Systems for Detecting Animate Objects in a Vehicle Compartment
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting an animate object inside a vehicle compartment comprising:
- a vehicle body defining the vehicle compartment;
a controller;
a first sensor being configured to generate an electrical charge or current when deformed or displaced and being mounted with respect to the vehicle body to receive force from a moving animate object inside the vehicle compartment, said first sensor being operatively connected to the controller such that the controller receives a signal when the first sensor generates an electrical charge or current;
wherein the controller is configured to generate a command signal when the controller determines that at least one predetermined condition exists, said at least one predetermined condition including receiving the signal from the first sensor.
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Abstract
Systems for detecting animate objects in a vehicle compartment include active materials based sensors for detecting the presence of an animate object in the compartment. The systems produce a response if the sensors detect the presence of an animate object in the compartment and at least one other predetermined condition exists.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for detecting an animate object inside a vehicle compartment comprising:
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a vehicle body defining the vehicle compartment; a controller; a first sensor being configured to generate an electrical charge or current when deformed or displaced and being mounted with respect to the vehicle body to receive force from a moving animate object inside the vehicle compartment, said first sensor being operatively connected to the controller such that the controller receives a signal when the first sensor generates an electrical charge or current; wherein the controller is configured to generate a command signal when the controller determines that at least one predetermined condition exists, said at least one predetermined condition including receiving the signal from the first sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for detecting an object inside a vehicle passenger compartment comprising:
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a vehicle body defining the passenger compartment; a seat inside the passenger compartment; an active material characterized by a first modulus below a predetermined temperature and a second modulus above the predetermined temperature; and an electrical circuit including an alert system; wherein the seat is operatively connected to the active material to transmit at least part of the weight of an animate object on the seat to the active material;
wherein the active material is operatively connected to the electrical circuit and causes the electrical circuit to be open or closed depending on the amount of weight transmitted to the material from the seat and the temperature of the active material; and
wherein the alert system is configured to be activated or deactivated depending on whether the circuit is open or closed. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for detecting an animate object within a vehicle compartment, comprising:
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a vehicle structure located within or partially defining the vehicle compartment; at least one controller; first and second sensors mounted with respect to the vehicle structure and being operatively connected to the controller, the sensors being configured to generate sensor signals under certain predetermined conditions, at least one of the sensors being configured to generate the sensor signal when deformed or displaced by an animate object located within the vehicle compartment; and the controller being configured to generate a command signal when the controller receives input sensor signals indicating that the certain predetermined conditions exist. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. The system of claim wherein the command signal activates an alarm.
Specification