Endangered child in vehicle alarm

• US 7,710,277 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wilson, Bruce R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US11/647,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20080157985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/584, 340/457
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• 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 2/0026 for distinguishing between humans, animals or objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/266 with detection or alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children; with detection or alerting means responsive to improper locking or installation of the child seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/18 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• 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

An alarm system is disclosed for detecting and signaling that a human or an animal is in an enclosed space such as a motor vehicle which includes a monitoring device for monitoring temperature in an enclosed space. The monitoring device may specify a minimum and/or maximum temperature, or a range of temperatures in the enclosed space. A detection device detects the presence of a human or animal in the enclosed space when an unacceptable temperature is reached. In the system disclosed, the human or animal is unable to exit the enclosed space, and a signaling device is used to communicate a signal to a receiver outside the enclosed space indicating the presence of the human or the animal in the enclosed space.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and signaling that an animal or human is in an enclosed space, which comprises:

a monitoring device for monitoring temperature in an enclosed space wherein the monitoring device specifies an unacceptable temperature for the enclosed space;

an infrared device for detecting a presence of a human or animal in the enclosed space when the unacceptable temperature is reached, where the presence of an immobile human or animal trips the infrared device by temperature differences associated with thermography; and

a detection circuit responsive to the monitoring device and the infrared device; and

the detection circuit determines a state of operation in which said unacceptable temperature is reached and said infrared device is not tripped, wherein in said state of operation the infrared device scans and images the enclosed space to obtain a first infrared image and after a period of time a second infrared image wherein the first and second images are compared to detect the presence of the animal or human by movement by the detection circuit; and

a signaling device responsive to the detection circuit for communicating a signal to a receiver outside the enclosed space indicating the presence of the human or the animal in the enclosed space when the unacceptable temperature is reached and presence of an immobile or moving animal or human is detected.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes using an infrared sensor for detecting the unacceptable temperature.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal includes an image of the animal or human.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal includes a sound.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is wireless.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosed space is locked.

7. The system of claim 1, where the enclosed space is a motor vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the person is a child.

9. A method for detecting and signaling that an animal or person is in a enclosed space, comprising:

monitoring temperature in an enclosed space to detect an unacceptable temperature for the enclosed space;

initiating an infrared device when the temperature exceeds a specified temperature;

said initiating comprising;

periodically scanning and imaging the enclosed space with the infrared device for immobilized animals or humans where the infrared device is tripped by immobilized animals or humans detected by temperature differences associated with thermography;

comparing the periodically scanned images from the infrared device to detect the presence of the animal or human in the enclosed space by movement when the temperature in the enclosed space is unacceptable and an earlier scan did not result in a tripping of the infrared device; and

communicating an alarm outside the enclosed space when the animal or person is detected in the enclosed space.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of:

activating an alarm system by a first person when the first person leaves the enclosed space.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of activating the alarm system is automatic.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the alarm system is substantially continuously on.

13. The method of claim 9, further including communicating the alarm to a person.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal communicates global positioning coordinates to emergency personnel.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal includes communicating a location of the animal or human.