A computer is programmed to identify first and second regions of an image representing a seatbelt, actuate an output device to deliver a first output upon detecting an absence of the seatbelt in the first region and in the second region, and actuate the output device to deliver a second output upon detecting an absence of the seatbelt in the first region and a presence of the seatbelt in the second region.

Methods for marking a seat belt webbing with an infrared compound are described herein. The methods comprise ablating a surface of the seat belt webbing by directing one or more laser pulses toward the seat belt webbing; and coating the ablated surface of the seat belt webbing with the infrared compound, wherein the infrared compound increases absorptivity or reflectivity of the seat belt webbing to infrared radiation. Methods for optically monitoring operation of the seat belt webbing in a vehicle and distinguishing between proper positioning and improper positioning of the seat belt webbing are also disclosed.

According to one embodiments, a wearing detection apparatus includes a restraint device, an imaging device, a control unit, and an output device. The restraint device is to restrain a passenger seated in a seat, and includes a strap an exposed area of which changes when the strap is being worn and not worn. The imaging device captures an image of the restraint device including the strap. The control unit detects from the image captured by the imaging device, a recognition image corresponding to a recognition member provided in an area that is exposed when the strap is worn. The output device outputs a result of detection of the recognition image.

A seat belt routing sensing system for a seat belt of a vehicle is provided. The seat belt includes a latch plate. The seat belt routing sensing system includes a seat belt buckle mounting assembly and a sensor. The seat belt buckle mounting assembly includes a first bracket or a first strap. The first bracket or the first strap is configured to connect to a seat belt buckle. The sensor is attached directly or indirectly to the first bracket, the first strap, or the seat belt buckle and is configured to detect changes in a parameter. The changes are indicative of (i) at least one of a bending moment, a force, an angular position, or an angular movement of the first bracket or first strap, and (ii) routing of the seat belt.

A seatbelt assembly includes webbing elongated along a length, a clip slidable along the length of the webbing, an indicator extending along the length of the webbing, and a sensor coupled to the clip and sensitive to the indicator. The seatbelt assembly measures a length of a lap band stretched across an occupant. Safety features may be tailored to the body type of the occupant.

A system and method of detecting seatbelt position in a vehicle having a seat, a seatbelt assembly, and an image sensor is disclosed. The method includes determining a latch status of the seatbelt assembly, taking an image of the seat with the image sensor, determining a position of the seat from the image, and displaying the position of the seat on a display and a seatbelt unlatched warning. The seat belt latch alert system for a vehicle includes a first row of seats, a second row of seats movable between a plurality of positions, a seatbelt assembly connected to each seat having a latch configured to be latched and unlatched, an image sensor taking images of the seat if the latch is unlatched, a processor for determining a position of the seat from the image, and a display for displaying the positions of the seat and a seatbelt unlatched warning.

A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.

A seat belt wearing determination apparatus including an image sensor unit which captures a front image of a vehicle occupant, a portion detection unit which detects a chest portion and a pelvis portion of the occupant using the image, an image segmentation unit which obtains a first target region related to a seat belt by segmenting a partial image of the chest portion of the occupant into a plurality of regions and obtains a second target region related to the seat belt by segmenting a partial image of the pelvis portion into a plurality of regions, and a control unit which determines that the seat belt is worn normally when a first area value of the first target region is greater than a preset first reference value and a second area value of the second target region is greater than a preset second reference value.

A system includes an infrared source is configured to transmit infrared waves. The system also includes a material that reflects infrared waves. An infrared receiver is configured to receive infrared waves reflected from the material.

A method for manufacturing a vehicle, in which, on a production line of a vehicle-manufacturing plant, attachments are mounted on a vehicle body, to each of which an attachment transponder is fastened, which, after the particular attachment is installed in the vehicle, is detected with the aid of an RFID reading device for the purpose of a construction state documentation, a belt retractor of a safety belt assembly being installed as an attachment in a cavity of a vehicle body column formed as a hollow girder on the production line. A belt retractor transponder is assigned to the belt retractor. The belt retractor transponder is not fastened directly to the belt retractor but rather to a belt strap of the belt retractor outside the body column cavity.