SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VEHICLE PASSENGER DETECTION FOR REAR SEATING ROWS
First Claim
1. A system for alerting an occupant of a vehicle when a passenger safety device in a rear row is not properly used comprising:
- at least one control actuatable by a passenger in the rear row;
at least one microphone disposed within the vehicle and detecting sound made by the passenger;
a processor receiving control activity signals indicating that the at least one control has been actuated, receiving audio signals generated by the microphone, using the control activity signals and the audio signals to determine that the passenger is present, and receiving a status signal from the passenger safety device indicating that it is not in proper use; and
an alerting device providing an alert if the processor determines that the passenger is present and the passenger safety device is not in proper use.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting a passenger in a rear seating row of a vehicle and alerting an occupant of a vehicle when a passenger safety device in a rear row is not properly used. Occupancy is determined by sensing any actuation of a switch or control in the rear row along with detecting sounds made by the rear row passenger. A processor receives control activity signals indicating that a control has been actuated, receives audio signals generated by a microphone, and uses the control activity signals and the audio signals in combination to determine that the passenger is present. The processor also receives a status signal from the passenger safety device indicating that it is not in proper use. An occupant alerting device provides an alert to the occupant if the processor determines that the passenger is present and the passenger safety device is not in proper use.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for alerting an occupant of a vehicle when a passenger safety device in a rear row is not properly used comprising:
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at least one control actuatable by a passenger in the rear row; at least one microphone disposed within the vehicle and detecting sound made by the passenger; a processor receiving control activity signals indicating that the at least one control has been actuated, receiving audio signals generated by the microphone, using the control activity signals and the audio signals to determine that the passenger is present, and receiving a status signal from the passenger safety device indicating that it is not in proper use; and an alerting device providing an alert if the processor determines that the passenger is present and the passenger safety device is not in proper use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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monitoring a control located in a rear row of a vehicle to detect actuation thereof; detecting sound in the rear row; determining occupancy of the rear row based upon actuation of the control and sound detected in the rear row; monitoring a passenger safety device; and generating an alert if the rear row is occupied and the monitoring indicates that the passenger safety device is not properly used. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for alerting an occupant of a vehicle when a passenger safety device in a rear row is not properly used, the method comprising:
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monitoring at least one control located in the rear row; calculating a control activity value based at least in part upon a number of actuations of the at least one control; sensing sound in the rear row; calculating a voice output value indicating whether or not the sensed sounds include human speech; considering the control activity value and the voice output value in combination to determine whether a passenger is present in the rear row; monitoring a status of the passenger safety device to determine if it is properly used; and alerting the occupant if the passenger is present and the passenger safety device is not properly used. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification