Tag: how it works

How seat belt sensor works

Wondering how seat belt sensors work?

When you are unbuckled in your seat, have you seen the seat belt sign go off? Ever wonder how seat belt sensor works? Seat belt sensors/switches are used in various industries including the automotive and the airline industries. They may soon even become mandatory on buses and trains as well. A vehicle can include several types of sensors: weight sensor passenger seat, speed sensor, and connection sensors in buckles. There are conditional actions that are based on the sensors state. They cause the dash indicator light to light up or for the alarm to go off inside.


The Reed Switch exists inside a seat belt buckle and determines whether or not the passenger is wearing their seat belt. It has been known by seat belt designers as being the most reliable way to detect if the seat belt has been engaged. If your vehicle can turn the airbag on or off by its own, the sensor can light up the airbag display stating if it is active or not. This occurs when it senses that their is pressure on the seat, someone is sitting on it, but has not put on their seat belt. The sensor inside the seat belt buckle also can light up the symbol resembling a person belted into their seat. This occurs when the passenger is not buckled in their seat.


Knowing how seat belt sensors works, it is important to make sure all your vehicle’s safety components are working and are in good condition. You want to make sure your vehicle can sense everything going on inside the vehicle, and can make the proper adjustments to make sure you are fully protected in the event of an accident. Safety Restore is a company that specializes in restoring seat belts. They can rebuild locked and blown seat belts for all makes and models within 24 hours. You can relax knowing that Safety Restore will keep your vehicle working properly, keeping you safe on the road.

How the seat belt mechanism works

How the seat belt mechanism works

Since seat belts are the main line of defense in keeping you safe during an accident, it may be a good idea to know how seat belt mechanism works.
In a conventional seat belt system, the seat belt webbing is connected to a retractor. The spool, being one of the main elements in the retractor is attached to one of the ends of the webbing. Inside the retractor is a spring that applies torque to the spool, causing the spool to rotate, winding up any loose webbing. The seat belt retractor also has a locking mechanism that stops the spool from rotating. The retractor can be triggered by the car’s movement. The spool locks when the vehicle decelerates rapidly, like when the vehicle is in a collision. The retractor can also be triggered by something jerking the seat belt webbing. This can occur even if someone pulls the seat belt to quickly when buckling themselves in.


In some newer seat belt systems, a pretensioner does the job of tightening the seat belt webbing. However, it works together with the conventional locking mechanisms, rather than in place of them. Unlike the conventional locking mechanism in a retractor that simply keeps the belt from extending any further than it is before the accident, a pretensioner tightens any slack that may exist.When an accident occurs, the gas in the pretensioner flares. This creates pressure that builds up, which then rotates the retractor. Pulling back any slack in the seat belt puts the individual firm in their seat. This helps minimize the damage that person may receive during the accident.


Now that you know more about how seat belt mechanism works, it is safe to say that it is important to have all the mechanisms working and in good condition. If you are ever in an accident, you want to be fully protected. Safety Restore is a company that offers many services including seat belt webbing replacement, seat belt repair, airbag module reset, and more. They repair with 100% OEM parts and have a lifetime warranty. Stay safe on the road and make sure your seat belt is working properly.