Health monitoring system for car seat

• US 6,809,643 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Dabney, Richard W., Elrod, Susan Vinz
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/392,487
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539-5-5, 340/576, 340/438, 701/45, 180/271, 280/735
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• 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 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00

Abstract

A health monitoring system for use with a child car seat has sensors mounted in the seat to monitor one or more health conditions of the seat'"'"'s occupant. A processor monitors the sensor'"'"'s signals and generates status signals related to the monitored conditions. A transmitter wirelessly transmits the status signals to a remotely located receiver. A signaling device coupled to the receiver produces at least one sensory (e.g., visual, audible, tactile) output based on the status signals.

Claims

1. A health monitoring system for use with a child car seat, comprising:

sensors mounted in a child car seat for monitoring an occupant sitting therein in terms of at least one of respiratory rate, heart rate and body temperature of the occupant, and for generating signals indicative thereof;

a processor mounted to the child car seat and coupled to said sensors for monitoring said signals and for generating status signals related to at least one of respiratory rate, heart rate and body temperature of the occupant;

a transmitter mounted to the child car seat and coupled to said processor for wirelessly transmitting said status signals;

means for remotely controlling activation of said sensors, said processor and said transmitter;

a receiver located remotely with respect to the child car seat for receiving said status signals so-transmitted; and

a signaling device coupled to said receiver for producing at least one sensory output based on said status signals, said at least one sensory output selected from the group consisting of visual, audible and tactile outputs.

2. A health monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein said means for remotely controlling is voice activated.

3. A health monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein said signaling device includes means for facilitating mounting of same in a vehicle in which the child car seat is installed.

4. A health monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein said signaling device includes means for attaching same to an article of clothing.

5. A health monitoring system as in claim 1 further comprising a GPS receiver mounted to the child car seat for sensing a position of the child car seat and for generating a position signal indicative thereof, said GPS receiver coupled to said transmitter wherein said position signal is transmitted wirelessly therefrom.

6. A health monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed with at least one threshold level of respiratory rate, heart rate and body temperature, and wherein said status signals are based on relationships between said signals so-monitored and said at least one threshold.

7. A health monitoring system for use with a child car seat, comprising:

sensors mounted in a child car seat for monitoring an occupant sitting therein in terms of at least one of respiratory rate, heart rate and body temperature of the occupant, and for generating signals indicative thereof;

a processor mounted to the child car seat and coupled to said sensors for monitoring said signals and for generating status signals related to at least one of respiratory rate, heart rate and body temperature of the occupant;

a transmitter mounted to the child car seat and coupled to said processor for wirelessly transmitting said status signals;

means for remotely controlling activation of said sensors, said processor and said transmitter;

power management means mounted on the child car seat and coupled to said sensors, said processor and said transmitter for supplying power thereto, said power management means including a rechargeable battery serving as a local source of said power and at least one port for receiving said power from a remotely-located source of said power;

a receiver located remotely with respect to the child car seat for receiving said status signals so-transmitted; and

a signaling device coupled to said receiver for producing at least one sensory output based on said status signals, said at least one sensory output selected from the group consisting of visual, audible and tactile outputs.

8. A health monitoring system as in claim 7 wherein said means for remotely controlling is voice activated.

9. A health monitoring system as in claim 7 wherein said signaling device includes means for facilitating mounting of same in a vehicle in which the child car seat is installed.

10. A health monitoring system as in claim 7 wherein said signaling device includes means for attaching same to an article of clothing.

11. A health monitoring system as in claim 7 further comprising a GPS receiver mounted to the child car seat for sensing a position of the child car seat and for generating a position signal indicative thereof, said GPS receiver coupled to said transmitter wherein said position signal is transmitted wirelessly therefrom.

12. A health monitoring system as in claim 7 wherein said processor is programmed with at least one threshold level of respiratory rate, heart rate and body temperature, and wherein said status signals are based on relationships between said signals so-monitored and said at least one threshold.