Seat Belt Buckle Switch: Description and Operation

AIR BAG AND SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM

The air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) is designed to provide increased collision protection for front seat and second row outboard occupants in addition to that provided by the three-point safety belt system. Safety belt use is necessary to obtain the best occupant protection and to receive the full advantage of the SRS. This vehicle line contains dual stage deployment (advanced restraint system) driver and front passenger air bag modules. These vehicles can also be equipped with optional safety canopies that deploy from the A-pillar to the C-pillar upon a side impact or if a rollover condition is detected. A unique restraints control module (RCM) is used on these vehicles which will detect a potential rollover condition. In addition, a front impact severity sensor is mounted to the radiator support bracket, a seat position sensor is mounted to the driver seat and a usage detection switch is added to the front driver and passenger outboard buckles.

Safety Belt Buckle Switches

As part of the supplemental restraint system (SRS), the front safety belt buckles are equipped with safety belt buckle switches. The safety belt buckle switches are comprised of integrated circuits called Hall-effect sensors. The safety belt buckle switches (Hall-effect sensors) are located in the driver and passenger safety belt buckles. The safety belt buckle switches indicate to the restraints control module (RCM) whether the safety belts are connected or disconnected. The RCM uses this information in determining the deployment rate of the dual-stage driver and passenger air bag modules. The RCM also communicates the driver safety belt buckle switch status to the instrument cluster module, which monitors the information to control the safety belt warning indicator.