Enhanced seat belt / accelerator behavioral system

Abstract

The computer 26 sends actuating signals to the resistive device 34 to resist the occupant input to the accelerator 22 , but only when the vehicle speed exceeds a threshold while the seat belt 24 is not fastened about the occupant 28 . This invention is characterized by applying the resistance and adjusting the threshold in proportion to the number of times the seat belt 24 is not fastened while the vehicle speed exceeds the threshold compared with the number of times the vehicle 20 exceeds the threshold speed. Also, the threshold may be adjusted so resistance may be applied at speeds that would normally be acceptable to have the seat belt 24 unfastened when the vehicle 20 is operated at these speeds too often.

1 . A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle with a resistive device and a control module and sensors to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;
 applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator pedal to establish vehicle speed,   applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator to establish time of vehicle mobilization,   sensing with a first sensor the vehicle speed and the time of vehicle mobilization,   establishing vehicle distance traveled based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,   establishing vehicle acceleration based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,   storing the vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization and vehicle distance traveled and vehicle acceleration as vehicle operation modes in the control module,   sensing with a second sensor the seat belt being fastened,   storing the seat belt being fastened in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed,   storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed as a speed incident in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time,   storing each instance of applied resistance based on the time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time as a time incident in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance,   storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance as a distance incident in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration,   storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration as an acceleration incident in the control module, and   characterized by adjusting the applied resistance during a first incident in proportion to a second vehicle operation mode during the first incident.   
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first incident is a time incident and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed. 
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first incident is a distance incident and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed. 
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first incident is a speed incident and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration. 
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further characterized by adjusting a first threshold of a first vehicle operation mode in proportion to the number of first incidents. 
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the first threshold is threshold speed and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the first incidents are speed incidents. 
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the first threshold is threshold time and the first vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the first incidents are time incidents. 
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the first threshold is threshold distance and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the first incidents are distance incidents. 
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the first threshold is threshold acceleration and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the first incidents are acceleration incidents. 
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle with a resistive device and a control module and sensors to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;
 applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator pedal to establish vehicle speed,   applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator to establish time of vehicle mobilization,   sensing with a first sensor the vehicle speed and the time of vehicle mobilization,   establishing vehicle distance traveled based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,   establishing vehicle acceleration based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,   storing vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization and vehicle distance traveled and vehicle acceleration as vehicle operation modes in the control module,   sensing with a second sensor a seat belt being fastened,   storing the seat belt being fastened in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration, and   characterized by applying the resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to a first vehicle operation mode exceeding a first threshold overriding the response to a second vehicle operation mode exceeding a second threshold.   
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the first threshold is threshold speed and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second threshold is threshold distance. 
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the first threshold is threshold speed and the second vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second threshold is the threshold time. 
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the first threshold is threshold speed and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the second threshold is threshold acceleration. 
     
     
         14 . A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle with a resistive device and a control module and sensors to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;
 applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator pedal to establish vehicle speed,   applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator to establish time of vehicle mobilization,   sensing with a first sensor the vehicle speed and the time of vehicle mobilization,   establishing vehicle distance traveled based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,   establishing vehicle acceleration based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,   storing vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization and vehicle distance traveled and vehicle acceleration as vehicle operation modes in the control module,   sensing with a second sensor a seat belt being fastened,   storing the seat belt being fastened in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration, and   characterized by adjusting a first threshold of a first vehicle operation mode in proportion to the proximity of a second vehicle operation mode to a second threshold.   
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the first threshold is threshold time and the first vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second threshold is threshold distance. 
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the first threshold is threshold time and the first vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second threshold is threshold speed. 
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the first threshold is threshold time and the first vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the second threshold is threshold acceleration. 
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the first threshold is threshold speed and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second threshold is threshold time. 
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the first threshold is threshold speed and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second threshold is threshold distance. 
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the first threshold is threshold speed and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the second threshold is threshold acceleration. 
     
     
         21 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the first threshold is threshold distance and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second threshold is threshold speed. 
     
     
         22 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the first threshold is threshold distance and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second threshold is threshold time. 
     
     
         23 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the first threshold is threshold distance and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the second threshold is threshold acceleration. 
     
     
         24 . A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle with a resistive device and a control module and sensors to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;
 applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator pedal to establish vehicle speed,   applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator to establish time of vehicle mobilization,   sensing with a first sensor the vehicle speed and the time of vehicle mobilization,   establishing vehicle distance traveled based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,   establishing vehicle acceleration based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,   storing vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization and vehicle distance traveled and vehicle acceleration as vehicle operation modes in the control module,   sensing with a second sensor the seat belt being fastened,   storing the seat belt being fastened in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed,   storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed as a speed incident in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time,   storing each instance of applied resistance based on the time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time as a time incident in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance,   storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance as a distance incident in the control module,   applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration,   storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration as an acceleration incident in the control module, and   characterized by increasing said applied resistance in response to a second incident occurring after a first incident and further increasing said applied resistance in response to a third incident occurring after said second incident in the continued absence of the seat belt being fastened.   
     
     
         25 . A method as set forth in  claim 24  wherein the first incident is a time incident and the second incident is a time incident and the third incident is a time incident. 
     
     
         26 . A method as set forth in  claim 24  wherein the first incident is a speed incident and the second incident is a time incident and the third incident is a time incident.