Patent Application
20120105218
The present disclosure generally relates to an alert lighting system and method, and more particularly, to an alert lighting system retrofittable to a vehicle, which automatically activates one or more indicator lights associated with the vehicle under circumstances of a seatbelt not being properly fastened.
Seatbelts are widely applied to a variety of motor vehicles to secure occupants of the vehicles against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop. In more than 40 states of the United Sates, the state legislature requires that the driver's seatbelt must be worn when the vehicle is in operation. When law enforcement personnel find that an occupant (a driver or a passenger) is not wearing his/her seatbelt while the vehicle is in operation, the law enforcement personnel normally pull over the vehicle and give the driver a warning or a ticket.
However, it is difficult for the law enforcement personnel to visually discern whether the occupant is properly wearing his/her seatbelt when the vehicle is moving at a high speed. Thus, in many cases, the vehicle in which an occupant does not wear his/her seatbelt is not stopped by the law enforcement personnel, which imposes significant danger to the occupant and/or other motorists. Furthermore, without a positive determination that the occupant is not wearing his/her seatbelt, the law enforcement personnel lack basis to stop the vehicle.
Therefore, the applicant has recognized that it is desirable to develop an alert lighting system and method used in motor vehicles, which provide readily visible indications that the driver or an occupant is not wearing a seatbelt to law enforcement personnel, motorists and pedestrians, such that actions can be taken to stop the vehicles and avoid potential injuries and even fatalities of the vehicle occupants.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a seatbelt alert lighting system used with a vehicle having a seatbelt is provided. The system includes a seatbelt engagement switch configured to generate a first signal responsive to the disengagement of the seatbelt and a second signal responsive to the engagement of the seatbelt. The system further includes at least one source of illumination in communication with the seatbelt engagement switch. The source of illumination has an activated mode and a deactivated mode. In the activated mode, the source of illumination generates an indicator readily visible to an observer outside of the vehicle. The at least one source of illumination is configured to switch from the deactivated mode to the activated mode responsive to the first signal.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of indicating disengagement of a seatbelt in a vehicle is provided. The method includes generating a first signal responsive to the disengagement of the seatbelt; switching at least one source of illumination from a deactivated mode to an activated mode for generating an indicator readily visible to an observer outside of the vehicle responsive to the first signal; and displaying the indicator to the observer outside of the vehicle.
The foregoing objects and advantages of the present disclosure may be more readily understood by one skilled in the art with reference to the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like elements are designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views, and in which:
The system 100 includes a seatbelt engagement switch 120, which is configured to generate a first signal responsive to the disengagement of the seatbelt and a second signal responsive to the engagement of the seatbelt. The seatbelt engagement switch 120 can be any suitable switch used in a motor vehicle for indicating engagement or disengagement of the seatbelt. For example, when the metal tab of the seatbelt is properly positioned within a corresponding receptacle mounted on a seat of the vehicle, the seatbelt switch 120 generates a first signal indicative of the proper positioning of the metal tab, i.e., engagement of the seatbelt. When the metal tab of the seatbelt is not properly positioned within the receptacle after the motor vehicle is operated, the seatbelt switch 120 generates a second signal indicative of improper positioning of the metal tab, i.e., disengagement of the seatbelt.
Both the first and second signal include, but are not limited to, analogue signals, such as a high voltage level or a low voltage level, and digital signals. Both the first signal and the second signal can be transmitted through a wireless or wired connection. In addition, the seatbelt engagement switch 120 can be a mechanical switch having a first operative position actuated by disengaging the metal tab from the receptacle, at which the first signal is generated, and a second operative position actuated by inserting the metal tab within the receptacle, at which the second signal is generated, as shown in
The motor vehicle typically includes a plurality of seatbelts, such as a seatbelt for the driver, a seatbelt for the front row passenger and a seatbelt for each of the passengers in the rear row(s). Accordingly, the system 100 can include a plurality of seatbelt engagement switches, each corresponding to a predetermined seatbelt. Although the system 100 according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with respect to the driver's seatbelt and its associated seatbelt engagement switch, a person of ordinary skill in the art understands that the system 100 is equally applicable to other seatbelts, without limiting the type, location and number of the seatbelts.
The system 100 further includes at least one source of illumination 140 in communication with the seatbelt engagement switch 120. The source of illumination 140 has an activated mode and a deactivated mode, which can be switched between one another. In the activated mode, the source of illumination 140 generates an indicator readily visible to observers outside of the vehicle, such as other motorists, pedestrians and law enforcement personnel. The source of illumination 140 is configured to switch from the deactivated mode to the activated mode responsive to the first signal generated by the seatbelt engagement switch 120. Thus, if the seatbelt is not properly engaged in its corresponding receptacle (i.e., disengagement of the seatbelt), an indicator will be generated and displayed to alert the observers outside of the vehicle, that one or more occupants of the vehicle in operation are not in compliance with local and state seatbelt safety law or regulations and accordingly represent a danger to both themselves and others in the event of a potential collision or other accident. Further, the source of illumination 140 is configured to switch from the activated mode to the deactivated mode position, responsive to the second signal generated by the seatbelt engagement switch 120. Thus, once the seatbelt is properly deployed (i.e., engagement of the seatbelt), the indicator is no longer displayed.
The source of illumination includes, but is not limited to, one or more of a lamp, an LED, a strobe, an incandescent light and a halogen light. The source of illumination can be any suitable source wired into the existing interior seatbelt utilization arrangement of the vehicle. For example, the source of illumination can be wired, in a retrofittable manner, with a seatbelt warning light 160 disposed on the dashboard of the vehicle, which is not readily visible to outside observers and is not capable of providing positive indication to the observers for determining whether all the occupants have properly worn their seatbelts. For example, the sources of illumination 140 can be powered by a 12-volt lighting circuit, which is typically installed in the vehicle as a part of the lighting and electrical system of the vehicle.
The seatbelt warning light 160 disposed on the dashboard can be incorporated into the seatbelt alert lighting system according to the present invention to serve as a readily visible indicator to observers inside of the vehicle, such as the occupants of the vehicle.
Furthermore, as may be desired by a particular vehicle manufacturer in conformance with the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle, the shape and profile of the source of illumination can be round, square, rectangular, oval, diamond shaped, triangular or of any suitable geometric shape. The indicator generated by the source of illumination can be consistent with the shape and profile of the source. Alternatively or additionally, the indicator can be of a bar, a strip or flickering dots; the indicator can further include a lighted sign including a text, symbol or diagram representative of an indication that the seatbelts have not been properly deployed by the driver and/or passengers.
Furthermore, the color of the illumination or the indicator includes, but is not limited to, a clear white light, amber, red, blue, green or any color combinations which are approved by various federal and state regulations and are consistent with current automotive industry standards.
The source of illumination 140 can be located either interiorly or exteriorly of the vehicle body or chassis structure, such that the indicator generated by the source when activated is highly visible and unobstructed when viewed from the exterior of the vehicle. This is particularly advantageous when the vehicle is moving at a high speed. The position of the source of illumination 140 will now be described with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, both a front alert light and a rear alert light, of a high-intensity yellow light, are employed as discussed hereinabove. The front alert light and the rear alert light can be electrically connected to the seatbelt engagement switch 120, which activates the interior seatbelt warning light 160 mounted on the dashboard for providing indications to the driver and/or the passenger(s). Thus, in addition to the front and rear alert lights provided on the vehicle for generating readily visible indicators to outside observers, the additional warning light arranged on the dashboard remains illuminated in the absence of proper seatbelt fastening, such that interior indication and warning as to the failure of the seatbelts can be provided. However, the interior warning light is not considered as providing indicators readily or highly visible to the outside observers. Accordingly, certain locations, such as the dashboard, the ceiling of the vehicle, the inside of the doors of the vehicle, are not suitable for applying the sources of illumination according to the present invention.
The step 320 can include sub-steps of receiving the first signal through a signal receiver and switching the sources of illumination from the deactivated mode to the activated mode through an operation mode switch responsive to the receiving the first signal. The step 350 can include sub-steps of receiving the second signal through a signal receiver and switching sources of illumination from the activated mode to the deactivated mode through an operation mode switch responsive to the receiving the second signal. The method can further include the step of mounting the sources of illumination on an exterior of the vehicle or an interior of the vehicle. The method can further include the step of mounting the sources of illumination at a front end, rear end or a side of the vehicle.
The embodiments described above are illustrative examples and it should not be construed that the present disclosure is limited to these particular embodiments. Certain alterations and/or modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of the instant disclosure, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. These embodiments are offered as merely illustrative, and not limiting, on the scope of the invention, which is defined solely with reference to the following appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61408003 | Oct 2010 | US |
