

[0007] A similar system is described in the generic US patent 2018 / 0326944A1, where a camera is used to detect the seatbelt position in the vehicle described therein. Here, too, the system serves to provide the vehicle with data on the position and seatbelt status of the occupants.

[0008] The use of a camera for belt position detection is also known from DE 10 2015 120 811 A1.

[0009] US Regulation 2013 / 0 033 372 A1 proposes, among other things, the use of green and red LEDs on a seatbelt to indicate whether the belt is properly fastened.

[0010] Based on this state of the art, the object of the invention is to provide a safety device for a seat in a motor vehicle, comprising a monitoring system for the seat belt and usage indicators that are easy to implement in the vehicle and improve user acceptance.

[0011] This problem is solved by a safety device having the features of claim 1.

[0012] As is known from the generic US 2018 / 0 326 944 A1, the monitoring system includes a camera that "views" the person wearing the seatbelt. The signals from this camera are transmitted to the control unit, and this control unit uses the signals supplied by the camera to assess the correct or incorrect position of the pelvic and shoulder sections of the seatbelt by, for example, comparing the images captured by the camera with stored patterns that show typical examples of the correct and incorrect positions of these sections.

[0013] In this context, it is often sufficient for the control unit to determine the height of the pelvic section relative to the lap of the strapped person and to check whether the shoulder section runs essentially over the middle of the shoulder between the outer end of the shoulder (from which the arm extends) and the neck of the person being protected. These positions can be easily identified by comparing the captured images with stored examples or patterns and / or by using artificial intelligence. The task is relatively simple because the straps, especially the shoulder and pelvic sections, have very clear and easily recognizable shapes, and the human torso also has a rather simple shape.

[0014] According to the invention, usage indicators are provided which inform the user not only whether the seat belt system is being used or not, but also whether the belt is correctly positioned or not. This is based on the following insights: While it is frequently the case that the belt is incorrectly positioned from the outset, it is also possible that the position of the belt relative to the person changes during the journey, for example, that the belt is initially correctly positioned but later becomes incorrectly positioned, perhaps because the person wearing the belt changes their position. In this case, it is generally not an option for the control unit to bring the vehicle to a stop. Instead, the usage indicators provide information about the correct or incorrect position of the shoulder section and information about the correct or incorrect position of the pelvic section.If the user is informed of an incorrect position of one of the two sections, they will be "requested" to correct it, which they can usually do themselves while the vehicle continues to drive.

[0015] It is of course preferable that the monitoring and display begins as soon as the seat is occupied or at the latest after the person is buckled up, and continues from then until the end of the journey (e.g. until the engine ignition is switched off).

[0016] The usage indicators according to the invention comprise at least one first light-emitting area with a first state indicating the correct position of the shoulder section and a second state indicating the incorrect position of the shoulder section, as well as at least one second light-emitting area with a first state indicating the correct position of the pelvic section and a second state indicating the incorrect position of the pelvic section. As described above, a general concept of the invention is to instruct the person wearing the seatbelt so that they can correct the belt position themselves if necessary. It has been found that it is very helpful for the person to know which of the belt sections is correctly positioned and which is not (often one section is correctly positioned while the other is incorrectly positioned).

[0017] It is naturally desirable that the entire safety system can be used intuitively by everyone. To achieve this, the first and second light-emitting areas are designed as symbolic representations of the seatbelt in its closed position, such that the first light-emitting area at least indirectly represents the shoulder section and the second light-emitting area at least indirectly represents the pelvic section. This allows the user to directly understand what the display is trying to tell them without having to read an instruction manual. This symbolic representation can be generated, for example, on a display that is often already present, so the additional effort is minimal. This display can be integrated into or mounted on the instrument panel or steering wheel, for example.Alternatively or additionally, the at least one first light-emitting area and the at least one second light-emitting area can be arranged on the webbing itself, preferably on its shoulder section. In this case, the "webbing position information" is directly linked to the webbing itself, which has proven to be highly intuitive.

[0018] Naturally, the states of the light-emitting areas must be distinguishable for the user, and in a preferred embodiment, this is achieved by different colors, such that the first light-emitting area emits light of a first color in its first state and light of a second color in its second state. Similarly, the second light-emitting area emits light of a third color in its first state and light of a fourth color in its second state. Typically, the first and third colors are green, and the second and fourth colors are red, as this is generally immediately understood by the user and is also motivating, since most people want to change the color from red to green. Alternatively, the light-emitting areas are off in their first state (they emit no light) and emit light (preferably red light) in their second state.

[0019] Additionally, the seatbelt usage indicator can include a voice or tone generator. One advantage of using a voice generator is that the person wearing the seatbelt can be told directly what to do to correct the position of the belt. A disadvantage is that the use of a voice generator can be disruptive, especially when there are several people in the car. As a compromise, the voice or tone generator is only activated by the control unit if the person wearing the seatbelt does not respond when incorrect use of the belt is indicated by other usage indicators.

[0020] In addition, the usage indicator devices can also include a first vibration element in the shoulder section and a second vibration element in the pelvic section, so that an incorrect position can be indicated by a vibration signal.

[0021] The monitoring system can additionally include at least one seatbelt buckle sensor and one seatbelt extension sensor, so that the system initially has "buckle up / unbuckle up information"; checking the webbing for the correct or incorrect position of its sections is of course not useful when the person is not buckled up.

[0022] The invention will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment and the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1. A schematic side view of a buckled-up passenger and a schematic representation of some parts of the monitoring system and the usage indicator system. Fig. 2 the buckled-up passenger in a view from the direction of R1 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a view of the display camera unit of Fig. 1 in a view from direction R2 in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 An enlarged representation of the symbolic representation displayed on the screen of the display camera unit of Fig. 3 is displayed, Fig. 4a a variant of the one in Fig. 4 symbolic representations shown, Fig. 5 a buckled driver with a misaligned pelvic section of the seatbelt, Fig. 6. The symbolic representation of the usage indicator system from the driver's point of view. Fig. 7 that in Fig. 5. Shown, with the driver correcting the position of the pelvic section, Fig. 8 that in Fig. 7 Shown after the correction of the pelvic section is completed, Fig. 9 the symbolic representation of Fig. 6, after the correction of the pelvic section was performed, and Fig. 10. A flowchart showing the operating principle of the control unit.

[0023] The Fig. Figures 1 to 3 schematically show a passenger seated in the front passenger seat, secured with the webbing of a seat belt system. Furthermore, all elements of a monitoring system and a usage indicator system of the described embodiment of the invention are shown. The seat belt system is a conventional three-point belt system and comprises a webbing 10, a tongue 16 arranged on the webbing 10, and a buckle 18. The webbing 10 extends from a retractor 11 to an end fitting 19. In the closed position, the webbing 10 comprises a shoulder section 12 and a lap section 14. As can be seen, a first light-emitting element 31 and a second light-emitting element 32 are attached to the shoulder section 12 of the webbing 10.These light-emitting elements 31 and 32, attached to the webbing, both have a substantially rectangular shape. The longer axis of the first light-emitting element 31 extends substantially in the direction of the webbing, and the longer axis of the second light-emitting element extends substantially perpendicular to it. The first light-emitting element 31 forms a first light-emitting area 31a on the webbing 10, and the second light-emitting element 32 forms a second light-emitting area 32a on the webbing. The light-emitting elements 31 and 32 are preferably in the form of LEDs or OLEDs and are designed to emit light in at least two colors, preferably red and green. Such color-changing LEDs or OLEDs are known in the prior art.

[0024] A display-camera unit 40 is provided in front of the passenger, extending from the instrument panel 60 in the illustrated embodiment. For the invention, it is not necessary that the camera 44 be integrated into the display-camera unit 40; it could also be a separate unit. Furthermore, it should be noted that the camera can be shared with other systems, particularly other safety systems. For the sake of simplicity, however, a display-camera unit 40 is shown, and despite the simplicity of the illustration, it should be mentioned that integrating the camera 44 into such a display-camera unit 40 gives the camera a very good position for its function. The display 42 of the display-camera unit 40 can, of course, be seen by the passenger. The lens 43 of the camera is in Fig. 3 to see.

[0025] The display-camera unit 40 and the light-emitting elements 31, 32 attached to the webbing are connected to a control unit 20, as shown in Fig. Figure 1 is shown schematically. This control unit 20 receives data from the camera 44 and controls the display 42 as well as the light-emitting elements 31, 32 attached to the strap. As already mentioned, the control unit 20 does not necessarily have to be a control unit 20 responsible only for the task described here, but it can also be a more general control unit.

[0026] As in Fig. As indicated in Figure 3, the control unit 20 can control the display 42 to show a symbolic representation 50 of a person wearing a seatbelt, again with a first light-emitting area 51a and a second light-emitting area 52a. In the illustrated embodiment, these first and second light-emitting areas 51a and 52a are arranged on the representation of the webbing in the same way as the light-emitting elements 31 and 32 attached to the webbing are arranged on the physical webbing 10. Alternatively, the second light-emitting area 52a could be arranged on the representation of the pelvic section of the webbing, as shown in Figure 3. Fig. 4a shown.

[0027] It is possible to use the display for other information as well, e.g., entertainment information, as in Fig. 3 shown.

[0028] It should be mentioned that it is often preferred to provide both: light-emitting elements 30, 31 attached to the seat belt and a symbolic representation 50 with light-emitting areas 51a, 52a, but it would also be possible to provide only one of them. Both, however, increase the chances that the user will recognize an indication of improper use of the seat belt 10 without the need for (also) an audible signal or an artificial voice, which could be disturbing to other occupants of the vehicle.

[0029] The operating principle will now be explained using the in Fig. The process is described in the flowchart shown in Figure 10. After the system starts (e.g., by switching on the ignition) and detects an occupied seat (e.g., by a seat occupancy sensor – not shown in the figures), it is first checked whether the corresponding seat belt system is fastened. This can be done by the control unit 20 using only the camera signals and / or additionally using a signal from a seat belt buckle sensor (not shown) or signals from a sensor provided in the retractor 11 (also not shown). If it is detected that a person is not wearing a seat belt, a warning signal, e.g., an audible signal, is triggered. This is repeated until a buckled-up state is detected, as is standard practice in passenger cars.

[0030] When a buckled-up state is detected, the control unit 20 checks the position of the shoulder section 12 and the position of the pelvic section 4 of the webbing 10 based on the signals supplied by the camera 20, e.g., by comparing the captured images with stored patterns. If the shoulder section 12 is found to be in its correct position, the first light-emitting areas (on the belt and in the symbolic representation on the display) are controlled to emit green light. If the control unit 20 detects that the shoulder section 12 is not in the correct position, the first light-emitting areas (belt and display) illuminate red.If the lap section 14 is detected to be in the correct position, the secondary light-emitting areas (on the belt and in the symbolic representation on the display) are controlled to emit green light. If the control unit 20 detects that the lap section 14 is not in the correct position, the secondary light-emitting areas (belt and display) are controlled to illuminate in red. This is repeated until the system is deactivated, for example, because the ignition has been switched off. Alternatively, the light-emitting areas are in their initial state that they are off (they do not illuminate).

[0031] With regard to the Fig. Sections 5 to 9 now describe how the safety device helps the user (here the driver) to find the correct position of the seat belt 10. This is described – as an example – with an initial misalignment of the pelvic section 14, but the same principle applies (although not shown) if the shoulder section is not positioned correctly.

[0032] In Fig. Figure 5 shows that the pelvic section 14 is not positioned correctly; it is positioned too high and extends over the abdomen and not over the lap of the driver. This is detected by the monitoring system, and the control unit 20 controls the second light-emitting element 32 attached to the belt so that it emits red light. The same applies to the second light-emitting area 52a of a symbolic representation, if present (see Figure 5). Fig. 6) In the symbolic representation, an arrow may also indicate in which direction the respective section of the webbing must be repositioned.

[0033] If the user recognizes this, he can reposition the respective belt section (here the pelvic section 14) until it reaches its correct position ( Fig. 8) As soon as this is detected by the monitoring system, the control unit activates the second light element 32 mounted on the belt so that it emits green light. The same applies, of course, to the second light-emitting area 52a of the symbolic representation 50.

[0034] It turns out that the safety of the person to be protected can be improved with relatively simple means and without drastic measures such as stopping the vehicle. List of reference numbers 10 webbing 11 Retractor 12 Shoulder section 14 pelvic section 16 Tongue 18 Seatbelt buckle 19 End piece 20 Control unit 31 first light-emitting element attached to the webbing 31a Light-emitting area of ​​the first light-emitting element attached to the webbing (first light-emitting area) 32 second light-emitting element attached to the webbing 32a light-emitting area of ​​the second light-emitting element attached to the webbing (second light-emitting area) 40 Display camera unit 42" Display 44 Camera 43 Camera lens 50 symbolic representations 51a first light-emitting area of ​​the symbolic representation 52a second light-emitting area of ​​the symbolic representation

Claims

[1] Safety device for a seat in a motor vehicle comprising a seat belt system and a monitoring system for the seat belt system, wherein the safety belt system comprises a webbing (10), a tongue (16) which is arranged to slide on the webbing (10), and a buckle (18) for inserting an insertable part of the tongue (16), such that the webbing (10) in the closed state comprises a shoulder section (12) and a pelvic section (14), the monitoring system includes a camera (44) and a control unit and monitors the position of the shoulder section (12) and the position of the pelvic section (14) in relation to the strapped-in person, characterized by , that the security device continues to have usage indicators, the control unit (20) controls the usage indicators on the basis of the data supplied by the camera (44), and the usage indicator means indicate the correct or incorrect position of the shoulder section (12) and the correct or incorrect position of the pelvic section (14), wherein the usage indicator means comprise the following: - at least one first light-emitting area with a first state indicating the correct position of the shoulder section (12) and a second state indicating the incorrect position of the shoulder section (12), - at least one second light-emitting area with a first state indicating the correct position of the pelvic section (14) and a second state indicating the incorrect position of the pelvic section (14), wherein the at least one first light-emitting area and the at least one second light-emitting area are areas (51, 52) of a symbolic representation (50) of the webbing in the closed state and wherein the first light-emitting area (51) represents at least indirectly the shoulder section (12) and the second light-emitting area (52) represents at least indirectly the pelvic section. [2] Safety device according to claim 1, wherein the symbolic representation (50) is generated on a display (42). [3] Safety device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by , that the at least one first light-emitting area (31a) and the at least one second light-emitting area (32a) are arranged on the webbing (10), preferably on its shoulder section (12). [4] The safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first light-emitting region (31a, 51) in its first state emits light in a first color and in its second state emits light in a second color, the second color being different from the first color, and the second light-emitting region (32a, 52) emits light in a third color in its first state and light in a fourth color in its second state, the fourth color being different from the third color, wherein it is preferred that the third color is identical to the first color and the fourth color is identical to the second color, and wherein it is further preferred that the first color and the third color are green and that the second color and the fourth color are red. [5] The safety device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first light-emitting area (31a, 51) emits no light in its first state and emits light in its second state, and the second light-emitting area (32a, 52) emits light in its first state and emits no light in its second state, wherein it is preferred that the light-emitting areas (31a, 32a, 51, 52) emit light of a red color in their second state. [6] Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the usage indicator means additionally comprise a speech generator. [7] Safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the usage indicator means additionally include a vibration element in the shoulder section (12) and / or a vibration element in the pelvic section (14). [8] Safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the monitoring system additionally includes at least one seatbelt buckle sensor and one seatbelt extension sensor.

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