CA3250797A1 - Integrated Wireless Vehicle Child Seat Occupancy Detection Safety System - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an integrated wireless system for detecting the presence of a child in a car seat and the fastening of the safety seat belt. The child car seat occupancy sensor and the child car seat belt sensor are connected to the car's electronic system via a wireless protocol. Once the child is seated in the car seat, the occupancy sensor sends a signal to the intelligent child car seat control module. This control module then sends a signal to the car's safety main module with information about the child's presence in the car seat and the status of the seat belt buckle. The car's control module processes the received information through its internal algorithm. This results in the activation of the child air-bags, a message displayed on the dashboard (with the light flashing a few times after ignition is turned on), and a notification on the screen if the car is equipped and optionally sound (or voice) notification. Additionally, the central locking alarm system receives a signal indicating the child's presence in the car. When the driver exits the car, the system, after a short delay, sends a message to the key fob to notify the driver about the child's presence. If the driver attempts to lock the doors, the system immediately sends a signal to the key fob and prevents the doors from locking while the alarm beeps and flashes differently to attract the driver's attention. If the child remains in the car without any response from the driver, the alarm activates both in the car and on the key fob. Additionally, the integration of the security system with the car's control system allows it to monitor whether the seat belt in the child car seat is properly buckled. It notifies the driver if the seat belt is not fastened correctly while driving.

Description

INTEGRATED WIRELESS CHILD SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION SAFETY SYSTEM BACKGROUIVD OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention: Some automobile drivers sometimes park their automobiles and inadvertently leave their children inside, particularly in the car seat. Similarly, children have been known to accidentally lock themselves in a parked automobile. If a child is trapped in the automobile for an extended period or during extreme temperatures, the child typically suffers adverse physical and mental health effects. There have been instances where a child, inadvertently trapped in a parked automobile during extreme temperatures, has died. Almost every modern automobile is equipped with an integrated lock and alarm system that protects it from vandalism, burglary, or theft. The alarm system sounds an alarm when a locked automobile door is opened without a key. Another known alarm system sounds an alarm upon physical contact with the exterior of a locked automobile. While these alarm systems are effective for preventing vandalism or burglary, they do not detect the presence of a child confined within a locked automobile during extreme temperatures. To increase the safety of a child within a car, some safety devices such as car seats have been developed. However, each of the known safety devices is designed to increase a child's safety while the automobile is moving, i.e., during automobile operation. Such devices do not prevent a child from inadvertently being locked in a parked automobile. Some modern cars are equipped with a screen that displays a message to the driver, such as "Check back seat for occupants." However, this action may not be sufficient to completely protect a child from being locked in a parked car. Many car manufacturers offer systems where the car’s electronic system communicates with a smartphone via a mobile application for checking the car’s state and controlling it, but nothing has been developed specifically for child security. It would be desirable to provide a system for detecting the presence of a child within a parked automobile, integrated with the car's alarm and lock system. It would also be desirable to connect the child car seat with the automobile's electronic system to check the child's presence in the seat and the seatbelt status.

[001] This invention relates to the field of child safety and security systems for motor vehicles and motor homes. Every year, children die when parents or other individuals leave a child in a hot or cold car. Many mistakenly leave a child in a car because their minds are on other things. Emergency workers try to save many of these children; however, in most cases, the rescuers are unable to revive the child. There are many consequences to these tragic deaths. Even if a child fortunately does not die, he/she experiences a lot of stress that greatly impacts their physical and mental health. Additionally, many drivers forget to fasten the seat belt in the child car seat and travel with the child (children) not properly secured in the car seat. This invention relates generally to alarm and locking systems and, more particularly, to car seat occupancy detectors in wireless connection with automobile alarm and door locking systems.2. Related Background Art: Dashboard light

[002] The use of the child car seat occupancy and seat belt buckle status alarm systems for automobiles is known as a prior art: For example: CA patent No CA 02614906, CA 2601960, CA 1299263, CA 2425617, CA 2851248, CA 2106704, U.S. No. 5,581,234, U.S. Patent No. 6,028,509, U.S. Patent No. 6,812,844, U.S.Patent No. 5,949,340, U.S. Patent No. 6,812,844, U.S. Patent No. 6,104,293 and U.S. Patent No. 306,099 are all generally related alarm/alert systems about a child left in the car. While existing references offer solutions for monitoring seat belt usage and occupancy in vehicles, they fail to adequately address the crucial issue of a child traveling unsecured. There is a distinct lack of systems capable of providing immediate warnings or alarms to drivers, prompting them to ensure the proper positioning and securing of their child in the car seat before continuing their journey, or alerting them to the presence of a child still in the car seat upon exiting the vehicle. Moreover, many prior art systems impose impractical conditions for activation, such as the installation of external devices, requiring the ignition to be turned off for activation, or relying on vehicle motion to trigger alarms. These limitations render such systems ineffective in addressing the immediate safety concerns associated with child car seat occupancy. Consequently, while existing solutions may partially address the need for child safety in vehicles, they exhibit significant deficiencies. There exists a clear need for an improved child safety seat alarm system capable of overcoming the shortcomings identified in current technologies. Wired system

[002] The use of child alarm/alert systems for automobiles is known in the prior art. For example, CA 2601960, CA 1299263, CA 2425617, CA 2851248, CA 2106704, U.S. No. 5,581,234, U.S. Patent No. 6,028,509, U.S. Patent No. 6,812,844, U.S.Patent No. 5,949,340, U.S. Patent No. 6,812,844, U.S. Patent No. 6,104,293, WO 2006/133002 PCT/US2006/021538, U.S. Patent No. 5,793,291, U.S. Patent No. 5,966,070, U.S. Patent No. 20210155200 are all generally related to child alarm/alert systems. However, these references do not address the problem of a child being left inside a vehicle, where a parent is given a warning or alarm that considers the length of time a child is left in the vehicle in conjunction with the circumstances of the parent or driver leaving the vehicle.Some prior art systems require that the ignition be turned off for the alarm system to be activated. Other prior art systems require motion within the vehicle to set off the alarm, thereby ignoring the possibility of the child being asleep and thus motionless. Therefore, such prior art teachings, though fulfilling some needs for child safety, have certain deficiencies. Consequently, there is a need to improve child safety seats with an alarm to overcome the deficiencies noted above.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[003] The present invention is directed to an integrated wireless system for detecting the presence of a child (baby) in a car when the driver exits the vehicle and monitoring the seat belt status during travel. In one embodiment, the system consists of a sensor connected to the seat belt of the baby's car seat and a sensor for child car seat occupancy. Once the child is placed in the car seat and the child car seat belt is fastened, a signal is sent to the car’s electronic system via a wireless protocol. The car’s control system then activates the child presence algorithm, which could include activating additional child airbags (if installed in the car) and triggering the child presence indicator. If the child seat belt is not buckled, the dashboard light and sound alarm will activate (if installed in the car). When the driver exits the car and releases the child from the car seat, the car’s electronic system receives a wireless signal that deactivates the child presence indicator, thus turning off the alarm.

[004] In a further embodiment, the system includes a programmed delay timer that gives the driver time to operate near the vehicle without setting on the alarm. Once the driver exits from the automobile a timer for the time delay starts. Tha delay can be adjusted by the car's owner via a menu of the vehicle’s intellectual electronic system. The time delay is crucial in that it allows the driver to get out for a predetermined set of time before the alarm sounds off.

[005] Additionally, the prior art does not have any way for accounting for when a driver gets out of the vehicle to either refuel or access the vehicle trunk. The cars integrated sensors detect the trunk lid or the gas cap opened and deactivate the child car seat safety system that allows the driver to get out of the vehicle and pump gas without setting on the alarm. This new and improved integrated system also allows the driver to exit the vehicle and go to the trunk and either put or take something out of the trunk without setting the on the alarm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[006] The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein: Figure 1 shows the present invention integrated into the car's electronic system of control. Figure 2 shows a diagram of the wiring and signals according to one embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[007] With reference to the figures, like reference characters will be used to indicate like elements throughout the several embodiments and views thereof. In particular, with reference to the figures, the present invention is directed to a system for notifying a driver that he or she left a child in the vehicle that is relatively simple to adjust and it works automatically.[008] Referring to Figure 1, when the child car seat 2 is installed into the vehicle 1 and connected to the car’s intelligent electronic system 7 via the integrated safety 8 recognizes and pairs it to the automobile 1 via wireless protocol. When the child is placed and belted into the car seat 2 the seat occupancy sensor 4 and seat belt sensor 5 send the signal to the seat’s control module 5 that child is in the car seat and the seat’s control module in turn sends the wireless signal to the car’s control module 8 for further communication with car’s electronic system 7 via wired protocol and beginning the child presence algorithm. When the driver exits the car and try to lock the car 1 via the key fob 6 the locking system integrated in the car’s intellectual system 7 asks the car seat safety control module 3 if the child is still in the seat : if response is “no” the automobile locks successfully, otherwise the central car’s locking system 7 sends the warning message to the key fob 6 and alarm of the car 1 make few bip signals for inform the driver. If the driver doesn’t react after the defined delay, the alarm is activated in the car and on the key fob. Additionally, an alarm could be activated on the smartphone if there is a mobile app installed for car communication. The delay is managed by software and can be adjusted by the driver via the car's menu.

[009] Referring to Figure 2 integrated child seat occupancy system consists of the seat part and car’s part. Seat’s part includes the sensors (the child seat occupancy sensor 3 and the seat belt sensor 4) and the control module 5 which are installed in the car seat. The car’s part includes the safety system control module 2 which is connected to the car’s main control module 1 via CAN bus. The car’s safety system control module communicates with the seat’s control module 3 via wireless protocol (bluetooth for exemple). The seat’s control module 5 receives the signals from the sensors (the child seat occupancy sensor 3 and the seat belt sensor 4), transforms these signals into the wireless protocol and transmits the data to the car’s safety control module (receiver) 2 and then to the car’s main control module 1 via CAN bus for the further processing. The car’s safety system module is installed in the car from the factory and recognizes, identifies and automatically connects the seat’s module from the moment when the seat is installed into the car and the seat is connected to the car’s power supply. Power Source

[010] The car’s safety system control module 8 can be powered directly from the CAN bus or from the car's power supply circuit (battery and alternator) with DC power supply. The seat’s safety system control module 3 can be powered from the car’s power supply circuit or from an auxiliary battery installed in the child car seat or in the car (DC power supply). It would be understood that such an auxiliary battery would need to have the necessary voltage and current capacities to power the seat’s control module 3 and the sensors 4 and 5; and also must have a charging module which has to be connected to the car’s power (battery and alternator). A supplementary DC socket must be installed in the car from the factory for alimenting the car seat safety control system.

[011] Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, such as but not limited to those examples and variations described above. Such changes and modifications are to beunderstood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, unless they depart therefrom.

Claims (7)

1. What is claimed is: 1. An integrated vehicle child seat wireless safety system for preventing a child from being left unattended in a vehicle and checking if they are buckled during the trip, comprising: - A car child seat occupancy device that senses whether or not a child is seated in a car child seat; - A child seat safety belt device that senses whether or not a child is secured in a child car seat by a first belt attached to the child car seat; - A wireless protocol of connection to the car's control system.
2. 2. An integrated vehicle wireless child safety system according to claim 1, wherein the child safety seat with a sensor that senses when a child is seated inside the seat in the vehicle includes a seat belt latch having a sensor that detects when the seat belt latch is properly buckled.
3. 3. An integrated vehicle wireless child safety system according to claim 1, wherein the child safety belt device that senses when a child is seated inside the vehicle includes a car seat having a seat belt device with a sensor that detects when the child seat belt latch is buckled.
4. 4. An integrated vehicle wireless child safety system according to claim 1, wherein the child safety belt device that senses when a child is seated inside the vehicle includes a rear seat belt having a sensor that detects when the rear seat belt latch is connected.
5. 5. An integrated vehicle wireless child safety wireless system according to claim 1, wherein the driver averting signal notifies the driver if the child is seated in the car seat but the safety seat belt is not buckled.
6. 6. An integrated vehicle wireless child safety integrated system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm and door lock disabling device algorithm activates when the driver tries to lock the car with the child inside.
7. 7. An integrated vehicle wireless child safety system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm and door lock disabling algorithm includes a trunk lid and driver notification by sending a signal to a key fob or even to a smartphone.