Systems and methods for indicating the presence of a child in a vehicle

• US 8,212,665 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cars-N-Kids LLC
• Original Assignee: Cars-N-Kids LLC
• Inventors: Schoenberg, Gregory B., Steffen, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US12/335,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20090212955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 340/521, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/584, 340/457, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/457
• 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: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

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.

Claims

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.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a temporary disarming switch.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said pressure sensor is placed in a child seat.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said child seat is forward facing.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said child seat is rearward facing.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said child seat is a booster seat.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said notification system plays sound when activated.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said sound comprises a children'"'"'s song.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said notification system is also activated when said pressure sensor goes from detecting pressure to not detecting pressure.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein there is a delay after said accelerometer does not detect movement before said notification system is activated.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said delay is about 15 seconds.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein when said notification system activates said second time or said third time it contacts a remote device.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said remote device comprises a cell phone.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer comprises a 3-axis accelerometer.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said controller can distinguish acceleration indicative of a physical displacement of said vehicle from acceleration indicative of vibration of said child safety seat within said vehicle.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said notification system sends a message to a remote device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said remote device comprises a cell phone.

18. A method for assisting in the detection of a child in a parked motor vehicle, the method comprising:

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.

19. 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; 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.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said period comprises about 200 milliseconds.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said motion detecting system is built into said vehicle.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein said motion detecting system is built into said child safety seat.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein said child seat is forward facing.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein said child seat is rearward facing.

25. The device of claim 22 wherein said child seat is a booster seat.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein said notification system sends a message to a remote device.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said remote device comprises a cell phone.