Occupant warning device in a vehicle

• US 20040145456A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Goslowsky, Hans, Mattes, Bernhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,258,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01566 Devices for warning or indicating mode of inhibition

Abstract

A device for warning occupants in a vehicle is proposed which is connectible to a passenger-compartment sensory system and which has has a warning device for an occupant, the warning device being activated as a function of signals from the passenger-compartment sensory system. As a warning device, a display, and/or a loudspeaker, and/or haptic means can be used. The vehicle occupant is warned, in particular, if he/she is in the so-called out-of-position situation. In the process, it is checked whether the occupant has been in the out-of-position situation, without interruption, for a predefined time period. Only then does a warning also follow.

Claims

1. A device for warning occupants in a vehicle, the device being connectible to a passenger-compartment sensory system,

wherein the device has a warning device (11, 13, 15) for an occupant (3) which outputs a warning as a function of signals from passenger-compartment sensory system (7).

2. The device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the warning device (11, 13, 15) has a display (13), and/or a loudspeaker (11), and/or haptic means (15) for outputting the warning.

3. The device as recited in claim 1 or 2,

wherein as a function of the detection of an out-of-position situation (OOP) of the occupant (3) by the passenger-compartment sensory system (7), the warning device (11, 13, 15) outputs a warning.

4. The device as recited in claim 3,

wherein the warning device (11, 13, 15) outputs a warning if the OOP of the occupant persists without interruption for a predefined period of time.

5. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein the device has a processor (8) which evaluates signals from the passenger-compartment sensory system (7) and which activates the warning device (11, 13, 15) as a function of the evaluation.