vehicle seat belt

Abstract

A seat belt for use in a vehicle is provided, wherein the seat belt has a webbing on which a QR code is printed at one or more predetermined areas using a material that reflects near-infrared light. A vehicle and a method for determining the fastening status of a seat belt and / or information about a seat belt are also provided.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a safety belt (restraint belt) for a vehicle occupant, wherein the safety belt offers a possibility of determining the fastening status.

[0002] Methods and designs of seat belts for determining the fastening status are already known. For this purpose, image processing devices, for example, are used to detect a pattern applied to a seat belt and to determine the fastening status from this. DE10142792B4, for example, discloses a method for determining the fastening status of a seat belt in a motor vehicle using an image processing device, wherein a pattern, e.g. a barcode, made of luminescent material can also be provided as a marking. EP3508385B1 discloses a pattern detectable in the infrared range. CN 1 057 303 92 A, DE102015120811B4 and US11210539B2 disclose alternative types of pattern. CN 1 098 78 449 A discloses that the pattern can be formed as a number, by means of which, for example, the vehicle can be uniquely identified.

[0003] Since there is still room for improvement in determining the fastening status of a seat belt, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved seat belt. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0004] A safety belt for use in a vehicle is provided, the safety belt having a belt strap on which a QR code is printed with a near-infrared light / infrared light reflecting material at one or more predetermined areas.

[0005] Furthermore, it is planned that one or more QR codes are printed on one or both sides of the strap.

[0006] Furthermore, it is intended that the QR code(s) are positioned in such a way that the length of the belt strap can be determined from them.

[0007] Furthermore, it is intended that the QR code(s) contain information about the seat belt.

[0008] Furthermore, it is provided that the information includes a batch number of the safety belt and / or a type of safety belt and / or a positioning of the safety belt within the vehicle and / or information on which vehicle seat the safety belt is located and / or whether it is the safety belt installed in the vehicle and / or the manufacturer of the safety belt.

[0009] Furthermore, a vehicle is provided, comprising a safety belt according to one of the preceding claims, each assigned to a vehicle seat of the vehicle, as well as at least one interior camera, which is configured to detect light reflected by the QR code(s) in the near infrared range / infrared range, and a control unit, which is in signal connection with the interior camera and is configured to determine a fastening status of the safety belt based on a position of the QR code detected by at least the interior camera, and / or to process information stored in the QR code(s).

[0010] Furthermore, a method is provided for determining the fastening status of a safety belt and / or information about a safety belt that is assigned to a vehicle seat of the vehicle by means of an interior camera of the vehicle, wherein at least a part of an extended belt webbing of the safety belt is detected by means of the interior camera and information about the safety belt and / or the length of the extended belt webbing is determined by detecting the position of the QR code(s).

[0011] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures of the drawing, which illustrate details of the invention, and from the claims. The individual features can be implemented individually or in combination in a variant of the invention.

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an extended webbing of a safety belt with QR code according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] In the following descriptions of the figures, the same elements or functions are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0015] Once a passenger has taken their seat in the vehicle, they are required to fasten the seatbelt associated with that seat before starting the journey. The basic concept of the invention is to provide improved detection of the wear, i.e., the fastening status, of a vehicle's seatbelt. A variety of measures are now known to ensure that the seatbelt is fastened. For example, the seat occupancy is determined by detecting that the seat is occupied and the seatbelt buckle has engaged. If, at a given driving speed, a seat occupancy is detected but the seatbelt buckle has not engaged, a warning tone is generally emitted in the vehicle.As already mentioned at the beginning, the use of near-infrared light / infrared light reflecting materials as part of the belt webbing, especially as sewn-in threads, is also known to determine a seat belt fastening status.

[0016] The invention represents a further possibility for determining the fastening status of a seat belt. For this purpose, one or more QR codes (QR = Quick Response) made of a material that reflects near-infrared light are printed on the seat belt webbing. Thus, the QR codes are not visible to the occupant. Sewing them in is currently not possible due to the two-dimensional nature of the QR code. Alternatively, a patch with a QR code could be provided that is sewn onto the webbing, but this is impractical, so printing is the preferred method.

[0017] As with the known methods for determining the fastening status of a belt webbing using threads that reflect near infrared light / infrared light, the QR code(s) are captured using an image processing device that can capture near infrared light / infrared light. One such image processing device is, for example, an interior camera. At least one image is captured of an area in which the belt webbing is / should be when fastened. One such area is, for example, an area between the shoulder and chest of an occupant. However, other areas can also be captured if they are visible, e.g. an area below or in the chest area, i.e. on the occupant's upper body. An overall image can also be captured, which also captures the belt retractor, i.e. the uppermost area of ​​the visible belt webbing.The overall image can then be captured up to the area where the buckle is located when the seatbelt is fastened. It's important that an area where the belt webbing may be located is monitored, which is clearly visible to the interior camera in essentially every seatbelt fastening situation.

[0018] With previously known patterns, determining the belt path in an area where interference patterns may be present is difficult and often unreliable. Therefore, the belt webbing is often only detected in the area between the shoulders and chest, as the belt webbing is usually not positioned against a potentially disruptive background such as a piece of clothing on the occupant's upper body.

[0019] By using QR codes, it is possible to capture the belt webbing in any area using the interior camera, including the chest area of ​​an occupant, as QR codes are unique and can therefore be reliably recognized even against a different background such as a printed shirt or shirt.

[0020] In one embodiment, the QR code(s) are positioned on the belt webbing in a position which is always visible, regardless of the occupant, as soon as the belt webbing is extended and the buckle is engaged, wherein the QR code is advantageously positioned in an upper area near the belt retractor when the belt webbing is extended and the buckle is engaged without an occupant.

[0021] By pre-positioning one or more QR codes on the belt webbing, the length of the extended belt webbing can be determined, as the interior camera enables precise positioning of objects in the room. The length of the belt webbing is determined by recording the position of the QR code(s) when checking whether the belt is fastened (e.g., at the start of the journey), and comparing it with the pre-defined position (stored in a control unit) when rolled up, whereby the total length of the belt webbing and the exact position (length from the start of the belt webbing) are known. When the belt webbing is extended, the position of the QR code can be used to determine the extended length (this can be calculated by the control unit). If there are multiple QR codes, the number of visible QR codes and / or any information stored there, e.g.a number, the length of the extended belt strap can be determined. From the calculated extended length of the belt strap, further information can then be drawn, such as whether the belt is properly fastened, and whether it is the vehicle's built-in safety belt or another belt or a piece of clothing. The occupant's stature, such as their height, can also be determined.

[0022] In order to be able to recognize the QR codes and thus the information even when the strap is twisted, the QR code(s) can be printed on both sides of the strap.

[0023] With the previous methods and known patterns, only limited information can be provided, which is usually restricted to the fastening status. The use of QR codes provides a significantly higher information density, so that additional information can be provided that could previously only be provided using other / additional patterns. All information about the installed seat belt can be stored in the QR code, e.g. batch number, position in the vehicle, information about which vehicle seat the seat belt is installed on, manufacturer, whether it is the seat belt installed in the vehicle or a different belt or a piece of clothing, what type of belt is installed, e.g. material, length, width, etc. This can provide improved traceability, as a wealth of information can be accessed more quickly and directly.

[0024] The system can be calibrated during production while the seat belt is removed.

[0025] The data captured by the QR code and the interior camera is processed in a control unit, which evaluates the data and, if necessary, determines action instructions. The control unit can also define action instructions, such as emitting a warning tone, and forward them to the corresponding actuators or other control units for execution. The evaluation results can also be saved or output to an external device.

[0026] In Fig.1 shows an embodiment in which a QR code 1 is provided on the belt webbing 2 of a seat belt of a vehicle 100. As described above, the QR code 1 is printed as a near-infrared light-reflecting material on the belt webbing 2 at a predetermined position. On an extended belt webbing 2, as can be seen in the figure, the QR code 1 is detected by an interior camera 4 at a specific position, depending on the seating position and occupant 3 (size, clothing, etc.). A control unit 5, which has a signal connection to the interior camera 4 (which can also be part of the interior camera 4), processes the received data, i.e., the detected position, to determine the length of the belt webbing 2, from which it can be concluded whether the seat belt is properly fastened, i.e., whether the belt webbing 2 is (sufficiently) extended.To determine whether the detected length of the extended belt webbing 2 is sufficient to confirm proper fastening, further information, e.g., about the occupant, the seating position, the outside temperature (whether a thick jacket is expected, yes / no), etc., can of course be obtained from sensor data or via other means (cloud services, mobile devices, internal vehicle memory, etc.). Furthermore, the control unit 5 can perform further evaluations based on the position of the QR code 1, as already described. For example, a variety of information about the seat belt can be recorded and used for further evaluations. List of reference symbols 1 QR code 2 webbing 3 inmates 4 interior camera 5 Control unit 100 vehicles

Claims

[1] Safety belt for use in a vehicle (100), wherein the safety belt has a belt webbing (2) on which a QR code (1) is printed with a near infrared light / infrared light-reflecting material in one or more predetermined areas, wherein the QR code(s) (1) are located in a chest area of ​​an occupant when worn, and wherein the QR code(s) (1) contain(s) information about the safety belt, wherein the information includes a batch number of the safety belt and a type of safety belt and a positioning of the safety belt within the vehicle (100) and information on which vehicle seat the safety belt is located, and whether it is the safety belt installed in the vehicle, and the manufacturer of the safety belt. [2] Safety belt according to claim 1, wherein one or more QR codes (1) are printed on one or both sides of the belt strap (2). [3] Safety belt according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the QR code(s) (1) are positioned such that a length of the belt strap (2) can be determined therefrom. [4] Vehicle (100), comprising a safety belt according to one of the preceding claims, each assigned to a vehicle seat of the vehicle (100), and at least one interior camera (4) which is configured to detect light reflected by the QR code(s) (1) in the near infrared range / infrared range, and a control unit (5) which is in signal connection with the interior camera (4) and which is configured to determine a fastening status of the safety belt based on a position of the QR code (1) detected by at least the interior camera (4), and / or to process information stored in the QR code(s) (1). [5] Method for determining the fastening status of a safety belt and / or information about a safety belt which is assigned to a vehicle seat of a vehicle (100) according to claim 4, by means of an interior camera (4) of the vehicle (100), wherein at least a part of an extended belt webbing (2) of the safety belt is detected by means of the interior camera (4) and information about the safety belt and / or the length of the extended belt webbing (2) is determined by detecting the position of the QR code(s) (1).

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