VEHICLE OCCUPANT DETECTION AND ALERT SYSTEM

• US 20180025604A1
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Published: 01/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Protopsaltis Design Studios Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Protopsaltis Design Studios Incorporated
• Inventors: Protopsaltis, Anthony, Protopsaltis, Dimitri
• Application Number:
  US15/656,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20180025604A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2/0021 characterised by the type of sensor or measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/003 characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/26 for children B60N2/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/266 with detection or alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children; with detection or alerting means responsive to improper locking or installation of the child seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data
• 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 21/0205 Specific application combined with child monitoring using a transmitter-receiver system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a vehicle occupant detection and alert system including an onboard apparatus including a controller operably connected to an occupancy sensor, an environment sensor and a transceiver. The controller generates a signal indicating that an occupant is present. A mobile communication device is operably connected to the transceiver. The mobile communication device includes a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps including:

receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile device is restricted; and

generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code.

Claims

1. An vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising:

an onboard apparatus including a controller operably connected to an occupancy sensor, an environment sensor and a transceiver, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present;

a mobile communication device operably connected to the transceiver;

the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising;

receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile device is restricted; and

generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the alert condition indicates that a parameter exceeds a predetermined limit.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the parameter includes one of an insider vehicle temperature and a distance between the vehicle and the mobile device.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor initiates a second alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined time.

5. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein in the second alert mode a communication is generated to a communication device other than the mobile device, the communication including information as to the alert and the location of the vehicle.

6. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the processor initiates a third alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined time.

7. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein a communication is generated to an emergency services agency, the communication including information as to the alert and the location of the vehicle.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor generates an alert notification in response to communication between the controller and the mobile device being interrupted.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the occupancy sensor is integrated in a child safety seat.

10. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is operably connected to the transceiver via Narrow Band IoT.

11. An vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising:

an onboard apparatus including a controller operably connected to an occupancy sensor, and a transceiver, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present;

a mobile communication device operably connected to the transceiver;

the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising;

receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to a first alert condition indicating a temperature in the vehicle has exceeded a predetermined upper or lower limit, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile communication device is restricted; and

generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code.

12. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein a temperature sensor is operably connected to the controller.

13. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the processor initiates a second alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined wherein a communication is generated to a communication device other than the mobile device, the communication including information as to the alert.

14. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein a second alert condition is generated when an occupant is detected within the vehicle and a distance between the vehicle and a mobile device of a vehicle driver exceeds a predetermined distance.

15. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein the onboard apparatus includes a child safety seat and the controller is operably connected to the child safety seat.

16. A multi-passenger vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising:

a occupancy sensor to determine if a occupant is present in the vehicle;

a controller operably connected to the occupancy sensor, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present in the vehicle;

a transceiver operably connected to the controller;

a mobile communication device operably connected to the transceiver;

the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising;

receiving a signal from the controller via the transceiver indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle,

responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile device is restricted; and

generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code.

17. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein the alert condition indicates that a parameter exceeds a predetermined limit.

18. The system as defined in claim 17, wherein the alert condition is generated when an occupant is detected within the vehicle and a distance between the vehicle and a mobile device of a vehicle driver exceeds a predetermined distance.

19. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein the processor initiates a second alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined time.

20. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the processor initiates a third alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined time.

21. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein a communication is generated to a communication device other than the mobile device, the communication including information as to the alert and the location of the vehicle.

22. The system as defined in claim 17, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle restraint systems, each including an occupancy sensor to determine if an occupant is present in the restraint system, the controller being operably connected to each of the occupancy sensors.

23. The system as defined in claim 17, including an environment sensor is operably connected to the controller for sensing an environmental condition inside the vehicle, and the parameter includes an insider vehicle temperature.

24. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein the mobile communication device is operably connected to the first transceiver via Narrow Band IoT.

25. A multi-passenger vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising:

a plurality of vehicle passenger restraint systems, each including an occupancy sensor to determine if an occupant is present in the restraint system;

a controller operably connected to the occupancy sensors, an environment sensor and a first transceiver, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present in one or both of the vehicle restraint systems;

a mobile communication device operably connected to the first transceiver;

the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising;

receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated by the first transceiver and displayed on the mobile device; and

generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein entry of the code cancels the alert mode, and failure to enter the code within a predetermined time initiates a second alert mode, wherein in the second alert mode a communication is generated to a communication device other than the mobile device.

26. The system as defined in claim 25, wherein each passenger restraint system is operable connected to a second transceiver, the second transceivers communicating information to the first transceiver.