Systems and methods for indicating the presence of a child in a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A device for providing notice that a child is in a child safety seat in a vehicle comprising:
- a pressure sensor;
an accelerometer;
a notification system; and
a controller;
wherein if said pressure sensor detects pressure in said child safety seat and said accelerometer does not detect acceleration indicative of a physical displacement of said vehicle, said controller activates said notification system;
wherein once said notification system is activated, said controller waits a preselected amount of time and if after said time has passed, said pressure sensor detects pressure in said child safety seat and said accelerometer does not detect acceleration indicative of a physical displacement of said vehicle, said controller activates said notification system a second time and with a different notification; and
wherein once said notification system is activated said second time said controller again waits a preselected amount of time and if after said time has passed, said pressure sensor detects pressure in said child safety seat and said accelerometer does not detect acceleration indicative of a physical displacement of said vehicle, said controller activates said notification system a third time and with a different notification.
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Abstract
Systems and methods which provide for an alarm or notification that a child is in a car seat. The systems generally determine if a child is in the seat and that the seat, and therefore the vehicle, is not in motion. Upon detecting both situations, the notification or alarm is activated.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A device for providing notice that a child is in a child safety seat in a vehicle comprising:
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a pressure sensor; an accelerometer; a notification system; and a controller; wherein if said pressure sensor detects pressure in said child safety seat and said accelerometer does not detect acceleration indicative of a physical displacement of said vehicle, said controller activates said notification system; wherein once said notification system is activated, said controller waits a preselected amount of time and if after said time has passed, said pressure sensor detects pressure in said child safety seat and said accelerometer does not detect acceleration indicative of a physical displacement of said vehicle, said controller activates said notification system a second time and with a different notification; and wherein once said notification system is activated said second time said controller again waits a preselected amount of time and if after said time has passed, said pressure sensor detects pressure in said child safety seat and said accelerometer does not detect acceleration indicative of a physical displacement of said vehicle, said controller activates said notification system a third time and with a different notification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for assisting in the detection of a child in a parked motor vehicle, the method comprising:
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detecting whether or not a child is in a vehicle; determining whether or not said vehicle is parked, wherein if said vehicle is not found to be repeatedly accelerating along a fixed axis, said vehicle is determined to be parked; and if said child is in said vehicle and said vehicle is parked, generating a notification signal to indicate the presence of said child.
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19. A device for providing notice that a child is in a child safety seat in a vehicle comprising:
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a pressure sensor; an accelerometer; a notification system; and a controller; wherein if said pressure sensor detects pressure in said child safety seat and said accelerometer does not detect acceleration indicative of a physical displacement of said vehicle, said controller activates said notification system; and wherein if said accelerometer indicates acceleration in the same direction for each of three subperiods within a period, said controller determines said vehicle is physically displaced in said period. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification