Apparatus and method to detect the presence of a child in a vehicle

• US 20080001730A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audrey B. Marti, Darlene K. Barton, Forrest E. Barton
• Original Assignee: Audrey B. Marti, Darlene K. Barton, Forrest E. Barton
• Inventors: Barton, Forrest E., Barton, Darlene K., Marti, Audrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,592,905 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 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0236 Threshold setting
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• 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

Applicants'"'"' invention comprises an apparatus and method to detect the presence of a child in a vehicle. Applicants'"'"' apparatus comprises a monitoring assembly comprising a pressure transducer, a first processor, and a monitoring transmitter. Applicants'"'"' apparatus further comprises a vehicle controller assembly comprising a second processor, a receiver, and a transceiver, wherein the receiver is capable of communicating with the monitoring transmitter. Applicants'"'"' apparatus further comprises a key fob comprising an RFID circuit, wherein Applicants'"'"' transceiver is capable of communicating with that RFID circuit.

Claims

1. An apparatus to detect the presence of a child in a vehicle, comprising:

a monitoring assembly comprising a first processor, a pressure transducer in communication with said first processor, and a monitoring transmitter in communication with said monitoring processor;

a vehicle controller assembly comprising a second processor, a receiver in communication with said second processor, a transceiver in communication with said second processor, wherein said receiver receives wireless signals provided by said monitoring transmitter, wherein said transceiver provides RFID interrogation signals;

a portable key fob comprising an RFID circuit, wherein said RFID circuit receives said RFID interrogation signals and provides response signals received by said transceiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a child car seat comprising a bottom portion, wherein said monitoring assembly is disposed in said bottom portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said monitoring assembly further comprises one or more batteries, wherein said one or more batteries are interconnected with said first processor, said pressure transducer, and said monitoring transmitter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said one or more comprise rechargeable batteries, wherein said apparatus further comprises an external power port interconnected with said one or more rechargeable batteries.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vehicle controller assembly is attached to a vehicle comprising a vehicular power source, wherein said vehicle controller assembly is interconnected with said vehicular power source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said vehicle further comprises one or more vehicle control circuits, a horn interconnected with said one or more vehicle control circuits, and a plurality of head lights interconnected with said one or more vehicle control circuits, wherein said second processor is interconnected with said one or more vehicle control circuits.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a cellular telephone, wherein said second processor is interconnected with said cellular telephone.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said vehicle controller assembly further comprises a global positioning satellite receiver interconnected with said second processor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vehicle controller assembly further comprises an external computer port interconnected with said second processor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said external computer port is selected from the group consisting of a USB port and a FIREWIRE port.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of flashing said plurality of head lights on and off if said transceiver does not receive a response signal from said key fob.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said interrogation signal by said RFID circuit;

emitting a response signal by said RFID circuit;

operative if said first transceiver receives said response signal from said key fob, repeating said emitting an interrogation signal step each time said receiver receives activation signals.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said vehicle controller assembly further comprising a cellular telephone in communication with said second processor, further comprising the step of placing an emergency telephone call using said cellular telephone if said first transceiver does not receive a response signal from said key fob.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said vehicle controller assembly further comprises a global positioning satellite receiver, further comprising the steps of:

determining the location of said vehicle using said global positioning satellite receiver; and

providing said location in said emergency telephone call.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a threshold weight;

providing from said pressure transducer to said first processor a load signal as long as said pressure transducer detects a load;

determining said weight using said load signal;

determining if said weight is greater than or equal to said threshold weight;

operative if said weight if greater than said threshold weight, causing said monitoring transmitter to emit said activation signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said monitoring assembly further comprises a first memory interconnected with said first processor, and wherein said vehicle controller assembly further comprises a second memory and an external computer port interconnected with said second memory, and wherein said receiver comprises a second transceiver, and wherein said monitoring transmitter further comprises a third transceiver, further comprising the steps of:

interconnecting a computing device to said vehicle controller assembly;

entering said threshold weight in said second memory using said computing device;

communicating said threshold weight to said third transceiver by said second transceiver;

storing said threshold weight in said first memory.

11. A method to detect the presence of a child in an unattended vehicle, comprising the steps of:

supplying a vehicle comprising a plurality of vehicle seats, a horn, a plurality of head lights, and one or more vehicular control circuits to operate said horn and said plurality of lead lights;

disposing in said vehicle an vehicle controller assembly comprising a second processor, a receiver in communication with said second processor, a first transceiver in communication with said second processor, wherein said vehicle controller assembly is in communication with said one or more vehicular circuits;

supplying a portable key fob comprising an RFID circuit, wherein said RFID circuit provides an RFID response signal in response to receiving an RFID interrogation signal provided by said transceiver;

disposing a child car seat on a first one of said plurality of said vehicle seats, wherein said child car seat comprises a bottom portion;

disposing a monitoring assembly between said bottom portion of said child car seat and said first vehicle seat, wherein said monitoring assembly comprises a first processor, a pressure transducer in communication with said first processor, and a monitoring transmitter in communication with said monitoring processor;

placing a child in said child car seat, wherein said child comprises a weight;

detecting a load by said pressure transducer;

emitting an activation signal by said monitoring transmitter;

receiving said activation signal by said receiver;

emitting an interrogation signal by said first transceiver;

operative if said first transceiver does not receive a response signal from said key fob, emitting one or more sounds from said horn.