Vehicle occupants alert and alarm system

• US 9,014,920 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricardo Torres
• Original Assignee: Ricardo Torres
• Inventors: Torres, Ricardo, Rios-Torres, Hansel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hutchinson, Alan D
• Application Number:
  US13/804,640
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/31 of human presence inside or outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• 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

A system and method uses a combination of sensors and electronics to reliably remind forgetful or negligent caregivers when they have or are about to leave one or more helpless occupants inside a vehicle, in addition to functioning as a traditional car alarm. One or more detectors sense the presence of the helpless occupant and the departure of the driver, at which time an ascending level of alarms are executed.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a helpless occupant and vehicle alarm system comprising:

one or more vehicle conditions sensors;

a system operator processor unit for installation on said vehicle, wherein said system operator unit is interfaced electrically with said one or more vehicle conditions sensors, said system operator unit is monitoring said one or more vehicle condition sensors and executing one or more pre-programmed action sequences in response to said sensors;

a portable remote pager unit in communication with said system operator processor unit, said portable remote pager unit being capable of encrypting said portable remote pager unit communication signals, and being capable of activating the alarm system, disabling the alarm system or activating a panic mode, providing visual and/or aural messages to operator;

electric circuitry control means for isolating the vehicle'"'"'s power door lock circuitry from the vehicle'"'"'s control, wherein upon activation of said electric circuit control means, said system operator processor unit exclusively controls said door locks; and

system electronic control means capable of discerning between helpless occupants alarms and vehicle theft situations and activating various system features accordingly; and

wherein said system operator processor unit is capable of detecting when one or more helpless occupant sensors are triggered and discerning if this happened after a programmable amount of time has passed during which said vehicle was sensed to be unoccupied, wherein said system operator processor unit responds as in a theft event.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle condition sensors comprise;

one or more removable sensors connectable to one or more seats in order to detect the presence of an occupant on said seat.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein;

said seats are comprised of child seats.

4. A helpless occupant and vehicle alarm protection method, said method comprising:

providing one or more vehicle conditions sensors in a vehicle;

installing a system operator processor unit on said vehicle, interfacing said system operator unit electrically with said one or more vehicle condition sensors, wherein said system operator unit monitors the said one or more vehicle condition sensors and executes one or more preprogrammed action sequences in response to said vehicle condition sensors;

providing a portable remote pager unit in communication with said system operator, processor unit, said portable remote pager portable unit being capable of encrypting said communication signals, and being capable of activating the alarm system, disabling the alarm system or activating a panic mode, providing visual and/or aural messages to operator;

installing electric circuitry control means for isolating the vehicle'"'"'s power door lock circuitry from the vehicle'"'"'s control, wherein upon activation of said electric circuit control means, said system operator processor unit exclusively controls said door locks; and

providing system electronic control means capable of discerning between helpless occupants alarms and vehicle theft situations and activating various system features accordingly; and

wherein said system operator processor unit is capable of detecting when one or more helpless occupant sensors are triggered and discerning if this happened after a programmable amount of time has passed during which said vehicle was sensed to be unoccupied, wherein said system operator processor unit responds as in a theft event.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said vehicle condition protection method comprises;

providing one or more removable sensors connectable to one or more seats in order to detect the presence of an occupant on said seat.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein;

said seats are comprised of child seats.