VEHICLE CHILD SAFETY SYSTEM

• US 20180326870A1
• Filed: 05/09/2017
• Published: 11/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pierre-Richard Presna
• Original Assignee: Pierre-Richard Presna
• Inventors: PRESNA, PIERRE-RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US15/590,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20180326870A1
• 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 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• 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 2/274 characterised by the communication means between the child seat and another entity, e.g. vehicle or portable device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 Signal processing of sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/18 Anchoring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0205 Specific application combined with child monitoring using a transmitter-receiver system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• 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 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

The vehicle child safety system is a safety system that is configured for use in a vehicle. The vehicle child safety system is configured for use with a child safety seat. The vehicle child safety system: 1) determines whether the child safety seat is installed within the vehicle; 2) determines whether the child safety seat is occupied; 3) requires the operator to acknowledge the presence of the child safety seat before the operation of the vehicle; 4) monitors the location of the key fob relative to the vehicle. If it is determined: 1) that the key fob is external to the vehicle; and, 2) that the child safety seat is occupied; then, 3) the vehicle child safety system activates the horn and alarm flashes the exterior lights; and, 4) sends a message informing an appropriate authority that

Claims

1. A passenger detection system comprising:

a logic module, a communication module, an anchor sensor, a seat belt sensor, an anchor LED, and a seat belt LED;

wherein the passenger detection system is configured for use with a vehicle;

wherein the vehicle is further defined with a vehicle control system, a vehicle seat belt, a vehicle horn, and vehicle exterior lights;

wherein the logic module, the communication module, the anchor sensor, the seat belt sensor, the anchor LED, and the seat belt LED are electrically interconnected;

wherein the vehicle control system is further defined with a vehicle engine lock, a vehicle key fob, and a vehicle display;

wherein the passenger detection system is configured for use with a child safety seat;

wherein the child safety seat is installed within the vehicle;

wherein the child safety seat is further defined with a child safety seat belt;

wherein the passenger detection system and the vehicle control system are electrically interconnected;

wherein the passenger detection system determines whether the child safety seat is installed within the vehicle;

wherein the passenger detection system determines whether the child safety seat is occupied by a passenger;

wherein the passenger detection system requires an operator of the vehicle to physically acknowledge the presence of the child safety seat before the operation of the vehicle is permitted;

wherein the passenger detection system monitors the location of the vehicle key fob relative to the vehicle;

wherein if it is determined that;

     1) the vehicle key fob is located at a position external to the vehicle and, that the child safety seat is occupied;

then,

     2) the passenger detection system activates the vehicle horn;

     3) the passenger detection system flashes the vehicle exterior lights; and

,

     5) the passenger detection system transmits a message to an appropriate authority;

wherein the passenger refers to the occupant of the child safety seat;

wherein the vehicle control system exchanges information with the logic module through an interface;

wherein the vehicle engine lock is a functionality contained within the vehicle control system of the vehicle;

wherein the status of the vehicle engine lock is shared with and changed by the logic module using the interface;

wherein the vehicle key fob is a domestic article that further comprises an electronic device that is monitored by the vehicle control system;

wherein specifically the vehicle control system monitors the location of the vehicle key fob;

wherein the location of the vehicle key fob is shared by the vehicle control system with the logic module using the interface;

wherein the logic module is a programmable electronic device;

wherein the communication module is a wireless electronic communication device that allows the logic module to communicate to an appropriate authority using a wireless technology;

wherein the communication module communicates messages between the logic module and the appropriate authority through a commercially provided and publicly available cellular wireless network;

wherein the anchor sensor is a first switch that is monitored by the logic module;

wherein the anchor sensor is installed in the vehicle seat belt such that the opening and the closing of the vehicle seat belt actuates the first switch;

wherein the logic module senses the actuation position;

wherein the anchor sensor is installed in a vehicle seat belt that is used to anchor the child safety seat into the vehicle;

wherein the seat belt sensor is a second switch that is monitored by the logic module;

wherein the seat belt sensor is installed in the child safety seat belt such that the opening and the closing of the child safety seat belt actuates the second switch;

wherein the logic module senses the actuation position of the second switch;

wherein the anchor LED is a light emitting diode that is controlled by the logic module;

wherein the logic module illuminates the anchor LED when the logic module detects that the vehicle seat belt is latched and in use;

wherein the seat belt LED is a light emitting diode;

wherein the seat belt LED is controlled by the logic module;

wherein the logic module illuminates the seat belt LED when the logic module detects that the child safety seat belt is latched and in use;

wherein the vehicle control system exchanges information with the logic module through an interface;

wherein the vehicle engine lock is a functionality contained within the vehicle control system of the vehicle;

wherein the status of the vehicle engine lock is shared with and changed by the logic module using the interface;

wherein the vehicle key fob is a domestic article that further comprises an electronic device that is monitored by the vehicle control system;

wherein specifically the vehicle control system monitors the location of the vehicle key fob;

wherein the location of the vehicle key fob is shared by the vehicle control system with the logic module using the interface;

wherein the logic module is an electronic device;

wherein the communication module is a wireless electronic communication device that allows the logic module to communicate to an appropriate authority using a wireless technology;

wherein the communication module communicates messages between the logic module and the appropriate authority through a commercially provided and publicly available cellular wireless network;

wherein the anchor sensor is a first switch that is monitored by the logic module;

wherein the anchor sensor is installed in the vehicle seat belt such that the opening and the closing of the vehicle seat belt actuates the first switch;

wherein the logic module senses the actuation position;

wherein the anchor sensor is installed in a vehicle seat belt that is used to anchor the child safety seat into the vehicle;

wherein the seat belt sensor is a second switch that is monitored by the logic module;

wherein the seat belt sensor is installed in the child safety seat belt such that the opening and the closing of the child safety seat belt actuates the second switch;

wherein the logic module senses the actuation position of the second switch;

wherein the anchor LED is a light emitting diode that is controlled by the logic module;

wherein the logic module illuminates the anchor LED when the logic module detects that the vehicle seat belt is latched and in use;

wherein the seat belt LED is a light emitting diode;

wherein the seat belt LED is controlled by the logic module;

wherein the logic module illuminates the seat belt LED when the logic module detects that the child safety seat belt is latched and in use;

wherein the logic module is a programmable device;

wherein the passenger detection system and the vehicle control system are electrically interconnected;

wherein the logic module makes a first decision to determine whether the child safety seat is installed in the vehicle by checking the switch actuation position of the anchor LED;

wherein the logic module makes a second decision to determine whether the operator of the vehicle has acknowledged the presence of the child safety seat in the vehicle;

wherein the logic module then makes a third decision to determine whether the vehicle key fob;

is in the vehicle by sending a message through the interface to the vehicle control system requesting the location of the vehicle key fob;

wherein the logic module makes a fourth decision to determine if the child safety seat is occupied by checking the switch actuation position of the seat belt LED.

15. The passenger detection system according to claim 1

wherein the logic module is a programmable device;

wherein the passenger detection system and the vehicle control system are electrically interconnected;

wherein the passenger detection system determines whether the child safety seat is installed within the vehicle;

wherein the passenger detection system determines whether the child safety seat is occupied by a passenger;

wherein the passenger detection system requires an operator of the vehicle to physically acknowledge the presence of the child safety seat before the operation of the vehicle is permitted;

wherein the passenger detection system monitors the location of the vehicle key fob relative to the vehicle;

wherein if it is determined that;

     1) the vehicle key fob is located at a position external to the vehicle and, that the child safety seat is occupied;

then,

     2) the passenger detection system activates the vehicle horn;

     3) the passenger detection system flashes the vehicle exterior lights; and

,

     5) the passenger detection system transmits a message to an appropriate authority;

wherein the passenger refers to the occupant of the child safety seat.

17. The passenger detection system according to claim 116

wherein the logic module sends a message over the interface to the vehicle control system requesting that the vehicle engine lock be disabled thereby allowing the vehicle to be started;

wherein the logic module sends a message over the interface to the vehicle control system requesting that the vehicle engine lock be enabled thereby preventing the vehicle from starting;

wherein the logic module sends a message over the interface to the vehicle control system that requests the location of the vehicle key fob.

18. The passenger detection system according to claim 17 wherein the logic module sends a message through the communication module and the commercially provided and publicly available cellular wireless network to the appropriate authority.

19. The passenger detection system according to claim 18

wherein the logic module initiates the operation of the vehicle horn;

wherein the logic module illuminates in a flashing manner the vehicle exterior lights;

wherein the logic module silences the vehicle horn;

wherein the logic module extinguishes the vehicle exterior lights.

20. The passenger detection system according to claim 19

wherein the passenger detection system determines whether the child safety seat is installed within the vehicle;

wherein the passenger detection system determines whether the child safety seat is occupied by a passenger;

wherein the passenger detection system requires an operator of the vehicle to physically acknowledge the presence of the child safety seat before the operation of the vehicle is permitted;

wherein the passenger detection system monitors the location of the vehicle key fob relative to the vehicle;

wherein if it is determined that;

     1) the vehicle key fob is located at a position external to the vehicle and, that the child safety seat is occupied;

then,

     2) the passenger detection system activates the vehicle horn;

     3) the passenger detection system flashes the vehicle exterior lights; and

,

     5) the passenger detection system transmits a message to an appropriate authority.

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