Baby on board reminder

• US 9,811,995 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Gjoni, Ermal, Deljosevic, Marjan
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US14/985,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20170190287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• 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: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/18 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• 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

An instrument panel interaction system for an automotive vehicle is provided that includes an alerting device configured to produce an alert. A controller is controllably coupled to the alerting device, the controller being operable to activate the alerting device to produce the alert. An inquiring device is communicatively coupled to the controller. The inquiring device is configured to ask the driver whether a child is present. The controller is configured to activate the alerting device to produce the alert when a predetermined condition is met and an affirmative response has been received that a child is present. A method of reminding a driver of the presence of a child within a motor vehicle is also provided.

Claims

1. A child-on-board alerting system for an automotive vehicle, the child-on-board alerting system comprising:

an alerting device configured to produce an alert;

a controller controllably coupled to the alerting device, the controller being operable to activate the alerting device to produce the alert; and

an inquiring device communicatively coupled to the controller, the inquiring device being configured to ask the driver whether a child is present;

wherein the controller is configured to activate the alerting device to produce the alert when a predetermined condition is met and the controller has received an affirmative response to the inquiring device;

the system further comprising a rear door sensor configured to detect whether a rear door is open;

wherein the predetermined condition includes at least one of the following;

a) the vehicle being turned off for a shut-off predetermined time frame without a rear door being opened as detected by the rear door sensor; and

b) the vehicle being parked and locked without first opening the rear door as detected by the rear door sensor;

the inquiring device being reconfigurable between the following modes;

an always ask mode wherein the inquiring device is configured to ask whether a child is present upon turning on the vehicle;

a sensor ask mode wherein the inquiring device is configured to ask whether a child is present when at least one of the following occurs in a start-up predetermined time frame;

a) the rear door is opened prior to opening a front door, b) the rear door is opened prior to starting the vehicle, and c) the rear door is opened prior to engaging a drive gear of the vehicle; and

a never ask mode wherein the inquiring device is configured to refrain from asking whether a child is present.

2. The child-on-board alerting system of claim 1, the inquiring device comprising an interactive display configured to display a question asking the driver whether a child is present, the interactive display being configured to receive an answer to the question and provide the answer to the controller.

3. A controller for implementing a child-on-board reminder system in a motor vehicle, the controller comprising:

a first control logic configured to ask a driver whether a child is present in the vehicle;

a second control logic configured to determine whether a predetermined condition has been met that matches a profile defined as a child being left in a vehicle;

a third control logic configured to activate an alerting device when the predetermined condition has been met and the controller has received an affirmative response to the first control logic;

wherein the predetermined condition includes at least one of the following;

a) the vehicle being turned off for a shut-off predetermined time frame without a rear door being opened as detected by the rear door sensor; and

b) the vehicle being parked and locked without first opening the rear door as detected by the rear door sensor; and

further comprising a fourth control logic configured to determine whether a rear door has been opened prior to opening a front door and starting the vehicle, in a start-up predetermined time frame.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the controller is reconfigurable between the following modes:

an always ask mode wherein the controller is configured to activate the first control logic upon turning on the vehicle;

a sensor ask mode wherein the controller is configured to activate the first control logic when, in a start-up predetermined time frame, at least one of the following occurs;

the rear door is opened prior to opening a front door, the rear door is opened prior to starting the vehicle, and the rear door is opened prior to engaging a drive gear of the first control logic.