PORTABLE OCCUPANT DETECTION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM WITH SMART SEAT CUSHION FOR USE WITH STANDARD CHILD CARSEATS

• US 20110080288A1
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jack M. Younse
• Original Assignee: Jack M. Younse
• Inventors: Younse, Jack M.
• Application Number:
  US12/575,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080288A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• 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 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/271 detecting or alerting means responsive to securing the child in the seat
• 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 2/2881 Upholstery, padded or cushioned members therefor

Abstract

A portable occupant detection and notification system comprised of a smart seat cushion for use with standard child carseats, a remote wireless vehicle door switch, and a wireless remote bullhorn. This system can be purchased in a box as an aftermarket product and used with any standard child carseat and any vehicle. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the system monitors the presence of a child in the carseat, the status of at least the driver'"'"'s door of the vehicle, the temperature inside the vehicle, and the status of any rechargeable batteries. The system reminds the driver by means of a voice message when leaving the vehicle that a child is onboard and further alerts the public within at least 200 feet of the vehicle when a child is left in an extreme temperature environment and needs help.

Claims

1. A system for detecting when a child is abandoned in an extremely hot or cold vehicle environment and sending a loud rescue message, comprising:

a carseat cushion assembly, said cushion assembly being secured in a standard child carseat, said cushion assembly comprising;

a microcontroller for overall control of said system;

a power source for supplying power to said cushion assembly, said power source being enabled when said child is placed in said child carseat;

a child detection means being coupled to a first input of said microcontroller, said detection means involving a carseat cushion pressure switching means located near the center of said carseat cushion, said switching means being enabled when said child is placed in said child carseat;

an inside vehicle temperature sensor being coupled to a second input of said microcontroller for detecting when the temperature inside said vehicle is above or below a predetermined safe temperature range;

an internal voice message means being coupled to a first output of said microcontroller for communicating with occupants of said vehicle regarding the status of said system; and

a transceiver for communicating with other remote components of said system;

a remote wireless vehicle door switch assembly, said door switch assembly being secured by mounting means on driver'"'"'s door post of said vehicle, said door switch assembly comprising;

a door transmitter for communicating with a first receiver of said transceiver of said carseat cushion assembly; and

a switch means for triggering said door transmitter when said vehicle'"'"'s driver door is opened;

a remote wireless bullhorn assembly for sounding a distress message when said child is in danger inside said vehicle, said bullhorn assembly comprising;

a receiver for receiving a signal from a transmitter of said carseat cushion transceiver;

a voice message means for storing a distress message; and

a high volume speaker for broadcasting said distress message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said carseat cushion assembly is secured by attaching means in the seat area of any standard child carseat.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said carseat cushion assembly is powered by means of a rechargeable battery, said power source being enabled by a carseat cushion pressure switch means.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said carseat cushion assembly further comprises a rechargeable battery monitoring capability with voice message to said vehicle driver when said battery needs recharging.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said internal voice message means is further comprised of:

a memory for storing recorded messages;

an amplifier; and

a speaker for broadcasting messages.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said carseat cushion assembly has an internal notification means, such as a beeper, to indicate when the system is armed and operating normally.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said carseat cushion assembly has a computer interface for use in monitoring, debugging, troubleshooting and programming said system'"'"'s operation.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless bullhorn assembly is powered by means of a rechargeable battery.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless bullhorn assembly is powered by means of said vehicle'"'"'s battery.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless bullhorn assembly has a transmitter for communicating with a second receiver of said carseat cushion transceiver for indicating the status of said bullhorn'"'"'s rechargeable battery.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said carseat cushion assembly has a factory preset safe operating temperature range.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said safe operating temperature range can be changed by means of software code of said microcontroller.

13. A carseat cushion assembly for detecting when a child is abandoned in an extremely hot or cold vehicle, said cushion assembly being capable of communicating with a wireless vehicle door switch and with a wireless remote bullhorn for purposes of detecting extreme environments inside said vehicle and notifying public by means of repeatedly sending a loud distress message, said cushion assembly suitable for securing by attaching means in the seat area of any standard child carseat, comprising:

a microcontroller;

a power source for supplying power to said cushion assembly, said power source being enabled when said child is placed in said child carseat;

a child detection means being coupled to a first input of said microcontroller, said detection means involving a carseat cushion pressure switching means located near the center of said carseat cushion assembly, said pressure switching means being enabled when said child is placed in said child carseat;

an inside vehicle temperature sensor being coupled to a second input of said microcontroller for detecting when the temperature inside said vehicle is above or below a predetermined safe temperature range;

an internal voice message means being coupled to a first output of said microcontroller for communicating with occupants of said vehicle regarding the status of said child'"'"'s safety; and

a transceiver for communicating with other remote components of a child rescue system.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said carseat cushion assembly is powered by means of a rechargeable battery.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said carseat cushion assembly further comprises a rechargeable battery monitoring capability with voice message to said vehicle'"'"'s driver when said battery needs recharging.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said internal voice message means is further comprised of:

a memory for storing recorded messages;

an amplifier; and

a speaker for broadcasting messages.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said carseat cushion assembly has a computer interface for use in monitoring, debugging, troubleshooting, and programming said cushion assembly'"'"'s operation.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said carseat cushion assembly has a factory preset safe operating temperature range, said safe operating temperature range capable of being changed through said computer interface.

19. A method for detecting and notifying that a child is abandoned in an extremely hot or cold vehicle, comprising:

providing a system for detecting when said child is abandoned in said hot or cold vehicle environment and sending a loud rescue message, comprising;

a carseat cushion assembly, said cushion assembly being secured in a standard child carseat, said cushion assembly further comprising;

a microcontroller for overall control of said system;

a power source for supplying power to said cushion assembly, said power source being enabled when said child is placed in said child carseat;

a child detection means being coupled to a first input of said microcontroller, said detection means involving a carseat cushion pressure switching means located near the center of said carseat cushion assembly, said switching means being enabled when said child is placed in said child carseat;

an inside vehicle temperature sensor being coupled to a second input of said microcontroller for detecting when the temperature inside said vehicle is above or below a predetermined safe temperature range;

an internal voice message means being coupled to a first output of said microcontroller for communicating with occupants of said vehicle regarding the status of said system;

a transceiver for communicating with other remote components of said system; and

a rechargeable battery;

a remote wireless vehicle door switch assembly, said door switch assembly being secured by mounting means on driver'"'"'s door post of said vehicle, said door switch assembly comprising;

a door transmitter for communicating with a first receiver of said transceiver of said carseat cushion assembly; and

a switch means for triggering said door transmitter when said vehicle'"'"'s driver door is opened;

a remote wireless bullhorn assembly for sounding a distress message when said child is in danger inside said vehicle, said bullhorn assembly further comprising;

a receiver for receiving a signal from a transmitter of said carseat cushion transceiver;

a voice message means for storing a distress message;

a high volume speaker for broadcasting said distress message; and

a rechargeable battery;

performing the operational functions of said system, said functions being comprised of;

step 1, determining when a child occupies said child carseat by monitoring the state of said cushion pressure switching means;

step 2, enabling said system once responsible occupants are in said vehicle and all door(s) are closed by means of monitoring the state of said wireless vehicle door switch assembly;

step 3, monitoring the status of said carseat cushion'"'"'s said rechargeable battery, thereby sending an internal charge battery voice message when said battery needs recharging;

step 4, sounding an audible sound indicating when system is armed and operating normally;

step 5, detecting when said driver'"'"'s door of said vehicle is opened, by means of monitoring the state of said remote wireless vehicle door switch assembly;

step 6, enabling said internal voice message means reminding that said child is still strapped in said child car seat;

step 7, inhibiting said system if said child is removed from said child car seat, as determined by monitoring the state of said cushion pressure switching means;

otherwise, if said child is left unattended in said child car seat;

step 8, sensing the internal temperature inside said vehicle by means of monitoring said inside vehicle temperature sensor;

step 9, continuously sounding a loud external distress message from said remote wireless bullhorn assembly that said child is in danger inside said vehicle, until someone comes to the aid of said child, when said vehicle'"'"'s inside temperature reaches an unsafe temperature; and

step 10, turning off power to said system when said child is safely removed from said vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said system has a redundant mode of operation overriding normal operation so that if said child is in said vehicle in an unsafe temperature environment, regardless of all other aspect of said system, then a loud external distress message from said bullhorn assembly will continuously be sounded until someone comes to the aid of said child and removes him or her from said vehicle.