Child seat monitoring system and method for determining a type of child seat

• US 20050278097A1
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fortune, Duane D., Patterson, James F., Sullivan, Stuart S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

A child seat monitoring system for a child seat and a method for determining a type of child seat are provided. The child seat has a first region and an opposite second region. The child seat has first and second patterns disposed on the first and second regions, respectively, both indicating whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat or a rearward-facing child seat relative to a vehicle seat. The system includes a first detection apparatus configured to detect either the first pattern on the first region of the child seat or the second pattern on the second region of the child seat. The system further includes a controller operably communicating with the first detection apparatus. The controller is configured to generate a first signal when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat.

Claims

1. A child seat monitoring system for a child seat, the child seat having a first region and an opposite second region, the child seat having first and second patterns disposed on the first and second regions, respectively, both indicating whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat or a rearward-facing child seat relative to a vehicle seat, the system comprising:

a first detection apparatus configured to detect either the first pattern on the first region of the child seat or the second pattern on the second region of the child seat; and

a controller operably communicating with the first detection apparatus, the controller configured to generate a first signal when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat.

2. The child seat monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a second signal when the child seat is rearward-facing child seat.

3. The child seat monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising an airbag control unit operably communicating with the controller, the airbag control unit suppressing operation of an airbag in response to the first signal.

4. The child seat monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the child seat further comprises a third pattern disposed on the first region when the child seat comprises the forward-facing child seat, the first detection apparatus configured to detect the third pattern when a child occupant is not disposed in the child seat.

5. The child seat monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to induce a first light-emitting diode to emit light when the child occupant is disposed in the child seat.

6. The child seat monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to induce a second light-emitting diode to emit light when a child occupant is not disposed in the child seat.

7. The child seat monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to induce an annunciator to emit a first audible sound when a child occupant is disposed in the child seat, the controller further configured to induce the annunciator to emit a second audible sound when the child occupant is not disposed in the child seat.

8. The child seat monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to induce a liquid-crystal display to display a first message when a child occupant is disposed in the child seat, the controller further configured to induce the liquid-crystal display to display a second message when the child occupant is not disposed in the child seat.

9. The child seat monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first detection apparatus comprises an electronic camera.

10. The child seat monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the first detection apparatus detects the first pattern on the child seat by generating a digital image of the first pattern on the child seat.

11. The child seat monitoring system of claim 9, further comprising a frame grabber operably communicating with both the controller and the electronic camera, the frame grabber storing a digital image generated by the electronic camera.

12. A method for determining a type of child seat, the child seat having a first region and an opposite second region, the child seat having first and second patterns disposed on the first and second regions, respectively, both indicating whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat or a rearward-facing child seat relative to a vehicle seat, the method comprising:

detecting at least one of the first pattern on the first region of the child seat and the second pattern on the second region of the child seat; and

determining whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat based on at least one of the first and second patterns, utilizing a controller.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a first signal when the child seat is the frontward-facing child seat, utilizing the controller.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising

receiving the first signal at an air bag control unit;

and

suppressing operation of an air bag based on the first signal, utilizing the air bag control unit.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a second signal when the child seat is the rearward-facing child seat, utilizing the controller.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the child seat further comprises a third pattern disposed on the first region when the child seat comprises the forward-facing child seat, the method further comprising detecting the third pattern when a child occupant is not disposed in the child seat.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

inducing a first light-emitting diode to emit light when a child occupant is disposed in the child seat, utilizing the controller; and

inducing a second light-emitting diode to emit light when the child occupant is not disposed in the child seat, utilizing the controller.

18. A child seat monitoring system for a child seat, the child seat having a first region and an opposite second region, the child seat having a first pattern disposed on the first region indicating that the child seat is not positioned in a desired orientation with respect to a vehicle seat, the system comprising:

a first detection apparatus disposed at a first location configured to detect the first pattern on the first region of the child seat; and

a controller operably communicating with the first detection apparatus, the controller configured to induce a first device to indicate that the child seat is not positioned in the desired orientation with respect to the vehicle seat in response to the detection of the first pattern by the first detection apparatus.

19. A child seat monitoring system for a child seat, the child seat having first and second patterns disposed on the child seat, the first pattern being substantially covered when a child occupant is greater than a first predetermined size, the second pattern being substantially covered when the child occupant is greater than a second predetermined size, the first predetermined size being greater than the second predetermined size, the child seat monitoring system comprising:

a first detection apparatus configured to detect the first and second patterns on the child seat; and

a controller operably communicating with the first detection apparatus, the controller configured to induce a first device to indicate that the child occupant is larger than the first predetermined size when the child occupant substantially covers the first pattern and prevents detection of the first pattern by the first detection apparatus.

20. The child seat monitoring system of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to induce a second device to indicate that the child occupant is smaller than the second predetermined size when the child occupant does not cover the second pattern and allows detection of at least a portion of the second pattern by the first detection apparatus.