Wireless system to detect presence of child in a baby car seat

• US 7,321,306 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Prasanna, Umstead, Darren Paul, Spach, Daniel Ray, Lee, Joseph Kinman
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US11/194,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/572.1, 340/457, 340/457.1, 340459-460, 701/1, 701 45- 49, 280734-735
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 2/26 for children B60N2/30 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A wireless system that detects the presence of a child in a safety seat located in the passenger cabin of a vehicle includes a controller responsive to signals generated by sensors monitoring predefined functions of the vehicle, RFID tag device attached to the safety seat and RFID tag reader mounted in the cabin. The system generates control signals which activate an alarm, open the doors of the vehicle and roll down windows if the child is left in the safety seat of an unattended vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for protecting children or infants from being left in a vehicle comprising:

a safety seat in which a RFID tag is embedded, “

wherein the RFID tag is coupled to a sensor that detects whether a child is buckled into the safety seat”

;

a RFID tag reader operatively mounted in the cabin of said vehicle;

a computer;

a computer readable program installed on said computer, said computer readable program including;

a first instruction module being responsive to first signals from sensors to activate the RFID tag reader;

a second instruction module being responsive to second signals from the RFID tag that indicate that a child is buckled into the safety seat to wait a predetermined amount of time and, after passage of the predetermined amount of time, re-activate the RFID tag reader; and

a third instruction module being responsive to third signals from the RFID tag that indicate that the child remains buckled into the safety seat to sound alarms indicating the child is left in vehicle and taking other actions to prevent injury to the child.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a main control unit that emits a first enabling signal upon receipt of an indication that an ignition of an automobile has been turned off;

a RFID reader that receives the first enabling signal from the main control unit and generates and forwards first electromagnetic waves in response to receiving the first enabling signal;

an RFID tag coupled to a child safety seat that is configured to receive electromagnetic waves when a sensor detects that a buckle of the child safety seat is latched, such that when the buckle is latched and the RFID tag receives the first electromagnetic signals the RFID tag emits first identification signals, and wherein;

the RFID reader receives the first identification signals and in response thereto forwards a first indication to the main control unit that a child is retained in the child safety seat;

in response to receiving the first indication, the main control unit waits a predetermined amount of time and transmits a second enabling signal to the RFID reader;

in response to receiving the second enabling signal, the RFID reader generates and forwards second electromagnetic signals;

if the buckle remains latched, the REID tag emits second identification signals;

the RFID reader receives the second identification signals and in response thereto forwards a second indication to the main control unit that a child is retained in the child safety seat; and

the main control unit initiates an alarm to indicate that the child is retained in the child safety seat in response to receiving both the first and the second indications.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said RFID tag is part of an RFID device that includes an antenna;

a switch operatively coupled to the antenna; and

a circuit module operatively coupled to said switch, wherein said circuit module if activated generates and forwards through the antenna signals including identity of said RFID device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including an enabling signal that closes the switch from a normally opened position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the switch is a pressure sensitive switch that closes from a normally opened position if the child is seated in the safety seat.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the enabling signal is generated by pressure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the pressure results from a child being seated on a safety seat provided to accommodate said child.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the enabling signal is generated from closing of the buckle on a belt used to secure a child in a safety seat.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the RFID reader includes an antenna;

a switch operatively coupled to said antenna; and

RF circuit module operatively coupled to said switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 further including the main controller unit being responsive to signals received from said RFID reader and detection of a predefined condition generating at least one error signal signifying a need to take a corrective action to protect the child from injuries.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the corrective action includes activating an audio alarm.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the corrective action includes activating a light alarm.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the corrective action includes rolling down windows.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 further including vehicle door switch sensor for sensing if vehicle doors are opened or closed operatively coupled to said main controller unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the main controller unit includes a programmed microprocessor.