Warning system sensing child left behind in infant seat in vehicle
First Claim
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1. A warning system for detecting a child left in a car seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a removable child car seat;
a child occupant sensor, associated with the car seat, the child occupant sensor including an input to detect a child in the child car seat, and including an output providing a signal representative of whether a child is present in the child car seat;
a temperature sensor, associated with the car seat, the temperature sensor including an input to detect an ambient vehicle temperature, and including an output to provide a signal responsive to the ambient vehicle temperature; and
an alarm control circuit, associated with the car seat, coupled to the child occupant sensor output and the temperature sensor output, the alarm control circuit coupled to an alarm configured to provide, without requiring information about a vehicle ignition state, a warning using information about whether the child is present in the child car seat and the ambient vehicle temperature is outside an acceptable range.
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Abstract
This document discloses various systems and methods for reducing the likelihood of leaving an unattended child behind in an infant/child seat in a vehicle.
267 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A warning system for detecting a child left in a car seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a removable child car seat;
a child occupant sensor, associated with the car seat, the child occupant sensor including an input to detect a child in the child car seat, and including an output providing a signal representative of whether a child is present in the child car seat;
a temperature sensor, associated with the car seat, the temperature sensor including an input to detect an ambient vehicle temperature, and including an output to provide a signal responsive to the ambient vehicle temperature; and
an alarm control circuit, associated with the car seat, coupled to the child occupant sensor output and the temperature sensor output, the alarm control circuit coupled to an alarm configured to provide, without requiring information about a vehicle ignition state, a warning using information about whether the child is present in the child car seat and the ambient vehicle temperature is outside an acceptable range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A warning system for detecting a child left in a child car seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a removable child car seat;
a child occupant sensor associated with the removable child car seat, the child occupant sensor including an input to detect a child in the child car seat, and including an output providing a signal representative of whether a child is present in the child car seat; and
a remote entry device, communicatively coupled to the child occupant sensor, the remote entry device configured to trigger a warning indicating that the child has been left behind in the vehicle using information about whether the child is present in the child car seat, the information obtained from the child occupant sensor associated with the removable car seat and without requiring information from an occupancy sensor that is an integral component of the vehicle or from an ignition circuit that is an integral component of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A warning system for detecting a child left in a child car seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a removable child car seat;
a child occupant sensor, associated with the removable child car seat, the child occupant sensor including an input to detect a child in the child car seat, and including an output providing a signal representative of whether a child is present in the child car seat;
a driver occupant sensor, communicatively coupled to the removable child car seat, the driver occupant sensor including an output providing a signal representative of whether a driver is present in the driver'"'"'s, seat without requiring driver occupancy information obtained from a driver occupancy sensor that is an integral component of the vehicle; and
an alarm, communicatively coupled to the child occupant sensor and the driver occupant sensor, the alarm configured to provide a warning using information about whether the child is present in the child car seat and the driver is no longer present in the driver'"'"'s seat.
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13. A method comprising:
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detecting whether a child is present in a removable child car seat in a vehicle;
detecting an ambient vehicle temperature of a vehicle using a temperature sensor that is associated with the removable child car seat; and
providing an indication of whether a child is present in the child car seat at an ambient temperature outside a predetermined range using an alarm control circuit that is associated with the removable child car seat, wherein the indication is provided without requiring information about an ignition state of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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detecting whether a child is present in a child car seat in a vehicle, the detecting using an occupancy sensor of the child car seat and without using an occupancy sensor that is an integral component of the vehicle;
detecting a locking of a vehicle door using a keyless remote entry device; and
providing an indication of whether a child is present in the child car seat upon the detecting the locking of the vehicle door using the keyless remote entry device and without requiring information from an occupancy sensor that is an integral component of the vehicle or from an ignition circuit that is an integral component of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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detecting whether a child is present in a removable child car seat in a vehicle the detecting using an occupancy sensor of the child car seat and without using an occupancy sensor that is an integral component of the vehicle;
detecting at least one of (a) a driver leaving the driver'"'"'s seat; and
(b) a driver'"'"'s door being opened, the detecting performed without requiring driver occupancy or door status information from an integral component of the vehicle; and
providing a warning indication if a child is present in the child car seat and at least one of;
(a) a driver has self the driver'"'"'s seat; and
(b) a driver'"'"'s door has been opened. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification