Impact handling and ultrasound alerting methods

• US 10,176,697 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Babyark Limited
• Original Assignee: Mobius Protection Systems Ltd.
• Inventors: Mindel, Shy, Hasan, Anan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tun, Nay
• Application Number:
  US15/319,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20170140634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/268 detecting or alerting means responsive to the installation of the child seats in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/269 detecting or alerting means responsive to the Isofix locking on the child seat or vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/272 Buckle lock sensors for child seat safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2884 with protection systems against abnormal g-forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/26 Ultrasonic, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

Systems and methods of impact handling and ultrasound alerting are provided. Systems comprise an ultrasound transmitter is configured to transmit ultrasound signals at specified frequencies, a controller associated with a vehicle seat and configured to generate the ultrasound signals with respect to seat statuses and control the transmitter accordingly, and an application installable on a user'"'"'s communication device to be associated with a device'"'"'s audio receiver. The seat may comprise a dynamic part mounted on a static part and energy absorbing element(s) configured to restrain a movement of the dynamic part relative to the static part upon impact, via connection(s) between the static and dynamic parts that have static element(s) attached to the static part and dynamic element(s) attached to the dynamic part.

Claims

1. An alerting system comprising:

a transmitter having a transmission intensity and configured to transmit at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal at at least one specified frequency, wherein the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal is associated with at least one baby seat status of a baby seat in a vehicle,

a controller associated with the baby seat and configured to generate the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal with respect to the at least one baby seat status and control the transmitter accordingly,

an audio receiver having a processor and configured to receive and detect the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal, provide an indication of the signal reception, indicate the at least one baby seat status associated with the received at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal, and provide at least one corresponding alert,

wherein the at least one baby seat status comprises at least one of;

improper installation of the baby seat, incomplete connection of a belt of the baby seat incomplete isofix connection of the baby seat, incomplete connection of supporting elements of the baby seat, and seat occupancy status of the baby seat,

wherein the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal comprises a sequence of discrete signal elements, wherein the sequence and the signal elements are modified to indicate any of the at least one baby seat status, and

wherein the transmission intensity of the transmitter is configured to be detectable by the audio receiver within a specified range of up to 10 meters, and wherein the audio receiver is further configured to indicate, when the audio receiver is outside the specified range, failure to receive the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal by the audio receiver to thereby provide a respective alert.

2. The alerting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one alert comprises at least one of:

visual signal an on-screen message, a text message, an audio signal and a call, associated with a user'"'"'s communication device.

3. The alerting system of claim 1, wherein the audio receiver and the processor are part of a user'"'"'s communication device and the system further comprises an application, installable on the user'"'"'s communication device, which is configured to mediate to the user the at least one baby seat status indication and the at least one corresponding alert.

4. The alerting system of claim 1, wherein the audio receiver and the processor are part of a standalone device arranged to generate the at least one alert.

5. The alerting system of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided as at least one of:

an audio signal, an optical signal, a control signal and a communication signal.

6. The alerting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is associated with at least one of:

a weight sensor, a belt sensor, a mechanical sensor and an electromagnetic sensor, the respective sensor configured to indicate the at least one baby seat status.

7. The alerting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one specified frequency is at least one of:

between 18-24 kHz, between 24-44 kHz and 22 kHz.

8. An alerting method comprising:

generating, by a controller, at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal for transmission with respect to at least one baby seat status of a baby seat, wherein the at least one baby seat status comprises at least one of;

improper installation of the baby seat, incomplete connection of a belt of the baby seat, incomplete isofix connection of the baby seat, incomplete connection of supporting elements of the baby seat and seat, occupancy status of the baby seat,

configuring the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal to comprise a sequence of discrete signal elements, wherein the sequence and the signal elements are modified to indicate any of the at least one baby seat status;

transmitting, by a transmitter, in association with the baby seat in a vehicle, the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal,

detecting, by an audio receiver, the transmitted at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal,

indicating, by the audio receiver, the detection of the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal with respect to the at least one baby seat status,

configuring a transmission intensity of the transmitter to be detectable within a specified range of up to 10 meters; and

indicating, by the audio receiver, when the audio receiver is outside the specified range, failure to receive the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal by the audio receiver to thereby provide a respective alert.

9. The alerting method of claim 8, wherein the detection is carried out at an audio receiver of a user'"'"'s communication device.

10. The alerting method of claim 8, wherein the transmission and the detection are carried out at at least one specified frequency.

11. An alerting system comprising:

a transmitter having a transmission intensity and configured to transmit at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal at a specified frequency, wherein the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal is associated with at least one baby seat status of a baby seat in a vehicle, and wherein the transmission intensity of the transmitter is configured to be detectable within a specified range of up to 10 meters,

a controller associated with the baby seat and configured to generate the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal with respect to the at least one baby seat status and control the transmitter accordingly,

an audio receiver having a processor configured to indicate, when the audio receiver is outside the specified range, failure to receive the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal by the audio receiver to thereby provide a respective alert,

wherein the at least one baby seat status comprises at least one of complete connection of a belt of the baby seat and seat occupancy status of the baby seat, and

wherein the at least one ultrasound or near-ultrasound signal comprises a sequence of discrete signal elements, wherein the sequence and the signal elements are modified to indicate any of the at least one baby seat status.

12. The alerting system of claim 11, wherein the respective alert comprises at least one of:

visual signal, an on-screen message, a text message, an audio signal and a call, associated with a user'"'"'s communication device.

13. The alerting system of claim 11, wherein the audio receiver and the processor are part of a user'"'"'s communication device and the system further comprises an application installable on the user'"'"'s communication device, which is configured to mediate to the user the at least one baby seat status indication and the respective alert.

14. The alerting system of claim 11, wherein the audio receiver and the processor are part of a standalone device arranged to generate the respective alert.

15. The alerting system of claim 11, wherein the indication is provided as at least one of:

an audio signal, an optical signal, a control signal and a communication signal.