A seat belt sensor assembly comprises a force sensor coupled to a seat belt webbing. The seat belt sensor assembly utilizes force readings from the force sensor indicating a force level above or below a predetermined threshold to determine if an action needs to be taken to control a vehicle system. Such vehicle systems could include, but are not limited to, an autonomous driving control system, an occupant health system, and a motorized seat belt retractor system. Controlling the vehicle systems could include, but is not limited to, sending audio, visual, and/or haptic warnings to vehicle occupants, including, in one embodiment, that the occupant's respiration rate is indicative of a dangerous health condition. The seat belt sensor assembly may be used in combination with a camera-based occupant monitoring system. In one embodiment, the occupant monitoring system can be used to selectively activate/deactivate discrete activation zones of the force sensor.

Provided herein are approaches for detecting movement of a seatbelt sensor. In some approaches, a detector includes a sensor housing coupled to a plate of a vehicle restraint system, and a sensor disposed within the sensor housing, wherein the sensor is operable to sense a position of a magnet in proximity to the sensor. The detector further includes a magnetic field accumulator (e.g., a pole-piece) coupled to the sensor, wherein the magnet and the magnetic field accumulator move relative to one another, and wherein the sensor receives an indication of a magnetic field accumulated by the magnetic field accumulator as the magnet and the magnetic field accumulator move relative to one another. A change in the magnetic field distribution correlates to a change in position of the plate, to which the magnet is coupled.

A seat safety apparatus, comprising a lap harness including a lap harness belt segment and at least one lap harness sensor connected with the lap harness belt segment; the lap harness sensor formed of an electrically conductive material having an electrical resistance variable as a function of strain of the lap harness sensor wherein, in response to a change in strain of the electrically conductive material of the lap harness sensor, the electrical resistance of the electrically conductive material of the lap harness sensor changes; wherein the electrically conductive material of the lap harness sensor provides an electrical resistance in an electrical circuit of the seat safety apparatus; and wherein, in response to electrical power provided to the electrical circuit, the lap harness sensor provides a lap harness sensor output which changes as the electrical resistance of the electrically conductive material of the lap harness sensor changes.

A system is described. The system comprises a sensor module and a control module. The control module comprises a processor and a memory. The memory stores a sensor control module including computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause: communicate a first command to the sensor module to capture images of interior portions of the vehicle and occupants; determine first characteristics of occupant seats and second characteristics of the occupants; compare the first characteristics with the second characteristics; determine a tautness for the seat belt; communicate a second command to automatically actuate and route a seat belt with the tautness; and in accordance with at least one of facial expressions, postures and gestures of the occupants while automatically routing the seat belt, communicate a third command to enable manual adjustment of the seat belt based on a user input received through a user interface of an electronic unit.

An apparatus, method of manufacturing, and method of using a strain gage load cell anchor are provided that include a safety belt anchor for connecting a safety belt to a vehicle. The safety belt anchor may have a first anchor opening that connects the safety belt anchor to a safety belt, and the anchor may have a second anchor opening that connects the safety belt anchor to a vehicle. One or more strain gages may be provided on the safety belt anchor to measure a force applied to the safety belt anchor, such that the safety belt anchor operates as a strain gage load cell anchor.

An apparatus and method for improving the safety-relevant wear-comfort of a seatbelt worn by an occupant of a vehicle seat uses at least one sensor to detect the contour and/or position of the seatbelt, at least one actuator system for moving the seatbelt in order to change the contour and/or position, and at least one control module for controlling the actuator system. The control module is operative to control the actuator system automatically as a function of a deviation of the seatbelt contour/position, as detected by the sensor, from a predefined contour/position which reflects correct wear of the seatbelt.

A safety monitoring system for a child safety includes a harness, buckle, buckle sensor, and tension sensor. The buckle sensor monitors status of the buckle. A harness adjuster adjusts tension of the harness. The tension sensor monitors the tension to the harness. An output device is located on the buckle. The output device provides the status of the buckle and tension of the harness. The system can include several types of sensors that are independent of a vehicle or a seat assembly. In one form, the buckle includes a strain gauge, temperature sensor, microphone, camera, thermometer, accelerometer, and/or gyroscope. A microprocessor and/or a wireless transceiver are located inside the buckle. The wireless transceiver facilitates communication between the restraint system, the sensors, and/or a computational device such as a smartphone. Data from the sensors may be partially or fully processed by the microprocessor in the buckle or the external computational device.

A belt securement verification system includes a belt and a securement verification device connected to the belt. When a tension force on the belt exceeds a threshold corresponding to a desired belt tightness or a desired belt slackness, the securement verification device moves from a first configuration to a second configuration to indicate to a user that the belt has achieved the desired belt tightness or desired belt slackness.

A seat belt sensor assembly comprises a force sensor coupled to a seat belt webbing. The seat belt sensor assembly utilizes force readings from the force sensor indicating a force level above or below a predetermined threshold to determine if an action needs to be taken to control a vehicle system. Such vehicle systems could include, but are not limited to, an autonomous driving control system, an occupant health system, and a motorized seat belt retractor system. Controlling the vehicle systems could include, but is not limited to, sending audio, visual, and/or haptic warnings to vehicle occupants, including, in one embodiment, that the occupant's respiration rate is indicative of a dangerous health condition. The seat belt sensor assembly may be used in combination with a camera-based occupant monitoring system. In one embodiment, the occupant monitoring system can be used to selectively activate/deactivate discrete activation zones of the force sensor.

In a system and a method for adjusting seat belt pressure, in which while a passenger in a vehicle is wearing a seat belt, a webbing shape and pressure applied to a passenger's body by webbing can be detected, and webbing pressure adjustment drive devices can be operated based on the detected data so that local pressure applied to the passenger's body by webbing can be reduced, thereby relieving seat belt pressure. The system can include body pressure sensors, a camera, a controller, and various webbing pressure adjustment drive devices.