Seat belt buckle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821762-B2
Application number	US-201614988837-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Jan 9, 2015
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A thick film polymer membrane switch can be positioned within a seat belt buckle. The switch can detect if the seat belt buckle is fastened or unfastened. In one approach, an apparatus includes a housing having a cavity, an insertion member moveable within the cavity, a connector positioned within the cavity, and a switch positioned within the cavity, wherein movement of the insertion member causes the connector to connect or disconnect from the switch. In some approaches, the switch includes a first conductive element formed adjacent a first layer of flexible film, and a second conductive element formed adjacent a second layer of flexible film, wherein the first and second layers of flexible film are separated by a gap.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a housing having a cavity;
an insertion member moveable within the cavity;
a connector positioned within the cavity; and
a switch positioned within the cavity, wherein movement of the insertion member causes the connector to connect or disconnect from the switch, wherein the switch comprises:
a first layer of flexible film and a second layer of flexible film separated by a gap; and
a conductor and a resistive element connected in series and disposed within the gap, wherein a portion of the conductor overlaps the resistive element and can be moved into and out of contact with the resistive element, and wherein the conductor extends between the resistive element and one of the first layer of flexible film and the second layer of flexible film.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the resistive element is printed on the second layer of flexible film.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second layer of flexible film is formed from a printed circuit board (PCB).

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second layers of flexible film are formed from a flexible polymer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch further comprises a middle layer of flexible film disposed between the first and second layers of flexible film, the middle layer of flexible film arranged as a spacer to create an air gap.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector is a spring.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the spring is a phosphor bronze spring coupled to an internal wall or a fastener portion of the housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector is connected to the switch when the insertion member is moved into the cavity toward to the switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector is disconnected from the switch when the insertion member is moved away from the switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second cavity defined by the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the connector extends from the second cavity into the cavity.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the connector is coupled to the housing within the second cavity.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an output of the switch is provided to a component of a vehicle.

14. An apparatus, comprising:
a housing having a first cavity and a second cavity;
an insertion member moveable within the first cavity;
a connector extending into the first cavity; and
a switch positioned within the second cavity, wherein movement of the insertion member causes the connector to connect or disconnect from the switch, wherein the switch comprises:
a first layer of flexible polymer film and a second layer of flexible polymer film separated by an air gap; and
a conductor and a resistive element connected in series and disposed within the gap, wherein a portion of the conductor overlaps the resistive element and can be moved into and out of contact with the resistive element, and wherein the conductor extends between the resistive element and one of the first layer of flexible polymer film and the second layer of flexible polymer film.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the resistive element is printed on the second layer of flexible polymer film.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the second layer of flexible polymer film is formed from a printed circuit board (PCB).

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the switch further comprises a middle layer of flexible film disposed between the first and second layers of flexible film, the middle layer of flexible film arranged as a spacer to create the air gap.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first conductive element and the second conductive element are integrally connected.

19. An apparatus, comprising:
a housing having a cavity;
an insertion member moveable within the cavity;
a connector positioned within the cavity; and
a switch positioned within the cavity, wherein movement of the insertion member causes the connector to connect or disconnect from the switch, wherein the switch comprises:
an upper layer of flexible film;
a lower layer of flexible film;
a middle spacer layer disposed between the upper and lower layers of flexible film, the middle spacer layer defining an air gap; and
a conductor and a resistive element connected in series and disposed within the gap, wherein a portion of the conductor overlaps the resistive element and can be moved into and out of contact with the resistive element, and wherein the conductor extends between the resistive element and one of the upper layer of flexible film and the lower layer of flexible film.

Assignees

• Littelfuse Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Brian
• Fuller Samuel

Classifications

• H01H1/36

  by sliding · CPC title

• B60R2022/4816

  for sensing locking of buckle · CPC title

• B60R22/26 Primary

  secured to the seat · CPC title

• B60R22/48 Primary

  Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness · CPC title

• A44B11/2534

  with the sliding motion of the buckle providing the opening or closing action · CPC title