Vehicle compartment occupancy detection system
First Claim
1. A vehicle compartment sensing system for detecting the presence of a person in a vehicle compartment, the vehicle having an ignition, said vehicle compartment sensing system comprising:
- at least one electric field sensor which is operable to detect occupancy in the vehicle compartment by detecting a change in an electric field within the compartment which is indicative of a presence of a person within the compartment, said at least one electric field sensor generating an electric field sensor output;
a temperature sensor operable to detect an ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment, said temperature sensor generating a temperature sensor output; and
a control, said control being operable to receive an input indicative of said temperature sensor output and an input indicative of said electric field sensor output, said control being operable to process said inputs and to generate an alert output, said control generating said alert output when (a) said electric field sensor output is indicative of a presence of a person within the compartment, (b) said temperature sensor output is indicative of the ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment being at or above a threshold temperature, and (c) a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the ignition of the vehicle is turned off;
wherein said change in said electric field is indicative of a respiration characteristic.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle compartment occupancy detection system is operable to detect a presence of a person or animal within a vehicle compartment, such as a vehicle cabin or trunk space, by detecting a change in an electric field within the compartment. The detection system includes an electric field generator and an electric field sensor which is operable to detect changes in the electric field generated within the compartment. The detection system may further be operable to activate an accessory in response to one or more inputs and the electric field sensor. The detection system may be operable in response to one or more inputs which are indicative of a hazardous condition within the vehicle compartment. The detection system may then be operable to take corrective action to at least partially alleviate the hazardous condition and/or to communicate to a person exteriorly of the vehicle that the hazardous condition exists.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A vehicle compartment sensing system for detecting the presence of a person in a vehicle compartment, the vehicle having an ignition, said vehicle compartment sensing system comprising:
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at least one electric field sensor which is operable to detect occupancy in the vehicle compartment by detecting a change in an electric field within the compartment which is indicative of a presence of a person within the compartment, said at least one electric field sensor generating an electric field sensor output;
a temperature sensor operable to detect an ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment, said temperature sensor generating a temperature sensor output; and
a control, said control being operable to receive an input indicative of said temperature sensor output and an input indicative of said electric field sensor output, said control being operable to process said inputs and to generate an alert output, said control generating said alert output when (a) said electric field sensor output is indicative of a presence of a person within the compartment, (b) said temperature sensor output is indicative of the ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment being at or above a threshold temperature, and (c) a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the ignition of the vehicle is turned off;
wherein said change in said electric field is indicative of a respiration characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A vehicle compartment sensing system for detecting the presence of a person in a vehicle compartment, the vehicle having an ignition, said vehicle compartment sensing system, comprising:
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at least one electric field generator which is operable to generate a electric field within the compartment;
at least one electric field sensor which is operable to detect said electric field within the vehicle compartment, said at least one electric field sensor generating an electric field sensor output;
a temperature sensor operable to detect an ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment, said temperature sensor generating a temperature sensor output; and
a control which is operable to determine occupancy of the vehicle compartment in response to a change in said electric field being detected by said at least one electric field sensor, said change in said electric field being indicative of respiration of a person within the compartment, said control being operable to receive an input indicative of said temperature sensor output and an input indicative of said electric field sensor output, said control being operable to process said inputs and to generate an alert output, said control generating said alert output when (a) said electric field sensor output is indicative of respiration of a person within the compartment, (b) said temperature sensor output is indicative of the ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment being at or above a threshold temperature, and (c) a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the ignition of the vehicle is turned off. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for sensing the presence of a person in a vehicle compartment, the vehicle having an ignition, said method comprising:
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providing at least one electric field sensor at the vehicle compartment;
sensing a change in an electric field within the vehicle compartment which is indicative of a presence of a person within the vehicle compartment;
providing a temperature sensor at the vehicle compartment;
sensing an ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment;
generating an alert output when (a) said sensed change in the electric field is indicative of a presence of a person within the compartment, (b) said sensed ambient temperature is at or above a threshold temperature, and (c) a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the ignition of the vehicle is turned off;
wherein sensing a change in an electric field comprises sensing a change in an electric field which is indicative of respiration of a person within the vehicle compartment. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
sensing at least one vehicle characteristic; and
actuating at least one accessory in response to the at least one vehicle characteristic and said at least one electric field sensor.
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40. The method of claim 39, wherein sensing at least one vehicle characteristic comprises at least one of determining a door lock status, determining a door position, determining a window position, determining a vehicle motion status, determining an ignition position, receiving a signal from a radar detector within the vehicle compartment, receiving a signal from an ultrasound detector within the vehicle compartment, receiving a signal from an imaging detector within the vehicle compartment, receiving a signal from a carbon dioxide detector within the vehicle compartment and receiving a signal from a carbon monoxide detector within the vehicle compartment.
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41. The method of claim 39, wherein actuating at least one accessory comprises at least one of communicating with a remote receiver, activating a ventilation system of the vehicle, actuating at least one of a horn or a light of the vehicle, activating a security system of the vehicle, unlocking the doors of the vehicle, opening at least one window of the vehicle, and activating a remote transducer.
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42. The method of claim 38 including providing at least one electric field generator which is operable to generate the electric field within the vehicle compartment.
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43. The method of claim 38, wherein sensing a change in an electric field comprises sensing a change in an electric field which is indicative of a biometric characteristic of a person within the vehicle compartment.
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44. The method of claim 38 including activating said electric field sensor in response to a signal indicative of a person exiting the vehicle.
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45. The method of claim 44 including deactivating said electric field sensor following a period of time after receiving said signal indicative of a person exiting the vehicle.
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46. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of generating an alert output comprises generating an alert output when said electric field sensor output is indicative of a presence of a person within the compartment and one of (a) said sensed ambient temperature is at or above a first threshold temperature and a first predetermined period of time has elapsed following the ignition of the vehicle being turned off, and (b) said sensed ambient temperature is at or above a second threshold temperature and a second predetermined period of time has elapsed following the ignition of the vehicle being turned off, said first threshold temperature being less than said second threshold temperature and said first predetermined period of time being greater than said second predetermined period of time.
Specification