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US 9,434,348 B2Granted
Seatbelt latch circuit
AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
InventorEdgar H. Schlaps
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seatbelt latch circuit can include an illumination source configured to illuminate a seatbelt latch in response to a signal. The seatbelt latch circuit can also include a status sensor configured to output a first current if the seatbelt latch is in a removed state, output a second current if the seatbelt latch is in an inserted state and output a third current if the seatbelt latch has a fault. The seatbelt latch circuit communicates with a vehicle electrical system through only two conductors.
Claims18
A seatbelt latch circuit comprising:
- an illumination source configured to illuminate a seatbelt latch in response to a signal;
- and
- a status sensor configured to:
- output a first current if the seatbelt latch is in a removed state;
- output a second current if the seatbelt latch is in an inserted state;
- and
- output a third current if the seatbelt latch has a fault, wherein the first, second and third currents are each different currents;
- wherein the seatbelt latch circuit communicates with a vehicle electrical system through only two conductors.
5 more elements
A vehicle electrical system comprising:
- an illumination source configured to illuminate an associated seatbelt latch in response to a signal;
- a signal measurement system configured to provide a measured signal that varies based on a status of the associated seatbelt latch;
- a comparator configured to provide a status signal that indicates whether the seatbelt latch is in a removed or an inserted state or if a circuit housed in the seatbelt latch and including the illumination source has a fault, wherein the vehicle electrical system and the circuit housed in the seatbelt latch communicate over exactly two conductors;
- a pulse width modulator (PWM) configured to provide a pulse width modulated signal that varies as a function of an intensity control;
- and
- a driver configured to provide an amplified version of the pulse width modulated signal to the illumination source of the seatbelt latch circuit via a first of the exactly two conductors.
3 more elements
A vehicle electrical system comprising:
- an illumination source configured to illuminate an associated seatbelt latch in response to a signal;
- a signal measurement system configured to provide a measured signal that varies based on a status of the associated seatbelt latch;
- and
- a comparator configured to provide a status signal that indicates whether the seatbelt latch is in a removed or an inserted state or if a circuit housed in the seatbelt latch and including the illumination source has a fault, wherein the vehicle electrical system and the circuit housed in the seatbelt latch communicate over exactly two conductors;
- a pulse width modulator (PWM) configured to provide a pulse width modulated signal that varies as a function of an intensity and color control;
- an H-bridge configured to provide a first driving signal to the illumination source of the seatbelt latch circuit via a first of the exactly two conductors and a second driving signal to the illumination source of the seatbelt latch circuit via a second of the exactly two conductors.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a seatbelt latch circuit comprising:
- an illumination source configured to illuminate a seatbelt latch in response to a signal;
- and
- a status sensor configured to:
- output a first current if the seatbelt latch is in a removed state;
- output a second current if the seatbelt latch is in an inserted state;
- and
- output a third current if the seatbelt latch circuit has a fault, wherein the first, second and third currents are each different currents;
- and
- a vehicle electrical system comprising:
- a signal measurement system configured to provide a measured signal that varies based on a current output by the status sensor;
- and
- a comparator configured to provide a status signal that indicates whether the seatbelt latch is in the removed or inserted state or if the seatbelt latch circuit has a fault;
- wherein the seatbelt latch circuit communicates with a vehicle electrical system with no more than two conductors.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.