# US 2018/0025604 A1 · Vehicle occupant detection and alert system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0025604 A1 - Document ID: US20180025604A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/656,934 - Filed: 2017-07-21 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21 - Assignees: Protopsaltis Design Studios, Inc. - Applicants: Protopsaltis Design Studios, Inc. - Inventors: Anthony Protopsaltis; Dimitri Protopsaltis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025604A1 ## CPC - G08B 21/0205: {Specific application combined with child monitoring using a transmitter-receiver system} - B60N 2/0021: {characterised by the type of sensor or measurement} - B60N 2/003: {characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat} - B60N 2/0035: {characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information} - B60N 2/266: {with detection or alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children; with detection or alerting means responsive to improper locking or installation of the child seats or parts thereof} - B60N 2/267: {alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children} - 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} - G08B 25/08: using communication transmission lines {(G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence)} - B60N 2210/40: Force or pressure sensors - B60N 2230/20: Wireless data transmission - B60N 2230/30: Signal processing of sensor data - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a vehicle occupant detection and alert system including an onboard apparatus including a controller operably connected to an occupancy sensor, an environment sensor and a transceiver. The controller generates a signal indicating that an occupant is present. A mobile communication device is operably connected to the transceiver. The mobile communication device includes a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps including: receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile device is restricted; and generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising: an onboard apparatus including a controller operably connected to an occupancy sensor, an environment sensor and a transceiver, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present; a mobile communication device operably connected to the transceiver; the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising: receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile device is restricted; and generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the alert condition indicates that a parameter exceeds a predetermined limit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the parameter includes one of an insider vehicle temperature and a distance between the vehicle and the mobile device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor initiates a second alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system as defined in claim 4, wherein in the second alert mode a communication is generated to a communication device other than the mobile device, the communication including information as to the alert and the location of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the processor initiates a third alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The system as defined in claim 4, wherein a communication is generated to an emergency services agency, the communication including information as to the alert and the location of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor generates an alert notification in response to communication between the controller and the mobile device being interrupted. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the occupancy sensor is integrated in a child safety seat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is operably connected to the transceiver via Narrow Band IoT. ### Claim 11 An vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising: an onboard apparatus including a controller operably connected to an occupancy sensor, and a transceiver, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present; a mobile communication device operably connected to the transceiver; the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising: receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to a first alert condition indicating a temperature in the vehicle has exceeded a predetermined upper or lower limit, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile communication device is restricted; and generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system as defined in claim 11, wherein a temperature sensor is operably connected to the controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the processor initiates a second alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined wherein a communication is generated to a communication device other than the mobile device, the communication including information as to the alert. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system as defined in claim 11, wherein a second alert condition is generated when an occupant is detected within the vehicle and a distance between the vehicle and a mobile device of a vehicle driver exceeds a predetermined distance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system as defined in claim 11, wherein the onboard apparatus includes a child safety seat and the controller is operably connected to the child safety seat. ### Claim 16 A multi-passenger vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising: a occupancy sensor to determine if a occupant is present in the vehicle; a controller operably connected to the occupancy sensor, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present in the vehicle; a transceiver operably connected to the controller; a mobile communication device operably connected to the transceiver; the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising: receiving a signal from the controller via the transceiver indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile device is restricted; and generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system as defined in claim 16, wherein the alert condition indicates that a parameter exceeds a predetermined limit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system as defined in claim 17, wherein the alert condition is generated when an occupant is detected within the vehicle and a distance between the vehicle and a mobile device of a vehicle driver exceeds a predetermined distance. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system as defined in claim 16, wherein the processor initiates a second alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the processor initiates a third alert mode if the alert condition is not resolved in a predetermined time. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The system as defined in claim 16, wherein a communication is generated to a communication device other than the mobile device, the communication including information as to the alert and the location of the vehicle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The system as defined in claim 17, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle restraint systems, each including an occupancy sensor to determine if an occupant is present in the restraint system, the controller being operably connected to each of the occupancy sensors. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The system as defined in claim 17, including an environment sensor is operably connected to the controller for sensing an environmental condition inside the vehicle, and the parameter includes an insider vehicle temperature. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The system as defined in claim 16, wherein the mobile communication device is operably connected to the first transceiver via Narrow Band IoT. ### Claim 25 A multi-passenger vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising: a plurality of vehicle passenger restraint systems, each including an occupancy sensor to determine if an occupant is present in the restraint system; a controller operably connected to the occupancy sensors, an environment sensor and a first transceiver, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present in one or both of the vehicle restraint systems; a mobile communication device operably connected to the first transceiver; the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising: receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated by the first transceiver and displayed on the mobile device; and generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein entry of the code cancels the alert mode, and failure to enter the code within a predetermined time initiates a second alert mode, wherein in the second alert mode a communication is generated to a communication device other than the mobile device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system as defined in claim 25, wherein each passenger restraint system is operable connected to a second transceiver, the second transceivers communicating information to the first transceiver.