Wireless system to detect presence of child in a baby car seat

• US 20060139159A1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Prasanna, Umstead, Darren Paul, Spach, Daniel Ray, Lee, Joseph Kinman
• Granted Patent: US 7,321,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457
• 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 2/26 for children B60N2/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• 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 2/271 detecting or alerting means responsive to securing the child in the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/274 characterised by the communication means between the child seat and another entity, e.g. vehicle or portable device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/46 Electric switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm
• 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

A wireless system that detects the presence of a child in a safety seat located in the passenger cabin of a vehicle includes a controller responsive to signals generated by sensors monitoring predefined functions of the vehicle, RFID tag device attached to the safety seat and RFID tag reader mounted in the cabin. The system generates control signals which activate an alarm, open the doors of the vehicle and roll down windows if the child is left in the safety seat of an unattended vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a Radio Frequency Identification, RFID device, for monitoring the presence of an object;

a RFID reader responsive to an enabling signal to generate and forward electromagnetic waves that energize said RFID device and causes it to forward to said RFID reader signals containing identification of said RFID device; and

a controller monitoring conditions associated with a vehicle and generating the enabling signal if a predefined condition is detected.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object includes a child seated in a safety seat.

3. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein said RFID device includes an antenna;

a switch operatively coupled to the antenna; and

a circuit module operatively coupled to said switch, wherein said circuit module if activated generates and forward through the antenna signals including identity of said RFID device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including an enabling signal that closes the switch from a normally opened position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the switch is a pressure sensitive switch that closes from a normally opened position if the child is seated in the safety seat.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the enabling signal is generated by pressure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the pressure results from a child being seated on a safety seat provided to accommodate said child.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the enabling signal is generated from closing of the buckle on a belt used to secure a child in a safety seat.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the RFID reader includes an antenna;

a switch operatively coupled to said antenna; and

RF circuit module operatively coupled to said switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predefined condition includes the ignition switch of a vehicle being off.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further including the controller being responsive to signals receive from said RFID reader and detection of another predefined condition generating at least one error signal signifying a need to take a corrective action to protect a child from injuries.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the corrective action includes activating an audio alarm.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the corrective action includes activating a light alarm.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the corrective action includes rolling down windows.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a vehicle ignition switch sensor for monitoring ignition of the vehicle operatively coupled to the controller.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further including vehicle door switch sensor for sensing if vehicle doors are opened or closed operatively coupled to said controller.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a programmed microprocessor.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a child safety seat on which the RFID device is attached.

19. A safety seat for seating children that are being transported in a vehicle including:

a first section for seating a child and a second section for supporting the back of the child;

a belt including a buckle for restraining the child operatively coupled to said safety seat; and

a RFID device for indicating the presence of the child in said safety seat operatively attach to said safety seat.

20. The safety seat of claim 19 wherein the RFID device includes a switch activated from an open position to a close position when the child is seated in the safety seat.

21. The safety seat of claim 19 wherein the RFID device includes a switch activated from an open position to a close position when the buckle of said belt is closed.

22. A system to be used in a vehicle to prevent injury to a child left in a safety seat including;

an RFID reader operatively mounted in a passenger'"'"'s compartment of said vehicle;

a controller operatively coupled to said RFID reader;

a first sensor to monitor ignition switch of the vehicle to detect if said ignition switch is off operatively coupled to the controller; and

a second sensor to monitor doors of the vehicle to detect when said doors are closed operatively coupled to the controller.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the controller upon receiving a first signal from said first sensor indicating an off ignition switch generates a second signal that activates the RFID reader which, in turn, generates a third signal if a child is present in a safety seat in said vehicle compartment.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said controller sounds an alarm if predefined conditions are met.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the predefined conditions include receipt of the third signal, receipt of the first signal and a fourth signal from the second sensor indicating doors are closed.

26. A system for protecting children or infants from being left in a vehicle comprising:

a safety seat in which a RFID tag is embedded;

a RFID tag reader operatively mounted in the cabin of said vehicle;

a computer;

a computer readable program installed on said computer, said computer readable program including first instruction module being responsive to signals from sensors to activate the RFID tag reader; and

second instruction module being responsive to signals from other sensors and signals from the RFID tag reader to sound alarms indicating child is left in vehicle and taking other actions to prevent injury to the child.

27. A safety seat to seat children in a vehicle comprising:

a unified structure having a first section upon which a child or infant sits and a second section for supporting the back of said child or said infant; and

at least one RFID tag operably mounted on said safety seat, wherein said RFID tag if energized by received electromagnetic wave signals generates and transmits an RFID code including identity of said RFID tag.