In one embodiment, a system of detecting seat belt operation in a vehicle includes at least one light source configured to emit a predetermined wavelength of light onto structures within the vehicle, wherein at least one of the structures is a passenger seat belt assembly having a pattern that reflects the predetermined wavelength at a preferred luminance. At least one 3-D time of flight camera is positioned in the vehicle to receive reflected light from the structures in the vehicle and provide images of the structures that distinguish the preferred luminance of the pattern from other structures in the vehicle. A computer processor connected to computer memory and the camera includes computer readable instructions causing the processor to reconstruct 3-D information in regard to respective images of the structures and calculate a depth measurement of the distance of the reflective pattern on the passenger seat belt assembly from the camera.

Systems and methods for machine learning based seatbelt position detection and classification. A number of fiducial markers are placed on a vehicle seatbelt. A camera or other sensor is placed within the vehicle, to capture images or other data relating positions of the fiducial markers when the seatbelt is in use. One or more models such as machine learning models may then determine the spatial positions of the fiducial markers from the captured image information, and determine the worn state of the seatbelt. In particular, the system may determine whether the seatbelt is being worn in one or more improper states, such as not being worn or being worn in an unsafe or dangerous manner, and if so, the system may alert the vehicle to take corrective action. In this manner, the system provides constant and real-time monitoring of seatbelts to improve seatbelt usage and safety.

In accordance with various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided. In various embodiments, the vehicle includes a body; one or more occupant seats disposed within the body for an occupant of the vehicle; and, for each occupant seat, a restraint device, one or more sensible elements, and one or more sensors. The restraint device is configured to provide restraint for the occupant when the restraint device is properly worn by the occupant. The one or more sensors are disposed within the occupant seat. The one or more sensible elements are disposed as part of the restraint device. The one or more sensors are disposed within the occupant seat, and are configured to sense the one or more sensible elements when the one or more sensible elements are in proximity to the one or more sensors, as an indication that the restraint device is not properly worn by the occupant.

A belt assembly includes a belt, a first sensor and a second sensor. The belt has a webbing and a plurality of markers distinct from the webbing and fixed thereto. The markers are equally spaced a first longitudinal distance thereon in a longitudinal direction. The first sensor and the second sensor each have an associated detection field directed toward the belt and responsive to the markers in the fields. The second sensor is a second longitudinal distance from the first sensor differing from the first distance.

A device for controlling the correct operating state of a restraining harness, intended for a safety seat, including at least one retaining strap that is under tension when the harness is in the state of restraining the occupant, the device being intended to be disposed in a predefined area of the latter, the device including: at least one sensor device including an elongate flexible element that is suitable for being positioned on the strap, and in particular rigidly connected thereto in the predefined area, and that is provided with a measuring system to measure, in the predefined area, at least a level of bending and/or tilting of the strap, a device to collect values linked to the level of bending and/or tilting, and internal or external device configured to analyze the values and of communicating with a receiver for receiving information on the operating state of the retaining harness.

A system and method for detecting seatbelt positioning includes capturing, by a camera, a near infrared (NIR) image of an occupant, applying a median filter to the NIR image to remove glints; converting the NIR image to a black-and-white image, scanning across the black-and-white (B/W) image to detect a plurality of transitions between black and white segments corresponding to stripes extending lengthwise along a length of the seatbelt, and using detections of the plurality of transitions to indicate a detection of the seatbelt. Converting the NIR image to the black-and-white image may include using a localized binary threshold to determine whether a given pixel in the B/W image should be black or white based on whether a corresponding source pixel within the NIR image is brighter than an average of nearby pixels within a predetermined distance of the corresponding source pixel.

A method for detecting a position of a seatbelt in a vehicle includes: capturing, by a camera, a source image of an occupant in the vehicle; determining a pose of the occupant based on the source image; determining an occupant shadow based on the pose of the occupant; determining, based on the occupant shadow, a shadow overlying a region of interest (ROI) in the source image; and detecting, based on the shadow overlying the ROI, the seatbelt within the ROI. A system for detecting a position of a seatbelt is also provided. The system includes a camera and controller in communication with the camera and configured to: determine a pose of the occupant; determine an occupant shadow based on the pose of the occupant; determine, based on the occupant shadow, a shadow overlying the ROI; and detect, based on the shadow overlying the ROI, the seatbelt within the ROI.

A method for setting a safety belt in a vehicle is provided. For the adjustment of the safety belt an adjusting apparatus is provided, the position of a deflection point for the safety belt being able to be set thereby and the safety belt extending therefrom in the direction of the shoulder of a vehicle occupant fastened-in by the safety belt, and the position of the deflection point is automatically set by means of at least one sensor device in order to adapt the path of the safety belt to the fastened-in vehicle occupant. Via the sensor device an angle is evaluated which is present between a belt portion which extends from the deflection point in the direction of the shoulder of the fastened-in vehicle occupant and a further belt portion and/or a part fixed to the bodywork or seat part.

A belt assembly includes a belt retractor, a sensor having a detection field, and a belt retractably payable from the belt retractor through the detection field. The belt has a webbing and a plurality of markers fixed to the webbing. The webbing has a longitudinal length and the markers are equally spaced along the longitudinal length of the webbing. The sensor senses the length of the webbing paid out. A size of the occupant may be determined based on the length of the webbing paid out, and the size of the occupant may be used to classify the occupant in classes.

Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method for determining the state of a restraint system provided within a vehicle includes incorporating one or more marker components into a restraint system component located within the vehicle, then receiving sensor data associated with the position of one or more of the marker components. The method further includes determining, with a processor, a state of the restraint system based on the sensor data.