Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] Present invention relates to a system and a method for monitoring a seat belt assembly of a vehicle. Embodiments of the present invention relate to the system and the method for monitoring secure fastening of the seat belt assembly on an occupant of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] In recent past, owing to safety regulations, it is mandated upon an occupant of a vehicle, such as a multi-axle vehicle, to fasten a seat belt assembly. The seat belt assembly secures the occupant on a seat of the vehicle, against unprecedented movement in the event of a collision or a sudden braking of the vehicle. By securing the occupant on the seat, the seat belt assembly protects the occupant against secondary impact due to the collision or the sudden braking of the vehicle. The term ‘secondary impact’ implies collision between the occupant and interior components of the vehicle, in the event of the collision or the sudden braking of the vehicle.
[003] Generally, owing to simplicity and ease of operation the seat belt assembly of a three-point type is installed in the vehicle. The seat belt assembly comprises of a lap belt, a shoulder belt also known as a sash and a buckle. The lap belt and the shoulder belt are provided on one side of the seat, while the buckle is provided on an opposite side of the seat. The lap belt is adapted to go over the occupant’s hips, while the shoulder belt is adapted to go over chest and shoulder of the occupant. The seat belt assembly is operable between a fastened condition and an unfastened condition. In the fastened condition, the shoulder belt and the lap belt are connected to the buckle. The buckle comprises a fastening mechanism that holds the lap belt and the shoulder belt. The lap belt prevents the occupant from moving forward out of the seat while the shoulder belt prevents excessive upper body movement. Additionally, the lap belt and the shoulder belt are provided on one side of the seat along with a winding mechanism. The winding mechanism maintains a pre-tension in the lap belt and the shoulder belt, and thus minimizing unprecedented movement of the occupant in the even to the collision or the sudden braking. Consequently, preventing any form of head injuries, spinal injuries and neck injuries to the occupant.
[004] In the conventional seat belt assembly, a monitoring system is typically provided in the vehicle for identifying the fastened condition of the seat belt assembly. The monitoring system is adapted to alert the occupant of the vehicle if the seat belt assembly is in the unfastened condition during movement of the vehicle.
[005] However, there are instances where the occupant may conveniently escape protection accorded by the seat belt assembly by incorrectly wearing at least one of the lap belt and the shoulder belt in the fastened condition of the seat belt assembly. In other words, the occupant may position at least one of the lap belt and the shoulder belt between the occupant’s back and seat, during the fastened condition of the seat belt assembly. The conventional monitoring systems are incapable of detecting such scenarios, and allow the occupant to drive the vehicle, which may lead to injury in the event of a collision or sudden braking of the vehicle. Moreover, the conventional monitoring systems are incapable of determining whether extension of the shoulder belt and/or the lap belt matches the occupant, for verification of proper engagement of the shoulder belt and/or the lap belt with the buckle. Furthermore, in an event of an accident, an insurance provider through the conventional monitoring systems may not be able to assess the proper engagement of the seat belt assembly on the occupant. Such a scenario leads to incorrect insurance estimation, which is undesirable. Additionally, the conventional monitoring systems are incapable of determining a safe tension threshold of the seat belt, which may cause suffocation or discomfort to the occupant wearing the seat belt assembly.
[006] Thus, there is a need for a system and a method for monitoring a seat belt assembly of a vehicle, which address at least one of the aforesaid problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[007] In one aspect, a system for monitoring a seat belt assembly of a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises one or more sensors disposed in the vehicle which are configured to acquire information pertaining to at least one of one or more operating parameters of the vehicle, one or more physiological characteristics of an occupant of a seat in the vehicle and one or more parameters associated with the seat belt assembly. A control unit communicably coupled to the one or more sensors which is configured to receive the information pertaining to at least one of the one or more operating parameter of the vehicle, the one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant and the one or more parameters of the seat belt assembly from the one or more sensors. Then, determine at least one of one or more operating parameters of the vehicle, one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant and one or more parameters of the seat belt assembly based on the information received from one or more sensors. Thereafter, monitor, at least one of a position, a fastening and a pre-tension of the seat belt assembly.
[008] In an another aspect, the system for monitoring the seat belt assembly comprises one or more sensors comprises a speed sensor disposed in the vehicle which is configured to acquire information pertaining to a speed of the vehicle, a seat belt buckle sensor disposed in the seat belt assembly which is configured to acquire information pertaining to engagement of a seat belt buckle, a weight sensor disposed on a base portion of a seat of the vehicle which is configured to acquire information pertaining to a weight of the occupant, an optical sensor disposed in the vehicle which is configured to acquire information pertaining to at least one of a position of the occupant being seated on the seat and a position of a seat belt of the seat belt assembly on the occupant, a tension sensor disposed in the seat belt assembly which is configured to acquire information pertaining to a tension of the seat belt of the seat belt assembly and an extension sensor disposed in the seat belt assembly which is configured to acquire information pertaining to a length of the seat belt pulled from a spindle of the seat belt assembly.
[009] In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the weight of the occupant on the seat based on information from the weight sensor, determine the length of the seat belt pulled out from the spindle of the seat belt assembly based on information from the extension sensor. The control unit is further configured to compare the weight of the occupant and the length of the seat belt pulled out from the spindle with predefined values. These predefined values are stored in a storage unit communicably coupled to the control unit. The control unit is further configured to alert the occupant of the seat if the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant mismatches with the predefined values.
[010] In an embodiment, the control unit is communicably coupled to the spindle of the seat belt assembly and the control unit is adapted to operate the spindle for adjusting the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant with the predefined values.
[011] In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the fastening of the seat belt buckle based on the information from the seat belt buckle sensor. The control unit is further configured to determine weight of the occupant of the seat based on information from the weight sensor and a length of the seat belt pulled out from a spindle of the seat belt assembly based on information from the extension sensor. The control unit is further configured to determine a position of the seat belt on the occupant based on information from the optical sensor. The control unit is further configured to alert the occupant of the seat if at least one of the seat belt buckle is disengaged, the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant mismatches with predefined values and the position of the seat belt on the occupant is in an unsecured position.
[012] In an embodiment, the unsecured position of the seat belt comprises of a shoulder belt of the seat belt which is positioned away from a shoulder portion of the occupant and/or a lap belt of the seat belt which is positioned away from a lap portion of the occupant.
[013] In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine, the tension of the seat belt based on the information received from the tension sensor, the control unit is adapted to operate a spindle of the seat belt for adjusting the tension of the seat belt based on the one or more physiological parameters of the occupant.
[014] In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the speed of the vehicle based on the information received from the speed sensor, determine a driving pattern of the vehicle based on information received from the one or more sensors pertaining to at least one of the speed of the vehicle and instances of a sudden deceleration of the vehicle. The control unit is further configured to operate the spindle of the seat belt for adjusting the tension of the seat belt on the occupant based on a variation in the speed of the vehicle and transmit the driving pattern of the occupant based on adjustment to the tension of the seat to an insurance provider.
[015] In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to execute one or more machine learning techniques for determining the driving pattern of the vehicle.
[016] In another aspect, a method for monitoring a seat belt assembly of a vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises steps of acquiring by one or more sensors, information pertaining to at least one of one or more operating parameters of the vehicle, one or more physiological characteristics of an occupant of a seat in the vehicle and one or more parameters associated with the seat belt assembly. The method further comprises steps of receiving by a control unit information pertaining to at least one of the one or more operating parameter of the vehicle, the one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant and the one or more parameters of the seat belt assembly from the one or more sensors. The control unit is communicably coupled with the one or more sensors. The control unit further determines at least one of one or more operating parameters of the vehicle, one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant and one or more parameters of the seat belt assembly based on the information received from one or more sensors. Thereafter, the control unit monitors at least one of a position, a fastening and a pre-tension of the seat belt assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[017] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system for monitoring a seat belt assembly of a vehicle, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the seat belt assembly provided adjacent to a seat of the vehicle, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing a method for monitoring the seat belt assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing a method for operating a spindle of the seat belt assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a flow diagram showing a method for monitoring the seat belt assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[018] The present invention relates to a system and a method for monitoring a seat belt assembly of a vehicle. The system and the method are adapted to ensure proper engagement of the seat belt assembly on an occupant of the vehicle, thereby ensuring safety to the occupant in the event of a collision or a sudden braking. In an embodiment, the vehicle may be a three-wheeled vehicle, a four-wheeled vehicle or a multi-wheeled vehicle or a multi-axled vehicle as per requirement.
[019] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 for monitoring a seat belt assembly 116 of a vehicle 101, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system is adapted to ensure proper or correct engagement of the seat belt assembly 116 on an occupant of the vehicle 101. Consequently, ensuring safety to the occupant in the event of a collision or a sudden braking. In an embodiment, the vehicle 101 may be a three-wheeled vehicle or a multi-wheeled vehicle. In an embodiment, the occupant may be a driver of the vehicle 101 or a passenger in the vehicle 101.
[020] In an embodiment as shown in Figure 2, the seat belt assembly 116 comprises a lap belt 120, a shoulder belt 122, a rotatable pulley 124, a spindle 126 positioned adjacently to a seat 128 of the vehicle 101. The seat 128 comprises a seat portion 130 and a backrest portion 132. The seat portion 130 enables the occupant to sit on the seat 128, while the backrest portion 132 enables the occupant to rest on the seat 128. The seat belt assembly 116 is provided adjacently to the seat 128, and is supported on a frame member (not shown) of the vehicle 101. The lap belt 120 is adapted to go over the seat portion 130, while the shoulder belt 122 is adapted to go over the backrest portion 132 through the pulley 124. First ends (not shown) of the lap belt 120 and the shoulder belt 122 are connected to the spindle 126, while second ends (not shown) of the lap belt 120 and the shoulder belt 122 are connected to a seat belt tongue 134. The seat belt tongue 134 is adapted to engage with a seat belt buckle 136. In an embodiment, the pulley 124 and the spindle 126 are provided on one side of the seat 128, while the seat belt buckle 136 is provided on an opposite side of the seat 128, as known in the art.
[021] The system 100 comprises one or more sensors 102 that are disposed in the vehicle 101 at suitable or appropriate locations. The one or more sensors 102 are adapted to receive information pertaining to at least one of the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle 101, one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant of the seat 128 and one or more parameters associated with the seat belt assembly 116. In an embodiment, the one or more sensors 102 comprises a speed sensor 118, a seat belt buckle sensor 106, a weight sensor 104, an optical sensor 108, a tension sensor 110 and an extension sensor 112.
[022] In an embodiment, the term “operating parameters” of the vehicle 101 corresponds to parameters that are relating to operation or driving conditions of the vehicle 101. In an embodiment, the “operating parameters” of the vehicle 101 is a speed of the vehicle 101, a deceleration of the vehicle 101, an acceleration of the vehicle 101 and the like.
[023] In an embodiment, the term “physiological parameters” of the vehicle 101 corresponds to parameters that are relating to physical characteristics of the occupant of the vehicle 101. In an embodiment, the “physiological parameters” of the occupant is a height of the occupant, a weight of the occupant, a shoulder length of the occupant and the like.
[024] In an embodiment, the term “parameters associated with seat belt assembly” corresponds to a length of the seat belt extended for engagement with the seat belt buckle 136, a tension of the seat belt extended for engagement with the seat belt buckle 136, engagement or disengagement of the seat belt with the seat belt buckle 136 and the like.
[025] In an embodiment, the speed sensor 118 is configured to acquire information pertaining to the speed of the vehicle 101. The speed sensor 118 may be placed on a wheel of the vehicle 101. Accordingly, the speed sensor 118 is adapted to acquire information pertaining to the speed of the vehicle 101 based on a rotational speed of the wheel. In an embodiment, the speed sensor 118 may be a hall effect sensor.
[026] In an embodiment, the seat belt buckle sensor 106 is disposed in the seat belt assembly 116. Particularly, the seat belt buckle sensor 106 is disposed in the seat belt buckle 136 of the seat belt assembly 116. The seat belt buckle sensor 106 is configured to acquire information pertaining to engagement of the seat belt buckle 136 with the seat belt tongue 134. In other words, the seat belt buckle sensor 106 acquires information pertaining to latching of the seat belt tongue 134 with the seat belt buckle 136 of the seat belt assembly 116. In an embodiment, the seat belt buckle sensor 106 is a switch. The switch is adapted to be operated to an OFF condition, when the seat belt tongue 134 is engaged with the seat belt buckle 136, and the switch is adapted to be operated to an ON condition when the seat belt tongue 134 is disengaged with the seat belt buckle 136.
[027] In an embodiment, the weight sensor 104 is disposed in the seat portion 130 of the seat 128 of the vehicle 101. The weight sensor 104 is configured to acquire information pertaining to a weight of the occupant. Particularly, the weight sensor 104 acquires information pertaining to the weight of the occupant seated on the seat portion 130 of the seat 128. In an embodiment, the weight sensor 104 is a load sensor. In an embodiment, the weight sensor 104 can also be positioned in a backrest portion 132 of the seat 128.
[028] In an embodiment, the optical sensor 108 is disposed in the vehicle 101. The optical sensor 108 is configured to acquire information pertaining to at least one of a position of the occupant being seated on the seat 128 and a position of the seat belt (i.e., the lap belt 120 and the shoulder belt 122) of the seat belt assembly 116. In an embodiment, the optical sensor 108 acquires visual information pertaining to the position of the occupant of the seat 128 and/or the position of the seat belt. In an embodiment, the optical sensor 108 is disposed in front of the seat 128 for capturing information pertaining to the position of the occupant being seated on the seat 128 and/or the position of the seat belt. In an embodiment, the optical sensor 108 is a camera module or an infrared sensor mounted on the frame member or a dashboard (not shown) or a roof (not shown) or a windshield (not shown) or any other suitable locations in the vehicle 101, for acquiring information pertaining to the position of the occupant being seated on the seat 128 and/or the position of the seat belt.
[029] In an embodiment, the tension sensor 110 is disposed in the seat belt assembly 116. Particularly, the tension sensor 110 is disposed within the spindle 126 of the seat belt assembly 116. The tension sensor 110 is configured to acquire information pertaining to a tension of the seat belt (i.e., the lap belt 120 and the shoulder belt 122) of the seat belt assembly 116. Particularly, the tension sensor 110 acquires information pertaining to the tension of the seat belt (i.e., the lap belt 120 and the shoulder belt 122) that is pulled out for engagement with the seat belt buckle 136.
[030] In an embodiment, the extension sensor 112 is disposed in the seat belt assembly 116. The extension sensor 112 is configured to acquire information pertaining to a length of the seat belt (i.e. the lap belt 120 and the shoulder belt 122) pulled from the spindle 126 of the seat belt assembly 116. In an embodiment, the extension sensor 112 may be placed in the pulley 124 of the seat belt assembly 116. In an embodiment, the extension sensor 112 is configured to obtain the information pertaining to the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 based on rotation of the pulley 124. In an embodiment, the extension sensor 112 is a position sensor.
[031] Further, the system 100 comprises a control unit 114 disposed in the vehicle 101. The control unit 114 is communicably coupled to the one or more sensors 102. The control unit 114 is communicably coupled to the one or more sensors 102 through one or more wired or wireless communication protocols known in the art. The control unit 114 is adapted to monitor the seat belt assembly 116 based on information received from the one or more sensors 102.
[032] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to receive the information pertaining the speed of the vehicle 101 from the speed sensor 118. Based on the information received from the speed sensor 118, the control unit 114 determines the speed of the vehicle 101. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is communicably coupled with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of the vehicle 101. The information pertaining to the speed of the vehicle 101 is acquired by the control unit 114 from the ECU. In an embodiment, if the control unit 114 receives information from the speed sensor 118 that the wheel of the vehicle 101 is rotating at 1800 Rotations Per Minute, the control unit 114 determines the speed of the vehicle 101 to be 30 kmph.
[033] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to receive the information pertaining to engagement of the seat belt buckle 136 from the seat belt buckle sensor 106. Based on the information received from the seat belt buckle sensor 106, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine if the seat belt buckle 212 is engaged or disengaged with the seat belt tongue 134. The control unit 114 is adapted to determine the seat belt buckle 136 to be engaged with the seat belt tongue 134, when the seat belt tongue 134 is fastened to the seat belt buckle 136.
[034] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to receive the information pertaining to the position of the occupant and the position of the seat belt on the occupant from the optical sensor 108. Based on the information received from the optical sensor 108, the control unit is adapted to determine the position of the occupant and the position of the seat belt on the occupant. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine if the seat belt is on the occupant, or between a back of the occupant and the backrest portion 132 of the seat 128. If the control unit 114 determines that the seat belt is positioned in front of the occupant, and if the seat belt is engaged to the seat belt buckle 134, the control unit 114 determines that the seat belt has been worn correctly by the occupant. If the seat belt is determined to be behind the occupant (i.e. the seat belt being between back of the occupant and the backrest portion 132) and even if the seat belt is engaged to the seat belt buckle 134, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine that the seat belt is incorrectly worn by the occupant. Consequently, the control unit 114 is adapted to alert the occupant for incorrectly wearing the seat belt.
[035] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine that the seat belt is incorrectly worn by the occupant or that the seat belt is in an unsecured position, if the shoulder belt 122 is positioned away from the shoulder portion (not shown) of the occupant and/or when the lap belt 120 is positioned away from the lap portion (not shown) of the occupant. The control unit 114 is adapted to determine that the seat belt has been worn correctly by the occupant or that the seat belt is in a secured position, when the shoulder belt 122 is diagonally crossing the chest and is positioned away from a neck or a face and/or when the lap belt 120 is positioned low and snugly across hips and is contacting upper thigh portion of the occupant based on information received from the one or more sensors 102.
[036] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to receive the information pertaining to weight of the occupant on the seat 128 from the weight sensor 104. Based on the information received from the weight sensor 104, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine the weight of the occupant. In an embodiment, if the control unit 114 receives information from the weight sensor 104 that a deflection of 1mm is observed due to seating of the occupant on the seat portion 130, the control unit 114 determines the weight of the occupant to be 60 Kilograms.
[037] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to receive the information pertaining to the tension of the seat belt assembly 116 from the tension sensor 110. Based on the information received from the tension sensor 110, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine a tension of the seat belt (i.e. the lap belt 120 and the shoulder belt 122) of the seat belt assembly 116 that is pulled out and fastened onto the seat belt buckle 136. In an embodiment, the tension exerted on the seat belt may be the force exerted by a winding mechanism (not shown) provided in the spindle 126, for rewinding the seat belt onto the spindle 126.
[038] In an embodiment, the winding mechanism is a motor provided in the spindle. The motor is communicably coupled to the control unit 114. In an embodiment, the motor is operated in a clockwise manner for allowing extension of the seat belt, and in an anti-clockwise manner for winding or rewinding the seat belt. The control unit 114 is capable of controlling the length of the seat belt extended for engagement with the seat belt buckle 136 corresponding to the weight of the occupant. In an embodiment, if the weight of the occupant is 80 kgs, the control unit 114 may be adapted to allow extension of the seat belt upto a length of 80 cms. Such a configuration of the control unit 114, ensures that an appropriate length and tension of the seat belt is maintained based on the physiology of the occupant. Thus, secure the occupant of the vehicle 101, while maintaining comfort to wear the seat belt.
[039] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to receive the information pertaining to the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 of the seat belt assembly from the extension sensor 112. Based on the information received from the extension sensor 112, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 of the seat belt assembly 116.
[040] In an embodiment, the system 100 comprises a storage unit (not shown) communicably coupled to the control unit 114 and each of the one or more sensors 102. The storage unit is adapted to store the information provided by each of the one or more sensors 102 and the information processed by the control unit 114 for determining the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle 101, the one or more physiological parameters of the vehicle 101 and the one or more parameters associated with the seat belt assembly 116. The system 100 is also adapted to store information pertaining to the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant. Accordingly, the control unit 114 is adapted to control or adjust the extension of the seat belt from the spindle 126 corresponding to the weight of the occupant, based on the recommendations provided in the information stored in the storage unit. The information stored in the storage unit are predefined values relating to the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant. As such, the control unit 114 is adapted to maintain a pre-tension of the seat belt on the occupant.
[041] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to compare the extension of the seat belt manually carried out by the occupant with the information stored in the storage unit. Accordingly, the control unit 114 is adapted to adjust the extension of the seat belt from the spindle 126 corresponding to the weight of the occupant, based on the recommendations provided in the information stored in the storage unit. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to alert the occupant of the seat when the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant mismatches with the information stored in the storage unit.
[042] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to alert the occupant of the vehicle 101 through a visual alert, an audible alert or a haptic alert as per requirement. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is communicably coupled to an instrument cluster (not shown) of the vehicle 101. The control unit 114 is adapted to visually alert the occupant when the seat belt is worn incorrectly (or in unsecured position) by illuminating an icon in the instrument cluster. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is communicably coupled to a sound generating device such as a speaker. The control unit 114 is adapted to audibly alert the occupant when the seat belt is worn incorrectly through alarm from the speaker. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is communicably coupled to a haptic device disposed in the vehicle 101 and in contact with the occupant. The control unit 114 is adapted to induce vibrations in the haptic device in contact with the occupant for providing haptic alert the occupant when the seat belt is worn incorrectly by the occupant.
[043] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to execute image processing techniques known in the art to analyse the information received from the optical sensor 108. The image processing techniques analyse the visual data to identify a presence and the positioning of the seat belt. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to compare the output of the image processing techniques and the determination made from the optical sensor 108. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to train an image recognition model to detect and identify the seat belt based on the information received from the optical sensor 108. The image recognition system is trained to recognize characteristic shapes, colours and features of the seat belt.
[044] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to train the image recognition model to detect the position and orientation of the seat belt based on information received from the optical sensor 108. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to assess if the seat belt is properly positioned over the shoulder portion and across the lap portion of the occupant using the image recognition model. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to train the image recognition model using the steps of data collection, data annotation, pre-processing, machine learning models, model training, evaluation and fine-tuning and deployment.
[045] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 at the data collection step gathers a diverse data set of images or video frames that contain examples of the seat belt in different positions and orientations based on information received from the optical sensor 108. The diverse dataset of images or video frames include variations in lighting conditions, seat belt colours and backgrounds. Thereby, ensuring that the dataset is labelled to indicate the presence and the position of the seat belt.
[046] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 at the data annotation step annotates the collected data by labelling seat belt regions of interest within the images or video frames. The annotation is done using bounding boxes, polygonal masks or pixel-level segmentation depending on the level of detail required.
[047] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 at a pre-procession step prepares the annotated dataset for training by performing pre-processing steps which may include resizing the images, normalizing pixel values and augmenting the data through techniques like rotation, scaling or flipping. The augmentation helps increase the diversity of training examples and improves the generalization ability of the image recognition model.
[048] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to execute one or more machine learning techniques for monitoring the seat belt assembly 116 of the vehicle 101. The control unit 114 at machine learning model step trains the Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) such as ResNet, VGG, or MobileNet which are effective in image recognition tasks.
[049] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 at the model training step trains a chosen model using the annotated dataset. The model training step involves feeding the images and their corresponding annotations into the model and adjust the parameters of the model to minimize the difference between the predicted and ground truth seat belt positions. The optimization process is typically done through backpropagation and gradient descent.
[050] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 at the evaluation and fine-tuning step assesses the performance of the trained model using a separate validation dataset. If the control unit 114 determines that the performance of the model is unsatisfactory, the control unit 114 reiterates the model by adjusting hyperparameters, architecture or by collecting more data to improve the accuracy of the model.
[051] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 at the deployment step deploys the model once the control unit 114 is satisfied with the performance of the model. The control unit 114 then determines the position of the occupant and the position of the seat belt using the model by processing the images or video frames acquired from the optical sensor 108 using the trained model.
[052] In the present embodiment, a VGG model architecture available in deep learning libraries such as TensorFlow or PyTorch is used. The steps are to initialize the VGG model and replace the fully connected layers with new layers appropriate for the seat belt recognition task and train the model using the training set. The feed the pre-processed images and their corresponding seat belt annotations into the model. The training hyperparameters such as the learning rate, batch size and number of epochs are thereafter configured. The model is then optimized using an appropriate optimizer such as a stochastic gradient descent (SGD) or an Adam and update the model’s parameters to minimize the difference between the predicted and the ground truth seat belt positions. The trained VGG model is thereafter evaluated on the validation set using based on metrics such as accuracy, precision and recall to assess performance of the model. Finally, if the performance of the model is unsatisfactory, the control unit 114 shall consider fine-tuning the model by adjusting the hyperparameters and modifying the network architecture or increasing the size of the dataset.
[053] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to correlate the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 with the weight of the occupant in order to verify if the seat belt is worn correctly, the following steps. The initial step is data collection and measurement setup in which data is collected by the control unit 114 through the one or more sensors 102 which can measure at least one of operating parameters of the vehicle 101, one of the physiological characteristics of the occupant and the one or more parameters associated with the seat belt assembly 116. Subsequently, in the Data Annotation and Pre-processing step, the data collected in the previous step is annotated by labelling each sample with the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 and the corresponding weight of the occupant and pre-process the data by normalizing the weight values. Thereafter, in the Correlation Analysis step, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine the correlation between the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 and the weight of the occupant and use statistical methods or regression analysis techniques to quantify the correlation strength assess the significance. In the establishing thresholds step, based on the results from the previous step, establish appropriate thresholds for the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 214 and the weight of the occupant that indicate correct or incorrect seat belt usage. The thresholds are determined by considering the correlation, safety guidelines and legal requirements. In the final implementation step, the control unit 114 determines the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 and the weight of the occupant, compare the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 and the weight of the occupant with the established thresholds to determine if the seat belt is worn correctly and alert the occupant of the seat if the seat belt does not meet the established thresholds.
[054] In an embodiment, a sample dataset with seat belt length values in centimetres and corresponding driver weight values in kilograms.
Seat Belt Length (cm) Driver Weight (kg)
120 60
125 70
130 80
135 85
140 90
145 100
150 110
155 120
160 130
165 140

Each row represents a specific measurement taken from different occupants of the seat 128.
[055] In an embodiment, based on the analysis and legal guidelines, the control unit 114 determines the suitable thresholds for the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 and the weight of the occupant that indicate the correct usage. The thresholds can also be determined by considering the correlation between the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 214 and the weight of the occupant, safety recommendations and legal requirements. For example, a minimum and maximum length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 may be set based on a range of measurements in the trained dataset and then establish the weight of the occupant range that aligns with safety guidelines.
[056] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to operate the spindle 126 of the seat belt assembly 116 based on the speed of the vehicle 101. The control unit 114 operates the spindle 126 for adjusting the tension of the seat belt based on the variation in the speed of the vehicle 101. In an embodiment, if the vehicle 101 is cruising or is being driven in a cruising speed, the control unit 114 maintains the length of the seat belt as-is for comfort of the occupant. In the event of a sudden braking of the vehicle 101, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine a rate of deceleration of the vehicle 101 and accordingly operate the spindle 126 to enhance tension in the seat belt so that the occupant is secured onto the seat 128, while also ensuring the tension of the seat belt does not hurt the occupant. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to increase the tension of the seat belt by tightening the seat belt.
[057] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to operate the spindle 126 of the seat belt assembly based on the speed of the vehicle 101. The control unit 114 operates the spindle 126 to increase the tension of the seat belt if the vehicle 101 is in a high-speed condition. The control unit 114 operates the spindle 126 to decrease the tension of the seat belt if the vehicle 101 is a normal speed condition. Thus, securing the occupant and ensuring the comfort of the occupant. In an embodiment, the high-speed condition is the speed of the vehicle 101 beyond the prescribed speed on a road surface, while the normal speed condition corresponds to the speed of the vehicle 101 within the prescribed speed on the road surface.
[058] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to operate the spindle 126 based on a dynamic threshold of tension. The dynamic threshold of tension is when the tension of the seat belt is at a pre-defined rate so as to ensure pre-defined range of elasticity in the movement of the occupant. Such a configuration prevents sudden pressure on the chest portion of the occupant.
[059] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is configured to determine a driving pattern based on information received from one or more sensors 102. Particularly, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine the driving pattern of the vehicle 101 based on the determined operating conditions. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is configured to execute one or more machine learning techniques for determining the driving pattern.
[060] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to store the driving pattern of the vehicle 101 and transmit the driving pattern to an insurance provider. Based on the driving pattern, the insurance provider can assess a condition of the vehicle 101 and accordingly charge a premium corresponding to the condition of the vehicle 101. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to transmit the driving pattern to the insurance provider in the event of a collision of the vehicle 101. In such an event, the insurance provider can access the driving pattern that resulted to the collision and accordingly process the request for reimbursement on claims made by the occupant. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 is adapted to store the speed of the vehicle 101 and a count of sudden decelerations and transmit to an external server accessible to authorized personnel involved in estimation of insurance.
[061] In an embodiment, the control unit 114 may be embodied as a multi-core processor, a single core processor or a combination of one or more multi-core processors and one or more single core processors. For example, the control unit 114 is embodied as one or more of various processing devices or modules, such as a coprocessor, a microprocessor, a controller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a processing circuitry with or without an accompanying DSP, or various other processing devices including integrated circuits such as but not limited to, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a hardware accelerator, a special-purpose computer chip, or the like. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 may be configured to execute hard-coded functionality. In still another embodiment, the control unit 114 may be embodied as an executor of instructions, where the instructions are specifically configured to the control unit 114 to perform steps or operations described herein for monitoring the seat belt assembly 116 of the vehicle 101.
[062] Figure 3 is a flow diagram of a method 300 for monitoring the seat belt assembly 116, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method 300 is performed by the system 100 for monitoring the seat belt assembly 116.
[063] At step 302, the control unit 114 determines operation of a prime mover (not shown) of the vehicle 101. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 determines operation of the prime mover from the ECU of the vehicle 101 through operation of an ignition unit (not shown) of the prime mover. Accordingly, if the ignition unit is in an ON condition, the prime mover is determined to be in ON condition by the control unit 114. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 determines operation of the prime mover based on the speed of the vehicle 101 determined through the speed sensor 118. In an embodiment, the prime mover is an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) or an electric motor or a hybrid engine of the vehicle 101. The control unit 114 moves to step 304, upon determining the ON condition of the prime mover.
[064] At step 304, the control unit 114 checks if the seat belt assembly 116 is in the secured condition. That is, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine whether the seat belt tongue 134 is fastened or engaged to the seat belt buckle 136, through the seat belt buckle sensor 106. If the seat belt tongue 134 is unfastened or disengaged to the seat belt buckle 136, the control unit 114 determines the seat belt assembly 116 in the unsecured condition. At this scenario, the control unit 114 moves to step 306 to alert the occupant regarding the unsecured condition of the seat belt assembly 116.
[065] At this scenario, the occupant tries to fasten the seat belt tongue 134 with the seat belt buckle 136 for engagement. The control unit 114 at step 308 is adapted to detect insertion of the seat belt tongue 134 into the seat belt buckle 136 through the seat belt buckle sensor 106. Upon insertion, the control unit 114 determines that the seat belt tongue 134 is fastened to the seat belt buckle 136.
[066] At step 310, the control unit 114 maps or determines the weight of the occupant based on the information received from the weight sensor 104 and the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle 126 based on the information received from the extension sensor 112. At this stage, the control unit moves to step 312.
[067] At step 312, the control unit 114 initiates an Artificial Intelligence based model for ensuring correct fastening of the seat belt. Through the AI model, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine length corresponding to the weight of the occupant as already mentioned in description pertaining to Figure 1. Accordingly, the control unit 114 is adapted to operate the spindle 126 to ensure correct fastening or placement on the occupant, while ensuring sufficient tension or pre-tension on the seat belt.
[068] Figure 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 400 for operating the spindle 124 of the seat belt assembly 116, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method 400 is performed by the system 100 for operating the spindle 126 of the seat belt assembly 116.
[069] At step 402, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine fastening or the secured condition of the seat belt assembly 116. The control unit 114 is adapted to determine that the seat belt assembly 116 is in the secured condition, when the shoulder belt 122 is over the shoulder portion of the occupant, the lap belt 120 is over the lap portion of the occupant and the seat belt tongue 134 is engaged to the seat belt buckle 136.
[070] At step 404, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine the length of extension of the seat belt for fastening with the seat belt buckle 136. The control unit 114 is adapted to determine the extension of the seat belt based on the information received from the extension sensor 112.
[071] At step 406, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine weight of the occupant seated on the seat portion 130. The control unit 114 determines weight of the occupant based on the information received from the weight sensor 104.
[072] At step 408, the control unit 114 is adapted to determine a predefined length corresponding to the weight of the occupant. The control unit 114 is adapted to procure the predefined length from the storage unit corresponding to the weight of the occupant. Subsequently, at step 410 the control unit 114 compares the predefined length from the storage unit and the extension of the seat belt. If a mismatch is observed by the control unit 114 in the extension of the seat belt, the control unit 114 operates the spindle 126 for adjusting the length of the seat belt to the predefined length. In an embodiment, if the extension of the seat belt is 150 cm and the predefined length is 130 cm corresponding to the occupant weighing 80 kgs, the control unit 114 determines that an excess 20 cms of seat belt has been extended. Accordingly, the control unit 114 operates the spindle 126 through the motor for rewinding the excess 20 cms length of the seat belt. In an embodiment, the control unit 114 operates the motor in an anti-clockwise direction for rewinding the excess length of the seat belt.
[073] Figure 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 500 for monitoring the seat belt assembly 116, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method 500 is performed by the system 100 for monitoring the seat belt assembly 116.
[074] At step 502, the control unit 114 acquires at least one of information pertaining to the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle 101, the one or the more physiological characteristics of an occupant of the seat in the vehicle 101 and the one or more parameters associated with the seat belt assembly 116.
[075] At step 504, the control unit 114 receives the information from one or more sensors 102. Upon receiving the information, the control unit 114 moves to step 506, where the control unit 114 determines the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle 101, the one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant and the one or more parameters of the seat belt assembly 116 based on information received from the one or more sensors 102.
[076] At step 508, the control unit 114 monitors at least one of the position, the fastening and the pre-tension of the seat belt assembly 116. Accordingly, if the seat belt position on the occupant and/or the fastening of the seat belt assembly 116 and/or the pre-tension of the seat belt assembly 116 is incorrect, the control unit 114 is adapted to alert the occupant to wear the seat belt correctly, as already explained in Figure 1. Further, the control unit 114 is adapted to alert the occupant if at least one of the position, the fastening and the pre-tension of the seat belt assembly 116 is incorrect, thereby ensuring that the occupant wears the seat belt assembly 116 correctly.
[077] The claimed invention as disclosed above is not routine, conventional or well understood in the art, as the claimed aspects enable the following solutions to the existing problems in conventional technologies. Specifically, the claimed aspect of the control unit monitoring the seat belt assembly. As such, prevents unprecedented movement of a torso of the occupant. Thereby, preventing any form of head injuries, spinal injuries and neck injuries. Consequently, the safety of the occupant is ensured. The control unit by comparing the length of the seat belt pulled from the spindle and the weight of the occupant to the predefined values present in the memory unit ensures driver comfort and safety of the occupant. The control unit by dynamically adjusting the threshold of the tension (or pre-tension) of the seat belt, whiplash injuries are prevented for the opponent in the event of a sudden deceleration or collision of the vehicle.
[078] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

List of Reference Numerals
100 – System
101 – Vehicle
102 – One or more sensors
104 – Weight Sensor
106 – Seat Belt Buckle Sensor
108 – Optical Sensor
110 – Tension Sensor
112 – Extension Sensor
114 – Control Unit
116 – Seat Belt Assembly
118 – Speed Sensor
120 – Lap Belt
122 – Shoulder Belt
124 – Pulley
126 – Spindle
128 - Seat
130 – Seat portion
132 – Backrest portion
134 – Tongue
136 – Seat belt buckle

, C , C , C , Claims:1. A system (100) for monitoring a seat belt assembly (116) of a vehicle (101), the system (100) comprising:
one or more sensors (102) disposed in the vehicle (101), the one or more sensors (102) being configured to acquire information pertaining to at least one of one or more operating parameters of the vehicle (101), one or more physiological characteristics of an occupant of a seat (128) in the vehicle (101) and one or more parameters associated with the seat belt assembly (116); and
a control unit (114) communicably coupled to the one or more sensors (102), the control unit (114) being configured to:
receive, the information pertaining to at least one of the one or more operating parameter of the vehicle 101, the one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant and the one or more parameters of the seat belt assembly (116) from the one or more sensors (102);
determine, at least one of one or more operating parameter of the vehicle (101), one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant and one or more parameters of the seat belt assembly (116) based on the information received from one or more sensors (102); and
monitor, at least one of a position, a fastening and a pre-tension of the seat belt assembly (116).
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors (102) comprising:
a speed sensor (118) disposed in the vehicle (101), the speed sensor (118) being configured to acquire information pertaining to a speed of the vehicle (101);
a seat belt buckle sensor (106) disposed in the seat belt assembly (116), the seat belt buckle sensor (106) being configured to acquire information pertaining to engagement of a seat belt buckle (136);
a weight sensor (104) disposed on a base portion of a seat of the vehicle (101), the weight sensor (104) being configured to acquire information pertaining to a weight of the occupant;
an optical sensor (108) disposed in the vehicle (101), the optical sensor (108) being configured to acquire information pertaining to at least one of a position of the occupant being seated on the seat (128) and a position of a seat belt of the seat belt assembly (116) on the occupant;
a tension sensor (110) disposed in the seat belt assembly (116), the tension sensor (110) being configured to acquire information pertaining to a tension of the seat belt of the seat belt assembly (116); and
an extension sensor (112) disposed in the seat belt assembly (116), the extension sensor (112) being configured to acquire information pertaining to a length of the seat belt pulled from a spindle (126) of the seat belt assembly (116).

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit (114) being configured to:
determine, the weight of the occupant on the seat (128) based on information from the weight sensor (104);
determine, a length of the seat belt pulled out from the spindle of the seat belt assembly (116), based on information from the extension sensor (112);
compare, the weight of the occupant and the length of the seat belt pulled out from the spindle (126) with predefined values, the predefined values being stored in a storage unit communicably coupled to the control unit (114); and
alert, the occupant of the seat (128), when the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant mismatches with the predefined values.

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control unit (114) is communicably coupled to the spindle (126) of the seat belt assembly (116), the control unit (114) being adapted to operate the spindle (126) for adjusting the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant with the predefined values.

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit (114) being configured to:
determine, the fastening of the seat belt buckle (136) based on the information from the seat belt buckle sensor (106);
determine, weight of the occupant of the seat (128) based on information from the weight sensor (104), and a length of the seat belt pulled out from a spindle (126) of the seat belt assembly, based on information from the extension sensor (112);
determine, a position of the occupant and a position of the seat belt on the occupant based on information from the optical sensor (108);
alert, the occupant of the seat (128), if at least one of the seat belt buckle is disengaged, the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant mismatches with predefined values and the position of the seat belt on the occupant is in an unsecured position.

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the unsecured position of the seat belt comprises at least one of:
a shoulder belt (122) of the seat belt being positioned away from a shoulder portion of the occupant; and
a lap belt (120) of the seat belt being positioned away from a lap portion of the occupant.

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit (114) being configured to determine, the tension of the seat belt based on the information received from the tension sensor, the control unit (114) being adapted to operate a spindle (126) of the seat belt for adjusting the tension of the seat belt based on the one or more physiological parameters of the occupant.

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit (114) is configured to:
determine, a speed of the vehicle (101), based on the information received from the speed sensor (118);
a driving pattern of the vehicle (101), based on information received from the one or more sensors pertaining to at least one of the speed of the vehicle (101) and instances of a sudden deceleration of the vehicle (101);
operate, a spindle (126) of the seat belt assembly (116) for adjusting the tension of the seat belt on the occupant based on a variation in the speed of the vehicle (101); and
transmit, to an insurance provider, the driving pattern of the occupant based on adjustment to the tension of the seat belt.

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit (114) being configured to execute, one or more machine learning techniques for determining the driving pattern of the vehicle (101).

10. A method for monitoring a seat belt assembly (116) of a vehicle (101), the method comprising:
acquiring, by one or more sensors (102), information pertaining to at least one of one or more operating parameters of the vehicle (101), one or more physiological characteristics of an occupant of a seat (128) in the vehicle (101) and one or more parameters associated with the seat belt assembly (116);
receiving, by a control unit (114), information pertaining to at least one of the one or more operating parameter of the vehicle (101), the one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant and the one or more parameters of the seat belt assembly (116) from the one or more sensors (102), the control unit (114) being communicably coupled with the one or more sensors (102);
determining, by the control unit (114), at least one of one or more operating parameters of the vehicle (101), one or more physiological characteristics of the occupant and one or more parameters of the seat belt assembly (116) based on the information received from one or more sensors (102); and
monitoring, by the control unit (114), at least one of a position, a fastening and a pre-tension of the seat belt assembly (116).

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 comprising:
determining, by the control unit (114), weight of the occupant of the seat (128) based on information from a weight sensor (104);
determining, by the control unit (114), a length of the seat belt pulled out from a spindle (126) of the seat belt assembly, based on information from the extension sensor (112);
comparing, by the control unit (114), the weight of the occupant and the length of the seat belt pulled out from the spindle (126) with predefined values, the predefined values being stored in a storage unit communicably coupled to the control unit (114); and
alerting, by the control unit (114), the occupant of the seat (128), when the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant mismatches with the predefined values.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 comprising operating, by the control unit (114), the spindle (126) of the seat belt assembly (116) for adjusting the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant with the predefined values, wherein the control unit (114) is communicably coupled to the spindle of the seat belt assembly (116).

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control unit (114) being configured to:
determining, by the control unit (114), fastening of the seat belt buckle based on the information from a seat belt buckle sensor (106);
determining, by the control unit (114), weight of the occupant of the seat based on information from the weight sensor (104), and a length of the seat belt pulled out from a spindle (126) of the seat belt assembly, based on information from an extension sensor (112);
determining, by the control unit (114), a position of the occupant and a position of the seat belt on the occupant based on information from an optical sensor (108);
alerting, by the control unit (114), the occupant of the seat (128), if at least one of the seat belt buckle is disengaged, the length of the seat belt corresponding to the weight of the occupant mismatches with predefined values and the position of the seat belt on the occupant is in an unsecured position.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the unsecured position of the seat belt comprises at least one of:
a shoulder belt (122) of the seat belt being positioned away from a shoulder portion of the occupant; and
a lap belt (120) of the seat belt being positioned away from a lap portion of the occupant.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10 comprising determining, by the control unit (114), a tension of the seat belt based on the information received from a tension sensor, the control unit (114) being adapted to operate the spindle (126) of the seat belt for adjusting the tension of the seat belt based on the one or more physiological parameters of the occupant.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10 comprising:
determining, by the control unit (114), a speed of the vehicle (101), based on the information received from a speed sensor (118);
determining, by the control unit (114), a driving pattern of the vehicle (101), based on information received from the one or more sensors (102) pertaining to at least one of the speed of the vehicle (101) and instances of a sudden deceleration of the vehicle (101);
operating, by the control unit (114), a spindle of the seat belt for adjusting the tension of the seat belt on the occupant based a variation in the speed of the vehicle (101); and
transmitting, by the control unit (114), to an insurance provider, the driving pattern of the occupant based on adjustment to the tension of the seat belt.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16 comprising executing, by the control unit (114), one or more machine learning techniques for determining the driving pattern of the vehicle (101).