Vehicle-based vehicle occupant reminder using weight-based sensor

A method for providing an alert to a person external to a vehicle of an occupant in the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• determining whether a first object in the vehicle is an occupant, based, at least in part, on a weight of the first object;
• sensing whether an ignition of the vehicle is in an off position;
• detecting whether a first door coupled to the vehicle has been opened and closed, if the vehicle ignition is in an off position;
• sensing whether the first door and a second door coupled to the vehicle have been locked;
• and
• if the first and second doors have been locked and an occupant is in the vehicle, activating the alert.

An alert system for providing an indication to a person external to a vehicle, of an occupant inside the vehicle, the vehicle having a seat and at least a first and a second door, the system comprising:

• a weight sensor operatively coupled to at least a portion of the vehicle to sense a weight of an object disposed inside of the vehicle;
• a controller electrically coupled to the weight sensor and configured to determine whether the object is an occupant, based at least in part, on the sensed weight of the object in the vehicle;
• a door sensor coupled to the controller and configured to sense the opening and closing of the first and second doors;
• an ignition indicator coupled to the controller and configured to sense whether an ignition of the vehicle is in an off position;
• and
• an alert electrically coupled to the controller and configured to produce a signal external the vehicle if the controller determines that the object is an occupant and if, after the first door was closed, the second door has not been opened within a predetermined threshold time.

An alert system for providing an indication to a person external to a vehicle, of an occupant inside the vehicle, the vehicle having a seat and at least a first and a second door, the system comprising:

• a weight sensor operatively coupled to at least a portion of the vehicle to sense a weight of an object disposed inside of the vehicle;
• a controller electrically coupled to the weight sensor and configured to determine whether the object is an occupant, based at least in part, on the sensed weight of the object in the vehicle;
• a door sensor coupled to the controller and configured to sense the opening, closing and locking of the first and second doors;
• an ignition indicator coupled to the controller and configured to sense whether an ignition of the vehicle is in an off position;
• and
• an alert electrically coupled to the controller and configured to produce a signal external the vehicle if the controller determines that the object is an occupant and if after the first door has been shut, the first and second doors have been locked.