Object-proximity monitoring and alarm system

• US 7,009,522 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seatsignal Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Seatsignal Incorporated
• Inventors: Flanagan, Stephen R., Thomasson, Daniel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/919,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 340/666, 340/665, 340/667, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/426.13, 340/426.21, 340/539.11, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 177/136, 200/85.A, 180/268, 180/271, 180/273
• US Class Current: 340/666
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A weight-sensitive mat or other sensor determines whether a child seat in a vehicle is occupied, a transmitter is proximate to the sensor, and a keychain fob or other portable unit includes a receiver and an alarm. Generally, if the child seat is occupied and the keychain fob is removed from proximity to the transmitter, the transmitter communicates this to the keychain fob receiver and the alarm is activated. Exemplary embodiments include an add-on kit including a base unit with a transceiver for use with existing car seats having a base and a detachable shell, an add-on kit without the base unit for use with existing unitary car seats, a car seat with the child sensor, transmitter, and/or base unit built into it, and an automatic checklist feature for diaper bags, strollers, etc.

Claims

1. A child-proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with a child seat securable within a vehicle, comprising:

a detector assembly including a sensor and a transmitter, wherein the sensor is adapted to determine whether the child seat is occupied and the transmitter is operable to transmit a first indication that the child seat is occupied responsive to input from the sensor;

a base unit including a transceiver operable to receive the first indication that the child seat is occupied and, responsive thereto, to transmit a second proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied;

a portable unit housing an alarm and a receiver operable to receive the second proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied and to activate the alarm if the portable unit is removed beyond a first predetermined proximity range of the transmitter while the child seat is occupied; and

a plurality of satellite units each having a transceiver operable to communicate to the base unit whether they are within a predetermined accessory proximity range.

2. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 1, wherein the sensor of the detector assembly is a weight-sensitive mat.

3. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 1, wherein the portable unit comprises a keychain fob.

4. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 1, wherein the base unit transceiver is operable to transmit a query signal, the satellite unit transceivers are operable to receive the query signal and transmit a present signal, and the base unit includes indicators that are operable to indicate the proximity of the satellite units.

5. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 4, wherein satellite unit transceivers are operable to receive the query signal only if the satellite units are within the predetermined accessory proximity range, and the base unit is operable to actuate corresponding ones of the indicators for any of the satellite units for which a present signal is not received.

6. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is configured to transmit the first proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied only if the child seat is within a second predetermined proximity range of the base unit.

7. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 1, wherein the detector assembly transmitter is operable to transmit a third electromagnetic signal responsive to the input from the sensor that the child seat is occupied, and the base unit transceiver is operable to transmit the first proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied only if the third electromagnetic signal is being received.

8. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 7, wherein the detector assembly transmitter is operable to transmit the third electromagnetic signal with a strength that is receivable by the transceiver only within the second predetermined proximity range so that the portable unit receiver is operable to activate the alarm only if the base unit is within the second proximity range of the detector assembly.

9. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 7, wherein:

the transceiver is operable to intermittently transmit a first electromagnetic signal if the third signal is being received and to transmit a second electromagnetic signal if the third signal is not being received; and

the portable unit receiver is operable to receive the first and second electromagnetic signals and to activate the alarm if more than a predetermined length of time passes between successive receptions of the first electromagnetic signal, unless one of the second electromagnetic signals is received in the interim.

10. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 9, wherein the base unit transceiver is operable to transmit the first signal with a strength that is receivable by the portable unit receiver only within a first predetermined proximity range so that the alarm is activated if the portable unit is moved beyond the first proximity range of the base unit.

11. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 1 in combination with the child seat.

12. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 11, wherein the child seat comprises a base and a shell detachable from the base, and the sensor is included in or positionable on the child seat shell and the base unit is included in or positionable in proximity to the child seat base.

13. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a switch configured for determining if a seat belt of the child seat is connected.

14. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 1, further comprising a switch configured for determining if a seat belt of the child seat is connected, wherein the base unit includes a seat belt indicator and is operable to actuate the seat belt indicator in response to receiving an indication that the seat belt is disconnected as determined by the switch.

15. A child-proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with child seat securable within a vehicle, comprising:

a detector assembly including a sensor and a transmitter, wherein the sensor is adapted to determine whether the child seat is occupied;

a base unit including a transceiver in communication with the sensor and a plurality of indicators;

a portable unit including a receiver and an alarm; and

a plurality of satellite units each including a transceiver in communication with the base unit transceiver,

wherein the detector assembly, the base unit, and the portable unit cooperate to determine whether the child seat in the vehicle is occupied and the portable unit is removed from proximity from the vehicle, the satellite units are operable to communicate to the base unit whether they are within a predetermined accessory proximity range, and the base unit indicators are operable to indicate whether the satellite units are within the predetermined accessory proximity range.

16. The child-proximity monitoring and alarm system of claim 15, wherein the base unit transceiver is operable to transmit a query signal, the satellite unit transceivers are operable to receive the query signal and transmit a present signal only if the satellite units are within the accessory predetermined proximity range, and the base unit is operable to actuate corresponding ones of the indicators for any of the satellite units for which a present signal is not received.

17. A base unit for use in a child-proximity monitoring and alarm system used with a child seat securable within a vehicle, the monitoring and alarm system including a sensor, a transmitter operable to transmit a first indication that the child seat is occupied based on input from the sensor, and a portable unit comprising a receiver and an alarm, the base unit comprising:

a base unit including a transceiver in communication with the sensor and a plurality of indicators, the transceiver operable to receive the first indication from the transmitter that the child seat is occupied based on the input from the sensor and, responsive thereto, to transmit a second proximity-sensitive indication that the child seat is occupied that is receivable by the portable unit receiver only within a first predetermined proximity range, wherein the alarm is activated if the portable unit is removed beyond the first predetermined proximity range of the transceiver; and

a plurality of satellite units each including a transceiver in communication with the base unit transceiver, wherein the satellite units are operable to communicate to the base unit whether they are within a predetermined accessory proximity range, and the base unit indicators are operable to indicate whether the satellite units are within the predetermined accessory proximity range.

18. The base unit of claim 17, wherein the transceiver is operable to receive from the transmitter a third electromagnetic signal responsive to the input from the sensor that the child seat is occupied, and to intermittently transmit a first electromagnetic signal if the third signal is being received and to transmit a second electromagnetic signal if the third signal is not being received, wherein the portable unit receiver receives the first and second electromagnetic signals and activates the alarm if more than a predetermined length of time passes between successive receptions of the first electromagnetic signal, unless one of the second electromagnetic signals is received in the interim.

19. The base unit of claim 18, wherein the transceiver is operable to receive the third electromagnetic signal only within a second predetermined proximity range of the second transmitter and to transmit the first signal with a strength that is receivable by the portable unit receiver only within the first predetermined proximity range of the of the transceiver so that the alarm can be activated if the portable unit is moved beyond the first proximity range of the transceiver but only if the transceiver remains within the second proximity range of the second transmitter.

20. The base unit of claim 19, wherein the indicators comprise keys that illuminate to indicate that a corresponding one of the satellite units is not within the predetermined accessory proximity range.