The buckle glows red if the belt is untied and white when it is on.
Skoda has patented the first ever illuminated seatbelt buckle. This is a system that makes the buckle glow red until it turns green.
This system uses a transparent plastic button instead of the traditional red. Internal LEDs illuminate the buckle. The light reflected from the button’s crystal pattern will make it glow. A welcome sequence can also be programmed into the buckle to assist passengers in finding them in the dark.
A weight sensor located in the base of the seat detects a passenger’s presence and a red LED lights up. This signals that the passenger should buckle up. However, it also indicates if the passenger forgot to fasten their belt properly or has not engaged the buckle correctly.
A green LED indicates successful engagement once the buckle has been engaged. The light will then turn white. This will allow passengers to see the buckle during the final leg of their journey.
Skoda’s Simply Clever initiative has produced a smart seatbelt buckle, one of many features Skoda created. This feature is designed to make “life easier and safer for owners and drivers” and has been growing for several years.
Skoda’s innovations are now protected by patents. This includes carpet mats made of hollow fiber fabric. This material is easier to clean and hides dirt better. Skoda also has patented a flexible cargo snake that can be used to secure boxes and crates together with other luggage.
The patents don’t only have to be used in cars. A range of innovations have been patented by the company, including a production line camera system that aligns body parts before welding. The system uses four cameras to position the car’s body and adjust the path for the welding robots. It is designed to speed up the entire welding process.
Skoda’s smart illuminated belt buckle is one of many features that were designed, engineered and manufactured in-house,” said a company statement. The brand files numerous patent applications each year for new ideas and systems that make life easier, safer, and more enjoyable for both owners and drivers.