Vehicle compartment occupancy detection system

A vehicle compartment sensing system for detecting the presence of a person in a vehicle compartment, the vehicle having an ignition, said vehicle compartment sensing system, comprising:

• at least one electric field generator which is operable to generate a electric field within the compartment;
• at least one electric field sensor which is operable to detect said electric field within the vehicle compartment, said at least one electric field sensor generating an electric field sensor output;
• a temperature sensor operable to detect an ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment, said temperature sensor generating a temperature sensor output;
• and
• a control which is operable to determine occupancy of the vehicle compartment in response to a change in said electric field being detected by said at least one electric field sensor, said change in said electric field being indicative of respiration of a person within the compartment, said control being operable to receive an input indicative of said temperature sensor output and an input indicative of said electric field sensor output, said control being operable to process said inputs and to generate an alert output, said control generating said alert output when (a) said electric field sensor output is indicative of respiration of a person within the compartment, (b) said temperature sensor output is indicative of the ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment being at or above a threshold temperature, and (c) a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the ignition of the vehicle is turned off.

A method for sensing the presence of a person in a vehicle compartment, the vehicle having an ignition, said method comprising:

• providing at least one electric field sensor at the vehicle compartment;
• sensing a change in an electric field within the vehicle compartment which is indicative of a presence of a person within the vehicle compartment;
• providing a temperature sensor at the vehicle compartment;
• sensing an ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment;
• generating an alert output when (a) said sensed change in the electric field is indicative of a presence of a person within the compartment, (b) said sensed ambient temperature is at or above a threshold temperature, and (c) a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the ignition of the vehicle is turned off;
• wherein sensing a change in an electric field comprises sensing a change in an electric field which is indicative of respiration of a person within the vehicle compartment.