Apparatus and method for sensing a rearward facing child seat
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing the presence of an object having secured thereon identifier means providing an electromagnetic identifier return signal in response to a transmitted electromagnetic signal, said apparatus comprising:
- transmitter means for providing a transmitted electromagnetic signal having a frequency and a time duration, said transmitted electromagnetic signal from said transmitter means causing the identifier means to provide the electromagnetic identifier return signal, the electromagnetic identifier return signal having substantially the same frequency as said transmitted electromagnetic signal and continuing in duration beyond said transmitted electromagnetic signal;
receiver means for receiving an electromagnetic identifier return signal from the identifier means; and
processor means coupled to receive inputs from said transmitter means and said receiver means for determining the presence of the identifier means when said receiver means receives said electromagnetic identifier return signal and providing a signal indicative thereof.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (32) senses the presence of a rearward facing child restraint seat (34) in a vehicle. A frequency oscillator (80) is used to provide an electrical transmit signal which is applied to an antenna (60). The antenna (60) transmits an electromagnetic (EM) signal (62) which has a frequency and a time duration. An identification tag (54) is securable to the child restraint seat (34) and provides an EM return signal (64) in response to the EM transmit signal (62). The EM return signal (64) has the same frequency as the EM transmit signal (62) and continues past the EM transmit signal. The antenna (60) receives the EM return signal (64) and provides an electrical return signal in response to the EM return signal. A product detector (100) is coupled to receive both the electrical transmit signal and the electrical receive signal for determining the presence of the identification tag (54).
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing the presence of an object having secured thereon identifier means providing an electromagnetic identifier return signal in response to a transmitted electromagnetic signal, said apparatus comprising:
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transmitter means for providing a transmitted electromagnetic signal having a frequency and a time duration, said transmitted electromagnetic signal from said transmitter means causing the identifier means to provide the electromagnetic identifier return signal, the electromagnetic identifier return signal having substantially the same frequency as said transmitted electromagnetic signal and continuing in duration beyond said transmitted electromagnetic signal; receiver means for receiving an electromagnetic identifier return signal from the identifier means; and processor means coupled to receive inputs from said transmitter means and said receiver means for determining the presence of the identifier means when said receiver means receives said electromagnetic identifier return signal and providing a signal indicative thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for sensing the presence of an object, said method comprising:
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securing an identifier means to the object; transmitting an electromagnetic signal having a frequency and a time duration; providing an electromagnetic identifier return signal from the identifier means in response to the transmitted electromagnetic signal, the electromagnetic identifier return signal having substantially the same frequency as the transmitted electromagnetic signal and continuing past the transmitted electromagnetic signal; receiving the electromagnetic identifier return signal; processing the received electromagnetic identifier return signal using the transmitted electromagnetic signal; and determining the presence of the identifier means in response to the processed electromagnetic identifier return signal and providing a signal indicative thereof. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for sensing the presence of an object, said apparatus comprising:
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signal means for providing an oscillating electrical transmit signal having a frequency and a duration; antenna means for transmitting an electromagnetic signal for a time duration in response to said electrical transmit signal and for providing an electrical return signal in response to a received electromagnetic identifier return signal; identifier means securable to the object for providing said electromagnetic identifier return signal in response to said transmitted electromagnetic signal, said electromagnetic identifier return signal having substantially the same frequency as said transmitted electromagnetic signal and continuing for a time duration past the termination of said transmitted electromagnetic signal; and processor means coupled to said signal means and said antenna means for synchronously multiplying said electrical transmit signal and said electrical return signal to produce an electrical resultant signal indicative of the presence of the identifier means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for sensing the presence of an object having secured thereon identifier means providing an electromagnetic identifier return signal in response to a transmitted electromagnetic signal, said apparatus comprising:
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transmitter means for providing a transmitted electromagnetic signal having a frequency, the transmitted electromagnetic signal causing the identifier means to provide the electromagnetic identifier return signal, said transmitter means including a source outputting an oscillating signal at the frequency of the transmitted electromagnetic signal; receiver means for receiving an electromagnetic identifier return signal from the identifier means and for providing an electrical signal indicative of the electromagnetic identifier return signal; and processor means, coupled to receive the oscillating signal from said source and the electrical signal from said receiver means as inputs, for determining the presence of the identifier means when said receiver means receives the electromagnetic identifier return signal and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said processor means includes quasi-synchronous product detection means for multiplying the oscillating signal from said source and the electrical signal from said receiver means. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An apparatus for sensing the presence of an object having secured thereon identifier means providing an electromagnetic identifier return signal in response to a transmitted electromagnetic signal, said apparatus comprising:
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transmitter means for providing a transmitted electromagnetic signal, said transmitter means including oscillator signal means for providing an oscillating signal having a frequency, gate signal means for providing a gate signal having a pulse duration, AND gate means, coupled to receive the oscillating signal from said oscillator signal means and the gate signal from said gate signal means as inputs, for outputting a signal having the frequency of the oscillating signal from said oscillator signal means and having the duration of the gate signal from said gate signal means, and antenna means for outputting the transmitted electromagnetic signal having the frequency and duration of the signal output from said AND gate means, the transmitted electromagnetic signal causing the identifier means to provide the electromagnetic signal; receiver means for receiving an electromagnetic identifier return signal from the identifier means and for providing an electrical signal indicative of the electromagnetic identifier return signal; and processor means for determining the presence of the identifier means when said receiver means receives the electromagnetic identifier return signal and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said processor means including multiplier means, coupled to receive the oscillating signal from said oscillator signal means and the electrical signal from said receiver means as inputs, for multiplying the oscillating signal from said oscillator signal means and the electrical signal from said receiver means, and means for outputting a signal having a pulse width duration dependent upon the duration that the electrical signal from said receiver means oscillates with the oscillating signal from said oscillator signal means. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification