Video monitoring system for car seat

• US 6,696,943 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Dabney, Richard W., Elrod, Susan Vinz
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/392,486
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.12, 340/539.15, 340/573.1, 340/937
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

A video monitoring system for use with a child car seat has video camera(s) mounted in the car seat. The video images are wirelessly transmitted to a remote receiver/display encased in a portable housing that can be removably mounted in the vehicle in which the car seat is installed.

Claims

1. A video monitoring system for use with a child car seat, comprising:

at least one video camera mounted in a child car seat for generating a video image signal of an occupant sitting in the child car seat;

a transmitter mounted to the child car seat and coupled to said at least one video camera for wirelessly transmitting said video image signal;

a receiver located remotely with respect to the child car seat for receiving said video image signal so-transmitted;

a video display coupled to said receiver for displaying an imaged based on said video image signal; and

a portable housing encasing said receiver and said video display.

2. A video monitoring system as in claim 1 further comprising means for remotely controlling activation of said at least one video camera and said transmitter.

3. A video monitoring system as in claim 2 wherein said means for remotely controlling is voice activated.

4. A video monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one video camera is an infrared video camera.

5. A video monitoring system as in claim 1 further comprising means coupled to said portable housing for facilitating mounting of same in a vehicle in which the child car seat is installed.

6. A video monitoring system for use with a child car seat, comprising:

at least one video camera mounted in a child car seat for generating a video image signal of an occupant sitting in the child car seat;

a transmitter mounted to the child car seat and coupled to said at least one video camera for wirelessly transmitting said video image signal;

power management means mounted on the child car seat and coupled to said at least one video camera and said transmitter for supplying power thereto, said power management means including a rechargeable battery serving as a local source of said power and at least one port for receiving said power from a remotely-located source of said power;

a receiver located remotely with respect to the child car seat for receiving said video image signal so-transmitted;

a video display coupled to said receiver for displaying an imaged based on said video image signal; and

a portable housing encasing said receiver and said video display.

7. A video monitoring system as in claim 6 further comprising means for remotely controlling activation of said at least one video camera and said transmitter.

8. A video monitoring system as in claim 7 wherein said means for remotely controlling is voice activated.

9. A video monitoring system as in claim 6 wherein said at least one video camera is an infrared video camera.

10. A video monitoring system as in claim 6 further comprising means coupled to said portable housing for facilitating mounting of same in a vehicle in which the child car seat is installed.

11. A video monitoring system for use with a child car seat, comprising:

at least one video camera mounted in a child car seat for generating a video image signal of an occupant sitting in the child car seat;

a transmitter mounted to the child car seat and coupled to said at least one video camera for wirelessly transmitting said video image signal;

means for remotely controlling activation of said at least one video camera and said transmitter;

power management means mounted on the child car seat and coupled to said at least one video camera and said transmitter for supplying power thereto, said power management means including a rechargeable battery serving as a local source of said power and at least one port for receiving said power from a remotely-located source of said power;

a receiver located remotely with respect to the child car seat for receiving said video image signal so-transmitted;

a video display coupled to said receiver for displaying an imaged based on said video image signal; and

a portable housing encasing said receiver and said video display, said portable housing configured for facilitating mounting of same in a vehicle in which the child car seat is installed.

12. A video monitoring system as in claim 11 wherein said means for remotely controlling is voice activated.

13. A video monitoring system as in claim 11 wherein said at least one video camera is an infrared video camera.