Child seat monitoring system and method

• US 9,994,150 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Appukutty, Jayagopal, Ghannam, Mahmoud Yousef, Conner, Dana, Bennie, Clara
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US15/589,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20170240111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• 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 2/0025 by using weight measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/26 for children B60N2/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/268 detecting or alerting means responsive to the installation of the child seats in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/272 Buckle lock sensors for child seat safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2803 Adaptations for seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2809 with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2816 with additional belt accessories, e.g. belt tension detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2872 provided with side rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/289 coupled to the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2815 with additional belt accessories, e.g. a belt tension detector
• 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 2220/20 : using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 : Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 : automatically actuated
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments include a vehicle comprising a user interface, a first sensor coupled to a child seat for detecting a child seat belt status; a gear selector for selecting a vehicle gear, and a processor communicatively coupled to the first sensor and the gear selector, and configured to cause the user interface to present a first notification if a first alarm condition is detected based on the child seat belt status and a selected gear. Embodiments also include a method of providing child seat monitoring in a vehicle, the method comprising receiving a gear position from a vehicle gear selector, receiving a child seat belt status from a first sensor coupled to a vehicle child seat, and presenting a first notification using a vehicle user interface if the gear position is a non-park position and the child seat belt status is unbuckled.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a seat belt sensor for detecting a child seat belt status;

a vehicle gear selector;

a child presence detector;

a user interface to present a first notification when the gear selector is in park, the seat belt sensor detects that the child seat belt status is buckled, and the child presence detector detects a child in the vehicle;

vehicle windows; and

a vehicle window system to open the vehicle windows a predetermined amount when the gear selector is in park, the seat belt sensor detects that the child seat belt status is buckled, and the child presence detector detects a child in the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the user interface is to present a second notification when the child seat belt status indicates an unbuckled seat belt and the selected gear is one of drive, reverse, neutral, or low gear.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the user interface is to present a third notification when the child seat belt status indicates a buckled seat belt that is improperly positioned relative to a child.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a display and the first notification is a graphical warning.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an audio device and the first notification is an audible alarm.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a child seat attachment sensor coupled to a child seat for detecting a child seat attachment status, wherein the user interface is to present a fourth notification based on the child seat attachment status and a selected gear of the vehicle gear selector.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the user interface presents the fourth notification if the child seat attachment status is negative.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a child seat adapter configured to communicatively couple at least one of the seat belt sensor and the child seat attachment sensor to a processor.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the child seat adapter is configured to wirelessly communicate at least one of the child seat belt status and the child seat attachment status to the processor.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an ignition switch selectively movable between an on position and an off position, wherein the user interface is to present a fifth notification based on the child seat belt status and a selected ignition position.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the user interface presents the fifth notification when the child seat belt status indicates a unbuckled seat belt and the selected ignition position is in the on position.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the vehicle window system is to open the vehicle windows a predetermined amount in response to determining that the selected ignition position is in the off position and the seat belt sensor detects that the child seat belt status is buckled for a predetermined time period.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a vehicle horn system to sound a vehicle horn in response to the selected ignition position being in the off position and the child seat belt status being buckled for a predetermined period of time.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the user interface is rendered by a mobile device communicatively coupled with the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising vehicle doors disabling locking in response to the gear selector being in park, the child seat belt status being buckled, and the child presence detector detecting a child in the vehicle for a predetermined period of time.

16. A method for providing child seat monitoring in a vehicle, comprising:

responsive to a vehicle gear selector being in a park position, a seat belt sensor detecting that a child seat belt status is buckled, and a child presence status determined by a child presence detector indicating a child in the vehicle;

presenting, via a user interface, a first notification when the gear position is in the park position, the child presence status is positive, and the child seat belt status is buckled; and

opening, via a vehicle window system, vehicle windows a predetermined amount.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising continuing to present the first notification if the gear position, the child presence status, and the child seat belt status do not change within a predetermined time period.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising presenting a second notification using one or more vehicle systems if the gear position, the child presence status, and the child seat belt status do not change within a predetermined time period.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more vehicle systems include at least one of the vehicle doors, the vehicle windows, and a vehicle horn.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the user interface is rendered by a mobile device communicatively coupled with the vehicle.

21. A method of providing child seat monitoring in a vehicle, comprising:

responsive to a vehicle gear selector being in a park position, a seat belt sensor detecting that a child seat belt status is buckled, and a child presence status determined by a child presence detector indicating a child in the vehicle;

presenting, via a vehicle user interface, a first notification when a gear position is the park position and the child seat belt status is buckled; and

opening, via a vehicle window system, vehicle windows a predetermined amount;

disabling locking of vehicle doors in response to the first notification continuing for a predetermined period of time.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising continuing to present the first notification if the gear position and the child seat belt status do not change within the predetermined time period.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a child seat attachment status from a child seat attachment sensor; and

presenting a second notification, via the user interface, when the child seat attachment status is negative and the gear position is a non-park position.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the non-park position includes one of a drive position, a reverse position, a neutral position, and a low-gear position.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving an ignition switch position from a vehicle ignition switch sensor; and

presenting a third notification, via the vehicle user interface, when the ignition switch position is an off position and the child seat belt status is buckled.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising presenting a fourth notification using one or more vehicle systems if the child seat belt status and the ignition switch position do not change within a predetermined time period.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more vehicle systems include at least one of the vehicle doors, the vehicle windows, and a vehicle horn.

28. A vehicle, comprising:

a seat belt sensor for detecting a child seat belt status;

a vehicle gear selector;

an ignition switch selectively movable between an on position and an off position;

a user interface to present (1) a first notification in response to the gear selector being in park and the seat belt sensor detecting the child seat belt status is buckled and (2) a second notification in response to the ignition switch being in the on position and the seat belt sensor detecting the child seat belt status is unbuckled;

vehicle doors disabling locking in response to the gear selector being in park and the child seat belt status being buckled for a predetermined time period; and

,

opening, via a vehicle window system, vehicle windows a predetermined amount.

29. A vehicle, comprising:

a seat belt sensor for detecting a child seat belt status;

a vehicle gear selector;

an ignition switch selectively movable between an on position and an off position;

a user interface to present a notification when the gear selector is in park and the seat belt sensor detects the child seat belt status is buckled;

a vehicle horn system to sound a vehicle horn in response to the ignition switch being in the off position and the child seat belt status being buckled for a predetermined time period;

vehicle windows; and

a vehicle window system to open the vehicle windows a predetermined amount in response to the ignition switch being in the off position and the child seat belt status being buckled for a predetermined time period.