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US 8,477,024 B2Granted
Systems and methods for indicating the presence of a child in a vehicle
AssigneeCars-N-Kids LLC
InventorsGregory B. Schoenberg, Robert S. Steffan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods which provide for an alarm or notification that a child is in a car seat. The systems generally determine if a child is in the seat and that the seat, and therefore the vehicle, is not in motion. Upon detecting both situations, the notification or alarm is activated.
Claims13
A device for providing notice that a child has exited a car seat comprising:
- a pressure sensor;
- an accelerometer;
- a notification system;
- and
- a controller;
- wherein
- if said pressure sensor detects pressure and said accelerometer detects repeated acceleration along a fixed axis, then said controller does not activate said notification system;
- and
- if said pressure sensor does not detect pressure and said accelerometer detects repeated acceleration along a fixed axis, then said controller activates said notification system to provide a first notification.
6 more elements
A method for assisting in the detection of a child that has exited a child seat while a vehicle is in motion, the method comprising:
- detecting whether or not a child is in a child seat in a vehicle at a first time and a second time;
- detecting whether or not said vehicle is accelerating along a fixed axis at said first time and said second time;
- and
- if:
- said child is in said child seat at said first time but not at said second time;
- and
- said vehicle is accelerating along said fixed axis at both said first time and said second time;
- then generating a first notification signal to indicate the child has exited said child seat.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.