Systems and methods for removable vehicle seat sensor
First Claim
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1. A proximity detection system for detecting the presence of a removable car seat within a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a removable car seat configured to be secured within a vehicle;
a proximity sensor operatively coupled to the removable car seat, the proximity sensor configured to generate a proximity signal indicating that the car seat is within the vehicle;
a radio frequency (RF) circuit, the RF circuit configured to communicate with a mobile electronic device and to generate an RF proximity indication signal, the RF proximity indication signal representative of whether the mobile electronic device is within communication range of the RF circuit; and
a device processor electrically coupled to the proximity sensor and to the RF circuit, the device processor specifically programmed to;
determine, based on the proximity signal, that the car seat is within the vehicle;
determine, based on the RF proximity indication signal, that the mobile electronic device is outside the communication range of the RF circuit; and
generate an abandonment alert, the alert indicating that the car seat is within the vehicle and that the mobile electronic device is outside the communication range of the RF circuit.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for detection of removable vehicle seats may be used to indicate presence or absence of a child in the vehicle. In some examples, an alarm system includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver and a removable seat magnetic coupling. Various actions are triggered when the parent (e.g., guardian) goes beyond a predefined range while the removable seat is within the vehicle, such as sounding an alarm on a mobile electronic device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A proximity detection system for detecting the presence of a removable car seat within a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a removable car seat configured to be secured within a vehicle; a proximity sensor operatively coupled to the removable car seat, the proximity sensor configured to generate a proximity signal indicating that the car seat is within the vehicle; a radio frequency (RF) circuit, the RF circuit configured to communicate with a mobile electronic device and to generate an RF proximity indication signal, the RF proximity indication signal representative of whether the mobile electronic device is within communication range of the RF circuit; and a device processor electrically coupled to the proximity sensor and to the RF circuit, the device processor specifically programmed to; determine, based on the proximity signal, that the car seat is within the vehicle; determine, based on the RF proximity indication signal, that the mobile electronic device is outside the communication range of the RF circuit; and generate an abandonment alert, the alert indicating that the car seat is within the vehicle and that the mobile electronic device is outside the communication range of the RF circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A proximity detection method for detecting the presence of a removable car seat within a vehicle, the method comprising:
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generating a proximity signal at a proximity sensor operatively coupled to a removable car seat, the proximity signal indicating that the car seat is within a vehicle; receiving a device signal from a mobile electronic device at a radio frequency (RF) circuit; generating an RF proximity indication signal, the RF proximity indication signal representative of whether the mobile electronic device is within communication range of the RF circuit; determining, based on the proximity signal, that the car seat is within the vehicle; determining, based on the RF proximity indication signal, that the mobile electronic device is outside the communication range of the RF circuit; and generating an abandonment alert, the alert it that the car seat is within the vehicle and that the mobile electronic device is outside the communication range of the RF circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification