# US 2019/0168710 A1 · Improper seatbelt usage detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168710 A1 - Document ID: US20190168710A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/209,227 - Filed: 2018-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: Tesla, Inc. - Applicants: Tesla, Inc. - Inventors: Forrest Wen Liau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168710A1 ## CPC - B60R 22/48: Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness - B60R 21/01532: {using electric or capacitive field sensors} - B60N 2/002: {Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon (detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266)} - B60R 2022/4808: {Sensing means arrangements therefor} - B60R 2022/4825: {for sensing amount of belt winded on retractor} - B60R 2022/4833: {for sensing locking of retractor} - B60R 2022/4841: {for sensing belt tension} - B60R 2022/485: {for sensing belt anchor position, belt orientation, or the like} - B60R 2022/4858: {for sensing pressure on seat} - B60R 2022/4866: {Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof} - B60R 2022/4875: {on vehicle exterior} - B60R 2022/4883: {Interlock systems} - B60R 2022/4891: {preventing use of the vehicle when the seatbelt is not fastened} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle, the system comprising: a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back; a shoulder belt and a lap belt, wherein the shoulder belt and lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat; a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt, the sensor module configured to generate one or more signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, the lap belt, and the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat; a controller configured to: receive the one or more signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt; and analyze the received one or more signals; and determine whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises a capacitance sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the capacitance sensor is a mutual capacitance sensor formed between the seat back and the shoulder belt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the mutual capacitance sensor is formed in part by using a conductive material within the seat back. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the mutual capacitance sensor is formed in part by using a conductive material integrated within the shoulder belt. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises a self-capacitance sensor formed using the seat back. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor module further comprises self-capacitance sensor using the shoulder belt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor module further comprises self-capacitance sensor using the lap belt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to: compare a calculated mutual capacitance with a threshold value; and determine improper usage of the seatbelt by the occupant, if the calculated mutual capacitance exceeds the threshold value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the threshold value is pre-determined based on an occupant profile. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is an inertial sensor module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more signals indicative of at least one parameter include signals indicative of a spatial orientation of the shoulder belt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive the signals indicative of the spatial orientation of the shoulder belt; determine an orientation profile of the shoulder belt based on the received signals; and determine whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the determined orientation profile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to: compare the orientation profile of the shoulder belt with a pre-stored orientation profile of the shoulder belt, wherein the pre-stored orientation profile corresponds to a proper usage of the seatbelt; and determine improper usage of the seatbelt by the occupant, based on the comparison. ### Claim 15 A system for detecting an improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle, the system comprising: a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back; a shoulder belt and a lap belt, wherein the shoulder belt and the lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat; a first capacitance sensor disposed with the seat back, wherein the first capacitance sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicative of self capacitance measured at the seat back when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat; a second capacitance sensor disposed with the shoulder belt, wherein the second sensor is configured to generate a second signal indicative of self capacitance measured at the shoulder belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat; a controller configured to: receive the first signal indicative of self capacitance measured at the seat back; receive the second signal indicative of self capacitance measured at the shoulder belt; compare the first signal and the second signal; and determine the improper usage of the seatbelt by the occupant based on the comparison. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to: calculate a difference between the first signal and the second signal; and compare the calculated difference with a threshold value; and determine improper usage of the seatbelt by the occupant, if the calculated difference exceeds the threshold value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the threshold difference value is pre-determined based on an occupant profile. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the first capacitance sensor is integrated within a fabric of the seat back. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the second capacitance sensor is integrated within a fabric of the shoulder belt. ### Claim 20 A system for detecting an improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle, the system comprising: a vehicle seat; a shoulder belt and a lap belt, wherein the shoulder belt and lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat; an inertial measurement sensor associated with the shoulder belt, wherein the inertial measurement sensor generates a signal indicative of a spatial orientation of the shoulder belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat; a controller configured to: receive the signals indicative of the spatial orientation of the shoulder belt; determine an orientation profile of the shoulder belt based on the received signals; and determine whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the determined orientation profile. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is further configured to: compare the orientation profile of the shoulder belt with a pre-stored orientation profile of the shoulder belt; and determine improper usage of the seatbelt by the occupant, based on the comparison. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the pre-stored orientation profile corresponds to a proper usage of the seatbelt.