Child seat monitoring system and method for determining a type of child seat
First Claim
1. A child seat monitoring system for a child seat, the child seat having a first region and an opposite second region, the child seat having first and second patterns disposed on the first and second regions, respectively, both indicating whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat or a rearward-facing child seat relative to a vehicle seat, and a third pattern disposed on the first region where a child occupant would ordinarily be seated when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat;
- the system comprising;
a first detection apparatus configured to detect either the first pattern on the first region of the child seat or the second pattern on the second region of the child seat, said first detection apparatus being further configured to detect the third pattern when the first pattern is detected and a child occupant is not disposed in the child seat,; and
a controller operably communicating with the first detection apparatus, the controller configured to generate a first signal when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat and the third pattern is detected, a second signal when the child seat is rearward-facing and a third signal when the child seat is forward-facing and the third pattern is not detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A child seat monitoring system for a child seat and a method for determining a type of child seat are provided. The child seat has a first region and an opposite second region. The child seat has first and second patterns disposed on the first and second regions, respectively, both indicating whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat or a rearward-facing child seat relative to a vehicle seat. The system includes a first detection apparatus configured to detect either the first pattern on the first region of the child seat or the second pattern on the second region of the child seat. The system further includes a controller operably communicating with the first detection apparatus. The controller is configured to generate a first signal when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A child seat monitoring system for a child seat, the child seat having a first region and an opposite second region, the child seat having first and second patterns disposed on the first and second regions, respectively, both indicating whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat or a rearward-facing child seat relative to a vehicle seat, and a third pattern disposed on the first region where a child occupant would ordinarily be seated when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat;
- the system comprising;
a first detection apparatus configured to detect either the first pattern on the first region of the child seat or the second pattern on the second region of the child seat, said first detection apparatus being further configured to detect the third pattern when the first pattern is detected and a child occupant is not disposed in the child seat,; and a controller operably communicating with the first detection apparatus, the controller configured to generate a first signal when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat and the third pattern is detected, a second signal when the child seat is rearward-facing and a third signal when the child seat is forward-facing and the third pattern is not detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- the system comprising;
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11. A method for determining a type of child seat, the child seat having a first region and an opposite second region, the child seat having first and second patterns disposed on the first and second regions, respectively, both indicating whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat or a rearward-facing child seat relative to a vehicle seat, and a third pattern disposed on the first region where a child occupant would ordinarily be seated when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat, the method comprising:
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detecting at least one of the first pattern on the first region of the child seat and the second pattern on the second region of the child seat; determining whether the child seat is a forward-facing child seat based on at least one of the first and second patterns, utilizing a controller; and when the child seat is a forward-facing child seat, detecting the third pattern and determining whether a child occupant is not disposed in the child seat based upon detection of the third pattern. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification