# US 12,109,946 B2 · Cabin child seat monitoring methods and systems

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- Number: US 12,109,946 B2
- Document ID: US12109946B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/455,200
- Filed: 2021-11-16
- Published: 2023-05-18
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-11-16
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Praneeth Nelapati; Jeffrey A Clark; Sean Taylor Coughlin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109946B2

## CPC

- 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}
- 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)}
- B60N 2/26: for children (B60N2/30 takes precedence)
- B60N 2/28: Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats {or other parts} of the vehicle
- B60N 2/268: {detecting or alerting means responsive to the installation of the child seats in the vehicle}
- B60N 2210/20: Radar
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes a sensor system configured to generate sensor data associated with a seat of a vehicle; and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor system and configured to determine, from the sensor data, a baseline position of a child seat sitting on the seat of the vehicle, determine, from the sensor data, a displacement of the child seat from the baseline position, and selectively generate notification data based on the displacement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a sensor system configured within a cabin of a vehicle and configured to generate sensor data indicative of a movement of a child seat sitting on a seat of the vehicle, wherein the sensor data includes at least one of elevation data, resolution data, range data, and doppler data;
a processor of the vehicle and communicatively coupled to the sensor system, the processor configured to determine, from the sensor data, a baseline position of the child seat sitting on the seat of the vehicle, determine, from the sensor data, a real time displacement of the child seat from the baseline position in response to a vehicle speed being greater than a threshold speed and a vehicle dynamic information indicative of a vehicle maneuver, and selectively generate notification data based on the real time displacement exceeding a threshold displacement; and
a user interface to display a visual notification to a vehicle occupant in response to the notification data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system includes a radar configured within the cabin of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to determine the displacement based on the range data and the doppler data from the radar.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the real time displacement based on parameters determined from vehicle maneuvers, a mean displacement and a maximum displacement, and wherein a weighted displacement is compared to the threshold displacement and the notification data is generated in response to the weighted displacement exceeding the threshold displacement.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an ingress or egress event of the vehicle, and wherein the processor determines the baseline position of the child seat based on the ingress or egress event.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to evaluate a speed of the vehicle, and wherein the processor determines the displacement of the child seat in response to the evaluating the speed of the vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the displacement includes a dynamically adjusted maximum and a dynamically adjusted minimum value in any direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, based on the sensor data, whether a child is sitting in the child seat, and wherein the processor selectively generates the notification data based on whether the child is sitting in the child seat.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive user input and configure the notification data based on the user input.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the notification data initiates at least one of a visual notification, an audio notification, and a haptic notification.

### Claim 11

A method, comprising:
receiving, by a processor, sensor data indicative of a movement of a child seat sitting on a seat within a cabin of a vehicle, wherein the sensor data includes at least one of elevation data, resolution data, range data, and doppler data generated by a sensor system within the cabin of the vehicle; and
determining, by the processor and from the sensor data, a baseline position of the child seat sitting on the seat of the vehicle;
determining, by the processor and from the sensor data, a real time displacement of the child seat from the baseline position in response to a vehicle speed being greater than a threshold speed and a vehicle dynamic information indicative of a vehicle maneuver;
selectively generating, by the processor, notification data based on the real time displacement exceeding a threshold displacement; and
displaying, via a user interface, a visual notification to a vehicle occupant in response to the notification data.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor system includes a radar configured within the cabin of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the determining the displacement is based on the range data and the doppler data from the radar.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the displacement based on parameters determined from vehicle maneuvers.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising determining an ingress or egress event of the vehicle, and wherein the determining the baseline position of the child seat is based on the ingress or egress event.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising evaluating a speed of the vehicle, and wherein the determining the displacement of the child seat is in response to the evaluating the speed of the vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the displacement includes a dynamically adjusted maximum and a dynamically adjusted minimum value in any direction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising determining, based on the sensor data, whether a child is sitting in the child seat, and wherein the selectively generating the notification data is based on whether the child is sitting in the child seat.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving user input and configuring the notification data based on the user input.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the notification data initiates at least one of a visual notification, an audio notification, and a haptic notification.