SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD IN A VEHICLE

• US 20120242476A1
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory B Schoenberg, Robert S. Steffan
• Original Assignee: Gregory B Schoenberg, Robert S. Steffan
• Inventors: Schoenberg, Gregory B., Steffan, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,477,024 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: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

Systems and methods which provide for an alarm or notification that a child is in a car seat. The systems generally determine if a child is in the seat and that the seat, and therefore the vehicle, is not in motion. Upon detecting both situations, the notification or alarm is activated.

Claims

1. A device for providing notice that a child has exited a car seat comprising:

a pressure sensor;

an accelerometer;

a notification system; and

a controller;

wherein

if said pressure sensor detects pressure and said accelerometer detects repeated acceleration along a fixed axis, then said controller does not activate said notification system; and

if said pressure sensor does not detect pressure and said accelerometer detects repeated acceleration along a fixed axis, then said controller activates said notification system to provide a first notification.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein

If said pressure sensor does detect pressure and said accelerometer does not detect repeated acceleration along a fixed axis, then said controller activates said notification system to provide a second notification.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said first notification and said second notification are the same.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said first notification and said second notification are different.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said pressure sensor is placed in a child seat.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said pressure sensor is an integral part of said child seat.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein said child seat is forward facing.

8. The device of claim 3 wherein said child seat is rearward facing.

9. The device of claim 3 wherein said child seat is a booster seat.

10. A system for providing notice that a child is no longer in a child safety seat comprising:

a vehicle, said vehicle driving down a road;

a child safety seat located in said vehicle;

a sensor for detecting a child is in said child safety seat;

a motion detector for detecting that said vehicle is driving down said road;

a notification system; and

a controller;

wherein if;

said sensor for detecting a child detects a child in said child safety seat in a first instance and fails to detect a child in said child safety seat in a second instance; and

said motion detector detects that said vehicle is driving down said road in both said first instance and said second instance;

then said controller activates said notification system to provide a first notification.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein if:

said sensor for detecting a child detects a child in said child safety seat in a first instance and detects a child in said child safety seat in a second instance; and

said motion detector detects that said vehicle is driving down said road in said first instance and does not detect that said vehicle is driving down said road in said second instance;

then said controller activates said notification system to provide a second notification.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said first notification and said second notification are the same.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said first notification and said second notification are different.

14. A method for assisting in the detection of a child that has exited a child seat while a vehicle is in motion, the method comprising:

detecting whether or not a child is in a child seat in a vehicle at a first time and a second time;

detecting whether or not said vehicle is accelerating along a fixed axis at said first time and said second time; and

if;

said child is in said child seat at said first time but not at said second time; and

said vehicle is accelerating along said fixed axis at both said first time and said second time;

then generating a first notification signal to indicate the child has exited said child seat.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein

if:

said child is in said child seat at said first time and at said second time; and

said vehicle is accelerating along said fixed axis at said first time but not at said second time;

then generating a second notification signal to indicate the child has been left in said child seat.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said first notification signal and said second notification signal are the same.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said first notification signal and said second notification signal are different.