Occupant detection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method to detect the presence of an occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising:
- capturing a thermal image of the seat;
processing the image for indicia of occupants wherein the indicia include thermal profile and movement;
reporting to an electronic device when an occupant is detected based on at least thermal profile and movement; and
generating an alert in response to the report indicating the presence of an occupant.
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Abstract
A system and method for detecting an occupant in a vehicle capture successive images from an infrared camera that are analyzed to detect thermal characteristics of an occupant as well as movement. If an operator of the vehicle has exited the vehicle, the vehicle is deactivated, an occupant is detected, and a temperature in the cabin of the vehicle is higher or lower than desired, a report is made to the operator via a mobile phone or key fob.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method to detect the presence of an occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising:
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capturing a thermal image of the seat; processing the image for indicia of occupants wherein the indicia include thermal profile and movement; reporting to an electronic device when an occupant is detected based on at least thermal profile and movement; and generating an alert in response to the report indicating the presence of an occupant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method to detect the presence of an occupant in a vehicle, comprising:
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capturing a series of thermal images of a vehicle seat; processing the images for indicia of occupants wherein the indicia include at least thermal profile and movement; and sending an alert to a remote electronic device when an occupant is detected based on the indicia, a driver has exited the vehicle, and the vehicle is in a key-off mode, wherein the remote device is a key fob and the alert is at least one of;
an audible alarm generated by the key fob, an illuminated alarm, and a vibrating alarm, and wherein the determination that the driver has exited the vehicle is based on at least one of;
a detected location of the key fob outside the vehicle, and driver'"'"'s door being opened and subsequently closed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An occupant presence detection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an infrared camera coupled to the vehicle; a processor coupled to the infrared camera wherein the camera is commanded to capture a series of consecutive images, the images are uploaded to the processor, the images are analyzed in the processor, and the presence of an occupant is based on both image processing indicating a potential occupant and movement of a feature of the potential occupant; and a transmitter coupled to the vehicle and electronically coupled to the processor wherein the processor commands the transmitter to send an alert to a key fob associated with the vehicle when the processor has detected an occupant in the vehicle and the key fob is determined to be outside the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification