OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEM WITH C02 DETECTION

• US 20160103111A1
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: GRIFFIN, DENNIS P.
• Application Number:
  US14/513,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103111A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/008 the input being air quality
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00978 Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods
• 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 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/26 Ultrasonic, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0063 using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0067 by measuring the rate of variation of the concentration
• 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

Abstract

An occupant safety system for a vehicle includes a carbon-dioxide (CO2) sensor and a controller. The CO2 sensor is configured to determine a CO2 concentration in a passenger cabin of the vehicle while the vehicle is not operating, i.e. parked. The controller is configured to determine that the passenger cabin is occupied by an occupant based on the CO2 concentration in a passenger cabin while the vehicle is not operating. If the CO2 concentration is a concern while the vehicle is not operating, the system may respond by activating a notification means such as a vehicle horn or alarm, or by ventilating the passenger cabin via opening the windows or operating a blower of a HVAC system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An occupant safety system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a CO2 sensor configured to determine a CO2 concentration in a passenger cabin of the vehicle while the vehicle is not operating; and

a controller configured to determine that the passenger cabin is occupied by an occupant based on the CO2 concentration in a passenger cabin while the vehicle is not operating.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the CO2 sensor is located in a lower third, volume-wise, of the passenger cabin.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the CO2 sensor is part of a seat-occupancy detection device.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller determines that the passenger cabin is occupied if the CO2 concentration is greater than a concentration threshold.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller determines that the passenger cabin is occupied if the CO2 concentration is increasing at a rate greater than a rate threshold.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes

an cabin-occupancy detection device configured to output a detection signal indicative of an occupant presence in the vehicle cabin, wherein

the controller is further configured to determine that the passenger cabin is occupied based on the detection signal and the CO2 concentration in a passenger cabin.

7. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the detection signal is based on one of visible light and near infrared light present in the vehicle cabin.

8. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the detection signal is based on both visible light and near infrared light present in the vehicle cabin.

9. The system in accordance with claim 6, the detection signal is based on thermal energy radiated in the vehicle cabin.

10. The system in accordance with claim 6, the detection signal is indicative of ultrasonic sound waves reflected in the vehicle cabin.

11. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes

a notification means operable by the controller to indicate that the passenger cabin is occupied.

12. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes

a ventilation means operable by the controller to provide fresh air to the passenger cabin while the vehicle is not operating.

13. A method of operating an occupant safety system of a vehicle, said method comprising:

providing a CO2 sensor configured to determine a CO2 concentration in a passenger cabin of the vehicle while the vehicle is not operating; and

determining that the passenger cabin is occupied by an occupant based on the CO2 concentration in a passenger cabin while the vehicle is not operating.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein determining that the passenger cabin is occupied includes determining if the CO2 concentration is greater than a concentration threshold.

15. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein determining that the passenger cabin is occupied includes determining if the CO2 concentration is increasing at a rate greater than a rate threshold.

16. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the method includes

activating a notification means to indicate that the passenger cabin is occupied.

17. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the method includes

ventilating the passenger cabin while the vehicle is not operating.