Seat Belt User Interface for Rotatable Vehicle Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat belt systems in vehicles with autonomous driving capabilities lack ergonomic and intuitive user input options for controlling in-vehicle functions, especially when seats are adjusted or rotated, making traditional controls on instrument panels or doors difficult to reach.
Innovation Solution
A safety belt device with a belt buckle and tongue that transmits electrical power to a user input device on the belt webbing, featuring a touch-sensitive interface and detection unit, allowing users to control vehicle functions via gestures or touch commands, regardless of seat position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional control elements and switches are located on instrument panels or doors, then the control functions are available, but the controls become difficult to reach when seats are adjusted or rotated, causing discomfort for the passenger
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented from the fixed instrument panel and integrated into the movable seat belt device, allowing the control interface to move with the seat while the power transmission remains separate through the belt buckle and tongue mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The belt tongue acts as an intermediary component that receives power from the belt buckle and transmits it to the user input device on the belt webbing, enabling control functionality to be delivered to the user regardless of seat position
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrical power is transmitted through the belt buckle and tongue to enable user input device, then the user interface can be integrated into the seat belt, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The belt buckle and tongue, which already serve the primary function of securing the seat belt, are given an additional universal function of transmitting electrical power and signals to the user input device, eliminating the need for separate power transmission components
Data Source
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AI summary
Safety belt device (1) for a motor vehicle (2), comprising - a belt buckle (3) with an insertion slot (4), - a belt tongue (5) which is configured to be inserted into the insertion slot (4) of the belt buckle (3) and to be locked in the insertion slot (4) of the belt buckle (5), and - a belt webbing (6) that runs through a bracket (7) of the belt tongue (5), wherein - the belt buckle (3) and the belt tongue (5) are configured to transmit electrical power from the belt buckle (3) to the belt tongue (5), wherein - a user input device (8) comprising a user interface (9) and a data processing unit (10) is attached to the belt webbing (6), wherein - the user input device (8) is electrically connected to the belt tongue (5), wherein - the user interface (9) comprises a touch sensitive input interface (9) and/or a detection unit that is configured to detect gestures of a user (13).