WO2019144750A1

WO2019144750A1 - Safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle and safety belt light-emitting system for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2019144750A1
Application number: PCT/CN2018/123599
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhenfei WANG; Rausch Martina; Yue Zhang; Sen Lin; Hai Wang
Original assignee: Trw Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2018-01-24
Filing date: 2018-12-25
Publication date: 2019-08-01
Also published as: CN110065433A

Abstract

A safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle and a safety belt light-emitting system are provided. The safety belt assembly comprises a woven belt (1), and a light-emitting element (2) provided on the woven belt, the light-emitting element being comprised of a planar electroluminescent element (3), wherein a flexible electrical conductor (4) connected to the electroluminescent element is integrated in the woven belt, the electroluminescent element comprises a carrier layer (3a), a first electrically conductive layer (3c), an electroluminescent layer (3d), a second conductive layer (3e) and a protective layer (3g) that are sequentially stacked, wherein the first and second conductive layers are connected to the flexible electrical conductor, and the electroluminescent layer (3d) is capable of emitting light by energization of the first and second conductive layers. The light-emitting element may also be comprised of an optical fiber (5) which acts with an LED light source provided in an end region of the woven belt. A friendly reminding of an occupant of the motor vehicle concerning wearing a safety belt can be realized by means of the safety belt assembly.

Description

SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND SAFETY BELT LIGHT-EMITTING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle, and more particularly relates to a light-emitting safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a safety belt light-emitting system for a motor vehicle, which comprises the safety seat belt assembly according to the present invention.

BACKGROUND ART

The safety belt is a simple and effective safety protection means that is compulsorily equipped in a motor vehicle, and in particular it can restrain an occupant in the event of a collision accident of a motor vehicle, and avoid a secondary collision of an occupant with a steering wheel, an instrument or the like, or even his or her dashing out of a vehicle. According to the traffic safety regulations, in many cases, the safety belt should be worn by an occupant.

With a higher and higher popularization rate of motor vehicles, more and more attention is also paid to the consequent safety problems of a motor vehicle. In some cases, an occupant may forget to fasten a safety belt while driving due to negligence or lack of awareness of wearing a safety belt, especially for an occupant sitting in a front passenger seat.

For this purpose, some motor vehicles are provided with an acoustic reminder which continuously sends out an alarm when an occupant is not wearing a safety belt. In some vehicles, an instrument panel assembly is provided with an optical reminder, which displays a corresponding icon when an occupant is not wearing a safety belt. Such acoustic reminder is sometimes annoying. Such optical reminder has sometimes an insignificant reminding effect.

In addition, when a motor vehicle is in a dark environment, wearing a safety belt is sometimes not easy to operate without turning on a light within a motor vehicle.

A safety belt illumination system is known from CN106394480A, in which a photoluminescent structure is used such that the light emitted by a light source illuminates an area of a vehicle seat by means of the photoluminescent structure. Such safety belt illumination system is complex in structure, easy to be damaged in operation, and in an operational reliability still apparently with a room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle, whereby a friendly reminding of an occupant of the motor vehicle concerning wearing a safety belt can be realized. Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety belt light-emitting system for a motor vehicle.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising a woven belt and a light-emitting element arranged on the woven belt, the light-emitting element being comprised of a planar electroluminescent element, wherein flexible electrical conductors connected to the electroluminescent element are integrated in the woven belt, wherein the electroluminescent element comprises a carrier layer, a first electrically conductive layer, an electroluminescent layer, a second conductive layer and a protective layer that are sequentially stacked, wherein the first and second conductive layers are connected to the flexible electrical conductors, and the electroluminescent layer is capable of emitting light by energization of the first and second conductive layers.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising a woven belt and a light-emitting element arranged on the woven belt, the light-emitting element being comprised of an optical fiber which is integrated on the woven belt, wherein an LED light source is provided on an end region of the woven belt, the LED light source acting with the end of the optical fiber for inputting light into the optical fiber through the end of the optical fiber, the optical fiber is exposed on a surface of the woven belt in a predetermined light-emitting area on the woven belt, while the optical fiber is concealed in the woven belt in a non-light-emitting area.

The advantageous effects of the first aspect and the second aspect of the present invention lie in that, when an occupant of a motor vehicle opens a vehicle door to get on the vehicle, a highlighted and friendly reminding signal for wearing the safety belt may be sent to the occupant by means of the light-emitting element on the woven belt, to prevent the occupant from forgetting to wear the safety belt and enhance the awareness of wearing the safety belt by the occupant.

According to a preferred solution of the first aspect of the present invention, the electroluminescent element further comprises a dielectric layer provided between the carrier layer and the first conductive layer and/or a dielectric layer provided between the second conductive layer and the protective layer.

According to a preferred solution of the first aspect of the present invention, the electroluminescent layer is configured to be a pattern, wherein each of the layers above the electroluminescent layer has a light-transmitting property in a patterned area of the electroluminescent layer; or the electroluminescent layer is configured to be full-area, wherein each of the layers above the electroluminescent layer has a higher light-transmitting property in a patterned area than in a non-patterned area.

According to a preferred solution of the first aspect of the present invention, the flexible electrical conductors are integrated into the woven belt by means of textile technology and concealed in the material of the woven belt. For example, the woven belt together with the flexible electrical conductors may be produced by a jacquard machine.

According to a preferred solution of the first aspect of the present invention, a controller is provided in an end region of the woven belt, the controller being configured for controlling energization of the flexible electrical conductors. Here, according to one further preferred solution, the energization control may be on and off of the power supply, may also be control of a power supply frequency and/or control of a power supply voltage, may also be control of a power-on duration and a power-off duration, or a mixed form of the aforementioned controller manners.

According to a preferred solution of the second aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber is integrated into the woven belt by means of textile technology, such that an optical fiber portion of the optical fiber connected to the LED light source is concealed in the woven belt, and an optical fiber portion of the optical fiber remote from the LED light source forms a pattern. For example, the woven belt together with the optical fiber may be produced by a jacquard machine.

According to a preferred solution of the second aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber has a diameter of less than 1 mm, in particular having a diameter within a range of 0.2 -0.6 mm, for example it may have a diameter of 0.25mm or 0.5mm.

According to a preferred solution of the second aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber is made from a PMMA material. PMMA is a raw material particularly advantageous for manufacturing an optical fiber.

According to a preferred solution of the second aspect of the present invention, a controller is provided in an end region of the woven belt, the controller being configured for controlling energization of the LED light source, wherein preferably the controller is integrated together with the LED light source. Here, according to one further preferred solution, the energization control may be on and off of the power supply, may also be control of a power supply frequency and/or control of a power supply voltage, may also be control of a power-on duration and a power-off duration, or a mixed form of the aforementioned controller manners.

The safety belt assembly according to the present invention may be operated as follows: the controller continuously or intermittently activates the light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly when the occupant opens the door corresponding to the safety belt assembly from the outside, such that the light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly sends out a light signal to the occupant; and after the occupant wears the safety belt assembly, the controller controls energization of the light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly, such that the light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly no longer emit a light signal or emit different light signals.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety belt light-emitting system for a motor vehicle, wherein the safety belt light-emitting system comprises the safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle according to the present invention, as well as a controller, which is configured for controlling energization of a light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly.

The advantages and advantageous effects mentioned above with respect to the first and second aspects also apply to the third aspect.

As already mentioned above, according to one preferred solution of the third aspect of the present invention, the energization control may be on and off of the power supply, may also be control of a power supply frequency and/or control of a power supply voltage, may also be control of a power-on duration and a power-off duration, or a mixed form of the aforementioned controller manners.

According to one preferred solution of the third aspect of the present invention, the controller is disposed in an end region of the woven belt of the safety belt assembly, or disposed in a seat. As an alternative, it is also possible that the controller is disposed in any area of the motor vehicle, and connected with the safety belt assembly in a control sense in a wired connection manner or a wireless connection manner. The controller may also be integrated into other controllers, for example integrated into a controller of the whole motor vehicle.

According to one preferred solution of the third aspect of the present invention, the safety belt light-emitting system further comprises a front camera provided in the motor vehicle, the front camera acting with the light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly, for detecting a safety belt wearing condition of an occupant of the motor vehicle. When the occupant of the motor vehicle normally wears the safety belt, the light-emitting element is located in a predetermined area of the body of the occupant of the motor vehicle, the front camera is capable of detecting a light signal of the light-emitting element and the controller is capable of receiving a light signal detected by the front camera. Suppose the occupant of the motor vehicle only inserts a safety belt lock tongue into a safety belt buckle, but does not actually wear the safety belt, the front camera cannot normally detect a light signal of the light-emitting element, and the controller may make a response to this. For example, the controller may control an alarm device, in order to send a prompt and suggestion to the occupant of the motor vehicle.

According to one preferred solution of the third aspect of the present invention, the controller is configured for, turning on a power supply for the safety belt assembly so that the light-emitting element emits light when the occupant of the motor vehicle opens a vehicle door from the outside; and changing an optical display of the light-emitting element according to the safety belt wearing condition of the occupant of the motor vehicle. In particular in the case that the front camera detects that the occupant of the motor vehicle is wearing the safety belt normally, the controller may control the power-off of the light-emitting element. As an alternative, a signal sequence by alternating the power-on and power-off of the light-emitting element may also be controlled, so that the light-emitting element sends out a scintillating optical display.

It is necessary to set forth here that the various technical features recited in the present application may be combined randomly unless such combination is mutually contradictory. All of these technically feasible combinations are the technical contents of the present application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings by means of the embodiments, but the present invention is not restricted to the embodiments as described and as shown. The drawings are as follows:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a safety belt assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a layered structure of a light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly according to Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a safety belt assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of an non-worn state of the safety belt assembly in a motor vehicle according to the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a worn state of the safety belt assembly in a motor vehicle according to the present invention.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a safety belt assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a layered structure of a light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly according to Figure 1. The safety belt assembly shown in Figure 1 comprises a woven belt 1 and a light-emitting element 2 provided on the woven belt. The light-emitting element 2 is comprised of a planar electroluminescent element 3 having a layered structure as shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the electroluminescent element 3 includes a carrier layer 3a, a first dielectric layer 3b, a first conductive layer 3c, an electroluminescent layer 3d, a second conductive layer 3e, a second dielectric layer 3f and a protective layer 3g that are sequentially stacked. Here, the first dielectric layer 3 b is optional. The carrier layer 3a below the first dielectric layer may have a dielectric function. The woven belt 1 for carrying the light-emitting element may also have a dielectric function itself. The second dielectric layer 3f is also optional. The protective layer 3g above the second dielectric layer may have a dielectric function.

The carrier layer 3a may be comprised of a polymer resin material. Either of the conductive layers 3c and 3e for example may be made from a metal foil. The electroluminescent layer 3d for example may be formed from a zinc sulphide-based electroluminescent material or an electroluminescent phosphor particle material. Either of the dielectric layers 3b and 3f for example may be made from barium titanate or zinc titanate. The protective layer 3g for example may be made from a polyester film. A mask may be provided on the protective layer or other layers when necessary, so as to achieve a desired optical light-emitting pattern.

The electroluminescent element 3 is connected to conductors, which are flexible electrical conductors 4 integrated in the woven belt. More specifically, the first and second conductive layers 3c, 3e of the electroluminescent element 3 are connected to the flexible electric conductors 4, and the electroluminescent layer 3d can emit light by energization of the first and second conductive layers. The electroluminescent element may be of a DC type, and may also be of an AC type. The power supply in a motor vehicle is generally a DC power supply. Accordingly, a DC/DC converter or a DC/AC converter (or to say inverter) may be provided in order to obtain a suitable direct current or alternating current for the electroluminescent element 3.

It is particularly advantageous that, the electroluminescent layer is configured to be a pattern, wherein each of the layers above the electroluminescent layer has a light-transmitting property in a patterned area of the electroluminescent layer. As an alternative, it is also possible that the electroluminescent layer is configured to be full-area, wherein each of the layers above the electroluminescent layer has a higher light-transmitting property in a patterned area than in a non-patterned area. For example, a mask may be provided for this purpose, or for example the protective layer is locally colored.

The flexible electrical conductors 4 may be integrated into the woven belt by means of textile technology. For example, the woven belt with the flexible electrical conductors may be manufactured using a jacquard machine.

In the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a controller 6 which may be provided in an end region of the woven belt 1, is capable of controlling the power supply to supply power to the flexible electrical conductors 4 and thus to the light-emitting element 2 or to say the electroluminescent element 3. As an alternative, the controller 6 may also be disposed outside the woven belt 1, for example disposed in a seat of a motor vehicle, or integrated into a controller for an entire motor vehicle, whereby the controller may be better protected, such as not to be damaged easily. The interaction of the controller with the safety belt assembly may be achieved in a wired connection manner or a wireless connection manner, for example by way of a CAN bus connection.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a safety belt assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. The safety belt assembly comprises a woven belt 1 and a light-emitting element 2 provided on the woven belt. The light-emitting element being comprised of an optical fiber 5, which has a diameter of less than 1 mm, in particular having a diameter within a range of 0.2-0.6 mm, for example having a diameter of 0.5mm. The optical fiber for example may be made from a PMMA material or PC material or any other suitable material. The optical fiber 5 is integrated into the woven belt, for example being integrated into the woven belt by means of textile technology. In particular, the woven belt together with the optical fiber may be made by using a jacquard machine. An LED light source is provided in an end region of the woven belt, the LED light source acting with the end of the optical fiber for inputting light into the optical fiber through the end of the optical fiber, the optical fiber is exposed on a surface of the woven belt in a predetermined light-emitting area on the woven belt, while the optical fiber is concealed in the woven belt in a non-light-emitting area. Figure 3 only schematically shows a plurality of optical fibers. It is self-evident that, one, two, or more optical fibers may also be used in the woven belt. It is particularly advantageous that, in a predetermined area of the woven belt, the optical fiber is woven into a pattern that is exposed on a surface of the woven belt. In a power-on state, a user may observe a light-emitting pattern. According to one feasible embodiment, in Figure 3, the optical fiber portion 5a of the optical fiber 5 is completely concealed in the woven belt and the optical fiber portion 5b of the optical fiber 5 forms a pattern exposed on a surface of the woven belt by means of textile technology.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, a controller 6 may be provided in an end region of the woven belt 1, and the LED light source is integrated together with this controller 6. The controller 6 can control the power supply to supply power to the LED light source. As an alternative, the controller 6 may also be disposed outside the woven belt 1 and thus be disposed separately from the LED light source, for example being disposed in a seat of the motor vehicle, or being integrated in other controllers, for example being integrated into a controller for an entire motor vehicle.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a non-worn state of the safety belt assembly assembled in a motor vehicle according to the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a worn state of the safety belt assembly assembled in a motor vehicle according to the present invention. Here, the safety belt assembly may be a safety belt assembly according to the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3, wherein the controller controls the activation and deactivation of the light-emitting element 2 of the safety belt assembly. It is particularly advantageous that the controller is configured such that: as shown in Figure 4, when the occupant opens the vehicle door corresponding to the safety belt assembly from outside, at this time, the occupant has not yet been seated on the seat 10, the safety belt locking tongue 7 has not yet been inserted into the safety belt buckle 8, the safety belt retractor 9 winds up the woven belt, and the controller 6 continuously or intermittently activates the light-emitting element 2 of the safety belt assembly, so that the light-emitting element 2 of the safety belt assembly sends out an optical signal to the occupant. Moreover, after the occupant wears the safety belt assembly, at this time the occupant has been seated on the seat 10, the woven belt has been pulled out of the safety belt retractor 9, the lock tongue 7 has been inserted into the buckle 8, and the controller 6 deactivates the light-emitting element 2 of the safety belt assembly, so that the light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly no longer emits a light signal. As a result, a friendly reminding for wearing a safety belt may be sent to the occupant when the occupant is about to board the vehicle, and the awareness of wearing a safety belt by a driver of the motor vehicle may be enhanced.

It is particularly advantageous here that, a front camera which is provided in front of the seat acts with the light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly, for detecting a safety belt wearing condition of an occupant of the motor vehicle. When the occupant normally wears the safety belt, the light-emitting element is located in a predetermined area of the body of the occupant, the front camera is capable of detecting a light signal of the light-emitting element. When the occupant of the motor vehicle only inserts a safety belt lock tongue into a safety belt buckle, but does not actually wear the safety belt, the front camera cannot normally detect a light signal of the light-emitting element. Then the controller may make a response to a signal of the front camera.

Finally, it is necessary to set forth that, the aforementioned various embodiments are only used for understanding and explaining the present invention, rather than constituting a limit over the protection scope of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, modifications may be made on the basis of the aforementioned embodiments, and all of these amendments do not depart from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising a woven belt (1) , characterized in that, the safety belt assembly comprises a light-emitting element (2) provided on the woven belt, the light-emitting element being comprised of a planar electroluminescent element (3) , wherein a flexible electrical conductor (4) connected to the electroluminescent element is integrated in the woven belt, wherein the electroluminescent element comprises a carrier layer, a first electrically conductive layer, an electroluminescent layer, a second conductive layer and a protective layer that are sequentially stacked, wherein the first and second conductive layers are connected to the flexible electrical conductor, and the electroluminescent layer is capable of emitting light by energization of the first and second conductive layers, preferably the electroluminescent element (3) further comprises a dielectric layer provided between the carrier layer and the first conductive layer and/or a dielectric layer provided between the second conductive layer and the protective layer.
The safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that,

the electroluminescent layer is configured to be a pattern, wherein each of the layers above the electroluminescent layer has a light-transmitting property in a patterned area of the electroluminescent layer; or

the electroluminescent layer is configured to be full-area, wherein each of the layers above the electroluminescent layer has a higher light-transmitting property in a patterned area than in a non-patterned area.
The safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the flexible electrical conductor (4) is integrated into the woven belt by means of textile technology and concealed in the material of the woven belt.
The safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, a controller (6) is provided in an end region of the woven belt, the controller being configured for controlling energization of the flexible electrical conductor.
A safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising a woven belt (1) , characterized in that, the safety belt assembly comprises a light-emitting element (2) provided on the woven belt, the light-emitting element being comprised of an optical fiber (5) which is integrated on the woven belt, wherein an LED light source is provided in an end region of the woven belt, the LED light source acting with the end of the optical fiber for inputting light into the optical fiber through the end of the optical fiber, the optical fiber is exposed on a surface of the woven belt in a predetermined light-emitting area on the woven belt, while the optical fiber is concealed in the woven belt in a non-light-emitting area, wherein preferably the optical fiber (5) has a diameter of less than 1 mm, in particular having a diameter within a range of 0.2 -0.6 mm, and further preferably the optical fiber (5) is made from a PMMA material.
The safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that, the optical fiber (5) is integrated into the woven belt by means of textile technology, wherein an optical fiber portion (5a) of the optical fiber connected to the LED light source is concealed in the woven belt, and an optical fiber portion (5b) of the optical fiber remote from the LED light source forms a pattern.
The safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, a controller (6) is provided in an end region of the woven belt, the controller being configured for control energization of the LED light source, wherein preferably the controller is integrated together with the LED light source.
A safety belt light-emitting system for a motor vehicle, characterized in that, the safety belt light-emitting system comprises the safety belt assembly for a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, as well as a controller, which is configured for controlling energization of a light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly.
The safety belt light-emitting system for a motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that, the controller is disposed in an end region of the woven belt of the safety belt assembly, or disposed in a seat.
The safety belt light-emitting system for a motor vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, the safety belt light-emitting system further comprises a front camera provided in the motor vehicle, the front camera acting with the light-emitting element of the safety belt assembly, for detecting a safety belt wearing condition of an occupant of the motor vehicle;

preferably: the controller is configured for, turning on a power supply for the safety belt assembly so that the light-emitting element emits light when the occupant of the motor vehicle opens a vehicle door from the outside; and changing an optical display of the light-emitting element according to the safety belt wearing condition of the occupant of the motor vehicle.