System and method for alerting an operator to the presence of an occupant in a vehicle

• US 20040113797A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Osborne
• Original Assignee: John Osborne
• Inventors: Osborne, John
• Application Number:
  US10/254,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20040113797A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• 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 2/0033 mounted on or in the foam cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• 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 2210/30 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/46 Electric switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle having an operating engine with on and off states. The method includes the steps of: providing a sensing system on the moving vehicle which detects the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle; providing a detectable signal generator; and causing the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal in the event that at least one of a) the temperature in the passenger compartment changes to above or below a predetermined temperature with the sensing system detecting the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle, b) the operating engine is in the off state with the sensing system detecting the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle, c) a user exits from the vehicle with the sensing system detecting the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle, and d) the operating engine is changed from the on state to the off state with the sensing system detecting the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle having an operating engine with on and off states, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a sensing system on the moving vehicle which detects the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle;

providing a detectable signal generator; and

causing the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal in the event that at least one of a) the temperature in the passenger compartment changes to above or below a predetermined temperature with the sensing system detecting the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle;

b) the operating engine is in the off state with the sensing system detecting the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle;

c) a user exits from the vehicle with the sensing system detecting the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle; and

d) the operating engine is changed from the on state to the off state with the sensing system detecting the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle.

2. The method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the step of causing the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal comprises placing a temperature sensor in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle and causing the temperature sensor to generate an activating signal upon the temperature in the passenger compartment changing to above or below the predetermined temperature to thereby cause the signal generator to generate the detectable signal.

3. The method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the detectable signal generator comprises at least one of a) a sound generator;

b) an illumination source;

c) a visual display;

d) a mechanical assembly that is capable of changing state; and

e) a horn.

4. The method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the sensing system comprises a pressure responsive sensor which is changeable from a first state into a second state upon detecting the presence of a passenger in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle.

5. The method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the sensing system comprises a sensor for motion within the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle.

6. The method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the sensing system is operably associated with a child safety seat in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle.

7. The method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the moving vehicle has an exit door that can be selectively opened and closed and further including the step of providing an exit sensor which is changeable from a first state into a second state upon detecting that the exit door has one of a) opened and b) opened and closed, the exit sensor generating an activating signal as an incident of the exit sensor changing from the first state into the second state to thereby cause the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal.

8. The method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 2 further including the step of providing an engine state sensor which is changeable from a first state into a second state as an incident of the engine being changed from the on state into the off state, the engine state sensor generating an activating signal as an incident of the engine state sensor changing from the first state into the second state to thereby cause the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal.

9. The method of monitoring the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the activating signal is generated only after a predetermined time lapse after the engine state sensor is changed from the first state into the second state.

10. In combination:

a) a moving vehicle having a passenger compartment, an operating engine having on and off states, and an exit door that can be selectively opened and closed; and

b) a system for monitoring the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle, the monitoring system comprising;

a sensing system capable of detecting the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle; and

a detectable signal generator capable of generating a detectable signal in the event that;

i) at least one of a) the temperature in the passenger compartment changes to above or below a predetermined temperature, b) the operating engine is in the off state, c) a user exits from the vehicle, and d) the operating engine is changed from the on state to the off state; and

ii) the sensing system detects the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the detectable signal generator comprises a temperature sensor in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle that generates an activating signal upon detecting that the temperature in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle has changed to above or below the predetermined temperature to thereby cause the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal.

12. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the detectable signal generator comprises at least one of a) a sound generator;

b) an illumination source;

c) a visual display;

d) a mechanical assembly that is capable of changing state; and

e) a horn.

13. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the sensing system comprises a pressure responsive sensor which is changeable from a first state into a second state upon detecting the presence of a passenger in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle.

14. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the sensing system comprises a sensor for mounting within the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle.

15. The combination according to claim 13 further comprising a child safety seat, wherein the sensing system is operably associated with the child safety seat in the passenger compartment of the moving vehicle.

16. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the system for monitoring the presence of an occupant in the moving vehicle further comprises an exit sensor which is changeable from a first state into a second state upon detecting that the exit door has one of a) opened and b) opened and closed, the exit sensor generating an activating signal as an incident of the exit sensor changing from the first state into the second state to thereby cause the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal.

17. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the system for monitoring the presence of an occupant in the moving vehicle further comprises an engine state sensor which is changeable from a first state into a second state as an incident of the engine being changed from the on state into the off state, the engine state sensor generating an activating signal as an incident of the engine state sensor changing from the first state into the second state to thereby cause the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal.

18. The combination according to claim 17 wherein the activating signal is generated only after a predetermined time lapse after the engine state sensor is changed from the first state into the second state.

19. A system for monitoring the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of a moving vehicle, having an operating engine with on and off states and an exit door that can be selectively opened and closed, the monitoring system comprising:

a sensing system capable of detecting the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle;

a detectable signal generator; and

a sensor capable of detecting a state for a moving vehicle that could be detrimental to an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle,

the sensor generating an activating signal upon detecting the moving vehicle state and thereby causing the detectable signal generator to generate a detectable signal with the sensing system detecting the presence of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle.

20. The system for monitoring the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 19 wherein the moving vehicle state is established upon the temperature in the passenger compartment of a moving vehicle changing to above or below a predetermined temperature.

21. The system for monitoring the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 19 wherein the moving vehicle state is established by opening and closing an exit door on a moving vehicle.

22. The system for monitoring the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 19 wherein the moving vehicle state is established by changing an engine on a moving vehicle from the on state to the off state.

23. The system for monitoring the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment of a moving vehicle according to claim 19 wherein the moving vehicle state is established by changing an engine from the on state to the off state and upon the passage of a predetermined time interval.