Seatbelt Warning Control Unit Logic for Passenger Movement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seat belt warning systems often produce unnecessary warnings when a passenger moves from one rear seat to another and fastens their seat belt, leading to inconvenience and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A seat belt warning apparatus and method that utilize a control unit to compare flag groups stored at different points in time to determine when the number of fastened seat belts has changed, allowing the system to stop unnecessary buzzer operations by identifying when all passengers except the driver have refastened their seat belts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the seat belt warning system continuously monitors and warns when seat belts are unfastened, then safety monitoring is improved, but unnecessary warnings occur when passengers move between seats causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety monitoringVSAvoidpassenger comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores the initial number of fastened seat belts when doors are closed and vehicle velocity reaches a threshold. This preliminary recording allows the system to distinguish between genuine safety violations and normal passenger movements, preventing unnecessary warnings while maintaining safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the number of fastened seat belts and compares it with the initial stored value. When the number decreases, an alert is generated; when it returns to the initial value, the alert stops. This feedback mechanism ensures warnings are only active when actually needed, eliminating false alarms from passenger movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the warning system alerts when the number of fastened seat belts decreases, then safety enforcement is improved, but false alarms occur when passengers move and refasten seat belts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety enforcementVSAvoidunnecessary warning duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring the seat belt fastening status and comparing it with the initial state. When passengers move and refasten their seat belts, the system detects the return to the initial fastening count and immediately stops the warning, eliminating unnecessary warning duration while maintaining effective safety enforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic monitoring of seat belt switches and compares the current state with the initial stored state at regular intervals. This periodic action allows the system to detect when passengers have refastened their seat belts and stop warnings appropriately, reducing false alarm duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2298612B1Seatbelt alarm issuing device, and seatbelt alarm issuing method
Publication Date: 2012.12.05 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP2298612B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2298612B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2298612B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide with a seat belt warning apparatus capable of stopping the operation of a buzzer, for example, when a passenger has moved from a rear seat to another seat, such as a front passenger's seat, and fastens the seat belt, the seat belt warning apparatus outputs a notice when the number of seats where seat belts are fastened except a driver's seat is reduced, and stops the output of the notice when the number of seats where the seat belts are fastened except the driver's seat is equal to or more than that when the notice is output.