SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RETRIEVING A STATUS OF A CHILD SEAT AND SUPPLYING ENERGY THERETO

• US 20130049947A1
• Filed: 08/08/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polycontact AG
• Original Assignee: Polycontact AG
• Inventors: LANTER, JOSHUA
• Application Number:
  US13/569,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049947A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457.1
• 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 2/0022 for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/268 detecting or alerting means responsive to the installation of the child seats in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/271 detecting or alerting means responsive to securing the child in the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/274 characterised by the communication means between the child seat and another entity, e.g. vehicle or portable device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2816 with additional belt accessories, e.g. belt tension detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2815 with additional belt accessories, e.g. a belt tension detector
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission

Abstract

An exemplary system and method of monitoring a child seat in a vehicle having a seat electronics arrangement which is structured to be provided at or near the child seat and a transmission arrangement structured to be provided at or near a belt of the vehicle. The transmission arrangement is configured to transmit energy and a signal from a vehicle electronics arrangement of the vehicle to the seat electronic arrangement, and to transmit the signal from the seat electronics arrangement to the vehicle electronics arrangement.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a child seat in a vehicle, comprising:

a seat electronics arrangement which is structured to be provided at or near the child seat; and

a transmission arrangement structured to be provided at or near a belt of the vehicle, wherein the transmission arrangement is configured to transmit;

a. an energy and a signal from a vehicle electronics arrangement of the vehicle to the seat electronics arrangement, and

b. the signal from the seat electronics arrangement to the vehicle electronics arrangement.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the seat electronics arrangement comprises a sensor for detecting a parameter of a status of the child seat.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the parameter is at least one of a seat surface loading, a backrest loading, a released/engaged state of a buckle of the belt, a tension in the belt, a vital statistics of a child sitting on the child seat, a position of the child seat with respect to the vehicle, or a fixing status of the child seat to the vehicle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the seat electronics arrangement comprises an energy storage arrangement configured to supply the energy to the seat electronics arrangement.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the energy storage arrangement is chargeable via the transmission arrangement.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmission arrangement is configured to wirelessly transmit the energy and the signal.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an indicating arrangement.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein in the indicating arrangement is connected to a buckle of the belt.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the indicating arrangement is at least one of an optical element or an acoustic element.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the indicating arrangement is an LED.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmission arrangement is connected to a buckle of the belt.

12. A method for indicating the status of a child seat comprising:

transmitting, using a transmission arrangement structured to be provided at or near a belt of a vehicle;

a. an energy and a signal from a vehicle electronics arrangement of the vehicle to a seat electronics arrangement, the seat electronics arrangement structured to be provided at or near the child seat;

; and

b. a signal from the seat electronics arrangement to the vehicle electronics arrangement.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the seat electronics arrangement comprises a sensor for detecting a parameter of a status of the child seat.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein parameter is at least one of a seat surface loading, a backrest loading, a released/engaged state of a belt buckle, a tension in a belt, a vital statistics of a child sitting on the child seat, a position of the child seat with respect to the vehicle, or a fixing status of the child seat to the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the seat electronics arrangement comprises an energy storage arrangement configured to supply energy to the seat electronics arrangement.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmission arrangement is configured to wirelessly transmits the energy and the signal.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising indicating a parameter of the status of the child seat using an indicating arrangement.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein in the indicating arrangement is connected to a vehicle belt buckle.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the indicating arrangement is at least one of an optical element or an acoustic element.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the indicating arrangement is an LED.