Pressures Sensor Device for a Car Seat with Wireless Communication

• US 20180056814A1
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul Tanyi
• Original Assignee: Paul Tanyi
• Inventors: Tanyi, Paul
• Application Number:
  US15/253,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20180056814A1
• 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 2/2881 Upholstery, padded or cushioned members therefor
• 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

A car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication includes a wireless transmitter and a pressure sensor assembly. The wireless transmitter is configured for wirelessly communicating with a portable electronic device via a wireless signal. The pressure sensor assembly includes at least one pressure sensor and is interconnected with the wireless transmitter. The pressure sensor assembly is operable to turn on or off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter. The pressure sensor device is configured to turn on the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly senses a certain weight, and turn off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly does not sense the certain weight.

Claims

1. A car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured for wirelessly communicating with a portable electronic device via a wireless signal;

a pressure sensor assembly with at least one pressure sensor interconnected with the wireless transmitter and being operable to turn on or off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter;

wherein, the pressure sensor device is configured to;

turn on the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly senses a certain weight;

turn off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly does not sense the certain weight.

2. The car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the certain weight being configured for detecting a presence of a child on the pressure sensor assembly, whereby the pressure sensor device is configured to:

turn on the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly senses the presence of the child where the portable electronic device is operable to determine a proximity to the wireless transmitter for notifying a user that the child has been left on the pressure sensor device when the proximity is greater than a set distance; and

turn off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter when the pressure sensor assembly does not sense the presence of the child.

3. The car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor assembly comprises two or more pressure sensors connected in series to the wireless transmitter via ribbon wiring.

4. The car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication of claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor assembly comprises four pressure sensors connected in series to the wireless transmitter via ribbon wiring having two wires, where the four pressure sensors are oriented in a rectangular shape with each pressure sensor at a corner.

5. The car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication of claim 4, wherein the pressure sensor assembly including:

a cover enclosing the pressure sensors being a bottom layer bonded to a top layer;

a middle component being a silver paste between the two wires of the ribbon wiring and/or between the pressure sensors; and

an adhesive on a bottom of the pressure sensor assembly for securing the pressure sensor in a location.

6. The car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication of claim 1 further comprising:

a battery;

a sensor connector interconnected between the battery and the wireless transmitter and operable to connect and disconnect the battery to the wireless transmitter;

said sensor connector is in communication with the pressure sensor assembly for detecting a resistance in the pressure sensor assembly, whereby, the sensor connector is configured to;

connect the battery to the wireless transmitter when the pressure sensor assembly provides a certain resistance; and

disconnect the battery to the wireless transmitter when the pressure sensor assembly does not provide the certain resistance; and

a microprocessor for controlling the pressure sensor device, the microprocessor including a memory component for storing wireless communication information.

7. The car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication of claim 6 further comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being configured to house and provide connections between:

the wireless transmitter;

the pressure sensor assembly;

the sensor connector; and

the microprocessor including the memory component.

8. The car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication of claim 7 further comprising a removable case for the printed circuit board, the removable case being configured for accessing the battery for replacement.

9. The car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication of claim 1 being:

inserted in a removable cushion for a car seat configured for insertion on top of the car seat;

or

manufactured into the car seat.

10. A car seat cushion comprising:

the car seat cushion being configured for insertion on top of a car seat; and

a car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication inserted inside the car seat cushion, the car seat pressure sensor device comprising;

a wireless transmitter configured for wirelessly communicating with a portable electronic device via a wireless signal;

a pressure sensor assembly interconnected with the wireless transmitter and being operable to turn on or off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter;

wherein, the car seat cushion is configured to;

turn on the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly senses a certain weight;

turn off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly does not sense the certain weight.

11. The car seat cushion of claim 10, wherein the certain weight being configured for detecting a presence of a child on the pressure sensor assembly, whereby the car seat cushion is configured to:

turn on the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly senses the presence of the child where the portable electronic device is operable to determine a proximity to the wireless transmitter for notifying a user that the child has been left in the car seat when the proximity is greater than a set distance; and

turn off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter when the pressure sensor assembly does not sense the presence of the child.

12. The car seat cushion of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensor assembly is positioned in a bottom of the car seat cushion, and the wireless transmitter is positioned in a side flap of the car seat cushion.

13. The car seat cushion of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensor assembly comprises four pressure sensors connected in series to the wireless transmitter via ribbon wiring having two wires, where the four pressure sensors are oriented in a rectangular shape with each pressure sensor at a corner, the rectangular shape having a width of approximately 120.0 mm, and a height of 92.8 mm, each pressure sensor having a radius of approximately 15.0 mm, each ribbon wiring having a width of 12.0 mm.

14. The car seat cushion of claim 13, wherein the pressure sensor assembly including:

a cover enclosing the pressure sensor assembly being a bottom layer bonded to a top layer;

a middle component being a silver paste between the two wires of the ribbon wiring and/or between the pressure sensors;

an adhesive on a bottom of the pressure sensor assembly for securing the pressure sensor in a location;

a battery;

a sensor connector interconnected between the battery and the wireless transmitter and operable to connect and disconnect the battery to the wireless transmitter;

said sensor connector is in communication with the pressure sensor for detecting a resistance in the pressure sensor, whereby, the sensor connector is configured to;

connect the battery to the wireless transmitter when the pressure sensor provides a certain resistance; and

disconnect the battery to the wireless transmitter when the pressure sensor does not provide the certain resistance;

a microprocessor for controlling the pressure sensor device, the microprocessor including a memory component for storing wireless communication information;

a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being configured to house and provide connections between;

the wireless transmitter;

the pressure sensor assembly;

the sensor connector; and

the microprocessor including the memory component; and

/or

a removable case for the printed circuit board, the removable case being configured for accessing the battery for replacement.

15. A car seat system comprising:

a car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication comprising;

a wireless transmitter configured for wirelessly communicating with a portable electronic device via a wireless signal;

a pressure sensor assembly interconnected with the wireless transmitter and being operable to turn on or off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter;

wherein, the pressure sensor device is configured to;

turn on the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly senses a child;

turn off the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter for communication with the portable electronic device when the pressure sensor assembly does not sense the child;

a software program installed on the portable electronic device, the software program is configured to;

continuously search for the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter;

pair with the wireless transmitter when the wireless signal is received;

track a proximity to the wireless transmitter once paired; and

notify a user that the child is still on the car seat pressure sensor device when the proximity to the wireless transmitter is greater than a set distance.

16. The car seat system of claim 15, wherein the software program installed on the portable electronic device further being configured to:

store multiple users for each of the pressure sensor devices and associate the software program installed on each of the user'"'"'s portable electronic devices; and

notify one or all users when the child has been forgotten in the car seat.

17. The car seat system of claim 15, wherein the software program installed on the portable electronic device further being configured to:

store multiple car seat pressure sensor devices with wireless communication for multiple children and provide a name for each stored car seat pressure sensor device.

18. The car seat system of claim 15, wherein the software program installed on the portable electronic device further being configured to:

send a notification for when the child is out of the car seat;

send a notification for when the child is in the car seat;

send, display, and/or provide an alert notification for when the child has been forgotten in the car seat; and

repeat the sent, displayed, and/or provided alert notification at a set interval.

19. The car seat system of claim 15, wherein the software program installed on the portable electronic device further being configured to:

initially register the user, where the user enters identification information, contact information, and creates a password;

prompts the registered user to find the car seat pressure sensor device to associate the portable electronic device with;

search for the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter of the car seat pressure sensor device that is to be associated with the portable electronic device;

display the found car seat pressure sensor devices;

select the car seat pressure sensor device that is to be associated with the portable electronic device; and

enter a name for the selected car seat pressure sensor device.

20. The car seat system of claim 15, wherein the car seat pressure sensor device with wireless communication being:

manufactured in a car seat;

or

inserted into a removable cushion for a car seat configured for insertion on top of the car seat.