Device and method to detect presence in a motor vehicle

• US 20050280515A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Arndt, Michael, Muenzel, Horst, Marek, Jiri
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A device to detect the presence of a living being in a motor vehicle includes a carbon dioxide sensor to measure a concentration value representing the carbon dioxide concentration in the motor vehicle, an analysis unit to compare the concentration value or a change value representing the change in the concentration value over time to a threshold, a transmitting device activated when the concentration value or the change value exceeds the threshold and emitting radiated signals by way of an antenna and a receiving device that activates an indicator device when these radiated signals are received by way of an additional antenna.

Claims

1. A device to detect the presence of a living being in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a carbon dioxide sensor to measure a concentration value representing a carbon dioxide concentration in the motor vehicle;

an analysis unit to compare at least one of the concentration value and a change value representing a change in the concentration value over time with at least one threshold;

a transmitting device activated when at least one of the concentration value and the change value exceeds the threshold and emitting radiated signals; and

a receiving device to activate an indicator device when the radiated signals are received.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting device includes a radio transmitter and the receiving device includes a radio receiver.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving device and the indicator device are attached to a vehicle key.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the indicator device issues at least one of a visual, acoustical and haptic warning signal.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting device includes a cellular telephone transmitter and the receiving device includes a cellular telephone.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor measures the concentration value prevailing in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting device is permanently mounted on the vehicle and the receiving device is mounted external to the vehicle.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting device emits radiated signals by way of an antenna and the receiving device receives the radiated signals by way of another antenna.

9. A method to detect the presence of a living being in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

measuring a concentration value representing a carbon dioxide concentration in the motor vehicle;

comparing at least one of the concentration value and a change value representing a change in the concentration value over time to a threshold;

activating a transmitting device for emitting radiated signals via an antenna when at least one of the concentration value and the change value exceeds the threshold; and

activating an indicator device by a receiving device when the radiated signals are received by way of another antenna.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the indicator device is activated to emit at least one of a visual, acoustical and haptic warning signal to one of a driver and a person currently carrying the indicator device.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the transmitting device is activated only if at least one of (a) all vehicle doors are detected as locked and (b) all vehicle doors are detected as locked and then at least one vehicle door is detected as opened not using a vehicle key.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting device is activated only if an ignition system is also switched off.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein, in addition, a warning signal is emitted by way of at least one of a lighting system and a horn of the vehicle.