Wireless object-proximity monitoring and alarm system
First Claim
1. A wireless child proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with child seats for vehicles wherein the child seat includes shoulder straps for restraining the child, said monitoring and alarm system comprising:
- a separable seat monitor for affixation to the child seat shoulder straps, said seat monitor including;
a first housing affixable to a first of the child seat shoulder straps;
a second housing affixable to a second of the child seat shoulder straps and having a transceiver for wireless communication and a microcontroller integrated with said transceiver, and further including a micro switch communicative with said microcontroller and responsive to the proximity of said first housing; and
a connecting strap extending between said first housing and said second housing, said connecting strap separable from at least one of said first housing and said second housing; and
a key fob for retention by a child caregiver, said key fob including;
a fob case;
a transceiver housed within said fob case for wireless communication with said seat monitor transceiver;
a microcontroller integrated with said transceiver; and
an alarm selectively operable between a first silent sate and a second audible alarm generating state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless child proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with child seats for vehicles includes a separable seat monitor for affixation to the seat'"'"'s shoulder straps. The seat monitor has a first housing affixable to one of the shoulder straps and a second housing affixable to a second shoulder strap. The second housing has a transceiver for wireless communication and a microcontroller integrated with the transceiver. A micro switch is communicative with the microcontroller and is responsive to the proximity of the first housing. A connecting strap extends between the housings and is separable from at least one housing. A key fob for retention by a child caregiver has a fob case and a transceiver therein for wireless communication with the seat monitor transceiver. A microcontroller is integrated with the transceiver, and an alarm is selectively operable between a first silent sate and a second audible alarm generating state.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless child proximity monitoring and alarm system for use with child seats for vehicles wherein the child seat includes shoulder straps for restraining the child, said monitoring and alarm system comprising:
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a separable seat monitor for affixation to the child seat shoulder straps, said seat monitor including; a first housing affixable to a first of the child seat shoulder straps; a second housing affixable to a second of the child seat shoulder straps and having a transceiver for wireless communication and a microcontroller integrated with said transceiver, and further including a micro switch communicative with said microcontroller and responsive to the proximity of said first housing; and a connecting strap extending between said first housing and said second housing, said connecting strap separable from at least one of said first housing and said second housing; and a key fob for retention by a child caregiver, said key fob including; a fob case; a transceiver housed within said fob case for wireless communication with said seat monitor transceiver; a microcontroller integrated with said transceiver; and an alarm selectively operable between a first silent sate and a second audible alarm generating state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. The monitoring and alarm system according to claim wherein said seat monitor transceiver is operable as a transmitter only, and further wherein said key fob transceiver is operable as a receiver only.
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10. A wireless seat monitor for use with child seats for vehicles wherein the child seat includes shoulder straps for restraining the child, said seat monitor comprising:
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a first housing affixable to a first of the child seat shoulder straps; a second housing affixable to a second of the child seat shoulder straps and having a transceiver for wireless communication and a microcontroller integrated with said transceiver, and further including a micro switch communicative with said microcontroller and responsive to the proximity of said first housing; and a connecting strap extending between said first housing and said second housing, said connecting strap separable from at least one of said first housing and said second housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of determining to trigger an alarm alerting a user that a child has been left unattended in a vehicle wherein the child is buckled in a child seat having affixed thereto a wireless seat monitor wherein the wireless seat monitor is of the type having a first housing affixed to a first of the child seat shoulder straps, a second housing affixed to a second of the child seat shoulder straps, the second housing having a transceiver for wireless communication and a microcontroller executing a predefined instruction set and integrated with the transceiver, and further having a micro switch communicative with the microcontroller and responsive to the proximity of the first housing, and a connecting strap extending between the first housing and the second housing, wherein the connecting strap is separable from at least one of the first and second housings, the method comprising the steps:
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receiving from the micro switch a “
connected”
signal signifying that the connecting strap is engaged with both the first housing and the second housing;receiving from the vehicle at least one other parameter signifying that the vehicle is potentially unoccupied other than the child in the child seat; and triggering a sensory alarm when the “
connected”
signal and the vehicle parameter are present. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification