Postprocessing of seat belts for adding dye

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022203925-A1
Application number	US-202117565006-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 29, 2021
Priority date	Dec 31, 2020
Publication date	Jun 30, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for marking a seat belt webbing with an infrared compound, comprising:
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.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the seat belt webbing is a woven textile.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the seat belt webbing is derived from polyamide, polyolefin, polyester, polyether, polycarbonate, polyurethane, or a combination thereof.

4 . (canceled)

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the seat belt webbing comprises a pre-coat rendering the seat belt webbing waterproof and/or anti-abrasive.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the pre-coat is a polymer elastomer, such as silicone, a polyester or polyether-based polyurethane, a polycarbonate-based polyurethane, a copolymer blend of ethylene vinyl acetate and an isocyanate, or a combination thereof.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising directing the one or more laser pulses to ablate the seat belt webbing in a predetermined pattern.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the infrared compound is an infrared absorptive compound.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the infrared compound is an infrared reflective compound.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the infrared compound absorbs and reflects infrared light.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein coating the ablated surface of the seat belt webbing is performed by using a rolling mill, roller, brush, mask, dip coating, spin coating, and/or spray coating.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the infrared compound is applied in a predetermined pattern to the seat belt webbing.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the infrared compound is provided in a carrier selected from vinyl printing ink, acrylic lacquer, polyurethane, or polyurethane lacquer.

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . A method for optically monitoring operation of a seat belt webbing, the method comprising:
illuminating the seat belt webbing with electromagnetic radiation using at least one illumination device, wherein the seat belt webbing is marked with an infrared compound and has at least one pattern that absorbs or reflects the electromagnetic radiation; obtaining images of the illuminated seat belt webbing using at least one image obtaining device; and analyzing the images to determine proper positioning of the seat belt webbing relative to an occupant or derive a measure of the occupant's vital signs.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the pattern comprises a size, shape, absorptivity, or reflectivity configured to distinguish the pattern in the images.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein presence in the image of a pre-determined pattern indicates the seat belt webbing relative to the occupant within the vehicle is properly positioned, and wherein absence in the image of the pre-determined pattern indicates the seat belt webbing relative to the occupant within the vehicle is improperly positioned.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein analyzing the images comprises comparing at least two images and tracking movement of the seat belt webbing.

22 . The method of claim 21 , comprising analyzing the seat belt webbing to determine a respiration rate of the occupant over time and determine whether the occupant has an irregular respiration rate.

23 . (canceled)

24 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising triggering an alarm within the vehicle based on the positioning of the seat belt webbing relative to the occupant or the occupant's vital signs.

25 . A method by which a camera image system in a vehicle distinguishes between proper positioning and improper positioning of a seat belt webbing, the method comprising:
marking the seat belt webbing with an infrared compound, wherein the mark comprises at least one pattern that absorbs or reflects electromagnetic radiation; producing an image in response to infrared radiation reflected by the seat belt webbing relative to an occupant within the vehicle; and distinguishing between the proper positioning and improper positioning of the seat belt webbing in the image based on the at least one pattern.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein presence of a pre-determined pattern in the image indicates the seat belt webbing is properly positioned relative to an occupant within the vehicle, and absence of the pre-determined pattern in the image indicates improper positioning of the seat belt webbing.

Assignees

• Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition Llc

Inventors

• Ramaglia Joshua
• Lisseman Jason
• Wilson David

Classifications

• G06V20/59

  inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions · CPC title

• G06V10/60

  relating to illumination properties, e.g. using a reflectance or lighting model · CPC title

• B41M5/24

  Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording {(marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00)} · CPC title

• B60R22/12 Primary

  Construction of belts or harnesses (B60R21/18 takes precedence {; woven fabrics for safety belts D03D1/0005}) · CPC title

• B60R2022/485

  for sensing belt anchor position, belt orientation, or the like · CPC title